cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Survey of County Boards' Views of Funding for Mental Retardation Versus Funding for Mental Illness

The state of Iowa mandates services for persons with mental retardation but not for those with mental illness, resulting in widely divergent spending for the two populations. Members of 98 of the 99 county boards of supervisors were interviewed to determine differences in attitudes about services and funding priorities. Respondents were more willing to provide supportive services to persons with mental retardation and acute treatment to persons with mental illness. Only 16 percent believed that persons with chronic mental illness should be a first priority for mental health funds. Respondents tended to disagree not about whether services should be funded but about who should fund them. Three-fourths believed that the state should fund such services.
The Evolutionary Origins of Friendship

Convergent evidence from many species reveals the evolutionary origins of human friendship. In horses, elephants, hyenas, dolphins, monkeys, and chimpanzees, some individuals form friendships that last for years. Bonds occur among females, among males, or between males and females. Genetic relatedness affects friendships. In species where males disperse, friendships are more likely among females. If females disperse, friendships are more likely among males. Not all friendships, however, depend on kinship; many are formed between unrelated individuals. Friendships often involve cooperative interactions that are separated in time. They depend, at least in part, on the memory and emotions associated with past interactions. Applying the term “friendship” to animals is not anthropomorphic: Many studies have shown that the animals themselves recognize others' relationships. Friendships are adaptive. Male allies have superior competitive ability and improved reproductive success; females with the strongest, most...
Solubility of Pyrene in Ternary Propanol + Butanol + 2,2,4-Trimethylpentane Solvent Mixtures at 299.15 K

Article on the solubility of pyrene in ternary propanol + butanol + 2,2,4-trimethylpentane solvent mixtures at 299.15 K.
Hypertensive Therapy: Part II

If the incidence of hypertension in the population could be reduced through lifestyle modification, much of the morbidity and mortality associated with coronary heart disease, renal disease, and stroke might be prevented.1–3 Randomized, controlled trials have shown that lifestyle modification can lower blood pressure (BP) in both hypertensive and high-risk normotensive (now called prehypertensive ) persons and can prevent hypertension in the latter group. Accordingly, lifestyle modification is recommended for all persons (Table 1), either alone or in conjunction with pharmacological therapy (Table 21–34). View this table: TABLE 1. Lifestyle Modifications to Manage Hypertension *† View this table: TABLE 2. Guidelines for Treatment of Hypertension Based on Compelling Indications for Individual Drug Classes ### Weight Loss and Maintenance of Normal Body Weight Weight loss is the most effective of all nonpharmacological measures to prevent and treat hypertension.35 This effect is independent of sodium restriction and is seen in both obese and nonobese hypertensive individuals. Clinical trial evidence suggests that weight loss interventions produce BP benefits that persist even after cessation of active therapy.3,36 Body mass index (BMI) should be maintained between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m2. Because sustained weight reduction is extremely difficult to achieve, emphasis should be placed on prevention of weight gain, particularly in younger individuals with prehypertension and in families with a high prevalence of hypertension. ### Increased Physical Activity At least 30 minutes of moderately intense physical activity, such as brisk walking, swimming, bicycling, or yard work, carried out at least 3 times per week (preferably once per day) can lower BP in both normotensive and hypertensive individuals. Studies suggest that such moderate activity may lower systolic BP (SBP) by 4 to 9 mm Hg.37,38 Additional benefits of regular physical activity include weight loss, enhanced sense of well-being, improved functional health status, and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality from all causes. Accordingly, regular aerobic physical activity …
Mindfulness Training and Stress Reactivity in Substance Abuse: A Randomized, Controlled Pilot Study

MINDFULNESS TRAINING AND STRESS REACTIVITY IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE: A RANDOMIZED, CONTROLLED PILOT STUDY. Justin A. Chen, Judson A. Brewer. Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. There is substantial evidence for the central role of stress in the inception and maintenance of substance use disorders. The use of mindfulness training (MT) has demonstrated promise in a number of stress-related conditions. However, no studies to date have compared MT to empirically validated treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for substance use disorders or assessed its impact on response to stress provocation. The specific aim of this investigation was to engage in the first randomized, controlled trial of a manualized mindfulness based therapy for the treatment of substance use disorders. The hypotheses to be tested were: (1) MT would be tolerated equally as effectively as CBT in terms of retention rates and subjective measures of treatment tolerability; (2) Participants undergoing MT would demonstrate reduced reactivity on both subjective and objective measures during stress provocation as compared with CBT; and (3) Participants undergoing MT would have reduced substance use as compared with CBT following completion of the intervention. 36 individuals with alcohol and/or cocaine use disorders were randomly assigned to receive group MT or CBT in an outpatient community setting. After treatment completion, subjective and physiologic responses to personalized stress provocation were measured by self report, skin conductance, heart rate, and heart rate variability. Subjects exposed to MT demonstrated reduced psychological and physiological indices of stress during provocation compared with subjects exposed to CBT, as evidenced by the laboratory paradigm conducted posttreatment among treatment completers. There were no significant differences in retention, treatment satisfaction, or abstinence rates between individuals assigned to MT versus CBT. This pilot study provides preliminary evidence for the use of MT in targeting stress for substance use disorders. Acknowledgements This thesis is dedicated to the patients and teachers who inspired my entry into the field of psychiatry. In particular, I’d like to thank my incredible research mentor Judson Brewer, MD, PhD, and my tireless faculty advisor Catherine Chiles, MD, to both of whom I owe an enormous debt of gratitude. Research for this thesis was supported entirely by grants from the Office of Student Research at the Yale University School of Medicine. The author has no other financial disclosures to report.
The RNA polymerase II core promoter.

