cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Politics of Economic Growth

The influence of narrow, well-organized groups over political life has plagued the theory and practice of democracy from the Greek polis to the America of the 1980's. In The Rise and Decline of Nations,1 Mancur Olson, a distinguished economist at the University of Maryland, has imaginatively used the analytical tools of economics and political science to dissect the causes, character and consequences of that influence today. The Founding Fathers were schooled in the tumultuous history of democratic politics in the classical world. In that world, formation of cabals and cynical manipulation of mobs were common preludes to tyranny; threats to individual liberty and private property were ubiquitous. On the eve of the American Revolution, Adam Smith had warned that merchants frequently conspired against the public interest, often by enlisting state power to cement their cartels.2 Madison's apprehension of "faction" lay at the heart of his design for a large, commercial republic, as revealed in Federalist #10? In the post-Civil War period, Populists agitated against political domination by commercial and financial interests.4 Early in this century, the Progressives decried the tightening grip of industrial and political elites over the machinery of government. This theme also animated much of the early New Deal, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt thundered against the "economic royalists" on Wall Street who opposed his measures. Roosevelt's critique reverberated far into the 1960's and 1970's, when reformers like Ralph Nader and Common Cause denounced the political influence of well-financed
A Moral Experience Feedback Loop: Modeling a system of moral self-cultivation in everyday life

This systems thinking model illustrates a common feedback loop by which people engage the moral world and continually reshape their moral sensibility. The model highlights seven processes that collectively form this feedback loop: beginning with (1) one’s current moral sensibility which shapes processes of (2) perception, (3) deliberation, (4) decision-making, (5) embodying action, (6) reflection on self-evaluation and other’s responses, and (7) consolidation into one’s moral sensibility of the lessons learned. Improvements on previous models of moral engagement include (1) recognizing moral sensibility as the grounding for moral engagement, (2) articulating a systems approach and (3) illustrating a feedback loop that brings the moral protagonist full-circle leaving her with a slightly changed moral sensibility with which to engage the next moral context.
ESD protection device issues for IC designs

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) has been a major concern for IC chip quality. In this paper, the IC damage phenomena due to ESD and the protection techniques are reviewed. Also, the severe impact of the advanced process technologies on the ESD robustness, and the special circuit requirements that make the protection design even more challenging will be addressed. The recently developed simulation and modeling methods to improve the protection designs are also discussed.
Some aspects of deoxynucleotide metabolism in the developing chick embryo

Abstract The deamination of deoxycytidylate, deoxyguanylate, deoxyadenylate and the corresponding nucleosides was measured in whole chick embryo, embryo liver, and in the hatched chick using a new simplified assay procedure. Deoxycytidylate deaminase activity was high in the early chick whole embryo (3 days) and declined slowly to about the 15th day. The activity in embryo liver also decreased from the 15th to 19th day. Deoxyadenylate deaminase activity could not be detected before the sixth to seventh day. After this, it attained a relatively constant value in whole embryo with about the same activity being measured in embryo liver. No deamination of deoxyguanosine or deoxyguanylate was detected until just after hatching. No deamination of deoxycytidine was observed until the 17th or 18th day, after which the activity increased to moderate levels in liver. Deoxyguanylate phosphatase activity was relatively high and deoxycytidylate phosphatase activity low in the chick embryo (4–8 days). Both increased after this time, but dGMP phosphatase activity was always considerably greater than deoxycytidylate phosphatase. Some implications of these findings with respect to development are discussed.
1019-28 Retrograde Cardioplegia Increases Diastolic Chamber Stiffness After Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

We have previously shown that diastolic dysfunction is frequent immediately after CABG. Although combined antegrade and retrograde cardioplegia (A + R) may improve myocardial protection, it can also lead to extracellular edema and microvaSCUlar injury. To assess postCABG diastolic function after A + R cardioplegia, volume manipUlation was used to create pressure-area curves before and after CABG in 20 pts. LV end diastOlic area (EDAREA) was measured by transesophageal echocardiography as an index of end diastOlic volume, and plotted against the PCWP as an estimate of mean LV diastOlic pressure. A smaller EDAREA at a similar PCWP postCABG reflects a leftward shift in the pressure-area curve and increased LV diastolic chamber stiffness. A (n = 14) A+R (n = 6) p EF(%) 52 ± 4 56 ± 4 NS Wall thickness (mm) 9.9 ± 0.1 9.3 ± 0.3 NS Bypass (min) 80 ± 5 74 ± 7 NS Pre-Post Δ PCWP (mmHg) 1 ± 1 0 ± 1 NS Pre-Post Δ EDAREA (%) -12.4 ± 23 -22.5 ± 30 0.02 Increased LV diastolic chamber stiffness occurred in all pts postCABG, but was more pronounced with both antegrade and retrograde cardioplegia. Conclusion After CABG, combined A + R cardioplegia is associated with a more prominent increase in diastolic chamber stiffness than antegrade cardioplegia alone. Recognition of worsening diastolic function with A + R may be important for optimal pt management postCABG.
Social Engineering and Revolutionary Consciousness: Domestic Transformations in Colonial South Africa

