cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preview of the Arguments: Data and Methodology

In chapter 1, we evaluated the following sentences: (77) Ray and Tess wrote poems. (78) Ray and the boys wrote poems. (79) Ray and Tess and Jess wrote poems and concluded that our two theories part ways when it comes to the interpretation of a conjoined noun phrase one of whose conjuncts is itself plural (formed by conjunction or common noun pluralization), as in (78) and (79).
Spectral Analysis of the EEG on the PDP-12

Spectral analysis and its Fourier transform, correlation analysis, can be applied to EEG data for a variety of purposes that relate to approximate classification and simple modeling of the underlying processes. With the recent advent of the Cooley-Tukey algorithm, or Fast Fourier Transform, the extensive use of these techniques is no longer limited to the users of large memory, highspeed expensive computers.
Quantifying the effects of active and cured greenwaste and dairy manure application and temperature on carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and dinitrogen emissions from an extreme saline-sodic soil

Abstract Amending saline-sodic soils with organic manures and composts can help to remediate them by improving their physical, chemical, and biological properties. Little is known as to how temperature effects organically amended saline-sodic soils in terms of soil nitrogen (N) dynamics, greenhouse gases, and dinitrogen (N2) emissions, however. The effects of soil temperature and organic matter applications to a saline-sodic soil on CO2, N2O, and N2 emissions were investigated. An extreme saline-sodic soil with electrical conductivity (ECe) 100 dS m−1 and pH 7.8 was used in this study. Four organic amendment treatments were selected: active greenwaste (AGW), cured greenwaste compost (CGW), active dairy manure (ADM), and cured dairy manure compost (CDM). All treatments were incorporated at 100 Mg ha−1 and incubated at 70% water-filled pore space (WFPS) for 60 days at 15, 25, and 35 °C. Relative to 15 °C emissions, increasing soil temperatures significantly enhanced cumulative CO2, N2O, and N2 losses from all treatments. The emissions of CO2 increased in the AGW and ADM by 1.5 to 2.2 fold compared to CGW and CDM amended soils at all three temperatures. Higher cumulative N2O-N emissions were released from ADM compared to AGW and CDM compared to CGW treatments at 25 and 35 °C, respectively. At 25 and 35 °C, AGW and CDM increased N2 emissions relative to ADM and CGW, respectively. It was found that soil temperature had a significant effect on CO2, N2O, and N2 emissions. However, CO2 production highly correlated with N2 emissions indicating that active organic materials could be carefully applied to remediate saline-sodic soils while mitigating N2O emissions.
Measuring Shared Decision-Making in the Pediatric Outpatient Setting: Psychometric Performance of the SDM-Q-9 and CollaboRATE Among English and Spanish Speaking Parents in the US Midwest

Abstract Objective Shared decision-making (SDM) measures have never been assessed for validity and feasibility in pediatric outpatient settings. We compared psychometric performance of parent adaptations of a well-established measure (SDM-Q-9) to a newer measure focusing on provider effort in facilitating SDM (CollaboRATE) in two clinics. Methods English (n = 955) and Spanish (n = 58) speaking parents of children ages 1–5 years with symptoms of acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI) completed post-visit SDM-Q-9, CollaboRATE, satisfaction items (visit, provider communication, and study participation), and qualitative feedback. Results Parents felt CollaboRATE was more comprehensible and relevant than SDM-Q-9, which refers to decision-making actions difficult to define in ARTI visits. Among English-speakers, both measures showed high internal consistency (α = 0.91, α = 0.97). SDM-Q-9 reliability was strong (split-half, r = 0.83) and CollaboRATE weak-to-moderate (two-week test-retest, ρ = 0.41-0.66). Convergent validity with communication and visit satisfaction was poor for SDM-Q-9 (r=0.38, r=0.34) but higher for CollaboRATE (r=0.59, r = 0.52). Both showed divergent validity with study participation satisfaction (r=0.08, r=0.13). Spanish versions demonstrated similar results. Conclusions Parent preference and correlations with satisfaction support CollaboRATE over SDM-Q-9, however psychometrics were borderline acceptable. Practice Implications Tools like CollaboRATE that focus on provider effort appear more appropriate for routine pediatric visits where SDM outcomes may be difficult to identify, yet additional validation research is needed.
Angiomotin-like 1 links paramyxovirus M proteins to NEDD4 family ubiquitin ligases

To define the links between paramyxovirus budding and cellular ESCRT machinery, we previously identified angiomotin-like 1 (AMOTL1) in a screen for host factors that bind to the matrix (M) protein of parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5). This protein harbors three L/PPXY sequences, allowing it to interact with WW domain containing proteins including NEDD4 family members. We hypothesize that paramyxoviruses use AMOTL1 as a linker to indirectly recruit the same NEDD4 ubiquitin ligases for budding that other enveloped viruses recruit directly through their PPXY late domains. In support of this hypothesis, we found that AMOTL1 could link together M proteins and NEDD4 family proteins in three-way co-IP experiments. Both PIV5 and mumps virus M proteins could be linked to the NEDD4 family proteins NEDD4-1, NEDD4L, and NEDL1, provided that AMOTL1 was co-expressed as a bridging protein. AMOT and AMOTL2 could not substitute for AMOTL1, as they lacked the ability to bind with paramyxovirus M proteins. Attachment of a PPXY late domain sequence to PIV5 M protein obviated the need for AMOTL1 as a linker between M and NEDD4 proteins. Together, these results suggest a novel host factor recruitment strategy for paramyxoviruses to achieve particle release.
Factors Considered by Interprofessional Team for Treatment Decision in Hip Fracture with Dementia.

