cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Translational Regulation by an Intramolecular Stem-Loop Is Required for Intermolecular RNA Regulation of the par Addiction Module

The par stability determinant of Enterococcus faecalis plasmid pAD1 is the only antisense RNA-regulated addiction module identified to date in gram-positive bacteria. par encodes two small, convergently transcribed RNAs, designated RNA I and RNA II, that function as the toxin (Fst)-encoding and antitoxin components, respectively. Previous work showed that structures at the 5' end of RNA I are important in regulating its translation. The work presented here reveals that a stem-loop sequestering the Fst ribosome binding site is required for translational repression but a helix sequestering the 5' end of RNA I is not. Furthermore, disruption of the stem-loop prevented RNA II-mediated repression of Fst translation in vivo. Finally, although Fst-encoding wild-type RNA I is not toxic in Escherichia coli, mutations affecting stem-loop stability resulted in toxicity in this host, presumably due to increased translation.
Indentation fracture of brittle materials

The response of four transparent materials, soda-lime glass, fused silica, single crystal (0001) Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} and Y{sub 2}O{sub 3}-ZrO{sub 2}, to contact by a sharp indenter has been studied. In-situ observation and continuous monitoring of the load and displacement throughout the test allowed the indentation fracture sequence of the transparent materials to be characterized and also permitted the effects of these fracture events on the corresponding load displacement curves to be noted. It was found that if the cracks produced during indentation grew discontinuously, they manifested themselves in discontinuities in displacement on the corresponding load-displacement curve. 6 refs., 5 figs., 1 tab.
Interaction of actinide ions with [NaP5W30O110]14- and [P2W18O62]6-

Abstract Stability constants (log b101) of Th4+, UO2 2+, NpO2 + and Am3+ with [NaP5W30O110]14- were determined by solvent extraction (m = 0.1M NaCl) and found to be 6.18±0.07, 3.80±0.06, 2.98±0.04, and 5.85±0.05, respectively. The order of stability constants: Th4+>Am3+>UO2 2+>NpO2 + is due to electrostatic repulsion between the actinyl oxygens and oxygens on the polyoxometalate surface. The order of stability constants for metal complexes with [P2W18O62]6- is Th4+>UO2 2+>Eu3+>NpO2 + because the steric repulsion between actinyl oxygens and oxygens on polyoxometalate are less important. Enthalpies of complexation were measured by calorimetric titration of Th4+, UO2 2+, Nd3+ with [NaP5W30O110]14- and [P2W18O62]6-. The results indicate that the conformation and charge distribution of the microscopic surface structures are important factors in the formation of pseudocolloids.
Measurement of Air Flow Velocities in Microsized Ionic Wind Pumps Using Particle Image Velocimetry

The knowledge of the flow fields inside of microsized ionic wind pumps has become more important as the need for smaller and more efficient heat removal devices has increased. Understanding these flow fields will help optimize the ionic wind pump performance. Non-intrusive microscale particle image velocemity (PIV) utilizing a microscopic objective lens is used to obtain the flow field inside of the ionic wind pump. Atomized olive oil droplets are used as seed particles with air as the flow medium. Voltages ranging from 1700 to 2000 V are used, as well as seeded flow rates of 1.5 and 2.0 L/min. Computational models, developed using COMSOL Multiphysics, are used to qualitatively verify the flow fields. The effects of voltage and seed flow rate are also compared. The computational and PIV flow fields are shown to be very similar. It is shown that as the voltage applied to the ionic wind pump increases the maximum velocity inside of the ionic wind pump, ranging from 1.71 m/s to 3.19 m/s. The average mass flow rate inside of the device also increases as the voltage is increased, ranging from .0009 g/s to .0019 g/s. It is also shown that the seed flow rate has little effect on the PIV flow field obtained.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Phase II trial of Gliadel plus O6-benzylguanic (O6-BG) for patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme

1568 Background. The major mechanism of resistance to alkylnitrosourea therapy involves the DNA repair protein O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) which removes chloroethylation or methylati...
Discovering Discourse: The Relationship between Media and NGOs in Egypt between 2011--13

On February , , Jeffrey Ghannam wrote an essay for the Outlook section of e Washington Post under the headline “Freedom, beyond  Characters” in which he claimed that social media proved to be a “far bigger threat” to Egyptian presidentHosniMubarak than other forms of protest. While he recognized that social media cannot change things by themselves, they are “chronicling and amplifying the revolution that is happening on the streets.” e potential impact of media on the changes in Egypt and the Arab Spring writ large have grabbed the attention of social science researchers with good reason. e relationship between themedia and revolution, socialmovement and political protests has been an attractive topic for generations of scholars: from “Fire in the Minds of Men” in which Billington explored the relationship between media and revolutions,
Yap1 is dispensable for self‐renewal but required for proper differentiation of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells

Yap1 is a transcriptional co-activator of the Hippo pathway. The importance of Yap1 in early cell fate decision during embryogenesis has been well established, though its role in embryonic stem (ES) cells remains elusive. Here, we report that Yap1 plays crucial roles in normal differentiation rather than self-renewal of ES cells. Yap1-depleted ES cells maintain undifferentiated state with a typical colony morphology as well as robust alkaline phosphatase activity. These cells also retain comparable levels of the core pluripotent factors, such as Pou5f1 and Sox2, to the levels in wild-type ES cells without significant alteration of lineage-specific marker genes. Conversely, overexpression of Yap1 in ES cells promotes nuclear translocation of Yap1, resulting in disruption of self-renewal and triggering differentiation by up-regulating lineage-specific genes. Moreover, Yap1-deficient ES cells show impaired induction of lineage markers during differentiation. Collectively, our data demonstrate that Yap1 is a required factor for proper differentiation of mouse ES cells, while remaining dispensable for self-renewal.
Abstract 5408: Exploiting the defective p53/MDM2/p14ARFpathway in neuroblastoma by targeting checkpoint kinase Chk1 with AZD7762

Introduction: A defective p53/MDM2/p14 ARF pathway seems to be the principal mode of checkpoint dysfunction in metastatic neuroblastoma following DNA damage, which probably accounts for chemoresistance after initial treatment response. Checkpoint kinase inhibitor AZD7762 (AstraZeneca, currently in clinical trials) has the potential to enhance the action of DNA-damaging agents in some advanced solid malignancies. In this study, we assessed the potential synergy between AZD7762 and chemotherapeutic agents in the in vitro and in vivo treatment of neuroblastoma cells which harbor aberrations in the p53/MDM2/p14 ARF pathway. Experimental Design: AZD7762 was tested in combination with chemotherapeutic agents both in vitro and in vivo against a representative panel of neuroblastoma cell lines. Ten were p53/MDM2/p14 ARF pathway-defective (four with p53 mutations, three with MDM2 amplification, and three with p14 ARF deletion) and three were wild type. Using these lines, p53/p21 functional assay, drug induced cytotoxicity, S/G 2 checkpoint abrogation, and therapy of xenografts were examined. Synergism with chemotherapy was quantified using combination index (CI). CI 1 antagonism. Results: Based on p53/p21 functional assays, all four p53 mutant lines failed to show endogenous p21 induction after DNA damage (defined as p53 pathway nonfunctional). Similarly, p53 was nonfunctional in two of the three MDM2 amplified and one of the three p14 ARF deleted cell lines. In cytotoxicity assays, p53 nonfunctional lines were more resistant to DNA-damaging agents when compared to p53 functional lines. Synergy between AZD7762 and DNA-damaging agents (cisplatin, doxorubicin, etoposide, melphalan, SN38 and topotecan) was strong in all p53 nonfunctional lines (average CI values: 0.44 - 0.63), but not in p53 functional lines (average CI values greater than 1.0). In contrast, gemcitabine showed even stronger synergy with AZD7762 regardless of p53 functional status (CI values: 0.11 - 0.47). AZD7762 treatment resulted in the abrogation of DNA damage-induced S/G 2 checkpoint arrest, and in the potentiation of antitumor activity of DNA-damaging agents in four mouse xenograft models. Conclusions: AZD7762 potentiated both in vitro and in vivo the antitumor effects of DNA-damaging agents against neuroblastoma. These results suggest that the addition of AZD7762 may reverse or prevent drug resistance, especially if a defective p53/MDM2/p14 ARF pathway is the underlying mechanism. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5408.
Cavanaugh on the Church and the Modern State: An Appraisal

In a series of recent articles and books, the Catholic theologian William T. Cavanaugh has leveled a profound challenge to the modern state. He critiques its pretentions to be a savior and to provide social cohesion. He proposes that the church should provide resistance to, and even be an alternative to, the modern state. While Cavanaugh draws creative insights from Augustine's political thought, he misuses that thought in ways that dismiss the positive goods provided by the government. Cavanaugh also makes a positive contribution to Catholic social ethics by employing “the social imaginary” to describe the modern state, but overemphasizes the states historical distinctiveness, downplaying what it has in common with earlier forms of political community, namely the pursuit of bodily well-being and social organization.
Thermal Degradation of Aqueous Piperazine for CO2 Capture: 2. Product Types and Generation Rates

The generation of degradation products at 135 to 175 °C was investigated for concentrated, aqueous piperazine (PZ) loaded with CO2. From 135 to 175 °C, N-formylpiperazine, ammonium, N-(2-aminoethyl)piperazine, and 2-imidazolidone were found to be the most abundant products. These species accounted for 63% of nitrogen and 49% of carbon lost as PZ and CO2 during degradation. Thermal degradation of PZ is believed to be initiated by the nucleophilic attack of PZ at the α-carbon to a protonated amino function on H+PZ to create a ring opened PZ structure. H+PZ was found to be the active and likely initiating species required for the initial reactions of thermal degradation. Further SN2 substitution reactions can produce a variety of products. CO2 is not required for thermal degradation to proceed but is reduced to create formate or formyl amides, reacts with amines to form stable ureas, and dictates the overall product mix. The mechanism for CO2 reduction to formate or formyl amides is not clear but indicates t...
How to Turn Uncertainties of Operational Risk Capital into Opportunities from a Risk Management Perspective

