cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inducing bistability in Collapsible Tubular Mast booms with thin-ply composite shells

Abstract Bistable rollable booms are favorable when a low strain energy requirement for the coiled state is imposed and have more controllable deployment when compared to monostable booms. An inextensional analytical model describing the bending deformation mechanics of Collapsible Tubular Mast (CTM) booms was used to determine how design variables induce bistability, or the existence of two strain energy wells in the rolled-up and unrolled states. The effects of varying lamina material, laminate layup, and shell arc geometries between different inner and outer shell segments on the second strain energy well and stiffness properties were determined for boom cross-sections formed by circular segments. The full design space for two-walled composite CTM booms was explored to evaluate the validity of the developed analytical model. Optimized CTM boom designs were experimentally characterized for comparisons against model results. The model under-predicted the stable coiled diameter of the co-cured two-walled booms by up to 8.9% and 23.4% for the individual thin shells wrapped alone.
Introduction to the Special Issue: Increasing Space for Families on the Margins

Until the lions have a voice, the glory of the hunt will always be the tale of the hunter.–Nigerian proverbPreviously, I have argued, with Rich West, that we live in times of increasing diversity, ...
Implementing Analytics Projects in a Hospital: Successes, Failures, and Opportunities

Healthcare lags decades behind other industries in terms of operational analytics. Numerous technical proof-of-concept projects in the use of optimization, machine learning, and other analytical me...
A semantic approach to interpolation

Interpolation results are investigated for various types of formulae. By shifting the focus from syntactic to semantic interpolation, we generate, prove and classify a series of interpolation results for first-order logic. A few of these results non-trivially generalize known interpolation results. All the others are new.
Ureteroenteric anastomosis in orthotopic neobladder creation: do urinary tract infections impact stricture rate?

Radical cystectomy (RC) and urinary diversion in the treatment of muscle-invasive bladder cancer is associated with peri-operative complication rates as high as 60%. Ureteroenteric anastomotic stricture (UEAS) is a potential source significant morbidity often requiring secondary interventions. We sought to evaluate our experience with benign UEAS in our open ileal orthotopic neobladder (ON) population. After Internal Review Board (IRB) approval, we performed a retrospective review of patients who had RC and ON between 2000 and 2015 at MD Anderson Cancer Center and had at least 6 months of follow-up. Baseline demographics and treatment characteristics, peri-operative and post-operative outcomes, as well as information regarding anastomosis technique and suture types were evaluated. Patients with malignant ureteral obstruction were excluded from the analysis. 418 patients had ON creation and the mean age was 59 years (SD 9.4 years) and 90% were males. The mean follow-up was 57 months (6–183 months). 37 patients (8.9%) developed UEAS in 42 renal units and the mean time to diagnosis was 15.8 months (0.85–90 months). Anastomosis and suture type were not predictive of UEAS (p = 0.594, p = 0.586). Perioperative UTI within 30 days of surgery, and recurrent UTI were predictive of UEAS, HR 2.4 p = 0.03, HR 5.1 p < 0.001, respectively. UEAS are associated with potentially significant morbidity following ON creation. UEAS may occur early following ON, but may occur as late as 7 years following surgery. Indeed, technical factors and surgeon experience contribute to the rates of UEAS, but perioperative UTI appears to herald future stricture development.
Tell us how you Really Feel: Validating an Inmate Social Climate Survey

Correctional facilities have a discernible social climate, or collection of contextual properties that derive in part from the perceptions of inmates. These properties include the physical, organizational, social, and emotional characteristics of correctional institutions. Social climate directly influences the attitudes and behavior of inmates, their well-being, and prison management. The present study describes the results of an applied research project conducted in association with a government agency that audits Ohio’s prisons and youth facilities through site inspection visits and survey data. The agency’s questionnaires, as well as the procedures used to sample inmates and administer the instruments, were evaluated to determine the degree to which they accurately reflected the perceptions of inmates and the social climate of the correctional institutions. We identified several problems related to survey construction and administration. The results suggest that the surveys are at least to some degree not measuring several important dimensions of the correctional environment and the experiences of inmates as intended.
Racialization and the national body: (Re)defining selves and others in changing contexts of liberal democratic governance

This introduction argues that understanding the co-construction of race, language, and nation is essential to understanding liberal democratic governance in today's world. Using the theories and methods of raciolinguistics, we argue that voicing and resemiotization are important discursive processes that people use to reconstitute selves and Others in relation to liberal democratic ideas about national belonging. Specifically, we examine how racialized redefinitions of “the body” are central to how right and left-leaning groups alike (re)define nationhood, albeit for different ends. We foreground an intersectional, international approach to understanding the role of language in constructing race and vice versa as well as the role of social media in how differently positioned groups seek empowerment.
Single-Stage Duodenal Switch is Better than Two-Stage

Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD/DS) demonstrates the most effective weight loss and resolution of obesity-related comorbidities, but is technically demanding and potentially has high perioperative and long-term complications. A two-stage approach has been suggested to make the operation safer by reducing the complexity and technical challenge of the malabsorptive portion of the operation. Comparative data is limited, and current literature does not clearly suggest that a two-stage approach is superior with regards to weight loss or reducing morbidity. The traditional single-stage approach provides the advantages of reducing total time under general anesthesia, total hospital length of stay, and costs while maintaining excellent results even in high-risk patients with BMI ≥ 50 kg/m2.
How Technology Has Thrown Us Out of Balance with Nature and Why We Need to Get Back In

We have created a technology-based environment in an effort to control our world, but we need to understand that the biological forces that shaped us continue to play a role in our future. As more ...
Influence of Rail Transit on Development Patterns in the Mountain Mega-Region with a Surprise and Implications for Rail Transit and Land-Use Planning:

Between 2020 and 2050, all states comprising the Mountain Mega-Region (MMR—Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah) will be among the top 10 fastest growing U.S. states. They also have amon...
Diverse Approaches to Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation Have Equivalent Outcomes in Markers of Tissue Viability

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) is an accepted method of fertility preservation. However, OTC is not standardized and many variations exist in the freezing strategy, tissue processing, and surgical approach. In this pilot study, we used a sheep model to compare slow freezing versus vitrification techniques, as well as the feasibility of processing ovarian tissue into a hyaluronan suspension of small ovarian units. Twelve ovaries were harvested from six female ewes. Paired tissues from each animal were assigned to different treatments and underwent freezing, thawing, autotransplantation, and second-look surgery, for a total of 18 surgical procedures and 3 measured time points. Treatments included whole tissue strips versus gel suspension and slow freezing versus vitrification. At each of the time points, tissue viability was measured by immunohistochemical analysis of CD31 and cleaved caspase-3 (CCASP3). CD31 and CCASP3 expression levels were equivalent between slow freezing and vitrification, and between whole ovarian tissue strips and gel suspension of fragmented ovarian tissue, at all time points. These preliminary data using a sheep model suggest that ovarian tissue is robust and likely to be minimally affected by aggressive fragmentation using a hyaluronan suspension. Furthermore, we provide evidence in support of vitrification as a viable option in OTC. Hyaluronan suspension of ovarian cortical fragments is novel and may represent a desirable method for reimplantation of frozen-thawed ovarian tissue in patients where occult malignant cells are a concern.
New Life for Archaeological Collections: edited by Rebecca Allen and Ben Ford, Lincoln, University of Nebraska Press, 2019, xxxix, 408 pp., ill., maps, tables, index, $80.00 (cloth), IBSN:978-1-4962-1295-5; $80.00 (epub), IBSN:978-1-4962-1374-7; $80.00 (pdf), IBSN:978-1-4962-1376-1

New Life for Archaeological Collections is an edited volume that offers solutions to the ever-growing curation crisis in archaeology. The curation crisis refers to the accumulation of cultural mate...
Management of AL amyloidosis in 2021

Pallidini et al. in their review article ‘Management of AL Amyloidosis in 2020’ detail the therapeutic options for patients with this disorder [1]. These include a plethora of drugs, other agents, ...
Truth Commission Impact on Policy, Courts, and Society

This review surveys the philosophical underpinnings, conceptual frames, and methodological choices informing the scholarship on truth commission impact to examine whether, how, how much, and why tr...
Second Generation Immigrants Attitudes and Behavior under Multiculturalist Policies

Across immigrant-receiving democracies, “multiculturalism” has come under assault by political decision-makers and pundits. The academic debate, while less fiery, is also heated. We start by outlining the multiple meanings of “multiculturalism:” a term for demographic diversity; a political philosophy of equality or justice; a set of policies to recognize and accommodate ethno-racial and religious diversity; or a public discourse recognizing and valorizing pluralism. We then review the existing empirical literature and offer some new statistical analyses to assess what we know about the harm or benefits of multicultural policies, focusing in particular on socio-political outcomes. We conclude that multicultural policies appear to have some modest positive effects on socio-political integration for first generation immigrants, and likely little direct effect, positive or negative, on those in the second generation. On the question of majority backlash, the limited scholarship is mixed; we speculate that multiculturalism work best in places where both minorities and majority residents see it as part of a common national project. We end by considering the conditions under which this happens and whether there are distinctions between “Anglo-settler” and other countries.
Extraperitoneal Lymphadenectomy in the Management of Gynecologic Cancer