Objectives Patients with dementia are at high risk for hip fractures and often have poor outcomes when a fracture is sustained. Despite this poor prognosis, little data are available on what factors should be prioritized to guide surgical decision making in these cases. We aimed to understand the decision-making process for older dementia patients hospitalized after hip fractures. Design We performed a qualitative analysis of in-depth elite interviews conducted with a clinical care team involved in management of patients with dementia after hospitalization for hip fractures. Setting Interviews were conducted with an interprofessional team involved in the care of patients with dementia after being hospitalized for hip fractures. Participants Interviewees included nine orthopaedic surgeons, three hospitalists, three geriatricians, five nurses, three occupational therapists, three physical therapists, and two clinical ethicists. Measurements Verbatim transcripts of the interviews were analyzed and coded using QSR International's NVivo 10 qualitative database management software. Results The three main themes that most interviewees discussed were pain control, functional status, and medical comorbidities. Interviewees brought up many factors related to restoring functional status including baseline functional status, rehabilitation potential, social support, and the importance of mobility. Dementia and its impact on rehabilitation potential were mentioned by all geriatricians. Conclusion Although frailty, prognosis, and life expectancy were largely absent from the responses, the emphasis on dementia, advanced directives, and involving family or caregivers by the three geriatricians indicates the importance of including geriatricians in the decision-making team for these patients.
Transcendent motivations and virtue development in adolescent marathon runners.

Objective To understand how health, prosocial, and spiritual motivations correspond to changes in the virtues of self-control, patience, and interpersonal generosity among adolescents and emerging adults. Method Participants included adolescent and emerging adult athletes (N = 396; 12-22 years, M = 18.42, SD = 2.03) on marathon training teams fundraising for a faith-based charity. Participants completed self-report questionnaires four times over six months. Participants were 63% female and identified as 61% Caucasian, 17% Latino/a, 10% African American, 6% Asian American, and 6% other. Results Bivariate latent growth curve models showed positive relations between baseline levels of transcendent motivations (spiritual, prosocial) and all three virtues (self-control, patience, interpersonal generosity) as well as baseline health motivation and self-control. Linear slopes in all three motivations were positively correlated with change in patience, and greater decreases in these motivations from wave 1 to wave 2 before recovering motivation in subsequent waves correlated with less change in patience. Only the linear slope in prosocial motivation positively correlated with change in generosity. None of the motivation slopes correlated with change in self-control. Conclusions More than just sport participation is required to cultivate virtue in adolescents; instead, transcendent and non-transcendent motivations are concurrently developing for athletes who increase in prosocial virtues.
X-ray absorption spectroscopy study of the electronic structure and local coordination of 1st row transition metal-promoted Chevrel-phase sulfides

The electronic structures of S and Mo as well as the local coordination of Mo are investigated as a function of metal promotion Chevrel-phase (CP) sulfides. We observe the effect of metal promoter-...
Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and obesity in SNAP-eligible children and adolescents.

Abstract Background Low-income individuals who are eligible for nutrition assistance have been shown to consume a larger portion of their daily calories from beverages with added sugar. We examined the association between Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation and self-reported sugar sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption as well as the association between self-reported consumption of SSBs and overweight/obesity in low-income children. Design Cross-sectional analysis of 1455 SNAP-eligible U.S. children, ages 2–17, who completed a questionnaire and physical examination during the 2009–2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Results SNAP-eligible children who received SNAP in the last month were more likely to drink soda in the last month [76.0% (2.2)] than those who did not receive benefits [70.5% (2.8)]. These children were also more likely to drink fruit drinks [74.8% (1.6) vs. 69.3% (3.1)]. Among youth in households receiving SNAP benefits, soda consumption in the past month was associated with a greater risk of obesity, particularly Hispanic youth [OR = 1.93 (1.07, 3.50), p = 0.0314] aged 2–5 [OR = 2.71 (1.29, 5.69), p = 0.0114]. Additionally, among youth in households receiving SNAP benefits, male children who consumed sugar-sweetened fruit drinks in the past month were significantly more likely to be overweight [3.13 (1.12, 8.73), p = 0.0315] as compared to male peers who did not consume any sugar sweetened fruit drinks. Conclusion Among youth, SNAP recipients drink more SSBs than their eligible non-recipient peers. Our results indicate that certain populations of children receiving SNAP benefits and consuming SSBs are more likely to be overweight or obese when compared to their peers who receive SNAP benefits but do not consume SSBs.
Primary Urinary Tract Lymphoma: Rare but Aggressive.

