cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electricity capital and accumulation strategies in the U.S. electricity system

The U.S. electricity sector has undergone a series of technological and political economic transformations between 1995 and 2020. Some, but not all, states have moved toward the provision of electr...
A Grounded Model of Autonomy Calibration in Location-Independent Work Arrangements

The location-independent work arrangement—an arrangement in which employees both work and travel without a permanent home base—is becoming increasingly common. Despite its growing popularity, littl...
Combination of Baloxavir and Oseltamivir for Treatment of Severe Influenza Infection in Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients: A Novel Treatment Strategy for a High-risk Population.

Baloxavir, a cap-dependent endonuclease inhibitor, was recently approved for treatment of severe influenza infections. Combining baloxavir with oseltamivir has been proposed to increase the response rate. We report 2 hematopoietic cell transplant recipients with severe influenza infections who were treated with this combination and discuss possible reasons for their different responses.
4 From Agorism to OPSEC: Dark Web Markets and a Shifting Relationship to the State

“Everywhere I looked I saw the State.” —Dread Pirate Roberts Perhaps the most infamous Dark Web site was the original Silk Road drug market, hosted as a Tor hidden service. From its beginning in early 2011 to its seizure by law enforcement in late 2013, the Silk Road was arguably more than a market. Its founder, Ross Ulbricht, conceptualized Silk Road as a sociotechnical implementation of agorism, a radical market libertarian philosophy. Echoing Weberian theories of state legitimacy (as discussed in chapter 2), agorism holds that the state is indeed the sole source of coercion and violence in contemporary society. Rather than accepting this dominance as “legitimate,” however, agorists argue that the state is illegitimate precisely because of its monopoly on violence. For agorists, free markets offer a new model for social organizing that does not rely on coercion, violence, or state power, where exchanges, not law enforcement, could be the glue that holds society together. Ulbricht argued that every sale on Silk Road was not just a means for drug dealers to satisfy the desires of drug consumers but a blow to the concept of the state itself.
Etiology and Pathology of Pressure Ulcers

It has been observed that the application of constant pressure of 70 mmHg for more than 2 h produced irreversible tissue damage [1]. Minimal tissue damage was observed when the pressure exceeded 240 mmHg, providing there was intermittent pressure relief [2]. Histopathological changes secondary to pressure on the tissues include occluding of the blood flow to the tissues. If occluding occurs for short periods of time, the result is anoxia of the cells. If the pressure continues for longer periods of time, complete occlusion of the blood flow results in ischemia of the cells and then necrosis and, consequently, irreversible tissue damage. Muscle fibers are more sensitive to the ischemia effect of prolonged pressure than the skin [3, 4]. Shear forces are an etiologic factor in development of pressure, and ulcers [5, 6] are caused by movement of boney prominence against the subcutaneous tissues. This occurs when the position of the patient, for example, in bed, is shifted in a way that the skin remains stationary in relation to the support of the body and, as a result of the movement, the subepidermal vessels are bent at a right angle. Shear alone does not cause tissue necrosis; however, it is a predisposing factor in causing pressure ulcers. Shear forces are seen more frequently in clinical practice when a patient loses weight and tissue sliding can occur over the boney prominences. Friction forces relate to rubbing of the skin against linen or clothing, or even when lifting a patient on a sling. Most abrasion injuries are caused by friction, although friction does not lead to all pressure ulcers; it can damage the epidermis and make the skin susceptible to pressure ulcers [1].
Data management and analysis for gene expression arrays

Microarray technology makes it possible to simultaneously study the expression of thousands of genes during a single experiment. We have developed an information system, ArrayDB, to manage and analyse large-scale expression data. The underlying relational database was designed to allow flexibility in the nature and structure of data input and also in the generation of standard or customized reports through a web-browser interface. ArrayDB provides varied options for data retrieval and analysis tools that should facilitate the interpretation of complex hybridization results. A sampling of ArrayDB storage, retrieval and analysis capabilities is available ( http://www.nhgri.nih.gov/DIR/LCG/15K/HTML/ ), along with information on a set of approximately 15,000 genes used to fabricate several widely used microarrays. Information stored in ArrayDB is used to provide integrated gene expression reports by linking array target sequences with NCBI's Entrez retrieval system, UniGene and KEGG pathway views. The integration of external information resources is essential in interpreting intrinsic patterns and relationships in large-scale gene expression data.
Targeted-ripple optimal commutation of coupled and uncoupled linear variable reluctance motors

This paper is concerned with the optimal commutation of two types of linear variable reluctance motors (one with coupled and one with uncoupled phases) under constraints on force ripple size ranging from zero ripple to unconstrained ripple. Constrained optimization methods are used in order to (1) generate force-speed characteristics parametrized by force-ripple size (2) produce current waveforms that minimize average power dissipation while producing a desired average force within specified force-ripple limits. Force ripple size is measured by the 1-norm of the force ripple waveform. The force models used are idealized analytical models derived from magnetic circuit analysis.
Mexico's Migration Policies after Fox: A Return to a 'Policy of No Policy'?