▪ Abstract The events leading to transcription of eukaryotic protein-coding genes culminate in the positioning of RNA polymerase II at the correct initiation site. The core promoter, which can extend ∼35 bp upstream and/or downstream of this site, plays a central role in regulating initiation. Specific DNA elements within the core promoter bind the factors that nucleate the assembly of a functional preinitiation complex and integrate stimulatory and repressive signals from factors bound at distal sites. Although core promoter structure was originally thought to be invariant, a remarkable degree of diversity has become apparent. This article reviews the structural and functional diversity of the RNA polymerase II core promoter.
Surfactant Behavior Analysis in Enhanced Oil Recovery Blends Using One-Dimensional Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

In this work, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is used to investigate surfactant phase behavior relevant to chemical enhanced oil recovery. The effect of the solution electrical conductivity on the NMR signals was corrected using reference spectra of known conductivity. This allowed us to develop a semi-quantitative method to estimate the surfactant concentration by correlating it with either integrated NMR peaks or intensity of selected surfactant signal peaks. A distinct change in the slope of the assumed linear relationship between signal intensity and surfactant concentration was observed as the surfactant concentrations were increased. This was attributed to the progressive surfactant aggregation in solution. This result can be used as an alternative method to estimate the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of surfactants. NMR spectra were collected for individual surfactants and their combinations in a variety of saline aqueous solutions. Our results were compared to estimates obtaine...
Tax Sham or Prudent Investment: Deconstructing the Government's Pyrrhic Victory in Salina Partnership v. Commissioner

This article examines one of the leading tax shelter cases to wind its way through the federal court system: Salina Partnership, LP v. Commissioner (Salina). 80 T.C.M. (CCH) 686 (2000). In Salina, Florida Power & Light Co. (FPL), through an ingenious series of transactions, "refreshed" an earlier sustained capital loss, allowing the loss to remain on its books indefinitely and be used at FPL's convenience. The IRS contended that FPL efforts lacked economic substance and were merely a tax sham. The court disagreed and allowed FPL to receive the tax benefits. This article critiques the Salina decision, examines the legal and financial steps of Salina, uses a series of flowcharts to highlight Salina's labyrinthine transactions, and concludes that FPL's transactions lack economic substance. This article was drafted with access to unpublished trial documents, revenue agent reports, and the full trial transcript of the decision. Dr. Alan Tucker's presence as an expert witness provided invaluable insight into the nuances of the case and the implications of the final decision. This is the one of the first articles to examine the Salina decision and its impact on current tax law. In addition, this article provides a financial discussion of widely-used short sale transactions applied in the Salina case. This article raises arguments regarding valuation symmetry, the economic substance doctrine, and debtor creditor relationships that will be useful to tax practitioners and academics alike. A discussion of tax shams and partnerships is particularly timely given the recent scrutiny given to Enron and other companies regarding their treatment of partnerships and taxation.
Occurrence and variability of iodinated trihalomethanes concentrations within two drinking-water distribution networks ☆ ☆☆

Non-iodo-containing trihalomethanes (TTHM) are frequently detected in chlorinated tap water and currently regulated against their carcinogenic potential. Iodinated THM (ITHM) may also form in disinfected with chlorine waters that are high in iodine content, but little is known about their magnitude and variability within the drinking-water pipe distribution network of urban areas. The main objective of this study was to determine the magnitude and variability of ITHM and TTHM levels and their corresponding daily intake estimates within the drinking water distribution systems of Limassol and Nicosia cities of Cyprus, using tap samples collected from individual households (n=37). In Limassol, mean household tap water ITHM and TTHM levels was 0.58 and 38 μg L(-1), respectively. Dichloroiodomethane (DCIM) was the dominant species of the two measured ITHM compounds accounting for 77% of total ITHM and in the range of 0.032 and 1.65 μg L(-1). The range of DCIM concentrations in Nicosia tap water samples was narrower (0.032 - 0.848 μg L(-1)). Mean total iodine concentration in tap water samples from the seaside city of Limassol was 15 μg L(-1) and approximately twice to those observed in samples from the mainland Nicosia city. However, iodine concentrations did not correlate with the ITHM levels. The calculated chronic daily intake rates of ITHM were low when compared with those of TTHM, but because of their widespread occurrence in tap water and their enhanced mammalian cell toxicity, additional research is warranted to assess the magnitude and variability of human ITHM exposures.
Protein Immobilization in Hollow Nanostructures and Investigation of the Adsorbed Protein Behavior

