cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adenosine triphosphate-guanosine 5'-phosphate phosphotransferase. IV. Isozymes in human erythrocytes and Sarcoma 180 ascites cells.

Four isozymes of guanylate kinase (ATP:GMP phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.4.8) with isoelectric points (pI) of 4.9, 5.1, 5.4, and 5.8 in human erythrocytes and two isozymes with isoelectric points of 5.2 and 5.5 in Sarcoma 180 ascites cells have been identified and separated by two electrophoretic techniques. The molecular weights of the isozymes range from 18,500 to 24,000. GMP, dGMP, and 8-azaguanosine 59-phosphate serve as substrates for each of the guanylate kinase isozymes. Three of the erythrocytic guanylate kinase isozymes (pI 4.9, 5.1, and 5.4) react with IMP with a velocity of about 0.4%, while with the fourth isozyme (pI 5.8) the velocity is about 1% of that seen with GMP. The analogue nucleotide, 6-thioguanosine 59-phosphate, behaves as a potent competitive inhibitor of all six guanylate kinase isozymes. The inhibition constant (Ki) values range from 7.5 x 10-5 to 2.1 x 10-4 M.
Thiophene-Fused Nickel Dithiolenes: A Synthetic Scaffold for Highly Delocalized π-Electron Systems

A series of thiophene-fused nickel dithiolene complexes have been prepared via synthetic methods which allow the addition of peripheral aryl groups to the fused thiophene of the dithiolene ligand, thus providing access to a range of structural and electronic modifications to the dithiolene core. X-ray structural studies of the anionic complexes show that the peripheral aryl rings lie in near-perfect coplanarity to the dithiolene core and can form π-stacked columns with N-methylpyridinium cations. Density functional theory calculations show significant delocalization of the frontier orbital electron density into the peripheral aryl rings. The complexes exhibit tunable, intense near-IR (NIR) absorption in the range of 1076–1160 nm with molar absorptivity as high as 25100 M–1 cm–1 in solution. The electronic tunability as well as the desirable solid-state packing arrangements of these systems suggests significant potential as NIR-absorbing materials for optoelectronic applications.
Design and characterization of a linear Hencken-type burner.

We have designed and constructed a Hencken-type burner that produces a 38-mm-long linear laminar partially premixed co-flow diffusion flame. This burner was designed to produce a linear flame for studies of soot chemistry, combining the benefit of the conventional Hencken burner’s laminar flames with the advantage of the slot burner’s geometry for optical measurements requiring a long interaction distance. It is suitable for measurements using optical imaging diagnostics, line-of-sight optical techniques, or off-axis optical-scattering methods requiring either a long or short path length through the flame. This paper presents details of the design and operation of this new burner. We also provide characterization information for flames produced by this burner, including relative flow-field velocities obtained using hot-wire anemometry, temperatures along the centerline extracted using direct one-dimensional coherent Raman imaging, soot volume fractions along the centerline obtained using laser-induced inc...
Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopic Characterization of Thermal Stability of Low-k Dielectric Thin Films for Micro- and Nanoelectronic Applications

In this paper, we discuss the use of broadband microwaves (MW) to characterize the thermal stability of organic and hybrid silicon-organic thin films meant for insulation applications in micro- and nanoelectronic devices. We take advantage of MW propagation characteristics to extract and examine the relationships between electrical properties and the chemistry of prototypical low-k materials. The impact of thermal anneal at modest temperatures is examined to shed light on the thermal-induced performance and reliability changes within the dielectric films. These changes are then correlated with the chemical changes in the films, and could provide basis for rational selection of organic dielectrics for integrated devices.
Posterior Communicating Artery Giving Rise to Shared-Origin Anterior Choroidal Artery: Case Illustration.

Background The origin point of the anterior choroidal artery (AChA) is variable, typically arising from the supraclinoid internal carotid artery (ICA) distal to the posterior communicating artery (PComA) on either the posterolateral or posterior aspect of the ICA. Variations of AChA origin have important clinical implications, and rare origins reported previously include the ICA bifurcation and middle cerebral artery. We provide illustrations of a case of a shared-origin PComA and AChA. Case Description A young girl presented with intracranial hemorrhage and underwent angiography to evaluate for an underlying cause. Ultimately, 3-dimensional rotational angiography incidentally demonstrated a common origin of the AChA with the PComA. Conclusions A rare case of a shared-origin AChA and PComA is reported for angiographic illustration. The radiologic findings, embryology behind the development of the AChA, and neurosurgical and neurovascular relevance of this variant are discussed. The importance of recognizing the origin of the AChA is emphasized.
Generalized loading-unloading contact laws for elasto-plastic spheres with bonding strength