Early colonial administrators relied primarily on indirect rule and “customary law” to govern Africans in segregated reserves by appropriating chiefs and propping up patriarchal power in rural families. But, by the early twentieth century, colonists’ demands for African labour had led to the growth of an urban African population living in “slums” near European cities, outside the controls of indirect rule. Administrators believed that “detribalization” and the deterioration of the patriarchal family had rendered this population dangerously liminal, neither properly “traditional” nor yet entirely “modern”. Fearing that social anomie would give rise to political unrest, the state embarked on a mammoth project to forcibly relocate slum residents into planned townships, where they could be “civilized” for the purposes of control. The planners assigned to this project sought to remake the African family in the modern, nuclear mould, believing that this new order would facilitate utopian docility. But, in the process of trying to create a fully proletarianized, egalitarian population, planners inadvertently helped generate the conditions for the national democratic revolution that developed in the townships in the 1980s, which eventually led to the demise of apartheid.
Adaptive middleware architecture for a distributed omnidirectional visual tracking system

In different areas of applications such as education, entertainment, medical surgery, or space shuttle launching, distributed visual tracking systems are of increasing importance. In this paper we describe the design, implementation and evaluation of OmniTrack, a distributed omni-directional visual tracking system, developed at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with an Adaptive Middleware Architecture as the core of the system. With respect to both operating systems and network connections, adaptation is of fundamental importance to the tracking system, since it runs in an environment with large performance variations and without support of Quality of Service guarantees.
Culture, Climate, and Contribution: Career Satisfaction among Female Faculty.

Retention of female faculty is an important issue for institutions of higher education aiming for excellence and diversity. However, an essential first step in understanding retention is to examine what contributes to career satisfaction for academic women. This study is based on data from a census survey of faculty conducted in 1996 at a Research I university located in the Midwest. Using Hagadorn's (2000) model for conceptualizing faculty job satisfaction, the study identifies domains of environmental condition, departmental climate, and demographics that play a role in female faculty's overall career satisfaction.
Visual feature identification for 3-D data sets

Novel feature identification techniques for unstructured three-dimensional data sets are presented. These methods allow the user to quickly locate flow features of interest. A thorough discussion of the algorithms is presented with special attention focused on obtaining maximum interactivity. The effectiveness of these techniques is assessed by investigation of a complex vortical flow.
Risk of post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage by clinical diagnosis.

Objectives/Hypothesis: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been associated with upregulation of prothrombotic factors. We hypothesize that diagnosis of OSA may be protective against postoperative hemorrhage. This study investigates the relationships between preoperative clinical diagnosis and postoperative hemorrhage. Study Design: Seven-year retrospective case–control study. Methods: Medical records of tonsillectomy subjects with and without hemorrhage were reviewed for demographics, clinical diagnosis, and treatment. Clinical diagnoses included OSA confirmed by polysomnogram, sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), chronic tonsillitis, and a mixed group. Results: A total of 9,023 tonsillectomy patients were identified (52.0% male, 48.0% female; mean age, 6.9 years). Of these, 2.4% (n = 212) presented with hemorrhage. There were 48 (22.6%) primary and 164 (77.4%) secondary hemorrhages. The control group consisted of 1,488 nonhemorrhage patients. A multivariate logistic regression analysis compared the two groups controlling for age, sex, and clinical diagnosis. OSA patients were half as likely to hemorrhage compared to chronic tonsillitis patients (P = .04). SDB patients also had a lower chance of hemorrhage compared to chronic tonsillitis patients; this result was not significant (P = .09). Patients older than 6 years had a higher hemorrhage rate (P < .001). Conclusions: This study demonstrates that patients with OSA may be less likely to have postoperative hemorrhage than patients with chronic tonsillitis. Younger age was associated with fewer hemorrhages. Laryngoscope, 2012
Effect of grain-boundary crystallization on the high-temperature strength of silicon nitride

Si3N4 specimens having the composition 88.7 wt pct Si3N4-4.9 wt pct SiO2-6.4 wt pct Y2O3 were sintered at 2140 C under 25 atm N2 for 1 h and then subjected to a 5 h anneal at 1500 C. Crystallization of an amorphous grain-boundary phase resulted in the formation of Y2Si2O7. The short-time 1370 C strength of this material was compared with that of material of the same composition having no annealing treatment. No change in strength was noted. This is attributed to the refractory nature of the yttrium-rich grain-boundary phase (apparently identical in both glassy and crystalline phases) and the subsequent domination of the failure process by common processing flaws.
Evidence for an additional locus for split hand/foot malformation in chromosome region 8q21.11–q22.3†‡

