cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measuring displacement gradients and strains in faulted rocks

Abstract In homogeneous deformations, spatial gradients of the displacement field are constant and related to strain parameters by straightforward algebraic relationships. Deformations which are inhomogeneous (displacement gradients values are not constant) when viewed at one scale may be statistically homogeneous (have approximately constant displacement gradients) when viewed at a smaller scale. From average values of the displacement gradients in a statistically homogeneous deformation, one can calculate bulk strains. Displacement diagrams provide a way to determine the displacements of material points at different positions within inhomogeneously deformed media. From these data, one may measure mean values of the displacement gradients for the deformation, and if the gradients are approximately constant, calculate bulk strains. This strain measurement technique yields reasonable strain values. Strain values from a natural fault array in the Tennessee Appalachians (U.S.A.) differ slightly from values reported earlier, but still conform with kinematic indicators in those deformed rocks.
Improving Sexually Transmitted Infection Results Notification via Mobile Phone Technology

Purpose To improve adolescent notification of positive sexually transmitted infection (STI) tests using mobile phone technology and STI information cards.
The discovery of labile methyl esters on proliferating cell nuclear antigen by MS/MS

The post-translational modification of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) has been implicated in modulating its function for over 20 years. With multiple interacting partners, PCNA is involved in processes ranging from DNA replication and repair to cell cycle control and apoptosis. The ability of PCNA to distinguish between specific binding partners in different tasks is currently of intense interest, and several post-translational modifications have been reported to modulate its function. Unfortunately, these reports have produced contradictory information on the type(s) of modification present on the molecule. Here we report a detailed structural analysis of a single acidic PCNA isoform, cancer-specific polyferating nuclear anitgen (csPCNA), isolated from breast cancer cells by 2D-PAGE and LC-MS/MS. With this approach we fully characterized the csPCNA isoform and confidently identified a single post-translational modification, methyl esterification. Interestingly, the methyl esters consistently localized to 15 specific glutamic and aspartic acid residues of csPCNA. The methyl esterification of csPCNA represents a novel type of post-translational modification in mammalian cells that could ultimately hold the key towards unlocking its diverse functions.
Soil microbial biomass and activity in tropical riparian forests

Abstract A large body of work has demonstrated that riparian ecosystems play a critical role regulating interactions between terrestrial and aquatic components of temperate zone landscapes. However, there have been relatively few studies of the role of riparian forests in tropical landscapes. There is a strong need to evaluate the effects of conversion of these forests to pasture and residential land uses on their ability to prevent the movement of nutrients and other pollutants to coastal water bodies. The objectives of this study were (1) to measure a suite of microbial properties that are indicators of the ability of soils to attenuate pollutants and cycle nitrogen (N) in tropical riparian forests under different land use management and (2) to evaluate the effects of conversion of two types of tropical forested wetlands (cativo, Prioria copaifera and yolillo, Raphia taedigera) on this same suite of soil microbial variables. To accomplish objective #1, we measured these variables in surface soils in intact forest, disturbed forest, pasture and residential land use sites in two locations in the Atlantic Zone of Costa Rica. For objective #2 we measured these variables in surface soils of three replicate intact and converted cativo and yolillo forests. Results suggest that land use conversion does not decrease levels of microbial biomass and activity in these soils. Intact forest sites did not have higher levels of microbial biomass and activity than ‘disturbed sites.’ In several cases, levels of these variables were consistently lower in intact forest than disturbed sites. There were no statistically significant differences between intact and converted cativo and yolillo sites. The relatively low level of activity in the intact sites is likely a ‘succession effect’, where the disturbed sites have younger, more actively growing vegetation that supplies more readily available organic matter to the soil microbial community. High correlations between soil organic matter and microbial biomass and activity strongly support this ‘successional’ explanation of our results.
Topology optimization of lightweight periodic lattices under simultaneous compressive and shear stiffness constraints

Abstract This paper investigates the optimal architecture of planar micro lattice materials for minimum weight under simultaneous axial and shear stiffness constraints. A well-established structural topology optimization approach is used, where the unit cell is composed of a network of beam elements (Timoshenko beams are used instead of truss elements to allow modeling of bending-dominated architectures); starting from a dense unit cell initial mesh, the algorithm progressively eliminates inefficient elements and resizes the essential load-bearing elements, finally converging to an optimal unit cell architecture. This architecture is repeated in both directions to generate the infinite lattice. Hollow circular cross-sections are assumed for all elements, although the shape of the cross-section has minimal effect on most optimal topologies under the linear elasticity assumption made throughout this work. As optimal designs identified by structural topology optimization algorithms are strongly dependent on initial conditions, a careful analysis of the effect of mesh connectivity, unit cell aspect ratio and mesh density is conducted. This study identifies hierarchical lattices that are significantly more efficient than any isotropic lattice (including the widely studied triangular, hexagonal and Kagome lattices) for a wide range of axial and shear stiffness combinations. As isotropy is not always a design requirement (particularly in the context of sandwich core design, where shear stiffness is generally more important than compressive stiffness), these optimal architectures can outperform any established topology. Extension to 3D lattices is straightforward.
THE SUNY-X21B BEAMLINE AT NSLS - SPECTROSCOPY AND VERSATILE SURFACE SCIENCE FACILITY

