cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
2-Fluoro-β-alanine, a previously unrecognized substrate for bile acid coenzyme A:Amino acid:N-acyltransferase from human liver

Our laboratory has demonstrated recently that conjugates of 2-fluoro-beta-alanine (FBAL) and bile acids are the major biliary metabolites of 5-fluorouracil (FUra) in cancer patients. Bile acids are normally conjugated with glycine or taurine, and therefore the identification of the FBAL-bile acid conjugates suggested that FBAL may also be a substrate for the bile acid conjugating enzyme, bile acid CoA:amino acid:N-acyltransferase. Enzyme activity detected using glycine and taurine as substrates was purified 8-fold from human liver cytosol using a DEAE-cellulose column. This preparation when tested for its activity towards beta-alanine and FBAL using cholyl CoA as the bile acid substrate only catalyzed the formation of FBAL-cholate. beta-Alanine was not a substrate. Confirmation of FBAL-cholate as the enzymatic product was demonstrated by (1) coelution of the product of this reaction on HPLC with authentic FBAL-cholate, (2) specific hydrolysis of this product by cholylglycine hydrolase, and (3) molecular weight of the product (497) being identical to that of the authentic FBAL-cholate. Kinetic experiments demonstrated that the enzyme had an affinity for FBAL (Km 1.45 mM) comparable to taurine (Km 1.32 mM), but greater than glycine (Km 6.45 mM). Formation of FBAL-cholate was inhibited competitively by taurine (Ki 1.27 mM) and glycine (Ki 4.47 mM), suggesting that a single enzyme is responsible for conjugation of glycine, taurine and FBAL with bile acids. These data indicate that the formation of the FBAL-bile acid conjugates in patients receiving FUra results from high affinity of the bile acid conjugating enzyme for FBAL.
A Case of Linguistic Transition: The Nerab Inscriptions

Since the publication of the editio princeps by C. Clermont-Ganneau in 1897, two funerary inscriptions from Nerab have received the attention of relatively few scholars. It has been acknowledged that the Nerab inscriptions stand at a major juncture for the development of the Aramaic language, as well reflected in the divided scholarly opinions on the classification of the language of the Nerab inscriptions, either as Old Aramaic (OA) or as Official Aramaic (OfA). This paper explores the possible contribution of the Nerab inscriptions to the discussion of the phases of the Aramaic language by putting the Nerab inscriptions in the wider perspective of developing Aramaic, with special focus on comparison between OA and OfA. It is argued that the Nerab inscriptions are rare examples of the inscriptions that clearly represent the transition from OA to OfA, though they still categorically belong to OA.
Relative‐change theory: examining the impact of patriarchy, paternalism, and poverty on the education of women in Kenya

Forty‐five years have passed since Kenya gained independence and almost 30 years since the feminist revolution ushered in a global gender and development agenda. While Kenya’s development agenda had a functionalist orientation aimed at modernisation, the outcome of efforts to promote education development cannot be understood without an examination of the context of women. Although development agencies acknowledge the need for empowerment of women, the interests of change agencies are accommodated within the bounds of patriarchy, poverty, and paternalism. This situation is best explained by examining the education experience of women through a relative‐change theory prism. From this perspective, change is actively pursued within limits, that is, options for change in the social, cultural, and political context are acknowledged but limited. As a result, whatever education development efforts have been put into place to benefit women in marginalised situations, the outcome has fallen short for the majority ...
Frozen Autologous Platelets in the Supportive Care of Patients with Leukemia

Multiple units of platelet concentrate obtained by intensive plateletpheresis of patients with leukemia in remission were pooled and frozen using 4 to 5 per cent dimethylsulfoxide and retransfused during periods of thrombocytopenia. Plateletpheresis was well tolerated by all donors and an average platelet yield per unit of 0.99 X 10(11) (n = 155) was obtained. The results of 107 transfusions to 36 patients are presented. An average of 32.4 per cent of the platelets were lost during the freeze-thaw process. Freezing loss was lowest at a freezing rate of one degree C per minute, at a lower final concentration of platelets, and when polyolefin bags were used. The mean corrected posttransfusion count increment was 6,400/mul (range 600-19,000 xm2/10(11) platelets transfused). In vivo results did not correlate with freezing rate but were statistically significantly better at lower platelet (approximately 0.16 X 10(11) platelets/10 ml) concentrations. Eleven patients, including some who were refractory to random donor platelets were supported entirely with autologous platelets during reinduction therapy for leukemia. When administered prophylactically the autologous platelets seemed to prevent hemorrhage during periods of thromobocytopenia although in most patients bleeding times were not corrected posttransfusion. This study demonstrates that frozen autologous platelets can be used in the supportive care of thrombocytopenic patients. Further technical improvements are necessary before platelet freezing becomes practical for widespread use.
Psychological Antecedents and Risk on Attitudes toward E-Customization

