cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Community Dynamics of Fish Assemblages on Mid-Shelf and Outer-Shelf Coral Reefs in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico

Offshore natural banks in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) are unique model systems for examining the mechanisms structuring reef fish communities due to their substantial geographic isolation, and the presence of replicate experimental units of both low (mid-shelf) and high coral diversity (shelf-edge) reef habitats. Here, we examined the species assemblage structure of juvenile and adult fishes at two mid-shelf reefs (Sonnier and Stetson Bank) and two shelf-edge reefs (East and West Flower Garden Banks) in the northwestern GOM to evaluate the relative importance of habitat (i.e. coral diversity) vs. recruitment in structuring resident fish assemblages. Visual reef fish surveys (n = 400) were conducted at the four coral reefs during two seasons, spring-early summer and late summer-fall in 2009 and 2010. Two depth zones were surveyed at each reef, representing the reef crest (15-23 m depth) and upper slope (23-30 m depth) habitats. Seasonal variability in recruitment to both mid-shelf and shelf-edge reefs was observed, with higher mean juvenile density and diversity (Hʹ) observed during the late season at all reefs in 2009 and all but Stetson in 2010, supporting an early fall recruitment peak. Likewise, considerable inter-annual variability in juvenile recruitment was observed, with significantly lower juvenile density and Hʹ observed at mid-shelf reefs in 2010 relative to 2009. Species diversity was strongly linked to coral diversity, with greater reef fish diversity consistently observed at shelf-edge relative to mid-shelf reefs. Observed differences in the composition of juvenile and adult assemblages at mid-shelf reefs suggest that reef fish communities at these reefs were more strongly influenced by post-settlement processes (e.g. juvenile mortality) than shelf-edge reefs, which may be a function of several limiting factors (e.g., predation, coral diversity, water quality). Results indicate that reef fish assemblages associated with mid-shelf and shelf-edge reefs in the northwestern GOM have sufficient stabilizing mechanisms in place to facilitate recovery from anomalous recruitment events and maintain consistent resident assemblages. The strong, reef type-specific differences in assemblage composition observed throughout the study indicate that mid-shelf and shelf-edge coral reef habitats may fill different functional roles for demersal fishes in the northwestern GOM.
Moral Distress During COVID-19: Residents in Training Are at High Risk.

The ethics and moral dilemmas of rationing care are particularly acute to all health care providers as we tackle the COVID19 crisis. In normal times, first responders and clinicians face moral angst in situations when they are not able to follow their inner values, however studies show this angst is highly intensified in a disaster setting.1-3Why? Public health emergencies may require clinicians to change their practice, such as the need to prioritize the community above the individual in fairly allocating scarce resources.
Clinical Outcomes and Safety Profile in the Treatment of Synchronous Non-Metastatic Lung Tumors with Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy.

Abstract Purpose/Objectives: Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has increasingly been used to treat early-stage primary lung cancers, but its effectiveness and safety in patients with multiple synchronous primary lung tumors (SPLC) is not as well-established. Our aim was to evaluate clinical outcomes, patterns of recurrence, and toxicities for these patients. Methods/Materials: We queried an institutional database of patients treated with SBRT for primary lung tumors from 2007 to 2019. Patients with known metastatic disease were excluded. Recurrences were described as new primaries (NP) if they occurred as an isolated pulmonary mass outside the previous PTV. Results: We analyzed 126 lesions from 60 consecutive patients who received SBRT synchronously to ≥2 lesions for non-metastatic lung cancers. Median total dose per lesion was 50 Gy (range 30-60 Gy), delivered over 3-5 fractions. All but four lesions were treated to a biologically effective dose (BED10) ≥100Gy. The median follow-up time was 47.3 months (IQR 34.1-65.6). Median overall survival (OS) was 46.2 months. Two and 5-year OS for all patients were 70% and 48%, respectively. Median progression-free survival was 26 months (IQR 7.6-32.6), and at the time of data collection 25 patients (42%) had experienced any disease progression. Median time to progression was 36 months: 9 (15%) patients experienced local failure (LF), with 1 and 2-year LF rates of 8% and 13%, respectively. Four patients (7%) experienced regional failure, at 3, 10, 30, and 50 months. Eleven patients (18%) experienced distant failure (DF), with 2-year DF rate of 13%. Thirteen patients (21%) developed NPs, with 2-year NP rate of 15.1%. 14 patients (23%) experienced CTCAE grade ≥2 toxicity, and two patients (3%) experienced CTCAE grade ≥3 toxicity (pneumonitis and hemoptysis). Conclusion: Synchronous SBRT to BED10 ≥100Gy appears safe and effective for selected patients with SPLC.
Magnetoelectric Coupling by Piezoelectric Tensor Design.