Abstract We present preliminary results of surface X-ray diffraction, X-ray standing wave spectroscopy, surface sensitive X-ray standing wave spectroscopy, and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy measurements, obtained during the recent initial operation of the X21B beamline. The special design considerations regarding restrictions in space, optical layout and personnel safety system are discussed. We describe details of the UHV surface chamber on the X21B beamline and its broad range of surface analysis instrumentation and unique sample handling, preparation, and signal detection equipment.
BINDING OF PENTAAMMINERUTHENIUM(III) TO DOUBLE-HELICAL AND SINGLE-STRANDED DNA

Aufgrund der in vitro biochemischen Bedeutung wird die Wechselwirkung eines oktaedrischen Metallionsmamlich (NH3)5Ru(OH2)2 mit helicaler und denaturierter DNA mit Hilfe absorptionsspektroskopischer Untersuchungen im sichtbaren Bereich diskutiert.
A Critique of Economic and Sociological Theories of Social Control

How is it that people manage to live side by side without incessant "warre of every man against every man"?' Thomas Hobbes, who won fame for posing this question, concluded that the legal system-the rules and might of Leviathan-is the wellspring of social order. Most law professors implicitly propagate this Hobbesian view, perhaps because it lends significance to what they teach. Law-and-economics scholars have been particularly prone to assert the centrality of legal doctrine. There is an opposing intellectual tradition, however, that emphasizes that social order can emerge without law. Its core theorists have been empirical sociologists and anthropologists who study stateless societies. Within the legal academy the law professors associated with the law-and-society movement have been the prime skeptics of the importance of law.2 A field study that I recently conducted in Shasta County, California, provides an empirical perspective on the sources of social order. The
Electrochemical gasification of coal (investigation of operating conditions and variables)

Abstract Experimental results are reported for this new process where coal is consumed within an aqueous electrolyte to produce gaseous oxides of carbon at the anode and hydrogen at the cathode. Data are reported on the effect of coal particle size and concentration, activation energy and temperature effects, behaviour of the supporting electrolyte, and changes in morphology and reactivity of the coal during the process. The gas liberated at the anode is almost pure CO2 with a small percentage of CO. When the process is conducted galvanostatically, the potential gradually rises in parallel with accumulation of reaction intermediates on the coal and a corresponding decline in its reactivity. Moreover an abrupt and reproducible jump in potential is observed which suggests at least two different mechanisms for the overall process.
On the boundary condition and data reduction of heat transfer experiment

Abstract Method for quantitative description of the boundary condition in terms of wall temperature and wall heat flux of a test heater used in heat transfer experiments in proposed. Also presented is clarification of an issue with regard to reduction of heat transfer data under different standard boundary conditions. It is suggested that a modified definition of mean heat transfer coefficient be used for data obtained under constant wall heat flux boundary condition.
Microscopic modeling and simulation of transverse-mode dynamics of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

The dynamics of transverse modes of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers were simulated by use of a model that incorporates microscopically computed gain and refractive index with many-body effects. The model equations were solved by finite-difference methods in two-dimensional space and time domains without any a priori assumptions of symmetry of solutions or types and number of modes. Simulation was carried out for devices with and without index guiding at various pumping levels. We show that index-guided vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers involve more transverse modes than purely gain-guided devices at the same pumping level. Both time-resolved and time-averaged near-field patterns over several time scales are investigated. Complicated spatial and temporal dynamic behaviors occur at higher pumping levels that include azimuthal rotating waves and intensity oscillations owing to dynamic competition between modes of the same order and those of different orders.
Human Genome Project and Cystic Fibrosis—a Symbiotic Relationship

Abstract When Watson and Crick determined the structure of DNA in 1953, a biological revolution began. One result of this revolution is the Human Genome Project. The primary goal of this international project is to obtain the complete nucleotide sequence of the human genome by the year 2005. Although molecular biologists and geneticists are most enthusiastic about the Human Genome Project, all areas of clinical medicine and fields of biology will be affected. Cystic fibrosis is the most common, inherited, lethal disease of white persons. In 1989, researchers located the cystic fibrosis gene on the long arm of chromosome 7 by a technique known as positional cloning. The most common mutation (a 3-base pair deletion) of the cystic fibrosis gene occurs in 70% of patients with cystic fibrosis. The knowledge gained from genetic research on cystic fibrosis will help researchers develop new therapies (eg, gene) and improve standard therapies (eg, pharmacologic) so that a patient's life span is increased and quality of life is improved. The purpose of this review is twofold. First, the article provides an overview of the Human Genome Project and its clinical significance in advancing interdisciplinary care for patients with cystic fibrosis. Second, the article includes a discussion of the genetic basis, pathophysiology, and management of cystic fibrosis. J Am Diet Assoc. 1999;99:1421–1427 .
The weighted-distance scheme: a globally optimizing projection ordering method for ART