Abstract Consumers can experience relatively low prices with the dramatic diffusion of online shopping even with customized products, which are commonly more expensive than regular products, due to unique functions of customized product order processes in online environments. This paper investigates how two psychological antecedents, (1) need for uniqueness and (2) status aspiration, can influence consumers' attitude with regard to forming procedures toward e-customized products and how perceived risk, another psychological factor, on purchasing e-customized products plays a role of moderating factor. A self-administered online survey of 321 Japanese consumers is conducted to examine a proposed conceptual model with Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The analysis using results indicates that the need for uniqueness directly impacts on attitude toward e-customized products while it mediates the effect of status aspiration. A multi-group analysis to test a moderating effect of the perceived risk on purchasing e-customized products highlights the significant effects of psychological factors. The result also provides potential guidelines to e-tailors on possibility of segmenting markets as well as promoting their customized products using these psychological criteria of their target consumers.
Making complex scaling work for long-range potentials

We examine finite basis set implementations of complex scaling procedures for computing scattering amplitudes and cross sections. While ordinary complex scaling, i.e., the technique of multiplying all interparticle distances in the Hamiltonian by a complex phase factor, is known to provide convergent cross-section expressions only for exponentially bounded potentials, we propose a generalization, based on Simon's exterior complex scaling technique, that works for long-range potentials as well. We establish an equivalence between a class of complex scaling transformations carried out on the time-independent Schr\"odinger equation and a procedure commonly referred to as the method of complex basis functions. The procedure is illustrated with a numerical example.
Arthroscopic Lachman test: a new technique using anatomic references

Using familiar anatomic references viewed during a standard arthroscopic evaluation, an arthroscopic Lachman test can help the surgeon identify anterior cruciate ligament deficiency. This test is especially useful in those patients where a false-negative report as a result of guarding, meniscal tears or other factors is suspected. Additionally, this test can be used after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction to verify that the abnormal anterior laxity has been eliminated.
Inorganic 14C as a probe of growth rate-dependent variations in intracellular free amino acid and protein composition of NH+4-limited continuous cultures of Nannochloris atomis Butcher

Growth rate-dependent variations in intracellular free amino acid and protein composition were characterized and compared to their 14C content as a function of time in NH-4 -limited continuous cultures of the marine chlorophyte alga, Nannochloris atomis Butcher (Strain GSBNANNO). The relative abundances of cellular carbon in free amino acids and protein were positively correlated with relative growth rate (μμmax). There was also a positive correlation between relative growth rate and the proportion of cellular nitrogen in free amino acids, but not in protein. Significant changes in the composition of the intracellular free amino acid pool accompanied the growth rate-related decline in pool size. The percentage of intracellular free amino acid carbon contained in glutamate increased from 9 to 53% and the glutamine/glutamate carbon pool ratio decreased as relative growth rate decreased. The percentage of intracellular free amino acid carbon contained in proline decreased from 76% to 21 %, while small increases were observed for glycine + alanine, valine, and beta-aminobutyrate as relative growth rate decreased. Equilibration of the intracellular free amino acid pool with inorganic 14C was incomplete even after incubation for 25% of the generation time. Equilibration rates of glutamate, glutamine, glycine + alanine, and valine were positively correlated with growth rate. Incomplete equilibration led to underestimates of free amino acid carbon pool sizes based on 14C content. However, because the saturation rates of glutamate and glutamine were similar, their ratio of 14C pools could be used as an index of the growth rate-dependent changes in the ratio of their cellular carbon pools. Isotope disequilibrium resulted in an initially higher relative abundance of 14C in alcohol soluble low molecular weight material than the corresponding relative abundance of cellular carbon as determined from 14C distributions in equilibrium-labeled cells. Most of the short term time-dependent variation in the distribution of 14C in low molecular weight material was associated with the free amino acids. For incubations up to 25% of the generation time, the distribution of 14C in protein was lower than the equilibrium distribution. Discrepancies between short term distributions of 14C and cellular carbon distributions diminished if free amino acids and protein were considered together as a unit of cellular material. Growth rate-dependent changes in distributions of cellular carbon in free amino acids + protein were reflected by changes in the corresponding 14C distributions. The techniques described provide the ability to specifically assay growth rate-dependent variations in algal metabolism and biochemical composition without the interference of detritus and non-algal biomass.
Endoscopic treatment of a recalcitrant esophageal fistula with new tools: stents, Surgisis, and nitinol staples (with video)

Intrathoracic esophageal anastomotic leaks are a feared complication of esophageal surgery. Beyond surgical drainage, therapeutic endoscopic intervention is increasingly indicated to effect closure of acute perforations, leaks, and fistulae. Conventional endoscopic clips and self-expanding stents are in the front line of endoscopic therapy, but even with these standard approaches, healing may remain elusive. This case report describes the use of two complementary secondary closure methods, Surgisis Soft Tissue Graft (Cook Biotech Inc, West Lafayette, IN) and the Over-The-Scope-Clipping system (OTSC system; Ovesco Endoscopy GmbH, Tuebingen, Germany) to resolve a recalcitrant esophageal fistula.
Cation exchange at the mineral-water interface: H3O+/K+ competition at the surface of nano-muscovite.