The role of lymphadenectomy in the management of gynecologic malignancies has evolved as we have come to better understand the limitations of our current diagnostic tests and treatment paradigms for node-positive disease. The optimal surgical approach to lymphadenectomy is one that minimizes operative morbidity, permits rapid postoperative recovery, and leads to prompt initiation of adjuvant therapy without compromising oncologic outcomes. Initially, node status was assessed using a transperitoneal approach by laparotomy. However, the high complication rate associated with this procedure, particularly in combination with extended field radiation, led to the development of extraperitoneal approaches to lymphadenectomy. With the innovation and refinement of minimally invasive surgery, the effectiveness of laparoscopic and robotic extraperitoneal lymphadenectomy has now been established. This review describes the execution of the various extraperitoneal approaches to lymphadenectomy in gynecologic oncology surgical practice. The data comparing the adequacy and sensitivity of these and transperitoneal approaches for the assessment of nodal involvement are also presented. Further, the unique advantages of and complications associated with the extraperitoneal lymphadenectomy are discussed. Lastly, this review will highlight what we have learned about the diagnostic and therapeutic value of lymphadenectomy in the management of gynecologic malignancies as the extraperitoneal approach has been critically evaluated over time. Presently, the first phase III randomized controlled trials investigating these endpoints with consideration given to the various approaches to lymphadenectomy are ongoing.
High Strain Rate Effects for Composite Materials

We have been developing the capability to characterize the high strain rate response of continuous fiber polymer composites. The data presented covers strain rates from 0/sec to 3000/sec. A combination of test machines and specimen geometries was investigated. Strain rates from 0--100/sec were generated using conventional and high speed hydraulic test machines. Strain rates from 10--1000/sec were generated using a high energy drop tower, and rates from 1000--3000/sec were generated using a split Hopkinson bar. Strain rates above 100/sec have only been generated for uniaxial compression. Our efforts have primarily focused on developing the high energy drop tower for these purposes. Specimen geometries for compression include tapered cubes, one inch tubes, and solid rods. For tension a smaller 0.5 in. diameter version of our 2.0 in. diameter multiaxial test specimen was developed and has been successfully used at strain rates up to 100 per second. Fixtures were also developed for performing high strain rate shear testing and through thickness penetration studies of composite plates. The objective of these experiments is to develop dynamic material models for use in finite element design tools. This presentation will focus on the methods and results obtained from this study.
Serum sickness. III. Characterization of antigens.

Abstract 1.1. Patients developing primary serum sickness following prophylactic administration of tetanus antitoxin may precipitate two antigenic components of horse serum. In agar electrophoresis one of these components has the migration rate of an alpha globulin; the other migrates as a gamma globulin. The alpha globulin antigenic fraction appears to be more important in the tanned cell hemagglutination reaction. 2.2. Commercially available "purified" antitoxins retain both of these antigens of whole horse serum. 3.3. Precipitation and gel precipitation studies indicate that most patients with primary serum disease react, primarily, if not entirely, to antigens other than the therapeutically active antitoxin.
Early stages of fatigue in copper single crystals

Abstract Abstract The dislocation sub-structure and surface markings formed during the early stages of fatigue in copper single crystals at room temperature were studied. For the first few cycles the structure is similar to that associated with stage I of tensile deformation. A three-dimensional network of interconnected veins packed tightly with mainly primary edge dislocations then develops. The scale of the structure decreases with increasing strain. The surface observations show that in the first few cycles long straight primary slip lines are formed, but later the new slip markings are fine and short, their length corresponding to the inter-obstacle distance. The merits of various proposed mechanisms for fatigue are discussed.
Effects of experimenter surveillance on reactive self-monitoring.

Abstract Two women with mild and moderate mental retardation self-monitored their work productivity with and without experimenter surveillance. For both subjects, reactive effects of self-monitoring were found without surveillance. However, reactivity was much greater when an observer was present while subjects self- monitored their work output. Reactive effects for one subject did not occur until she experienced surveillance in a previous experimental phase, suggesting that the history of surveillance established the reactivity of self-monitoring. Surveillance is viewed as a setting event that may be an important variable in achieving and maintaining benefits of self-management programs for persons with developmental disabilities.
The Four Pillars of Health Coaching: Preserving the Heart of a Movement

In this special themed issue of Global Advances in Health and Medicine and in articles published on the journal's website (www.gahmj.com), you will read all about this new and maturing approach to health behavior change and the social and cultural conditions in modern medicine that have called this practice into being. You will learn about its inception and history,1 the philosophic constructs of its application,2,3 and its proposed mechanism of action.4 There are multiple case reports5–7 and clinical studies8–10 expanding our scientific understanding of coaching in health and wellness and descriptions about how to educate professionals to provide this new service.11,12 A review of existing literature in the field demonstrates the rapidly growing reported demonstration of its impact.13 I believe coaching is poised to have a major transformative impact on health and healthcare internationally; it also is at risk of being usurped and thereby deformed by the power of the existing paradigm of Western disease care and reductionistic scientific thought. That is the issue I wish to raise: How do we ensure the integrity of this new approach so that it can serve as a bridge from a broken system to a new horizon of holistic health and well-being?
Trans-Unsaturated Fatty Acids In Human Skin Surface Lipids