We identified a family where five members had nonsyndromic ectrodactyly. There were three known instances of nonpenetrance. Although four individuals had unilateral cleft hand, one individual had more severe, bilateral and asymmetric absence of the digits. None had foot abnormalities. After exclusion of linkage of SHFM in this family to five known loci, a genome wide scan was performed with DNA from 5 affected and 15 unaffected members of this family. Suggestive evidence for linkage of ectrodactyly to 8q was obtained on the basis of a maximum LOD score of 2.54 at theta (max) = 0 with GAAT1A4. Critical recombinants place the ectrodactyly gene in this family in a 16 cM (21 Mb) interval between D8S1143 and D8S556. Mutational analysis of two candidate genes (FZD6, GDF6) did not identify any mutations in affected members of this family. Our data indicate further genetic heterogeneity for ectrodactyly and suggest the presence of an additional SHFM locus in chromosome region 8q21.11-q22.3.
Incoming College Males' Choice of Major and Attitudes toward Women

Doyle and Shahade (1977) found male Social Science majors espousing significantly more liberal or nontraditional attitudes toward women's roles than male Business Administration majors. The authors suggested two plausible explanations for their findings if we first accept in general the faculties and subject matter of the Social Sciences to be liberal and Business Administration to be conservative (Lipset & Ladd, 1970) . First, attitudes espoused by either the male Social Science or Business Administration majors could reflect these students' respective major faculties' attitudes toward social issues. Second, an incoming male freshman's liberal or conservative attitudes toward social issues in general could dispose him toward a particular field (Social Science or Business Administration) that he perceived as mirroring his own attitudes. The authors concluded neither explanation was adequate without further study of incoming college males' attitudes toward women and their choice of major. During the freshman orientation program, the St. Francis College class of 1980 was given the short version of the Attitudes Toward Women Scale (Spence, Helmreich, & Stapp, 1973) . These students were also requested to indicate their majors. The 38 male Social Science majors obtained a significantly higher ( h m = 2.20, p < .025) mean score than did the 67 male Business Administration majors (Ms = 47.10 and 41.68; S D s = 12.62 and 10.91, respectively). Finding male Social Science majors more liberal toward women's roles is both consistent with the earlier study' and suggestive that incoming male students' attitudes toward social issues are related to their choice of major. Notwithstanding the present findings, a note of caution seems necessary. The fact that these male student samples come mainly from the Mid-Atlantic states and from a relatively homogeneous religious background might have affected the outcome. A study of incoming state university male freshmen's attitudes toward women and their choice of major would shed further light on this relationship.
Increased artery wall stress post-stenting leads to greater intimal thickening.

Since the first human procedure in the late 1980s, vascular stent implantation has been accepted as a standard form of treatment of atherosclerosis. Despite their tremendous success, these medical devices are not without their problems, as excessive neointimal hyperplasia can result in the formation of a new blockage (restenosis). Clinical data suggest that stent design is a key factor in the development of restenosis. Additionally, computational studies indicate that the biomechanical environment is strongly dependent on the geometrical configuration of the stent, and therefore possibly involved in the development of restenosis. We hypothesize that stents that induce higher stresses on the artery wall lead to a more aggressive pathobiologic response, as determined by the amount of neointimal hyperplasia. The aim of this investigation was to examine the role of solid biomechanics in the development of restenosis. A combination of computational modeling techniques and in vivo analysis were employed to investigate the pathobiologic response to two stent designs that impose greater or lesser levels of stress on the artery wall. Stent designs were implanted in a porcine model (pigs) for approximately 28 days and novel integrative pathology techniques (quantitative micro-computed tomography, histomorphometry) were utilized to quantify the pathobiologic response. Concomitantly, computational methods were used to quantify the mechanical loads that the two stents place on the artery. Results reveal a strong correlation between the computed stress values induced on the artery wall and the pathobiologic response; the stent that subjected the artery to the higher stresses had significantly more neointimal thickening at stent struts (high stress stent: 0.197 ± 0.020 mm vs. low-stress stent: 0.071 ± 0.016 mm). Therefore, we conclude that the pathobiologic differences are a direct result of the solid biomechanical environment, confirming the hypothesis that stents that impose higher wall stresses will provoke a more aggressive pathobiological response.
Decreased virulence in stable, acapsular mutants of cryptococcus neoformans.

Six acapsular strains ofCryptococcus neoformans obtained by chemical mutagenesis failed to produce a capsulein vivo and were avirulent in mice following high dose intramuscular, intraperitoneal or intravenous inoculation. Peritoneal granulomas were observed in all animals inoculated with the acapsular mutants. These granulomas were characterized by a large central mass consisting of intact, degenerating and necrotic yeast cells. This was surrounded by concentric layers of a broad band of histiocytes, a narrow band of fibroblasts, and around the periphery, a mass of lymphocytes and plasma cells. These isolates did not revert to an encapsulated or virulent state after more than a year of subculturing or 18 passages through mice.
Ionizing radiation enhances malignant progression of mouse skin tumors

