cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Colossal Permittivity in Microwave‐Sintered Barium Titanate and Effect of Annealing on Dielectric Properties

Colossal permittivity (e′ = 301,484 at room temperature and 1 kHz) of barium titanate was induced in ceramics synthesized using the microwave sintering method. Three different sintering processes (conventional, spark plasma, and microwave) were performed to better understand colossal permittivity in sintered barium titanate. The dielectric permittivity measurements revealed that the appearance of colossal permittivity has strong dependence on the sintering temperature and atmosphere, and less on the grain size of the sintered ceramics. However, the as-sintered barium titanate samples produced by microwave sintering show high dielectric loss (tanδ > 1) consistent with oxygen reduction during the microwave sintering process and consequent accumulation of oxygen vacancies and associated charge carriers at the grain boundary. Since the highly conductive state of as-sintered ceramics precludes their use in dielectric applications, thermal annealing at different conditions was performed to recover insulating characteristics. Microwave-sintered barium titanate with post annealing process (950°C for 12 h in air) showed low dielectric loss (tanδ = 0.045) at room temperature and 1 kHz, while still showing a much higher permittivity (e′ = 36,055) than conventionally sintered barium titanate (e′ = 3500).
The role of rheology in lithospheric thinning by mantle plumes

Lithospheric thinning by mantle plumes is an important planetary heat transfer process resulting in the broad topographic uplift that characterizes the volcanic rises on Venus, the Tharsis rise on Mars, and several hotspot swells on Earth. We present a suite of time-dependent, three-dimensional numerical calculations of a plume impinging upon the lithosphere in a temperature-dependent viscosity mantle. Efficient lithospheric thinning is found to depend on the formation of convective instabilities in the plume-lithosphere boundary layer. These instabilities are non-axisymmetric, time-dependent, and have horizontal scales of a few tens of kilometers. These instabilities depend on the temperature-dependence of viscosity and occur when the plume's viscosity is about an order of magnitude less than the background mantle, as predicted by boundary-layer theory. Thus, in planetary mantles, plumes with excess temperatures of 100 to 200 K will efficiently thin the lithosphere via small-scale convective instabilities.
Possible involvement of acetaldehyde, norepinephrine and their tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives in the regulation of ethanol self-administration

In this study, we examined the possible role of acetaldehyde in the mediation of the reinforcing properties of ethanol. We also examined the possible interaction of acetaldehyde and brain norepinephrine in this mediation. We found that rats will self-administer acetaldehyde delivered into the cerebral ventricles, and that this operant behaviour can be attenuated by injections of a dopamine-beta-hydroxylase inhibitor. The results are discussed in terms of a role for tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids in alcoholism.
Dryland soil microbial communities display spatial biogeographic patterns associated with soil depth and soil parent material

Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are common to drylands worldwide. We employed replicated, spatially nested sampling and 16S rRNA gene sequencing to describe the soil microbial communities in three soils derived from different parent material (sandstone, shale, and gypsum). For each soil type, two depths (biocrusts, 0–1 cm; below-crust soils, 2–5 cm) and two horizontal spatial scales (15 cm and 5 m) were sampled. In all three soils, Cyanobacteria and Proteobacteria demonstrated significantly higher relative abundance in the biocrusts, while Chloroflexi and Archaea were significantly enriched in the below-crust soils. Biomass and diversity of the communities in biocrusts or below-crust soils did not differ with soil type. However, biocrusts on gypsum soil harbored significantly larger populations of Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria and lower populations of Cyanobacteria. Numerically dominant operational taxonomic units (OTU; 97% sequence identity) in the biocrusts were conserved across the soil types, whereas two dominant OTUs in the below-crust sand and shale soils were not identified in the gypsum soil. The uniformity with which small-scale vertical community differences are maintained across larger horizontal spatial scales and soil types is a feature of dryland ecosystems that should be considered when designing management plans and determining the response of biocrusts to environmental disturbances.
Against the politics of desperation: educational justice, critical race theory, and Chicago school reform