Abstract We present generalized loading-unloading contact laws for elasto-plastic spheres with bonding strength. The proposed mechanistic contact laws are continuous at the onset of unloading by means of a regularization term, in the spirit of a cohesive zone model, that introduces a small and controllable error in the conditions for interparticle breakage. This continuity property is in sharp contrast with the behavior of standard mechanistic loading and unloading contact theories, which exhibit a discontinuity at the onset of unloading when particles form solid bridges during plastic deformation. The formulation depends on five material properties, namely two elastic properties (Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio), two plastic properties (a plastic stiffness and a power-law hardening exponent) and one fracture mechanics property (fracture toughness), and its predictions are in agreement with detailed finite-element simulations. The numerical robustness and efficiency of the proposed formulation are borne out by performing three-dimensional particle mechanics static calculations of microstructure evolution during the three most important steps of powder die-compaction, namely during compaction, unloading, and ejection. These simulations reveal the evolution, up to relative densities close to one, of microstructural features, process variables and compact mechanical attributes which are quantitatively similar to those experimentally observed and in remarkable agreement with the (semi-)empirical formulae reported in the literature.
African Judicial Review, the Use of Comparative African Jurisprudence, and the Judicialization of Politics

African Judicial Review, the Use of Comparative African Jurisprudence, and the Judicialization of Politics focuses primarily on judicial review in Africa. This topic is important because many African countries have been experimenting with judicial review in the spirt of Marbury v. Madison since the 1990s with limited success. Most African countries are countries with constitutions but without constitutionalism. The article grapples with the problem of how to make judicial review and constitutionalism more effective in impacting the political process in Africa. In order to have a more effective judicialization process in Africa, this article proposes that one step in that direction is for African courts of judicial review to engage more in what this article calls trans-African jurisprudential comparative judicial review. To this end, the article presents the arguments for giving emphasis to trans-African comparative judicial review and examines best practices in African judicial review as well as cases where there is need for improvement.
Virtually There: Distant Freshmen Blended in Classes through Synchronous Online Education

Synchronous online education occurs when the students and faculty member are in different locations geographically and interaction occurs simultaneously through the internet at scheduled times. In this study I investigated the phenomenon of using synchronous online classes blended with a face-to-face classroom to complete the freshman year of college. The essence of the experience emerged around the concept of ambiguity, specifically in regard to group membership, functionality of technology, and place. This understanding of ambiguity provides a framework upon which to design practices for engaging such distance students and best promoting their learning.
Phosphorescence of Pyridoxal Kinase at Room Temperature: The Effects of Ligands Bound to the Nucleotide Site

Ligands bound to the nucelotide site of pyridoxal kinase influence the phosphorescence properties of tryptophanyl residues. Binding to the substrate ATP perturbs the triplet state of the protein leading to a significant decrease in phosphorescence lifetime from 0.9 to 0.3ms. The effect is attributed to changes in the flexibility of the embedding macromolecular matrix elicited by binding of the substrate. The probe DANS-GABA inhibits the enzyme by displacing ATP from the nucleotide binding site and quenches protein phosphorescence by a mechanism of triplet-singlet energy transfer. Ligand bonds to specific sites on proteins are suitable to study specific quenching mechanisms leading to deactivation of the triplet state at room temperature.
Delineating Signals from Association Studies

A central goal of genetic mapping efforts is to reveal pathways and relevant biology, e.g., ciliary dysfunction in Bardet-Biedl syndrome [1] . Using genome-wide approaches, researchers have discovered a remarkable number of common genetic variants reproducibly associated with a variety of human traits [2] . Owing to the nature of the complexity of the traits studied, for many loci, the underlying biological pathways they perturb along with the specific genes implicated remain elusive. For these loci, two initial barriers impede direct biological insight: first, pinpointing the causal genetic risk variant(s) from an initial genome-wide association signal; and second, identifying the specific causal gene(s) implicated by the association signal. In order to overcome these impediments, genetic locus mapping studies at a finer scale are often proposed. The designs of these studies using existing data are straightforward, and the associated caveats of these designs are relatively well understood [3] . However, recent innovations in high-throughput sequencing are already beginning to make new datasets and technologies available which will transform the design of these studies. In addition, due to the overwhelming number of possible targets of fine-mapping, and owing to the observation that not all loci are perfectly suited to extensive fine-mapping efforts, selecting the ideal candidates among the plethora of loci available is an important consideration in these designs. With these two factors along with others in mind, this chapter articulates the nature, objectives, and considerations for experiments designed to elucidate the association signals derived from whole-genome studies.
Parameter estimation and modeling of a pneumatic continuum manipulator with asymmetric building blocks

Soft Continuum manipulators are increasingly popular because of their ability to interact safely with humans, maneuver around obstacles and enable cost-effective operation. In this paper, we investigate a unique manipulator composed of two asymmetric fiber reinforced pneumatic building blocks, one capable of bending and the other axially rotating. The combination of these building blocks can yield spatial motion including helical deformation pattern. While this design architecture is beneficial for whole arm manipulation and grasping, the asymmetric combination introduces structural coupling between the two modes rendering an analytical model hard to formulate. In this paper, we propose a Cosserat rod model to capture the deformation of the manipulator whose material properties and actuation parameters are estimated through extensive experiments. Once the model parameters are determined, the Cosserat model can be used to estimate deformation profile even in the presence of external loads. Such a framework is general and can be applied to obtain the forward and inverse kinematics of any continuum manipulator.
Visual stimulus-driven functional organization of macaque prefrontal cortex.