Background Primary urinary tract lymphoma (PUTL) is an uncommon disease with only a few case reports in the literature. Materials and methods Information about 1,264 patients diagnosed between 1983 and 2013 with PUTL was extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database. Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariable regression analysis were used to analyze the survival and identify prognostic factors. A comparison of nodal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) with PUTL DLBCL was performed. In addition, we compared the characteristics of kidney and bladder lymphoma. Results PUTL incidence was 1 case/1,000,000 people per year. DLBCL was found to be the predominant histology. Five-year overall survival and cancer-specific survival were 49% and 58%, respectively. DLBCL histology, male gender, stage III-IV disease, and advanced age were found to be poor prognostic factors. Surgery may be beneficial. Urinary tract DLBCL has a worse prognosis than nodal DLBCL. Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the largest population-based study of PUTL in the literature. The survival of patients has not improved in the era of modern therapies therefore new treatments are needed.
Code inspections: a web crawler exercise for students

It is well known that peer reviews are often effective in finding software bugs. This paper provides a code inspection exercise in which students work in teams to identify problems in code for a web crawler. The code is intentionally poorly written and the code used to work until the website that it visits changed its format! Students must identify poor design and documentation issues in the code. We gave this assignment to student teams in two separate semesters and found that all students identified design and documentation issues. Students were then given an assignment to either modify the existing code or to rewrite a new web crawler from scratch. Even though the modifications would have been relatively small, every team chose to rewrite the code from scratch and cited poor design and documentation issues for this decision. Our in-class discussion of the exercise revealed that the exercise illuminated the importance of good documentation.
A census of medicolegal death investigation in the United States: a need to determine the state of our nation's toxicology laboratories and their preparedness for the current drug overdose epidemic

In 2007, the Bureau of Justice Statistics reported on 2004 data collected from the Census of Medical Examiner and Coroner Offices (CMEC). The CMEC was one of the first comprehensive reports on the state of the medicolegal death investigation system in the United States and included information on administration, expenditure, workload, specialized death investigations, records and evidence retention, and resources. However, the report did not include responses on questions that were related to toxicology such as specimen retention and type of testing. The purpose of this publication is to provide the community with toxicology laboratory-specific responses from nearly 2000 medical examiner and coroner (MEC) offices. Data obtained from a BJS CMEC public use dataset for any remaining information that was not reported in the 2007 BJS report were evaluated specific to the operation of toxicology laboratories within a MEC office or specific to toxicology testing. The CMEC includes information on average operating budget for MEC offices with internal or external toxicology services, budget for toxicology/microbiology services, respondents' routine uses of toxicology analysis, toxicology specimen retention time, average turnaround times, use of computerized information management systems, and participation in federal data collections. These historical data begin to address the present state of our nation's toxicology laboratories within the medicolegal death investigation system and their preparedness for the current drug overdose epidemic.
Unsettling Feminist Philosophy: An Encounter with Tracey Moffatt's Night Cries

This essay seeks to unsettle feminist philosophy through an encounter with Aboriginal artist Tracey Moffatt, whose perspectives on intergenerational relationships between (older) white women and (younger) Indigenous women are shaped by her experiences as the Aboriginal child of a white foster mother growing up in Brisbane, Australia during the 1960s. Moffatt's short experimental film Night Cries provides an important glimpse into the violent intersections of gender, race, and power in intimate life and, in so doing, invites us to see how colonial and neocolonial policies are carried out through women's domestic labor. Seeing cross-generational and cross-racial intimacy through Moffatt's lens, I suggest, helps us to unsettle both feminist theories of motherhood and feminist practices of mentoring.
Neutral hydrocolloids promote shear-induced elasticity and gel strength of gelatinized waxy potato starch

Abstract Shear forces are important during food processing, food consumption, and food digestion, and often are estimated to evaluate their effects on product quality. However, few studies have been done on shear-induced structure changes of starch/hydrocolloid systems. Our previous work showed that gelatinized waxy potato starch forms a strong viscoelastic gel under the application of long-term low shear at low temperatures, a phenomenon that is not noted in other waxy starches such as rice and corn. In the present study, the rheological properties of gelatinized waxy potato starch in the presence of neutral (guar gum and konjac glucomannan) and anionic hydrocolloids (gum arabic, xanthan gum, sodium alginate, and pectin) were investigated. Results showed that gelatinized starch dispersions containing hydrocolloids with flexible polymer chains (guar gum, konjac glucomannan, sodium alginate, and pectin) or a highly-branched structure (gum arabic) were able to produce gels with a more liquid-like behaviour when compared to gels produced by dispersions containing hydrocolloids with rigid chains (i.e., xanthan gum). Phase separation in starch/xanthan gum system and formation of a 3D-network in the xanthan gum phase may be responsible for the strengthened gel structure resulting in high elasticity. When shearing the gelatinized waxy potato starch/hydrocolloid dispersions at 5 °C for 24 h at 20 s−1, the presence of neutral and highly viscous hydrocolloids drastically increased the gel strength, while anionic and low viscous hydrocolloids decreased it. Such decrease in gel strength was attributed to the electrostatic repulsion between anionic hydrocolloids and the naturally negatively charged phosphorylated chains of waxy potato starch.
Understanding Oxidation Resistance of Half-Heusler Alloys for in-Air High Temperature Sustainable Thermoelectric Generators.