Until recently, little attention had been paid to the role that migrant-sending states play in shaping migration flows, the impact of their migration policies in the diaspora’s activities in relation to the home country, and the bilateral or multilateral framework in which these policies and activities take place. Recent changes in the Mexican government’s policies towards the 30 million Mexican migrants living in the United States and current developments in the debate over U.S. immigration reform highlight the importance that the Mexican diaspora has acquired in both countries’ domestic politics given its size, its economic power and its growing political participation in both countries. Missing from these discussions at the academic and policy level is a systematic study of the various domestic, transnational and international factors that have historically shaped Mexico’s positions on emigration control and diaspora engagement, and their relevance in the context of the U.S.-Mexico relationship. Since 2006, with the end of the Fox administration, characterized by its activism on migration issues and its proposal for a US-Mexico migration agreement, the Mexican government has opted for a more discreet approach to these issues, particularly with regards to its position on comprehensive immigration reform. For some, this signals a return to a traditional “policy of having no policy”, while the Mexican government explains this simply as a refocusing of strategies in a new domestic and bilateral context but without changing the priority given to migration issues. Similar variations have occurred in the past based on Mexico’s considerations of economic and political conditions in Mexico as well as the status of the bilateral relationship with the United States. However, this paper argues that an unprecedented transnational context where migrants are increasingly active, both economically and politically, a bilateral context where relations between the Mexican government and US actors have expanded in the NAFTA context and an international context with increasing attention to migrants’ rights and the migration-development nexus makes a return to Mexico’s so-called “policy of having no policy” increasingly untenable.
Selective CB2 receptor agonist Gp1a attenuates EAE through modulating CD4 T cell differentiation and immune cell infiltration in the CNS (BA8P.131)

CB2 agonists have beneficial effects in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Our previous studies showed that the CB2 selective agonist O-1966 inhibited EAE development and leukocyte rolling and adhesion to CNS microvasculature. Here we report that Gp1a, a highly selective CB2 agonist, inhibits EAE development following early treatment and improves recovery following late treatment. Gp1a treatment resulted in lower levels of demyelination, axonal loss, and immune cell infiltration. Our results indicate that early Gp1a treatment inhibits Th1 and Th17 and promotes Th2 and Treg differentiation both in vivo and in vitro. We confirmed that Gp1a inhibited Th1 and Th17 differentiation both in non-polarizing and polarizing conditions. Following later treatment, Gp1a reduced the accumulation of pathogenic immune cells in the CNS, which was associated with reductions in the expression of CNS chemokines and adhesion molecules and of chemokine receptors in T cells. We concluded that at least two mechanisms were involved in the beneficial effects of Gp1a in EAE, an early effect on Th1/Th17 differentiation and a later effect on the accumulation of pathogenic immune cells in the CNS. The combined effect of CB2 agonists on Th17 differentiation and immune cell accumulation into the CNS, suggest the CB2 receptors are potential therapeutic targets in neuroinflammation.
THE HAND-FOOT SYNDROME IN SICKLE-CELL DISEASE IN YOUNG CHILDREN

Twenty Negro infants and young children with sickle-cell disease had crises characterized by painfully swollen hands and/or feet—the "hand-foot" syndrome. Usually within 7 to 14 days periosteal elevation and areas of bone destruction appeared in the metatarsals, metacarpals, and phalanges. The swelling subsided in about 1 to 3 weeks, and the roentgenographic changes in about 3 months. Thirty-two cases reported by other authors are reviewed.
Effect of Polymer Size on the Inhibition of Protocollagen Proline Hydroxylase by Polyproline II

Abstract Fractions of poly-l-proline Form II ranging in molecular weight from 1,600 to 21,000 were compared in their ability to serve as competitive inhibitors for the synthesis of hydroxyproline by protocollagen proline hydroxylase. The degree of inhibition of the enzyme increased with the size of the polymer, and the Ki values decreased progressively with molecular weight. The results indicated that poly-l-proline polymers with 150 to 200 residues have higher affinities for the inhibitor site or sites on the enzyme than smaller poly-l-proline fractions with the same structure in solution. The data could not be explained solely on the basis that large fractions of poly-l-proline act as multifunctional reactants with cooperative or noncooperative binding of several enzyme molecules per polypeptide. Accordingly, it appears that interaction between the enzyme and poly-l-proline involves some unusual feature such as an inhibitor site large enough to accommodate 150 to 200 prolyl residues or lateral movement of the enzyme along the polypeptide.
Control of calcitonin/calcitonin gene-related peptide pre-mRNA processing by constitutive intron and exon elements.

