cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DEBTOR AND CREDITOR Garnishment Proceedings: Provide for Exemptions

The Act exempts certain individual retirement accounts from garnishment except under some conditions. The Act changes or repeals other provisions relating to the exemption from garnishment of certain pension, retirement or benefit programs.
The Imperial Visual Archive: Images, Evidence, and Knowledge in the Early Modern Hispanic World

This article examines the role of images as evidence and sources of knowledge in the early modern Hispanic world, arguing for the continued importance of visual epistemology as a technique for producing and circulating knowledge from the sixteenth through the eighteenth centuries. Visual materials played a central role in the production of knowledge, scientific and imperial, and served as key instruments for addressing the considerable challenges of distance and place posed by the geographical expanse of the empire. Historiographically, the article highlights the active generation of scientific knowledge in the Hispanic world and connects it to imperial and administrative practices; it highlights trans-regional channels of circulation, demonstrating the connected histories of the viceroyalties and peninsula and the multidirectional trajectories in which information and knowledge moved; and it points out deep connections between earlier and later colonial periods. Methodologically, the essay explores the p...
Exploiting resistive cross-point array for compact design of physical unclonable function

This work presents the optimized design of a physical unclonable function (PUF) primitive based on the cross-point resistive random access memory (RRAM) array. The randomness of the PUF comes from the resistance variation of RRAM cells in the array. A four-cell selection scheme is proposed to create a large number of challenge-response pairs necessary for achieving a high security level. To analyze the performance of the PUF with respect to uniqueness and reliability, the RRAM cross-point array is fabricated and the device parameters are calibrated from the experimental data. Our study shows that the RRAM PUF can function properly across a wide temperature range without degradation in the performance. However, IR drop due to the interconnect resistance in the array can potentially hamper the performance. To mitigate the effect of IR drop, a reverse scaling rule on the feature size (F) is proposed for RRAM PUF. While this increases the area of the RRAM PUF, it improves the PUF performance significantly. Compared to a conventional SRAM PUF in 45nm node, a RRAM PUF array size of 1024×1024 with relaxed F=200nm has −45% lower area, while offering better robustness against invasive and side-channel attacks.
The thermal decomposition of metal complexes—XIX: The deaquation and anation of cis- and trans-diaquobis(ethylenediamine)cobalt(III) complexes

The deaquation and anation of the cis- and trans-diaquobis(ethylenediamine)cobalt(III) complexes was studied by various thermoanalytical techniques. The cis- complexes evolved water in a single step while the trans- complexes deaquated by a two-step process. The stereoisomerism of the products of the above reactions was determined by means of reflectance spectroscopy. A relative order of thermal stability of the diaquo-complexes was determined.
Chlorine Oxygen Acids and Salts, Dichlorine Monoxide, Hypochlorous Acid, and Hypochlorites

The hydrolysis of chlorine gives rise to a pH-dependent complex system involving no less than six equilibria in which the oxidizing power of the parent element is preserved in hypochlorous acid, chlorine monoxide, and hypochlorite. The physical and chemical aspects of this unique family of compounds, including organic and other nonmetal hypochlorites, are outlined, their preparation and manufacturing processes are surveyed, and important uses are cited. Corrosion problems and potential hazards in handling and use of these compounds are also discussed. Hypochlorous acid is the active biocidal agent when hypochlorites are employed in disinfection and sanitation. It is an intermediate in the manufacture of hypochlorites, chloramines, and chlorohydrins. A process for production of HOCl in concentrations as high as 60% has recently been developed. The commercially important hypochlorites are Ca(OCl)2, NaOCl solution, LiOCl, chlorinated trisodium phosphate, and to a lesser extent hemibasic Ca(OCl)2 and bleaching powder. They are used primarily in sanitation and bleaching applications. Although the use of chloroisocyanurates in swimming pool sanitation is increasing, hypochlorites remain the dominant products in this area. The most important solid hypochlorite is Ca(OCl)2, which is marketed in partially hydrated form and to a lesser extent as an almost anhydrous product. Several new processes for its manufacture are described. Continued research interest involve use of hypochlorites for selective epoxidation, oxidation, and chlorination, and use of chlorine monoxide as a highly selective agent for aromatic ring and side chain chlorination. Keywords: Dichlorine monoxide; Hypochlorous acid; Hypochlorites; Germicidal properties; Hypochlorite solutions; Solid hypochlorites; Bleaching powder; Sodium dichloroisocyanurate; Sterilization
Insurgencies: Essay in Planning Theory

John Friedmann, London: Routledge, 2011, ISBN 978-0-415-78151-0 (hb), 978-0-415-78152-7 (pb) Insurgencies is a collection of ten reprints by John Friedmann, one of the most influential scholars in ...
Ceruloplasmin receptors of erythrocytes

Mammalian erythrocytes have been shown to bind 125I labeled ceruloplasmin. Binding was reversible and specific. Scatchard analysis yielded linear plots with a Kd of approximately 5nM. The binding site appeared to be a protein located on the cell surface. A ceruloplasmin binding protein with a molecular weight of 60,000 daltons was isolated from human erythrocytes. Erythrocytes which were not protected by ceruloplasmin's antioxidant properties, did not bind ceruloplasmin. Our results provide evidence for the presence of ceruloplasmin receptors in the erythrocyte membrane. It is proposed that the antioxidant activity of ceruloplasmin may play a role in determining the lifespan of circulating red cells.
Presumed Candida endogenous fungal endophthalmitis: a case report and literature review.