The supervisory guidelines for the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision's Advanced Measurement Approaches require the uncertainty of operational risk capital to be acknowledged by financial institutions. The estimated capital charge is inherently uncertain due to the heaviness and scarcity of operational risk losses in the tail region. Beyond the regulatory requirements, we build on this sound quantitative information to provide the bank with relevant business applications: a hybrid capital model with balanced weighting between backward-looking and forward-looking risk information; scenario bias mitigation; and managing future capital-based risk appetite limits for scenario topics. Making businesses sensitive to the sources of capital uncertainty will help reduce inherent uncertainty by identifying ways to develop scenario analysis coverage in line with the internal and external business environment assessment outcomes. Looking at capital uncertainty from a scenario topic perspective is really sensible and appealing. Transparency on capital uncertainty within the business helps to manage expectation on model noise against what remains actionable.
Adaptive Robust Control of Sugar Precipitation for Chinese Medicine Mixed Solution

A model dedicated to Chinese medicine sugar precipitation is designed, without consideration of crystal size distribution. Adaptive robust control algorithm is provided for the uncertain nonlinear system based on Lyapunov’s stability theory. The mechanism is based on “model decomposition”: an adaptive controller is adopted to eliminate the parameter uncertainty; robust controller is adopted to attenuate the unknown dynamics and disturbance; feedback controller is developed to dominate the nominal plant. Three controllers compose the integrated controller for the uncertain nonlinear system. The stability is proved and the output of system tracks the set point well. The algorithm is applied to the sugar precipitation control of Chinese medicine solution. Simulation result sustains the validity of the proposed algorithm.
The Spiral-Compact Galaxy Pair AM2208-251: Computer Simulations Versus Observations

The system AM2208-251 is a roughly edge-on spiral extending east-west with a smaller round compact E system about 60 arcsec east of the spiral nucleus along the major axis of the spiral. Bertola, Huchtmeier, and Zeilinger (1990) have presented optical spectroscopic as well as single dish 21 cm observations of this system. Their spectroscopic data show, via emission lines lambda lambda 3727-29A, a rising rotation curve near the nucleus. These spectroscopic observations may indicate a tidal interaction in the system. In order to learn more about such pairs, the authors simulated the interaction using the computer model developed by Miller (1976 a,b, 1978) and modified by the authors (Byrd 1986, 1987, 1988). To do the simulation they need an idea of the mutual orbits of the two galaxies. Their computer model is a two-dimensional polar N-body program. It consists of a self-gravitating disk of particles, within an inert axially symmetric stabilizing halo potential. The particles are distributed in a 24(radial) by 36(azimuthal) polar grid. Self consistent calculations can be done only within the grid area. The disk is modeled with a finite Mestel disk, where all the particles initially move in circular orbits with constant tangential velocities (Mestel 1963), resulting in a flat rotation curve. The gas particles in the spiral's disk, which make up 30 percent of its mass, collide in the following manner. The number of particles in each bin of the polar grid is counted every time step. If it is greater than a given critical density, all the particles in the bin collide, obtaining in the result the same velocities, equal to the average for the bin. This process produces clumps of gas particles-the star formation sites. The authors suppress the collision in the inner part of the disk (within the circle r = 6) to represent the hole seen in the gas in the nuclear bulge of spirals. They thus avoid spurious effects due to collisions in that region. They also varied the size of the collisional bins, which did not affect their conclusions.
Introduction of Vaccines Into National Programs

The decision for a national government to adopt a population-based health intervention such as vaccines is a complex process involving political, economic, operational/logistics, and governance issues. There are as many variations of decisions as there are the number of countries and vaccines. Three important issues predominate: the perceived disease burden including the potential benefits of mitigation, existing infrastructures on which to add a vaccine component, and the financing and costs of the vaccine intervention. These and other factors are discussed in detail.
Development of Communication Competence in Children with Moderate-severe Mental Retardation

4歳時に重～中度の精神発達遅滞を示した子どもに対し, 個別継続的プログラムされた言語訓練を行わず, 長期的な助言指導・経過観察を行った児の8歳時のコミュニケーションについて調査した.重度群24例, 中度群25例であった.結果, 中度例で学童期に発語可能となったものは25例中24例で, このうち「簡単な会話成立」以上の実用的発語が可能なものは15例であった.一方, 重度例では24例中16例に発語がみられた.また, パニックが減少した児の中に発語可能となった者が多かった.発語可能な重度例の半数以上は学童期以降に音声模倣や発語が盛んとなった.このことから重度群については長期的な視野をもって母子の援助に当たることが重要であると考えられた.今回の調査結果は, STの指導効果を示したものではなく, 児の成長力を示したものである.したがって, こうした児に対するSTの直接的な訓練効果を検討する場合には, これらの児のもつ成長力を十分に考慮するべきであると考える.
Polyacrylonitrile nanofiber membranes modified with ionically crosslinked polyelectrolyte multilayers for the separation of ionic impurities