Chemical carcinogenesis in mouse skin has been divided into the process of initiation, promotion and progression. Recently we have shown that ionizing radiation acts as an initiator in this model system. In this paper we describe a three-stage experiment using ionizing radiation in the third stage of mouse skin carcinogenesis. CD-1 mice were initiated with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) followed by biweekly promotion with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). After 20 weeks of promotion, the animals were treated with either acetone, TPA (twice a week for 2 weeks) or eight fractions of 1 MeV electrons (1 Gy/fraction over a period of 10 days). The conversion of papillomas to squamous cell carcinomas was 80% for animals treated with ionizing radiation compared with 25% for tumor-bearing animals treated with TPA. Ionizing radiation increased the number of cumulative carcinomas per group. The lack of an increase in the number of cumulative papillomas per group due to ionizing radiation suggests that the dose and fractionation protocol used in this study enhanced the progression of pre-existing papillomas.
Vision Based Neuro-Fuzzy Controller for a Two Axes Gimbal System with Small UAV

This paper presents the development of a vision-based neuro-fuzzy controller for a two axes gimbal system mounted on a small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The controller uses vision-based object detection as input and generates pan and tilt motion and velocity commands for the gimbal in order to keep the interest object at the center of the image frame. A readial basis function based neuro-fuzzy system and a learning algorithm is developed for the controller to address the dynamic and non-linear characteristics of the gimbal movement. The controller uses two separate, but identical radial basis function networks, one for pan and one for tilt motion of the gimbal. Each system is initialized with a fixed number of neurons that act as rules basis for the fuzzy inference system. The membership functions and rule strengths are then adjusted with the feedback from the visual tracking system. The controller is trained off-line until a desired error level is achieved. Training is then continued on-line to allow the system to accommodate air speed changes. The algorithm learns from the error computed from the detected position of the object in image frame and generates position and velocity commands for the gimbal movement. Several tests including lab tests and actual flight tests of the UAV have been carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the controller. Test results show that the controller is able to converge effectively and generate accurate position and velocity commands to keep the object at the center of the image frame.
Gonadal Steroid Hormone Receptors and Sex Differences in the Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis

The rapid activation of stress-responsive neuroendocrine systems is a basic reaction of animals to perturbations in their environment. One well-established response is that of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. In rats, corticosterone is the major adrenal steroid secreted and is released in direct response to adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) secreted from the anterior pituitary gland. ACTH in turn is regulated by the hypothalamic factor, corticotropin-releasing hormone. A sex difference exists in the response of the HPA axis to stress, with females reacting more robustly than males. It has been demonstrated that in both sexes, products of the HPA axis inhibit reproductive function. Conversely, the sex differences in HPA function are in part due to differences in the circulating gonadal steroid hormone milieu. It appears that testosterone can act to inhibit HPA function, whereas estrogen can enhance HPA function. One mechanism by which androgens and estrogens modulate stress responses is through the binding to their cognate receptors in the central nervous system. The distribution and regulation of androgen and estrogen receptors within the CNS suggest possible sites and mechanisms by which gonadal steroid hormones can influence stress responses. In the case of androgens, data suggest that the control of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus is mediated trans-synaptically. For estrogen, modulation of the HPA axis may be due to changes in glucocorticoid receptor-mediated negative feedback mechanisms. The results of a variety of studies suggest that gonadal steroid hormones, particularly testosterone, modulate HPA activity in an attempt to prevent the deleterious effects of HPA activation on reproductive function.
The separation of pure lateral and diagonal isomers of cyclopentadienyldibromodicarbonylrhenium

Abstract Chromatography of C5H5Re(CO)2Br2 easily separates pure lateral and diagonal isomers which can be identified by the relative intensities of their symmetric and asymmetric ν(CO) bands.
Fluorescent antibody techniques for the diagnosis of enteric infections.

The very excellent papers which have preceded this presentation have described several methods of identification of viruses following isolation and have emphasized the necessity of accurate methods of isolation and identification. Dr. Herdis yon Magnus in particular has mentioned several methods of diagnosis by the technique of measuring serum antibodies in acute and convalescent sera which are used particularly as diagnostic tools when virus isolation is impossible. In addition, serum antibody studies have had application in research such as in studying the response to vaccination. I would like to describe a technique which is different from any of those mentioned by Dr. von Magnus; namely, the fluorescent antibody technique which we, in our laboratory, are particularly interested in at the present time. We are still in the process of comparing our results obtained by this technique with results obtained by other techniques to be absolutely certain that we may rely upon them entirely and by themselves. This seems highly likely at the present time. There are many advantages to the fluorescent antibody technique, one of which is that is serves both for isolation and identification and for an evaluation of serum antibodies. A second advantage is that it is a rapid procedure enabling one to obtain final results in a few hours rather than after several days as is the case with certain other procedures. Isolation and Identi]ication o/Virus. For the isolation and identification of enterovirus, we use the direct method of fluorescent microscopy. For instance, a stool specimen suspected of harboring the agent is processed in the routine manner and inoculated into several tissue culture tubes in which small eoverslips have been placed so that the cells grow on
Highly diastereoselective synthesis of β-trifluoromethyl-N-acetyltryptophan

Abstract Diethyl 2-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(indol-3-yl)ethyl]malonates 1, prepared by the reaction of 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(indol-3-yl)ethanol 2 with sodium salts of diethyl 2-substituted malonates, were readily hydrolyzed in an aqueous NaOH solution to form the corresponding disodium salts. Subsequent acidification of the salt resulted in the decarboxylation forming syn-isomers of the title compound in high yield.
Solid-State and Solution-State Coordination Chemistry of the Zinc Triad with the Mixed N,S Donor Ligand Bis(2-methylpyridyl) Sulfide

