cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
What Is The Scope Of Biosemiotics? Information In Living Systems

Because biology involves so many scalar levels and entrains so many aspects of Nature, the notion that it is essentially a direct consequence of genetic information is questioned. After discussing some general points about information and semiosis, the hegemony of genetics is rejected on the grounds that: basic cellular phenomena are generic for micellar systems, and that the overall pattern of development is generic for dissipative structures, and that supramolecular information emerges during development, and that closely similar forms and functions can emerge at the scale of organisms and above in distantly related genealogical lineages. During the course of the paper I suggest that various epigenetic systems may be semiotic entities
KSU Willie in semantic vision challenge

The KSU Willie entry in the Semantic Vision Challenge will use a variety of classifiers, some standard classifiers and some newly developed classifiers, to learn the classification of images downloaded from the web. KSU Willie will use those classifiers to identify objects in the environment.
Syntax-Guided Synthesis with Quantitative Syntactic Objectives

Automatic program synthesis promises to increase the productivity of programmers and end-users of computing devices by automating tedious and error-prone tasks. Despite the practical successes of program synthesis, we still do not have systematic frameworks to synthesize programs that are “good” according to certain metrics—e.g., produce programs of reasonable sizes or with good runtime—and to understand when synthesis can result in such good programs. In this paper, we propose QSyGuS, a unifying framework for describing syntax-guided synthesis problems with quantitative objectives over the syntax of the synthesized programs. QSyGuS builds on weighted (tree) grammars, a clean and foundational formalism that provides flexible support for different quantitative objectives, useful closure properties, and practical decision procedures. We then present an algorithm for solving QSyGuS. Our algorithm leverages closure properties of weighted grammars to generate intermediate problems that can be solved using non-quantitative SyGuS solvers. Finally, we implement our algorithm in a tool, QuaSi, and evaluate it on 26 quantitative extensions of existing SyGuS benchmarks. QuaSi can synthesize optimal solutions in 15/26 benchmarks with times comparable to those needed to find an arbitrary solution.
Cu Loading Dependence of Fast NH 3 -SCR on Cu/SSZ-13

The fast NH3-SCR kinetics are studied on Cu/SSZ-13 with different Cu loadings, under reaction conditions (temperature and space velocity) where both steady-state and differential NOx conversions are readily achieved. Cu loading is found to greatly influence low-temperature NOx turnover rates, however not to substantially affect apparent activation energies. The high reaction apparent activation energies (~ 160 kJ/mol) suggest that the rate-limiting kinetics for fast SCR involve the participation of NH4NO3, an intermediate that is of considerable stability in small-pore zeolites. The energetically demanding NH4NO3 + NO reactions make low-temperature fast SCR much slower than standard SCR over Cu-exchanged small-pore zeolite catalysts, in drastic contrast to vanadium and medium/large pore zeolite-based SCR catalysts.
Di‐tert‐butyl 4‐oxocyclo­hexane‐1,1‐dicarboxyl­ate

In the title compound, C16H26O5, the cyclo­hexa­none ring has a flattened chair conformation, with absolute values of the endocyclic torsion angles lying in the range 39.7 (3)–58.0 (2)°.
Predictability versus responsiveness: coordinating problem solvers in dynamic domains

Coordination in dynamic domains involves balancing predictability and responsiveness: agents must be predictable enough to anticipate and plan future interactions while being responsive enough to react to unexpected situations. The partial global planning approach to coordination provides a framework for flexibly balancing these opposing needs. In this approach, agents communicate about their current local plans to build up partial global plans (PGPs) that specify cooperative actions and interactions. When their plans change, agents must decide whether the time and effort of reformulating their PGPs is worthwhile, or whether working predictably with slightly out-of-date PGPs is more cost effective. In this paper, we briefly outline the partial global planning approach, discuss how it flexibly balances predictability and responsiveness, and experimentally show how different balances affect behavior in a simulated problem-solving network.
Effects of alloying additions on the α ⇋ γ transformation of cerium Part III. Effects of yttrium and rare earth additions

Abstract The influence of yttrium and of the rare earth metals on the electronic (α ⇋ γ) transformation of cerium at high pressures and at low temperatures has been studied. It was shown that the size of the solute atom is important both at high pressures and at low temperatures, and that the spin of the unpaired 4ƒ electron(s) of the solute atom is important only for the γ → α transformation at low temperatures. The reverse transformation (α → γ) at low temperatures appears to be dependent only on the size of the solute atom. It was also found that yttrium and most of the rare earths, with the exception of europium and ytterbium, are β-Ce stabilizers.
Mining Security Critical Linear Temporal Logic Specifications for Processors

This paper presents UNDINE, a tool to automatically generate security critical Linear Temporal Logic (LTL) properties of processor architectures. UNDINE handles complex templates, such as those involving four or more variables, register equality to a constant, and terms written over register slices. We introduce the notion of event types, which allows us to reduce the complexity of the search for a given template. We build a library of nine typed property templates that capture the patterns that are common to security critical properties for RISC processors. We evaluate the performance and efficacy of UNDINE and our library of typed templates on the OR1200, Mor1kx, and RISC-V processors.
Factor Analysis of the Kuder Occupational Interest Survey.

