cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Technology in the Freshman Biology Classroom: Breaking the Dual Learning Curve

has, without doubt, revolutionized the teaching of biology. The ease of information accessibility via the web has made it possible for instructors to greatly enhance the learning environment with supplemental information. Even the smallest and most rural schools now have access to current discoveries and issues in the biological sciences, as well as expanded library facilities, virtual tours of museums, and online tutori
Elastic Effect on Domain Morphology and Kinetics of Spinodal Decomposition in the Tetragonal System

A method was proposed for calculation of the effect of elastic strain on spinodal decomposition in the tetragonal system. An effective free energy for the composition field was derived by eliminating elastic fields which are coherently induced by composition inhomogeneities It was shown that anisotropic long-range interactions between composition fields play a major role in determining both the domainmorphology and domain growth law of spinodal decomposition with the coherence of the lattice. Computers simulations were performed on the basis of a two-dimensional model by taking into account those long-range interactions. The results demonstrated the appearance of lamella structure and its coarsening in the late stage of the phase separation The calculation for the TiO2-SnO2 system showed slow coarsening due to the anisotropic elastic long -range interactions The asymptotic growth of the lamella size was described by λα tn, where n is 0.18.
A comparison of propofol with methohexital and isoflurane in two general anesthetic techniques

The purpose of this study was to compare two general anesthetic techniques involving oral intubation for use in outpatient third molar surgery. Fifty American Society of Anesthesiologists I or II patients were randomly allocated to two groups. Group 1 received methohexital, isoflurane, nitrous oxide, and alfentanil, while group 2 received propofol, alfentanil, and nitrous oxide. An analysis of the results showed that although the technique used in group 2 cost more, had a slightly longer induction time, and produced a similar duration of apnea, it did not cause significant hypotension (as previously reported), and had a significantly better overall recovery. It was concluded that the use of propofol in the outpatient surgery setting may be a valuable addition to the oral and maxillofacial surgeon's anesthetic armamentarium.
WLCp1-08: Throughput of Power-limited Wireless Networks with Processing Energy Considerations

It is widely believed that "whispering to the nearest neighbor" (ie. taking a large number of short hops) is the throughput optimal routing scheme for all ad-hoc wireless networks. We show that for power-limited networks where processing energy is not an insignificant factor, instead of taking short hops, there exists a characteristic hop distance that, along with load balancing, can attain high throughput, even for networks with a small number of nodes. In fact, the "whisper to the nearest neighbor" routing scheme leads to strictly suboptimal uniform throughput on the order of O(radic(inN/N)) when processing energy is considered. We show that taking thetas(1) number of hops is throughput, energy, and delay optimal, achieving thetas(1) uniform capacity under uniform traffic. These results are contrary to previous results on the capacity of power-limited wireless networks under a zero-processing energy assumption, which showed that capacity increases with increasing number of nodes. Hence, failing to account for processing energy not only leads to suboptimal routing schemes, but also leads to inflated optimism about the capacity scaling behavior of power-limited wireless networks.
Review of Research: “A Metaphor is Pinning Air to the Wall”: A Literature Review of the Child's Use of Metaphor

(2000). Review of Research: “A Metaphor is Pinning Air to the Wall”: A Literature Review of the Child's Use of Metaphor. Childhood Education: Vol. 77, No. 2, pp. 96-99.
Paul and Pain: Paul's Emotional Therapy in 2 Corinthians 1.1–2.13; 7.5–16 in the Context of Ancient Psychagogic Literature*

Paul's ‘therapeutic epistle’ in 2 Cor 1.1–2.13; 7.5–16 provides material for a comparative analysis of Paul's view of the emotions and emotional therapy in the context of ancient psychagogic literature. Paul's treatment of ‘remorse’ and ‘repentance’ demonstrates his familiarity with the discourse of the philosophers on the role of the passions in moral progress. Paul's account of ‘pain’ is shown to be anomalous in the context of ancient psychagogic literature shaped by a Stoicizing theory of the emotions. Paul emerges from this comparative analysis as the harbinger of change in the ancient theory of the emotions and the practice of emotional therapy.
Hematite and Calcite Coatings on Fossil Vertebrates

ABSTRACT Hematite coatings are common on vertebrate fossils from Paleocene/Eocene paleosol deposits in the Bighorn Basin, Wyoming. In general, hematite coatings are found only on fossils and are limited to soils exhibiting hydromorphic features and moderate maturity. Petrographic and isotopic evidence suggests that hematite and micritic calcite formed at nearly the same time in a pedogenic environment, whereas sparry calcite formed later at greater burial depths. The parent material of paleosols is rich in iron, supplying an ample source of iron for hematite formation. Decomposition of animal tissues around bones may enhance the weathering of iron-bearing minerals in soils surrounding carcasses, while the bones might provide favorable sites for iron accumulation. The predominance of discrete smectite, together with regional geothermal history, suggests that burial temperatures have not exceeded 70°C. Hematite coatings on fossils can serve as a substrate for geochemical analysis in continental paleoclimatic research, owing to their pedogenic origin, abundance, and resistance to diagenetic alteration.
Clinical and molecular aspects of an informative family with neurofibromatosis type 1 and Noonan phenotype