The binding of group 12 metal ions to bis(2-methylpyridyl) sulfide (1) was investigated by X-ray crystallography and NMR. Seven structures of the chloride and perchlorate salts of Hg(II), Cd(II), and Zn(II) with 1 are reported. Hg(1)2(ClO4)2, Cd(1)2(ClO4)2, and Zn(1)2(ClO4)2·CH3CN form mononuclear, six-coordinate species in the solid state with 1 binding in a tridentate coordination mode. Hg(1)2(ClO4)2 has a distorted trigonal prismatic coordination geometry while Cd(1)2(ClO4)2 and Zn(1)2(ClO4)2·CH3CN have distorted octahedral geometries. With chloride anions, the 1:1 metal to ligand complexes Hg(1)Cl2, [Cd(1)Cl2]2, and Zn(1)Cl2 are formed. A bidentate binding mode that lacks thioether coordination is observed for 1 in the four-coordinate, distorted tetrahedral complexes Zn(1)Cl2 and Hg(1)Cl2. [Cd(1)Cl2]2 is dimeric with a distorted octahedral coordination geometry and a tridentate 1. Hg(1)Cl2 is comprised of pairs of loosely associated monomers and Zn(1)Cl2 is monomeric. In addition, Hg2(1)Cl4 is formed ...
Charge and Ion Transport in NiO and Aspects of Ni Oxidation from First Principles

Motivated by relevance to Ni metal oxidation, electronic and ionic transport properties of bulk NiO were calculated from first principles with the GGA+U formalism. The calculations suggest that bulk NiO is a p-type oxide with Ni vacancies as the majority defect and hole donating species, consistent with current understanding. Calculated energy barriers for diffusion of interstitial Ni and O and their corresponding vacancy partners show that while generally lower for interstitials, their formation energies are much larger. The small electron polaron (e–) in the form of Ni+ was directly computed. Its formation energy is lower than that of a hole small polaron, and its diffusion activation energy is significantly lower than those calculated for the ionic defects. Calculation of the electrical field local to structurally specific heteroepitaxial Ni/NiO interfaces shows that the field strength is lowest for Ni(111)/NiO relative to both Ni(100)/NiO and Ni(110)/NiO, suggesting a low driving force for electron in...
A Network Inference Workflow Applied to Virulence-Related Processes in Salmonella typhimurium

Inference of the structure of mRNA transcriptional regulatory networks, protein regulatory or interaction networks, and protein activation/inactivation-based signal transduction networks are critical tasks in systems biology. In this article we discuss a workflow for the reconstruction of parts of the transcriptional regulatory network of the pathogenic bacterium Salmonella typhimurium based on the information contained in sets of microarray gene-expression data now available for that organism and describe our results obtained by following this workflow. The primary tool is one of the network-inference algorithms deployed in the Software Environment for Biological Network Inference (SEBINI). Specifically, we selected the algorithm called context likelihood of relatedness (CLR), which uses the mutual information contained in the gene-expression data to infer regulatory connections. The associated analysis pipeline automatically stores the inferred edges from the CLR runs within SEBINI and, upon request, transfers the inferred edges into either Cytoscape or the plug-in Collective Analysis of Biological Interaction Networks (CABIN) tool for further postanalysis of the inferred regulatory edges. The following article presents the outcome of this workflow, as well as the protocols followed for microarray data collection, data cleansing, and network inference. Our analysis revealed several interesting interactions, functional groups, metabolic pathways, and regulons in S. typhimurium.
The application of NMR-pattern-recognition methods to the classification of reduced, peracetylated oligosaccharide residues

Abstract In the present paper homo- and hetero-nuclear correlation spectroscopies have been used to assign proton and carbonyl carbon resonances of a number of reduced, paracetylated mono- and oligo-saccharide derivatives. Each of the native structures for which assignments were made represent residues or substructures typically found in N - or O -linked glycans. Using the assigned NMR parameters as a basis, residues contained in parent structures were classified according to their residue type and glycosidic substitution sites using a relatively simple K-Nearest Neighbor pattern recognition approach. The method was able to correctly assign 99% of 77 “test residues” to their correct structural class using the full set of 19 assigned parameters as a basis. Similar correlations made between data and structure were less successful when reduced variable sets selected on the basis of SIMCA optimization were used.
Effect of cyclooxygenase genotype and dietary fish oil on colonic eicosanoids in mice