Methyl esters of the fatty acids obtained by saponification of human skin surface lipids were subjected to thin-layer chromatography on silica gel-silver nitrate revealing the presence of trans-monounsaturated components constituting approximately 0.3% of the total fatty acids. The positions of unsaturation in the 18-carbon trans-unsaturated acids in 2 subjects resembled those present in the corresponding acids from margarine, although this was not a component of the diet of one of the subjects. Dietary origin is possible for these components, which could also arise from bacterial action in the pilosebaceous follicle.
Sisterhood and Sexuality: Attitudes about Homosexuality among Members of Historically Black Sororities

This research examines attitudes about homosexuality among members of historically black sororities. Drawing on 20 in-depth interviews, findings indicate that although most respondents were either completely accepting or somewhat accepting of gays and lesbians, and none were aggressive homophobes, homosexuality is typically not discussed within their sororities, and it can be difficult for a lesbian to be a member. The heterosexist nature of the sororities was attributed to the influence of conservative Christianity, the power wielded by socially conservative older members, and the construction of standards of femininity that exclude lesbians. However, all respondents noted that they knew or suspected that other sorority sisters were lesbians, but their acceptance in the organization was frequently premised on concealing their sexual orientation. The findings of this research suggest that characterizations of blacks as extremely homophobic are overly simplistic, yet black gays and lesbians continue to struggle for full acceptance in black organizations.
Subcompartmentalizing the Golgi apparatus

The subcompartmentalized structure of the Golgi apparatus contributes to efficient glycosylation in the secretory pathway. Subcompartmentalization driven by maturation relies primarily on constant and accurate vesicle-mediated local recycling of Golgi residents. The precision of this vesicle transport is dependent on the interplay between the key factors that mediate vesicle budding and fusion--the coat proteins and the SNARE fusion machinery. These alone, however, may not be sufficient to ensure establishment of compartments de novo, and additional regulatory mechanisms operate to modify their activity.
Computationally efficient analytic transformation from phase psd to intensity psf

A simple analytic form for the intensity point spread function is obtained in terms of the power spectral density function for the phase. Two fourier transforms are required to compute the psf from the psd (A third fourier transform is needed to give the fraction of the light in the core). The analytic form is an infinite sum of convolution integrals of increasing order in the psd function multiplied by the simple renormalization factor exp(-sigma^2), where sigma^2 is the two-dimensional integral of the psd in radians squared. Computationally, the psf is evaluated on a discrete grid in k x -k y space. This infinite sum can be evaluated at all pixels other than the zero frequency pixel by taking the two-dimensional complex fourier transform X of the psd, computing exp(X)-1, and then taking the inverse fourier transform. There is also a simple expression for the value at the zero spatial frequency pixel. Like the psd, the psf is smooth because the psf is an ensemble average over all realizations for the phase: Each realization of the phase gives an intensity speckle pattern in the focal plane. The psf is the ensemble average over all realizations. This transformation has been extensively tested for azimuthally symmetric phase psd functions by comparing the computed psf using the analytic transformation with the azimuthally averaged psf computed using a specific realization for the phase. The psd functions that were compared this way were all azimuthally symmetric, but the analytic transformation from psd to psf doesn't require this. The final result for the halo is equivalent to the result in Hardy 1 when the pupil is infinite. The derivation in this paper is simple and direct.
The Preparation and Tribological Properties of Graphite Fluoride

Solid phase method was adopted to prepare the graphite fluoride solid lubricant. The friction and wear properties of graphite fluoride were tested with MMW-1 vertical universal friction and wear testing machine. The phase of graphite fluoride was analyzed with infrared spectrometer. The morphology of friction surface was analyzed with the scanning electron microscope. The results show that graphite fluoride has an excellent antifriction wear-resisting property, to compare with molybdenum sulfide, the anti-friction property increased by 35%, wear resistance increased by 49%. The main wear mechanism of the test specimens are fatigue wear and adhesive wear. The solid lubrication film for graphite fluoride was formed in the friction surface.
Data crash apocalypse and global economic crisis

(1999). Data crash apocalypse and global economic crisis. Angelaki: Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 91-94.
Language, Culture and Disability: Implications for Instruction and Teacher Preparation:

In this article, I address some of the fundamental notions that must be explored to prepare urban special educators to serve today's students. To address the needs of a highly heterogeneous populat...
Managing your total IT cost of ownership

Though the TCO of end-user workstations can always be reduced by sacrificing end-user service, careful planning can reduce the costs without the sacrifice.
Enzymatic regulation of the concentration of cyclic GMP in mouse brain