Abstract The extent to which the major subdivisions of prefrontal cortex (PFC) can be functionally partitioned is unclear. In approaching the question, it is often assumed that the organization is task dependent. Here we use fMRI to show that PFC can respond in a task-independent way, and we leverage these responses to uncover a stimulus-driven functional organization. The results were generated by mapping the relative location of responses to faces, bodies, scenes, disparity, color, and eccentricity in four passively fixating macaques. The results control for individual differences in functional architecture and provide the first account of a systematic visual stimulus-driven functional organization across PFC. Responses were focused in dorsolateral PFC (DLPFC), in the ventral prearcuate region; and in ventrolateral PFC (VLPFC), extending into orbital PFC. Face patches were in the VLPFC focus and were characterized by a striking lack of response to non-face stimuli rather than an especially strong response to faces. Color-biased regions were near but distinct from face patches. One scene-biased region was consistently localized with different contrasts and overlapped the disparity-biased region to define the DLPFC focus. All visually responsive regions showed a peripheral visual-field bias. These results uncover an organizational scheme that presumably constrains the flow of information about different visual modalities into PFC.
Estimation of Evaporation Duct and Surface-Based Duct Parameters from a Combined Refractivity Model

The study of atmospheric refractive conditions is essential in the shipboard radars and radio communication conditions in the maritime environment. Especially at low altitudes, as radio refractivity can vary considerably with both height and range, characterizing marine atmospheric boundary layer properties, ducting in particular, is thus crucial for air-sea interaction research. This paper proposes a novel refractivity profile model and describes a way to estimate parameters defining both evaporation duct and surface-based duct using the measured one-way propagation loss from a receiving X-band array at multiple range. The data was measured during the CASPER-West at-sea experimental campaign, which was conducted off the coast of Point Mugu, CA, during October-November of 2017.
Correction to: Bringing down the house: male widow spiders reduce the webs of aggressive females more

This article was originally inadvertently published in 2019, in Vol. 73, Issue 1, citation ID 1. It has now been reassigned and republished in 2019, in Vol. 73, Issue 2, citation ID 1.
Differential associations between chronotype, anxiety, and negative affect: A structural equation modeling approach.

Abstract Background Increasing evidence implicates circadian rhythms, including chronotype, in anxiety symptoms and disorders. However, it remains unclear whether this relation is accounted for by sleep disturbance. Likewise, given overlap between anxiety and negative affect, a unique link between chronotype and anxiety remains to be established. The present study addressed these questions using a multimethod approach to determine whether there is a unique relation between chronotype and anxiety symptoms, controlling for sleep disturbance. Methods Indicators of chronotype, sleep disturbance, anxiety, and negative affect were collected in a sample of adults (N = 151) using a combination of subjective and behavioral measures both within and outside the laboratory over a 9-day period. Structural equation modeling was used to examine associations between latent constructs. Results Results revealed significant associations between sleep disturbance and both anxiety and negative affect. A significant association was found between chronotype and anxiety, over and above the effect of sleep disturbance. In contrast, the relation between chronotype and negative affect was nonsignificant after controlling for sleep disturbance. Limitations Unselected sample, lack of experimental manipulation, cross-sectional design. Conclusions These findings suggest a unique role of chronotype in anxiety and point to circadian disruption as a potential biological mechanism in anxiety-related disorders.
FACTORIZATION OF QUADRATIC POLYNOMIALS IN THE RING OF FORMAL POWER SERIES OVER ℤ

We establish necessary and sufficient conditions for a quadratic polynomial to be irreducible in the ring ℤ[[x]] of formal power series over the integers. In particular, for polynomials of the form pn + pm βx + αx2 with n,m ≥ 1 and p prime, we show that reducibility in ℤ[[x]] is equivalent to reducibility in ℤp[x], the ring of polynomials over the p-adic integers.
Adherence to post colorectal cancer surveillance colonoscopy guidelines at a tertiary care center