Neurofibromatosis-Noonan syndrome (NFNS) has been described as a unique phenotype, combining manifestations of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and Noonan syndrome, which are separate syndromes. Potential etiologies of NFNS include a discrete syndrome of distinct etiology, co-segregation of two mutated common genes, variable clinical expressivity of NF1, and/or allelic heterogeneity. We present an informative family with an unusual NF1 mutation with variable features of NF1 and Noonan syndrome. We hypothesize that an NF1 mutant allele can lead to diagnostic manifestations of Noonan syndrome, supporting the hypothesis that NF1 allelic heterogeneity causes NFNS.
Morphology and microstructure in fused silica induced by high fluence ultraviolet 3ω (355 nm) laser pulses

The morphology and microstructure induced in high quality fused silica by UV (355 nm) laser pulses at high fluence (10–45 J/cm 2 ) have been investigated using a suite of microscopic and spectroscopic tools. The laser beam has a near-Gaussian profile with a 1/e 2 diameter of� 0.98 mm at the sample plane and a pulse length FWHM (full width at half maximum) of 7.5 ns. The damage craters consist of a molten core region (thermal explosion), surrounded by a near concentric region of fractured material. The latter arises from propagation of lateral cracks induced by the laser-generated shock waves, which also compact the crater wall,� 10 lm thick and� 20% higher in density. The size of the damage crater varies with laser fluence, number of pulses, and laser irradiation history. In the compaction layer, there is no detectable change in the Si/O stoichiometry to within ±1.6% and no crystalline nano-particles of Si were observed. Micro(1–10 lm) and nano- (20–200 nm) cracks are found, however. A lower valence Si 3+ species on the top 2–3 nm of the compaction layer is evident from the Si 2p XPS. The results are used to construct a physical model of the damage crater and to gain critical insight into laser damage process. � 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. PACS: 61.80.Ba; 61.72.Ji; 78.60.Hk; 76.30.Mi
Variance Estimation After Imputation

Imputation is commonly used to compensate for item nonresponse. Variance estimation after imputation has generated considerable discussion and several variance estimators have been proposed. We propose a variance estimator based on a pseudo data set used only for variance estimation. Standard complete data variance estimators applied to the pseudo data set lead to consistent estimators for linear estimators under various imputation methods, including without­replacement hot deck imputation and with­replacement hot deck imputation. The asymptotic equivalence of the proposed method and the adjusted jackknife method of Rao and Sitter (1995) is illustrated. The proposed method is directly applicable to variance estimation for two­phase sampling.
Paradoxes of Constitutional Democracy

Drawing on the work of Frank Michelman and Jurgen Habermas, I outline two interconnected paradoxes of constitutional democracy. The paradox of the founding prevents a purely democratic constitution from being founded, because the procedures needed to secure its legitimacy cannot be spontaneously self‐generated. It displays an infinite regression of procedures presupposing procedures. The paradox of dynamic indeterminacy heads off any attempt to resolve this problem through constitutional amendment. It shows that we cannot evaluate the legitimacy of a dynamically evolving constitution based on projections of its future development. To do so, we would need a stronger basis for making probabilistic judgments about the constitution's future path. After exploring the problems of using constitutional patriotism as such a basis, I outline an alternative built on the ideas of dynamic constitutionalism and reflexive citizenship. It shows how a dynamically evolving constitution can promote its own legitimacy from within, simultaneously resolving both paradoxes.
Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Women Who Have Sex With Women

Women who have sex with women (WSW) are a diverse group with variations in sexual identity, sexual behaviors, sexual practices, and risk behaviors. WSW are at risk of acquiring bacterial, viral, and protozoal sexually transmitted infections (STIs) from current and prior partners, both male and female. Bacterial vaginosis is common among women in general and even more so among women with female partners. WSW should not be presumed to be at low or no risk for STIs based on sexual orientation, and reporting of same-sex behavior by women should not deter providers from considering and performing screening for STIs, including chlamydia, in their clients according to current guidelines. Effective delivery of sexual health services to WSW requires a comprehensive and open discussion of sexual and behavioral risks, beyond sexual identity, between care providers and their female clients.
Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy is Safe and Effective Following Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation Therapy

Minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) is technically demanding, and implementation has been hindered by a steep learning curve. Despite widespread concern about the successful performance of this procedure following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACR) treatment, we hypothesized that safe and effective MIE could be performed in this setting. We reviewed our prospective database of patients undergoing MIE for esophageal cancer at our institution between January 2008 and February 2010. We analyzed the association of NACR on perioperative outcomes and compared them with those patients undergoing MIE without NACR. NACR was used in ≥T2 or N+ tumors. A total of 61 consecutive patients underwent a planned MIE. A complete MIE or hybrid procedure was performed in 58 patients (95%), while 3 patients were unresectable. Median age was 67 years (range 38–85). Anastomoses were performed in the cervical region in 47 patients (81%) while 11 patients had an anastomosis in the right chest. Serious complications included: 3 cervical anastomotic leaks (5%), 2 thoracic duct leaks (4%), 12 pneumonias (21%), 10 atrial fibrillations (18%), and 1 death in a patient not undergoing NACR. NACR was used in 41 patients. There was no significant difference in estimated blood loss (EBL), complications, or negative pathologic margins in patients undergoing NACR with MIE vs. MIE alone (P = NS). Median number of lymph nodes excised and PostOp LOS was 15 and 11 in patients undergoing NACR compared with 13 and 9 in those undergoing MIE alone (P = NS). MIE is safe following NACR. Excellent results can be achieved with this operation in patients with advanced tumors.
Impact of Public Land Programs on Local Government Finances

Public land ownership is often assumed to adversely affect the fiscal capacity of local governments through removal of part of the property tax base. A method employing multiple regression analysis was developed to test this hypothesis in a forested region of Pennsylvania. Neither higher tax rates on private land nor reduced levels of per capita local government expenditures were found to be associated with large amounts of public land, thereby indicating that local governments are not placed at an economic disadvantage by public land programs. Extended use of this analytical technique could result in better public policy decisions on resource use.
Improved fractional step method for simulating fluid‐structure interaction using the PFEM

SUMMARY Numerical difficulties are present in the particle finite element method even though it has been shown to be a powerful and effective approach to simulating fluid-structure interaction. To overcome problems of mass loss on the free surface and the added-mass effect, an improved fractional step method (FSM) that handles added-mass terms in a mathematically exact way is developed. A further benefit is that no assumptions regarding the structural response are made in handling added-mass terms, thus it is straightforward to incorporate material nonlinearity in fluid-structure interaction (FSI) under this approach. Patch tests and comparisons with experimental data are presented in order to verify and validate the improved FSM for FSI applications. The computational cost of this approach is shown to be negligible compared with the other aspects of the FSM, particularly when the size of the structure and the fluid-structure interface is small relative to the volume of fluid. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Persistence of bacteria and phages in a chemostat

The model of bacteriophage predation on bacteria in a chemostat formulated by Levin et al. (Am Nat 111:3–24, 1977) is generalized to include a distributed latent period, distributed viral progeny release from infected bacteria, unproductive adsorption of phages to infected cells, and possible nutrient uptake by infected cells. Indeed, two formulations of the model are given: a system of delay differential equations with infinite delay, and a more general infection-age model that leads to a system of integro-differential equations. It is shown that the bacteria persist, and sharp conditions for persistence and extinction of phages are determined by the reproductive ratio for phage relative to the phage-free equilibrium. A novel feature of our analysis is the use of the Laplace transform.
Signals emanating from the membrane proximal region of the thrombopoietin receptor (mpl) support hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal

Objective Studies using thrombopoietin −/− (TPO −/− ) or TPO receptor, mpl −/− mice have established a critical role for TPO/mpl signaling in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) development. In this study, we further dissected mpl signaling in both megakaryopoiesis and HSC function, using mice bearing a truncated mpl receptor lacking the distal 60 amino acids (Δ60). This deletion removes three major signaling tyrosines on the mpl cytoplasmic domain, but retains the membrane proximal Box1 and Box2 domains required for JAK2 activation. Materials and Methods Competitive bone marrow transplantations (BMT) and serial BMTs were performed to study HSC function. Western blot analysis was used to study TPO-stimulated signaling pathways. BM cell cultures in the presence of TPO were used to study megakaryocyte development. Results In agreement with prior findings, we show that Δ60 BM cells cultured in TPO generated normal numbers of megakaryocytes, but with greatly reduced ploidy. As expected from the deletion of three signaling tyrosine residues, freshly isolated Δ60 megakaryocytes showed marked reduction in all known TPO-stimulated signaling pathways tested, including signal transducers and activators of transcription (Stat) 5, Stat3, Akt, and p42/44 mitogen-activated kinase. We found that Δ60 mice displayed normal short-term (ST-HSC) activities and marginally compromised long-term (LT-HSC) stem cell activities in primary transplantation. In addition, Δ60 mice supported HSC self-renewal for at least two serial BMTs. Conclusion Our data reveal a pivotal role for an unknown signal emanating from the membrane proximal region of the mpl receptor or from JAK2 itself in maintaining stem cell activity and self-renewal, in addition to its role in megakaryocytopoiesis and thrombopoiesis.
Stable Partial Pade Approximations for Reduced Order Transfer Functions

While the Pade approximation can often be used to produce good reduced order transfer functions, the method suffers from the disadvantage that a stable reduced order model is not always obtained for an original model that is stable. A method is described for obtaining stable partial Pade approximation reduced order models. The method permits the determination of the effect of changes in the coefficients in the partial Pade approximation on the poles of the reduced order transfer function by means of standard root locus plots.
Behavior, reproduction, and immunity of crated pregnant gilts: effects of high dietary fiber and rearing environment.