High temperature waste heat recovery has gained tremendous interest to generate useful electricity while reducing the harmful impact on the environment. Thermoelectric (TE) solid-state materials en...
Urine Microscopy: The Utility of Urinary Casts in Patient Care – Practical and Useful Tips for Busy Clinicians

Clinical urinary assessment should include a microscopic review of urine sediment for cast morphology. Casts are generally a marker of tubular injury and serve to represent the presence of a variety of disease processes. The presence of casts can also inform the healthcare provider about disease states and allow for monitoring in certain renal conditions.
Love and the law in Cervantes

The consolidation of law and the development of legal writing during Spain's Golden Age not only helped that country become a modern state but also affected its great literature. In this fascinating book, Roberto Gonzalez Echevarria explores the works of Cervantes, showing how his representations of love were inspired by examples of human deviance and desire culled from legal discourse. Gonzalez Echevarria describes Spain's new legal policies, legislation, and institutions and explains how, at the same time, its literature became filled with love stories derived from classical and medieval sources. Examining the ways that these legal and literary developments interacted in Cervantes's work, he sheds new light on Don Quixote and other writings.
Closing the Gap: How Mayors’ Individual Attributes Affect Gender Wage Disparities in Local Bureaucracies:

Gender inequities in public organizations manifest in various forms, including gaps in leadership roles and compensation. Increasing women’s representation in elected offices may reduce gender ineq...
A MITM Based Penetration Test Efficiency Improvement Approach for Traffic-Encrypted Mobile Applications of Power Industry

The number of mobile-end businesses in power industry has surged drastically in recent years, rendering increasing demands for penetration tests over these mobile applications. On the other hand, with the raising awareness of information security, most of the applications are traffic-encrypted, which significantly reduce the efficiency during penetration test since additional decryption and re-encryption steps are required before and after forwarding test data. In order to improve the efficiency, this paper proposes a man-in-the-middle-based three-layer proxy mode to achieve automated switching between the encryption and decryption scripts. Experiment results show that the average testing duration is reduced by around 95% and can be further reduced if automated penetration test tools such as AppScan and sqlmap are utilized.
Renewable banana-peel-derived activated carbon as an inexpensive and efficient electrode material showing fascinating supercapacitive performance

Abstract Activated carbon (AC) was synthesized from banana peel by treatment of the dried, and powdered peel using a one-step chemical activation process with an aim of improving the electrochemical performance of the electrodes fabricated using this AC. Here we investigate the pyrolysis of different types of banana peel waste in order to develop a reliable platform for energy storage as well as waste management. The work comprises of designing a supercapacitor utilizing the as-synthesized AC as the electrode material with 2 M KOH as the electrolyte. The results showed that the electrode delivered a specific capacitance value of 227 F g-1 at 1 A g-1 current density and maintained a value of 155.5 F g-1 at a current density of 10 A g-1 when used in a three-electrode system. Moreover, the fabricated electrode showed excellent cyclic stability with capacitance retention of ∼97% for 5000 cycles. The AC material showed an outstanding rate performance in a symmetrical two-electrode full cell configuration with an operating potential window of 0–1 V using 2 M KOH electrolyte. The fabricated symmetric cell showed a maximum energy density of 7 Wh kg−1at a power density of 250 W kg−1. The banana peel derived AC exhibits capacitance behavior and thus have the capability of broadening the electrode materials horizon and also provide broad prospect in various specialized applications.
Application of Virtual 3D Reproduction Technology in Interactive Intelligence of Game Design

Games have evolved from the beginning of human civilization to modern times. One of the oldest and most popular are the role-playing games, which allow the player to enjoy playing a role in a game and play a variety of game characters. In this paper, the similarity and redundancy of 3D object information are used, and CS technology is combined to improve the computational efficiency, while alleviating the high energy consumption in the sampling and transmission process of the diffraction field. In the whole process of the experiment, this paper uses information visualization tools to analyze and summarize the data in the experiment.
Association of Tenebrio molitor L. alpha-amylase with two protein inhibitors--one monomeric, one dimeric--from wheat flour. Differential scanning calorimetric comparison of heat stabilities.

Abstract Thermal stabilization resulting from protein · protein association between two protein inhibitors (coded as 0.19, a dimer, and 0.28, a monomer) from wheat flour and the α-amylase from Tenebrio molitor L. (yellow mealworm) larvae was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (heating rate 10°C/min). Thermograms (plots of heat flow vs. temperature) for the two inhibitors showed broad endothermic peaks with the same extrema (denaturation temperatures) at 93°C, and equal, small enthalpies of denaturation (2 cal/g). The amylase produced a sharp endotherm at 70.5°C, but a larger enthalpy change on denaturation (6 cal/g). The amylase · inhibitor complexes differed in thermal stability, but both showed significant stabilization relative to free enzyme. The complex formed with monomeric inhibitor 0.28 showed a higher denaturation temperature (85.0°C) than that formed with dimeric inhibitor 0.19 (80.5°C). This order of stabilization agrees with the relative affinities of the inhibitors for the amylase. These thermograms are consistent with previous results which indicated that 1 mol of amylase binds 1 mol of inhibitor 0.19.
Status of PRI Finances in West Bengal Final Report

Rural government decentralization in West Bengal has been a focus of the state government since the state’s 1973 Panchayat Act. The three-tiered Panchayat Raj (PRI) system provides a role for governance at the district, block, and gram panchayat levels. The Government of West Bengal (GOWB) has been providing support and assistance to the PRIs to improve service delivery and governance. To date, the perceived problems related to the PRIs include a lack of fiscal decentralization to the PRIs, a lack of untied and own source revenues and expenditure authority, limited capacity especially at the GP level for meeting public service demands, lack of modernization and computerization of budgets, expenditures, and receipts, and poor service delivery, This paper analyzes the current state of PRI finances in the state of West Bengal and provides analysis of options of expanding the level of subnational grants.
African American Women Living with HIV/AIDS: Mental Health Issues.