Abstract Dietary ω3 fatty acids can modulate substrate availability for cyclooxygenases (COXs) and lipoxygenases, thus modulating downstream eicosanoid formation. This could be an alternative approach to using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and other COX inhibitors for limiting Prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) synthesis in colon cancer prevention. The aims of this study were to evaluate to what extent COX- and lipoxygenase-derived products could be modulated by dietary fish oil in normal colonic mucosa and to evaluate the role of COX-1 and COX-2 in the formation of these products. Mice (wild-type, COX-1 null or COX-2 null) were fed a diet supplying a broad mixture of fatty acids present in European/American diets, supplemented with either olive oil (oleate control diet) or menhaden (fish) oil ad libitum for 9–11 weeks. Colonic eicosanoid levels were measured by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS), and proliferation was assessed by Ki67 immunohistochemistry. For the dietary alteration of colonic arachidonic acid: eicosapentaenoic ratios resulted in large shifts in formation of COX and lipoxygenase metabolites. COX-1 knockout virtually abolished PGE 2 formation, but interestingly, 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic (12-HETE) acid and 15-HETE formation was increased. The large changes in eicosanoid profiles were accompanied by relatively small changes in colonic crypt proliferation, but such changes in eicosanoid formation might have greater biological impact upon carcinogen challenge. These results indicate that in normal colon, inhibition of COX-2 would have little effect on reducing PGE 2 levels.
Multiphoton Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging of NADH in Epileptic Rat Brain Tissue Reveals Metabolic Abnormalities

Abnormal neuronal-astrocytic metabolic coupling is hypothesized in temporal lobe epilepsy. FLIM of hippocampus from rodent epilepsy models demonstrates abnormalities in the distribution of bound and unbound NADH in response to stimulation, indicating underlying metabolic pathology.
Comparison of Numerical and Experimental Time-Resolved Near-Field Hall Thruster Plasma Properties

Breathing mode oscillations of a xenon 600 W Hall effect thruster have been studied using temporally resolved experimental data and numerical modeling. Fluctuations in xenon neutral near infrared (810-835 nm) emission in the near field thruster plume have been measured at 1- μs resolution using a high speed, phase-matched intensified charge coupled device. Oscillations in electron temperature, 3-9 eV, have been inferred using a collisional-radiative model and a two-line ratio method. The time-resolved emission and electron temperature measurements are then used to assess the accuracy of the numerical model HPHall. Although simulations were able to accurately predict the time averaged thruster behavior, the model greatly under predicts the magnitude of the oscillations. General phase trends between the discharge current and emission as well as electron temperature are consistent with observations, suggesting that the model is capable of capturing some of the oscillatory behavior despite the dampening of the oscillations.
Open pelvic fracture and fecal diversion.

Background Mandatory fecal diversion has been advocated as an appropriate measure to prevent infection in the clinical setting of an open pelvic fracture. However, the efficacy of this practice has not been verified by prospective investigation and has received only inconsistent support from retrospective analyses. Objective To determine whether fecal diversion is associated with a substantially lower incidence of abdominopelvic infectious complications in patients with open pelvic fractures. Design Case-control study. Setting University-based tertiary care, level I trauma center. Methods The current study reviews our experience with 60 cases admitted from 1987 to 1993 to Harborview Medical Center, a regional level I trauma center. Data collected on each patient included age, sex, Injury Severity Score, Glasgow Coma Scale, initial heart rate and systolic blood pressure, location and severity of wound, fracture pattern, pelvic stability, time to open reduction internal fixation or external fixation, mortality, use of fecal diversion, and incidence and location of infection. Review of the literature produced an additional 186 patients amenable to analysis. Results Fecal diversion was performed in 19 patients, 5 (26%) of whom experienced subsequent abdominopelvic infectious morbidity. Of the remaining 41 patients, 7 patients (17%) experienced infectious complications. The 2 groups (diversion vs no diversion) were comparable with regard to relevant demographic and clinical characteristics of injury severity. Combining the present series with those reported by others gave a composite series of 246 patients. For the composite series, diversion was performed in 70% of patients. Infection developed in 27% of patients who underwent diversion vs 29% in patients who did not. In the present series, only mechanical instability was determined by stepwise logistic regression to be significantly associated with pelvic infection. This association was not altered by diversion status. Conclusions Diversion of the fecal stream to protect open pelvic fractures is not associated with a lower incidence of abdominopelvic infectious complications. Diversion may offer protection to a select group of patients with extensive soft tissue injury or posterior wounds. Mechanical instability was independently associated with infection.
Pi-electron systems: Building molecules for a function.

The versatility and potential of conjugated organic materials continues to amaze, with their unique — and sometimes unexpected — properties being continuously discovered and harnessed by scientists in an attempt to use them in functional devices.
African roles in the Libyan conflict of 2011

Libya's relationship with sub-Saharan Africa has been complex, troubled and misunderstood, both during the rule of the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and the conflict that culminated in his overthrow and death. The Libyan conflict of 2011 divided Africa, but nonetheless the African Union (AU) was able to agree on a political strategy aimed at achieving a negotiated settlement and power transition. The AU's peace initiative was launched in March 2011 and, contrary to widespread perception that the AU sought to prop up Gaddafi, it offered a credible and balanced option of a negotiated solution. United Nations Security Council resolution 1973 expressed support for the initiative, but in the event France, Britain and the United States blocked its chances of success. This article draws on evidence and analysis provided by the AU officials involved. It details the process whereby the AU adopted and implemented its decisions, and describes the AU's diplomatic engagement with Gaddafi and the National Transitional Council. The article also draws on information provided by Sudanese military and intelligence officials, providing an account, hitherto untold, of how the Sudanese government supported the Libyan opposition with military supplies, training and intelligence, in tacit cooperation with NATO countries. The article concludes with reflections on how the Libyan conflict has had an impact on the doctrine of the ‘responsibility to protect’, on the AU, and on Libya's relations with Africa.
Different ω-conotoxins mark the development of Swiss Webster mouse cortex suggesting N-Type voltage sensitive calcium channel subtypes