Abstract Background Surveillance colonoscopy 1 year after resection of colorectal cancer is recommended by all major societies, including National Comprehensive Cancer Network and United States Multi Society Task Force. Study objectives Our study assesses adherence to post colorectal cancer resection surveillance colonoscopy guidelines at a large tertiary care center and aims to identify reasons for non-adherence. Methods A retrospective study was conducted for patients who underwent curative resection for colorectal cancer between January 2016 and June 2017. Adherence to surveillance colonoscopy for non-obstructed or partially obstructed colon and rectal cancers was defined as performance of colonoscopy 11–14 months and 11–15 months after surgery, respectively. Results A total of 80 patients were identified. Mean age was 66 ± 13 years and 58% (n = 46) were males. 60% (n = 48) had colon cancer and 40% (n = 32) had rectal cancer. 69% (n = 24) of patients with colon cancer and 42% (n = 8) of patients with rectal cancer adhered to surveillance colonoscopy guidelines and the mean time to colonoscopy was 315 ± 44 days and 369 ± 103 days, respectively. The most commonly identified reasons for non-adherence to surveillance colonoscopy included metastases (10.9%) and patients’ refusal to undergo surveillance (6.5%). Conclusion Overall, post colorectal cancer resection to follow up surveillance is inadequate. There is a need to identify barriers to surveillance post colorectal cancer resection and address them.
Characterizing optical coherence tomography speckle fluctuation spectra of mammary organoids during suppression of intracellular motility.

Background An understanding of how the mammary gland responds to toxicant and drug exposures can shed light on mechanisms of breast cancer initiation/progression and therapeutic effectiveness, respectively. In this study, we employed noninvasive, label-free and high-throughput optical coherence tomography speckle fluctuation spectroscopy (OCT-SFS) to track exposure-response relationships in three-dimensional (3D) mammary epithelial organoid models. Methods OCT-SFS is sensitive to relatively high speed (~0.16-8 µm/min) motions of subcellular light scattering components occurring over short (~2-114 s) time scales, termed "intracellular motility." In this study, OCT speckle fluctuation spectra are quantified by two metrics: the intracellular motility amplitude, M, and frequency-dependent motility roll-off, α. OCT-SFS was performed on human mammary organoid models comprised of pre-malignant MCF10DCIS.com cells or MCF7 adenocarcinoma cells over 6 days of exposure to either a microtubule inhibitor (Paclitaxel, Taxol) or a myosin II inhibitor (Blebbistatin). Raw values of α and M were normalized to a dynamic range corresponding to fixed (0%) and live/homeostatic (100%) organoids for each cell line. Results In this work, we observed a significant decrease in both M and α of MCF10DCIS.com organoids after 24 hours of exposure to Taxol (P<0.001), and a significant decrease only in α for MCF7 organoids after 48 hours of exposure (P<0.0001). We also observed a significant decrease in both M and α of MCF7 organoids at the longest exposure time of 6 days to Blebbistatin (P<0.0001), and a significant decrease only in M for MCF10DCIS.com organoids after 24 hours of exposure (P<0.01). Conclusions OCT-SFS revealed cell line-specific response patterns, in terms of intracellular motility, to different motility suppression mechanisms. This provides a foundation for future OCT-SFS studies of longitudinal responses of the mammary gland in toxicology and drug research.
Exploring the dimensions of product quality: implications for marketing and R&D management

The purpose of this research is to study the relationship between Garvin's (1987) product quality dimensions and new product market success. To pursue this study, the following research questions were investigated: 1) Which product quality dimensions have the greatest influence on the perception of overall product quality? 2) What product quality dimensions have the greatest impact on dimensions of new product market success? The study data suggest that the product quality dimensions that influence overall perceived product quality are not the same dimensions that impact new product success. Additionally, not all quality dimensions impact new product market success measures to the same extent. This research suggests that to increase customers' new product purchase intentions, marketing & R&D need to assure customers' needs for desired product features are fulfilled and that marketing personnel must collaborate with R&D to assure that new products perform in a manner that significantly solve customers' problems.
A comparison of global and egocentric network approaches for assessing peer alcohol use among college students in the United States.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS Perceptions of peer alcohol use have a strong influence on college students' personal alcohol consumption. Common strategies for measuring students' perceptions of peer alcohol use rely on global student body questions (e.g. 'typical' student use), which overlook the true social contexts of college students. Simply put, persons most likely to influence an individual's behaviour are their closest, most proximal peers. Our objective was to compare whether social norms measures or network measures of peer alcohol use better assess participant alcohol use. Specifically, we compared: (i) perceptions of the 'typical' student's drinking behaviours; versus (ii) egocentric social network measures, in which respondent's report perceptions of the drinking behaviours of personally identified peers. DESIGN AND METHODS Three hundred and nine college students reported demographics, personal alcohol use and global perceptions of peer alcohol use. Egocentric network composition was calculated using E-Net. Descriptive statistics and hierarchical linear regression analyses predicting personal drinking (AUDIT-C) were conducted in SPSS. RESULTS Respondent's perceptions of peers' drinking behaviours accounted for 9.7% of the variance in personal alcohol use beyond demographics, global perceptions of peer alcohol use and network composition demographics [F(3,280) = 13.391, P < 0.001]. Egocentric social network measures explained more variability in peer influence on personal alcohol consumption than global campus measures. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Personally identified peers have a greater influence on personal alcohol consumption than perceptions of 'typical students'. Thus, future studies would benefit from utilising an egocentric network approach to examine the complex, interpersonal nature of alcohol use among college students.
Sharing Economy: A Bibliometric Analysis, Research Trends and Research Agenda