The scale scores of KOIS profiles of 1,084 males and females were converted to intraindividual form by means of a z-score transformation. The sets of 56 female scales and 106 male scales were subje...
Abstract 146: Glomerular Capillary Hypertrophy is Insufficient to Mitigate Mechanical Stresses in 5/6 Nephrectomy: A Modeling Study

The 5/6-nephrectomy (5/6 Nx) model of renal mass reduction shows an increased glomerular pressure (ΔP) and afferent plasma flow (Qa) in the remaining glomeruli. These hemodynamic consequences are a...
Optical constants of evaporated amorphous zinc arsenide (Zn3As2) via spectroscopic ellipsometry

We have used spectroscopic ellipsometry to measure the optical constants of evaporated amorphous zinc arsenide (Zn3As2). A five parameter model using a Tauc-Lorentz oscillator was found to fit well each of six amorphous samples deposited on Si3N4/silicon, allowing the layer thicknesses and optical constants to be deduced. Layer thicknesses varied from 20 to 70 nm. The fitted value of the optical gap (Tauc gap) is 0.95 eV, close to the 1.0 eV band gap for crystalline bulk zinc arsenide. A single set of parameters from an ensemble Tauc-Lorentz model can be used to determine the thicknesses of amorphous Zn3As2 layers as long as the layers are ≳ 25 nm thick. Measured film thicknesses do not correlate with targeted thicknesses, likely due to low sticking coefficients of evaporated zinc arsenide.
Reliability of fault tolerant control systems: Part I

The reliability analysis of fault-tolerant control systems is performed using Markov models. Reliability properties peculiar to fault-tolerant control systems are emphasized. As a consequence, coverage of failures through redundancy management can be severely limited. It is shown that in the early life of a system composed of highly reliable subsystems, the reliability of the overall system is affine with respect to coverage, and inadequate coverage induces dominant single point failures. The utility of some existing software tools for assessing the reliability of fault tolerant control systems is also discussed.
Management of ipsilateral supernumerary nipple at time of breast cancer diagnosis.

Supernumerary breast components occur predominantly between the breast and umbilicus. Carcinoma of this ectopic, or accessory breast tissue (ABT), is exceedingly rare, accounting for <1% of breast cancer cases. Historically, ectopic breast carcinoma was considered aggressive with poor outcome. In 1995, Evans et al reported 90 cases spanning from 1929 to 1993 with a 9.4% survival beyond 4 years. More contemporary studies reveal improvement in both treatment and survival. There is currently no consensus on whether prophylactic excision of an ipsilateral supernumerary nipple at the time of initial breast cancer diagnosis is necessary. The following describes a patient with an ipsilateral tumor uniquely located within her supernumerary nipple 5 years after mastectomy.
Hypermedia CAI: A Supplement to an Elementary School Basal Reader Program

The results from the first year of a longitudinal study involving the development and testing of hypermedia computer assisted instructional (CAI) reading materials for grades K-3 are discussed. The hypermedia materials were designed to facilitate the successful participation of both handicapped and nonhandicapped students as well as students at risk for special education referral in a regular elementary classroom basal reading program. The hypermedia reading lessons provided students with a reading environment offering additional information about words and concepts from their basal reading textbook. This differs from traditional computer assisted reading software which often presents lessons on isolated skills not specifically related to basal textbook content or pedagogy.The results from the first year of the three-year study indicate that hypermedia is a promising instructional tool for students who have been classified as poor readers by means of an achievement test. Results are inconclusive as to whe...
Reseña de Gestión del cuidado interprofesional/ de Dr. Ricardo Ayala Valenzuela, Editor

Al leer este libro se encontraran los puntos de vista de diferentes profesiones respecto a la gestion del cuidado y su evolucion, sobre su influencia en el estamento enfermeria y como se ha ejercido esta responsabilidad de cuidar en el tiempo. El autor aporta una vision complementaria a la gestion del cuidado, cuestion que se mantiene en permanente tension y politizacion en Chile. En esta direccion, nos entrega la vision propia y la de diversos autores del campo de la salud que de forma fragmentada van describiendo multiples visiones que del tema se tienen: desde el estado y su legislacion, desde los actores, los mismos profesionales que transitan desde la colaboracion a la disputa del campo de accion cual es la gestion de la salud. Luego presenta como necesario no solo la construccion teorica del concepto de “interprofesionalidad”, sino que la necesidad de insertarlo dentro del sistema educativo de los futuros profesionales de la salud, involucrandola en todos los ambitos del trabajo profesional. De alli que propone una nueva mirada, apostando por nuevos modelos organizacionales a futuro, que no estaran exentos de analisis y posterior debate por parte de los interesados.
Effects of Neurotrophin-3 on Intrinsic Neuronal Properties at a Central Auditory Structure:

Neurotrophins, a class of growth factor proteins that control neuronal proliferation, morphology, and apoptosis, are found ubiquitously throughout the nervous system. One particular neurotrophin (NT-3) and its cognate tyrosine receptor kinase (TrkC) have recently received attention as a possible therapeutic target for synaptopathic sensorineural hearing loss. Additionally, research shows that NT-3-TrkC signaling plays a role in establishing the sensory organization of frequency topology (ie, tonotopic order) in the cochlea of the peripheral inner ear. However, the neurotrophic effects of NT-3 on central auditory properties are unclear. In this study we examined whether NT-3-TrkC signaling affects the intrinsic electrophysiological properties at a first-order central auditory structure in chicken, known as nucleus magnocellularis (NM). Here, the expression pattern of specific neurotrophins is well known and tightly regulated. By using whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology, we show that NT-3 application to brainstem slices does not affect intrinsic properties of high-frequency neuronal regions but had robust effects for low-frequency neurons, altering voltage-dependent potassium functions, action potential repolarization kinetics, and passive membrane properties. We suggest that NT-3 may contribute to the precise establishment and organization of tonotopy in the central auditory pathway by playing a specialized role in regulating the development of intrinsic neuronal properties of low-frequency NM neurons.
Enhanced Recovery Programs for Colorectal Surgery and Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury: Results From a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.

BackgroundEnhanced recovery programs (ERPs) for colorectal surgery bundle evidence-based measures to reduce complications, accelerate postoperative recovery, and improve the value of perioperative ...
Pre-revolutionary Iran and Great Power Rivalry

In its long and fascinating history, Iran has experienced being a great global power, a formidable regional power, and the battle ground for great power rivalries. In ancient times, its empires were formidable global powers that were engaged in competition with other global powers. After the advent of the Industrial Revolution in the second half of the eighteenth century, however, a vulnerable Iran became the Great Prize in the Great Game by the Great Powers. In what follows, I will discuss the nature and dynamics as well as the dire consequences of different approaches prerevolutionary Iran utilized in the past few centuries in its tumultuous dealings with great power to protect its interests, territorial integrity, and independence. This historical analysis provides a valuable window through which we can better understand the evolution of the mind-set of Iranian leaders, including those of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Cross-Border Reproductive Care: Current State of the Art

Legal restrictions, cultural differences, religious beliefs, and variation in access to advanced reproductive technologies (ART) contribute to the rise in cross-border reproductive care (CBRC).
Is Theory Useful for Conflict Prediction? A Response to Beger, Morgan, and Ward:

Beger, Morgan, and Ward (BM&W) call into question the results of our article on forecasting civil wars. They claim that our theoretically-informed model of conflict escalation under-performs more m...
Agriculture for Life: A Guide for Health Promotion and Participation for Farmers with Health Challenges

Agriculture for Life is an online product of health promotion content for farmers, ranchers, and their family members who are impacted by issues of disability, chronic health conditions, and aging....
Personality Validity: The Role of Schemas and Motivated Reasoning

We explored the role of schemas and motivated reasoning in personality assessment. Utilizing a sample of 299 participants, we investigated whether applying for a specific job leads applicants to adopt a schema. Once adopting the schema, the respondents use that schema in a way that inaccurately reflects what their behavior is. Consequently, as hypothesized, there is a lowering of validities, in comparison with assessing personality in a neutral setting. An intriguing implication of our research is that personality measurement for selection might be shifted from the employment setting to more neutral settings, such as a counselor setting, in order to be optimized. R esearch onpersonality hasrecentlyclarified theutility of using personality variables for predicting job performance. This research (Barrick & Mount, 1991; Barrick, Mount, & Judge, 2001; Dudley, Orvis, Lebiecki, & Cortina, 2006; Hough, 1992; Hurtz & Donovan, 2000; Salgado, 1997, 2002, 2003; Tett, Jackson, & Rothstein, 1991) has demonstrated that personality traits are indeed associated with work performance, with some traits such as conscientiousness predicting success across jobs. Other traits are correlated with specific criteria or specific tasks. For example, openness correlates with training performance or performance on creative tasks. However, very little research has examined the role of self-schemas and motivated reasoning in personality assessment, and their influence on the predictive validity of personality on job performance.
NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R)

The NEO Personality Inventory-Revised (NEO PI-R; Costa & McCrae, 1992) is the updated version of the NEO PI (Costa & McCrae, 1985). The NEO PI-R is a widely used measure of the Five Factor Model (FFM) of adult personality, covering the domains of Neuroticism, Openness to Experience, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness. The FFM is a robust model of normal personality, with a factor structure that has been replicated across many languages and cultures (McCrae et al., 2005). Information on these factors can be useful for understanding emotional, interpersonal, attitudinal, and motivational characteristics that are important for a variety of applications, including psychotherapy, counseling, and employment decisions. The NEO PI-R has also become a major research tool for examining the relationship between personality and behavioral, physical, and mental health variables. It is not intended, however, to assess overt or severe psychopathology, and it is not necessarily diagnostic of any specific psychiatric disorder found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM; American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Keywords: five factor model; personality assessment; personality research
Identifying Functional Annotation for Noncoding Genomic Sequences