Abstract The calcitonin/calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) primary transcript is alternatively spliced in thyroid C cells and neurons, resulting in the tissue-specific production of calcitonin and CGRP mRNAs. Analyses of mutated calcitonin/CGRP transcription units in permanently transfected cell lines have indicated that alternative splicing is regulated by a differential capacity to utilize the calcitonin-specific splice acceptor. The analysis of an extensive series of mutations suggests that tissue-specific regulation of calcitonin mRNA production does not depend on the presence of a single, unique cis-active element but instead appears to be a consequence of suboptimal constitutive splicing signals. While only those mutations that altered constitutive splicing signals affected splice choices, the action of multiple regulatory sequences cannot be formally excluded. Further, we have identified a 13-nucleotide purine-rich element from a constitutive exon that, when placed in exon 4, entirely switches splice site usage in CGRP-producing cells. These data suggest that specific exon recruitment sequences, in combination with other constitutive elements, serve an important function in exon recognition. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that tissue-specific alternative splicing of the calcitonin/CGRP primary transcript is mediated by cell-specific differences in components of the constitutive splicing machinery.
The economics of worktime length, adjustment, and flexibility: A synthesis of contributions from competing models of the labor market

An electic framework is developed to understand long-term and short-term patterns in worktime, and to explain labor market anomalies such as the downward inflexibility of the workweek and coexistence of underemployment and overemployment. Neoclassical labor demand and supply models focus narrowly on monetary cost and individual welfare consequences. Post-Keynesian, institutionalist and radical political economy paradigms suggest work hours and institutions regulating its adjustment also reflect uncertainty, relative incomes, internal labor markets, custom, power, and effort-regulation. Work hours have three measurable dimensions-mean duration, variability, and dynamic flexibility. Employers seek "numerical flexibility," and households desire minimal conflict with non-worktime activities. If irreconciliable, length and allocation outcomes will be determined by relative bargaining power. Given evidence of imperfect sorting in labor markets according to hours preferences, and that flexible hour arrangements ...
Molecular Epidemiology of nga and NAD Glycohydrolase/ADP-Ribosyltransferase Activity among Streptococcus pyogenes Causing Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome

Severe invasive group A streptococcal (GAS) infections emerged in the late 1980s, yet no single virulence factor has been common to all isolates from infected patients. A strong association was recently found between isolates of such cases (regardless of M type) and the production of NAD glycohydrolase (NADase). Of interest, all M-1 strains isolated after 1988 were positive for NADase, whereas virtually all M-1 GAS were previously negative for NADase. Genetic analysis demonstrated that GAS isolates were >96% identical in nga and >99% identical in their upstream regulatory sequences. Furthermore, because NADase-negative strains did not produce immunoreactive NADase, we concluded that additional regulatory element(s) control NADase production. NADase purified from GAS altered neutrophil-directed migration and chemiluminescence responses and had potent ADP-ribosyltransferase activity. In summary, the temporal relationship of NADase expression, alone or with other streptococcal virulence factors, may contribute to the pathogenesis of invasive GAS infections.
Autophosphorylation and ADP regulate the Ca2+-dependent interaction of recoverin with rhodopsin kinase.

Recoverin is a 23 kDa myristoylated Ca^(2+)-binding protein that inhibits rhodopsin kinase. We have used surface plasmon resonance to investigate the influences of Ca^(2+), myristoylation, and adenine nucleotides on the recoverin−rhodopsin kinase interaction. Our analyses confirmed that Ca^(2+) is required for recoverin to bind RK. Myristoylation had little effect on the affinity of recoverin for the kinase, but it raised the K_(0.5) for Ca^(2+) from 150 nM for nonacylated recoverin to 400 nM for myristoylated recoverin. Finally, our studies also revealed two separate and previously unreported effects of adenine nucleotides on the recoverin−rhodopsin kinase binding. The interaction is weakened by autophosphorylation of the kinase, and it is strengthened by the presence of ADP.
Phenology of Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in Florida Based on Attraction of Adult Males to Pheromone Traps

Abstract Research was conducted in Florida to assess the phenology of pink hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green), based on numbers of adult males captured in traps baited with a synthetic pheromone. Trapping was conducted at 3 locations in east central Florida in ornamental plantings of hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L.) infested by the mealybug, with traps hung directly within plants. Trapping was also conducted in southeast Florida near Miami in a tropical fruit tree planting. Males were highly attracted to traps baited with the lure, consistent with reports in the literature. Numbers of adult males captured in traps indicated that M. hirsutus was consistently most abundant during late summer and early fall with peak populations occurring anytime during late Aug through early Oct. Populations of M. hirsutus, based on captures of males, were consistently low during winter and spring from Jan through mid Apr.
Disparate mechanisms of sICAM-1 production in the peripheral lung: contrast between alveolar epithelial cells and pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells

Membrane-associated intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (mICAM-1; CD54) is constitutively expressed on the surface of type I alveolar epithelial cells (AEC). Soluble ICAM-1 (sICAM-1) may be produced ...
In vivo optical molecular imaging of matrix metalloproteinase activity in abdominal aortic aneurysms correlates with treatment effects on growth rate