The order in which the projections are applied in the algebraic reconstruction technique (ART) has a great effect on speed of convergence, accuracy, and the amount of noise-like artifacts in the reconstructed image. In this paper, a new projection ordering scheme for ART is presented: the weighted-distance scheme (WDS). It heuristically optimizes the angular distance of a newly selected projection with respect to an extended sequence of previously applied projections. This sequence of influential projections may incorporate the complete set of all previously applied projections or any limited time interval subset thereof. The selection algorithm results in uniform sampling of the projection access space, minimizing correlation in the projection sequence. This produces more accurate images with less noise-like artifacts than previously suggested projection ordering schemes.
Can recursive bisection alone produce routable placements

This work focuses on congestion-driven placement of standard cells into rows in the fixed-die context. We summarize the state-of-the-art after two decades of research in recursive bisection placement and implement a new placer, called Capo, to empirically study the achievable limits of the approach. From among recently proposed improvements to recursive bisection, Capo incorporates a leading-edge multilevel min-cut partitioner [7], techniques for partitioning with small tolerance [8], optimal min-cut partitioners and end-case min-wirelength placers [5], previously unpublished partitioning tolerance computations, and block splitting heuristics. On the other hand, our “good enough” implementation does not use “overlapping” [17], multi-way partitioners [17, 20], analytical placement, or congestion estimation [24, 35]. In order to run on recent industrial placement instances, Capo must take into account fixed macros, power stripes and rows with different allowed cell orientations. Capo reads industry-standard LEF/DEF, as well as formats of the GSRC bookshelf for VLSI CAD algorithms [6], to enable comparisons on available placement instances in the fixed-die regime.Capo clearly demonstrates that despite a potential mismatch of objectives, improved mincut bisection can still lead to improved placement wirelength and congestion. Our experiments on recent industrial benchmarks fail to give a clear answer to the question in the title of this paper. However, they validate a series of improvements to recursive bisection and point out a need for transparent congestion management techniques that do not worsen the wirelength of already routable placements. Our experimental flow, which validates fixed-die placement results by violation-free detailed auto-routability, provides a new norm for comparison of VLSI placement implementations.
Enhancement of flux pinning in YBa2Cu3O7−δ thin films embedded with epitaxially grown Y2O3 nanostructures using a multi-layering process

Nanodot arrays of Y2O3 were dispersed in thin films of YBa2Cu3O7−δ (YBCO) by growing alternating layers of these two species using a pulsed laser deposition method. As a result, critical current density Jc both in applied magnetic field and self-field is enhanced by as much as an order of magnitude, along with a significant increase in the irreversibility field Hirr. High-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and Z -contrast STEM show that the nanoparticles are crystalline and coherent with the YBCO matrix. Whereas in most other studies pinning has been attributed to the strain fields around the nanoparticles, in this case pinning may actually be due to the nanoparticles themselves ,s incethe delineation between the two species is very sharp and STEM reveals no discernible strain fields in the superconducting material around the nanoparticles. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version)
Security analysis of the diebold AccuVote-TS voting machine

This paper presents a fully independent security study of a Diebold AccuVote-TS voting machine, including its hardware and software. We obtained the machine from a private party. Analysis of the machine, in light of real election procedures, shows that it is vulnerable to extremely serious attacks. For example, an attacker who gets physical access to a machine or its removable memory card for as little as one minute could install malicious code; malicious code on a machine could steal votes undetectably, modifying all records, logs, and counters to be consistent with the fraudulent vote count it creates. An attacker could also create malicious code that spreads automatically and silently from machine to machine during normal election activities--a voting-machine virus. We have constructed working demonstrations of these attacks in our lab. Mitigating these threats will require changes to the voting machine's hardware and software and the adoption of more rigorous election procedures.
Ultrasonic extraction and HPLC determination of anthraquinones, aloe-emodine, emodine, rheine, chrysophanol and physcione, in roots of Polygoni multiflori.

Introduction Polygoni multiflori, one of traditional Chinese herbal medicines for the treatment of various diseases commonly associated with aging, is known to contain active anthraquinone ingredients. However, the content of the anthraquinones varies among P. multiflori samples with collection season and sites. Thus, simple, reliable and accurate analytical methods for determining of anthraquinones in P. multiflori products are needed for the quality control and pharmacological studies. Objective To develop an HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of five anthraquinones, aloe-emodine, rheine, emodine, chrysophanol and physcione, in the roots of P. multiflori. Methodology Anthraquinones were extracted from the roots of P. multiflori using aqueous alcohol solutions or hot water under ultrasonication. Separation and quantitation of anthraquinones was accomplished using a reversed-phase C18 column with the mobile phase of methanol–water–phosphoric acid (600:400:1), and the detection wavelength of 254 nm. Results Seventy per cent aqueous ethanol showed the highest extraction efficiency for anthraquinones from roots of P. multiflori when compared with four other extraction solvents tested. All calibration curves were linear over the concentration range tested with the square of correlation coefficients >0.999. The detection limits (S/N = 3) were 0.89, 1.1, 1.6, 1.7 and 2.0 ng for chrysophanol, aloe-emodine, rheine, emodine and physcione, respectively. Emodine and physcione were found in the samples tested at concentrations of 0.341 and 0.197 mg/g, respectively. Conclusion The described HPLC methods are simple, accurate and selective techniques for separation and quantification of anthraquinones in roots of P. multiflori and other plant samples. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tibiotibial vein bypass grafts: A new operation for limb salvage