Understanding nanomaterial-biomolecule interactions is critical to develop broad applications in sensors, devices, and therapeutics. During the past decade, in-depth studies have been performed on the effect of nanoscale surface topography on adsorbed protein structure and function. However, a fundamental understanding of nanobio interactions at concave surfaces is limited; the greatest challenge is to create a nanostructure that allows such interactions to occur and to be characterized. We have synthesized hollow nanocages (AuNG) through careful control of morphology and surface chemistry. Lysozyme was used as a model to probe interactions between a protein and these nanostructures. Solid Au nanoparticles with a similar morphology and surface chemistry were also used as a reference. Through a series of quantitative analyses of protein adsorption profiles and enzymatic activity assays of both nanobioconjugates, we discovered that a significant amount of protein could be delivered into the core of AuNG, wh...
Development of a vision-based guidance law for tracking a moving target

This paper develops a guidance law for a small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) performing vision-based tracking of a target moving on the ground. The target’s velocity is unknown, but constant; the relative altitude between the target and the UAV is also assumed to be unknown and constant. This work extends earlier results for which the relative altitude between the target and the UAV was known, for example, by comparing captured images with a geo-referenced database. The problem of estimating the unknown parameters is addressed using an adaptive estimator that uses real-time measurements of the target position in the camera frame, as provided by an image processing algorithm. The parameter estimates are used in the UAV guidance law, with turn rate as the input, where the objective is to maintain a desired horizontal distance between the UAV and the target. Simulations show that the proposed algorithm is eective at tracking a target moving with unknown constant velocity, even with repeated out-of-frame events. A stability proof for the combined estimation and guidance algorithm is provided. The paper also describes the development of a Hardware-in-the-Loop simulation, reflecting a realistic tactical scenario, that is intended to provide further validation in advance of flight tests.
The Reaction OH + C2H4: An Example of Rotational Channel Switching

The low-temperature data for the reaction between OH and C2H4 is treated canonically as either a two-well or one-well problem using the “Multiwell” suite of codes, in which a “well” refers to a minimum in the potential energy surface. The former is analogous to the two transition state model of Greenwald et al. [Greenwald, E. E.; North, S. W.; Georgievskii, Y.; Klippenstein, S. J. J. Phys. Chem. A2005, 109, 6031], while the latter reflects the dominance of the so-called “inner transition state”. External rotations are treated adiabatically, causing changes in the magnitude of effective barriers as a function of temperature. Extant data are well-described with either model using only the average energy transferred in a downward direction, upon collision, ΔEd(T), as a fitting parameter. The best value for the parameters describing the rate coefficient as a function of temperature (200 < T/K < 400) (Data at lower temperature is too sparse to yield a recommendation.) and pressure in the form used in the NASA/...
Effect and action mechanisms of Bcl-2 gene transfer on apoptosi s of myocardial cells in mice heart transplantation

Objective To investigate the effect and action mechanis ms of Bcl-2 gene transfer on apoptosis of myocardial cells in mice heart transpla ntation.Methods Measures including TUNEL,DNA ladders that wer e showed by electrophoresis on agarose gels and Western blot were used to analyz e the apoptosis of allograft acute rejection after the mice heart transplantatio n.With histological studies,we investigated the roles of apoptotic cells in th e cardiac allograft rejection.Also by using immunohistochemistry method to stud y the expression of active form of Caspase 3 protease,we try to find the effect and action mechanisms of Bcl-2 gene transfer on apoptosis of myocardial cells. Results Compared with allograft group,Bcl-2 gene transfer g roup decrease d significantly the apoptosis of myocardial cell in acute rejectio n.Meanwhile the expression of active form of Caspase 3 protease was cu t down from(9.75±2.71) to (3.56±0.62)(P0.01). Con clusions Apoptosis of myocardial cells occurrs in acute rejection afte r mice heart transplantation.It is the main mechanisms of damage of myocardial tissue for the acute rejection after mice heart transplantation.Bcl-2 gene tra nsfer can efficiently choke back the apoptosis of myocardial cells.Bcl-2 may b e cut-out the channel of information transmission of apoptosis in middle-late stage to prevent Caspase 3 protease from activation so that the anti-apoptosis of myocardial cells will be achieved.
Analysis of 128 cases of Clonorchis sinensis infection in the Qingyuan city