Abstract Background Endogenous fungal endophthalmitis (EFE) is a rare intraocular infection that has recently increased in incidence over the last few decades. The most common causative organism of endogenous endophthalmitis is Candida albicans. Treatment generally is initiated with an antifungal drug systemically and, depending on the ocular findings, may also include a vitrectomy with the injection of an intraocular antifungal agent. Specific predisposing factors may make a patient more at risk for development of an ocular infection. Case report We present a case of presumed Candida endogenous endophthalmitis in an 83-year-old white man with a Candida albicans urinary tract infection and describe the general characteristics, treatment, and management of this condition. Conclusion Endogenous fungal endophthalmitis is a potentially blinding condition that can signal an underlying systemic infection. Without a dilated fundus examination in the presence of ocular inflammation, the condition easily can be misdiagnosed. Fungal infection may lead to retinal and vitreal lesions that can be visually debilitating if left untreated. Prognosis for visual outcome is dependent on timely diagnosis and initiation of treatment.
Moonlighting House Officers

Moonlighting by house officers is a continuing problem. Despite the importance some attach to it, it has received little more than token consideration in recent years. A review of the Index Medicus...
The thermal conductivity of silver and aluminum in the temperature range 2–5 K

Precise measurements of the thermal conductivities of Ag and Al in the temperature range 2–5 K do not exhibit a dependence on the magnitude of the heat flux as has previously been reported. A description of the experimental technique and its advantages is presented.
Total Synthesis of Spinosyn A. 1. Enantioselective Construction of a Key Tricyclic Intermediate by a Multiple Configurational Inversion Scheme

The condensation of (+)-7,7-dimethoxynorbornen-2-one with the cerium reagent derived from enantiopure bromide (+)-11 gives rise to an exo carbinol, which readily undergoes highly stereocontrolled anionic oxy-Cope rearrangement. Conversion of the resulting ketone into 20 proceeds with clean epimerization at C-11 (spinosyn numbering) to properly set the absolute configuration at that site. Reduction of 20 with lithium in liquid ammonia serves to introduce two additional stereogenic centers of the perhydro-as-indacene core. In addition, the protocol makes possible the convenient incorporation of a functionalized two-carbon appendage at C-3 and ultimate generation of a cyclohexene double bond after stereochemical inversion at C-7. This scheme leads to 34, a tricyclic compound subsequently shown to be an advanced precursor to the powerful insecticide spinosyn A.
Future Trends: Computing as a Core Discipline

The future of computing is to be a core discipline. Nearly everything in computing is cross-cutting, not only over computing applications, but over society. Systems with significant Cyber and Physical components, such as advanced transportation, electric power transmission management, advanced sensing in agriculture, and social services. To realize this future, the discipline must not only embrace all aspects of computing applications and tools, from requirements to quality over the system life cycle but also the semantics of applications [1], including socio-economic aspects of design and decision making.
Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Bisphosphate Activates Slo3 Currents and Its Hydrolysis Underlies the Epidermal Growth Factor-induced Current Inhibition

The Slo3 gene encodes a high conductance potassium channel, which is activated by both voltage and intracellular alkalinization. Slo3 is specifically expressed in mammalian sperm cells, where it gives rise to pH-dependent outwardly rectifying K+ currents. Sperm Slo3 is the main current responsible for the capacitation-induced hyperpolarization, which is required for the ensuing acrosome reaction, an exocytotic process essential for fertilization. Here we show that in intact spermatozoa and in a heterologous expression system, the activation of Slo3 currents is regulated by phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2). Depletion of endogenous PIP2 in inside-out macropatches from Xenopus oocytes inhibited heterologously expressed Slo3 currents. Whole-cell recordings of sperm Slo3 currents or of Slo3 channels co-expressed in Xenopus oocytes with epidermal growth factor receptor, demonstrated that stimulation by epidermal growth factor (EGF) could inhibit channel activity in a PIP2-dependent manner. High concentrations of PIP2 in the patch pipette not only resulted in a strong increase in sperm Slo3 current density but also prevented the EGF-induced inhibition of this current. Mutation of positively charged residues involved in channel-PIP2 interactions enhanced the EGF-induced inhibition of Slo3 currents. Overall, our results suggest that PIP2 is an important regulator for Slo3 activation and that receptor-mediated hydrolysis of PIP2 leads to inhibition of Slo3 currents both in native and heterologous expression systems.
Community Context and Metropolitan Church Growth