Objectives: We present a method to quantify the inflammatory processes that drive abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) development that may help predict the rate of growth and thus guide medical and surgical management. We use an in vivo optical molecular imaging approach to quantify protease activity within the walls of AAAs in a rodent model. Methods: AAAs were generated in mice by topical application of calcium chloride, followed by the administration of the MMP inhibitor doxycycline for 3 months. After this time period, an enzyme-activatable optical molecular imaging agent sensitive to MMP activity was administered, and MMP proteolytic activity was measured in vivo. Histology and in situ zymography were performed for validation. AAAs were also generated in rats, and MMP activity within the walls of the AAAs was also quantified endovascularly. Results: A dose-dependent response of AAA growth rate to doxycycline administration was demonstrated, with high doses of the drug resulting in nearly complete suppression of aneurysm formation. There was a direct relationship between the rate of aneurysmal growth and measured MMP activity, with a linear best-fit well approximating the relationship. We additionally performed endovascular imaging of AAAs in rats and demonstrated a similar suppression of intramural MMP activity following doxycycline administration. Conclusions: We present an in vivo evaluation of MMP activity within the walls of AAAs in rodents and show a direct, linear relationship between proteolytic activity and aneurysmal growth. We also illustrate that this functional imaging method can be performed endovascularly, demonstrating potential preclinical and clinical applications.
Cosmic-Ray Sources and Source Composition

Present data on cosmic-ray elemental and isotopic relative abundances are shown to be unable to distinguish between various models of cosmic-ray sources and their composition. For example, the model of freshly nucleosynthesized material from supernova explosions as the cosmic-ray source is unable to account for some measured, key cosmic-ray elemental abundances. This and two other models are evaluated here in light of recent isotopic and elemental measurements. It is shown that model-dependent preferential injection, acceleration, and reacceleration do not allow a clear distinction of one model against the others. Future measurements of critical elements and isotopes are suggested, which should afford us the ability to do that. We base our suggestions on measurements and a quantitative comparison between the predictions of the standard leaky-box model for the Galactic propagation of cosmic rays and one in which reacceleration is taken into account.
Free holomorphic functions on the unit ball of B(H)n

Abstract In this paper we continue the study of free holomorphic functions on the noncommutative ball [ B ( H ) n ] 1 : = { ( X 1 , … , X n ) ∈ B ( H ) n : ‖ X 1 X 1 ∗ + ⋯ + X n X n ∗ ‖ 1 / 2 1 } , where B ( H ) is the algebra of all bounded linear operators on a Hilbert space H , and n = 1 , 2 , … or n = ∞ . Several classical results from complex analysis have free analogues in our noncommutative setting. We prove a maximum principle, a Naimark type representation theorem, and a Vitali convergence theorem, for free holomorphic functions with operator-valued coefficients. We introduce the class of free holomorphic functions with the radial infimum property and study it in connection with factorizations and noncommutative generalizations of some classical inequalities obtained by Schwarz and Harnack. The Borel–Caratheodory theorem is extended to our noncommutative setting. Using a noncommutative generalization of Schwarz's lemma and basic facts concerning the free holomorphic automorphisms of the noncommutative ball [ B ( H ) n ] 1 , we obtain an analogue of Julia's lemma for free holomorphic functions F : [ B ( H ) n ] 1 → [ B ( H ) m ] 1 . We also obtain Pick–Julia theorems for free holomorphic functions with operator-valued coefficients. We provide a noncommutative generalization of a classical inequality due to Lindelof, which turns out to be sharper then the noncommutative von Neumann inequality. Finally, we introduce a pseudohyperbolic metric on [ B ( H ) n ] 1 which is invariant under the action of the free holomorphic automorphism group of [ B ( H ) n ] 1 and turns out to be a noncommutative extension of the pseudohyperbolic distance on B n , the open unit ball of C n . In this setting, we obtain a Schwarz–Pick type lemma. We also provide commutative versions of these results for operator-valued multipliers of the Drury–Arveson space.
Electron Transfer. 137. Formal Potentials Involving Indium(Ii)

Aqueous solutions of indium(III) undergo 1e− reductions by Sm(II) (E0-1.55 V) and by Yb(II) (−1.05 V), but not by U(III) (−0.52 V). The facile and irreversible reduction, by In+ aq, of Ru(NH3)6 3+ (E0+0.067 V) at reagent concentrations near 10−3 M implies a potential more negative than −0.23 V for In(II,I) and, in conjunction with the known value of −0.44 V for In(III,I), a complementary potential less negative than −0.65 V for In(III,II). These observations, taken together, support le− indium potentials EII,I o−0.2 V and EIII,II 0−0.6 V.
Electrically biased nanolithography with KOH coated AFM tips