This article describes a 39K nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic study of K+ displacement at the muscovite/water interface as a function of aqueous phase pH. 39K NMR spectra and T2 relaxation data for nanocrystalline muscovite wet with a solid/solution weight ratio of 1 at pH 1, 3, and 5.5 show substantial liquid-like K+ only at pH 1. At pH 3 and 5.5, all K+ appears to be associated with muscovite as inner- or outer-sphere complexes, indicating that H3O+ does not displace basal surface K+ beyond the 39K detection limit under these conditions. In our pH 1 mixture, only ∼1/3 of the initial basal surface K+ population is located more than 3−4 A from the surface. 29Si and 27Al MAS NMR spectra and SEM images show no evidence of dissolution during the 39K experiments, consistent with the liquid-like 39K fraction originating from displaced basal surface K+. Assuming no muscovite dissolution or interlayer exchange, the K+/H3O+ ratio relevant to the solution/surface exchange equilibrium is controlled by...
Acute effects of combination of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide on plants

Abstract Several crop species were fumigated with nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and mixtures of SO2 and NO2 in two identical, internal-recirculating, environmental chambers. Treatments consisted of 1-h and 3-h fumigations with the pollutants separately and with SO2 and NO2 (1:1 by volume) mixtures in concentrations ranging from 0·125 to 1·0 ppm (0·33–2·60 mg/m3 SO2 and 0·23–1·90 mg/m3 NO2). No visible injury resulted on any experimental plants treated with NO2 alone at the exposure doses given nor from SO2 exposures to concentrations of ⩽0·50 ppm (1·31 mg/m3). The minimum exposure doses which caused visible injury to radish leaves (radish was the most sensitive species tested) were 1-h exposures to a 0·50 ppm SO2 + NO2 (0·96 mg/m3NO2and 1·31 mg/m3SO2) mixture or to 0·75 ppm (1·95 mg/m3) SO2 alone. Swiss chard, oats and sweet peas required treatments with 0·75–1·00 ppm SO2 alone or SO2 plus NO2 (1·95–2·60 mg/m3 SO2 and 1·41–1·90 mg/m3 NO2) before injury was detected. The data indicate that SO2 and NO2 in combination may enhance the phytotoxicity of these pollutants, but relatively high doses were required to cause symptoms of injury.
Controversies in the Management of Patent Ductus Arteriosus

Exposure to a chronic persistent patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is associated with several neonatal morbidities, but whether such outcomes are as a result of a persistent left-to-right shunt across the PDA or as a consequence of prematurity remains in question. Animal studies have shown significant benefit to early PDA closure, but such findings have not been replicated in any human trial. Both pharmacologic and surgical treatment options exist for closing a PDA, both of which have their own morbidities. Although the incidence of PDA is high in preterm infants, there also is a high rate of spontaneous PDA closure. Treatment of a PDA is not benign and has not been shown to prevent any morbidities associated with prematurity. For this reason, there has been much debate in recent years as to when a PDA is pathologic and when closure is indicated. This discussion focuses on the debate, treatment options for PDA, and outcomes associated with PDA and its treatment.
Variable Power Broadcasting in Ad Hoc Networks

Network wide broadcast is a frequently used operation in ad hoc networks and consumes significant amount of energy. Reducing the overall power consumption is extremely important in increasing the longevity of ad hoc networks. As a result, developing energy efficient broadcast operations becomes an important issue in ad hoc networks. In this paper, we propose an adaptive power broadcast algorithm that uses localized information in ad hoc networks. Our algorithm uses a novel technique to improve energy efficiency in network wide broadcast. Our simulation based comparisons show the superiority of our algorithm compared to other approaches.
Opposing roles for p21waf1/cip1 and p27kip1 in enterocyte differentiation, proliferation, and migration

Background Originating from proliferating stem cells of the intestinal crypt, enterocytes differentiate as they migrate up the crypt-villus axis. A regulatory role of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21 waf1/cip1 and p27 kip1 in these processes has been suggested by in vitro models. We sought to determine the effect of p21 waf1/cip1 and p27 kip1 deficiency on enterocyte differentiation, proliferation and migration. Methods Three strains of mice including control (C57Bl/6), p27 kip1 -null, and p21 waf1/cip1 -null were studied. Enterocyte differentiation was evaluated by immunostaining for intestinal alkaline phosphatase, by colorimetric assaying for intestinal alkaline phosphatase and sucrase enzyme activity, and by polymerase chain reaction for intestinal fatty acid–binding protein and villin-messenger RNA in enterocytes extracted by laser capture microdissection. Rates of enterocyte proliferation and migration were determined by 5-bromo 2-deoxyuridine immunostaining after a 50% small-bowel resection (SBR). Results Compared with controls, p27 kip1 –null mice demonstrated minimal differentiation but maintained a normal proliferative response to SBR. Contrarily, p21 waf1/cip1 -null mice demonstrated greater enterocyte differentiation without significant increases in enterocyte proliferation after SBR. Conclusions These findings suggest that p21 waf1/cip1 and p27 kip1 have distinctive and opposing roles in the pathogenesis of enterocyte differentiation, proliferation, and migration.
A Master of Versatility to the Heart’s Rescue Mast Cells and Ischemic Preconditioning