A recurring issue in the urban literature is the degree to which individuals and institutions are influenced by their immediate environments. Church growth in Seattle-area churches is correlated with characteristics of the nearby area, such as spatial location, population composition, and social ties. Consistent with previous research, the "life cycle" stage of the surrounding neighborhood is an important predictor of growth but the social ties of the church to the nearby area also are important, including the church's duration at location and the localization of membership. The effects of the urban environment on growth are nearly as strong as church internal organizational characteristics.
EFFECTS OF HYDROPHILIC POLYMER ON THE SURVIVAL OF BUTTONWOOD SEEDLINGS GROWN UNDER DROUGHT STRESS

ABSTRACT The effect of 0.0 (control), 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6% of the hydrophilic polymer “Stockosorb K-400” hydrogel (HG) on survival and growth of buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus L.) seedlings grown in sandy soil under drought stress was investigated. The ability of the soil to retain water increased with increasing hydrogel concentrations. The highest level of the HG was capable of changing the typical sandy soil to a loam or even silty clay in terms of water potential and water content. The highest HG concentration prolonged the time of water loss from the soil by about 66% more than the control soil. During drought stress, the seedlings grown in 0.6% HG-mixed soil survived three times as long as those grown in the control soil. Shoot and root growth increased significantly in HG-amended soil as compared with non-amended soil. Plant water potential increased significantly with HG application, thus it aided in the establishment and growth of C. erectus seedlings under water stress conditions. There were ...
High volume rate, high resolution 3D plane wave imaging

3D plane-wave imaging systems can support the high volume acquisition rates that are essential for 3D vector flow imaging and sonoelastography but suffer from low resolution and low SNR. Coherent compounding is a technique to improve the image quality of plane-wave systems at the expense of significant increase in beamforming computational complexity. In this paper, we propose a new separable beamforming method for 3D plane-wave imaging with coherent compounding that has computational complexity comparable to that of a non-separable non-compounding baseline system. The new method with 9-fire-angle compounding helps improve average CNR from 1.6 to 2.2 and achieve a SNR increase of 9.0 dB compared to the baseline system. We also propose several enhancements to our beamforming accelerator, Sonic Millip3De, including additional SRAM arrays, configurable interconnect, and embedded DRAM. Overall, our system is capable of generating high resolution images at 1000 volumes per second.
Muramyl dipeptide mimicry in the regulation of murine macrophage activation by serotonin

Abstract Muramyl peptides (MPs) are regulators of macrophage function. That the activities of MPs may be mediated by serotonin (5-HT) is supported by earlier work that demonstrated specific binding sites for MPs on macrophages that competitively bind 5-HT. Both mediators were also shown to enhance the production of superoxide anion (an antibacterial agent) by these cells. We now report on two additional macrophage activation phenomena affected by 5-HT: phagocytosis and induction of tumor necrosis factorα (TNF) mRNA. Serotonin acts as a muramyl peptide-like agonist by increasing phagocytosis of tubercle bacilli by murine peritoneal macrophages, and as a partial agonist/antagonist in the induction of mRNA for tumor necrosis factor.These observations provide further evidence for a serotonergic involvement in some of the physiological responses to MPs.
Methodology for Quantitative Measurements of Multilayer Polymer Thin Films with IR Spectroscopic Ellipsometry

A new methodology to quantify the sensitivity and resolution of infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry (IRSE) measurements was developed for probing the depth profile of composition in thin polymer fi...
Plasma broadened line shapes and oscillator strengths of cesium

Abstract Theoretical line shapes and oscillator strengths for cesium are presented in this paper. These enable independent measurements of density and temperature for cesium plasma. The oscillator strengths have been determined from one electron wave functions that have been obtained by numerical solution of the Schrodinger equation with the spin-orbit term. A potential constructed by a semi-systematic improvement of the Hartree potential for Cs + was used. This single potential gives binding energies accurate to less than 1 per cent for all but the lower levels; the lower levels agree within 3 per cent. The validity of the wave functions is demonstrated by comparing with experiment calculated values of fine structure splitting, ground state hyperfine splitting, and principal series oscillator strengths. These wave functions are used to calculate oscillator strengths for over 100 transitions in or near the visible region. Definite improvements over other theoretical oscillator strengths are observed. Under equilibrium conditions these oscillator strengths in conjunction with measured line intensities enable a determination of plasma temperature. Plasma broadened line shapes of the fundamental series of cesium have also been calculated and compared with experiment (see preceding paper). Plasma conditions included in the calculations range from 10 3 to 10 4 K and 10 13 to 10 16 ions/cm 3 . The impact limit with the classical path approximation is used to calculate the electron contribution to broadening, while the ions are treated in the usual static limit. Only isolated lines have been considered. Graphs of the calculated width and shift versus ion density are presented. In view of the good agreement between calculated and experimental widths these plots can be used henceforth to determine ion density. Densities obtained in this manner are insensitive to temperature and accuracies of 20 per cent are possible.
Analysis of Triple Correlation Measurements

The formalism for the analysis of angular-correlation measurements of the radiative decay of aligned nuclei is expressed in a manner such as to simplify computational procedures involved in cases where several continuous parameters (multipolarity mixing ratios and population numbers or statistical tensors) and their error matrix must be determined from the experimental data. Two specific analysis procedures are presented. The discussion is based upon triple-correlation formulas which include the possibility of one or more intermediate unobserved radiations in multiple cascades. Parallel developments are presented in terms of population parameters and statistical tensors of the aligned states. It is shown that a statistical-tensor representation leads to a more elegant and convenient formulation for general multiple cascades.
Properties of catalase–peroxidase lacking its C-terminal domain