Abstract There are marked differences in the concentration of cyclic GMP in various regions of mouse brain. For example, in cerebellum, the concentration of cyclic GMP is about ten times higher than that of cerebral cortex, corpus striatum, hippocampus or brain stem. In an attempt to determine the reason for this variation in cyclic GMP levels, the concentration of cyclic GMP and the activities of guanylate cyclase and cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase in several areas of mouse brain have been compared. Of the brain areas examined, the total guanylate cyclase activity found in whole homogenates was highest in the corpus striatum. Further studies showed that this enzyme is present in both the soluble and particulate fractions and that the ratio of the specific activities of guanylate cyclase between the soluble and particulate fractions varied with the brain area. Thus, in the corpus striatum, the specific activity of guanylate cyclase in the soluble fraction was about five times that of the particulate fraction. By contrast, in the hippocampus, the specific activity of the enzyme was similar in both fractions. The activity of cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase also varied with the brain area. The corpus striatum had the highest enzyme activity when measured either at low (2 μM) or high (200 μM) substrate concentrations; the cerebellum and brain stem had the lowest activities of phosphodiesterase. Cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase activity also was measured in the presence of the endogenous protein activator of phosphodiesterase and in the presence of EGTA, which prevents the calcium-dependent activation of the enzyme. These studies indicated that the corpus striatum and the brain stem had the highest, and the cerebellum, the lowest proportion of the activator-dependent form of phosphodiesterase. The results suggest that the activity of cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase is more important than that of guanylate cyclase in controlling the basal concentration of cyclic GMP in mouse brain. They also suggest that the high basal concentration of cyclic GMP in the cerebellum and the exaggerated increases in the nucleotide that occur in this tissue in response to various experimental manipulations may be due to a relatively low activity of cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase and, in particular, to a relatively low activity of the activator-dependent form of this enzyme.
Enhancement of the antiviral and interferon-inducing activities of poly r(A-U) by carminic acid

Experiments have been designed to systematically examine the effects of carminic acid (CAR) on the antiviral/interferon-inducing activity of poly r(A-U), using the human foreskin fibroblast-vesicular stomatitis virus bioassay system. Modulation of the antiviral/interferon-inducing activity of poly r(A-U) by carminic acid was examined at fixed poly r(A-U) concentrations of 0.05 mM or 0.2 mM while varying the carminic acid concentrations to produce variable CAR/ribonucleotide ratios ranging from 1:16 to 2:1. Carminic acid and poly r(A-U) were tested individually at the concentrations employed in the CAR/poly r(A-U) combinations. Neither the carminic acid alone nor poly r(A-U) alone were effective antiviral agents/interferon inducers. The antiviral/interferon-inducing activity of poly r(A-U) was potentiated twelve-fold at CAR/ribonucleotide ratios in the region of 1/6 to 1/4. These results suggest a synergism between the poly r(A-U) and the carminic acid at the concentrations employed in this study.
Physiological Significance and Expression of P450s in the Developing Eye

Expression of 10 CYP orthologs (Families 1-3) in developing mouse conceptus is constitutive. These forms have specific temporal and spatial expression. Studies on CYP1B1 indicate its requirement for normal eye development, both in human and mouse. The distribution of the enzyme in the mouse eye is in three regions, which may reflect three different, perhaps equally important, functions in this organ. Its presence in the inner ciliary and lens epithelia appears to be necessary for normal development of the trabecular meshwork and its function in regulating intraocular pressure. Its expression in the retinal ganglion and inner nuclear layers may reflect a role in maintenance of the visual cycle. Its expression in the corneal epithelium may indicate a function in metabolism of environmental xenobiotics.
Digitizing Frenchness in 2001: On a ‘Historic’ Moment in the French Cinema

Inexorably intertwined with American cinema, the digital French cinema has defined itself with and against its ever-present rival across the Atlantic. This article attempts to complicate what would be a predictable narrative of Americanization of French cinema, or the Gallicization of an American cinema by suggesting that at stake in this process is the historically rooted identity of Frenchness itself. It recalls that as the cinema has been one of the preeminent cultural activities of the French in terms of time and money spent, it is logically a privileged space in which to study the evolution of French culture and identity.1
Second-order-accurate explicit subcycling algorithm for unsteady heat conduction

An explicit subcycling algorithm that attains second-order temporal accuracy is presented for solving the semidiscrete equations of unsteady heat conduction. The algorithm is based on a nodal partitioning of an explicit, single-step method in which the second time derivatives of temperature are computed. All nodal temperatures are updated at each time step using an extension of the variable explicit time integration method developed by Mizu-kami. A time step restriction is derived that provides a sufficient condition for stability. Numerical results are presented that verify the improved accuracy of the subcycling scheme compared to the first-order accuracy obtained by other known explicit subcycling methods.
Vibrational analysis of alkyl bromides. IV. Branched-chain bromides: 1-bromo-2-methylalkanes and 3-bromomethylpentane