Strain-coupled magnetoelectric (ME) phenomena in piezoelectric/ferromagnetic thin-film bilayers are a promising paradigm for sensors and information storage devices, where strain manipulates the magnetization of the ferromagnetic film. In-plane magnetization rotation with an electric field across the film thickness has been challenging due to the large reduction of in-plane piezoelectric strain by substrate clamping, and in two-terminal devices, the requirement of anisotropic in-plane strain. Here we show that these limitations can be overcome by designing the piezoelectric strain tensor using the boundary interaction between biased and unbiased piezoelectric. We fabricated 500 nm thick, (001) oriented [Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3]0.7-[PbTiO3]0.3 (PMN-PT) unclamped piezoelectric membranes with ferromagnetic Ni overlayers. Guided by analytical and numerical continuum elastic calculations, we designed and fabricated two-terminal devices exhibiting electric field-driven Ni magnetization rotation. We develop a method that can apply designed strain patterns to many other materials systems to control properties such as superconductivity, band topology, conductivity, and optical response.
Ethics and Military Strategy in the 21st Century: Moving Beyond Clausewitz, by George Lucas

George Lucas, an internationally renowned authority on military ethics, passionately and persuasively submits the argument in his latest book that military strategy must surpass the outdated Clause...
Lysogeny of Escherichia coli by the Obligately Lytic Bacteriophage T1: Not Proven.

The work by Laganenka et al. (1) is to be welcomed as a rare molecular study on a close relative of the classical lytic T1 bacteriophage (2, 3). Unfortunately, the evidence for lysogeny is weak, and further work should have been done in support of the proposed lysogenic state. Several aspects of this work are concerning and point to unintended contamination as an explanation for the proposed “lysogenic” state. First, and most problematic, the genome assembly for their lysogen contains not even a partial T1 contig. On this, the authors were silent. The section covering the genome sequence implies otherwise, suggesting that the phage genome is found extrachromosomally, with no flanking host chromosomal sequences. The latter statement applies only to purified phage sequenced from a lytic culture. That the authors did not find this troubling is troubling in and of itself. The putative lysogen cannot be both …
SwingBeats: An IoT Haptic Feedback Ankle Bracelet (HFAB) for Dance Education

Dance choreography is often synchronized with music. Thus, a major challenge for learning choreography is moving the correct body part to a signified rhythm in the music surrounding the beat. However, the rhythm is often more complex than a metronome. SwingBeats is a real time, haptic feedback system under research and development with the goal of helping learners of any dance style to a) focus on learning the various dance moves, steps, patterns, and dynamics without the need to keep constant track of the music’s beat pattern, and b) to condition any choreography for the dance through custom built Internet of Things (IoT) wearables.
THE STYLE OF SLEAZE: THE AMERICAN EXPLOITATION FILM, 1959–1977. By Calum Waddell. University of Edinburgh Press, 2019. 224 pp. $29.95 softcover.

Conceived as something of a follow up to Eric Schaefer’s field-defining Bold! Daring! Shocking! True!: A History of Exploitation Films, 1919–1959 (2003), Calum Waddell’s The Style of Sleaze mines i...
Breaking the Cubic Barrier for (Unweighted) Tree Edit Distance.

The (unweighted) tree edit distance problem for $n$ node trees asks to compute a measure of dissimilarity between two rooted trees with node labels. The current best algorithm from more than a decade ago runs in $O(n ^ 3)$ time [Demaine, Mozes, Rossman, and Weimann, ICALP 2007]. The same paper also showed that $O(n ^ 3)$ is the best possible running time for any algorithm using the so-called decomposition strategy, which underlies almost all the known algorithms for this problem. These algorithms would also work for the weighted tree edit distance problem, which cannot be solved in truly sub-cubic time under the APSP conjecture [Bringmann, Gawrychowski, Mozes, and Weimann, SODA 2018]. In this paper, we break the cubic barrier by showing an $O(n ^ {2.9546})$ time algorithm for the unweighted tree edit distance problem. We consider an equivalent maximization problem and use a dynamic programming scheme involving matrices with many special properties. By using a decomposition scheme as well as several combinatorial techniques, we reduce tree edit distance to the max-plus product of bounded-difference matrices, which can be solved in truly sub-cubic time [Bringmann, Grandoni, Saha, and Vassilevska Williams, FOCS 2016].
Impact of a seated-standing protocol on postures and pain among undergraduate dental hygiene students: A pilot study.