The recent success of genome-wide association studies has generated a trove of biologically significant variants implicated in human disease. However, many, if not most, of these variants fall in noncoding regions that have traditionally lacked much functional annotation. New data sets and tools allow for a more detailed assessment of potential importance of noncoding genetic variants. An overview of types of regulatory annotation that are currently available, and approaches to analyzing this data are provided with emphasis on usage of the UCSC genome browser. Curr. Protoc. Hum. Genet. 72:1.10.1-1.10.10 © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Keywords: cis-regulatory element; epigenomics; ENCODE; conservation; ChIP-seq
SEISIS: a rule-based system for segmentation of a seismic section based on texture

SEISIS is a knowledge-based system for the automatic segmentation of seismic sections into large regions of common textural properties. Such regions are believed to contain geologic information which can be related to large scale tectonic events, such as salt diapirs and shale ridges, or to different depositional environments of the constituent sediments. Human expert knowledge is introduced in SEISIS in order to resolve uncertainties in the numerical data and to help in making segmentation decisions. This domain-dependent knowledge, however, maybe stated using terms having imprecise or fuzzy meanings, such as "unlikely", "usually", "seldom", etc. Furthermore, the conditions in the IF part of expert rules normally refer to and should-be matched with the information/facts collected during the segmentation process. These facts generally are associated with certain types of "uncertainties" to reflect their relative truthfulness. How to integrate all this information and knowledge, which is typically of diverse sources and with different scales, to reach a final classification decision is a crucial problem in the development and actual implementation of SEISIS's knowledge-based segmentation process.
National Competitiveness in Comparative Perspective: Evidence from Latin America

The term competitiveness is widely applied as a catch-all for investor-friendly policies and institutions. This article argues that sloppy applications of the term ignore the possibilities of policy tradeoffs and varieties of institutional choices. Popular conceptualizations of the term describe three discernible clusters of economic policies and institutions. One cluster captures openness to international trade; a second gauges regulatory impediments to private sector competition; a third refers to public sector investments in human capital, security, and infrastructure. This essay develops three empirical indexes to operationalize these clusters and shows that these concepts are not only theoretically but also empirically distinct. In particular, the correlation between these measures is not especially high in a sample of Latin American countries. The larger economies in the region tend to be more competitive on the regulatory and public goods dimensions but fall well behind smaller economies in terms of external competitiveness, broadly conceived.
Blogging and Academic Identity

As a blogger, I write about issues that arise in my academic work, but in a different context, a different style, with a different audience. My academic and pedagogical approaches to the environment in literature are descriptive, while in the blog I take an activist ecological stance. I live in the realm of disability studies, and in the blog I try to make sense of the impacts on my academic identity of negotiating the demands of chronic illness. The hidden nature of much disability, mine included, poses a challenge to disability narratives within both academic and popular cultural formations; insights from queer, feminist, and post-colonial theories complicate the ways in which disability studies imagines the body and its social contexts. Narrative scholarship and questions about the place of activism within scholarship provide points of contact between ecocriticism, disability studies, and the study of blogging as social and academic phenomenon. Blogging provides a forum for quick feedback and for conversation with a more diverse audience than traditional academic publishing venues, and can enrich and extend academic discourse.
Image enhancement and processing for positron emission tomography

A filtering method for positron emission tomography is proposed. The image is converted from the rectangular x-y coordinate system to the polar rho - theta coordinate system. This causes the radial noise to map into horizontal lines. Using the Fourier transform, radial noise is then mapped into and around the vertical axis of the Fourier spectrum in the corresponding omega - theta space. A class of filters is designed and applied to these images. The filtered images are then converted back to a rectangular coordinate system for display and examination. This method has been tested using both synthetic and real data. The corrected images show minor residual noise and practically no loss of information around the heart wall. >
Joint Energy-Bandwidth Allocation in Multiple Broadcast Channels With Energy Harvesting

In this paper, we consider the energy-bandwidth allocation for a network with multiple broadcast channels, where the transmitters each powered by an energy harvester, access the network orthogonally on the assigned frequency band and each transmitter communicates with multiple receivers orthogonally or non-orthogonally. We assume that the energy harvesting state and channel gain of each transmitter can be predicted for $K$ time slots a priori . To maximize the weighted throughput, we formulate an optimization problem with $\mathcal{O}(MK)$ constraints, where $M$ is the total number of receivers, and optimize over the energy and bandwidth allocation variables. To solve the problem efficiently, an iterative algorithm is proposed that alternatively solves the two subproblems of energy allocation and bandwidth allocation in each iteration. We show that this algorithm converges to the optimal solution. Also, we propose efficient algorithms to solve the two subproblems, so that the optimal energy-bandwidth allocation can be obtained with an overall complexity of ${\mathcal O}(MK^{2})$ , even though the problem is non-convex when the broadcast channel is non-orthogonal. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithms can make efficient use of the harvested energy and the available bandwidth, and achieve significantly better performance as compared to some heuristic policies for energy and bandwidth allocation. Moreover, it is seen that with energy-harvesting transmitters, the non-orthogonal broadcast channel offers limited gain over the orthogonal broadcast channel.
Ethics and Economics in Search of a Common Language