Sharing economy is an area that has been attracting increased interest from entrepreneurs and academics, due to its notable growth. This study aims to present a quantitative panorama of studies related to the sharing economy. In order to accomplish this, the bibliometric method was applied to data extracted from the Scopus Database. It is verified that this is a relatively new field of study and that this field of research is being strongly influenced by themes such as sustainability, the internet, as well as by representative companies (e.g. Airbnb and Uber). Based on the bibliographic coupling, four clusters are visible on the mapping. These four clusters that were identified may be considered trends for research conducted in this field.
Developing epilepsy training capacity for primary care providers using the project ECHO telementoring model.

Abstract Background Primary care providers (PCPs) provide a large proportion of care for people with epilepsy (PWE) and need regular training for updates. However, PCPs treat patients in so many therapeutic areas that epilepsy often becomes a less important concern. We used an established telementoring program, Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes), and combined epilepsy education with general neurology topics to generate more interest among PCPs. Methods We offered 20 one-hour webinar sessions over a two-year period, each consisting of a panel of neurology experts, with a combination of case presentations, a 20-minute didactic presentation, and live, interactive question and answer. Attendees logged in from their own computers or phones, and all presentations were archived online for future viewing. Interviews with PCPs indicated a combination of epilepsy and general neurology topics would be better received, so epilepsy topics alternated monthly with general neurology topics (e.g., headache, stroke, and dementia). Session evaluation included participants’ comfort in treating patients with neurological disorders and confidence in knowledge of the topic area. Results After the second session, mean attendance was 27.5 participants (range 15–38), with a total of 164 unique individual participants. Attendees were a mix of mostly regional, some out of state, and a few international learners, including practicing PCPs, trainees, and nurse practitioners. Archived presentations on our website were viewed 212 times; seizure topics were the most viewed. Mean evaluation scores for relevance, value, and increased knowledge were all in the “agree to strongly agree” range. Over 97% of respondents reported greater interest in improving care of patients with epilepsy or neurological disorders, and over 98% reported greater comfort and self-efficacy when treating patients with these conditions. Only eight cases were submitted for review prior to the sessions. Conclusions We successfully piloted a telementoring program using Project ECHO methodology, which was effective in educating PCPs about epilepsy treatment. Combining epilepsy and other neurology topics was an effective strategy in garnering interest among PCPs, but additional methods are needed to encourage participants to present their own cases.
Kant and Schelling on Blumenbach’s formative drive

Blumenbach’s epigenetic theory, particularly his concept of the formative drive, was appropriated by both Kant and Schelling. Kant’s third Critique endorsement of Blumenbach’s formative drive shows...
Inferentialism and the Epistemology of Logic: Reflections on Casalegno and Williamson

I defend an inferential account of the logical constants against objections made to it by Paolo Casalegno and Timothy Williamson.
The influence of estrogen on nigrostriatal dopamine activity: behavioral and neurochemical evidence for both pre- and postsynaptic components.

Abstract The results of 3 experiments examining the influence of estrogen on the nigrostriatal dopamine (DA) system are reported. In two experiments the influence of hormonal manipulations on amphetamine (AMPH)-induced rotational behavior was investigated using rats with unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the substantia nigra. It was found that: (1) female rats in estrus make more rotations than ovariectomized (OVX) rats; and (2) estrogen treatment (5 μg estradiol benzoate, daily for 4 days) in OVX rats enhances AMPH-induced rotational behavior 4 h and 4 days after estrogen treatment. During the intervening period, at 24 h after cessation of estrogen treatment, control and hormone-treated animals did not differ. In a third experiment, the effect of estrogen treatment on the release of endogenous DA from striatal tissue slices in superfusion was examined. Estrogen enhanced AMPH-stimulated striatal DA release 4 h after the last treatment relative to OVX controls. However, 24 h and 4 days after estrogen treatment DA release had returned to control levels. It is suggested that estrogen has an immediate potentiating effect on striatal DA release, and this may be responsible for the increased behavioral response to AMPH 4 h after estrogen treatment. The previously demonstrated increase in postsynaptic striatal DA receptors may be responsible for the second increase in AMPH-induced rotational behavior, that occurs 4 days after estrogen treatment.
Mammalian inositol 3-phosphate synthase: its role in the biosynthesis of brain inositol and its clinical use as a psychoactive agent.

Latha K. Parthasarathy, L., Ratnam S. Seelan, Carmelita Tobias, Manuel F. Casanova, and Ranga N. Parthasarathy Molecular Neuroscience and Bioinformatics Laboratories and Autism Research Unit, Mental Health, Behavioral Science and Research Services, VA Medical Center (151), Louisville, Kentucky, 40206, USA. Departments of Psychiatry, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Louisville, Kentucky, 40202, USA.
Isoforms of nitric oxide synthase in the optic nerves of rat eyes with chronic moderately elevated intraocular pressure.