Abstract The number of African American women infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is alarming. As with any other reaction to catastrophe or life threatening diseases, from the time African American women first learn of their HIV-positive serostatus they navigate various levels of acceptance and a multitude of mental health issues. This manuscript explores these issues related to African American women with HIV/AIDS. Careful consideration is given to the stages of adjustment and related mental health challenges that women might experience. Also explored are the reciprocal impact of children, other family members and significant others on the mental health status of African American women living with HIV/AIDS. Implications for clinical practice are also identified.
The polymerization and thrombin-binding properties of des-(B beta 1-42)-fibrin.

Multiple factors affect the thrombin-catalyzed conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin, including: fibrinopeptide (FPA and FPB) release leading to exposure of two types of polymerization domains ("A" and "B," respectively) in the central portion of the molecule, and exposure of a noncatalytic "secondary" thrombin-binding site in fibrin. Fibrinogen containing the FPA sequence but lacking the B beta 1-42 sequence ("des-(B beta 1-42)-fibrinogen"), was compared to native fibrinogen (containing both FPA and FPB) to investigate the role played by B beta 1-42 in the polymerization of alpha-fibrin (i.e. fibrin lacking FPA), to compare reptilase and thrombin cleavage of FPA from fibrinogen, and to explore the location and function of the secondary thrombin-binding site. Electron microscopy of evolving polymer structures (mu, 0.14; pH 7.4) plus turbidity measurements, showed that early thin fibril formation as well as subsequent lateral fibril associations were impaired in des-(B beta 1-42)-alpha-fibrin, thus indicating that the B beta 1-42 sequence contributes to the A polymerization site. Reptilase-activated des-(B beta 1-42)-alpha-fibrin polymerized even more slowly than thrombin-activated des-(B beta 1-42)-alpha-fibrin, differences that disappeared when repolymerization of preformed fibrin monomers was carried out. Since existing data indicate that thrombin releases FPA in a concerted manner, resulting in relatively rapid evolution of fully functional divalent alpha-fibrin monomers, it can be inferred that delayed fibrin assembly of reptilase fibrin is due to slower formation of divalent alpha-fibrin monomers. Thrombin-activated des-(B beta 1-42)-alpha-fibrin polymerized more rapidly at low ionic strength (mu, 0.04) than did native alpha,beta-fibrin, a reversal of their behavior at physiological ionic strength (mu, 0.14). Concomitant measurement of FPA release revealed modest slowing of release at low ionic strength from des-(B beta 1-42)-fibrinogen (t1/2, 36.5 versus 21.5 min) and marked slowing from native fibrinogen (t1/2, 138 versus 22.2 min). This behavior correlated with increased thrombin binding to native alpha,beta-fibrin at low ionic strength, coupled with weak thrombin binding to des-(B beta 1-42)-alpha-fibrin, and indicates that secondary thrombin binding plays an important role in regulating thrombin diffusion and catalytic activity. Des-(B beta 1-42)-fibrinogen lacks or has a markedly defective secondary thrombin-binding site, from which we conclude that the B beta 15-42 sequence in fibrin plays a major role in forming or providing this site.
Regulation of histone deacetylase 8 substrate specificity (768.14)

Lysine acetylation, catalyzed by lysine acetyltransferases (KATs or HATs), is an important post-translational modification of proteins such as histones, transcription factors, nuclear regulators, a...
Presentence Investigation Reports: A Relevant Justice Model Tool or a Medical Model Relic?

As the clinically driven paradigm associated with the earlier era of criminal justice policy making known as the medical model has been replaced more recently by the legislatively defined prescriptions of the justice model, accompanying changes have occurred throughout the system. From the discretion of judges to the crowding of correctional institutions, few criminal justice operational practices have escaped the influence of changing public policy ideologies as the political pendulum has swung over time; presentence investigation (PSI) reports are no exception. Once the back-bone of a microoriented emphasis on the individual offender's potential for change, the nature, role, and impact of PSIs have been transformed as the system has shifted to policy-based sentencing practices that place higher value on personal accountability and procedural uniformity. Social forces that have shaped these alterations over time are explored in this article, along with how they have progressively affected and altered the...
MgcRacGAP restricts active RhoA at the cytokinetic furrow and both RhoA and Rac1 at cell-cell junctions in epithelial cells.