Paul Ehrlich, the discoverer of the mast cell, may have had a premonition of its biological power when he named it m astzelle or “well-fed cell,” a moniker he bestowed in recognition of the wealth of granular material discovered inside this cell.1 Though originally thought to be involved only in immune function and host defense, more than a century of research into the function of the mast cell has revealed a plethora of mast-cell-derived mediators and an important role for this cell in tissue homeostasis.2 Mast cells accumulate in cardiovascular tissue in most pathologies, including coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, and cardiomyopathy.3–7 Although initially thought to be a deleterious influence on cardiovascular biology,3–7 recent reports suggest that the mast cell is a “tunable effector cell”8 that can alter its phenotype and thereby have a beneficial9 or deleterious role in tissue and organ function. In this issue of Circulation , Koda and colleagues report that ischemic preconditioning acts via the mast cell to attenuate myocardial renin angiotensin system activation and ischemia-reperfusion induced ventricular arrhythmias.10 The mast cell is a biologist’s delight: a cell that originates in the bone marrow but resides in and exerts its influence in solid organs, one whose exact pathway of development remains elusive, and one that retains the early lineage c-kit receptor even when mature. These cells reside in close proximity to intramyocardial blood vessels and nerves, and hence are “sentinel cells” able to respond to humoral and neural stimuli. Mast cells possess a veritable armory of mediators. Article see p 771 Preformed mediators stored in mast cell granules and released on mast cell activation and …
Airborne network: a cyber-physical system perspective

An airborne network is a cyberphysical system (CPS) in which there is an intense interaction between the physical and cyber components. While computation, communication and networking elements form the cyber components of the system, fight-paths, manoeuvre geometries, and multimode resources including ground-based nodes and control stations form the physical components of the CPS. The synergy between the cyber and physical components, if explored and exploited, will signicantly enhance the safety and security capabilities of Next Generation (NextGen) air transportation systems. In this paper, we characterize airborne networks based on their mobility patterns, path predictability, and model complexity. We discuss mobility models suitable for airborne networks, analytical models for estimating the link/path duration in airborne networks, and strategies for information assurance in airborne networks.
Learning Behaviors of Functions with Teams

We consider the inductive inference model of Gold [15]. Suppose we are given a set of functions that are learnable with certain number of mind changes and errors. What can we consistently predict about those functions if we are allowed fewer mind changes or errors? In [20] we relaxed the notion of exact learning by considering some higher level properties of the input-output behavior of a given function. in this context, a learner produces a program that describes the property of a given function. Can we predict generic properties such as threshold or modality if we allow fewer number of mind changes or errors? These questions were completely answered in [20] when the learner is restricted to a single IIM. In this paper we allow a team of IIMs to collaborate in the learning process. The learning is considered to be successful if any one of the team member succeeds. A motivation for this extension is to understand and characterize properties that are learnable for a given set of functions in a team environment.
Lymphocyte enzymatic antioxidant responses to oxidative stress following high-intensity interval exercise

The purposes of this study were to 1) examine the immune and oxidative stress responses following high-intensity interval training (HIIT); 2) determine changes in antioxidant enzyme gene expression...
The North Atlantic subtropical anticyclone

The semipermanent subtropical anticyclone over the North Atlantic basin (the ‘‘Azores high’’) has a major influence on the weather and climate of much of North America, western Europe, and northwestern Africa. The authors develop a climatology of the Azores high by examining its spatial and temporal changes since 1899. Using gridded surface pressure values, anticyclones are identified when the daily pressure is $1020 mb and frequencies are tabulated for each half month from 1899 to 1990. Principal components analysis is applied to analyze the anticyclone’s spatial variance structure. The Azores high is dominated by two spatial modes: a summer pattern, in which high pressure dominates the Atlantic basin, and a winter pattern, in which anticyclones are present over eastern North America and northwestern Africa. Century-long declines in these two modes indicate that there has been a net removal of atmospheric mass over the subtropical Atlantic. Other modes include a meridional versus zonal circulation pattern and omega blocks. Time series of the mean annual principal component scores indicate that meridional flow has been increasing over the Atlantic and that blocking anticyclones have become more prevalent over west-central Europe and less common over the northeastern Atlantic and the British Isles.
Use of conserved genomic regions and degenerate primers in a PCR-based assay for the detection of members of the genus Caulimovirus.