Purpose: Although repetitive movements may lead to musculoskeletal pain, static and sedentary postures may be primary contributors to musculoskeletal disorders. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine whether an alternating seated-standing protocol would improve postures, decrease ergonomic risks, and reduce perceived pain scores among dental hygiene students.Methods: Thirty undergraduate dental hygiene students enrolled during the summer term were recruited to participate in the randomized control design pilot study. Participants were randomly assigned to the training (n=15) and control (n=15) groups. The training group alternated between sitting and standing every 30 minutes while providing dental hygiene care. The Modified-Dental Operator Posture Assessment Instrument (M-DOPAI) was used to evaluate ergonomic scores, the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) was used to evaluate ergonomic risk, and the Modified-Standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (M-SNMQ) was used to assess self-reported pain. Photographs were captured and levels of perceived pain were assessed at baseline, week-4, and week-8. Three raters independently evaluated the photographs using the M-DOPAI and RULA. Participants completed a survey about their experiences in the study at the end of week-8. Descriptive statistics and repeated measures ANOVAs were used to analyze the quantitative data; thematic analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data.Results: Although all participants perceived a reduction of pain over the duration of the eight-week study (p .05). Qualitatively, participants in the training group perceived that the seated-standing protocol clinically improved their postures and reduced their pain.Conclusion: The results suggest there were minimal impacts of the alternating seated standing protocol on ergonomic scores, ergonomic risks, or perceived pain. More research is needed to determine whether there are objective benefits to an alternating seated-standing protocol.
Silica Precipitation Induced by the Anaerobic Sulfate Reducing Bacterium Desulfovibrio Desulfuricans: Effects Upon Cell Morphology and Implications for Preservation

Growth experiments utilizing the sulfate reducing bacterium, Desulfovibrio desulfuricans, suggest a microbial influence in. Experiments conducted with 400 ppm silica produced a dense precipitate of silica within 72 hours in which cells were entombed and caught in cellular division. Experiments conducted in the absence of cells required one month or longer for a loose flocculant of silica to develop; in some samples a precipitate did not form over a 3 month duration. The silicification phenomenon greatly altered the morphology of the bacteria causing deformation of rod-shaped vibrios into partially collapsed cocci and intermediate morphological varieties. This alteration was probably caused by osmotic shock influenced by crystallite accumulation at the cell wall and concomitant retardation of solute transport during silica polymerization. It is suggested that these experiments more closely reproduce natural conditions of silicification of microorganisms than have previous studies and that the morphological change may have implications for interpreting the Precambrian microbial fossil record.
INSURANCE Domestic Stock and Mutual Insurers: Provide for the Conversion of a Mutual Insurer to a Stock Insurer; Authorize Domestic Stock Insurers to Issue Preferred Stock

Act 781 relaxes the requirements for a mutual stock insurer wishing or planning to convert to a domestic stock insurer. The Act decreases the percentage of approval required from policyholders for successful conversion. Further, the Act mandates giving policyholders a choice between participating in a conversion or receiving 100% of their equity in cash. Also, the Act allows a converted insurer's corporate existence to continue running without refiling a corporate charter. Act 977 authorizes domestic stock insurers to issue preferred stock.
Neurodevelopmental Effects of Alcohol

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the developmental effects of prenatal exposure to alcohol in the forms of ethanol (EtOH) and methanol (MeOH). The consumption of beer, wine, or spirits during pregnancy can have a profound impact on the processes of normal child development. The effects of EtOH are dose dependent, and children born to alcoholic or EtOH‐abusing mothers are at the highest risk for poor developmental outcome. Developmental effects are widespread and range from structural malformations to delays in physical growth and deficits in neurobehavioral development (learning, memory, language, and social behavior). The most serious outcome for the children of drinking mothers is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). In addition to microcephaly, facial features caused by the syndrome include short palpebral fissures, flattened midface, indistinct philtrum, thin upper lip, and upturned nose. Common features of the FAS face that are not required for a formal diagnosis include epicanthal folds, low nasal bridge, minor ear anomalies, and micrognathia. The maternal inhalation of MeOH may be related to a subtle but systematic disturbance in the timing of labor and delivery in pregnant nonhuman primates. While no clear pattern of adverse effects is found on neurobehavioral development, visually coordinated reaching and early memory is disrupted in an exposed offspring.
Computation of error spectrum for estimation performance evaluation

The error spectrum (ES) of an estimator was proposed as a measure for evaluation of estimation performance. In this paper, we examine the conditions that ES has a positive finite value, which is equivalent to requiring the existence of a finite rth (r is a real number) moment of a non-negative random variable. Different conditions for this existence problem are presented. Further, methods to analytically evaluate ES are elaborated. A clear connection between ES and the Mellin transform provides a means to compute ES analytically. Fractional integration/derivative of the moment generating function of the estimation error can also achieve analytical solutions. ES of the chi distribution, Gamma distribution, Weibull distribution, and Beta distribution are computed to illustrate our methods.
Macrophage anti-viral responses to diabetogenic encephalomyocarditis viruses are mediated by oxidative stress (INM7P.426)

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is caused by the autoimmune destruction of pancreatic β-cells. Both human and rodent studies suggest that viral infections trigger this process. Proinflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced during an anti-viral response are also considered drivers of T1D. We recently demonstrated that Non-Obese Diabetic (NOD) mice deficient in NADPH oxidase (NOX)-derived ROS (NOD. Ncf1 m1J ) were highly resistant to T1D, and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMΦ) from these mice had reduced anti-microbial responses to LPS and poly(I:C), a viral dsRNA mimic. Therefore, we hypothesize that loss of NOX-derived ROS will reduce the diabetogenicity of viral infections by dampening the innate immune anti-viral response. To this end, we infected BMMΦ with diabetogenic (EMCV-D) or non-diabetogenic (EMCV-B) Encephalomyocarditis viruses. NOD. Ncf1 m1J BMMΦ showed significant decreases in TNFα upon EMCV-D (1.2-fold, p p p Ncf1 m1J BMMΦ. Our results highlight a crucial role for NOX-derived ROS in the innate response to EMCV infection. Future studies will define the impact of ROS on human anti-viral responses to diabetogenic viruses.
A Mandatory Uniform Policy in Urban Schools: Findings from the School Survey on Crime and Safety: 2003-04