Nanofiltration membranes were prepared by forming multilayers of branched polyethylenimine (BPEI) and polyacrylic acid (PAA) on a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibrous mat by layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly. The degree of ionization (DI) of PAA, estimated using FTIR spectra both in the absence and presence of added salt, was shown to have a strong influence on the BPEI/PAA film growth. BPEI/PAA multilayers grew exponentially when the DI of PAA was less than 30%, or when the pH of PAA during LbL formation was less than 3.5. Subsequently, BPEI/PAA multilayers were formed on the PAN nanofiber mats by depositing the polyelectrolytes at the experimental conditions that favored maximum film growth. The separation layer formed with 15 bilayers of BPEI/PAA has a thickness of 1100 nm. PAA ionization was favored within the BPEI/PAA multilayers due to the presence of abundant amine groups in BPEI, and as a result, a strong negative charge was seen for PAN nanofibrous membranes for solution conditions above pH 4.5. Nanofiber membranes modified with 15 bilayers of BPEI/PAA multilayers at an applied pressure of 4 bar had a pure water flux of 19.7 Lm−2 h−1 and a MgSO4 rejection of 98.7%. This performance represents 1.6 times higher flux and 1.1 times higher salt rejection than the multilayers formed on a conventional asymmetric polymeric support. The higher separation and higher flux capabilities of BPEI/PAA multilayer modified PAN nanofiber membranes was due to the combined effect of high charge density and high porosity of the nanofiber membranes.
Case Scenario for Fluid Management After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in the Neuro-intensive Care Unit

Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a cerebrovascular emergency that has potential for a prolonged and complicated hospital course, carrying high rates of morbidity and mortality. The most common cause of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage is aneurysm rupture. Most patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage will need to be monitored closely in an intensive care unit after treatment of the ruptured aneurysm to monitor and prevent potential neurological and medical complications. Neurological complications include seizures, hydrocephalus, high intracranial pressure, cerebral vasospasm, and delayed cerebral ischemia, all of which can worsen outcome of postsubarachnoid hemorrhage. Medical complications that can occur in these patients include hyponatremia, which is commonly caused by either cerebral salt wasting syndrome or syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion. Close monitoring of the extracellular fluid status and accurately diagnosing the etiology of hyponatremia is important in order to provide the appropriate management and avoid its potential sequelae such as hypovolemia, cerebral edema, and secondary symptomatic cerebral vasospasm.
Synthesis, characterization and electrospinning of poly(vinyl caprolactam-co-hydroxymethyl acrylamide) to create stimuli-responsive nanofibers

Abstract Poly(vinyl caprolactam) (PVCL) is an especially attractive temperature-responsive polymer due to its biocompatibility and the fact that its lower critical solution temperature (LCST) is in the physiological range (32–34 °C). Here, PVCL was copolymerized with hydroxymethyl acrylamide (NMA) and electrospun to create PVCL based temperature-responsive chemical hydrogel nanofibers for the first time. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) was used to study fiber morphology. The thermal curing process of the nanofibers was analyzed by attenuated total reflectance-fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The created “smart” hydrogel nanofibers responded quickly and reversibly to changes in temperature and showed a temperature controlled rhodamine B dye release. The unique properties offered by these novel materials show promise for applications in biosensors, controlled drug delivery and microfluidic systems.
Nano-XRF Analysis of Metal Impurities Distribution at PL Active Grain Boundaries During mc-Silicon Solar Cell Processing

Metal impurities are known to hinder the performance of commercial Si-based solar cells by inducing bulk recombination, increasing leakage current, and causing direct shunting. Recently, a set of photoluminescence (PL) images of neighboring multicrystalline silicon wafers taken from a cell production line at different processing stages has been acquired. Both band-to-band PL and sub-bandgap PL (subPL) images showed various regions with different PL signal intensity. Interestingly, in several of these regions a reversal of the subPL intensity was observed right after the deposition of the antireflective coating. In this paper, we present the results of the synchrotron-based nano-X-ray fluorescence imaging performed in areas characterized by the subPL reversal to evaluate the possible role of metal decoration in this uncommon behavior. Furthermore, the acquisition of a statistically meaningful set of data for samples taken at different stages of the solar cell manufacturing allows us to shine a light on the precipitation and rediffusion mechanisms of metal impurities at these grain boundaries.
ON THE PRESENCE OF UV-ENDONUCLEASE SENSITIVE SITES IN DAUGHTER DNA OF UV-IRRADIATED MAMMALIAN CELLS

ABSTRACT Asynchronous Chinese hamster cells (V79) were irradiated with 10 Jm −2 UV radiation and 0.25 to 4 hours later pulse-labeled with [ 3 H] thymidine. Cells synchronized by shaking off mitotic and G 1 cells were irradiated in either the G 1 -phase or S-phase of the cell cycle and pulse-labeled with [ 3 H] thymidine in the S-phase. After a 12–14 hour chase in unlabeled medium, the DNA was extracted, incubated with Micrococcus luteus UV-endonuclease and sedimented in alkaline sucrose. The number of endonuclease sensitive sites decreased as the time between UV irradiation and pulse-labeling of daughter DNA increased. Further, there were significantly less endonuclease sensitive sites in the daughter DNA from cells irradiated in the G 1 -phase than in the S-phase. These data indicate that very few, if any, dimers are transferred from parental DNA to daughter DNA and that the dimers detected in daughter DNA may be due to the irradiation of replicating daughter DNA before labeling.
Irradiation effect on back-gate graphene field-effect transistor