Catalase-peroxidases have a two-domain structure. The N-terminal domain contains the bifunctional active site, but the function of the C-terminal domain is unknown. We produced catalase-peroxidase containing only its N-terminal domain (KatG(Nterm)). Removal of the C-terminal domain did not result in unexpected changes in secondary structure as evaluated by CD, but KatG(Nterm) had neither catalase nor peroxidase activity. Partial recovery of both activities was achieved by incubating KatG(Nterm) with the separately expressed and isolated KatG C-terminal domain. Spectroscopic measurements revealed a shift in heme environment from a mixture of high-spin species (wtKatG) to exclusively hexacoordinate, low-spin (KatG(Nterm)). Moreover, a > 1000-fold lower kon for CN- binding was observed for KatG(Nterm). EPR spectra for KatG(Nterm) and the results of site-specific substitution of active site histidines suggested that the distal histidine was the sixth ligand. Thus, one important role for the C-terminal domain may be to support the architecture of the active site, preventing heme ligation by this catalytically essential residue.
Intact lipid rafts regulate HIV-1 Tat protein-induced activation of the Rho signaling and upregulation of P-glycoprotein in brain endothelial cells

The Rho signaling has an essential function in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1-mediated disruption of the integrity of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). However, it is unknown how membrane domains, such as lipid rafts, can influence HIV-1-mediated activation of the Rho pathway and how these processes can affect the expression of the efflux transporters at the BBB level. This study is focused on the function of HIV-1 protein Tat in activation of the Rho signaling and upregulation of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in human brain endothelial cells. Treatment with Tat markedly elevated GTP-RhoA levels and the potential downstream effectors, such as myosin phosphatase target subunit 1 and myosin light chain. In addition, Tat upregulated expression and promoter activity of P-gp as well as its efflux function. Inhibition of the Rho signaling cascade effectively blocked P-gp overexpression at the level of promoter activity. Disruption of lipid rafts by depletion of membrane cholesterol by methyl-beta-cyclodextrin, but not caveolin-1 silencing, also abolished Tat-mediated RhoA activation and P-gp upregulation. The present data indicate the critical function of intact lipid rafts and the Rho signaling in HIV-1-mediated upregulation of P-gp and potential development of drug resistance in brain endothelial cells.
Flow of Liquids Through "Collapsible" Tubes

Liquid flowing through a thin-walled "collapsible" tube similar to a vein, inclined to any angle between vertical and slightly above horizontal, differs from the flow in rigid tubes in that: a "collapsible" tube accepts any flow presented to it without affecting the rate of flow through the system; the lateral pressure at all cross sections throughout the tube is zero and does not change as the flow changes; the cross section of the tube and the mean velocity of flow increase as the flow increases; for any particular flow, the cross section increases and the mean velocity of flow diminishes as the potential energy difference between the upper and lower ends of the tube is decreased; for any given flow and potential energy difference, an increase in the length of the tube causes an increase in the cross section and a decrease in the mean velocity; also, an increase in the perimeter of the tube causes an increase in cross section and a decrease in mean velocity, and an increase in the viscosity of the liquid causes an increase in cross section and a reduction in mean velocity. In such tubes there is no lateral pressure gradient between any two cross sections as there is in rigid tubes; instead there is a potential energy gradient which is proportional to the energy loss along the tube. Under certain conditions the flow of liquid through a collapsible tube is described with a reasonable degree of accuracy by a modification of Poiseuille9s law for tubes of elliptical cross section.
Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 in the muscle flap with ischemic injury in rats.

Background Ischemia of muscle flaps is a significant problem in reconstructive surgery. Administration of either recombinant vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF) protein or gene transfers has been conducted to improve the survival of ischemic tissue. These biophysiological functions of VEGF are mediated through its receptor. In this study the changes of expression in VEGF receptor mRNA in muscle flaps with acute ischemia were examined in a rat gracilis muscle flap model. Materials and methods Twenty-four Sprague Dawley rats were used. The ischemia of the flap was induced by clamping its vascular pedicle. At 3-, 6-, and 18-h intervals, the flaps were biopsied for histology and examination of VEGFR-2 mRNA gene expression. The muscle flap without ischemia was used as the control. Results The results showed that the VEGFR-2 mRNA level was significantly increased 3 h after ischemia was induced and then attenuated to the baseline at 6 and 18 h ischemia. Conclusions This study delineated the changes in expression of VEGFR-2 receptor in muscle flap in several postischemic intervals and provided a timeframe for the clinical application of VEGF.
Frontal sinus obliteration using a laterally based pedicled pericranial flap.