The main purpose of the study is to examine the relations between a mandatory school uniform policy and student problem behavior. The study is based on the School Survey on Crime and Safety (SSOCS) 2003-04 data. Analyzing data from 421 urban schools, the study found that schools adopting a mandatory uniform policy are negatively associated with rates of student problem behaviors except at the high school level. As with other school safety initiatives, parental involvement at the elementary school level, and teacher training and community efforts at the high school level were revealed as negative predictors of student problem behavior.
Globalization, Natural Resources, and Separatist Wars

One of the perennial claims in liberal theory is that economic interdependence is associated with peace. Much of the empirical research concludes that international trade has pacific effects on inter-state political conflict. This article expands the scope of this discussion by including multiple dimensions of interdependence and the examination of intra-state conflict. It is a first effort to use an expected utility model to estimate the effects of openness to international trade, foreign direct investment, and foreign portfolio investment on disputes over issues of self-determination in particular. This study argues that with the end of the Cold War, the liberal linkages between globalization and peace apply to domestic political conflict. This logic is based on the premise that, when determining whether or not to use force, leaders in interdependent states are more likely to take into account the economic gains garnered from interdependence and the associated disruptions of war. A logistic regression model is used to assess the relationship between economic globalization, natural resource dependence, and separatist wars for a sample of 161 states. As hypothesized, states that have higher levels of participation in the global economy tend to have lower levels of internal war. The pacific effects of globalization are most pronounced for financially interdependent states, which are associated with a reduction in the onset of separatist war. The evidence that international trade deters the onset of such territorially disputes is only weakly significant but, it there is a strong inverse relationship with the traditional category of civil war. On balance, the evidence is generally supportive of the commercial liberal premise. However, the content of international trade matters and the export of oil revenues dramatically increases the likelihood of separatist war.
Spontaneous frequency of H-2 mutations.

The availability of single gene mutations involving the H-2 complex has been of great value in analyzing the fine structure of the murine MHC, as well as in defining particular loci, or epitopes associated with the products of those loci, in a wide variety of immunological functions. The H-2 dm2 mutation, for example, was instrumental in the identification and subsequent analysis of the H-2L locus (Hansen et al 1977; Hansen et al 1983; Levy and Hansen 1980, McKenzie et al 1977). Mutations of H-2K b and H- 2D b have been utilized to identify of epitopes involved in MHC restriction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes against a variety of cellular antigens and viruses, and the lone I region mutant H- 2 bm12 , involving the A β gene of the H-2 b haplotype, has been widely used in the fine dissection of genetic control of immune responsiveness by MHC class II loci (reviewed in Hansen et al 1983; Klein 1976; Klein 1978; Kohn et al 1978; LaFuse and David 1984; Levy and Hansen 1980, McKenzie et al 1977; Hansen et al 1984). The precise structural alterations in most of the mutations have been defined at the amino acid and/or nucleic acid sequence levels (Burnside et al 1984; Hemmi et al 1988; Martinko et al 1987; Nairn and Nathenson 1978; Nairn et al 1980, Nathenson et al 1986; Rubocki et al 1986; Sun et al 1985).
Multiple Pathways of Putrescine Biosynthesis in Escherichia coli

Abstract Two routes of putrescine biosynthesis exist in Escherichia coli both emanating from the latter portion of the arginine-biosynthetic pathway. Isotope competition experiments indicate that both arginine and ornithine can give rise to putrescine. The formation of putrescine from ornithine is independent of the conversion of the latter to arginine. The decarboxylation of ornithine to yield putrescine is catalyzed by cell-free preparations. This enzyme has been termed "biosynthetic" ornithine decarboxylase to distinguish it from the inducible degradative ornithine decarboxylase, from which it differs in many properties. Cell-free extracts also carry out the conversion of arginine to putrescine. In this pathway, the arginine carboxyl group is first released as CO2, and the amidine group is then removed as urea. The arginine decarboxylase has optimal activity at pH 8 and an absolute magnesium ion requirement. Both of these characteristics distinguish it from the catabolic arginine decarboxylase. Agmatine ureohydrolase, the enzyme catalyzing the second step of this pathway, is also present in cell-free extracts. Arginine biosynthesis in E. coli involves a branched pathway, the branch point to putrescine and arginine occurring at ornithine. The existence of two pathways of putrescine biosynthesis is interpreted in relation to control mechanisms of the arginine biosynthetic pathway.
To Grow or Die:Regulation of Plant Sphingolipid Metabolism