As a center for education ‘reform’ in the United States, Chicago sheds light on state apparatuses seeking to end public education and replace it with market-driven ventures, largely by way of public–private partnerships. Critical to this process is the idea of ‘choice’ which has come to operate as a political device providing the illusion that students, parents, and families have options leading to educational improvement. In this article, Stovall pays specific attention to what he calls the politics of desperation, suggesting that entities such as central school offices and educational management organizations are using popular rhetoric coupled with marketing tools to solicit buy-in on their specific brand of educational improvement. He argues that this strategy targets groups facing uncertainty in education and housing, and who therefore attempt to navigate choices they have little say in defining. Instead of said improvements, Stovall contends we are witnessing a ‘more-of-the-same’ game, including disp...
Time-resolved, nonperturbative, and off-resonance generation of optical terahertz sidebands from bulk GaAs

We have investigated terahertz (THz) sideband generation from bulk GaAs using intense pulses of coherent THz (or far-infrared) radiation from a free electron laser. In contrast to previous studies, sidebands appeared inside the band gap and therefore were not resonantly enhanced from real states. Also, using picosecond pulses and changing the temporal overlap between the THz and near-infrared pulses allowed us to monitor the evolution of the THz sidebands directly in the time domain; this suggests a convenient method for characterizing THz pulses using a conventional Si photodetector. In addition to an expected second-order sideband, we detected a first-order sideband, which has previously been observed only in an asymmetrically coupled double quantum well system where the inversion symmetry was intentionally broken. Finally, the THz power dependence clearly revealed a deviation from perturbative behavior, indicating the entrance into the strong-field regime.
Mapping and modeling airborne urban phenanthrene distribution using vegetation biomonitoring

Abstract To capture the spatial distribution of phenanthrene in an urban setting we used vegetation biomonitoring with Jeffrey pine trees (Pinus jeffreyi). The major challenge in characterizing spatial variation in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations within a metropolitan area has been sampling at a fine enough resolution to observe the underlying spatial pattern. However, field and chamber studies show that the primary pathway through which PAHs enter plants is from air into leaves, making vegetation biomonitoring a feasible way to examine the spatial distribution of these compounds. Previous research has shown that phenanthrene has adverse health effects and that it is one of the most abundant PAHs in urban air. We collected 99 pine needle samples from 91 locations in Fresno in the morning on a winter day, and analyzed them for PAHs in the inner needle. All 99 pine needle samples had detectable levels of phenanthrene, with mean concentration of 41.0 ng g−1, median 36.9 ng g−1, and standard deviation of 28.5 ng g−1 fresh weight. The ratio of the 90th:10th percentile concentrations by location was 3.3. The phenanthrene distribution had a statistically significant Moran's I of 0.035, indicating a high degree of spatial clustering. We implemented land use regression to fit a model to our data. Our model was able to explain a moderate amount of the variability in the data (R2 = 0.56), likely reflecting the major sources of phenanthrene in Fresno. The spatial distribution of modeled airborne phenanthrene shows the influences of highways, railroads, and industrial and commercial zones.
Familial severe twenty-nail dystrophy

Severe nail dystrophy is a recently described acquired nail disorder. The nails are variably involved and may show thinning, thickening, pitting, ridging, koilonychia, opalescence, and loss of luster. Not uncommonly, some nails are completely spared. Although most of the cases reported were among children, and nail changes showed gradual resolution, in a few cases the disorder is seen in adulthood. We recently investigated a pedigree extending through five generations in which twenty-one of the thirty-seven members were variably afflicted with the dystrophic nail changes. To our knowledge, the familial pattern, inherited as an autosomal dominant trait, has never been previously reported, We propose the term "familial severe twenty-nail dystrophy" for the disorder in this family.
Formation of weld crater in GMAW of aluminum alloys

Both mathematical modeling and experiments have been conducted on the formation of the crater formed in a GMAW of aluminum alloy 6005-T4. Transient weld pool shape and the distributions of temperature and velocity were calculated by a three-dimensional numerical model. The final weld bead shape and dimensions were obtained. Corresponding experiments were conducted and in good agreement with modeling predictions. Metallurgical characterizations were also performed on the experimental samples. It was found that due to the fast solidification of the weld pool after the termination of the welding arc, there is no time for the molten metal to flow back towards the weld pool center and close up the crater. Thus a crater was formed at the end of the weld bead. Solidification cracking was formed at the center of weld crater. A ‘‘back-up” technique was proposed to allow extra molten metal to flow back to the crater and fill it up. The crater was successfully filled and the crater cracking was eliminated.
USING PANEL DATA TO ESTIMATE THE EFFECT OF THE NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT ON EMPLOYMENT AND WAGES AT THE STATE LEVEL