This letter provides the first study aimed at characterizing the desorption and nanolithographic processes for SAM-coated, gold-coated silicon substrates oxidatively patterned with an AFM with a tip under potential control. The process either results in recessed patterns where the monolayer has been removed or raised structures where the monolayer has been removed and silicon oxidation has taken place. Eleven different SAMs have been studied, and the type of pattern formed depends markedly upon SAM chain length, end functional group, and applied bias. We show how local pH and choice of monolayer can be used to very effectively control the type of pattern that is ultimately formed. Interestingly, we show that hydroxide anion accessibility to the substrate surface is one of the most significant factors in determining the pattern topography. Moreover, control over the pattern topography can be achieved by controlling the concentration of the KOH in the water meniscus formed at the point of contact between tip and surface in the context of a bias-controlled DPN experiment with a KOH-coated tip. The work provides important insight into the factors that control SAM desorption and also ways of controlling the topography of features made in a potential-controlled scanning probe nanolithographic process.
X-ray-scattering study of charge- and spin-density waves in chromium

We report an x-ray-scattering study of the incommensurate modulations in pure chromium. X-ray magnetic scattering from the spin-density wave (SDW) is observed. No resonant enhancement of the signal is obtained near the Cr {ital K} edge. On cooling through the spin-flip transition, the magnetic signal falls to zero, consistent with the polarization dependence of nonresonant magnetic scattering and the known polarization of the SDW. Charge scattering is observed at the second harmonic due to the associated charge-density wave (CDW). The intensity of the second harmonic is unchanged on cooling through the spin-flip transition. A survey of possible second-harmonic satellites reveals that a single {ital Q} state exists in the near-surface region. The amplitude of the lattice distortion is estimated to be ({Delta}{sub 2}/{ital a})=1.5{plus_minus}0.2{times}10{sup {minus}3}, consistent with published reports. A fourth harmonic is also observed, suggesting that the CDW is not perfectly sinusoidal. The intensity of the fourth harmonic is 0.05% of the second and we find ({Delta}{sub 4}/{ital a})=2.8{plus_minus}0.2{times}10{sup {minus}5}. The temperature dependence of the charge harmonics is found to obey mean-field scaling.
The effect of lying upon foot and leg movement

A video camera was used to record foot and leg movements of 14 male and 16 female students while (1) engaged in normal conversation with a confederate and (2) while lying to the confederate. Changes in the amount of foot and leg movement when changing from Situation 1 to Situation 2 constituted the experimental data. Both female and male students showed marked changes in foot and leg movement when lying. The changes were of two kinds: more movement while lying or less movement while lying. There was no obvious explanation for which people would move either more or less or why a person would adopt one mode of change rather than the other.
Pressure dependence of the canine aortic characteristic impedance and the effects of alterations in smooth muscle activity.

Experiments were performed on anaesthetised dogs to separate the effects of changes in aortic smooth muscle activity on the characteristic impedance Zc from its passive pressure dependence. Zc was measured from the ascending aortic pressure/flow relationship in a wide pressure range caused by forced slow oscillations in pressure induced with an external pump. Changes in smooth muscle tone were elicited by haemorrhage two levels of volume expansion and alpha-adrenergic blockade with phenoxybenzamine. Curves relating Zc to pressure usually showed a minimum. When analysed at a given pressure haemorrhage increased Zc whereas both volume expansions and alpha blockade reduced Zc over a wide pressure range. In the case of haemorrhage, the total increase in Zc was shown to be the sum of a passive pressure-dependent component and an active (pressure-independent) component. This study has clarified the mechanisms responsible for the change in Zc observed after acute alterations in blood volume and after alpha-blockade.
Preservation Treatment for Wood Bridge Application

Timber can often be a cost-effective construction material for new bridges. The durability of the bridge greatly depends on proper attention to construction details and fabrication, as well as proper preservative treatment before, during, and after construction. Material repair and replacement costs for bridges are a considerable expense for highway agencies. To address these needs, the objectives of an investigation were to determine the field effectiveness of various treatment alternatives used on Iowa roadway projects and to provide information on preservative treatments, inspection techniques, and current specifications for bridge owners. Special emphasis was placed on providing up-to-date synthesized information for county engineers to maintain their timber bridge inventory more effectively. The project scope included a literature review, identification of testing techniques, on-site inspections of bridges in Iowa, and a review of current specifications and testing procedures. On the basis of information evaluated, these general conclusions were made: copper naphthenate was recommended as the plant-applied preservative treatment for timber bridges, American Wood Protection Association Standards and Best Management Practices should be followed to ensure high-quality treatment of timber materials, and bridge maintenance programs would be enhanced by the development of an effective construction and remedial treatment process to improve bridge durability.
Cognitive-behavioral treatment of depression, part II: Techniques for improving social functioning

Cognitive-behavioral approaches have been found effective in the treatment of depression. In order to maximize the efficiency and flexibility of cognitive-behavioral treatment, the therapist can use of a series of interrelated therapy modules focused on different aspects of treatment. The present manuscript describes the module for improving social functioning in depressed clients. Suggestions are provided for guiding therapy to help clients increase their social activity, reduce the interpersonal conflict in their lives, and learn to adjust to loss and change resulting from stressful life events. Therapy of depression may be facilitated when the present module is used in combination with other modules focused on the assessment of depression severity and suicide risk (see Part I in this Journal), reducing cognitive biases in depressed clients, and enhancing problem-solving skills in clients.
Removal of phosphate groups from casein with potato acid phosphatase.