The objective of this study was to examine effects of increased gut fill and diverse developing environments on pregnant gilts' behavior and physiology. Gilts were cross-fostered at 1 d of age and transferred to either an indoor or outdoor production unit. Littermate gilts remained in their different environments during development and were moved into individual gestation crates in an indoor gestation unit. Of the 42 gilts, 19 were fed a control diet of fortified sorghum-soybean meal and 23 were fed the same diet with 25% beet pulp (high fiber). Control sows ate 2.0 kg/d and high-fiber sows ate 2.67 kg/d in a large pellet (thus resulting in approximately equal energy intake and differing total dietary intakes). Pregnant gilts had behavior and immune measures sampled at 30, 60, and 90 d of gestation. The day x diet interaction was significant (P = 0.01) for duration of standing: sows fed high-fiber diets stood less on d 30, but on d 60 and 90 they and the control sows stood for a similar duration. Sham chewing duration and frequency showed significant (P 0.10) by diets and rearing environments, suggesting that in spite of significant changes in behavior and feed intake gilts' immune systems were not suppressed or enhanced. Behavioral data alone suggested that indoor-reared gilts showed fewer behavioral adaptations to the crates than outdoor-reared gilts. However, immune measures did not indicate that any treatments resulted in physiological effects indicative of stress.
3D graphene based materials for energy storage

Abstract Three-dimensional graphene based materials have attracted great attention as they not only possess the intrinsic properties of graphene, but also provide high specific surface area, low density, good electrical conductivity, and excellent mechanical properties. As a consequence, three-dimensional graphene materials have been extensively studied for various potential applications, including supercapacitors and batteries for energy storage. Here, we present a focused review on recent progresses and challenges in the synthesis of three-dimensional graphene materials and their applications in energy storage devices.
Kinematics of initiating a two-joint arm movement in patients with cerebellar ataxia.

OBJECTIVE To characterize kinematically any systematic aberration in multi-joint movements in cerebellar ataxia. METHODS Nine patients with cerebellar degeneration and nine normal subjects, mobile only at the shoulder and elbow of the right arm, were required to produce left-to-right cross-body linear hand trajectories on the horizontal surface of a digitizing tablet. Nonlinearity indicated failure of precise coordination of the two joints. A wide range of hand speeds was studied. Data analysis was restricted primarily to the first 130 ms of movement. RESULTS As hand velocities increased, normal subjects and, especially, patients produced misdirected, curved paths. Normal subjects had significant curvature when peak speeds exceeded 100 cm/s and a trend toward significant bi-directional angular deviation at velocities greater than 300 cm/s. In patients, peak path curvature was significantly greater than normal at peak velocities of 50 to 200 cm/s. By 3.3 cm, their paths deviated significantly outward at all but the slowest speeds. Overall, patients' maximal hand velocities and shoulder angular velocities, as well as maximal angular accelerations at both joints, were significantly lower than normal. CONCLUSIONS The patients' trajectory aberrations were attributed to a deficient rate of rotation at the shoulder relative to that at the elbow. Relative to task requirements, their rate of torque development was apparently deficient at both joints. but to a greater degree at the shoulder. Joint torque-rate impairment may contribute to the ataxia in both multi- and single-joint movements of patients with cerebellar disorders. A similar, but smaller impairment may produce milder nonlinearity in high-velocity movements of normal subjects.
Transmission and Prevention of Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B virus usually causes acute, self-limited disease. Some persons who are infected become chronic carriers, especially young infants infected at birth by mothers who are themselves chronic carriers. In Asia and Africa the carrier rate is extremely high and is associated with chronic hepatic disease and liver cancer. In the U.S.A. people at high risk for Hepatitis B include hospital personnel and homosexuals. Means of prevention for those at high risk include high titer gamma globulin, which is only partly effective, and a vaccine made from viral proteins. Newer, more purified vaccines are presently being developed.
Implication and the Concept of a Constitution

Recent decisions of the High Court of Australia have highlighted a distinction between two conceptions of written constitutions that may be applied by judicial interpreters. One treats constitutional text as defining governmental powers and limitations thereon, whilst the other, more controversially, treats the text as merely illustrating broader, unwritten principles that ultimately set the scope of governmental powers. This article analyses the distinction and traces the history of the "illustrative" conception as applied in Australian and United States constitutional adjudication.
Engineering the Dispersion of Photonic Crystal Waveguides for Counter-Directional Signal and Pump Propagation