I determine the effect of NAFTA on employment and wages in the United States. I use a panel-data set of 50 states for 1980-2000, and a two-stage least squares, fixed effects model. I estimate equations for employment and wages. Empirical results indicate that NAFTA had a negative effect on employment and a positive effect on wages. Chow Test results suggest that there is a break in both the employment and wage relationships in 1994, the year NAFTA became effective.
Television News and Citizens' Explanations of National Affairs

Causal beliefs are important ingredients of public opinion. Citizens are able to identify the causes of complex national issues and do so spontaneously. Evidence is presented that individuals' explanations of political issues are significantly influenced by the manner in which television news presentations “frame” these issues. These results are politically consequential, for individuals' explanations of national issues independently affect their assessments of presidential performance.
Cellular and Biochemical Aspects of Airway Hyperresponsiveness

I think in the last two years the concepts of asthma have changed rather strikingly and most people would now accept asthma as an inflammatory condition.
What predicts the use by brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) of terrestrial invertebrate subsidies in headwater streams

SUMMARY 1. Spatial subsidies are important resources for organisms in receiving habitats, particularly when production in those habitats is low. Terrestrial invertebrates provide a critical subsidy for trout, including eastern brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), but we have limited understanding of what causes input and use of these subsidies to vary among streams. 2. We predicted that forest successional stage would be an especially important driver of variation in terrestrial invertebrate subsidies to brook trout in headwater streams due to differences in terrestrial invertebrate biomass in early and late successional habitats. Specifically, we expected biomass of aerial invertebrates, those capable of dispersal to the stream, to be greater in early successional habitat than late successional habitat due to the nutrient-rich, herbaceous vegetation typical of early successional habitat. 3. We measured aerial terrestrial invertebrate biomass in early and late successional habitats, input to streams and use by resident brook trout in 12 first- and second-order catchments in northern New Hampshire, U.S.A. The study catchments represented a range of early successional habitat coverage (0–51.5%). We also measured a suite of reach-scale variables that might influence terrestrial invertebrate input and use by brook trout, including riparian forest conditions and benthic invertebrate biomass. 4. Within study catchments, aerial terrestrial invertebrate biomass and abundance were significantly higher in early successional habitats than late successional habitats. However, terrestrial invertebrate input to streams and use by brook trout were unrelated to per cent early successional habitat in the catchment, and to other catchment and riparian forest characteristics. These results indicate that the management for upland early successional habitat has little effect on terrestrial invertebrate subsidies to headwater streams and fish. 5. Surprisingly, benthic invertebrate biomass was the one significant predictor of per cent terrestrial invertebrates in brook trout diets. Use of terrestrial invertebrate subsidies declined with increasing benthic invertebrate biomass, suggesting that productivity in the aquatic environment influences the degree to which brook trout use terrestrial subsidies. Although subsidy inputs are controlled by the donor system, this study shows that use of these subsidies by consumers can be determined by conditions in the recipient habitat.
p56lck CONTROLS PHOSPHORYLATION OF FILAMIN (ABP-280) AND REGULATES FOCAL ADHESION KINASE (pp125FAK)

Transformation of cells by src -like kinases leads to altered cell morphology associated with the disassembly of focal contacts and concomitant increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of pp125FAK. p56lck is a lymphocyte-specific member of the src family of protein tyrosine kinases that associates with cell surface glycoproteins such as CD4 and CD8. It phosphorylates and activates pp125FAK and increases its autokinase activity, thus pretreatment of pp125FAK with protein kinase C (PKC) markedly attenuates its phosphorylation and activation, suggesting a potential regulatory pathway of pp125FAK activation in focal contacts. p56lck further phosphorylates and activates actin binding protein (ABP-280; filamin) and controls its association with cell surface receptors such as β-2 integrins, actin filament cross-linking, and possibly lipid membrane insertion.
Inositol trisphosphate restores impaired human gallbladder motility associated with cholesterol stones