Book reviewed in this article: The Needs of Strangers. By Michael Ignatieff. The Health Economy. By Victor Fuchs. Just Health Care. By Norman Daniels
Adaptive active-mask image segmentation for quantitative characterization of mitochondrial morphology

We propose an automated algorithm for segmentation of mitochondria from widefield fluorescence microscopy images for quantitative morphology characterization. Mitochondria are membrane-bound organelles that are essential to cells of higher living organisms. Reliable and precise quantitative characterization of their shape is crucial to understanding related physiology and disease mechanisms. Building upon the active-mask framework developed for segmentation of confocal fluorescence microscope images, we propose a new adaptive region-based distributing function to effectively address the problem of halo artifacts that are common in widefield fluorescence images. Such artifacts prevent the segmentation of weak features of mitochondria using existing algorithms. We compare the algorithm to the original active-mask algorithm as well as the geodesic active contour algorithm based on hand-segmented ground truth, and find that it performs significantly better both qualitatively and quantitatively.
Increasing returns, ecological feedback and the Early Triassic recovery

Abstract Most models of biotic recovery following mass extinction generally invoke logistic growth, with increasing competition due to resource competition eventually causing a decline in the rate of increase in diversity. Yet one of the most interesting aspects of recoveries is the acquisition of new resources and the expansion of diversity. In other words, the carrying capacity of the ecosystem increases, a process not captured by logistic models. Insights from theories of economic growth, particularly of the sources of economic innovation, suggest an important role for the spillover effects of particular types of ecosystem engineering. The positive feedback effects of these spillovers allow the rapid expansion of biodiversity, as is seen during the late Early Triassic phase of biotic recovery.
Family-focused substance abuse treatment: a program evaluation.

Abstract Until recently, few programs were available for children whose mothers are in recovery. A refinement of the gender-specific model of substance abuse treatment, the “family-focused” approach, has placed increased emphasis on the needs of children and other family members. However, because these programs are relatively new, little is known about the effectiveness of this type of treatment for either the mother or her children. This article presents findings from a three-year evaluation of a family-focused residential treatment program for women and their children. Longitudinal assessment of the mothers indicated that their psychosocial status and parenting attitudes improved over time. Additionally, the mothers remained in treatment longer. At intake, as a group, the children who were birth to three years of age did not exhibit developmental delay. However, developmental concerns were identified for some children in the areas of motor and/or language development. The results reported here provide b...
Adaptations of myonuclei to hypertrophy in patagialis muscle fibers from aged quail

Abstract Hypertrophic responses to stretch are attenuated in slow-tonic muscles from old quail, relative to young birds. It is not known if the age-associated differences would be similar in fast-twitch muscles after stretch. This study compared the effect of 30 days of stretch overload on slow β fibers and fast-α fibers in patagialis (PAT) muscles from young adult (YA) quail aged 12 weeks, old adult (OA) quail aged 52 weeks and the oldest (OO) quail, aged 90 weeks. The PAT muscle was stretched for 7, 14, 21, or 30 days by a sleeve that was attached to one wing. Birds received a subcutaneously implanted 5′-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU) pellet that provided a constant release of 0.22mg BrdU/g body wt/day to label nuclei that had undergone DNA synthesis during stretch. Fiber cross-sectional area (CSA) was determined by planimetry from slow β and fast-α fibers after identification by myosin ATPase. Harris hematoxylin was used to identify muscle nuclei. Muscle mass increased by 44.1 ± 3.1, 32.6 ± 3.9 and 25.7 ± 4.3% in YA, OA and OO birds, respectively. Slow-β fiber hypertrophy was observed at day 7 of stretch in all birds; however, YA birds had greater hypertrophy than the older birds. Fast-α fibers were unaffected by stretch. No significant difference was observed between PAT muscles from OA and OO birds. Total fiber number was not significantly elevated in the PAT muscle from any age group after 30 days of stretch. Activated satellite cells were not detected in stretched muscles of either young or old birds. This suggests that the increase in mean slow-β fiber CSA was potentiated by existing myonuclei rather than by recruiting additional nuclei.
Postmenopausal vesical endometriosis

Vesical endometriosis in a postmenopausal patient is reported. An abdominal hysterectomy had been performed twenty-four years previously, and exogenous estrogens had not been administered. The patient was treated surgically with a partial cystectomy.
ENERGY ANALYSIS OF A NONLINEAR MODEL OF THE NORMAL HUMAN LUNG