Abstract Tibiotibial bypasses were performed with short (8 to 33 cm) segments of reversed autologous vein in 14 patients who did not have longer segments of usable vein. All patients faced imminent amputation unless they had an effective revascularization. Two patients died, one within 1 month of operation. One patient required below-knee amputation despite a patent bypass. Eleven patients (79%) have a patent bypass and a functional limb 6 to 50 months after operation. These good patency results even with several grafts inserted into isolated segments of tibial arteries, some with incomplete plantar arches, suggest that these short vein grafts may be superior to other vein grafts. Tibiotibial bypasses may improve limb salvage results in otherwise difficult circumstances. (J VASC SURG 1985;2:552-7.)
Phenotypic and Genetic Correlations Among Floral Traits in Two Species of Thalictrum

The evolution of dioecy in plants is expected to be followed by sex-specific selection, leading to sexual dimorphism. The extent of the response to selection depends on the genetic covariance structure between traits both within and between the sexes. Here I describe an investigation to determine phenotypic and genetic correlations between reproductive traits within cryptically dioecious Thalictrum pubescens and within morphologically dioecious T. dioicum. Females of T. pubescens produce flowers having stamens and pistils, appearing hermaphroditic. Genetic correlations were estimated as family-mean correlations among paternal half-sib families. Positive phenotypic and genetic correlations between parts of the same reproductive organs, as the anther and filament of the stamen, indicate developmental associations between these traits in both species. Negative genetic correlations were detected between pistil number and size of reproductive organs in T. dioicum and showed the same direction, but not significance, in T. pubescens. There was a negative phenotypic correlation between the number of stamens and the number of pistils within female flowers of T. pubescens. Within T. pubescens, there was a positive genetic correlation between the number of stamens in males and the number of pistils in females, indicating that floral evolution in males and females may not be independent in this species.
Comment on “Progesterone/RANKL Is a Major Regulatory Axis in the Human Breast”

In vivo menstrual cycle data support the findings by Tanos et al. that progesterone regulates RANKL in an ex vivo microstructure model of the human breast, but dispute the suppression of estradiol on progesterone-stimulated RANKL expression. RANKL responds to progesterone in a three-dimensional organoid culture model under conditions mimicking luteal-phase hormone concentration, suggesting that the microstructure may not be crucial to demonstrate progesterone responsiveness.
Johan Turi's animal, mineral, vegetable cures and healing practices: an in-depth analysis of Sami (Saami) folk healing one hundred years ago.

The healing knowledge of a Sami (Saami) hunter and reindeer herder was surveyed as a window into the concepts of health, healing, and disease in early twentieth-century Sapmi (Northern Sweden). The two books of Johan Turi (1854–1936)—An Account of the Sami (1910) and Lappish Texts (1918–19) were examined to determine the varieties of recorded zootherapeutic, mineral, chemical, and ethnobotanical lore, as well as the therapeutic acts, identified conditions, and veterinary knowledge included. Tabulation of the materials and species mentioned in Turi’s descriptions (n = 137) permitted analysis of the relative frequency of differing types of healing in Turi’s overall therapeutic repertoire, his relative attention to chronic vs. acute ailments, and the frequency of magic as a component of healing. A qualitative appraisal was made of the degree to which outside influences affected Sami healing of the period. A further assessment of the possible clinical efficacy of the recorded remedies was undertaken. Turi’s remedies consist most often of zootherapeutics (31%), followed by physical acts such as massage, moxibustion, or manipulation (22%). Ethnobotanical cures make up a significantly smaller portion of his repertoire (17%), followed by mineral and chemical cures (12%). Magic rituals (including incantations and ritual acts) make up a significant portion of Turi’s repertoire, and could be used alone (17%) or in conjunction with other types of healing (38%). Turi’s healing aimed primarily at acute ailments (65%), with chronic conditions addressed less often (35%). A literature review revealed that Turi’s remedies held a marked frequency of likely efficacy, at least in cases in which it was possible to ascertain the precise species, conditions, or substances described. Although it is possible at times to recognize foreign sources in Turi’s repertoire, it is clear that Turi understood all his healing methods as distinctively Sami. The research illustrates the variety and depth of a single informant’s healing knowledge, and demonstrates the value of both historical sources and in-depth data collection with single experts as useful means of assessing and characterizing an indigenous population’s healing traditions.
Proteomics of the Peroxisome