Abstract Potato acid phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.2) was used to remove the eight phosphate groups from α s 1 -casein. Unlike most acid phosphatases, which are active at pH 6.0 or below, potato acid phosphatase can catalyze the dephosphorylation of α s 1 -casein at pH 7.0. Although phosphate inhibition is considerable ( K I = 0.42 mM phosphate), the phosphate ions produced by the dephosphorylation of casein can be removed by dialysis, allowing the reaction to go to completion. The dephosphorylated α s 1 -casein is homogeneous on gel electrophoresis with a slower mobility than native α s 1 -casein and has an amino acid composition which is identical to native α s 1 -casein. Thus the removal of phosphate groups from casein does not alter its primary structure. Potato acid phosphatase also removed the phosphate groups from other phosphoproteins, such as, β-casein, riboflavin binding protein, pepsinogen, ovalbumin, and phosvitin.
RD26 packaging: new solution for plutonium transportation

AbstractIn the 1990s, TN International designed the RD26 package to transport waste, principally α emitters, from various nuclear plants. The RD26 packaging essentially comprises a cylindrical body, a lid, a shock absorber cover and a handling pallet; the cavity (diameter, 513 mm; length, 780 mm) can receive a 120 L drum. The overall dimensions are roughly equivalent to a 1 m cube; the weight of the empty package is 460 kg, and the weight of the loaded package is 610 kg. The RD26 can be handled by a forklift. The RD26 package is approved as a type B(M) package containing fissile materials under International Atomic Energy Agency regulations. The package’s ease of use has allowed several other types of content to be added in the RD26 approval, to facilitate different types of transportation between CEA plants and AREVA plants. Within the framework of transport optimisation, specific internals have been designed with a second leak tight container to improve the safety margins and reduce the dose rates. With...
New innovations for an old infection: antimalarial lead discovery from marine natural products during the period 2003–2008

Malaria remains one of the most serious global infectious diseases, with an estimated 2 billion people at risk and 1 million deaths annually. Drug resistance is hampering the effectiveness of many current antimalarial therapies and resistant strains of the parasite are now known for almost all classes of antimalarial compounds. Owing to a lack of concerted drug-discovery efforts over the last 30 years, the development pipeline is limited and the identification of new antimalarial lead compounds is a pressing concern. The development of new antimalarials that exhibit novel modes of action is of critical importance if the devastating effects of malaria are to be controlled. Natural products have traditionally played an important role in antimalarial drug development and the marine environment represents an underexplored resource in this regard. This review covers developments in the field of antimalarial drug discovery from marine sources between January 2003 and December 2008 and offers a comprehensive overview of all marine-derived compounds from this period. Marine natural products represent an emerging opportunity in the development of new antimalarial lead compounds. This review provides examples of several recent lead discovery projects that show promise in this regard and presents a perspective on areas of possible future study.
Integrating American Indian/Alaska Native Culture Into Shared Storybook Intervention

Purpose The purpose of this clinical exchange is to provide information for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) so they will be able to provide culturally responsive intervention for young children...
Depletion of satellite atoms in a collisionless exosphere by radiation pressure

Perturbations of hydrogen atoms in Keplerian orbits are examined by analyzing the rates of change of the classical orbital elements. There are three main effects: high inclination orbits with eccentricities e at least 0.4 are forced toward the ecliptic plane within a few weeks, the perigees of direct orbits drift rapidly toward stable positions roughly westward of the planet, and satellite orbits in or near such a stable point rapidly lower their perigees and the satellite's life is ended by a collision in the atmosphere. Thus there are effects tending to diminish the number of highly eccentric orbits with distant apogees in six principal directions. The various lifetimes are compared for a sample of initial elements.
The development of intrinsic excitability in mouse retinal ganglion cells

Activity-dependent refinement of synaptic connections occurs throughout the developing nervous system, including the visual system. Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) overproduce synapses then refine them in an activity-dependent manner that segregates RGC connections into multicellular patterns, such as eye-specific regions and retinotopic maps. Ferrets additionally segregate ON and OFF retinogeniculate pathways in an activity-dependent manner. It was unknown whether differences in ON versus OFF intrinsic and spontaneous activity occur in postnatal mouse. The work reported here measured the intrinsic properties and spontaneous activity of morphologically identified postnatal mouse RGCs, and tested the hypothesis that mouse ON and OFF RGCs develop differences in spontaneous activity. We found developmental changes in resting potential, action potential threshold, depolarization to threshold, action potential width, action potential patterns, and maximal firing rates. These results are consistent with the maturation of the intrinsic properties of RGCs extending through the first three postnatal weeks. However, there were no differences among mouse ON, OFF, and multistratified RGCs in intrinsic excitability, spontaneous synaptic drive or spontaneous action potential patterns. The absence of differences between ON and OFF activity patterns is unlike the differences that arise in ferrets. In contrast to the ferret, the ON and OFF target neurons in the mouse are organized in a random pattern, not layers. This supports the hypothesis that the absence of systematic differences in activity results in the nonlayered distribution of retinogeniculate connections. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2008
Lack of Influence of Gender on Outcomes of Mechanically Ventilated Medical ICU Patients