The effects of irradiations on MOSFET and bipolar junction transistors are well known though irradiation mechanisms in two-dimensional graphene and related devices are still being investigated. In this work, we investigate irradiation mechanism based on a semi-empirical model for the graphene back-gate transistor and quantitatively analyze the irradiation influences on electrical properties of the device structure. The irradiation shifts the current which changes the region of device operation, degrades the mobility and increases the channel resistance which can increase the power dissipation. The main mechanism causing the degradation in performance of devices is the oxide trap charges near the SiO 2 /graphene interface and graphene layer traps charges.
Basic Electromagnetic Theory

Physics of plasmas is described by the electromagnetic theory. Elementary principles of electromagnetism are reviewed in this chapter. Electric fields, magnetic fields, and Maxwell equations, which self-consistently relate these fields to each other, are introduced. Charged particles are sources of electric fields and moving charged particles can generate magnetic fields. The most obvious manifestation of electromagnetic fields is the light. The elecromagnetic spectrum is composed of a broad range of wavelengths from low-frequency radio waves (\(\sim \)10 MHz) to very high-frequency gamma rays (\(\sim \)10\(^{27}\) Hz). Finally the concept of phase space and collisions between particles of different species are discussed.
Nonlinear Dynamics of Vortices in Different Types of Grain Boundaries

As a major component of linear particle accelerators, superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) resonator cavities are required to operate with lowest energy dissipation and highest accelerating gradient. SRF cavities are made of polycrystalline materials in which grain boundaries can limit maximum RF currents and produce additional power dissipation sources due to local penetration of Josephson vortices. The essential physics of vortex penetration and mechanisms of dissipation of vortices driven by strong RF currents along networks of grain boundaries and their contribution to the residual surface resistance have not been well understood. To evaluate how GBs can limit the performance of SRF materials, particularly Nb and Nb3Sn, we performed extensive numerical simulations of nonlinear dynamics of Josephson vortices in grain boundaries under strong dc and RF fields. The RF power due to penetration of vortices both in weakly-coupled and strongly-coupled grain boundaries was calculated as functions of the RF field and frequency. The result of this calculation manifested a quadratic dependence of power to field amplitude at strong RF currents, an illustration of resistive behavior of grain boundaries. Our calculations also showed that the surface resistance is a complicated function of field controlled by penetration and annihilation of vortices and antivortices in strong RF fields which ultimately saturates to normal resistivity of grain boundary. We found that Cherenkov radiation of rapidly moving vortices in grain boundaries can produce a new instability causing generation of expanding vortex-antivortex pair which ultimately drives the entire GB in a resistive state. This effect is more pronounced in polycrystalline thin film and multilayer coating structures in which it can cause significant increase in power dissipation and results in hysteresis effects in I-V characteristics, particularly at low temperatures.
Why Do Early Mathematics Skills Predict Later Reading? The Role of Mathematical Language.

A growing body of evidence indicates that the development of mathematics and literacy skills is highly related. The importance of literacy skills-specifically language-for mathematics development has been well rationalized. However, despite several prominent studies indicating that mathematics skills are highly predictive of literacy development, the reason for this relation is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to identify how and why early mathematics is predictive of early literacy development. Participants included 125 preschool children 3-5 years old (M = 4 years 3 months). Participants were assessed on mathematics, literacy, and cognitive measures in both the fall and spring of their preschool year. Mediation analyses indicated that the relation between early mathematics and literacy skills is mediated by children's mathematical language skills. These findings suggest that, in prior research identifying mathematical performance as a significant predictor of later literacy skills, mathematical performance may have acted only as a proxy measure for more complex language skills such as those assessed on a mathematical language measure. (PsycINFO Database Record
The Scandalous Case of the Rani of Lathi: Female Regency, Princely Politics, and Sexual Impropriety in 1920s Colonial India

In 1922, the recently widowed Rani and regent of Lathi state in peninsular Kathiawar took a lover and fled to Bombay, astounding her fellow Indian princes as well as local British political administrators. She was accused of murdering her husband, abusing her royal powers, and illegally leaving her state. By stepping beyond the walls of the sequestered palace interior and in travelling from princely state to British India, the Rani of Lathi transgressed social, political, territorial, and geographic borders. In the official documents of the time, she was portrayed in the familiar language of colonial exoticism as an oversexed, dangerous, and irrational representative of eastern femininity expressed in its most troublesome form: the secluded oriental queen. Regent mothers, like her, had complex relationships with the colonial government. While perceived as politically inept and morally corrupt, they simultaneously frustrated, thwarted, and eluded the censure of colonial administrators. In the process, thei...
β-d-N 4-Hydroxycytidine Is a Potent Anti-alphavirus Compound That Induces a High Level of Mutations in the Viral Genome.

Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is a representative member of the New World alphaviruses. It is transmitted by mosquito vectors and causes highly debilitating disease in humans, equids, and other vertebrate hosts. Despite a continuous public health threat, very few compounds with anti-VEEV activity in cell culture and in mouse models have been identified to date, and rapid development of virus resistance to some of them has been recorded. In this study, we investigated the possibility of using a modified nucleoside analog, β-d-N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC), as an anti-VEEV agent and defined the mechanism of its anti-VEEV activity. The results demonstrate that NHC is a very potent antiviral agent. It affects both the release of genome RNA-containing VEE virions and their infectivity. Both of these antiviral activities are determined by the NHC-induced accumulation of mutations in virus-specific RNAs. The antiviral effect is most prominent when NHC is applied early in the infectious process, during the amplification of negative- and positive-strand RNAs in infected cells. Most importantly, only a low-level resistance of VEEV to NHC can be developed, and it requires acquisition and cooperative function of more than one mutation in nsP4. These adaptive mutations are closely located in the same segment of nsP4. Our data suggest that NHC is more potent than ribavirin as an anti-VEEV agent and likely can be used to treat other alphavirus infections. IMPORTANCE Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) can cause widespread epidemics among humans and domestic animals. VEEV infections result in severe meningoencephalitis and long-term sequelae. No approved therapeutics exist for treatment of VEEV infections. Our study demonstrates that β-d-N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC) is a very potent anti-VEEV compound, with the 50% effective concentration being below 1 μM. The mechanism of NHC antiviral activity is based on induction of high mutation rates in the viral genome. Accordingly, NHC treatment affects both the rates of particle release and the particle infectivity. Most importantly, in contrast to most of the anti-alphavirus drugs that are under development, resistance of VEEV to NHC develops very inefficiently. Even low levels of resistance require acquisition of multiple mutations in the gene of the VEEV-specific RNA-dependent RNA polymerase nsP4.
Ni aquí ni allá: Nociones de hogar y sentido de pertenencia en el contexto de la migración.

La pregunta ?donde queda el hogar? es dificil, especialmente para los migrantes, quienes viven en un lugar diferente a su lugar de origen. Es particularmente dificil para aquellos que no tienen documentos y por lo tanto no tienen ni reconocimiento legal ni derechos, y estan en constante riesgo de ser detenidos y deportados. A traves de fotografia participativa y entrevistas, proceso que se ha llamado fotohistorias , se exploran experiencias humanas relacionadas con la migracion en ee . uu . , y en la frontera entre este y Mexico. El articulo trata sobre las nociones contrapuestas relacionadas con el hogar y el sentido de pertenencia que surgieron en las experiencias compartidas por migrantes en estos dos contextos. Los migrantes evidenciaron diferentes nociones de “hogar” asi como de “pertenencia”, que reflejan los diferentes grados de transitoriedad e impermanencia en su cotidianidad.
Differently-Abled Adults Exercise Their Rights to Creativity and Inclusion

Creativity is a human right for all people, including adults with physical, mental, and/or developmental disabilities. Yet this population has “little opportunity for thoughtful and creative engage...
The effect of broad-spectrum antibiotics on warfarin excretion and metabolism in the rat

The excretion and metabolism of 14C-warfarin in rats was examined in a crossover experiment, the first phase consisting of treatment with normal saline, the second phase using the same animals given neomycin, bacitracin, and tetracycline orally. Urine and feces were collected every 24 hours for 72 hours and examined for warfarin and its metabolites, both unconjugated and conjugated. Significantly more radioactivity was eliminated in th feces of antibiotic-treated rats. The feces of antibiotic-treated rats contained only trace amounts of beta-glucuronidase activity. Urine contained a similar ratio of unconjugated to conjugated radioactivity in both treatment groups, but the antibiotic-treated animals had significantly larger amount of conjugates in their feces. Examination of metabolic profiles of conjugated and unconjugated fractions revealed significantly fewer hydroxylated metabolites in antibiotic-treated rats, especially in the feces. The lower amount of hydroxylative metabolism in attributed to a reduction in gut flora-medicated interohepatic recycling caused by the antibiotics.
Catholic Schools, Catholic Education, and Catholic Educational Research: A Conversation with Anthony Bryk

Anthony Bryk is President of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Previously, he held the Spencer Chair in Organizational Studies in the School of Education and the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University as well as the Marshall Field IV Professor of Urban Education and Sociology at the University of Chicago. Dr. Bryk received his undergraduate degree from Boston College and his doctorate from Harvard University. His main areas of expertise are school organization, education reform, Catholic schools, and educational statistics. He founded and directed efforts to support and inform educational improvements in the Chicago public schools. In 1993, Harvard University Press published the groundbreaking book Catholic Schools and the Common Good with Valerie Lee and Peter Holland. Dr. Bryk recently spoke with Joseph M. O’Keefe, S.J., dean of the Lynch School of Education at Boston College and co-editor of the journal, on the future of Catholic schools, Catholic educational research, and the journal. The following is a transcript of that conversation, providing direction for the future of Catholic education. [Special thanks to Craig Horning, doctoral student at Boston College, for transcribing the conversation.]
Gram-Negative Cocci, Pathogenic