Abstract ω-GVIA conotoxin has been used to mark presynaptic N-type voltage sensitive calcium channels (VSCC). 3 , 13 , 19 , 21–23 Litzinger et al . 9 used ω-conotoxin binding to describe a critical period of neurodevelopment in Swiss Webster mice between postnatal days (PND) 11 and 14, which appears to be important to the initiation of proper final development of the central nervous system. In this study, we compare how three different ω-conotoxins (i.e. GVIA from Conus geographus , MVIIA from Conus magus , and RVIA from Conus radiatus ) mark N-type VSCC during this critical period in Swiss Webster mouse cortex. 125 I-GVIA was bound to Swiss Webster mouse cortex synaptosomal membrane fractions at postnatal days 8 and 14. 125 I-GVIA binding displacement curves were obtained by incubating membranes with increasing concentrations of unlabeled GVIA, MVIIA, and RVIA. Displacement curves and IC 50 were calculated for each of these three ω-conotoxins, and then compared. At PND 14, GVIA, MVIIA and RVIA were able to displace greater than 95% of 125 I-GVIA binding. At PND 8, however, MVIIA was only able to displace 83% of 125 I-GVIA binding, and RVIA was only able to block 84%. The IC 150 does not appear to change significantly during this period of development for any of the ω-conotoxins. The inability of MVIIA and RVIA to completely block 125 I-GVIA binding in pre-critical period Swiss Webster cortex denotes an alteration in the composition of N-type VSCC binding sites. With this data, we have suggested the presence of subtypes of the N-type VSCC in the cortex of pre-critical period Swiss Webster mouse.
THE PROTEIN-SYNTHESIZING SYSTEMS FROM THE CYTOPLASM AND THE CHLOROPLASTS OF EUGLENA GRACILIS.

Chloroplasts from Euglena gracilis , free of contamination by cytoplasmic ribo-somes, promote the incorporation of amino acids into acid-insoluble material. The activity is highly dependent on a Euglena supernatant fraction, an ATP-generating system and transfer RNA. It is inhibited by ribonuclease, puromycin and chloramphenicol. Light produces a marked inhibition of the incorporation by chloroplasts. In the absence of the ATP-generating system, however, the incorporation is stimulated by light. The activity of the chloroplasts is somewhat stimulated by the ribonucleoside triphosphates and inhibited by actinomycin. This is tentatively considered as evidence for DNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity. Ribosomes derived from the chloroplasts are considerably less active than the intact chloroplasts. Their activity is greatly enhanced by the addition of template RNA. The intact chloroplasts are not stimulated by this material. The chloroplast ribosomal unit active in protein synthesis shows a sedimentation value of 60 s. The corresponding value for the cytoplasmic ribosomes is 70 s. The two types of ribosomes also differ markedly with respect to nucleotide composition of the RNA. The cytoplasmic ribosomes, obtained by a procedure similar to that used for the preparation of the chloroplast particles, are not stimulated by template RNA. They are also insensitive to chloramphenicol. A possible correlation between the properties of the two types of ribosomes and the characteristics of chloroplast and cytoplasmic protein synthesis in vivo is suggested.
Soluble factors substitute for T-T-cell collaboration in generation of T-killer lymphocytes.

IMMUNOLOGICAL responses to histoincompatible tissues and to tumour cells are mediated by thymus-derived (T) lymphocytes. The cells that effect these responses have been termed cytotoxic T-killer cells and are derived from T-precursor cells that have become programmed (committed) to recognise specific antigenic determinants. The generation of T-effector or killer cells involves the collaboration of two distinct subpopulations of T cells. Helper T cells interact with specific precursor T cells when stimulated by antigen and, during the resultant differentiation processes, the precursor clones mature into specific killer cells1–3. The nature or mechanisms of the collaboration between the precursor and helper T cells has been obscure until now. The data presented here demonstrate that soluble T-cell products can replace the requirement for helper T cells in the generation of T-killer cells. The active substances are produced on antigenic stimulation and are as effective as T-helper cells during the differentiation of precursor T cells into killer cells.
Physiological and biochemical changes during the molt cycle in decapod crustaceans: an overview

Abstract The purpose of this review is to summarize what is currently known about the hormonal control of molting and to describe some of the biochemical, physiological, and behavioral processes that are influenced by the molt cycle. This introductory review is geared towards those ecologists and ethologists working with decapod crustaceans who need to consider the underlying physiology of their animals with respect to the molt cycle.
A Comparison of the Behavior of SF6 and N2 Blast Arcs Around Current Zero