Genomes provide us with a blue print for the potential of a cell. However, the activity of a cell is expressed in its proteome. Full understanding of the complexity of cells demands a comprehensive view of the proteome; its interactions, activity states and organization. Comprehensive proteomic approaches applied to peroxisomes have yielded new insights into the organelle and its dynamic interplay with other cellular structures. As technologies and methodologies improve, proteomics hold the promise for new discoveries of peroxisome function and a full description of this dynamic organelle.
Electron density distribution functions and the ASED–MO theory

A diatomic charge density distribution function may be partitioned into free atom and delocalization components. Integrating the electrostatic force on one of the nuclei as the atoms join to bond yields a repulsive atom superposition energy Er(R) and an attractive delocalization energy Ed(R) which, when added, equal the Born-Oppenheimer potential energy, E(R). Bond stretch force constants may be calculated to quite good accuracy from the Poisson equation ▽E(R) = 4πZbpa(r = R), where Zb is the charge of nucleus b at a distance of R from nucleus a and pa is the charge-density distribution function of isolated atom a. This equation follows if the delocalization density component is rigid during molecular vibrations and Ed = c/R, where c is a constant. Ed(R) is well approximated by the change in orbital energy, δEMO(R), for the bond-forming reaction a + b a - b as obtained from a modified extended Huckel procedure. The resulting E() = Er(R) + δEMO(R) generalizes immediately to polyatomic molecules and solids and can be used for the calculation of structures and other properties and their molecular orbital interpretation. The current understanding of the atom superposition and electron delocalization molecular orbital (ASED-MO) theory is presented in this article. It is pointed out that a parallel exists with the density functional theory, wherein the Born-Oppenheimer potential function may be constructed from energy points E(R) that are functionals of the molecular charge density distribution function. Calculations of molecular structures with density functional theory has also become possible only through the introduction of electron orbitals. However, the approaches are otherwise different, for density functional theory works with the total energy of the molecule and the ASED approach works with the molecular binding energy obtained by integrating the electrostatic force on a nucleus, which is zero for the isolated atoms. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
An Efficient Characteristic Method for the Magnetic Induction Equation with Various Resistivity Scales

In this paper, we develop an efficient characteristic finite element method (FEM) for solving the magnetic induction equation in magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). We carry out numerical experiments on a two dimensional test case to investigate the influence of resistivity at different scales. In particular, our numerical results exhibit how the topological structure and energy of the magnetic field evolve for different scales of resistivity. Magnetic reconnection can also be observed in the numerical experiments.
Bayesian Interpretation and Analysis of Research Results

From a computational perspective, Bayesian methods can be viewed as a natural extension of familiar confidence intervals and significance tests, which sheds light on their meaning. This viewpoint shows that no special software is required to compute Bayesian results, leaving the distinctions between conventional and Bayesian analyses in the conceptual realm. Key Bayesian concepts may be grasped more easily than those required for proper use of conventional methods. These concepts allow one to re-examine results from a Bayesian perspective, to complement and prevent misinterpretation of conventional results. Thus, even if frequentist results remain the norm for presentation, the inclusion of Bayesian perspectives in teaching and analysis is strongly recommended.
Hedgehog/GLI1 regulates IGF dependent malignant behaviors in glioma stem cells

A population of tumorigenic, chemoresistant, and radioresistant cancer stem cells is postulated to contribute to the aggressive and fatal clinical course of glioblastomas. Activation of the Hedgehog (HH) pathway and increased expression of its downstream effector GLI1 are driving factors of glioma tumorigenicity and glioma stem cell (GSC) biology. In this study, we describe a dependence of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling on active HH/GLI1 in GSCs. Insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) was identified as a target of the GLI1 transcription factor and inhibition of GLI1 was sufficient to obstruct IRS1 protein expression and IGF-I induced mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation. Suppression of GLI1 activity decreased the responsiveness of GSCs to IGF-I stimulation and constrained IGF-I dependent GSC proliferation, clonogenicity, invasion, and angiogenesis. In addition, blockade of the HH/GLI1 and IGF pathways countered the intrinsic and acquired resistance of GSCs to temozolomide. These results provide further insight into the oncogenic mechanisms of the HH pathway in glioblastoma and demonstrate a cooperative signaling axis between the HH/GLI1 and IGF pathways to propagate malignant GSC phenotypes.
Contentious Collective Action and the Breakdown of Authoritarian Regimes

Prior research indicates that different types of authoritarian regimes break down in different ways because key cadres in those regimes have different interests and face different strategic environ- ments. Building on that theoretical foundation, I use event history models to examine the effects of contentious collective action on the likelihood of authoritarian breakdown. This analysis shows that some kinds of autocracy are more vulnerable to breakdown in the wake of contentious events than others, and that the strength and direction of this effect varies not only across types of authoritarianism, but across forms of collective action as well.
Fulminant metanephric apoptosis and abnormal kidney development in bcl-2-deficient mice