Abstract Infrared and Raman spectra were obtained for 1-bromo-2-methylpropane, 1-bromo-2-methylbutane, 1-bromo-2-methylpentane, and 3-bromomethylpentane. Each of these compounds exists as two or more rotational isomers. The propane crystallized in the PC conformation, but the other compounds did not crystallize. Vibrational assignments were made with the aid of normal coordinate calculations. A fifty-seven parameter modified valence force field was used and a least-squares refinement fit 128 frequencies of five conformers of the propane and butane with an average error of 4.4 cm−1. The force constants obtained were used in zero-order calculations for two additional conformers of the butane and five conformers of the two pentanes, with the average error being 4.5 cm−1 for the 221 assigned frequencies. The increase in CBr stretching frequency of the PH conformers from the normal value in alkyl bromides is attributed to the increased contribution of CC stretch and decreased contribution of the CBr stretch.
No DREAM, No Pain: Closing the Spinal Gate

Pain transmission in the spinal cord is regulated by a balance of facilitatory and inhibitory influences operating on the neural circuits of the somatosensory system. The transcriptional repressor DREAM acts constitutively to suppress prodynorphin expression in spinal cord neurons. Knocking out DREAM results in sufficient dynorphin expression to produce a strong reduction in generalized pain behavior, highlighting the role that intracellular molecules play in modulating pain gating in the spinal cord.
A View of Their Own: Women's Committee Leadership Styles and State Legislatures

Analysis of survey data from 291 state legislative committee chairs suggests that professionalization has important gender implications not previously explored. Legislatures are gendered in the sense that culturally masculine and feminine committee management styles are more at home in some legislatures than in others. “Citizen” legislatures seem to be more hospitable to “feminine” behaviors of inclusion and a motivation focused on people-oriented concerns. Professionalized legislatures–promoted in large part on the basis of a masculine vocabulary of independence, rationality, expertise, and competition with the executive–discourage inclusive or collegial committee strategies and public-minded motives. Professional legislatures may be positive environments in which to nurture policy leadership, but their committee leaders eschew public participation.
Metastable solid metallic hydrogen

Abstract Hydrogen reaches the mimimum electrical conductivity of a metal at 140 GPa (1.4Mbar), 0.6g cm−3 (ninefold compression of initial liquid-H2 density) and 3000 K in the fluid phase. The quest for metallic hydrogen over the past 100 years is reviewed briefly. Possible scientific and technological uses of metastable solid metallic hydrogen (MSMH) are speculated upon in the unlikely event that the metallic fluid can be quenched to MSMH at ambient pressure and temperature: a quantum, mostly diatomic, metallic solid with novel physical properties, including room-temperature superconductivity; a very light-weight structural material; a fuel, propellant, or explosive, depending on the rate of release of stored energy; a dense fuel for higher energy yields in inertial confinement fusion; and an aid in the synthesis of novel hard materials. Some of the formidable difficulties to synthesize MSMH are discussed.
Exocrine-to-endocrine differentiation is detectable only prior to birth in the uninjured mouse pancreas

Histological evidence suggests that insulin-producing beta (β)-cells arise in utero from duct-like structures of the fetal exocrine pancreas, and genetic lineage tracing studies indicate that they are maintained in the adult by self-renewal. These studies have not addressed the origin of the new β-cells that arise in large numbers shortly after birth, and contradictory lineage tracing results have been published regarding the differentiation potential of duct cells in this period. We established an independent approach to address this question directly. We generated mice in which duct and acinar cells, comprising the exocrine pancreas, can be genetically marked by virtue of their expressing the mucin gene Muc1. Using these mice, we performed time-specific lineage tracing to determine if these cells undergo endocrine transdifferentiation in vivo. We find that Muc1+ cells do give rise to β-cells and other islet cells in utero, providing formal proof that mature islets arise from embryonic duct structures. From birth onwards, Muc1 lineage-labeled cells are confined to the exocrine compartment, with no detectable contribution to islet cells. These results argue against a significant contribution by exocrine transdifferentiation to the normal postnatal expansion and maintenance of β-cell mass. Exocrine transdifferentiation has been proposed to occur during injury and regeneration, and our experimental model is suited to test this hypothesis in vivo.
Structure-Function Relationships of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Fatty Acid Synthase THREE-DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURE

Abstract The three-dimensional structure of the Saccharomyces cerevisie fatty acid synthase was computed from electron microscopy of stain images. The barrel-shaped structure (point group symmetry 32) has major and minor axes of ∼245 × 220 A, respectively, and consists of two different subunits organized in an α6β6 complex (Mr = 2.5 × 106). Two sets of three β subunits form triangle-shaped caps that enclose the ends of the barrel. The wall of the barrel appears to consist of three N-shaped α subunit pairs each with an over and underlying arch-shaped β subunit. Inside the molecule there are three major interconnected cavities that are tilted ∼20° with respect to its major axis. An axle-shaped structure extends the length of the cavity on the 3-fold axis and is connected to the two ends of the barrel. The cavities are partially divided on the equator of the molecule by three spokes that extend from the axle on the 2-fold axis to the exterior wall. We propose that these six cavities constitute the six equivalent sites of fatty acid synthesis resulting in an extraordinary structure-function relationship with the 42 catalytic sites involved in fatty acid synthesis inside the molecule. The six cavities each have two funnel-shaped openings (∼20 A in diameter) which may serve to permit the diffusion of substrates and products in and out of these functional units. The subunits appear to be arranged in a manner that affords extensive intermolecular interactions contributing to the stability of this macromolecular complex.
Impact of residual renal function in children on hemodialysis.