Maintenance of sphingolipid homeostasis is critical for eukaryotic cell growth and regulation of programmed cell death (PCD). Serine palmitoyltransfersase (SPT), a heteromeric enzyme composed of LC...
An ACL2 Tutorial

We describe a tutorial that demonstrates the use of the ACL2 theorem prover. We have three goals: to enable a motivated reader to start on a path towards effective use of ACL2; to provide ideas for other interactive theorem prover projects; and to elicit feedback on how we might incorporate features of other proof tools into ACL2.
Gains from Trade Under Uncertainty

No treatise on the theory of international trade can be considered complete without some discussion of the subject of the gains from trade. Accordingly, this chapter is devoted to a dissection of the anatomy of gains from trade in a stochastic environment. In other words, unlike the earlier chapters which were primarily concerned with positive aspects of trade theory under uncertainty, the present chapter will deal with the welfare or normative aspects of international trade, although it would be fair to say that some sections of the foregoing chapters did investigate the normative aspects as well. The study of the implications of commodity-price-stabilisation policies for the allocative efficiency of the economic system, after all, does have some welfare connotations.
A Reverse Brain Drain

The United States, long the beneficiary of talented immigrants, needs to act quickly to keep these valuable workers from leaving to pursue expanding opportunities in their home countries.Although most of the national immigration debate originates with those who want to limit immigration, U.S. policymakers should be focusing on the more important task of attracting and keeping more highly skilled foreign-born scientists and engineers. The future strength of the nation's economy will depend on the creation of vibrant new companies, and the development of innovative products and services will be produced by well-paid workers. In recent years, immigrants have been playing a rapidly expanding role as high-tech entrepreneurs and inventors, providing an essential service to the country.The danger is that the United States is taking this immigrant contribution for granted at a time when changes in the global economy are providing alternative career opportunities for the most talented people. In the past, the United States was clearly the best place for the most talented scientists and engineers to work, and there was no need to do anything special to attract them. Those days are gone, and the United States must begin paying more attention to what is necessary to attract foreign talent and taking steps to eliminate barriers to immigration.This paper, is a summary of work by a team which includes Gary Gereffi of Duke University, AnnaLee Saxenian of University of California at Berkeley, Richard Freeman of Harvard University, Ben Rissing of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Guillermina Jasso of New York University. They spent three years conducting multiple surveys of thousands of technology and engineering start-up companies, interviewed hundreds of company founders, surveyed more than 1,000 foreign students and more than 1,000 returnees, and made several trips to India and China to understand the on-the-ground realities in those countries.
The Mythologies of Contextualism: Method and Judgment in Skinner's Visions of Politics

This article argues that Skinnerian contextualism is an unsuccessful attempt to develop a truly methodical approach to textual interpretation. According to Skinner, the various ‘mythologies’ that he associates with textualism are due to its misplaced confidence in the faculty of judgment. Whereas textualists believe that an interpreter's own judgment is his or her most useful tool in attempting to understand a text, contextualism proceeds from the assumption that we cannot help but make faulty judgments when confronted with historical materials given the nature of human cognition. Having dissociated itself from textualism on these grounds, contextualism attempts to repair the defects of textualism by minimizing the role of judgment in interpretive practice. As this article will show, these efforts have been fruitless. Moreover, Skinner's attempt to reinforce contextualism by importing claims about the strategic motives behind philosophical argumentation is either incoherent or unconvincing.
“Give Me Back My Children!”: Traumatic Reenactment and Tenuous Democratic Public Spheres

In recent years, we have seen an increasing number of reenactments of traumatic historical events related to slavery, race and power in American history. These include reenacted journeys of enslaved Africans across the Middle Passage as well as reenactments of slave auctions and lynchings. These events are often performed by multiracial amateur groups who see themselves as struggling against racial oppression by challenging dominant white versions of American history. One might expect that these performances of horrific history would deeply intensify distrust and animosity across lines of race and ethnicity. To be sure, internal conflicts do sometimes tear apart these reenactment groups, and external observers do at times denounce re-enactors for “unnecessarily dredging up the past.” Yet, these events often open up new lines of solidarity, collaboration and dialogue across racial and ethnic positions. This tendency towards inter-racial reciprocity is puzzling given that participants’ stated rationales for engaging in the reenactments usually vary according to race: white participants usually assert they are drawn to these practices out of an impulse towards historical accountability and reconciliation, while African Americans usually state their primary motivation is a desire to protect or save “our young African American men. “ What is at stake in these disparate impulses, and why do these performance events nonetheless often lead to unexpected moments of profound dialogue and exchange across putative lines of race and difference?
Editorial Commentary: Search, Destroy, and Confirm: How to Maximize the Benefit and Reduce the Unintended Consequences of Contact Precautions for Control of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) remains a leading cause of healthcare-associated infections despite longstanding efforts to limit transmission in acute care facilities. Although the burden of community-acquired MRSA continues to increase, up to 85% of MRSA infections are associated with healthcare settings,
Effect of viscous, viscoplastic and friction damping on the response of seismic isolated structures