The genus Caulimovirus consists of several distinct virus species with a double-stranded DNA genome that infect diverse plant species. A comparative analysis of the sequences of known Caulimovirus species revealed two regions that are conserved in all Caulimovirus species with the exception of Strawberry vein banding virus. Degenerate primers based on these two regions were designed and tested in a polymerase chain reaction-based assay for broad spectrum detection of members of this genus. Cauliflower mosaic virus, Figwort mosaic virus and three distinct caulimoviruses associated with dahlia (Dahlia variabilis) were used to show the utility of this test in detecting diverse caulimoviruses. The primer pair gave an amplicon of expected size (840 bp). Amplicons from each virus were cloned and sequenced to verify their identity. The primer pair and the PCR assay provide approach for the broad spectrum detection of several members of the genus Caulimovirus.
Coverage criteria for testing of object interactions in sequence diagrams

This work defines several control-flow coverage criteria for testing the interactions among a set of collaborating objects. The criteria are based on UML sequence diagrams that are reverse-engineered from the code under test. The sequences of messages in the diagrams are used to define the coverage goals for the family of criteria, in a manner that generalizes traditional testing techniques such as branch coverage and path coverage. We also describe a run-time analysis that gathers coverage measurements for each criterion. To compare the criteria, we propose an approach that estimates the testing effort required to satisfy each criterion, using analysis of the complexity of the underlying sequence diagrams. The criteria were investigated experimentally on a set of realistic Java components. The results of this study compare different approaches for testing of object interactions and provide insights for testers and for builders of test coverage tools.
Symptoms and physiology in severe chronic constipation

Objective: Symptoms of constipation have been attributed to slow colon transit, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD). Our aim was to determine the existence of symptom-based constipation subgroups and whether these correspond to differences in colonic transit and anorectal sensorimotor function. Methods: Constipated patients (n = 108) completed questionnaires, and underwent colon transit studies, anorectal manometry, and rectal sensory testing. Factor analysis of symptoms was performed. Factor-based symptom scores were correlated with physiological findings. Results: Three symptom factors were identified as compatible with slow colonic transit, IBS, and PFD. There was a significant correlation between the symptoms of slow transit and total and rectosigmoid colon transit. There were also significant correlations between both the IBS symptom score and the number of Manning criteria with measures of rectal hypersensitivity typical of IBS. Neither PFD symptom scores nor symptoms of straining correlated with any electromyographic or manometric measure of anal defecatory function or with rectosigmoid colon transit. Based on physiological testing patients were classified as slow transit, visceral hypersensitivity (typical of IBS), PFD, or no abnormalities found. As expected, slow-transit patients had symptoms of infrequent stools and patients with visceral hypersensitivity had an increased number of Manning criteria for IBS. Patients with PFD physiology and those with no detectable abnormalities had no specific symptoms. Conclusions: Three symptom-based subgroups for constipation were confirmed: slow transit, IBS, and PFD. Slow transit and IBS symptoms correlated with expected physiology. Conversely, PFD symptoms and physiology did not correlate.
BARRED OWL HABITAT AND PREY: A REVIEW AND SYNTHESIS OF THE LITERATURE

ABSTRACT Barred Owls (Strix varia) historically inhabited the forests of eastern North America. During the last century, they expanded their range to include forests throughout the southern provinces of Canada, southeastern Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and northern California. To date, there has been no synthesis of the varied habitats or prey used by Barred Owls in their expanded range. Here I review and synthesize studies concerning habitat (N = 114) and prey (N = 43) of Barred Owls throughout North America north of Mexico. Barred Owls nested in wilderness areas and national parks as well as small suburban woodlots. They typically preferred old or mature, mixed deciduous/coniferous forests with fairly high canopy closure. Barred Owl nests in natural locations (N = 341) were in cavities (74.8%), hawk nests (12.9%), tops of hollow trees (8.2%), squirrel nests (2.1%) and other locations (2.1%). Trees used by Barred Owls for nesting (N = 169) included 22 genera, although one-fourth ...
Short-Range Correlations in Imperfect Surfaces and Overlayers

Extended defects (such as steps) on imperfect, periodic surfaces and relative positions of surface adsorbates may both exhibit short-range order. One powerful technique for studying this surface ordering is spot profile analysis of diffraction (low-energy and high-energy electron, atom and X-ray) measurements. This analysis requires only kinematic (single-scattering) diffraction calculations and thus is more tractable than conventional multiple-scattering problems. Here we discuss kinematic surface scattering results and their applicability to surface ordering studies.
Perfusion imaging without tunnel vision.

Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) has proven to be an accurate modality for the detection of coronary artery disease, despite the long-standing limitation that only 2 to 4 2-dimensional slices through the heart could be imaged during each heartbeat at rest and
Probabilistic seismic demand model and optimal intensity measure for concrete dams

Abstract This paper addresses the probabilistic seismic demand model (PSDM) which is the relationship between the intensity measure (IM) (such as spectral acceleration) and the engineering demand parameter (EDP) (such as displacement and crack ratio – ratio of crack length to total crack path). It expresses the probability that a system experiences a certain level of demand for a given IM level. Formulation is for a concrete gravity dam. First, IMs are categorized and the criteria for the selection of an optimal one presented. Then, cloud analysis is performed where the structure is subjected to a large set of un-scaled ground motions and the maximum responses are extracted for each one and plotted as a cloud of results. This methodology is applied to Pine Flat gravity dam. Model is first presented followed by results and conclusions. When the results of the cloud analysis are aggregated, then one can plot the seismic fragility curve which is the probability of EDP exceedance in terms of the IM parameter.
The Effect of Domestic Immersion Experiences on Levels of Cultural Competence

Although information regarding the importance of fostering cultural competence in future practitioners exists in a variety of disciplines, limited data exists concerning the effect of experiential learning opportunities. This research sought to determine the effect that domestic immersion has on levels of cultural competence among undergraduate social work students from a predominantly rural area of the Upper Midwest of the United States. The authors collected quantitative data via pre-and post-trip administrations of a modified version of the Miller-Guzman Universality-Diversity Scale short form and qualitative data in the form of participants' responses to questions related to expectations and assumptions about cultural and racial aspects of life in the host culture. The results indicate that domestic immersions are associated with changes in universal diverse orientation.
Meaningful tradeoffs in product family design considering monetary and technical aspects of commonality

There is a tradeoff in product family design between monetary and technical goals: increasing commonality in the product family tends to lead to cost savings, but also incurs some loss in product performance when compared to designing all member products individually. In this paper, both monetary and technical aspects are taken into account in the commonality decision-making stage of a new method for scaled-based product family design. The new method addresses both the commonality decision, i.e., which variables should be shared among which member products, and the optimal design of individual member products. Cluster analysis is employed to provide guidance for commonality decision making, as well as to significantly reduce computation time. The design of a product family of automotive bumpers serves as a demonstrative example.
Optically Addressed SLM Incorporating a CuInGaSe 2 /a-Si:H Heterojunction

We have developed a prototype optically addressed spatial light modulator (OASLM) incorporating a CuInGaSe2 (CIGS) and hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) heterojunction photosensor, as proposed previously [1].
Die gehörnte Sphäre von Alexander

Zwei Eigenschaften der „gehornten Sphare“ qualifizieren sie dafur, in diesem Buch beschrieben zu werden. Erstens liefert sie eine Losung eines bedeutenden und schweren Problems. Zweitens ist sie wirklich schon.
Revisiting Openness: A Research Agenda

Inequality is a lively topic. With the trends in the US and Europe, researchers have formulated two major explanations for the problem. Trade/Openness on the one hand and Skills/Computers on the other. The "conventional" explanation is the dominant view, primarily because empirical studies found that the impact of trade on workers is relatively small and because of the computer revolution. However, there are flaws in the conventional explanation. Thus, the trade/openness explanation should be revisited. After a discussion of the skills/computers argument, the trade/openness explanation is confronted. Threat effects against Labor are then presented as part of a research agenda.
PV, EV, and Your Home at Less Than $1 a Gallon

This article discusses the changing energy landscape, including the costs and fuel efficiency associated with residential photovoltaics (PV) and electric vehicles. The author encourages the acceptance of a move from expensive fossil fuels and utility- only production of electricity to cheaper utility and rooftop solar plants for transportation electricity and powering retrofitted buildings and homes. He suggests that doing so will allow for the local manufacture of solar PV panels, energy efficient products, batteries and vehicles.
Mortality of Ligyrus subtropicus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) by Entomogenous Nematodes in Field and Laboratory Trials

Studies on control of Ligyrus subtropicus (Blatchley) by two entomogenous nematodes showed that field releases of Steinernema feltia Filipjev (Strain All) did not cause a significant reduction in the number of L. subtropicus grubs in sugarcane, Saccharum spp. Field releases of S. glaseri (Steiner) also failed to significantly reduce the number of grubs, but S. glaseri appeared to be more effective than S. feltia . Differences in the mean percentage of dead grubs per 0.61 m of row (16.6% for S. glaseri and 2.7% for S. feltia ) were detected between plots treated with S. glaseri and control plots 6 wk after treatment. Differences in total percentage of grub mortality between plots treated with S. glaseri (50.57%) and control plots (11.13%) 8 wk after the release of S. glaseri also were significant. Bioassays exposing Galleria mellonella (L.) larvae to nematodes from dead grubs collected in plots treated with S. glaseri resulted in significantly higher mortality of G. mellonella in the treated group than in the control group. In laboratory tests, mortality of pupae and adults was 100 and 42%, respectively, when each was treated with 5,000 S. glaseri nematodes.
Treatment of Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidosis with Ketoconazole: A Study of 12 Cases