Gram-negative cocci are almost invariably isolated from nasopharyngeal cultures of human beings. The majority of these are commensal species. Members of the genus Neisseria are nonmotile and oxidase- and catalase-positive Gram-negative diplococci that utilize sugars oxidatively. Members of this genus are differentiated primarily on the basis of colony morphology and their ability to utilize various carbohydrates. Neisseria gonorrhoeae can utilize only glucose, whereas Neisseria meningitidis utilizes glucose and maltose. Neisseria lactamica resembles N. meningitidis but can also utilize lactose. On rare occasions, bacteria belonging to a few of these species are able to invade the human host and cause disease; this is summarized in Table 1.
Playing the Game (or Not): How Ukraine and the United States Navigate the Hostile Regulatory Environment for Alcohol Advertising

This study tells the story of how two contrasting countries regulate the advertising of alcohol, given its status as a legal but potentially harmful product. Ukraine is a recent market economy stil...
Gendering Hybridity: The Womb as Site of Production in Globalization

It is my contention that urgent questions about the politics of the biological body have been displaced in discussions of hybridity – a term that seems to account for the phenomenon of global mixture but routinely defers consideration of its material and physiological dimensions. In this essay I reinsert the biological body into discussions of hybridity in order to explore the growing phenomenon of international commercial surrogacy. The third world woman's rented womb emerges in this reading as an overlooked, unclaimed site of hybridity in the global division of labour, with intriguing precedents in the colonial experience, and opportunities for reviewing the incarnation of global hybridity in live bodies in the present.
Effect of Donor Race-Matching on Overall Survival for African-American Patients Undergoing Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background Liver transplantation (LT) is the preferred treatment for early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in select patients. Differences in outcomes after LT have been previously described between recipient races, but the role of donor race is not well defined. This study sought to examine the effect of donor-recipient race-matching on overall survival after liver transplantation for HCC in African-American patients (AA). Study design Adult AA patients with HCC undergoing liver transplantation were identified using the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network database (1994 to 2015). Recipient and donor demographic and clinical characteristics were collected. Patients were separated into unadjusted cohorts based on whether the liver donor was AA (matched) or another race (unmatched). The primary outcome was overall survival, which was analyzed by log-rank test and graphed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate regression modeling was used to determine adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for overall survival. Results Of 1,384 AA patients identified, 325 (23.5%) were race-matched. Matched patients experienced significantly better median overall survival when compared with the unmatched cohort (135 vs 78 months, p = 0.007). Multivariate analysis revealed an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.66 for race-matched transplantation (95% CI 0.49 to 0.88; p = 0.004). Matched patients also experienced an improved 5-year survival (64.2% vs 56.9%; p = 0.019). Conclusions African-American HCC patients undergoing liver transplantation experienced significantly improved overall survival when the donor race matched the recipient race. Donor-recipient race-matching remained an independent predictor of improved survival after adjusting for comorbidities and disease characteristics. Race-matching should be considered in the process of organ allocation because it may affect long-term survival in African-American HCC patients.
Zolpidem: The Arrested Woman with No Recollection of Events

Z-drugs, such as zolpidem and zopiclone, have been associated with sleep-related behaviors, parasomnia, abnormal thinking, disinhibition, aggressiveness, mood alterations, and anterograde amnesia. Sleep driving is one of the Z-drug-induced parasomnias reported frequently with zolpidem and often raises diagnostic challenges among clinicians due to its complex presentation and medico legal ramifications. This review focuses on the epidemiology, clinical presentation, psychopharmacology, diagnosis, laboratory tests, and forensic aspects of Z-drug-induced sleep driving. In addition, this review helps practitioners to identify and distinguish Z-drug-induced sleep driving from individuals with history of somnambulism, as this distinction is key for diagnostic clarification in medico legal cases.
Improving Habitat Connectivity in a Typha -Dominated Wetland Shows Increased Larval Northern Pike Survival

A decline in northern pike (Esox lucius) abundance in the upper St. Lawrence River is thought to be related to hybrid cattail invasion and disruption of natural water-level periodicity leading to spawning and nursery habitat degradation. Channel-connectivity and spawning-pool excavations were implemented in a tributary to the upper St. Lawrence River to enhance spawning and nursery site complexity. We assessed the effects of excavations on pike by comparing percent survival (from advanced larvae to fall emigration), water quality factors, and larval diets at excavated and non-excavated sites. Lab-reared pike, 16 days post-hatch and 14 mm in length, were released at three site types: non-excavated, spawning pool, and channel. Percent survival in channels and spawning pools after a minimum of 26 days was nearly identical (2.4%), and greater than non-excavated sites (0.13%). Spawning pools displayed higher water temperatures and dissolved-oxygen concentrations than either channel or non-excavated sites. Larvae primarily consumed zooplankton and diets of larvae from spawning pools and non-excavated sites were similar, whereas larvae in channels consumed different taxa. Differences in diet were not reflected in survival, suggesting larvae were not prey-limited. Observed differences in percent survival among sites demonstrates created spawning pool and channel-connectivity sites enhanced conditions for pike.
Readmissions After Acute Hospitalization for Traumatic Brain Injury.