Objective To study the infection status of outpatients in the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of Qingyuan city and to provide scientific basis for making effective control measures for the infection by Clonorchis sinensis. Methods Fecal materials from the outpatients in Qingyuan CDC were analyzed for the eggs of Clonorchis sinensis by using the modified Kato-Katz′s thick smearing method. All data were statistically analyzed with SPSS 13.0. Results 333 cases were studied and the infection rate was 38.44% (128/333). The infection rate in the male subjects (42.75%) was higher than female (24.35%, χ2 =7.77, P0.01). Subjects within the age group of 31～50 had the highest infection rate. There was a significant difference in the infection rate among the various age groups (χ2 =32.52, P0.01). Compared with other infected individuals, cadres and workers had the highest infection rate (46.88% , χ2 =24.32, P0.01). Infection rate in the Qingxin county was higher than the other counties (53.73%, χ2 =22.46, P0.01). All the infected individuals had a history of consuming raw fishes. All the patients were treated with praziquantel and Clonorchis sinensis eggs were not found in patients (101 cases) 1 month after the treatment. Conclusion Consumption of raw fishes is a risk factor of having infection by Clonorchis sinensis. Health education on the high risk subjects must be strengthened.
Digital Drainage System Reduces Hospitalization After Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery Lung Resection

Background The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of a digital versus traditional drainage system on hospitalization for patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) anatomic lung resection. Methods Consecutive patients who underwent VATS anatomic lung resection (July 2014 through January 2015) for lung cancer were analyzed. Patients were managed with overnight suction (−20 cm H 2 O) followed by gravity drainage (water seal or −8 cm H 2 O) in both the traditional and digital drainage systems, respectively; the digital system also allowed for continuous monitoring of air leaks. Chest tubes were removed when the air leak was absent for 12 hours and pleural drainage was less than 300 mL/24 h; patient outcomes selected by propensity matching were compared. Results The VATS lung resections (lobectomy or segmentectomy) were performed in 108 patients during the 7-month study period. The pleural cavity was drained with the traditional system in 75 patients and with the digital system in 33 patients. By propensity score matching at a 2:1 ratio, 40 patients were placed in the traditional group and 20 patients, in the digital group for analysis. Demographics, percent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second, tumor size, stage, and type of resection were similar between the groups. The majority of patients (85%) underwent a lobectomy. There were no operative deaths. Overall complications were fewer in the digital system group (22%) compared with the traditional system group (35%; p = 0.01). Median air leak days (−1.1), chest tube days (−1.6), and total hospital stay (−1.5) were significantly reduced in the digital drainage system group. Conclusions Patients undergoing VATS lung resections who were managed postoperatively with a digital drainage system experienced less morbidity and decreased hospitalization. A digital drainage system appears to be a safe alternative for management of the pleural cavity after VATS anatomic lung resection.
Proteolytic Enzymes in Inflammation: Rationale for Use

(1956). Proteolytic Enzymes in Inflammation: Rationale for Use. Postgraduate Medicine: Vol. 19, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Hospital, pp. 16-22.
Authenticating Art by Valuing Art Experts

The determination of a work of art as authentic (or not) makes a tremendous difference in the value of a work of art. Owing to the millions of dollars which can be added, or subtracted, to a work of art when an authentication opinion is made, lawsuits will often be the last resort of those unhappy with an authentication. Determining with absolute certainty, the authenticity of a work of art takes the combined expertise of art historians, scientists, and art connoisseurs. Previous examinations of the problem of art fraud and counterfeit art have focused on criminal offenses, pointed to market failures, and even argued that we should not care too much about fake art at all if nobody notices. These examinations all fail to give sufficient weight to the sheer difficulty of the task. It takes tremendous expertise required to correctly determine the artist who created a work of art, and the period in which the object was fashioned. The pages which follow argue art authentication and the experts who make them have gotten a bad reputation. Instead, their analysis should be properly valued as expert testimony in court in art authentication disputes, and should be protected from vexatious litigation.
Youth Bulges, Poor Institutional Quality and Missing Migration Opportunities - Triggers of and Potential Counter-Measures for Terrorism in MENA

During the last few decades, a convolute of economic literature has emerged which focuses on the effects of demography, in particular the existence of so-called “youth bulges”, on economic growth and performance (for an overview see e.g. Bloom et al. 2001). The approach in our paper extends previous research to include potentially negative growth effects of a large share of young people in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) not only via the “channel” of unemployment, but also through their potential as a “trigger” for political unrest and domestic terrorism, which have been identified in economic literature as important obstacles to economic growth. These phenomena are most pressing in the laborrich countries of the region, which are often perceived as being exceptionally “terrorismprone” and which have experienced a significant share of the region’s (and the world’s) terrorist attacks over the last decade. In our paper, we will identify, theoretically and empirically, to what extent demographic factors, amongst others, matter when it comes to domestic terrorism. We will also provide some insights as to how these problems are caused, or at least substantially compounded by, the region’s specific traits, such as the poor institutional framework and the lack of migration opportunities. After a theoretical outline of the negative relationship between “youth bulges” and economic development, and an outline of the role of migration as an “exit-option” in this context, we provide empirical evidence for our hypothesis that institutional quality, the absence of “youth bulges” and the existence of migration opportunities is of pivotal importance in avoiding terrorist attacks. As some of these factors – namely institutional quality and migration policies – are amendable to change through policy measures, we close our paper with policy recommendations for measures to be taken within the ongoing transformation process in the region.
A physics based analytical model of undoped body MOSFETs