Localized activation of Rho GTPases is essential for multiple cellular functions, including cytokinesis and formation and maintenance of cell–cell junctions. Although MgcRacGAP (Mgc) is required for spatially confined RhoA-GTP at the equatorial cortex of dividing cells, both the target specificity of Mgc's GAP activity and the involvement of phosphorylation of Mgc at Ser-386 are controversial. In addition, Mgc's function at cell–cell junctions remains unclear. Here, using gastrula-stage Xenopus laevis embryos as a model system, we examine Mgc's role in regulating localized RhoA-GTP and Rac1-GTP in the intact vertebrate epithelium. We show that Mgc's GAP activity spatially restricts accumulation of both RhoA-GTP and Rac1-GTP in epithelial cells—RhoA at the cleavage furrow and RhoA and Rac1 at cell–cell junctions. Phosphorylation at Ser-386 does not switch the specificity of Mgc's GAP activity and is not required for successful cytokinesis. Furthermore, Mgc regulates adherens junction but not tight junction structure, and the ability to regulate adherens junctions is dependent on GAP activity and signaling via the RhoA pathway. Together these results indicate that Mgc's GAP activity down-regulates the active populations of RhoA and Rac1 at localized regions of epithelial cells and is necessary for successful cytokinesis and cell–cell junction structure.
Oyster Wars and the Public Trust: Property, Law, and Ecology in New Jersey History.

Oyster Wars and the Public Trust: Property, Law, and Ecology in New Jersey History. Bonnie J. McCay. Tucson: University of Arizona Press, 1998. 246 pp.
Techniques in Assessing Fatigue in Neuromuscular Diseases

Fatigue is common in neuromuscular disease and it may affect quality of life; however, it has not been adequately studied. We can approach fatigue in neuromuscular diseases systematically. Questionnaires are used to assess subjective or experienced fatigue, and with the wide availability of the Internet, many patients can fill out questionnaires through Web-based surveys. Researchers can use force-generation protocols to evaluate physical fatigability and attention protocols to evaluate mental fatigability. Using these techniques to further understand the mechanisms of subjective and physiologic fatigue will help physicians to develop more effective treatments for fatigue and improve patients' quality of life.
The diversity and distribution of toxigenic Microcystis spp. in present day and archived pelagic and sediment samples from Lake Erie

The reoccurrence of significant cyanobacterial blooms in Lake Erie during the last 13 years has raised questions concerning the long-term persistence of microcystin-producing cyanobacteria and the presence of natural sediment reservoirs for potentially toxic cyanobacteria in this large lake system. To address these questions, we analyzed phytoplankton and sediment samples which were collected and preserved in the 1970s as well as samples collected in 2004 from locations within Lake Erie. The identification of microcystin-producing cyanobacteria in Lake Erie was examined via PCR amplification of the mcyA gene fragment. Based on the high % sequence similarity, the mcyA sequences from all 1970s phytoplankton and sediment samples were determined to belong to Microcystis spp., in spite of reports suggesting that Lake Erie was dominated by filamentous cyanobacteria in the 1970s. In sediment samples from 2004, signature genes for Microcystis were distributed and preserved not only in the surface sediments but also up to 10–12 cm in depth. Based on cell quantities determined by a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method, 0.18% of eubacteria in the sediments were Microcystis cells, of which 4.8% were potential microcystin producers. In combination with experiments showing that Microcystis cells can be cultured from Lake Erie surface sediments, this paper demonstrates the potential for these sediments to act as a reservoir for pelagic Microcystis populations and that the composition of the population of microcystin-producing cyanobacteria in Lake Erie has not changed remarkably since the 1970s.
Prognostication and management of patients who are comatose after cardiac arrest

The development of cardiopulmonary resuscitation by Peter Safar and others has had the unintended consequence of increasing the number of patients surviving in coma from hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Neurologists often assess the prognosis for functional recovery of these patients, communicate this prognostic information to the patient’s family, and help manage the patient through the initial post-arrest period and through subsequent recovery, rehabilitation, or transition to palliative management. Prognostication in the United States has predominantly been based on physical findings elicited at defined time points after resuscitation, typically using data from the work of the Cornell group.1,2 In the past 25 years, many have attempted to improve prognostication by adding electrophysiologic or biochemical tests. Of the electrophysiologic studies tested, short-latency somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) emerged as the most robust predictor of poor outcome: loss of the cortical …
Identification of the proteoglycan versican in aorta and smooth muscle cells by DNA sequence analysis, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry

Versican is a large chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG) initially identified in cultured human fibroblasts. Previous studies have shown that there is a versican-like molecule in cultured monkey smooth muscle cells. In this study, we have cloned and sequenced the large CSPG from cultured monkey smooth muscle cells, fetal and juvenile monkey aorta, and human fetal aorta. The cDNA sequence from human fetal aorta is completely homologous to the human fibroblast versican. We obtained 2.5 kb of cDNA sequence from monkey aortic RNA and cultured monkey smooth muscle cell RNA. This sequence covers three distinct domains of versican (hyaluronic acid binding domain, glycosaminoglycan attachment domain and protein binding domain) and demonstrates over 90% homology to the human versican sequence. In situ hybridization histochemistry indicates that the versican RNA transcript is located in the epithelium throughout the tunica media of the aorta. Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry also confirm the presence of versican in human and monkey aorta.
Characterization of type-II thyroxine 5′-deiodinase activity in rat Harderian gland