Twelve patients with chronic mucocutaneous candidosis were treated orally with ketoconazole (doses, 200-400 mg daily) for a mean period of six months. Seven of the patients had one of the following abnormalities: congenital endocrinopathy syndrome, an autosomal recessive or autosomal dominant defect in which candidosis is not associated with endocrinopathy, or the malabsorption syndrome. All patients had fungal infections of the mouth, and 11 had onychomycosis. Two patients were also infected with dermatophytes. At the end of treatment, 10 patients were cured of oral infection, and 11 with nail infections showed significant improvement. Marked improvement of hand and foot infections was also recorded. Patients infected with dermatophyte fungi had the poorest responses to therapy. The mean (+/- SD) MIC for isolates of Candida albicans from eight patients was 0.95 (+/- 0.78) microgram/ml. Clinical and biochemical monitoring showed no toxicity, and no resistant fungi emerged during treatment. Results of this initial study of ketoconazole for treatment of severe and recalcitrant superficial infections indicate the need for further assessment of this drug, which appears to offer a simple, nontoxic, and effective treatment of fungal infections.
Cellular Organization and Cytoskeletal Regulation of the Hippo Signaling Network

The Hippo signaling network integrates diverse upstream signals to control cell fate decisions and regulate organ growth. Recent studies have provided new insights into the cellular organization of Hippo signaling, its relationship to cell–cell junctions, and how the cytoskeleton modulates Hippo signaling. Cell–cell junctions serve as platforms for Hippo signaling by localizing scaffolding proteins that interact with core components of the pathway. Interactions of Hippo pathway components with cell–cell junctions and the cytoskeleton also suggest potential mechanisms for the regulation of the pathway by cell contact and cell polarity. As our understanding of the complexity of Hippo signaling increases, a future challenge will be to understand how the diverse inputs into the pathway are integrated and to define their respective contributions in vivo .
An efficient algorithm for testing the compatibility of phylogenies with nested taxa.

Semi-labeled trees generalize ordinary phylogenetic trees, allowing internal nodes to be labeled by higher-order taxa. Taxonomies are examples of semi-labeled trees. Suppose we are given collection $$\mathcal {P}$$ of semi-labeled trees over various subsets of a set of taxa. The ancestral compatibility problem asks whether there is a semi-labeled tree that respects the clusterings and the ancestor/descendant relationships implied by the trees in $$\mathcal {P}$$ . The running time and space usage of the best previous algorithm for testing ancestral compatibility depend on the degrees of the nodes in the trees in $$\mathcal {P}$$ . We give a algorithm for the ancestral compatibility problem that runs in $$O(M_{\mathcal {P}}\log ^2 M_{\mathcal {P}})$$ time and uses $$O(M_{\mathcal {P}})$$ space, where $$M_{\mathcal {P}}$$ is the total number of nodes and edges in the trees in $$\mathcal {P}$$ . Taxonomies enable researchers to expand greatly the taxonomic coverage of their phylogenetic analyses. The running time of our method does not depend on the degrees of the nodes in the trees in $$\mathcal {P}$$ . This characteristic is important when taxonomies—which can have nodes of high degree—are used.
Relationships between sea surface temperature anomalies in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and South Texas precipitation and streamflow variability

Abstract While many studies have described linkages between large-scale climate phenomena and precipitation and streamflow, fewer studies explicitly address the climatic modulations at sub-regional scales. This study quantifies statistically the temporal variability in precipitation and streamflow at a regional scale in the semi-arid area of South Texas associated with three climate indices: El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), and Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO). Results show that ENSO and PDO strongly modulate rainfall during the cold season and, to various extents, streamflow during the cold and warm seasons. In addition, this study shows that in South Texas streamflow is consistently below normal (i.e. means) while precipitation slightly increases during AMO-warm. To different extents, the Pacific and Atlantic sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies show stronger influences on the climate of South Texas when coupled. Droughts are more correlated with La Nina events but these events play a secondary role during PDO-cold. Although the PDO-cold phase is the dominant driver of droughts in this area, our analyses also show that the coupled effect of the PDO-cold/AMO-warm phases significantly increases the intensity of drought conditions to a degree similar to the PDO-cold/La Nina coupled effect. Given its stronger response to climate anomalies, streamflow offers a more effective tool for predicting climate variability impacts on South Texas water resources when compared to precipitation.
Antibiotic That Inhibits the ATPase Activity of an ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter by Binding to a Remote Extracellular Site.

Antibiotic-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus pose a major threat to human health and there is an ongoing need for new antibiotics to treat resistant infections. In a high throughput screen (HTS) of 230 000 small molecules designed to identify bioactive wall teichoic acid (WTA) inhibitors, we identified one hit, which was expanded through chemical synthesis into a small panel of potent compounds. We showed that these compounds target TarG, the transmembrane component of the two-component ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter TarGH, which exports WTA precursors to the cell surface for attachment to peptidoglycan. We purified, for the first time, a WTA transporter and have reconstituted ATPase activity in proteoliposomes. We showed that this new compound series inhibits TarH-catalyzed ATP hydrolysis even though the binding site maps to TarG near the opposite side of the membrane. These are the first ABC transporter inhibitors shown to block ATPase activity by binding to the transmembrane domain. Th...
Spontaneous pneumomediastinum: Is elaborate workup chasing shadows for a known benign condition?