A continuous physics based analytic model of undoped (or lightly doped) body MOSFETs has been derived in this paper by incorporating the solution of the Poisson equation into Pao-Sah integrated current equation using SPP approach. The closed form solutions of band bending and the inversion charge as a function of gate voltage and channel voltage were first derived from the combination of Gauss's law with the Poisson equation. Then, a continuous non-charge-sheet-based analytical model is developed for the undoped body MOSFETs.
Development and Application of a Clinical Microsystem Simulation Methodology for Human Factors-Based Research of Alarm Fatigue.

Objectives:(1) To develop a clinical microsystem simulation methodology for alarm fatigue research with a human factors engineering (HFE) assessment framework and (2) to explore its application to ...
Satellite-Derived Temperature Data for Monitoring Water Status in a Floodplain Forest of the Upper Sabine River, Texas

Abstract Decreased water availability due to hydrologic modifications, groundwater withdrawal, and climate change threaten bottomland hardwood (BLH) forest communities. We used satellite-derived (MODIS) land-surface temperature (LST) data to investigate spatial heterogeneity of canopy temperature (an indicator of plant-water status) in a floodplain forest of the upper Sabine River for 2008–2014. High LST pixels were generally further from the river and at higher topographic locations, indicating lower water-availability. Increasing rainfall-derived soil moisture corresponded with decreased heterogeneity of LST between pixels but there was weaker association between Sabine River stage and heterogeneity. Stronger dependence of LST convergence on rainfall rather than river flow suggests that some regions are less hydrologically connected to the river, and vegetation may rely on local precipitation and other contributions to the riparian aquifer to replenish soil moisture. Observed LST variations associated w...
Remotely distinguishing and mapping endogenic water on the Moon.

Water and/or hydroxyl detected remotely on the lunar surface originates from several sources: (i) comets and other exogenous debris; (ii) solar-wind implantation; (iii) the lunar interior. While each of these sources is interesting in its own right, distinguishing among them is critical for testing hypotheses for the origin and evolution of the Moon and our Solar System. Existing spacecraft observations are not of high enough spectral resolution to uniquely characterize the bonding energies of the hydroxyl molecules that have been detected. Nevertheless, the spatial distribution and associations of H, OH − or H 2 O with specific lunar lithologies provide some insight into the origin of lunar hydrous materials. The global distribution of OH − /H 2 O as detected using infrared spectroscopic measurements from orbit is here examined, with particular focus on regional geological features that exhibit OH − /H 2 O absorption band strengths that differ from their immediate surroundings. This article is part of the themed issue ‘The origin, history and role of water in the evolution of the inner Solar System’.
Language and other complex behaviors: Unifying characteristics, computational models, neural mechanisms

Abstract Similar to other complex behaviors, language is dynamic, social, multimodal, patterned, and purposive, its purpose being to promote desirable actions or thoughts in others and self (Edelman, 2017b). An analysis of the functional characteristics shared by complex sequential behaviors suggests that they all present a common overarching computational problem: dynamically controlled constrained navigation in concrete or abstract situation spaces. With this conceptual framework in mind, I compare and contrast computational models of language and evaluate their potential for explaining linguistic behavior and for elucidating the brain mechanisms that support it.
Time-lapsed, large-volume, high-resolution intravital imaging for tissue-wide analysis of single cell dynamics

Pathologists rely on microscopy to diagnose disease states in tissues and organs. They utilize both high-resolution, high-magnification images to interpret the staining and morphology of individual cells, as well as low-magnification overviews to give context and location to these cells. Intravital imaging is a powerful technique for studying cells and tissues in their native, live environment and can yield sub-cellular resolution images similar to those used by pathologists. However, technical limitations prevent the straightforward acquisition of low-magnification images during intravital imaging, and they are hence not typically captured. The serial acquisition, mosaicking, and stitching together of many high-resolution, high-magnification fields of view is a technique that overcomes these limitations in fixed and ex vivo tissues. The technique however, has not to date been widely applied to intravital imaging as movements caused by the living animal induce image distortions that are difficult to compensate for computationally. To address this, we have developed techniques for the stabilization of numerous tissues, including extremely compliant tissues, that have traditionally been extremely difficult to image. We present a novel combination of these stabilization techniques with mosaicked and stitched intravital imaging, resulting in a process we call Large-Volume High-Resolution Intravital Imaging (LVHR-IVI). The techniques we present are validated and make large volume intravital imaging accessible to any lab with a multiphoton microscope.
Delivery of Metals to Brain and the Role of the Blood-Brain Barrier