Thyroxine 5'-deiodinase activity was studied in male rat Harderian gland homogenates. The reaction rate was proportional to the tissue content in the homogenate and dependent on pH, with an optimum pH of 7.0, and temperature, between 4-37 degrees C. 5'-deiodinase activity was increased by dithiothreitol (DTT) in a dose-dependent manner, and inhibited moderately by propylthiouracil (PTU) and strongly by iopanoic acid (IA). Thyroidectomy enhanced the enzymatic activity (30-fold above the control value) but this increase is totally prevented by the in vivo iopanoic acid treatment. Thyroxine 5'-deiodinase activity was also dependent on T4 concentration (Km = 3.3 nM; Vmax = 10 fmol 125I-released/mg protein/h) and exhibited a nyctohemeral rhythmicity with a maximal activity at 03.00 h (4-fold above basal values) and minimal activity between 12.00-21.00 h.
The Use and Role of Pop Culture in Heritage Language Learning: A Study of Advanced Learners of Korean

Despite the important use of pop culture in many instructional settings, its use in the heritage language (HL) classroom remains largely unexplored. Thus, this article reports findings from classroom-based qualitative research that examined the use and role of pop culture in advanced Korean HL learners’ literacy engagement and identity construction. Data analyses of the learners’ reading presentations and writing projects revealed that they extensively drew upon the heritage media and pop culture for their in-class literacy practices. Pop culture served as a contact point for their literacy practice, helped reexamine or strengthen their ethnic identity from a global perspective, and provided a window to discuss social issues and explore them. Findings suggest pedagogical implications for using pop culture in HL and foreign language classrooms.
Expanding the Genetic Code of Escherichia coli with Phosphoserine

O-Phosphoserine (Sep), the most abundant phosphoamino acid in the eukaryotic phosphoproteome, is not encoded in the genetic code, but synthesized posttranslationally. Here, we present an engineered system for specific cotranslational Sep incorporation (directed by UAG) into any desired position in a protein by an Escherichia coli strain that harbors a Sep-accepting transfer RNA (tRNA(Sep)), its cognate Sep-tRNA synthetase (SepRS), and an engineered EF-Tu (EF-Sep). Expanding the genetic code rested on reengineering EF-Tu to relax its quality-control function and permit Sep-tRNA(Sep) binding. To test our system, we synthesized the activated form of human mitogen-activated ERK activating kinase 1 (MEK1) with either one or two Sep residues cotranslationally inserted in their canonical positions (Sep(218), Sep(222)). This system has general utility in protein engineering, molecular biology, and disease research.
Longitudinal associations between violence and suicidality from adolescence into adulthood.

The link between violence and suicide is well documented. Previous studies, however, largely rely on cross-sectional designs or only consider violence as an antecedent of suicide. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the longitudinal relationship between violence and suicide from adolescence into young adulthood. Data were derived from Wave II (1995-1996), Wave III (2001-2002), and Wave IV (2007-2008) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (N = 8,966). We tested (2011-2013) a series of path analysis models in Mplus to determine the longitudinal associations between violence and suicidality. Results from the path analyses indicated that violence and suicidality mutually affect each other from adolescence into young adulthood. We found some evidence that the association between suicidality and violence was stronger for males compared to females, particularly in early and young adulthood. The current study confirms previous findings by demonstrating that violence is a risk factor for future suicide. We also extended the previous literature by demonstrating that a history of suicidality is associated with future risk for violence. Our findings highlight the importance of further integrating prevention efforts to reduce violence and suicidality during adolescence and early/young adulthood. Language: en
Cyclotron production of PET radionuclides : no-carrier-added fluorine-18 (109.77 min; β+ 96.9%; EC 3.1%) with high-energy protons on sodium targets

Abstract The production of no-carrier-added (NCA) 18 F from reactions induced by high-energy protons on Na-containing targets was studied. Single (mCi/μAh) and cumulative yields (mCi/μAh) for 18 F were measured in the 67.5–20 MeV proton energy range. Total cross sections (mbarns) were then calculated from the experimental radionuclide yields. Preliminary results of a radiochemical process to separate and purify NCA 18 F from Na targets are also reported and evaluated. The production of 18 F from Na is compared with other existing techniques as well as with other high-energy proton-induced reactions on solid targets (Al, Mg) reported previously. Other radionuclides (i.e. 24 Na, 22 Na, 7 Be and 34m Cl) were also produced with protons on NaCl and Na 2 CO 3 targets. The effects of these radiocontaminants is also discussed. Finally, a comparison is made for the 23 Na(p,x) excitation function, measured experimentally and calculated using the ALICE82 nuclear reaction code.
Isolation of intact nuclei from Euglena gracilis

Abstract A method for the isolation of nuclei from the lower eukaryote, Euglena gracilis , utilizing MES buffer at pH 5.5 and sodium meta bisulfite is presented. The method takes advantage of the finding that sodium meta bisulfite reversibly alters the density of the nuclei allowing them to be separated from cytoplasmic fragments and unbroken whole cells. Nuclei are obtained in a yield of 25–37 %, appear intact ultrastructurally, and contain acid-soluble proteins in an amount relatively the same as found in higher cell nuclei.
The persistent effect of wave exposure on TMIIs and crab predation in Nucella lapillus