Objective: Fractures of the frontal sinus represent one of the more uncommon injuries of the maxillofacial skeleton. In an effort to avoid potential mucocele formation, frontal sinus obliteration has been put forward as the treatment of choice when there has been significant disruption of normal frontal sinus drainage. Traditionally, sinus obliteration has been accomplished with nonvascularized free adipose tissue or bone grafts and a variety of alloplastic materials. We developed a laterally based pedicled pericranial flap to accomplish frontal sinus obliteration. Study Design/Methods: A total of 10 consecutive patients underwent obliteration of the frontal sinus with a vascularized, pedicled, laterally based pericranial flap. The patients were clinically followed prospectively to ascertain whether any adverse effects could be detected. Results: With a follow-up ranging from 6 months to 2 years, we have observed no adverse effects in any of the patients in whom this procedure was performed. Conclusions: Based on our preliminary results, we believe that the laterally based pedicled pericranial flap appears to provide readily available vascularized tissue, with no distant donor morbidity. It represents an inexpensive, safe, and effective modality that should be considered when treating this type of injury.
Risk for hospital readmission following bariatric surgery

Background and Objectives Complications resulting in hospital readmission are important concerns for those considering bariatric surgery, yet present understanding of the risk for these events is limited to a small number of patient factors. We sought to identify demographic characteristics, concomitant morbidities, and perioperative factors associated with hospital readmission following bariatric surgery. Methods We report on a prospective observational study of 24,662 patients undergoing primary RYGB and 26,002 patients undergoing primary AGB at 249 and 317 Bariatric Surgery Centers of Excellence (BSCOE), respectively, in the United States from January 2007 to August 2009. Data were collected using standardized assessments of demographic factors and comorbidities, as well as longitudinal records of hospital readmissions, complications, and mortality. Results The readmission rate was 5.8% for RYGB and 1.2% for AGB patients 30 days after discharge. The greatest predictors for readmission following RYGB were prolonged length of stay (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.0–2.7), open surgery (OR, 1.8; CI, 1.4–2.2), and pseudotumor cerebri (OR, 1.6; CI, 1.1–2.4). Prolonged length of stay (OR, 2.3; CI, 1.6–3.3), history of deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism (OR, 2.1; CI, 1.3–3.3), asthma (OR, 1.5; CI, 1.1–2.1), and obstructive sleep apnea (OR, 1.5; CI, 1.1–1.9) were associated with the greatest increases in readmission risk for AGB. The 30-day mortality rate was 0.14% for RYGB and 0.02% for AGB. Conclusion Readmission rates are low and mortality is very rare following bariatric surgery, but risk for both is significantly higher after RYGB. Predictors of readmission were disparate for the two procedures. Results do not support excluding patients with certain comorbidities since any reductions in overall readmission rates would be very small on the absolute risk scale. Future research should evaluate the efficacy of post-surgical managed care plans for patients at higher risk for readmission and adverse events.
Duke storage ring FEL program

The Duke storage ring driven FEL scientific program is reviewed. The lattice design for Duke storage ring is described.
Chromatin Modifications Sequentially Enhance ErbB2 Expression in ErbB2-Positive Breast Cancers

ErbB2 gene amplification occurs in 20%-25% of breast cancers, and its therapeutic targeting has markedly improved survival of patients with breast cancer in the adjuvant setting. However, resistance to these therapies can develop. Because epigenetic mechanisms can importantly influence oncogene expression and be druggable as well, we investigated histone modifications that influence ErbB2 overexpression, independent of gene amplification. We demonstrate here that ErbB2-overexpressing breast carcinomas acquire the H3K4me3 mark on the erbB2 promoter and that receptor-amplified tumors further acquire the H3K9ac mark, which is dependent on H3K4me3 mark acquisition. Targeting WD repeat domain 5 (Wdr5), which is absolutely required for H3K4me3 enrichment, decreased ErbB2 overexpression, associated with a decrease in the H3K4me3 mark on the erbB2 promoter. Of note, Wdr5 silencing cooperated with trastuzumab or chemotherapy in specifically inhibiting the growth of ErbB2-positive breast tumor cells. Thus, our studies illuminate epigenetic steps in the selection for ErbB2 activation.
Chronic mercury vapor poisoning of aphids

Exposure of green peach aphids,Myzus persicae (Sulz.), to an atmosphere containing mercury vapor resulted in a curtailment ofembryogenesis and larviposition by adults, and in the development by larvae and adults of a cuticular darkening of their legs, head capsule, antennae, cornicles and cauda. Mortality of affected larvae resulted from molting difficulties, particularly by last-instar alatiform female and male larvae. Greenbugs,Schizaphis graminum (Rond.), and pea aphids,Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harr.), responded to mercury vapor exposure in similar ways.
Building Liveable Communities

(1998). Building Liveable Communities. Journal of the Community Development Society: Vol. 29, No. 2, pp. 298-305.
Politics, Policy, and Organizations: Frontiers in the Scientific Study of Bureaucracy