A waveguide formed by coupled defects in a photonic crystal is a versatile building block for multifunctional photonic devices because the spatial geometry determines the dispersion relationship. We design a waveguide in which there are two distinct and narrow bands: a 1550 nm waveguiding band co-existing with a counter-propagating 1480 nm waveguiding band. Such a characteristic is ideally suited for diode-pumped all-optical information processing devices and lasers at telecommunications wavelengths.
Information society and cognitive action

Contemporary society has become information society. The main features of information society are universality, electrification, network, media and digit of information. Information society brings about deep effects and charges, and many problems to cognitive action.
On Environmental Development

Environmental development has become a global heated topic, for it concerns the realization of sustainable development.Correctly understanding the environmental development's importance and urgency can impel us to explore effective avenues to environmental development.In this article, the importance and the urgency of environmental development are analyzed and ways to improve environment are offered.
The Human Papillomavirus 16 E7 Oncoprotein Attenuates AKT Signaling To Promote Internal Ribosome Entry Site-Dependent Translation and Expression of c-MYC

UNLABELLED While the role of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) oncoproteins E6 and E7 in targeting p53 and retinoblastoma (Rb) has been intensively studied, how E6 and E7 manipulate cellular signaling cascades to promote the viral life cycle and cancer development is less understood. Keratinocytes containing the episomal HPV-16 genome had decreased activation of AKT, which was phenocopied by HPV-16 E7 expression alone. Attenuation of phosphorylated AKT (pAKT) by E7 was independent of the Rb degradation function of E7 but could be ablated by a missense mutation in the E7 carboxy terminus, H73E, thereby defining a novel structure-function phenotype for E7. Downstream of AKT, reduced phosphorylation of p70 S6K and 4E-BP1 was also observed in E7-expressing keratinocytes, which coincided with an increase in internal ribosomal entry site (IRES)-dependent translation that enhanced the expression of several cellular proteins, including MYC, Bax, and the insulin receptor. The decrease in pAKT mediated by E7 is in contrast to the widely observed increase of pAKT in invasive cervical cancers, suggesting that the activation of AKT signaling could be acquired during the progression from initial productive infections to invasive carcinomas. IMPORTANCE HPV causes invasive cervical cancers through the dysregulation of the cell cycle regulators p53 and Rb, which are degraded by the viral oncoproteins E6 and E7, respectively. Signaling cascades contribute to cancer progression and cellular differentiation, and how E6 and E7 manipulate those pathways remains unclear. The phosphoinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway regulates cellular processes, including proliferation, cell survival, and cell differentiation. Surprisingly, we found that HPV-16 decreased the phosphorylation of AKT (pAKT) and that this is a function of E7 that is independent of the Rb degradation function. This is in contrast to the observed increase in AKT signaling in nearly 80% of cervical cancers, which typically show an acquired mutation within the PI3K/AKT cascade leading to constitutive activation of the pathway. Our observations suggest that multiple changes in the activation and effects of AKT signaling occur in the progression from productive HPV infections to invasive cervical cancers.
LATE-BREAKING ABSTRACT: Birth weight and lung function in later life: A systematic review & meta-analysis

Introduction: Low birth weight is associated with reduced FEV1 in adulthood, which is often used to support the claim that low birth weight is associated with airflow obstruction. However, low FEV1 can indicate either airflow obstruction (low FEV1/FVC) or restriction (low FVC). Here, we report a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effect of birth weight on FEV1/FVC and FVC in adulthood, hereby attempting to disentangle early life effects on obstruction vs restriction. Methods: Eligible studies were published before January 27, 2015, of any design, and reporting associations of birth weight, weight at one year and weight gain in the first year of life with FVC and FEV1/FVC in adults. The authors searched EMBASE, MEDLINE and Web of Science for studies, screened titles and abstracts and extracted data in duplicate. Data were synthesized using a random effects inverse-variance weighted meta-analysis, and between-study heterogeneity was evaluated using I 2 . Results: After de-duplication, the searches identified 718 records, of which 18 were eligible for the review and 12 had sufficient data for the meta-analysis. We found that one kg increase in birth weight was associated with 59.4mL increase in FVC (95%CI: 43.3 to 75.5mL; I 2 :0), with no evidence of association for FEV1/FVC. Conclusion: Birth weight showed a positive association with FVC highly consistent across studies, while there is no epidemiological evidence to support an association between birth weight and FEV1/FVC.
An Efficiency-Decay Model for Lumen Maintenance