Background: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) because of its relative rarity frequently causes apprehension when encountered in the emergency department (ED) leading often to unnecessary investigative workups. Methods: The medical records of patients admitted at a level 1 trauma center ED from January 2012 to June 2017 with SPM were retrospectively reviewed. Results: There were 8 patients with 50.0% females, mean age 26.7 ± 11.5 years and body mass index 22.8 ± 3.6. Chest pain (87.5%), shortness of breath (62.5%), and neck pain (50.0%) were the most common symptoms. Known predisposing or precipitating factors were present in 50.0% and leukocytosis in 75.0%. Although chest X-ray was diagnostic, all patients also had electrocardiogram, chest computed tomography scan, and contrast esophagram. In addition, 3 (37.5%) patients with pneumopericardium associated with tachyarrhythmia had transthoracic echocardiogram, while 1 (12.5%) presenting with persistent vomiting had esophagogastroscopy. There were no significant abnormalities found in these additional studies. All patients were treated conservatively without any complications, and mean hospital length of stay was 1.7 ± 0.8 days. Conclusion: SPM is a benign condition rarely requiring any surgical intervention. Chest X-ray is usually diagnostic, and additional investigations are therefore seldom necessary unless the diagnosis is questionable or there is a high index of suspicion for esophageal injury. Discharge from the ED or 23 h observation disposition should be sufficient for most patients.
Critical Toponymies: The Contested Politics of Place Naming

The timing of Critical Toponymies, a compilation of articles that advocates linking toponymic studies to critical theory of power relations, is odd. This is certainly true of the original publicati...
Learning While Teaching: Disability and Religion in the Classroom

ABSTRACTThis article serves as an introduction to themes explored in the special issue of the Journal of Disability and Religion on disability and religion in the classroom. Dr. Kirk VanGilder (Gallaudet University) and Dr. Meghan Henning (University of Dayton) share their reflections from two academic workshops focusing on pedagogical strategies for teaching at the intersection of disability studies, religion, and theology. Rather than limiting the concept of classrooms only to higher education environments, the authors explore the variety of sites where teaching and learning about disability and religion occur. Challenges, resources, and future directions are mapped out for transdisciplinary teaching that draws from a variety of fields of study to enrich our understanding of human experience with disability and religion.
The Problem of Provision of Food Security Through Management of the AIC: Transnationalization Vs Import Substitution

The purpose of the article is to substantiate the necessity and to determine the perspectives of modern Russia’s transition to solving the problem of provision of food security through management of the agro-industrial complex (AIC) with the help of transnationalization instead of the traditional practice of import substitution. The indicator of potential of transnationalization of entrepreneurship in the AIC in this research is index of economic globalization according to the KOF. To evaluate the level of implementation of potential of transnationalization of entrepreneurship in the AIC, the authors the methods of regression and correlation analysis. The authors study the connection between the volume of export of products of companies of the AIC, share of export in the structure of sales of the companies of the AIC, and index of economic globalization. In the course of the research, the authors prove that import substitution is not the only method of solving the problem of provision of food security through management of the AIC. Modern Russia possesses the potential and the possibility for application of such tool of the AIC management as transnationalization, which allows achieving tactical and strategic results, which ensure elimination of the problem of provision of food security.
Making Time with Amateur Astronomers and Orbital Space Debris: Attunement and the Matter of Temporality

This paper compares the material practice of amateur astronomers with that of archaeologists, specifically arguing that they engage with materials and time in distinct but complementary ways. In particular, the paper outlines the ways in which amateur astronomers become attuned to the temporal cycles and rhythms of extraterrestrial materials as they gaze into the night sky, much like how archaeological practitioners must get to know the taphonomic processes involved in the formation of archaeological sites. Finally, it is argued that for these reasons astronomers might offer insights to the investigation of orbital space debris, a topic of interest among archaeologists of outer space, and materials that produce their own threatening and nested temporalities.
Spatio-Temporal Graph Deep Neural Network for Short-Term Wind Speed Forecasting

Wind speed forecasting is still a challenge due to the stochastic and highly varying characteristics of wind. In this paper, a graph deep learning model is proposed to learn the powerful spatio-temporal features from the wind speed and wind direction data in neighboring wind farms. The underlying wind farms are modeled by an undirected graph, where each node corresponds to a wind site. For each node, temporal features are extracted using a long short-term memory Network. A scalable graph convolutional deep learning architecture (GCDLA), motivated by the localized first-order approximation of spectral graph convolutions, leverages the extracted temporal features to forecast the wind-speed time series of the whole graph nodes. The proposed GCDLA captures spatial wind features as well as deep temporal features of the wind data at each wind site. To further improve the prediction accuracy and capture robust latent representations, the rough set theory is incorporated with the proposed graph deep network by introducing upper and lower bound parameter approximations in the model. Simulation results show the advantages of capturing deep spatial and temporal interval features in the proposed framework compared to the state-of-the-art deep learning models as well as shallow architectures in the recent literature.