Abstract Background: Gallbladder motility is impaired in specimens with cholesterol stones but normal with pigment stones. Methods: Muscle cells obtained from 19 human gallbladders with cholesterol stones and 11 with pigment stones were enzymatically digested and contracted with cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8), acetylcholine, and KCl. Results: Muscle cells from pigment stones had a greater contraction than cells from cholesterol stones. CCK-8-induced contraction was unaffected by calcium-free media but was blocked by strontium. Potassium-evoked contraction was blocked by a calcium-free media and unaffected by strontium. Inositol triphosphate (IP-3)-induced contraction was similar to the contraction caused by CCK-8 in permeable cells from pigment stones but was greater than the response to CCK-8 in cells from cholesterol stones. Conclusions: Muscle cells from gallbladders with cholesterol stones contract less than cells from gallbladders with pigment stones; CCK-8-induced contraction only uses stored calcium; and IP-3 causes contractions of equal magnitude in cells from gallbladders with cholesterol and pigment stones. These abnormalities could result from an impaired receptor activation of the mechanism for IP-3 generation and release of stored calcium.
A novel role for survivin in erythroblast enucleation

Background Nucleus free red blood cells are unique to mammals. During their terminal stage of differentiation, mammalian erythroblasts exit the cell cycle and enucleate. We previously found that survivin, a member of the chromosomal passenger complex that is required for cytokinesis, is highly expressed in late non-dividing cells. The role of survivin in enucleating erythroblasts is not known.Design and Methods In order to identify the role of survivin in these late erythroblasts, we performed proteomic analysis on survivin-bound protein complexes purified from murine erythroleukemia cells. Various molecular and cell biological techniques were used to confirm the presence and function of this novel complex. Furthermore, we used survivinfl/fl mice to study the effect of loss of survivin in enucleating erythroblasts.Results We found that survivin failed to co-localize with its known partners' inner centromere protein or Aurora-B in enucleating erythroblasts but rather exists in a multi-protein complex with epidermal growth factor receptor substrate15 and clathrin, two proteins that mediate endocytic vesicle trafficking. As evidence for a direct role of this latter complex in enucleation, we found that knockdown of the genes reduced the efficiency of enucleation of primary human erythroblasts. We also observed that loss of survivin in murine erythroblasts inhibited enucleation and that survivin-deficient cells harbored smaller cytoplasmic vacuoles. Interestingly, vacuolin-1, a small molecule that induces vacuole fusion, rescued the defective enucleation caused by survivin deficiency.Conclusions This study identified a novel role for survivin in erythroblast enucleation through previously unknown protein partners.
Vibrio fischeri-derived outer membrane vesicles trigger host development

Outer membrane vesicles (OMV) are critical elements in many host-cell/microbe interactions. Previous studies of the symbiotic association between Euprymna scolopes and Vibrio fischeri had shown that within 12 h of colonizing crypts deep within the squid's light organ, the symbionts trigger an irreversible programme of tissue development in the host. Here, we report that OMV produced by V. fischeri are powerful contributors to this process. The first detectable host response to the OMV is an increased trafficking of macrophage-like cells called haemocytes into surface epithelial tissues. We showed that exposing the squid to other Vibrio species fails to induce this trafficking; however, addition of a high concentration of their OMV, which can diffuse into the crypts, does. We also provide evidence that tracheal cytotoxin released by the symbionts, which can induce haemocyte trafficking, is not part of the OMV cargo, suggesting two distinct mechanisms to induce the same morphogenesis event. By manipulating the timing and localization of OMV signal delivery, we showed that haemocyte trafficking is fully induced only when V. fischeri, the sole species able to reach and grow in the crypts, succeeds in establishing a sustained colonization. Further, our data suggest that the host's detection of OMV serves as a symbiotic checkpoint prior to inducing irreversible morphogenesis.
Taking Another Look at Behavior Modification and Assertive Discipline.