In this paper the efficiency of various dissipative mechanisms to protect structures from pulse-type and near-source ground motions is examined. Physically realizable cycloidal pulses are introduced, and their resemblance to recorded near-source ground motions is illustrated. The study uncovers the coherent component of some near-source acceleration records, and the shaking potential of these records is examined. It is found that the response of structures with relatively low isolation periods is substantially affected by the high-frequency fluctuations that override the long duration pulse. Therefore, the concept of seismic isolation is beneficial even for motions that contain a long duration pulse which generates most of the unusually large recorded displacements and velocities. Dissipation forces of the plastic (friction) type are very efficient in reducing displacement demands although occasionally they are responsible for substantial permanent displacements. It is found that the benefits by hysteretic dissipation are nearly indifferent to the level of the yield displacement of the hysteretic mechanism and that they depend primarily on the level of the plastic (friction) force. The study concludes that a combination of relatively low friction and viscous forces is attractive since base displacements are substantially reduced without appreciably increasing base shears and superstructure accelerations. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rabbits have a circadian rhythm of aqueous humor cyclic AMP.

Rabbits have circadian rhythms of intraocular pressure (IOP) and aqueous flow. The dark phase increases of IOP and flow are associated with increased aqueous cyclic AMP. If the daily rhythm of aqueous cyclic AMP reflects changes of tissue levels of cyclic AMP which mediate one of the mechanisms which control the rhythms of IOP and aqueous flow, then it must be a circadian rhythm as are the rhythms of IOP and flow. A recent report showed no change in aqueous cyclic AMP from 2 hrs before to 2 hrs after the beginning of subjective dark in animals housed in constant dark. Because the increase of intraocular pressure at the same times did persist in constant dark, the authors concluded that a significant portion of the circadian rhythm of IOP is unrelated to cyclic AMP mediated ocular mechanisms. However, if an inhibitor of cyclic nucleotide phophodiesterase is added to aqueous samples after harvesting by paracentesis, it is possible to show that most of the increase of aqueous cyclic AMP from mid-light phase ...
Rethinking WNT signaling

Recent research on the WNT signaling pathway warrants a reassessment of the basic mechanism that transmits signal from the membrane-bound receptor to the nucleus. This article incorporates these findings into a revised model for pathway activation. We propose that the control of Axin stability, rather than the control of ZW3 phosphorylation of the Armadillo protein, is the key step in signaling. Axin degradation is controlled by a stabilizing effect of ZW3-dependent phosphorylation, and a destabilizing effect of active Arrow. Removing Axin enables Armadillo to accumulate and re-localize to the nucleus. We argue that nuclear localization of Armadillo is required for transcriptional pathway activity. Finally, we speculate on the effects this revision will have on the major questions facing the WNT field of research.
A Technical College Grow-Your-Own Leadership Program

With the retirement of baby boomers (born 1946–1964) looming, considerable discussion and research has been conducted into succession planning and the educational impact from the loss of these leadership skills and experiences in community colleges. To prepare for this eventuality, many community colleges have begun Grow-Your-Own (GYO) leadership development programs (Reille & Kezar, 2010; Robinson, Sugar, & Miller, 2010). This article describes the experiences of two individuals who participated in a GYO leadership development program and offers practical considerations for community colleges that have or are planning GYO leadership programs.
ADULTS WITH EOSINOPHILIC MYOSITIS AND CALPAIN-3 MUTATIONS

A recent report found that six patients who presented with eosinophilic myositis in childhood actually had a calpainopathy (LGMD 2A).1 I have encountered two patients previously diagnosed with adult-onset eosinophilic polymyositis who had mutations in the calpain-3 gene ( CAPN3 ). ### Case reports. #### Case 1. A 22-year-old woman presented with a 1-year history of progressive arm and leg weakness and elevated serum creatine kinase (CK) levels as high as 5,528 U/L. There was no family history of myopathy. She was initially evaluated elsewhere and a quadriceps muscle biopsy was interpreted as an inflammatory myopathy with prominent eosinophilic infiltrates. There was no peripheral eosinophilia. She was treated with prednisone, azathioprine, methotrexate, IV immunoglobulin, and rituximab without improvement. She was referred to me for management of her myositis. Manual muscle testing revealed the following Medical Research Council (MRC) grades: neck flexion 4−/5, neck extension 4/5, deltoids, biceps, and triceps 4/5, wrist extension 4+/5, wrist flexors and fingers 5/5, hip flexion/extension/abduction 2/5, knee flexion 3/5, knee extension 4+/5, ankle dorsiflexion and plantar flexion 4+/5. There was no facial weakness, muscle atrophy, or hypertrophy. Serum CK was 845 U/L. Review of her outside muscle biopsy slides demonstrated many necrotic and …
Mechanisms and Consequences of Dendritic Cell Migration