Residual renal function (RRF) contributes to dialysis adequacy as well as lower mortality and morbidity in dialysis patients. Even very small changes in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) account for considerable improvements in complications of dialysis. The purpose of this cross-sectional study is to determine the possible contribution of RRF to hemodialysis clearance and to compare the biochemical markers of this patient group with anuric patients. Ten patients with RRF on chronic hemodialysis for more than 6 months were enrolled in the study. Duration of dialysis was not different between the two patient populations. Average GFR was 3.4±2.6 ml/min in the group with RRF. Cholesterol, albumin, and triglyceride levels were not different between the groups. Residual renal urea clearance enhanced mean Kt/V of patients from 1.29 to 1.52. However erythropoietin and renin levels were higher in the group with RRF (P=0.019, P=0.044, respectively). There was a positive correlation between erythropoietin, renin levels, and average GFR of all patients (r=0.69, P=0.002, r=0.60, P=0.014). We conclude that RRF plays a greater role in pediatric patients on hemodialysis than previously recognized, and knowledge about patients’ RRF should assist in improved overall management.
Metabolism of aminoguanidine, diaminoguanidine, and NG-amino-L-arginine by neuronal NO-synthase and covalent alteration of the heme prosthetic group.

It is established that aminoguanidine (AG), diaminoguanidine (DAG), and N G -amino-L-arginine (NAA) are metabolism-based inactivators of the three major isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). In the case of neuronal NOS (nNOS), heme alteration is known to be a major cause of inactivation, although the exact mechanism by which this occurs is not well-understood. We show here by the use of LC/MS/MS techniques that AG, DAG, and NAA are metabolized by nNOS to products with corresponding mass ions at m/z of 45.2, 60.2, and 160.0, respectively. These results are consistent with the loss of a hydrazine moiety from each inactivator. These findings are confirmed by exact mass measurements and comparison to authentic standards in the case of the products for NAA and AG, respectively. Moreover, the major dissociable heme product that was formed during inactivation of nNOS by AG, DAG, and NAA had molecular ions at m/z 660.2, 675.2, and 775.3, respectively. These results are consistent with an adduct of heme and inactivator minus a hydrazine moiety. In support of this, MS/MS studies reveal a fragment ion of heme in each case. With the use of 1 4 C-labeled heme, we also show that in the case of AG, the dissociable heme adduct accounts for approximately one-half of the heme that is altered. In addition, we employ a software-based differential metabolic profiling method by subtracting LC/MS data sets derived from samples that contained nNOS from those that did not contain the enzyme to search for products and substrates in complex reaction mixtures. The metabolic profiling method established in this study can be used as a general tool to search for substrates and products of enzyme systems, including the drug-metabolizing liver microsomal P450 cytochromes. We propose that the metabolism-based inactivation of nNOS by AG, DAG, and NAA occurs through oxidative removal of the hydrazine group and the formation of a radical intermediate that forms stable products after H-atom abstraction or reacts with the heme prosthetic moiety and inactivates nNOS.
The new conservation debate: The view from practical ethics

In this paper we provide an analysis of the “new conservation debate,” a still-evolving dispute in which conservation scientists and advocates defending a strong protected-areas approach (“nature protectionists”) have become pitted against more development-oriented conservationists (“social conservationists”) intent on reforming the dominant protected areas model to embrace sustainable use and poverty alleviation efforts. We focus in particular on identifying and clarifying the divergent normative and descriptive claims made by the two camps in the debate, an activity that we suggest will improve communication and understanding among conservationists. We suggest that more explicit discussion of the value and ethical dimensions of this debate is needed, and describe efforts to reduce value conflict and harmonize ethical positions. We conclude with a discussion of emerging planning and policy models that may facilitate a convergence of values in the new conservation debate on a common policy of eco-social sustainability.
Evaluation of Statistical Inference on Empirical Resting State fMRI

Modern statistical inference techniques may be able to improve the sensitivity and specificity of resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) connectivity analysis through more realistic assumptions. In simulation, the advantages of such methods are readily demonstrable. However, quantitative empirical validation remains elusive in vivo as the true connectivity patterns are unknown and noise distributions are challenging to characterize, especially in ultra-high field (e.g., 7T fMRI). Though the physiological characteristics of the fMRI signal are difficult to replicate in controlled phantom studies, it is critical that the performance of statistical techniques be evaluated. The SIMulation EXtrapolation (SIMEX) method has enabled estimation of bias with asymptotically consistent estimators on empirical finite sample data by adding simulated noise . To avoid the requirement of accurate estimation of noise structure, the proposed quantitative evaluation approach leverages the theoretical core of SIMEX to study the properties of inference methods in the face of diminishing data (in contrast to increasing noise). The performance of ordinary and robust inference methods in simulation and empirical rs-fMRI are compared using the proposed quantitative evaluation approach. This study provides a simple, but powerful method for comparing a proxy for inference accuracy using empirical data.
New interpretation of the scalar product in Hilbert space