Apoptosis of the developing metanephric kidney plays an important role in renal organogenesis. The bcl-2 is an oncogene that inhibits apoptotic cell death in a variety of settings. The bcl-2 (-/-) mice complete embryonic development but, in contrast to bcl-2 (+/-) and bcl-2 (+/+) littermates, manifest growth retardation, hypopigmentation of hair, lymphoid apoptosis, abnormal kidney morphology, and renal failure postnatally. To provide insight into the mechanism for the latter abnormalities, we examined metanephric kidneys from bcl-2 (-/-), bcl-2 (+/-), and bcl-2 (+/+) mice, as well as embryonic day 12 (E12) mouse embryos, and compared growth and development of metanephroi in vitro. Kidneys from bcl-2 (+/-) mice developed normally. In contrast, development of kidneys from bcl-2 (-/-) mice was abnormal as reflected by a marked reduction of renal size in newborns compared with kidneys of bcl-2 (+/-) littermates. In addition, kidneys from bcl-2 (-/-) mice contained far fewer nephrons and had smaller nephrogenic zones. Although metanephroi obtained from E12 bcl-2 (+/-) and bcl-2 (-/-) mouse embryos were comparable in size, apoptosis of cells within metanephric blastemas of metanephroi from E12 bcl-2 (-/-) embryos was strikingly enhanced compared with that in blastemas of metanephroi from bcl-2 (+/-) embryos. During 3 days in culture, growth and development of metanephroi from bcl-2 (-/-) embryos were visibly reduced compared with those from bcl-2 (+/-) embryos.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Single Crystal Studies of Cubic Phases of VDx by Neutron Diffraction

The high diffusion rates of hydrogen in certain metals justify the classification of these metal hydrides as class I superionic conductors.1 The favorable relation between the scattering amplitudes of vanadium and deuterium (−bD = 13bV) and the existence of cubic phases with low and high deuterium content at ambient temperatures make vanadium deuteride a promising compound for a neutron diffraction study of ions in the conducting state.
Regulator of G-protein Signaling (RGS)1 and RGS10 Proteins as Potential Drug Targets for Neuroinflammatory and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Regulator of G-protein signaling (RGS) proteins were originally identified as negative regulators of G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling via their GTPase-accelerating protein (GAP) activity. All RGS proteins contain evolutionarily conserved RGS domain; however, they differ in their size and regulatory domains. RGS1 and RGS10 are smaller than other RGS proteins, and their functions involve various inflammatory responses including autoimmune responses in both the periphery and the central nervous system (CNS). Neuroinflammation is the chronic inflammatory response in the CNS. Acute inflammatory response in the CNS is believed to be beneficial by involving the neuroprotective actions of immune cells in the brain, particularly microglia, to limit tissue damage and to aid in neuronal repair. However, chronically elevated levels of cytokines serve to maintain activation of abundant numbers of immune cells potentiating prolonged inflammatory responses and creating an environment of oxidative stress, which further hastens oxidative damage of neurons. In this review, we describe the implications and features of RGS proteins (specifically RGS1 and RGS10) in neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases. We will discuss the experimental and epidemiological evidence on the benefits of anti-inflammatory interventions by targeting RGS1 and/or RGS10 protein function or expression in order to delay or attenuate the progression of neurodegeneration, particularly in multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson’s disease (PD).
Iron-Catalyzed Hydrosilylation of Aldehydes and Ketones under Solvent-Free Conditions

Exposure of aldehyde or ketone to 1 mol % BIAN-Fe(C7H8) complex in the presence of diphenyl silane affords the corresponding protected alcohol in excellent yields, under mild reaction conditions. Aldehydes and ketones are reduced cleanly in the presence of a broad range of functional groups under solvent-free conditions.
Effect of Sulfanilamide and Sulfapyridine on Experimental Infections with Listerella and Erysipelothrix in Mice

SummaryAs is shown in Table II sulfanilamide and sulfapyri-dine have given good results in treating mice infected with fatal doses of Listerella monocytogenes.The 2 chemotherapeutic agents tested show no helpful effects in the case of Erysipelothrix infections. If anything the agents helped to hasten the death of the animals.From these data it would seem that the mechanism of infection, as influenced by sulfanilamide and sulfapyridine treatment, is different for the two diseases.
You-Perspective: Insights from Speech Act Theory:

Advice about how and when to implement the you-perspective is sometimes vague or contradictory. Many authorities simply advise writers to use the second person pronoun as often as possible, in eith...
Persistence of resistance of tubercle bacilli to streptomycin during passage through guinea pigs.