Proposed is a multicomponent model for the estimation of light-emitting diode (LED) lumen maintenance using test data that were acquired in accordance with the test standards of the Illumination Engineering Society of North America, i.e., LM-80-08. Lumen maintenance data acquired with this test do not always follow exponential decay, particularly data collected in the first 1000 h or under low-stress (e.g., low temperature) conditions. This deviation from true exponential behavior makes it difficult to use the full data set in models for the estimation of lumen maintenance decay coefficient. As a result, critical information that is relevant to the early life or low-stress operation of LED light sources may be missed. We present an efficiency-decay model approach, where all lumen maintenance data can be used to provide an alternative estimate of the decay rate constant. The approach considers a combined model wherein one part describes an initial “break-in” period and another part describes the decay in lumen maintenance. During the break-in period, several mechanisms within the LED can act to produce a small (typically < 10%) increase in luminous flux. The effect of the break-in period and its longevity is more likely to be present at low-ambient temperatures and currents, where the discrepancy between a standard TM-21 approach and our proposed model is the largest. For high temperatures and currents, the difference between the estimates becomes nonsubstantial. Our approach makes use of all the collected data and avoids producing unrealistic estimates of the decay coefficient.
Coupled Sequences in Reaction Networks

This chapter discusses coupled sequences in reaction networks. In nature and industry, it happens most frequently that a reaction is not carried out with a pure feed but with a mixture of two or more related compounds that react in parallel or in series with a common reactant or on the same catalyst. Coupling of catalytic reactions is caused by competition for active centers. As chain reactions are essentially catalytic in nature, coupling should also affect their rates and selectivity. In nature and industry, it happens most frequently that a reaction is not carried out with a pure feed but with a mixture of two or more related compounds that react in parallel or in series with a common reactant or on the same catalyst. The chapter discusses a special type of chain transfer called copolymerization.
Muscadine Grape (Vitis rotundifolia) or Wine Phytochemicals Reduce Intestinal Inflammation in Mice with Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis.

The objective of this study was to determine the anti-inflammatory effects of phytochemical extracts from muscadine grapes or wine on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice and to investigate cellular mechanisms. Two groups of C57BL/6J mice were gavaged with muscadine grape phytochemicals (MGP) or muscadine wine phytochemicals (MWP), respectively, for 14 days. Acute colitis was induced by 3% DSS in drinking water for 7 days. An additional two groups of mice served as healthy and disease controls. Results indicated that MGP or MWP significantly prevented weight loss, reduced disease activity index, and preserved colonic length compared to the colitis group (p ≤ 0.05). MGP or MWP significantly decreased myeloperoxidase activity as well as the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in colon (p ≤ 0.05). MGP or MWP caused down-regulation of the NF-κB pathway by inhibiting the phosphorylation and degradation of IκB in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that phytochemicals from muscadine gra...
Assessment of human energy exchange: historical overview

Energy exchange is fundamental to life and is a cornerstone in the study of human physiology, metabolism and nutrition. A global effort is underway to further our understanding of human energy exchange and its components as a means of establishing the mechanistic underpinnings of the evolving obesity and chronic disease epidemics. The current report establishes a conceptual historical framework for examining the evolution of energy exchange concepts and measurement methods. We review developments taking place over more than 2000 years during which humans endeavored to establish the source of body heat, the 'fire of life'. Major conceptual and methodological advances over the past three centuries have incrementally advanced the field and created the energy exchange paradigm within which we now work. As in the past, innovative experimental ideas and measurement methods are now needed to answer important questions brought to light by the obesity and chronic disease epidemics. Nevertheless, older classical measurement methods based on calorimetry techniques still hold a strong position in the field as many diet and weight-related questions remain unanswered.
What Is a Marxist Today

Much as what we now call ‘the Marxism of the Second International’ long ago passed from the scene, the Age of ‘Western Marxism’ has apparently come to an end. Internal theoretical developments, changes in intellectual culture and, above all, political circumstances have joined together to hasten the demise of this episode in the history of radical theory. It would be instructive to trace the trajectory of Western Marxism, and to reflect on the political conditions for its decline. In both Western and Eastern Europe, Marxian politics has been in crisis at least since the watershed year of 1968, and in disarray for more than a decade. Western Marxism has always been joined programatically to currents within these political movements and has suffered grave, indeed fatal, damage in consequence. But it is not my intention to reflect on the vicissitudes of Western Marxism here. What follows will consider instead a style of theorizing that has effectively superceded Western Marxism, just as Western Marxism earlier replaced the Marxism of the Second International. This new kind of radical theory is widely designated—approvingly by some, disparagingly by others—‘analytical Marxism.’
Patient Function and the Value of Surgical Care for Kidney Cancer

Purpose: Frailty and functional status have emerged as significant predictors of morbidity and mortality for patients undergoing cancer surgery. To articulate the impact on value (ie quality per cost), we compared perioperative outcomes and expenditures according to patient function for older adults undergoing kidney cancer surgery.Materials and Methods: Using linked SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results)-Medicare data, we identified 19,129 elderly patients with kidney cancer treated with nonablative surgery from 2000 to 2009. We quantified patient function using function related indicators (claims indicative of dysfunction and disability) and measured 30-day morbidity, mortality, resource use and cost. Using multivariable, mixed effects models to adjust for patient and hospital characteristics, we estimated the relationship of patient functionality with both treatment outcomes and expenditures.Results: Of 19,129 patients we identified 5,509 (28.8%) and 3,127 (16.4%) with a function related ind...
Pharmacokinetic Properties of Memantine after a Single Intraperitoneal Administration and Multiple Oral Doses in Euploid Mice and in the Ts65Dn Mouse Model of Down's Syndrome