The behavior of SF6 and N2 blast arcs is theoretically investigated as the arc current is ramped down to zero from a high current steady state, followed by the application of a rate of rise of recovery voltage (RRRV). A one dimensional model based on the conservation equations of mass, momentum and energy is used to represent the arc. Axial profiles of arc area, temperature, electric field, plasma velocity, power loss and time constant are reported for one current slope and its critical RRRV. Conclusions are drawn concerning turbulent arc cooling, the location of the arc interrupting zone, the critical post-zero current and the comparative interruption capabilities of N2 and SF6 blast arcs.
Analysis of methyloxime derivatives of intact esters of testosterone and boldenone in equine plasma using ultra high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

Analysis of equine plasma samples to detect the abuse of anabolic steroids can be complicated when the parent steroid is endogenous to the animal. Anabolic steroids are usually administered intramuscularly as synthetic esters and therefore detection of the exogenous esters provides unequivocal proof of illegal administration. An ultra high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometric (UPLC-MSMS) method for the analysis of esters of testosterone (propionate, phenylpropionate, isocaproate, and decanoate) and boldenone (undecylenate) in equine plasma has been developed. Esters were extracted from equine plasma using a mixture of hexane and ethyl acetate and treated with methoxyamine hydrochloride to form methyloxime derivatives. Metenolone enanthate was used as an internal standard. After chromatographic separation, the derivatized steroid esters were quantified using selected reaction monitoring (SRM). The limit of detection for all of the steroid esters, based on a signal to noise ratio (S/N) of 3:1, was 1-3 pg/mL. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) for the all of the steroid esters was 5 pg/mL when 2 mL of plasma was extracted. Recovery of the steroid esters was 85-97% for all esters except for testosterone decanoate which was recovered at 62%. The intra-day coefficient of variation (CV) for the analysis of plasma quality control (QC) samples was less than 9.2% at 40 pg/mL and less than 6.0% at 400 pg/mL. The developed assay was used to successfully confirm the presence of intact testosterone esters in equine plasma samples following intramuscular injection of Durateston® (mixed testosterone esters).
Anatomical, ultrastructural and enzymic studies of leaves of Moricandia arvensis, a C3-C4 intermediate species

Abstract The possibility that reduced photorespiration in the crucifer Moricandia arvensis is due to a limited C4-photosynthesis system similar to that in the C3-C4 intermediate Panicum milioides (Rathnam, C.K.M. and Chollet, R. (1979) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 548, 500−519) was investigated. The anatomical, physiological and biochemical features of this crucifer which are similar to those of P. milioides are: (a) the presence of prominent leaf vascular bundle sheaths which contain numerous, centripetally arranged chloroplasts and mitochondria; (b) a CO2 compensation concentration of 16 ± 3 μl/l at 21% O2 and 25°C; (c) a C3-type phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase exhibiting a maximal velocity which is 2–3-times that of the enzyme from C3 plants; and (d) aspartate and alanine aminotransferase activities which are 2–3-fold higher than in a representative C3 species. However, M. arvensis differs from the C3-C4 intermediate Panicum species in that the activities of the three known C4 acid decarboxylating enzymes present in leaves of C4 plants (NAD- and NADP-malic enzymes and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase) and pyruvate, orthophosphate dikinase (a key C4-related enzyme) are low or undetectable. From these comparative results we conclude that the mechanism by which photorespiration is reduced in M. arvensis is qualitatively different from the limited C4-like CO2-concentrating system operating in P. milioides.
Farnesoid X receptor targeting to treat nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a highly prevalent chronic liver condition evolving in a proportion of patients into nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), an aggressive form of NAFLD associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and significant risk of progressive liver disease, including fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. At present, no specific therapies for NASH exist. In this review, we examine the evidence supporting activation of the farnesoid X receptor (FXR), a nuclear hormone receptor regulated by bile acids (BAs), for the treatment of NASH. We also discuss the potential of the semi-synthetic BA derivative obeticholic acid (OCA), a first-in-class FXR agonist, as a safe and effective drug to address this significant unmet medical need.
Method for the Solution of the Multi-Dimensional 0/1 Knapsack Problem

In the knapsack problem, given the desirability of each of a number of items, one seeks to find that subset which satisfies a constraint on total weight. The multidimensional variant imposes constraints on additional variables of the items; the 0/1 specification means that an item is either taken or not, i.e., multiples of the same item are not considered, except possibly indirectly. Traditionally the one-dimensional knapsack problem is solved by means of dynamic programming. The multidimensional problem is usually reduced to a one-dimensional one by use of Lagrangian Multipliers that, however, do not generally yield the exact solution to the problem posed. Here some new algorithms are developed that are applied within a dynamic programming framework. Additionally, the methods make integral use of an interactive computer system in which the heuristics of the problem solver are applied and changed as the character of the solution process evolves. The problem arises in the context of capital budgeting, but has obvious applications in a variety of other areas. The methods have been employed for solving numerical problems with as many as 105 items, the parameters having been obtained from industrial applications.