Among the most frequently proposed approaches to dealing with disci pline in schools is behavior modification. Although behavior modifica tion is anything but a new approach, it has received an increasing amount of attention and notoriety since the 1980s, largely because of Lee Canter's advocacy of "assertive discipline."
Gross primary production variability associated with meteorology, physiology, leaf area, and water supply in contrasting woodland and grassland semiarid riparian ecosystems

[1] Understanding ecosystem-atmosphere carbon exchanges in dryland environments has been more challenging than in mesic environments, likely due to more pronounced nonlinear responses of ecosystem processes to environmental variation. To better understand diurnal to interannual variation in gross primary productivity (GPP) variability, we coupled continuous eddy-covariance derived whole ecosystem gas exchange measurements with an ecophysiologic model based on fundamental principles of diffusion, mass balance, reaction kinetics, and biochemical regulation of photosynthesis. We evaluated the coupled data-model system to describe and understand the dynamics of 3 years of growing season GPP from a riparian grassland and woodland in southern Arizona. The data-model fusion procedure skillfully reproduced the majority of daily variation GPP throughout three growing seasons. While meteorology was similar between sites, the woodland site had consistently higher GPP rates and lower variability at daily and interannual timescales relative to the grassland site. We examined the causes of this variation using a new state factor model analysis that partitioned GPP variation into four factors: meteorology, physiology, leaf area, and water supply. The largest proportion of GPP variation was associated with physiological differences. The woodland showed a greater sensitivity than the grassland to water supply, while the grassland showed a greater sensitivity to leaf area. These differences are consistent with hypotheses of woody species using resistance mechanisms, stomatal regulation, and grassland species using resilience mechanisms, leaf area regulation, in avoiding water stress and have implications for future GPP sensitivity to climate variability following wood-grass transitions.
Augmenter of liver regeneration

‘Augmenter of liver regeneration’ (ALR) (also known as hepatic stimulatory substance or hepatopoietin) was originally found to promote growth of hepatocytes in the regenerating or injured liver. ALR is expressed ubiquitously in all organs, and exclusively in hepatocytes in the liver. ALR, a survival factor for hepatocytes, exhibits significant homology with ERV1 (essential for respiration and viability) protein that is essential for the survival of the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. ALR comprises 198 to 205 amino acids (approximately 22 kDa), but is post-translationally modified to three high molecular weight species (approximately 38 to 42 kDa) found in hepatocytes. ALR is present in mitochondria, cytosol, endoplasmic reticulum, and nucleus. Mitochondrial ALR may be involved in oxidative phosphorylation, but also functions as sulfhydryl oxidase and cytochrome c reductase, and causes Fe/S maturation of proteins. ALR, secreted by hepatocytes, stimulates synthesis of TNF-α, IL-6, and nitric oxide in Kupffer cells via a G-protein coupled receptor. While the 22 kDa rat recombinant ALR does not stimulate DNA synthesis in hepatocytes, the short form (15 kDa) of human recombinant ALR was reported to be equipotent as or even stronger than TGF-α or HGF as a mitogen for hepatocytes. Altered serum ALR levels in certain pathological conditions suggest that it may be a diagnostic marker for liver injury/disease. Although ALR appears to have multiple functions, the knowledge of its role in various organs, including the liver, is extremely inadequate, and it is not known whether different ALR species have distinct functions. Future research should provide better understanding of the expression and functions of this enigmatic molecule.
The Effect of Physical Aging on the Creep Response of a Thermoplastic Composite

Abstract : The effect of thermoreversible physical aging on the linear viscoelastic creep properties of a thermoplastic composite was investigated. Radel X/IM7, an amorphous composite material considered for use in the next generation high speed transport aircraft, was studied. The operating environment for the aircraft material will be near 188 deg C (370 deg F) with a service life in excess of 60,000 hours at temperature. Accurate predictions of the viscoelastic properties of the material are essential to insure that design strength and stiffness requirements are met for the entire service life. The effect of physical aging on the creep response was studied using momentary tensile creep tests conducted at increasing aging times following a rapid quench from above the glass transition temperature (Tg) to a sub-Tg aging temperature.
Dispersed mutations in histone H3 that affect transcriptional repression and chromatin structure of the CHA1 promoter in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The histone H3 amino terminus, but not that of H4, is required to prevent the constitutively bound activator Cha4 from remodeling chromatin and activating transcription at the CHA1 gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here we show that neither the modifiable lysine residues nor any specific region of the H3 tail is required for repression of CHA1. We then screened for histone H3 mutations that cause derepression of the uninduced CHA1 promoter and identified six mutants, three of which are also temperature-sensitive mutants and four of which exhibit a sin phenotype. Histone mutant levels were similar to that of wild-type H3, and the mutations did not cause gross alterations in nucleosome structure. One specific and strongly derepressing mutation, H3 A111G, was examined in depth and found to cause a constitutively active chromatin configuration at the uninduced CHA1 promoter as well as at the ADH2 promoter. Transcriptional derepression and altered chromatin structure of the CHA1 promoter depend on the activator Cha4. These results indicate that modest perturbations in distinct regions of the nucleosome can substantially affect the repressive function of chromatin, allowing activation in the absence of a normal inducing signal (at CHA1) or of Swi/Snf (resulting in a sin phenotype). In eukaryotic organisms, genomic DNA is packaged by nucleosomes into chromatin. Contacts between histone proteins and DNA in the nucleosome limit the accessibility of DNA elements to binding factors. This packaging of DNA into chromatin has led to the evolution of a layer of regulatory complexity not available to prokaryotes (38).
Optimal relay assignment for cooperative communications