Memantine is a drug approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease (AD), and there is ongoing research on the potential expansion of its clinical applicability. Published data on the pharmacokinetics of memantine in the mouse are still incomplete, particularly for chronic administration regimens and mouse models of specific genetic disorders. Down's syndrome (DS) is a genetic disorder known to affect multiple organs and systems, with the potential to alter significantly drug pharmacokinetics. Here, we describe a simple, efficient and sensitive GC/MS-based procedure for the determination of memantine concentrations in murine blood and tissue samples. We analysed pharmacokinetic properties of memantine, particularly its distribution in blood, brain and liver in the Ts65Dn mouse model of DS and euploid F1 hybrid mice after single intraperitoneal administrations of increasing doses of this drug. We also determined steady-state memantine concentrations in plasma, brain and liver after chronic oral administration of this drug in adult male Ts65Dn mice, euploid littermate controls and nursing or pregnant Ts65Dn mice. Our results revalidated the acute dose of memantine used in previously published work, determined the appropriate amount of memantine to be mixed into mouse chow to achieve steady and pharmacologically relevant plasma and tissue levels of this drug and demonstrated that memantine can be transferred from mother to offspring via maternal milk and placenta. Most of these findings are potentially applicable not only to the study of DS but also to other neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders.
Spiritual Care Advance Directive (SCAD)

Objectives : 1. Integrate not only the compassionate care at end-of-life chapter, but also the spiritual history to a deeper understanding of the individual’s dignity and legacy. 2. Intervene in a process of the individual’s spiritual needs and wishes along the life-limiting illness trajectory. Background : Families and professionals have recognized the need of the spiritual intervention, along with appropriate supportive knowledge and affirmation; however, there exists the lack of a standardized approach in helping individuals with life-threatening illnesses. The author describes ways in which spiritual care affects individuals seeking meaning and purpose of life at the EOL and offers suggestions to help patients express spiritual wishes during their hospital stay, aiming that these intervention methods empower counselors, chaplains and any palliative care team members to provide assistance, with a researched tool rather than mostly depending on each counseling member’s beliefs and experiences. Case description : First case of SCAD deals with the supportive key issues. This intends to help individuals to find a sense of confidence and to participate in the process. Individuals start with the 8 questions to ask from the mind and spirit dimensions. These questions are given indirectly in plain language, but deal with key issues – such as Life Stories, things besides the medicines and treatments, the self-understanding of a “living well” and a “good death,” and the inner-identity. Second case of SCAD deals with the issues for families and significant others regarding ‘how and what’ their loved ones care for during and after end-of-life passage, so that the patient’s spiritual wishes will be carried out accordingly - such as the family-gathering to make sense of the individual’s life, modification of the previously held perception about the individual and expression of a “goodbye” as an indicator of the individual’s “yielding to own spiritual values and beliefs.” Conclusion : In treatment of the EOL care, equally important is caring of body/mind/spirit. When focused on medical aspects of individual care, giving leaned attention on diseases rather than person, and in so doing, precious time is missed to care for other parts of the whole person. With SCAD as therapeutic and creative interventions, this spirituality-based tool will be helpful to a great extent to achieve the body/mind/spirit transcendence.
Ocean Acoustic Observatories: Data Analysis and Interpretation

Abstract : The ultimate limits to the coherence of long-range acoustic transmissions are imposed by ocean processes, including internal waves, mesoscale variability, interior ocean boundaries (fronts), and bathymetric scattering. An understanding of the effects of these processes on acoustic signals is crucial to the use of acoustic remote sensing methods for a broad range of purposes, including undersea surveillance, ocean acoustic tomography, and large-scale acoustic thermometry. The long-term goals of this research are to enhance our understanding of the ocean processes that ultimately determine the limits of useful long-range acoustic transmissions and to improve our capability to both generate and detect very long-range transmissions.
Bumble bee colony growth and reproduction on reclaimed surface coal mines