Study objectives Recent studies combining medical and surgical patients have suggested that mortality is higher for mechanically ventilated women than for men. This study was designed to determine whether there are gender-based differences in outcomes in mechanically ventilated medical ICU (MICU) patients. Design and setting Prospective observational study in an MICU of a tertiary-care academic medical center. Patients Five hundred eighty consecutive patients admitted to the MICU service and mechanically ventilated for a minimum of 12 h. Results There was no difference in overall hospital mortality rate (woman, 36.3%; men, 40.4%; p > 0.2). No differences in mortality rates were noted after stratification based on age, underlying comorbid condition, APACHE (acute physiology and chronic health evaluation) II score, indication for mechanical ventilation, or acute hepatic or renal failure. Using a multiple logistic regression model, gender was not independently associated with hospital mortality. No differences were found between men and women for a number of secondary outcomes, including likelihood of undergoing weaning trials, success of weaning trials, time between onset of mechanical ventilation and extubation, total time on mechanical ventilation, rate of unplanned extubations, need for reintubation or tracheostomy, or duration of MICU and hospital stay, after the onset of mechanical ventilation. The number and timing of orders written to withhold care were comparable between men and women. Conclusions Using univariate and multivariate analyses, we found no differences in hospital mortality rates between mechanically ventilated men and women. Differences in the process of care or gender-based treatment bias may explain previously reported differences in outcomes.
Coronary artery fistula: an unusual cause of chest pain in a young adult.

Coronary artery fistula, usually congenital in origin, is an abnormal communication between a coronary artery and a cardiac chamber or great vessel [coronary sinus, pulmonary artery, pulmonary vein, or super vena cava (SVC)]. A coronary fistula can produce high-output heart failure from volume overload and/or myocardial ischemia from coronary steal phenomenon. A 35-year-old man was found to have a large fistula from the left circumflex coronary artery to the SVC-right atrium junction, an extremely rare anomaly. This patient developed right ventricular dysfunction and chest pain due to myocardial ischemia in the left circumflex coronary artery distribution for several months before evaluation. Because of the large size of the fistula, surgical ligation was chosen instead of coil embolization to close the fistula. The patient was free of chest pain postprocedure. Coronary artery fistulas, though rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis when a young patient presents with chest pain and/or heart failure. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A shape-modified size correction for terminal settling velocity in the intermediate region

Abstract The terminal velocity of arbitrarily shaped sand particles was experimentally studied in the intermediate (or transition) Reynolds number region (2
Lecithin retinol acyltransferase forms functional homodimers

Membrane-bound lecithin retinol acyltransferase (LRAT), an essential enzyme in vitamin A processing, catalyzes the formation of retinyl esters from vitamin A and lecithin. Cloned and expressed LRAT has a molecular mass of 25.3 kDa. The enzyme is not homologous to known enzymes and is, therefore, of substantial interest mechanistically. Along these lines, the functional protomeric state of LRAT is of importance. Gel electrophoretic studies on LRAT in the presence of SDS and disulfide reducing agents show the expected 25 kDa monomer. However, gel electrophoresis in the absence of a reducing agent and/or strong denaturing conditions reveals substantial dimer formation. LRAT monomers can be efficiently and irreversibly cross-linked by thiol reactive bismaleimides in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) membranes generating LRAT homodimers. Cross-linked LRAT homodimers are fully active catalytically. The experiments suggest that LRAT monomers interact in membranes and form functional homodimers through protein-protein interactions and disulfide bond formation.
A study of belief and non-belief items from the Jones Irrational Beliefs Test with implications for the theory of RET

Evidence supporting the fundamental position of Rational-Emotive Therapy (RET) that dysfunctional emotions and behaviors are heavily influenced by irrational beliefs has been questioned due to the fact that many measures of beliefs contain items that actually refer to emotions and behaviors. In this study individual items on the Jones Irrational Beliefs Test (IBT) (Jones, 1968/69) were rated by a panel of experts in RET as to whether they referred to beliefs, behaviors, emotions, or were ambiguous. Then “Belief” items and “Non-belief” items from the responses of 368 participants were extracted and scored separately. The “Non-belief” scores, based on items mostly referring to emotions and behaviors, were strongly related to measures of distress, as would be expected. But scores based on items unequivocally referring to beliefs were also significantly related to measures of emotional distress, psychosomatic symptoms, and suicidal contemplation. These findings are interpreted as clear support for RET's position on the relationship between irrational beliefs (B's) and dysfunctional emotions and behaviors (C's).
Multiple methods and the usability of interface prototypes: the complementarity of laboratory observation and focus groups