Despite the existence of respiratory mechanics models in the literature, rarely one finds analytical expressions that predict the work of breathing (WOB) associated with natural breathing maneuvers in non-ventilated subjects. In the present study, we develop relations that explicitly identify WOB, based on a proposed nonlinear model of respiratory mechanics. The model partitions airways resistance into three components (upper, middle and small), includes a collapsible airways segment, a viscoelastic element describing lung tissue dynamics and a static chest wall compliance. The individual contribution of these respiratory components on WOB is identified and analyzed. For instance, according to model predictions, during the forced vital capacity (FVC) maneuver, most of the work is expended against dissipative forces, mainly during expiration. In addition, expiratory dissipative work during FVC is almost equally partitioned among the upper airways and the collapsible airways resistances. The former expends work at the beginning of expiration, the latter at the end of expiration. The contribution of the peripheral airways is small. Our predictions are validated against laboratory data collected from volunteer subjects and using the esophageal catheter balloon technique.
Intermolecular linking and fragmentation of DNA by β-propiolactone, a monoalkylating carcinogen

Summary Brief exposure to β-propiolactone (BPL) increases the sedimentation rate of purified Escherichia coli DNA in neutral and alkaline sucrose gradients. However, when electrophoresed in polyacrylamide-agarose gels, this BPL-treated DNA moves ahead of the control. Longer incubation with BPL gives rise to two new fractions, the first one sedimenting as a heterogeneous material of 6-8S, and the second one of very high sedimentation velocity. In acrylamide-agarose gels, the first fraction is again recovered in the 6-8S area, while the second fraction does not enter the gel at all. The DNA at this stage is hyperchromic in ultraviolet light suggesting that as much as 20% may be denatured. Coliphage λ DNA treated briefly with BPL and spread in a protein monolayer appears under the electron microscope as a rigid, extended molecule, up to 15% longer than the control DNA, and usually in compact, folded configurations suggesting intramolecular linking. After longer exposure, localized denaturation associated with single-strand breaks is observed. The single-stranded “whiskers” then interact with other DNA molecules, creating highly complex branched networks of single- and multi-stranded DNA. The possible relevance of these observations to the mechanisms involved in carcinogenesis and mutagenesis is considered.
Issues Surrounding Lethal Injection as a Means of Capital Punishment

Lethal injection as a method of state-sanctioned capital punishment was initially proposed in the United States in 1977 and used for the first time in 1982. Most lethal injection protocols use a sequential drug combination of sodium thiopental, pancuronium bromide, and potassium chloride. Lethal injection was originally introduced as a more humane form of execution compared with existing mechanical methods such as electrocution, toxic gassing, hanging, or firing squad. Lethal injection has not, however, been without controversy. Several states are considering whether lethal injection meets constitutional scrutiny forbidding cruel and unusual punishment. Recently in the case of Ralph Baze and Thomas C. Bowling, Petitioners, v John D. Rees, Commissioner, Kentucky Department of Corrections et al, the United States Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the lethal injection protocol as carried out in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Most of the debate has surrounded the dosing and procedures used in lethal injection and whether the drug combinations and measures for administering the drugs truly produce a timely, pain-free, and fail-safe death. Many have also raised issues regarding the "medicalization" of execution and the ethics of health care professionals' participation in any part of the lethal injection process. As a result of all these issues, the future of lethal injection as a means of execution in the United States is under significant scrutiny. Outcomes of ongoing legislative and judicial reviews might result in cessation of lethal injection in totality or in alterations involving specific drug combinations or administration procedures.
Cytokinetic failure and asynchronous nuclear division in BHK cells overexpressing a truncated protein-tyrosine-phosphatase.

Previous work has shown that a T-cell protein-tyrosine-phosphatase truncated in its carboxyl-terminal domain (delta C11.PTP) has full enzymatic activity but no longer localizes in the particulate fraction of the cell. Two baby hamster kidney (BHK) cell lines overexpressing the truncated protein are markedly multinucleate, a state likely caused by a failure in cytokinesis. Nuclei within syncytial cells overexpressing delta C11.PTP display a remarkable asynchronous entry into mitosis. The effects require tyrosine phosphatase activity because expression of an inactive form of the truncated enzyme yields cells indistinguishable from the parental cell line. Redistribution of the enzyme from the particulate to the soluble fraction is apparently important to these observed effects because cells overexpressing the full-length, wild-type enzyme are morphologically similar to controls. Further, when these cells contain more than one nucleus, their syncytial nuclei undergo mitosis synchronously.
Crystal Structures of the E. coli Transcription Initiation Complexes with a Complete Bubble.