Politics, Policy, and Organizations: Frontiers in the Scientific Study of Bureaucracy. Edited by George A. Krause and Kenneth J. Meier. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2004. 352p. $65.00 cloth, $24.95 paper. In this important book, coeditors George A. Krause and Kenneth J. Meier, along with their chapter authors, make a strong case for a theoretically informed and empirically advanced social science study of government bureaucracies. Although other social science disciplines have been rigorously studying public and private organizations for some time, the study of government bureaucracies has had a somewhat marginal position in political science. The current cadre of political scientists “scientifically” studying the bureaucracy, including many of the contributors to this volume, attests to the growing prominence of this subject in the discipline.
Système Internationale: The Use of SI Units in Plant Physiology

Summary The article discusses the International System of Units, presenting tables of the units and the rules that govern their use. It is designed to be a reference source for authors, especially of Journal of Plant Physiology. Special attention is given to the units and rules that are most commonly misused.
Modelling of Diving Apparatus Breathing Loop Ventilation

The article is based on hypothesis that it is possible to establish the adequate joined mathematical model for ventilation of breathing space (for assessing of artificial breathing mixture real composition) and human decompression after breathing artificial hyperbaric atmosphere. In the effect of establishing mathematical model give the chance to understand gas exchange in human body exposed to pressure. It makes possible to plane extreme hyperbaric expositions (e.g. military special operations) and stimulates progress in the field of anaesthesiology. There is presented scientific project proposal.
Enhancing the performance of planar organo-lead halide perovskite solar cells by using a mixed halide source

Cl incorporation has been reported to be able to significantly increase the diffusion length of carriers in organo-lead halide perovskite thin films. However, due to the low solubility of PbCl2, Cl incorporation has been rarely reported in a two-step process, which is capable of producing uniform organo-lead halide perovskite thin films. In this letter, we report a novel growth method that combines the two-step process and Cl incorporation. The Cl-incorporated organo-lead halide perovskite solar cell made from a two-step process demonstrated a power conversion efficiency of 10.5%, which is 27% higher than that without Cl incorporation. Further investigation was performed to explore the fundamentals of the enhancement. Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) measurement revealed a larger band bending at grain boundaries with Cl incorporation, which brings the Fermi level of the bulk perovskite thin film closer to the center of the bandgap. As a result, a p–i–n type of junction is formed in the devices with Cl incorporation, which facilitates the charge carrier collection. Additional carrier lifetime measurements indicate that the electron lifetime in the perovskite thin film with Cl incorporation is longer, indicating reduced recombination in the devices with Cl incorporation.
General considerations in designing a drug-eluting contact lens

Ophthalmologists are generally limited to three options in delivering drugs to the eye while minimizing systemic side effects: drops (solutions or suspensions), ointments or injections. Injections ...
Critical behavior of the magnetization of a d=3 random-field Ising system

Optical Faraday rotation was used to measure the uniform "dc" magnetization $M$ versus $T$ in the random-field Ising model (RFIM) system ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{0.47}$${\mathrm{Zn}}_{0.53}$${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$ in fields $0.2\ensuremath{\le}H\ensuremath{\le}1.9$ T. Both ${(\frac{\ensuremath{\delta}M}{\ensuremath{\delta}T})}_{H}$ and ${(\frac{\ensuremath{\delta}M}{\ensuremath{\delta}H})}_{T}$ diverge as ${H}^{y}\mathrm{ln}|t|$, as does the specific heat. Significantly different amplitude exponents were measured, $y\ensuremath{\sim}0.6 \mathrm{and} 1.0$, respectively, confirming scaling-theory predictions. The observed rounding of the phase transition below $|t|\ensuremath{\sim}1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$, at $H=1.0$ T, results from extreme slowing down of the RFIM critical fluctuations consistent with extrapolating ${\ensuremath{\chi}}^{\ensuremath{'}}(\ensuremath{\omega})$ studies to a measurement time scale $\ensuremath{\tau}=\frac{1}{\ensuremath{\omega}}\ensuremath{\sim}100$ s.
A G-quadruplex-containing RNA activates fluorescence in a GFP-like fluorophore.

Spinach is an in vitro selected RNA aptamer that binds a GFP-like ligand and activates its green fluorescence.Spinach is thus an RNA analog of GFP, and has potentially widespread applications for in vivo labeling and imaging. We used antibody-assisted crystallography to determine the structures of Spinach both with and without bound fluorophore at 2.2 and 2.4 A resolution, respectively. Spinach RNA has an elongated structure containing two helical domains separated by an internal bulge that folds into a G-quadruplex motif of unusual topology. The G-quadruplex motif and adjacent nucleotides comprise a partially pre-formed binding site for the fluorophore.The fluorophore binds in a planar conformation and makes extensive aromatic stacking and hydrogen bond interactions with the RNA. Our findings provide a foundation for structure-based engineering of new fluorophore-binding RNA aptamers.
A reliable method for the preparation of bovine secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) which circumvents problems posed by IgG1 dimers in colostrum.