Dendritic cells (DCs) are critical for adaptive immunity and tolerance. Most DCs are strategically positioned as immune sentinels poised to respond to invading pathogens in tissues throughout the body. Differentiated DCs and their precursors also circulate in blood and can get rapidly recruited to sites of challenge. Within peripheral tissues, DCs collect antigenic material and then traffic to secondary lymphoid organs, where they communicate with lymphocytes to orchestrate adaptive immune responses. Hence, the migration and accurate positioning of DCs is indispensable for immune surveillance. Here, we review the molecular traffic signals that govern the migration of DCs throughout their life cycle.
Sodium Retention in Heart Failure and Cirrhosis Potential Role of Natriuretic Doses of Mineralocorticoid Antagonist

Patients with cirrhosis and heart failure (HF) share the pathophysiology of decreased effective arterial blood volume because of splanchnic vasodilatation in cirrhosis and decreased cardiac output in HF, with resultant stimulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Hyperaldosteronism plays a major role in the pathogenesis of ascites and contributes to resistance to loop diuretics. Therefore, the use of high doses of aldosterone antagonist (spironolactone up to 400 mg/day) is the main therapy to produce a negative sodium balance in cirrhotic patients with ascites. Hyperaldosteronism also has increasingly been recognized as a risk factor for myocardial and vascular fibrosis. Therefore, low-dose aldosterone antagonists are being used in patients with HF for cardioprotective action. However, the doses (25 to 50 mg/day) at which they are being used in cardiac patients as reported in the Randomized Aldactone Evaluation Study are not natriuretic. It is likely, therefore, that the mortality benefit relates primarily from their effect on cardiac and vascular fibrosis. Resistance to commonly used loop diuretics is frequently present in patients with advanced HF. In patients with decompensated HF with volume overload who are loop diuretic resistant, ultrafiltration may be the only available option. This is, however, an invasive procedure. For these patients, natriuretic doses of aldosterone antagonists (spironolactone >50 mg/day) may be a potential option. The competitive natriuretic response of aldosterone antagonists is related to activity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system: the higher the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system activity, the higher the dose of aldosterone antagonist required to produce natriuresis. This article will discuss the potential use of natriuretic doses of aldosterone antagonists in patients with HF, including the potential side effect of hyperkalemia.
Differentiated Trust in Democratic Institutions Among Religious Minorities: Does the Size of the Largest Religious Group Matter?

Studies have shown religious organizations to be among the most trusted institutions of civil society in Europe. Similarly, research has revealed that, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe, church organizations boast far higher levels of trust than government organizations or nonreligious civil society institutions. In this study, the link between religion and trust in democratic institutions among individuals is explored in relation to the size of the largest religious group in twenty-one European countries. Based on the European Social Survey (Round 2, 2004) and using multilevel modeling it is concluded that the larger the size of the largest religious group, the lower the level of trust in democratic institutions among religious minorities. This finding supports the hypothesis that the larger the size of the largest religious group, the more likely minorities are to fear that the government is dominated by the largest religious group and their interests are not represented.
Radiation Vascular Therapy: A Novel Approach to Preventing Restenosis

In animal studies, beta and gamma radiation delivered via catheter-based systems to sites of angioplasty after arterial injury has decreased the neointimal proliferation that is a part of the restenotic process. Extending radiotherapy to the clinical setting, results of the double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized Scripps Coronary Radiation to Inhibit Proliferation Post Stenting (SCRIPPS) study showed dramatic reductions in the rate of restenosis after coronary stenting when catheter-based gamma radiotherapy (with iridium-192) was used. In the Beta Energy Restenosis Trial (BERT), angiographic, intravascular ultrasound, and clinical outcomes were better than expected with beta brachytherapy. Strontium-90/yttrium-90 seeds were delivered via a unique catheter system in 35 patients who underwent coronary angioplasty. Future trials are being planned to confirm these promising results.
Nuclear Quadrupole Hyperfine Structure in the Microwave Spectrum of Ar–N2O

Abstract Nuclear quadrupole hyperfine structure in the rotational spectrum of Ar–N2O has been resolved in the 7–18 GHz region using a Fourier transform microwave spectrometer. Analysis of the hyperfine lines enables not only the determination of the rotational and centrifugal distortion constants to greater precision than previous studies, but also provides values for the nuclear quadrupole coupling constants of each14N nucleus. The coupling constants for Ar–N2O, when compared to those for free N2O, show that the electric field gradient at the terminal nitrogen nucleus in the N2O subunit is not affected by the presence of Ar, whereas that at the central nitrogen nucleus is affected slightly. This result, in contrast to recent findings in HCCH–N2O, supports the usual practice of extracting geometrical information for a van der Waals molecule from the nuclear quadrupole coupling tensor(s) of the complex.
Nonlinear transient response of strain rate dependent composite laminated plates using multiscale simulation