Summary During transcription initiation, RNA polymerase binds to promoter DNA to form an initiation complex containing a DNA bubble and enters into abortive cycles of RNA synthesis before escaping the promoter to transit into the elongation phase for processive RNA synthesis. Here we present the crystal structures of E. coli transcription initiation complexes containing a complete transcription bubble and de novo synthesized RNA oligonucleotides at about 6-A resolution. The structures show how RNA polymerase recognizes DNA promoters that contain spacers of different lengths and reveal a bridging interaction between the 5′-triphosphate of the nascent RNA and the σ factor that may function to stabilize the short RNA-DNA hybrids during the early stage of transcription initiation. The conformation of the RNA oligonucleotides and the paths of the DNA strands in the complete initiation complexes provide insights into the mechanism that controls both the abortive and productive RNA synthesis.
Cross-linking of the NH2-terminal Region of Fibronectin to Molecules of Large Apparent Molecular Mass: CHARACTERIZATION OF FIBRONECTIN ASSEMBLY SITES INDUCED BY THE TREATMENT OF FIBROBLASTS WITH LYSOPHOSPHATIDIC ACID

Abstract Cell surface molecules on adherent cells that bind 125I-labeled fibronectin or its 70-kDa N-terminal fragment were identified by cross-linking with factor XIIIa and by photoaffinity labeling. Such cross-linking caused the 70-kDa fragment to become associated irreversibly to cell layers and was greater in cells treated with lysophosphatidic acid, an enhancer of fibronectin assembly and strong modulator of cell shape. Cross-linking of the 70-kDa fragment with factor XIIIa was to molecules that migrated in discontinuous sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels at the top of the 3.3% stacking gel and near the top of the separating gel. Estimated sizes of these large apparent molecular mass molecules (LAMMs) were ≫3 MDa and ~3 MDa. The label in 70-kDa fragment conjugated with 125I-sulfosuccinimidyl 2-(p-azidosalicylamido)-1,3′-dithiopropionate was associated with ≫3-MDa LAMMs without reduction and with ~3-MDa LAMMs after reduction and transfer of the cleavable label. The LAMMs were expressed on monolayer cells shortly after adherence, required both 1% Triton X-100 and 2 M urea for efficient extraction, and were susceptible to digestion with trypsin but not to cathepsin D digestion. Complexes of 125I-70-kDa fragment and LAMMs were also susceptible to limited acid digestion and Glu-C protease digestion but were not cleaved by chondroitin lyase or heparitinase. Neither the uncleaved complexes nor the cleavage products were immunoprecipitated with anti-fibronectin antibodies directed toward epitopes outside the 70-kDa region. Thus, cell surface molecules that are either very large or not dissociated in sodium dodecyl sulfate comprise the labile matrix assembly sites for fibronectin.
A simple tool for neuroimaging data sharing.

Data sharing is becoming increasingly common, but despite encouragement and facilitation by funding agencies, journals, and some research efforts, most neuroimaging data acquired today is still not shared due to political, financial, social, and technical barriers to sharing data that remain. In particular, technical solutions are few for researchers that are not a part of larger efforts with dedicated sharing infrastructures, and social barriers such as the time commitment required to share can keep data from becoming publicly available.We present a system for sharing neuroimaging data, designed to be simple to use and to provide benefit to the data provider. The system consists of a server at the International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility (INCF) and user tools for uploading data to the server. The primary design principle for the user tools is ease of use: the user identifies a directory containing DICOM data, provides their INCF Portal authentication, and provides identifiers for the subject and imaging session. The user tool anonymizes the data and sends it to the server. The server then runs quality control routines on the data, and the data and the quality control reports are made public. The user retains control of the data and may change the sharing policy as they need. The result is that in a few minutes of the user’s time, DICOM data can be anonymized and made publicly available, and an initial quality control assessment can be performed on the data. The system is currently functional, and user tools and access to the public image database are available at http://xnat.incf.org/.
A spatially and temporally resolved biogenic hydrocarbon emissions inventory for the California South Coast Air Basin

Abstract Spatially and temporally resolved inventories for green leaf biomass and biogenic hydrocarbon emissions were developed for the California South Coast Air Basin (SoCAB) using a geographic information system (GIS) and digitized land-use data based on low altitude aerial imagery. Urban, agricultural, and natural land-use distributions in the SoCAB were combined with biomass factors for each land-use category to produce a spatially resolved biomass inventory. As of 1990, about 80% of the approximately 6 × 10 6 metric tons of green leaf biomass was concentrated primarily in the forested mountains on the northern and eastern boundaries of the SoCAB. A biogenic hydrocarbon emissions inventory was developed by combining the biomass inventory with hourly emission rates for 278 tree, shrub, and ground cover species identified in the study area. Correcting for environmental factors, including light intensity, canopy shading, and temperature (from data for the period 9/87-6/92), combined isoprene and monoterpene emissions were estimated to be approximately 125–140 tons d −1 (td −1 ) for an average summer day, 180–200 td −1 for an average high ozone-episode day, and approximately 40 td −1 for an average winter day. The ratio of monoterpene to isoprene emission inventories ranged between approximately 1 and 2 for the summer and winter, respectively. Isoprene emissions were highest in the mountains and certain urbanized portions of the SoCAB whereas monoterpene emissions were highest in the mountains and the sagebrush/chaparral-dominated portions of the study area. On a mass basis, the biogenic hydrocarbon emissions inventory for the SoCAB obtained in this study represents approximately 10% of the anthropogenic VOC emissions in the Basin on a summer day.
14-Electron Four-Coordinate Ru(II) Carbyl Complexes and their Five-Coordinate Precursors : Synthesis, Double Agostic Interactions, and Reactivity