PURPOSE. To investigate the hypothesis that nitric oxide (NO) in the optic nerve heads of rats with chronic moderately elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) contributes to neurotoxicity of the retinal ganglion cells, the presence of the three isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) was determined in the tissue. METHODS. Unilateral chronic moderately elevated IOP was produced in rats by cautery of three episcleral vessels. Histologic sections of optic nerves from eyes with normal IOP and with chronic moderately elevated IOP were studied by immunohistochemistry and by immunoblot analysis. Polyclonal antibodies to NOS-1, NOS-2, NOS-3, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were localized with immunoperoxidase. RESULTS. In the optic nerve of rat eyes with normal IOP, NOS-1 was constitutively present in astrocytes, pericytes and nerve terminals in the walls of the central artery. NOS-2 was not present in eyes with normal IOP. In these eyes, NOS-3 was constitutively present in the vascular endothelia of large and small vessels. Rat eyes treated with three-vessel cautery had sustained elevated IOP (1.6 fold) for at least 3 months. In these eyes, no obvious changes in NOS-1 or NOS-3 were noted. However, at time points as early as 4 days of chronic moderately elevated IOP, NOS-2 appeared in astrocytes in the optic nerve heads of these eyes and persisted for up to 3 months. Immunoblot analysis did not detect differences in NOS isoforms. CONCLUSIONS. The cellular distributions of constitutive NOS isoforms in the rat optic nerve suggest physiological roles for NO in this tissue. NOS-1 in astrocytes may produce NO as a mediator between neighboring cells. NO, produced by NOS-1 in pericytes and nitrergic nerve terminals and by NOS-3 in vascular endothelia, is probably a physiological vasodilator in this tissue. In eyes with chronic moderately elevated IOP, NOS-2 is apparently induced in astrocytes. The excessive NO production that is associated with this isoform may contribute to the neurotoxicity of the retinal ganglion cells in eyes with chronic moderately elevated IOP. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1999;40: 2884 ‐2891)
Acetylation of Pepsin and Pepsinogen

Abstract 1. Acetylimidazole, an acetylating reagent of proteins reacts both with the proteolytic enzyme, pepsin, and its zymogen, pepsinogen. 2. When reacted with pepsin, the proteolytic activity decreases whereas the hydrolysis of the synthetic substrate, N-acetyl-dl-phenylalanyldiiodotyrosine, increases 2.5-fold. These changes can be reversed by deacetylation with hydroxylamine. 3. Acetylation of pepsinogen leads to a reduced susceptibility to activation as reflected by its potential pepsin activity and a decreased hydrolysis of the synthetic substrate. 4. With the aid of difference spectra and hydroxamate formation, it was ascertained that 8 to 10 tyrosine residues were acetylated. 5. In contrast to pepsin, it was demonstrated that in acetylpepsinogen 4 to 5 e-amino groups of the lysine residues were acetylated in addition to tyrosines. 6. These results are correlated with some of the conformational characteristics of the two proteins.
Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament: Etiology, Diagnosis, and Outcomes of Nonoperative and Operative Management.

Study Design Narrative review. Objective To provide an overview on the diagnosis, natural history, and nonoperative and operative management of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). OPLL is a multifactorial condition caused by ectopic hyperostosis and calcification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Familial inheritance and genetic factors have been implicated in the etiology of OPLL. The cervical spine is most commonly affected followed by the thoracic spine. The clinical manifestations range from asymptomatic to myelopathy or myeloradiculopathy. Methods Using PubMed, studies published prior to October 2014 with the keywords “OPLL, etiology”; “OPLL, genetics”; “OPLL, spinal cord injury”; “OPLL, natural history”; “OPLL, non-surgical management”; OPLL, surgical management”; “OPLL, surgical complications” were evaluated. Results The review addresses the etiology, epidemiology, classification, clinical presentation, imaging findings, and nonoperative and operative management of OPLL. Complications associated with surgical management of OPLL are also discussed. Conclusions OPLL commonly presents with myelopathy and radiculopathy. Spine providers should consider OPLL in their differential diagnosis and when reviewing images. If surgical intervention is pursued, imaging-based measurements and findings can help in choosing an anterior versus posterior surgical approach.
A Case for Message Oriented Middleware

With the emergence of the internet, independent applications are starting to be integrated with each other. This has created a need for technology for glueing together applications both within and across organizations, without having to re-engineer individual components. We propose an approach for developing this glue technology based on message flows and discuss the open research problems in realizing this approach.
Electrification in the Interwar Period

This chapter contains sections titled: Lenin's Program of Development Through Electric Power Generators, Power Lines, and Motors Power Engineering Technology Transfer to the Soviet Union Worldwide Dissemination of Technology Rural Electrification
Regeneration of Colon Mucosa: A Morphologic and Histochemical Study

Summary 1.The colon mucosa of the dog regenerates after artificial lesions superficial to the muscularis mucosae. 2.PAS-positive mucopolysaccharide and succinic dehydrogenase activity are temporarily absent or diminished, whereas, β-glucuronidase activity increases initially. 3.The absence of permanent changes in this type of lesion suggests factors other than simple destruction of mucosa in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis.
Effects of Lumbosacral Spinal Cord Epidural Stimulation for Standing after Chronic Complete Paralysis in Humans.