Recently, I used a focus group in a usability study of an interface prototype as a balance for a laboratory observation. The clients for this usability study wanted a sense of whether their interface was attractive to a range of users, whether the range of users understood the product, and whether the users could use the interface quickly; they also wanted user feedback on a list of potential features they could include in the next phase of development. Because of very limited resources available for the usability study, and because of the disparate questions the clients had, a focus group for some new users was used to supplement a laboratory observation and interview of other new users. This paper reports on what strengths and weaknesses these methods yielded as complementary approaches to testing the usability of interface prototypes.
Single-View 3D Scene Parsing by Attributed Grammar

In this paper, we present an attributed grammar for parsing man-made outdoor scenes into semantic surfaces, and recovering its 3D model simultaneously. The grammar takes superpixels as its terminal nodes and use five production rules to generate the scene into a hierarchical parse graph. Each graph node actually correlates with a surface or a composite of surfaces in the 3D world or the 2D image. They are described by attributes for the global scene model, e.g. focal length, vanishing points, or the surface properties, e.g. surface normal, contact line with other surfaces, and relative spatial location etc. Each production rule is associated with some equations that constraint the attributes of the parent nodes and those of their children nodes. Given an input image, our goal is to construct a hierarchical parse graph by recursively applying the five grammar rules while preserving the attributes constraints. We develop an effective top-down/bottom-up cluster sampling procedure which can explore this constrained space efficiently. We evaluate our method on both public benchmarks and newly built datasets, and achieve state-of-the-art performances in terms of layout estimation and region segmentation. We also demonstrate that our method is able to recover detailed 3D model with relaxed Manhattan structures which clearly advances the state-of-the-arts of singleview 3D reconstruction.
Cones survive rods in the light-damaged eye of the albino rat

Exposure to constant light causes extensive rod photoreceptor damage but spares the photopic system in albino rats. The rod branch of the dark-adaptation curve shows considerable elevation in threshold; the cone branch is hardly affected. Longer exposure and chromatic adaptation suggest that there are three cone mechanisms with peaks near wavelengths of 450,520, and 560 nanometers.
Flame-ball drift in the presence of a total diffusive heat flux

For a one-component reaction model, the total diffusive heat flux (TDHF) is—∇(λT+pDQY) where λ and pD are diffusive transport coefficients, T is the temperature, Y is the reactant mass-fraction, and Q is the heat of reaction. We show that a flame ball exposed to a weak TDHF will drift, and we derive an explicit formula for the drift speed. The key mathematical feature is that the flux generates a flametemperature perturbation that varies as cosφ, where φ is the polar angle measured from the axis parallel to the flux vector, and this is unacceptable as it leads to a simple boundary-value problem for a harmonic function (a temperature perturbation) that has no solution. Drift generates a like perturbation and the drift speed must be chosen so that the two cancel. If the TDHF is generated by a second flame ball whose far-temperature-field is suppressed by radiation, so that only ∇Y contributes to the flux, the balls will drift apart with a separation distance that grows as the one-third power of time. Observations made during recent space shuttle flights are presented and are consistent with this prediction. We also formulate the problem of drift in a weak gravitational field and solve it in an approximate fashion.
Reduced uterine perfusion pressure induces hypertension in the pregnant mouse

Despite preeclampsia being one of the leading causes of maternal death and a major contributor of maternal and perinatal morbidity, the mechanisms responsible for its pathogenesis have yet to be fully elucidated. Growing evidence indicates that reduced uteroplacental perfusion and the resulting placental ischemia triggers the cascade of events leading to this maternal disorder. While the well-established rat model of reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) is providing invaluable insight into the etiology of preeclampsia, the aim of this study was to develop a mouse model of reduced uterine perfusion to expand mechanistic investigation by incorporation with novel gene-targeted mice. To accomplish this aim, a sham surgical procedure or a restriction of blood flow at the abdominal aorta and the ovarian arteries was initiated at day 13 of gestation in C57BL/6J mice. Mean arterial pressure measured in conscious, chronically instrumented mice was significantly elevated in the RUPP (120 ± 4 mmHg) compared with the sham (104 ± 4 mmHg) mice at day 18 of gestation (P < 0.01). Placental ischemia reduced fetal weights (0.95 ± 0.04 and 0.80 ± 0.02 g; RUPP vs. Sham, respectively; P < 0.02) and increased circulating levels of antiangiogenic soluble fms-related tyrosine kinases (sFlt)-1 (P < 0.05) in the RUPP at day 18 of gestation. Plasma concentrations of sFlt-1 are increased in preeclamptic patients and in response to reduced uterine perfusion in the rat. Thus, these results suggest that the mouse model of reduced uterine perfusion is applicable to facilitate novel mechanistic investigation into the etiology of hypertension that results from placental ischemia during pregnancy.