The effects of strain rate dependency and inelasticity on the transient responses of composite laminated plates are investigated. A micromechanics model which accounts for the transverse shear stress effect, the effect of strain rate dependency and the effect of inelasticity is used for analyzing the mechanical responses of the fiber and matrix constituents. The accuracy of the micromechanics model under transverse shear loading is verified by comparing the results with those obtained using a general purpose finite element code. A higher order laminated plate theory is extended to capture the inelastic deformations of the composite plate and is implemented using the finite element technique. A complete micro–macro numerical procedure is developed to model the strain rate dependent behavior of inelastic composite laminates by implementing the micromechanics model into the finite element model. Parametric studies of the transient responses of composite plates are conduced. The effects of geometry, ply stacking sequence, material models, boundary conditions and loadings are investigated. The results show that the strain rate dependency and inelasticity influence the transient responses of composite plates via two significantly different mechanisms. � 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Necessity of the Honan intraocular pressure reducer in cataract surgery using topical anesthesia

Abstract Purpose: To assess the use of the Honan intraocular pressure reducer (HIPR) forclear corneal cataract surgery using topical anesthesia. Setting: University of North Carolina Hospitals Ambulatory Care Clinic outpatientoperating rooms. Methods: Of 51 consecutive candidates for surgery (excluding those with uncontrolled glaucoma), 26 were randomly assigned, to' wear the HIPR (Honan group) for 10 minutes before surgery. The remainder were placed in a control group. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured before (T1) and after (T2) HIPR application and after patient preparation for surgery (T3). Results: Mean IOP was the same in the Honan and control groups at T1 and T3. AtT2, the groups had a significantly different mean IOP (P = 1.8 × 10−5). In the Honan group, mean IOP decreased significantly (P = 2.8 × 10−7) between T1 and T2, and there was a significant correlation among patients at T1 and T2 (P Conclusion: When using topical anesthesia, the HIPR transiently reduced IOP. However, the IOP-reducing effect resolved by 'the time of surgery; negating any reason to use the HIPR with topical anesthesia for cataract surgery.
Nonhuman Primate Calorie Restriction

Calorie restriction (CR) is the only dietary intervention that repeatedly extends both median and maximal lifespan in a broad range of species. Although there has been considerable interest in CR and its ability to retard aging, the mechanism has remained elusive. In contrast to studies in rodent and nonmammalian systems that are now beginning to provide mechanistic insights into how CR promotes longevity, the efficacy of CR in delaying primate aging has yet to be fully demonstrated. Here we review some of the insights from CR studies in short-lived species. We describe the advantages of using the rhesus monkey as a model for human aging and detail how CR can be successfully implemented in this species. We discuss the findings from our ongoing longitudinal study and outline the effects to date of CR on rhesus monkey health. Finally, we highlight the importance of primate studies in the context of aging research and its potential to advance our understanding of human aging and health.
Soviet Diplomacy and the First United Front in China

The generally accepted view of the first United Front in China was that the Communist International (Comintern) initially proposed this policy in 1920, at approximately the same time that Marxist study groups were being formed into a communist party in China.' According to this view, an active policy of alliance between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Guomindang (GMD) began in 1922, as a result of the intervention of Henk Sneevliet (Maring), an agent of the Moscow-based Comintern. These dates assume the existence of the CCP prior to the Comintern's adoption of the United Front, an interpretation that most recently published Western histories of the CCP accept.2 Not surprising, historians from the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the former USSR also subscribe to this view because to do otherwise would devalue the CCP's role.3 However, this traditional view that the CCP was integral to the United Front is contradicted by a wealth of evidence showing that the Bolsheviks proposed this policy almost three years before the CCP was formed. In fact, Soviet officials first promoted an alliance with Sun Zhongshan (Sun Yat-sen) during summer 1918 before there were any communists in China at all. The Comintern followed suit during spring 1919, more than a year before Marxist study groups were formed. Finally, with the Comintern's backing, in January 1921 Chen
Host-associated luminescence from YAG optical ceramics under gamma and optical excitation

Abstract The host-associated luminescence of highly dense transparent YAG ceramic material is characterized and compared to that of a single crystal. The UV emission from the ceramic shows a red shift of almost 100 nm from its position in the single crystal, along with major differences in excitation spectrum. The disparities suggest that the two emissions have different origins in the respective materials, probably related to the differences in microstructure and preparation conditions. Alterations in the shape of the intense absorption associated with the band-to-band transition reflect profound changes in carrier distribution in the boundary region as well as a high population of defects incorporated during the grain growth.
ortho-Acidic aromatic thiols as efficient catalysts of intramolecular Morita–Baylis–Hillman and Rauhut–Currier reactions

ortho-Mercaptobenzoic acid and ortho-mercaptophenols were discovered as efficient thiol catalysts of both the intramolecular Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) and Rauhut–Currier (RC) reaction. High reaction rates were achieved under mildly basic, aqueous conditions. The unprecedented catalytic activity of these protic nucleophiles could originate from a Bronsted acid induced destabilization of intermediate thioethers and thus represent a unique mechanism of multifunctional Lewis base catalysis.