Sensory and motor complete spinal cord injury (SCI) has been considered functionally complete resulting in permanent paralysis with no recovery of voluntary movement, standing or walking. Previous findings demonstrated that lumbosacral spinal cord epidural stimulation can activate the spinal neural networks in one individual with motor complete, but sensory incomplete SCI, who achieved full body weight-bearing standing with independent knee extension, minimal self-assistance for balance and minimal external assistance for facilitating hip extension. In this study, we showed that two clinically sensory and motor complete participants were able to stand over-ground bearing full body-weight without any external assistance, using their hands to assist balance. The two clinically motor complete, but sensory incomplete participants also used minimal external assistance for hip extension. Standing with the least amount of assistance was achieved with individual-specific stimulation parameters, which promoted overall continuous EMG patterns in the lower limbs’ muscles. Stimulation parameters optimized for one individual resulted in poor standing and additional need of external assistance for hip and knee extension in the other participants. During sitting, little or negligible EMG activity of lower limb muscles was induced by epidural stimulation, showing that the weight-bearing related sensory information was needed to generate sufficient EMG patterns to effectively support full weight-bearing standing. In general, electrode configurations with cathodes selected in the caudal region of the array at relatively higher frequencies (25–60 Hz) resulted in the more effective EMG patterns for standing. These results show that human spinal circuitry can generate motor patterns effective for standing in the absence of functional supraspinal connections; however the appropriate selection of stimulation parameters is critical.
Genetic Models for the Analysis of Data from the Families of Identical Twins

Genetic models are described which exploit the unique relationships that exist within the families of identical twins to obtain weighted least squares estimates of additive, dominance and epistatic components of genetic variance as well as estimates of the contributions of X-linked genes, maternal effects and three sources of environmental variation. Since all of the relationships required to achieve a resolution of these variance components are contained within each family unit, the model would appear to be superior to previous approaches to the analysis of quantitative traits in man.
An Exploration of African American Forest Landowners in Mississippi

In Mississippi counties with large African American populations, forest resources constitute one of the most important agricultural outputs. Despite the efforts of natural resources extension personnel to provide educational programming to this group, little is known about their needs, concerns, and meanings of the landscape for them. Research has taken place in the Carolinas, Alabama, and Georgia; however, forests and African American forest landowners in Mississippi face unique social, historical, and ecological contexts that need to be examined. If forests and forestry programs are to provide an equitable distribution of benefits to diverse populations in Mississippi, a culturally based understanding of landowners is needed with special attention to those populations who have been traditionally underserved because of race and income. We address this need by presenting data from focus groups with African American forest landowners in several rural Mississippi counties. Findings indicate that a complex relationship with the landscape has inculcated much traditional knowledge about forest resources, opportunities and challenges to participation in programs and landowner associations, and concerns over heir property, among other factors. We discuss implications for how forestry can meet the sustainable natural resource goals and rural development needs of African American landowners and communities.
What Can We Learn from Big Mama

Taking a multi-generational view, this study draws on oral-life histories and a qualitative, critical race analysis to explore thematic patterns over time and across the educational ideals and pedagogical practices of two African American educators from different generations of the same family---Olivia Smith (Big Mama) and her granddaughter Christie Hayes. We examine how the personal and professional experiences of these two teachers influence[d] their respective understandings of their work and provide[d] the basis of successful teaching for African American learners. By examining the lessons Big Mama taught and Christie learned and subsequently brought into her own classroom, it becomes possible to better understand how to more effectively prepare future teachers to draw on cultural and historical knowledge and thus successfully teach all students.
Computational medicine: bioelectric field problems

Applications of large-scale computer modeling and simulation to a class of bioelectric field problems in a variety of biomedical research areas, from single cells to full human structures, are described. The authors focus on a specific subset of bioelectric field problems that have applications in electrocardiography and electroencephalography. The physics and physiology of bioelectric volume conductors are introduced. A specific computational example and the authors' view on the future direction of computational medicine are presented. >
Science, technology and international relations