The structure of five-coordinate Ru(II) complexes RuHCl(CO)(PiPr3)2, 1, RuCl2(CO)(PiPr3)2, 2, and Ru(Ph)Cl(CO)(PtBu2Me)2, 12, are reported. All three of these complexes have square-based pyramid geometry with the strongest σ-donor ligand trans to the vacant site. These 16-electron complexes do not show bona fide agostic interactions. This is attributed to the strong trans influence ligand (H, CO, and Ph) and π-donation of the Cl, which is further supported by the fact that two agostic interactions are present in the Cl- removal product of 12, i.e., the four-coordinate [RuPh(CO)L2]BAr‘4 (L = PtBu2Me, Ar‘ = 3,5-C6H3(CF3)2), 16. Structural comparison of 16 and 12 reveals that removal of Cl- does not change the remaining ligand arrangements but creates two low-lying LUMOs for agostic interactions, which persist in solution as evidenced by IR spectroscopy. Reactions of 16 with E−H (E = B, C(sp)) bonds cleave the Ru−Ph bond and form Ru−E/H bonds by different mechanisms. The reaction with catecholborane gives [R...
It#s More Than the Five To Do's: Insights on Diversity Education and Training From Roosevelt Thomas, a Pioneer and Thought Leader in the Field

Several scholars have shared their perspectives on diversity education and training in the literature; however, the voice of practitioners in scholarly outlets is often absent. Roosevelt Thomas, a ...
Regulation of hepatic lecithin: retinol acyltransferase activity by retinoic acid.

Abstract The activity of the hepatic enzyme lecithin: retinol acyltransferase (LRAT), thought to catalyze the esterification of retinol for storage, was previously shown to vary directly with the vitamin A (retinol) status of the rat [Randolph, R. K., and Ross, A. C. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 16453-16457]. The present studies were designed to determine whether liver LRAT activity is regulated in vivo by retinoic acid, a principal active metabolite of retinol. LRAT activity was negligible in the livers of vitamin A-deficient rats. Following treatment with a single 2-μg dose of retinoic acid, LRAT activity increased significantly while, following treatment with a single 20-μg dose, liver LRAT activity equalled that of vitamin A-sufficient adult rats. Retinoic acid was more effective than an equimolar quantity of retinol in restoring LRAT activity in the vitamin A-deficient rat liver. The increase in hepatic LRAT activity after administration of retinoic acid occurred rapidly, reaching a maximum within 12-16 h but declining again after 48-72 h. Studies were conducted in vivo to gain insight into the level of regulation of LRAT by retinoic acid. The increase in LRAT activity by retinoic acid in the vitamin A-deficient rat was blocked completely by both actinomycin D and cycloheximide. The ability of liver to esterify retinol in vivo was correlated with the in vitro activity of LRAT after retinoic acid induction. We conclude that retinoic acid, an important end product of retinol metabolism, regulates a key aspect of hepatic retinal metabolism through its regulatory activity on liver LRAT.
Interconversion of Ampicillin and Hetacillin in Vitro

The conversion of hetacillin to ampicillin in aqueous solution was studied by hydroxylamine assay, IR analysis, and 14C-labeling methods. Each technique indicates a half-life of at least 4 hr for hetacillin at physiological pH. The interconversion of ampicillin and hetacillin in aqueous solutions can be controlled by the concentration of added acetone. Excess acetone leads to the formation of hetacillin in aqueous solutions of ampicillin. A scheme for this interconversion is proposed, which accounts for the production of a Schiff base intermediate and penicillenic acid.
Replacement of Intestinal Mucosa With Urothelium in Rat Augmented Bladders Using Intravesical Photodynamic Therapy With 5-Aminolaevulinic Acid

Purpose: We evaluated the efficacy of intravesical aminolevulinic acid (δ-aminolevulinic acid hydrochloride) (Frontier Scientific, Logan, Utah) and photodynamic therapy for the removal of small intestinal mucosa in augmented bladders in a rat model.Materials and Methods: Enterocystoplasty was performed in 70 female rats using a patch of terminal ileum. A total of 28 were used to determine the pharmacokinetics (0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 M) and dwell time (30, 60 and 90 minutes) of intravesically administered aminolevulinic acid to optimize intestinal mucosal absorption and minimize bladder mucosal absorption. The remaining augmented rats were treated with intravesical photodynamic therapy at light doses of 75, 100 and 125 J. Ileal and bladder tissues were evaluated by light microscopy. Cystometric studies to evaluate bladder volume were measured before and after photodynamic therapy.Results: The concentration of 0.3 M aminolevulinic acid with a dwell time of 30 minutes resulted in an average ± SE bowel-to-bladder c...