Abstract Quantitative data are presented which show that the IgA-rich fraction of bovine colostrum contains large amounts of dimeric IgG1. The IgG1 and IgA dimers are incompletely resolved by chromatography in 1 M NaCl on Sepharose 6B columns, 300cm in length, by DEAE-chromatography or by differential ZnSO4 solubility. Contamination of IgA by IgG1 may be as high as 65% even after ion-exchange chromatography. This contamination can be substantially reduced by the property of this IgG1 to bind Protein-A while most IgA does not. These colostral IgG-dimers are only partially deaggregated by treatment with 1% SDS. Bronchio-alveolar washings (BAW) from slaughterhouse animals contains 10% IgA protein; slightly less than the combined total of IgG2 and IgG1. Furthermore, BAW prepared in the manner we describe lacks IgG1 dimers, free secretory component and is relatively free of mucus. Highly purified IgA can be obtained from BAW by a three step method involving the removal of contaminating α2-macroglobulin by ZnSO4 precipitation. IgA prepared in this manner is heterogeneous in its content of secretory component but free of contamination when assayed by a battery of immunochemical techniques, by ultracentrifugation, SDS-PAGE electrophoresis and by its immunogenicity in rabbits. Data on the physicochemical characteristics of this purified IgA as well as its unique association with mucus are presented.
Tijuana-San Diego: Globalization and the transborder metropolis

This paper explores the degree to which the Tijuana-San Diego metropolitan region functions as a transborder metropolis. It is shown that the border is quite porous, especially for work and shopping. In addition, the two metropolitan economies are much more complementary than competitive, with San Diego specializing in high-order services and the “new economy” while Tijuana primarily functions as a manufacturing center, based on maquiladora. However, much more cooperation and collaboration are needed in several areas: improving trade infrastructure; addressing the deficits in social infrastructure (especially in Tijuana); making the border crossings more user-friendly; expanding educational opportunities for Latinos in both areas; more priority to environmental problems, especially air quality and sewerage; attempting to reduce the public sector fiscal differentials between the two areas; and more attention to income distribution issues.
Severe respiratory syncytial virus infection in term infants with genetic or other underlying disorders.

To the Editor. — We read with interest the recent report by Bloemers et al,1 which showed that infants with Down syndrome are at higher risk for severe lower respiratory tract infection caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) compared with healthy controls. Their study raises an important question about the need for RSV prophylaxis for infants with chromosomal or congenital abnormalities. We tried to characterize possible risk factors that lead to severe RSV infection in …
Modulation of acetylcholine receptor in rat diaphragm by anti-receptor sera.

ANIMALS immunised with purified acetylcholine (ACh) receptor develop a muscular weakness much like that found in the human disease, myasthenia gravis1. This discovery led to the demonstration that myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease involving the production of antibodies against skeletal muscle ACh receptor2–5. Endplates from myasthenic patients have reduced miniature endplate potentials6, are less sensitive to ACh7,8 and have decreased amounts of ACh receptor9–11, much of which is bound by antibody10,12. In addition, there are substantial alterations in the ultrastructure of the synapse which may contribute to a loss in synaptic function11. We have previously demonstrated that sera from myasthenic patients reduce the ACh sensitivity of human skeletal muscle growing in tissue culture13. Our experiments demonstrated that this reduction in ACh sensitivity is due to two processes; an inactivation of ACh receptor function by antibody binding14 and a decrease in ACh receptor density resulting from an antibody-induced increase in the rate of ACh receptor degradation14–16. The stimulation of ACh receptor degradation by antibody is energy and temperature dependent14 and is similar to the phenomenon of antigenic modulation found in other systems17–19. Our previous experiments apply only to the ACh receptor found on muscle grown in tissue culture, a receptor which is presumably analogous to extrajunctional ACh receptor found in denervated muscle in vivo. Here we demonstrate that anti-receptor antiserum increases the rate of ACh receptor degradation in innervated as well as in denervated rat diaphragms maintained in organ culture.
Surface expression of lactoferrin by resting neutrophils.

We examined the surface expression of lactoferrin by human neutrophils. Western blot analysis with anti-lactoferrin antibodies demonstrated the presence of a 78- to 79-kDa band in plasma membranes isolated from resting neutrophils that corresponded to the 78- to 79-kDa protein in neutrophil secondary granules. Flow cytometry using FITC-conjugated anti-lactoferrin antibodies confirmed that lactoferrin is expressed on the neutrophil surface. Preincubating the neutrophils in acidic (pH 3.9) buffer did not alter staining of the cells by the antibodies. Surface expression of lactoferrin was also detected on neutrophils in whole blood. Neutrophil activation by C5a or the calcium ionophore A23187 did not increase the surface expression of lactoferrin. Instead, the level of lactoferrin expression detected with one of two monoclonal antibodies was diminished after neutrophil activation, suggesting a possible conformational change in the lactoferrin. The surface-expressed lactoferrin may provide a mechanism for the interaction between lactoferrin-binding microorganisms and neutrophils.
Evaluation of medical and veterinary students' attitudes toward a one health interprofessional curricular exercise.