Abstract Background Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with functional deficits, impaired cognition, and medical complications that continue well after the initial injury. Many patients seek medical care at other health care facilities after discharge, rather than returning to the admitting trauma center, making assessment of readmission rates and readmission diagnoses difficult to determine. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence and factors associated with readmission to any acute care hospital after an index admission for TBI. Materials and methods The Nationwide Readmission Database was queried for all patients admitted with a TBI during the first 3 mo of 2015. Nonelective readmissions for this population were then collected for the remainder of 2015. Patients who died during the index admission were excluded. Demographic data, injury mechanism, type of TBI, the number of readmissions, days from discharge to readmission, readmission diagnosis, and mortality were studied. Results Of the 15,277 patients with an index admission for TBI, 5296 patients (35%) required at least 1 readmission. Forty percent of readmissions occurred within the first 30 d after discharge from the index trauma admission. The most common primary diagnosis on readmission was SDH, followed by septicemia, urinary tract infection, and aspiration. Readmission rates increased with age, with 75% of readmissions occurring in patients aged >65 y. Initial discharge to a skilled nursing facility (Relative Risk [RR], 1.60) or leaving the hospital against medical advice (RR, 1.59) increased the risk of readmission. Patients with fall as their mechanism of injury and a subdural hematoma were more likely to require readmission compared with other types of mechanisms with TBI (RR, 1.59 and RR, 1.21, respectively; P Conclusions Hospital readmission is common for patients discharged after TBI. Elderly patients who fall with resultant subdural hematoma are at especially high risk for complications and readmission. Understanding potentially preventable causes for readmission can be used to guide discharge planning pathways to decrease morbidity in this patient population.
Placental Pathology, Cerebral Blood Flow, and Intraventricular Hemorrhage in Preterm Infants: Is There a Link?

Abstract Background There is growing evidence to support an association between placental inflammation and neurological sequelae of preterm infants. The goal of this study is to evaluate the relationship between placental pathology, post-natal Doppler cerebral resistive indices (RI’s), and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in premature infants. Methods In a retrospective cohort study, preterm infants born between 23 0/7 and 32 6/7 weeks’ gestation at Parkland Hospital were examined with placental pathology and serial ultrasound Doppler to evaluate for the primary outcome of IVH and death. Results A total of 255 infants were included, and 166 (65%) had at least one significant placental pathology, most commonly chorioamnionitis. Infants with placental pathologies were significantly more likely to have mothers with clinical chorioamnionitis and to have lower gestational ages. There was no observed association between placental pathology and IVH or death. Secondary analysis demonstrated that resistive indices obtained from the first and second head ultrasounds were not different in infants with IVH. Conclusion In this study, we observed a high rate of placental pathologies but no alterations in cerebral indices on ultrasound, or differences in rates of IVH or death. Additional studies are necessary to delineate the relationship between placental pathology, white matter brain injury, and outcomes.
EHD gas pumping – A concise review of recent development

Abstract Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) gas pumps have received considerable attention in recent years for their salient features which include simple configuration, quiet operation, and efficient use of energy. EHD gas pumps can be used in a variety of applications from simple flow delivery, thermal management, drying enhancement, to plasma medicine. Since each application has its own requirements, different emphases have been placed on the design of electrodes for that particular application. In this paper, recent development on EHD gas pumps is reviewed on three specific fronts: flow delivery/sustainability, flow acceleration, and flow stability. Discussion includes new electrode configurations proposed, single-/multiple-stages systems developed, as well as criteria suggested for the evaluation of their performance. Based on the review, conclusions which have important implications for the practical use of EHD gas pump can be drawn.
A survey-wide association study to identify youth-specific correlates of major depressive episodes.

Background Major depressive disorder is a common disease with high mortality and morbidity worldwide. Though peak onset is during late adolescence, the prevalence of major depressive disorder remains high throughout adulthood. Leveraging an association study design, this study screened a large number of variables in the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health to characterize differences between adult and youth depression across a wide array of phenotypic measurements. Methods All dichotomous variables were manually identified from the survey for association screening. Association between each dichotomous variable and past-year major depressive episode (MDE) occurrence was calculated as an odds ratio for adults (≥18 years) and youth (12-17 years), and tested for significance with Fischer's exact test. Logarithm of the calculated odds ratios were plotted and fitted to a linear model to assess correlation between adult and youth risk factors. Results Many of the screened variables showed similar association between past-year depressive episode occurrence in youth and adults; Lin's concordance correlation coefficient between adult and youth associations was 0.91 (95% CI 0.89-0.92). Differentially associated variables were identified, tracking: female sex, alcohol use, cigarette use, marijuana use, Medicaid/CHIP coverage, cognitive changes due to a mental, physical or emotional condition, and respondents' identification of a single depressive event as the worst experienced. Conclusions While some youth-specific correlates of major depressive episodes were identified through screening, including some novel associations, most examined variables showed similar association with youth and adult depression. Further study of results is warranted, especially concerning the finding of increased association between marijuana use and depressive episodes in youth.