Youmans and associates1 have reported that tubercle bacilli from 8 of 12 patients treated with streptomycin had a resistance to this drug 500 to 1,000 times as great as that of cultures taken before treatment with streptomycin. We have studied cultures from tuberculous patients before and during the course of treatment with streptomycin and also have observed this phenomenon. In some instances cultures of tubercle bacilli have shown a resistance to more than 10,000 times the concentration of streptomycin compared to those obtained prior to treatment.Preliminary observations indicate that resistance to streptomycin may persist after repeated subculture and storage in the refrigerator. We present herewith our findings that tubercle bacilli isolated from guinea pigs inoculated with sputum, urine or material obtained on gastric lavage from tuberculous patients who were being treated with streptomycin are as resistant as cultures isolated directly from the same materials.Methods, Specimens of sputum, urine or ...
Univalent Polynomials and Non-Negative Trigonometric Sums

(1998). Univalent Polynomials and Non-Negative Trigonometric Sums. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 105, No. 6, pp. 508-522.
Synthesis and Structural Studies of Microporous Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia Ceramics

Yttria-stabilized zirconia was prepared by (i) coprecipitation and (ii) alkoxide hydrolysis. The thermal and X-ray diffraction data were compared. The coprecipitation method yields microporous materials after calcination at 500°C for 4 hours with a narrow pore size distribution at a radius of 2–2.5 nm. Similar results were also seen with the alkoxide hydrolysis.
Zinc Stabilizes Shank3 at the Postsynaptic Density of Hippocampal Synapses.

Shank3 is a postsynaptic density (PSD) scaffold protein of the Shank family. Here we use pre-embedding immunogold electron microscopy to investigate factors influencing the distribution of Shank3 at the PSD. In dissociated rat hippocampal cultures under basal conditions, label for Shank3 was concentrated in a broad layer of the PSD, ~20–80 nm from the postsynaptic membrane. Upon depolarization with high K+ (90 mM, 2 min), or application of NMDA (50 μM, 2 min), both the labeling intensity at the PSD and the median distance of label from the postsynaptic membrane increased significantly, indicating that Shank3 molecules are preferentially recruited to the distal layer of the PSD. Incubation in medium supplemented with zinc (50 μM ZnCl2, 1 hr) also significantly increased labeling intensity for Shank3 at the PSD, but this addition of Shank3 was not preferential to the distal layer. When cells were incubated with zinc and then treated with NMDA, labeling intensity of Shank3 became higher than with either treatment alone and manifested a preference for the distal layer of the PSD. Without zinc supplementation, NMDA-induced accumulation of Shank3 at the PSD was transient, reversing within 30 min after return to control medium. However, when zinc was included in culture media throughout the experiment, the NMDA-induced accumulation of Shank3 was largely retained, including Shank3 molecules recruited to the distal layer of the PSD. These results demonstrate that activity induces accumulation of Shank3 at the PSD and that zinc stabilizes PSD-associated Shank3, possibly through strengthening of Shank-Shank association.
Analysis of the epidemiological characteristics of rubella in Xi'an City from 2004-2012

Objective The aim of this study was to understand the rubella incidence and epidemiological characteristics by analyzing rubella incidence data in Xi'an from 2004 to 2012, in order to provide a scientific basis for reducing the incidence and controlling rubella aggregation and outbreaks. Methods The data of 2004-2012 reported rubella cases in Xi'an City were extracted from China Disease Prevention and Control Information System and analyzed statistically by Excel software. Results A total of 5027 cases of rubella were reported from 2004-2012, with annual average incidence of 7.23/ 100 000, and zero death case. The epidemic peak years were 2007 and 2011, and the peak time each year was during March to July. Geographically, high incidence occurred in urban areas, especially in Yanta District, Beilin District, Xincheng District and Weiyang District. In rural districts, Yanliang District had the highest incidence(16.33 /100 000). Incidence among male was significantly higher than female. In terms of age, incidence was relative high in 10-25 years age group, but peaked in 10-15 years age group. Most cases occurred to students, and students,preschool children and scattered children accounted for 89.87% of total cases. Conclusion Targeted comprehensive preventive measures should be formulated according to the epidemiological characteristics of rubella, to effectively control the outbreaks and spread of rubella. Missed doses should be made up for when new semesters in childcare institutions and schools begin. The coverage of rubella vaccination should be expanded, and rubella vaccination education should be strengthened, especially to people and schools in remote rural areas. The vaccination to women in reproductive age should also be improved to reduce susceptibility and the occurrence of CRS.
The Concentration-Clamp Method for Transport Measurements in Membranes

New measurements of osmosis-salt diffusion, electromigration-electroosmosis and hydraulic flow in systems of NaCl solutions separated by a C-103 cation-exchange membrane (American Machine and Foundry Co., Stamford, Connecticut) are reported.
The Effect of Nitrogen Deposition on Plant Performance and Community Structure: Is It Life Stage Specific?