AbstractThis study evaluates whether medical and veterinary students’ attitudes toward “One Health” and interprofessional education changed after participating in a joint small group learning exercise focused on risk factors associated with zoonotic disease. A survey was distributed to third-year medical students (n = 98) and second-year veterinary students (n = 140), each with a 95% response rate. Overall, 92% of veterinary students and 73% of medical students agreed or strongly agreed that “One Health” was relevant to their desired specialty. Students from both schools largely agreed that interprofessional education should be a goal of the curriculum for their school, and that interprofessional approaches strengthen their overall education. Students reported increased confidence in their communication skills and improved ability to contribute to One Health collaborative teams. This educational intervention, built around a patient case, focused on a variety of learning objectives including skills (such a...
An evaluation of risk methods for prioritizing fire protection features: a procedure for fire barrier penetration seals

This paper generally evaluates risk methods available for prioritizing fire protection features. Risk methods involving both the use of qualitative insights, and quantitative results from a fire probabilistic risk analysis are reviewed. The applicability of these methods to develop a prioritized list of fire barrier penetration seals in a plant based on risk significance is presented as a procedure to illustrate the benefits of the methods. The paper concludes that current fire risk assessment methods can be confidently used to prioritize plant fire protection features, specifically fire barrier penetration seals. Simple prioritization schemes, using qualitative assessments and insights from fire PRA methodology may be implemented without the need for quantitative results. More elaborate prioritization schemes that allow further refinements to the categorization process may be implemented using the quantitative results of the screening processes in good fire PRAs. The use of the quantitative results from good fire PRAs provide several benefits for risk prioritization of fire protection features at plants, mainly from the plant systems analyses conducted for a fire PRA.
Long-term patterns in leaf breakdown in streams in response to watershed logging

The watershed of Big Hurricane Branch, Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory, North Carolina, USA, was logged in 1976. We measured breakdown rates of experimental leaf packs in this second-order stream prior to logging, during logging, soon after logging, and 3 additional times since then. Leaf breakdown was slow just after logging, apparently due to leaf burial by sediments. Thereafter, leaf breakdown rates have been consistently faster than before logging and faster than in a reference stream. These differences may be related to 3 factors. First, the post-logging nitrate concentration has been about 3–10 times higher than pre-logging values in Big Hurricane Branch and 5 times higher than in a reference stream. The high nutrient concentration may be stimulating microbial decomposition processes in leaf packs. Second, dominance of litterfall by “medium” and “fast” processing leaves from the recovering forest coupled with relatively high sediment loads during storms may hasten breakdown through physical abrasion. Third, the interaction of high nutrients and high quality leaves may be attractive to leaf-shredding invertebrates whose feeding activities may also hasten the breakdown rates.
Scientific Results from the FIRST Instrument Deployment to Cerro Toco, Chile and from the Flight of the INFLAME Instrument

Results from the FIRST and INFLAME infrared Fourier Transform Spectrometers are presented. These are comprehensive measurements of the far-IR spectrum (FIRST) and the net infrared fluxes within the atmosphere (INFLAME).
Urine concentration and avian aquaporin water channels

Although birds and mammals have evolved from primitive tetrapods and advanced divergently, both can conserve water by producing hyperosmotic urine. Unique aspects in the avian system include the presence of loopless and looped nephrons, lack of the thin ascending limb of Henle's loop, a corticomedullary osmotic gradient primarily consisting of NaCl without contribution of urea, and significant postrenal modification of final urine. The countercurrent multiplier mechanism operates between the descending and ascending limbs of Henle via recycling of a single solute (NaCl) with no water accompaniment, forming an osmotic gradient along the medullary cone. Bird kidneys and developing rat kidneys share morphological and functional characteristics. Avian kidneys express aquaporin (AQP) 1, 2, and 4 homologues that share considerable homology with mammalian counterparts, but their distribution and function may not be the same. AQP2 expression in Japanese quail (q) evolves in the collecting duct of early metanephric kidneys and continues to increase in intensity and distribution during nephrogenesis and maturation. qAQP2 mRNA and protein are increased by arginine vasotocin (avian ADH), but vasotocin-induced enhancement of cAMP production and water permeability are less marked than in mammalian kidneys. Nephrogenesis is delayed by insufficient nutrition in avian embryos and newborns and results in fewer nephrons and an impaired water balance in adults. Diabetes insipidus quail with homozygous autosomal recessive mutation and an unaffected vasotocin system have low AQP2 expression, underdeveloped medullary cones. Comparative studies will provide important insight into integrative, cellular, and molecular mechanisms of epithelial water transport and its control by humoral, neural, and hemodynamic mechanisms.
Some Physical and Chemical Properties of Desiccated Stomach

SummaryA water extract of desiccated hog stomach acidified to pH 4.5 is active in the treatment of pernicious anemia. The hematopoietically active substance does not pass through the ultra-filter and is stable toward alkali. Stomach extracts inactivated by heat do not regenerate their hematopoietic activity by treatment with pepsin. An acid extract contains 2 factors, one heat-stable and the other heat-labile, both of which are necessary for the production of a reticulocyte response in a patient with pernicious anemia. An acid extract incubated for 8 hours produces a hematopoietically active substance which is soluble in 70% alcohol and which resists a temperature of 60°-65°C. for 30 minutes, but not a boiling temperature. Incubation in this manner produces a substance which is not so heat-stable as the anti-anemic principle in liver but which may be an intermediate product more heat-stable than the original stomach fractions.