Abstract Science, technology and international affairs affect one another. The impacts of science and technology on international affairs, especially those of information and communication technologies, are particularly pervasive. The mutual influences of science, technology and international affairs are so important and pervasive that the field should be recognized as an independent sub-discipline. Its present status as a relatively esoteric topic, to be entrusted to specialists and kept more or less isolated from the main body of international relations, is a dangerous anachronism. These impacts may be classified as operating through one of four main mechanisms: (1) changing the architecture of the international system: its structure, its key organizing concepts, and the relations among its actors; (2) changing the processes by which the international system operates, including diplomacy, war, administration, policy formation, commerce, trade, finance, communications, and the gathering of intelligence; (3) creating new issue areas, new constraints and trade-offs in the operational environment of foreign policy, a term which includes not only political constraints on international action, but also constraints imposed by the laws of natural and social science; and (4) providing a source of changed perceptions, of information and transparency for the operation of the international system, and of new concepts and ideas for international relations theory.
LP-8: Late-News Poster: A Novel Optical Image Shift Device with a Conventional Twisted Nematic Liquid Crystal for HD-Projection Systems using a Single CG-Silicon TFT

We have developed a novel optical image shift device using a conventional TN. This device can rotate between a horizontal plane and a vertical plane of polarization at 180Hz. The optical rotatory transmittance is 97%. The rotating speed is 1.4ms at 30°C.
Two-cavity MEMS variable capacitor for power harvesting

Novel 2 × 2 mm2 MEMS capacitive plates with two cavities (two capacitors) have been designed, modeled and fabricated for power harvesting by utilizing residual mechanical vibration in the environment using the electrostatic mechanism. The device is unique in the use of an innovative two-cavity design and electroplated nickel as the main structural material. When the capacitance increases for one capacitor, it will decrease for the other. This allows us to use both up and down directions to generate energy. The two-cavity design has achieved higher average power than conventional single-cavity devices under a wide range of vibration frequencies and amplitudes based on the time-domain simulations using Matlab. The movable plate was designed to vibrate without deformation and with resonance frequencies of around 900 Hz and lower using COMSOL finite element tool. The prototype two-cavity MEMS variable capacitor has been successfully fabricated using surface micromachining. The initial testing to investigate the electrical dynamic behavior and power generation from the fabricated devices was also implemented.
A study of iterative optimization

A process is considered in which the inputs to the system are stationary random ergodic functions. From the spectral densitities of the inputs and cross-spectral densities of inputs and outputs a local linearized model of the process is obtained through the transfer function. There results then a maximum problem involving an objective function and constraints imposed by the model and the physical and arbitrary restraining conditions. Two special cases are solved in detail in which the maximum problem reduces to a linear programing problem. Other methods are needed for the general problem.
Registration-based initialization during radiation therapy planning

An established challenge in the field of image analysis has been the registration of images having a large initial misalignment. For example in chemo and Radiation Therapy Planning (RTP), there is often a need to register an image delineating a specific anatomy (usually in the surgery position) with that of a whole body image (obtained preoperatively). In such a scenario, there is room for a large misalignment between the two images that are required to be aligned. Large misalignments are traditionally handled in two ways: 1) Semi-automatically with a user initialization or 2) With the help of the origin fields in the image header. The first approach is user dependant and the second method can be used only if the two images are obtained from the same scanner with consistent origins. Our methodology extends a typical registration framework by selecting components that are capable of searching a large parameter space without settling on local optima. We have used an optimizer that is based on an Evolutionary Scheme along with an information theory based similarity metric that can address these needs. The attempt in this study is to convert a large misalignment problem to a small misalignment problem that can then be handled using application specific registration algorithms. Further improvements along local areas can be obtained by subjecting the image to a non-rigid transformation. We have successfully registered the following pairs of images without any user initialization: CTAC - simCT (neuro, lungs); MRPET/ CT (neuro, liver); T2-SPGR (neuro).
The Thalamic Intergeniculate Leaflet Mediates Locomotor Activity-Induced Reversal of Phenotype in Photoperiod Nonresponsive Siberian Hamsters

The role of the intergeniculate leaflet of the thalamus (IGL) in photoperiod responsiveness was examined in a laboratory-selected line of photoperiod nonresponsive (NR) Siberian hamsters. NR hamsters fail to exhibit typical winter-type responses (i.e., gonadal regression and development of winter-type pelage) when exposed to short day lengths (e.g., 10 h of light/day). Earlier studies revealed that NR hamsters will exhibit winter-type responses when exposed to short photoperiod if they are given free access to a running wheel. The present study tested the hypothesis that this locomotor activity-induced reversal of phenotype is dependent on the IGL. Male NR hamsters underwent destruction of the IGL prior to being housed in short day lengths in cages equipped with running wheels. Activity rhythms were monitored for 8 weeks, after which time pelage response and paired testes weights were obtained. In contrast to sham-operated NR animals given access to running wheels, IGL-ablated animals showed no increase in the duration of nocturnal running wheel activity and became active later in the night than sham-lesioned animals. Lesioned animals also failed to exhibit the typical short photoperiod-induced gonadal regression and pelage molt. The results implicate the IGL in the mechanism by which running wheel activity can influence photoperiodic responses.