Abstract Trait-mediated indirect interactions (TMIIs) can vary across mosaics of wave exposure due to variation in predator abundance, foraging efficiency, or morphological and behavioral responses to predators. In this study, we compared how whelks, Nucella lapillus , from several wave-exposed and wave-protected populations transmitted TMIIs initiated by waterborne cues from crab predators ( Carcinus maenas and Cancer borealis ) and a seastar ( Asterias rubens ). In laboratory experiments, whelks taken from wave-exposed environments consumed fewer mussels ( Mytilus edulis ) than did whelks from wave-protected populations. Whelks from wave-protected sites reduced foraging when exposed to cues from Cancer , Carcinus , Asterias , or both Carcinus and Asterias , but whelks from wave-exposed sites only responded to Cancer . In predation trials, both crabs readily consumed whelks taken from wave-exposed populations, but only Cancer consumed the whelks from wave-protected populations. Although Carcinus could crush thin-shelled, wave-exposed whelks, in the presence of Asterias these whelks were consumed by “winkling”. The differing responses of wave-exposed and wave-protected whelks may be explained by several factors: 1) the abiotic stress of wave action may generate a persistent reduction in the overall feeding rates of wave-exposed whelks, rendering TMIIs undetectable, 2) some predators may not threaten whelks in wave-exposed environments, and 3) the threat of wave dislodgement may supercede the threat of predators. Thus, the extent to which Nucella transmits TMIIs will likely depend on the wave-exposure history of whelk populations and the initiating top predator species.
Mechanism for Degradation of Nafion in PEM Fuel Cells from Quantum Mechanics Calculations

We report results of quantum mechanics (QM) mechanistic studies of Nafion membrane degradation in a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell. Experiments suggest that Nafion degradation is caused by generation of trace radical species (such as OH●, H●) only when in the presence of H2, O2, and Pt. We use density functional theory (DFT) to construct the potential energy surfaces for various plausible reactions involving intermediates that might be formed when Nafion is exposed to H2 (or H+) and O2 in the presence of the Pt catalyst. We find a barrier of 0.53 eV for OH radical formation from HOOH chemisorbed on Pt(111) and of 0.76 eV from chemisorbed OOHad, suggesting that OH might be present during the ORR, particularly when the fuel cell is turned on and off. Based on the QM, we propose two chemical mechanisms for OH radical attack on the Nafion polymer: (1) OH attack on the S–C bond to form H2SO4 plus a carbon radical (barrier: 0.96 eV) followed by decomposition of the carbon radical to form an epoxid...
Fisher syndrome in childhood.

UMMARY Three children are described with acute onset of ophthalmoplegia, ataxia and areflexia. These cases closely resemble those described by Fisher and subsequently referred to as the Fisher syndrome. The eventual outcome was favorable with almost complete recovery in all three cases. While the authors recognize this disorder and the Guillain-Barre syndrome as related conditions in a spectrum of neurologic disease, the rationale for maintaining them as nosologically separate is presented. There appears to be reasonably firm evidence for central nervous system involvement in those with the Fisher syndrome. The authors would prefer to restrict the term ‘Guillain-Barre’ to those with peripheral nervous system disease from the clinical standpoint. The problems of differential diagnosis in this syndrome are reviewed. RESUME Les auteurs decrivent trois enfants ayant presentes une ophtalmoplegie, une ataxie et une areflexie a debut brutal. Ces cas ressemblent a ceux qui ont ete deAcrits par Fisher et denommes par la suite Syndrome de Fisher. L'evolution a eteA favorable avec recuperation pratiquement complete dans les trois cas. Les auteurs reconnaissent que ce trouble et le syndrome de ‘Guillain-Barre-Strohl’ doivent etre rapproches au sein des maladies neurologiques mais ils indiquent les raisons qui leur paraissent justifier une separation nosologique. II semble en effet qu'il y a une participation de l'atteinte du systeme nerveux central dans le syndrome de Fisher. Les auteurs prefereraient restreindre le terme de syndrome de ‘Guillain-Barre-Strohl’ aux troubles cliniques limites au territoire du systeme nerveux peripherique. Les problemes du diagnostic differentiel de ce syndrome sont revus. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Es werden drei Kinder mit akutem Beginn einer Ophthalmoplegic Ataxie und Areflexie beschrieben. Diese Falle gleichen den von Fisher beschriebenen und in der Folge als Fisher-Syndrom erwahnten sehr genau. Der Verlauf war letztlich gutartig, mit einer fast volligen Genesung in alien drei Fallen. Die Autoren erkennen die nahe Verwandtschaft dieser Erkrankung mit dem Guillain-Barre-Strohl-Syndrom im Hinblick auf die neurologische Storung, legen jedoch die Grunde dar, die fur eine nosologische Trennung sprechen. Es scheint ziemlich klare Anhaltspunkte zu geben, die fur eine Beteiligung des Zentralen Nervensystems beim Fisher-Syndrom sprechen. Die Autoren neigen dazu, die Bezeichnung ‘Guillain-Barre-Strohl-Syndrom’ auf Falle mit klinischer Erkrankung des peripheren Nervensystems zu beschranken. Die Probleme der Differentialdiagnose bei diesem Syndrom werden erortert.