Reclamation of coal mine lands in the eastern United States creates pockets of grassland habitat in an otherwise predominantly forested region. These sites may represent an opportunity for pollinator conservation if they provide valuable foraging habitat for wild bees. To determine site characteristics that influence bee success on reclamation lands, we monitored growth and reproduction of 24 commercially reared bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) colonies placed on 12 former coal mines (aged 2 to 30+ years post-reclamation) in Ohio, U.S.A. Twenty colonies survived the duration of the experiment (May–August 2014). All colonies produced both new queens (mean 21.0 ± 37.0 SD) and males (36.5 ± 36.5), in proportion to overall colony size. Results of generalized linear models indicate that colony growth and reproduction increased with floral diversity and species turnover, and declined with site area and the proportion of forest in the surrounding landscape. The sex ratio of reproductive offspring was significantly more male-biased on sites with low flower diversity, underscoring the importance of floral diversity for meeting the higher resource demands of queen production. Floral resource composition and consistency were influenced by site age and surrounding landscape. Older sites had higher floral diversity and species turnover throughout the season than younger sites, and included high-quality native bee forage plants. We discuss the implications of this study for reclamation project managers seeking to promote bee reproduction and conservation.
Governance and relationship flexibility under conditions of supply market dynamism

The benefits of long term buyer-supplier relationships are well-noted in supply chain management research. In quickly changing environments, however, these benefits may be diminished, at least temporarily, if the supplier is unable to support the buyer's changing needs. To address this dilemma, manufacturers can build flexibility into their supplier relationships. This research develops and tests a theoretical model relating contractual and relational governance mechanisms - contracts and long term commitment, respectively - to relationship flexibility. Based on a survey of 110 purchasing and supply chain managers, this research provides empirical evidence that both contracts and long term commitment can promote relationship flexibility, and that supply market dynamism positively moderates the effects of long term commitment on relationship flexibility and negatively moderates the effects of contracts on relationship flexibility.
Brain Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Contemporary 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) techniques can estimate the levels of brain metabolites with a high reproducibility and add only 10 minutes to a routine or volumetric magnetic resonance imaging scan. In patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), 1H-MRS demonstrates decreases in N- acetylaspartate (NAA) and increases in myo-inositol (Ino) levels. Changes in NAA and Ino levels correlate with dementia severity and may predict future cognitive decline. 1H-MRS could be a valuable outcome measure in clinical trials of individuals with AD for monitoring disease progression (using NAA and Ino levels) and evaluating therapeutic response to novel drugs (using NAA, choline and Ino levels). Further studies are warranted to evaluate the relative utility of 1H-MRS compared with other imaging markers, such as cerebral blood flow and volumetric measures of atrophy. Protocols combining magnetic resonance perfusion, volumetry and spectroscopy in AD may prove to be powerful research tools.
Save That Dye

All laboratory workers face the ongoing requirement that all chemicals and solutions used in the lab be labeled with the date of receipt or preparation, together with the expiration date of the chemical and the initials of the preparer, as well as any known hazards associated with that chemical. Officials from accrediting agencies, sometimes unannounced, pick and poke around laboratories looking for outdated chemicals and solutions, including biological stains left unsuspectingly at the back of a fridge or on a seldom used shelf.
Assessing The Value Of 40 Years Of Local Public Expenditures On Health.

The US public and private sectors now spend more than $3 trillion on health each year. While critical studies have examined the relationship between public spending on health and health outcomes, r...
Anthropomorphic Projection And Chapter Eight Of The Federal Sentencing Guidelines: Punishing the Good Organization When It Does Evil

Although the Federal Sentencing Guidelines became effective in 1987, Chapter Eight, which relates to lawful organizations, did not come into force until 1991. Chapter Eight is aimed at lawful organizations, as opposed to those with unlawful purposes at the outset, charged with federal crimes. The fundamental flaw criticized in this article is that this new structure amounts to an inappropriate and unworkable projection of human characteristics onto organizations of all types. The scope of the chapter covers all organizations, whether for profit or not, whether religious educational, and whether formal or informal. This is more than a critique of the use of legal fiction to make the law work. The notion of the juridical personhood of the corporation is just that: "Juridical Personhood" which creates a way for the courts of the world to deal with organized human activity. The leap that has been taken here is the assignment of human, even humane or the lack of humane characteristics to an organization. The assumption is that what we call organizational culture can be read to mean organizational morality. This makes little or no ontological sense and flies in the face of what we know about how organizations decide to act or forbear.
Evil: From Phenomenology to Thought

To think of being inclines metaxological philosophy to ponder the goodness of being. In his chapter, Cyril O’Regan engages the various notes on evil throughout metaxological philosophy. His argument is that Desmond’s view of evil comes close to Ricoeur in The Symbolism of Evil, where symbols of evil give philosophy to think about the excessive nature of evil.
An Overview of Security Support in Named Data Networking

This article presents an overview of the security mechanisms in the NDN architecture that have been developed over the past several years. NDN changes the network communication model from the delivery of packets to hosts identified by IP addresses to the retrieval of named and secured data packets. Consequently, NDN also fundamentally changes the approaches to network security. Making named data the centerpiece of the architecture leads to a new security framework that secures data directly, and uses name semantics to enable applications to reason about security and to automate the use of cryptographic keys. In this article, we introduce NDN's approaches to security bootstrapping, data authenticity, confidentiality, and availability.