A new interpretation of the scalar product in Hilbert space was presented recently by Aharonov, Albert, and Au. Here the essential equivalence between such a view-point and Wigner's exact reformulation of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics using distribution functions is pointed out.
Three-dimensional structure of induced electrorheological solid

The induced electrorheological solid has thick columns in the field direction ({ital z} axis), spreading between two electrodes. The ground state is proposed to be a body-centered tetragonal lattice with {bold a}{sub 1}= {radical}6 {ital a}{bold {cflx x}}, {bold a}{sub 2}= {radical}6 {ital a}{bold {cflx y}}, and {bold a}{sub 3}=2{ital a}{bold {cflx z}}, where {ital a} is the radius of dielectric spheres. This bct lattice can be regarded as a compound of chains of class {ital A} and {ital B}, where chains {ital B} are obtained from chains {ital A} by shifting a distance {ital a} in the {ital z} direction.
GPU-based parallel collision detection for fast motion planning

We present parallel algorithms to accelerate collision queries for sample-based motion planning. Our approach is designed for current many-core GPUs and exploits data-parallelism and multi-threaded capabilities. In order to take advantage of the high number of cores, we present a clustering scheme and collision-packet traversal to perform efficient collision queries on multiple configurations simultaneously. Furthermore, we present a hierarchical traversal scheme that performs workload balancing for high parallel efficiency. We have implemented our algorithms on commodity NVIDIA GPUs using CUDA and can perform 500, 000 collision queries per second with our benchmarks, which is 10 times faster than prior GPU-based techniques. Moreover, we can compute collision-free paths for rigid and articulated models in less than 100 ms for many benchmarks, almost 50-100 times faster than current CPU-based PRM planners.
Generalized octahedra and cliques in intersection graphs of uniform hypergraphs

Abstract It is shown that k-uniform hypergraphs with m edges contain at most O (m 2k k ) maximal sets of pairwise intersecting hyperedges, and l -intersection graphs G = (V,E) of k-uniform hypergraphs contain O (∣V∣ 2(k−l+1) k−l+1 ) maximal cliques. In case l = k−2 , the result is improved to O (∣V∣∣E∣) . For every fixed k, the results imply polynomial-time algorithms for computing maximum sets of pairwise intersecting hyperedges in k-uniform hypergraphs, respectively maximal cliques in their intersection graphs.
A consistent test for conditional heteroskedasticity in time-series regression models

We show that the standard consistent test for testing the null of conditional homoskedasticity (against conditional heteroskedasticity) can be generalized to a time-series regression model with weakly dependent data and with generated regressors. The test statistic is shown to have an asymptotic normal distribution under the null hypothesis of conditional homoskedastic error. We also discuss extension of our test to the case of testing the null of a parametrically specified conditional variance. We advocate using a bootstrap method to overcome the issue of slow convergence of this test statistic to its limiting distribution.
Partial labyrinthectomy with hearing preservation: an experimental study in guinea pigs

Recent advances in neurotologic surgery have challenged the traditional belief that violating the labyrinth is incompatible with hearing. Our aim in this study was to define the conditions that result in hearing preservation and hearing loss after surgery on the labyrinth. A guinea pig model was developed. Click-evoked auditory brain stem responses were used to determine hearing thresholds. Animals underwent surgical destruction of part or all of the vestibular labyrinth. Transection and plugging of the lateral semicircular canal resulted in normal hearing. Transection of multiple semicircular canals also resulted in hearing preservation. Intentional suctioning of perilymph from a transected canal led to transient hearing loss with complete recovery. Sequential destruction of the entire lateral semicircular canal resulted in preserved hearing as long as the vestibule was not opened. Wide vestibulotomy resulted in hearing loss. Preliminary histologic studies showed that cochlear hair cells were preserved in most cases. The results of our experiments demonstrate the feasibility of preservation of hearing after partial labyrinthectomy and provide physiologic criteria for developing new operations on the inner ear in human subjects.
Leveraging diversity through employee resource groups in the USA: implications for human resource development practitioners in South Africa

Indigenous empirical data examining the role employee resource groups (ERGs) could play in South African organisations as a useful diversity management strategy is scant. This qualitative inquiry will define the US concept of ERGs, highlight the need for ERGs in South African organisations, examine the history of ERGs and the role ERGs play in four US organisations, along with its perceived benefits to those organisations. Implications for the field of HRD in South Africa are offered.