Metals serve critical roles in brain as essential cofactors, catalysts, second messengers, and modulators of gene, enzyme, and receptor activity. Currently, eight metals, including calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, zinc, manganese, cobalt, and molybdenum, are known to be required for the normal development and function of the brian (Prohaska, 1987). Each must be supplied at specific levels to avoid signs of deficiency or toxic excess. Others, such as lead, aluminum, and mercury, are not essential, but are toxic if allowed to accumulate in the nervous system. Several metals, including iron, stimulate free radical formation and have been linked to oxidative damage in neurological disorders, including ischemia, stroke, and Parkinson’s disease (Riederer et al., 1989; Dexter et al., 1989; Griffiths and Crossman, 1993).
CONSTRUCTION OF AN α -HELIX

This chapter discusses the construction of α-helix. The torsion angle values for the right-handed α-helix are 0 = –57° and ψ = –47°. The construction should be started at the N-terminus with a tetrahedral nitrogen atom, which should be attached with any variable fastener to a tetrahedral carbon atom. This α-carbon is in turn going to bond to the black carbon winged arm of a transpeptide unit to form the C α –C bond. The chapter illustrates the torsion angles in the construction of the N-terminus.
Induction of urothelial cell proliferation by fibroblast growth factor-7 in RAG1-deficient mice.

Fibroblast growth factor-7 (FGF-7, keratinocyte growth factor, KGF) is a 163 amino acid glycoprotein synthesized and secreted by mesenchymal cells (e.g. fibroblasts/ fibrocytes) in epithelial organs, thereby functioning as a paracrine mediator of epithelial cell proliferation. In the urinary bladder, FGF-7 is transported from the lamina propria across the urothelial basement membrane to where it ultimately binds to splice variants of the FGFR2 receptor present on the basolateral surface of transitional epithelial cells. We administered 100 μg/ml (LP.) recombinant FGF-7 (rFGF-7) to RAG1-deficient mice (n=3) for 7 days and observed a striking expansion of the urinary bladder urothelium. This expansion was characterized by a layer of stratified urothelium >20 cells thick and by positive immunostaining for the proliferation marker Ki-67. In contrast, RAG1-deficient mice (n=3) that received only buffer injection did not exhibit detectable urothelial expansion. rFGF-7 was detected by immunoblot analyses in the serum, but not in the urine, from RAG1-deficient mice that received the recombinant protein. Mice that have a targeted disruption in the gene encoding the V(D)J recombination activation gene RAG1 have small lymphoid organs with no mature B and T lymphocytes, due to the inability of cell progenitors to perform V(D)J recombination. The biological activity of FGF-7 in RAG-1 mice indicates that immuno-dependent mechanisms are not required for the induction of urothelial cell proliferation by this epithelial cell-specific growth factor.
Race, Critical Race Theory and Whiteness

This article examines the concepts of race, racism, and whiteness from the perspective of critical theories of race and racism. The article begins with a discussion of what it means to claim that race is a social construction. Although race might not be real, a system of privilege and oppression has been built around race with real material, social, economic, and psychological consequences. In the next section, definitions of racism are delineated. The problems of viewing racism solely as prejudice are discussed. The subsequent section highlights some problems that arise when educators presume race as identity. Finally, the role of whiteness and white privilege in sustaining racial injustice is elucidated. The insights of critical theories of race and racism have the potential to open up new possibilities in education that challenge rather than reproduce power systems.
An Agent-Architecture for Automated Decision-Making on the Semantic Web

Semantic web research has largely concentrated on the representation of web-based knowledge and data, often in the form of ontologies. Only a minority of the research has explored the implementation of intelligent agents that can use the web-based knowledge. Even less research has generalized intelligent agent implementations into an architecture. Here, an implementation and architecture are described for a multi-agent decision-making system using available web-based data and information.
Factotem: What is Information Access for?

AbstractInspired by Allyson Carlyle’s advice to explain fundamental concepts clearly and simply, this article seeks to explain the notion of information access, and what it means to provide informa...
ACUTE MITRAL REGURGITATION: WHEN THERE IS MORE TO ISCHEMIA THAN MEETS THE EYE

Mechanical complications of acute myocardial infarction (MI) are infrequent. High clinical suspicion is paramount for appropriate management. A 59 year old man with myxomatous mitral valve (MV) disease presented with chest pain and dyspnea. Chest X ray showed unilateral pulmonary edema (fig A). EKG
Amelioration of visual deficits and visual system pathology after mild TBI with the cannabinoid type-2 receptor inverse agonist SMM-189