Nitrogen (N) deposition is a key global change factor that is increasing and affecting the structure and function of many ecosystems. To determine the influence of N deposition on specific systems, however, it is crucial to understand the temporal and spatial patterns of deposition as well as the response to that deposition. Response of the receiving plant communities may depend on the life stage-specific performance of individual species. We focus on the California oak savanna because N deposition to this system is complex—characterized by hotspots on the landscape and seasonal pulses. In a greenhouse experiment, we investigated the relative influence of N deposition on plant performance during early growth, peak biomass, and senescent life stages across different soil types, light, and community compositions. To represent the community we used three grass species—a native, naturalized exotic, and invasive exotic. At early growth and peak biomass stages performance was measured as height, and shoot and root biomass, and at the senescent stage as seed production. Simulated N deposition 1) increased shoot biomass and height of the native and, even more so, the naturalized exotic during early growth, 2) positively affected root biomass in all species during peak biomass, and 3) had no influence on seed production at the senescent stage. Alone, N deposition was not a strong driver of plant performance; however, small differences in performance among species in response to N deposition could affect community composition in future years. In particular, if there is a pulse of N deposition during the early growth stage, the naturalized exotic may have a competitive advantage that could result in its spread. Including spatial and temporal heterogeneity in a complex, manipulative experiment provides a clearer picture of not only where N management efforts should be targeted on the landscape, but also when.
Interpretation of Clinical Observations

An interpretation is an explanation, a construction, representation, or conception of the meaning or sense of a subject or event. In other words, interpretation is a process by which raw data secured by clinical observation are worked over and translated so that the various meanings of the data can be formulated. The process is one of rendering significance (intention, purpose, sense) from the raw data. For purposes of this chapter I use the term interpretation in two ways: to refer to the form or structure of a situation; and to refer to the intention, purpose, or function of a situation. Bergman (1951) distinguishes between what he calls Meaning I, the formal, operational meaning, and Meaning II, the significance, usefulness, or fruitfulness. In a general way, my use of the term is similar.
Low-dose oral cadmium increases airway reactivity and lung neuronal gene expression in mice.

Inhalation of cadmium (Cd) is associated with lung diseases, but less is known concerning pulmonary effects of Cd found in the diet. Cd has a decades‐long half‐life in humans and significant bioaccumulation occurs with chronic dietary intake. We exposed mice to low‐dose CdCl2 (10 mg/L in drinking water) for 20 weeks, which increased lung Cd to a level similar to that of nonoccupationally exposed adult humans. Cd‐treated mice had increased airway hyperresponsiveness to methacholine challenge, and gene expression array showed that Cd altered the abundance of 443 mRNA transcripts in mouse lung. In contrast to higher doses, low‐dose Cd did not elicit increased metallothionein transcripts in lung. To identify pathways most affected by Cd, gene set enrichment of transcripts was analyzed. Results showed that major inducible targets of low‐dose Cd were neuronal receptors represented by enriched olfactory, glutamatergic, cholinergic, and serotonergic gene sets. Olfactory receptors regulate chemosensory function and airway hypersensitivity, and these gene sets were the most enriched. Targeted metabolomics analysis showed that Cd treatment also increased metabolites in pathways of glutamatergic (glutamate), serotonergic (tryptophan), cholinergic (choline), and catecholaminergic (tyrosine) receptors in the lung tissue. Protein abundance measurements showed that the glutamate receptor GRIN2A was increased in mouse lung tissue. Together, these results show that in mice, oral low‐dose Cd increased lung Cd to levels comparable to humans, increased airway hyperresponsiveness and disrupted neuronal pathways regulating bronchial tone. Therefore, dietary Cd may promote or worsen airway hyperresponsiveness in multiple lung diseases including asthma.
All In with Jack High: DiCristina as the Final Surge to Federally Legalize Online Texas Hold ‘Em Poker

In United States v. DiCristina, the Eastern District of New York ruled that Texas Hold ‘Em poker is game of skill, and thus, not illegal under the federal Illegal Gambling Business Act. In the decision, the court found that the statute’s text and legislative history did not indicate that Congress intended to include Texas Hold ‘Em poker amongst other illegal gambling activities. But most importantly, the Eastern District found that the analytical and psychological elements of the game allow a skilled player to perform better than another. This, the court reasoned, differentiated Texas Hold ‘Em poker from other types of illegal gambling activities. Though the Second Circuit Court of Appeals ultimately disagreed on statutory interpretation grounds, the Eastern District’s skill analysis still stands and gives credence to the longstanding argument that the game, because it allows skilled players to excel over non-skilled players, sits on its own compared to prohibited gambling activities. In effect, DiCristina laid the foundation and answered one of the last remaining questions keeping Congress from legalizing online Texas Hold ‘Em poker. This Comment will explore various legalization surges throughout America’s history of gambling that ultimately helped push forward new periods of regulation and reform. This Comment will also examine the rise and fall of internet gambling and the current federal laws keeping the once thriving industry from returning. Additionally, this Comment will look at prior conclusions of the skill-versus-chance argument before DiCristina, and the Eastern District’s approach to resolving the skill versus chance issue. Lastly, this Comment will examine recent developments surrounding online Texas Hold’ Em poker that mirror surges of prior periods of reform, and together with DiCristina, urge Congress to use these final strongholds to advance federal legislation allowing for interstate online Texas Hold ‘Em poker.