Abstract Mild TBI is often accompanied by visual system dysfunction and injury, which is at least partly caused by microglial neuroinflammatory processes initiated by the injury. Using our focal cranial blast mouse model of closed-skull mild TBI, we evaluated the ability of the cannabinoid type-2 (CB2) receptor inverse agonist SMM-189, which biases microglia from the harmful M1 state to the beneficial M2 state, to mitigate visual system dysfunction and injury after TBI. Male C57BL/6 or Thy1-EYFP reporter mice received a closed-head blast of either 0-psi (sham) or 50-psi to the left side of the cranium. Blast mice received vehicle or 6 mg/kg SMM-189 daily beginning 2 h after blast. Sham mice received vehicle. In some mice, retina and optic nerve/tract were assessed morphologically at 3–7 days after blast, while other mice were assessed functionally by Optomotry 30 days after blast and morphologically at ≥30 days after blast. Mice sacrificed at 3–7 days were treated daily until sacrificed, while those assessed ≥30 days after blast were treated daily for 2 weeks post blast. Axon damage was evident in the left optic nerve and its continuation as the right optic tract at 3 days post blast in vehicle-treated blast mice in the form of swollen axon bulbs, and was accompanied by a significant increase in the abundance of microglia. Testing at 30 days post blast revealed that the contrast sensitivity function was significantly reduced in both eyes in vehicle-treated blast mice compared to vehicle-treated sham blast mice, and axon counts at ≥30 days after blast revealed a ∼10% loss in left optic nerve in vehicle-treated blast mice. Left optic nerve axon loss was highly correlated with the left eye deficit in contrast sensitivity. Immunolabeling at 30 days post blast showed a significant increase in the abundance of microglia in the retinas of both eyes and in GFAP + Muller cell processes traversing the inner plexiform layer in the left eye of vehicle-treated blast mice. SMM-189 treatment reduced axon injury and microglial abundance at 3 days, and mitigated axon loss, contrast sensitivity deficits, microglial abundance, and Muller cell GFAP upregulation at ≥30 days after blast injury. Analysis of right optic tract microglia at 3 days post blast for M1 versus M2 markers revealed that SMM-189 biased microglia toward the M2 state, with this action of SMM-189 being linked to reduced axonal injury. Taken together, our results show that focal left side cranial blast resulted in impaired contrast sensitivity and retinal pathology bilaterally and optic nerve loss ipsilaterally. The novel cannabinoid drug SMM-189 significantly mitigated the functional deficit and the associated pathologies. Our findings suggest the value of combatting visual system injury after TBI by using CB2 inverse agonists such as SMM-189, which appear to target microglia and bias them away from the pro-inflammatory M1 state, toward the protective M2 state.
Optimized Pre-Processing for Discrimination Prevention

Non-discrimination is a recognized objective in algorithmic decision making. In this paper, we introduce a novel probabilistic formulation of data pre-processing for reducing discrimination. We propose a convex optimization for learning a data transformation with three goals: controlling discrimination, limiting distortion in individual data samples, and preserving utility. We characterize the impact of limited sample size in accomplishing this objective. Two instances of the proposed optimization are applied to datasets, including one on real-world criminal recidivism. Results show that discrimination can be greatly reduced at a small cost in classification accuracy.
Are Consumers Averse to Sponsored Messages? The Role of Search Advertising in Information Discovery

We analyze a large-scale randomized field experiment in which a search engine varied the prominence of search ads for 3.3 million US users: one group of users saw the status quo, while the other saw a lower level of advertising (with prominence of search ads decreased). Revealed preference data reject that users are, overall, averse to the experimentally varied search ads which span a diverse set of searches and advertisers. At the margin, users prefer the status quo with the higher level of advertising. On the supply side, newer websites are more likely to advertise. Going from the lower to the higher level of advertising increases traffic to newer websites, with the newest decile of websites gaining traffic by 10%. Users also respond more positively to advertising when local businesses in their state create new websites. Taken together, patterns in our data are consistent with a constructive role of search advertising in which it fills significant information gaps by conveying new information, which is hard for the search engines to gather, and therefore missed by the organic algorithms. Viewing search ads, at the margin we study, makes consumers better off on average.
Spatiotemporal variability of fire characteristics affect animal responses in pyric landscapes

Behavioral responses are the most immediate ways animals interact with their environment, and are primary mechanisms by which individuals mitigate mortality risk while ensuring reproductive success. In disturbance-driven landscapes, animals must adjust behaviors both spatially and temporally to maximize individual fitness. Prescribed fire is an important ecosystem driver in many coniferous forests, as fire cycles nutrients, creates spatially heterogeneous distributions in quantity and quality of forage and cover, and provides opportunities for fire-adapted taxa. Because fire immediately shifts resource distribution, and fire characteristics may drive behavioral responses to recent burns, we examined behavioral responses of 105 Global Positioning System (GPS)-tagged female eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris Linnaeus, 1758) to fire application at three sites in southeastern United States. We used satellite-derived imagery to calculate burn severity and burn heterogeneity. We also calculated distance to adjacent unburned stands and time-since-fire at GPS locations of each turkey while inside burned stands. We used behavioral change point analyses to estimate behavioral state for turkeys using burned areas, and generalized linear mixed models to estimate how fire characteristics affected turkey behavior inside burned areas. Turkeys focused their use in less severely burned areas, and were less likely to use the interior of burned areas. Turkeys were more likely to forage and rest in less severely burned areas, suggesting that managers should apply prescribed fire frequently enough to promote low-severity burns. We found that, as distance to neighboring unburned areas increased, turkeys were more likely to walk through the interiors of recently burned areas, as opposed to resting or foraging in them, suggesting that the interiors of some burn units are less suitable habitat in the year that prescribed fire is applied. Our findings suggest that prescribed fire applied to ensure that interior areas of burned stands are <250 m from adjacent unburned stands or to stands shaped to maximize edge-to-area ratios likely create more suitable conditions for foraging and resting. The application and spatial arrangement of prescribed fire, even in frequently burned areas, affect animal response and behaviors. Prescribed fire regimes should be created in recognition that sizes of burned stands and fire severity, along with determinants of fire severity (e.g., fuel loads, return intervals, timing), are important influences on animal behavior in frequent-fire-managed landscapes.
Early Birds: An Exploration of Early College Initiative High Schools in New York City and College Persistence:

The Early College Initiative (ECI) high schools in New York City provide opportunities to take college-credit courses up to the equivalent of an associate’s degree while in high school. In this stu...
Indigenous Disk Beads in the Southern Southwest: Contemporary, Ethnographic, Ethnohistorical, and Archaeological Evidence

Within the Phoenix Basin in southern Arizona, disk beads have long been highly valued. Remarkably, the Akimel O’Odham (i.e., Pima) and Pee Posh (i.e., Maricopa) still place great importance on them...
Quantifying warfighter performance during a bounding rush (prone-sprinting-prone) maneuver

Abstract A single sacrum mounted inertial measurement unit (IMU) was employed to analyze warfighter performance on a bounding rush (prone-sprinting-prone) task. Thirty-nine participants (23M/16F) performed a bounding rush task consisting of four bounding rush cycles. The sacrum mounted IMU recorded angular velocity and acceleration data were used to provide estimates of sacral velocity and position. Individual rush cycles were parsed into three principal movement phases; namely, the get up, sprint, and get down phases. The timing of each phase was analyzed, averaged for each participant, and compared to the overall rush cycle time using regression analysis. A cluster analysis further reveals differences between high and low performers. Get down time was most predictive of bounding rush performance (R2 = 0.75) followed by get up time (R2 = 0.58) and sprint time (R2 = 0.40). Comparing high and low performers, the get down time exhibited nearly twice the effect on mean rush cycle time compared to get up time (effect size of −2.61 to −1.46, respectively). Overall, this IMU-based method reveals key features of the bounding rush that govern performance. Consequently, this objective method may support future training regimens and performance standards for military recruits, and parallel applications for athletes.
Obtaining Thermodynamic Information from Kinetic Measurements: Island Shape, Evaporation, and Coarsening

Atoms deposited on a solid surface at sufficiently high temperature diffuse, meet, aggregate, and form many one-atom-high islands. During and after deposition the edge atoms move around the islands or “evaporate” onto the substrate, and the islands capture atoms from the gas surrounding them. These processes change the sizes and the shapes1–27 of the islands and lead to coarsening.28–32 In this lecture we examine some aspects of island-shape thermodynamics and its equilibrium with a two-dimensional gas, and the kinetics of evaporation. In addition we propose a fast method for atomic-level simulations of coarsening. We focus on recent work at Santa Barbara and some of the classic work needed to place it in proper context. We do not attempt a comprehensive review of important work by others.
Rapid reconstitution of Epstein-Barr virus-specific T lymphocytes following allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)–specific CD8 T lymphocytes are present at remarkably high frequencies in healthy EBV+individuals and provide protection from EBV-associated lymphoproliferative diseases. Allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (allo-PBSCT) is a commonly used therapy in which T-cell surveillance for EBV is temporarily disrupted. Herein, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I tetramers were used to investigate the reestablishment of the EBV-specific CD8 T-cell repertoire in patients following allo-PBSCT. CD8+ T cells specific for lytic and latent cycle–derived EBV peptides rapidly repopulate the periphery of matched sibling allo-PBSCT patients. The relative frequencies of T cells specific for different EBV peptides in transplantation recipients closely reflect those of their respective donors. Investigation of patients at monthly intervals following unmanipulated allo-PBSCT demonstrated that the frequency of EBV-specific T cells correlates with the number of EBV genome copies in the peripheral blood and that expansion of EBV-specific T-cell populations occurs even in the setting of immunosuppressive therapy. In contrast, patients undergoing T-cell–depleted or unrelated cord blood transplantation have undetectable EBV-specific T cells, even in the presence of Epstein-Barr viremia. The protective shield provided by EBV-specific CD8 T cells is rapidly established following unmanipulated matched sibling allo-PBSCT and demonstrates that HLA class I tetramers complexed with viral peptides can provide direct and rapid assessment of pathogen-specific immunity in this and other vulnerable patient populations.