Recently, cooperative communications, in the form of keeping each node with a single antenna and having a node exploit a relay node's antenna, is shown to be a promising approach to achieve spatial diversity. Under this communication paradigm, the choice of relay node plays a significant role in the overall system performance. In this paper, we study the relay node assignment problem in a network environment, where multiple source-destination pairs compete for the same pool of relay nodes in the network. The main contribution of this paper is the development of a polynomial time algorithm to solve this problem. A key idea in this algorithm is a "linear marking" mechanism, which is able to offer a linear complexity for each iteration. We give a formal proof of optimality for this algorithm. We also show several attractive properties associated with this algorithm.
Management of Vasovagal Syncope Controlling or Aborting Faints by Leg Crossing and Muscle Tensing

Background— Posture-related vasovagal syncope is by far the most frequent cause of transient loss of consciousness, and present pharmacological and cardiac pacing treatment remains unsatisfactory. A simple maneuver to prevent or diminish vasovagal reactions would be beneficial. Methods and Results— Twenty-one patients with recurrent syncope (age 17 to 74 years, 11 males) who were referred for routine tilt-table testing and had a positive test were included. They were instructed to perform leg crossing and muscle tensing for at least 30 seconds at the onset of a tilt table-provoked impending faint. Continuously measured blood pressure and heart rate at nadir and during the maneuver were compared. Ten months after the test, a telephone follow-up was performed. The physical counter-maneuver, performed in 20 of 21 subjects, increased blood pressure and heart rate. Systolic blood pressure rose from 65±13 to 106±16 mm Hg (mean±SD, P<0.001), and diastolic blood pressure rose from 43±9 to 65±10 mm Hg (P<0.001). D...
Protein structure prediction using hybrid AI methods

Describes a new approach for predicting protein structures based on artificial intelligence methods and genetic algorithms. We combine nearest neighbor searching algorithms, neural networks, heuristic rules and genetic algorithms to form an integrated system to predict protein structures from their primary amino acid sequences. First, we describe our methods and how they are integrated, and then apply our methods to several protein sequences. The results are very close to the real structures obtained by crystallography. Parallel genetic algorithms are also implemented. >
Browning and Shelley

The question of Shelley's influence on the young Robert Browning is hardly a disputed one, but the question of how far it continues into the life and work of the later Browning is quite a different matter. While the early influence is readily acknowledged, the later hardly receives the amount of attention it deserves. The consensus among critics has long been that in his youth Browning had a great enthusiasm for Shelley, an enthusiasm clearly apparent in Pauline and Paracelsus, but abruptly extinguished in Sordello. Generally speaking, it would seem that Browning's ardent enthusiasm for Shelley the poet ends with Sordello in 1840, just as his respect for Shelley the man ends in 1856, with the discovery that he had abandoned his first wife. Any evidence for a lapse of his disaffection in later life seems effectively countered by Browning's own testimony in a letter written in 1885 to F. J. Furnivall, refusing the presidency of the newly formed Shelley Society: “For myself, I painfully contrast my notions of Shelley the man and Shelley, well, even the poet, with what they were sixty years ago, when I only had his works, for a certainty, and took his character on trust.” With these highlights of the relationship, most Browning critics and biographers terminate the discussion.
Lombard Arianism Reconsidered

L'A. constate qu'il y a un large consensus parmi les historiens modernes sur l'arianisme des Lombards. L'argument principal: presque tous les peuples germaniques des grandes invasions etaient ariens, donc les Lombards l'etaient. L'A. recherche alors le temoignage des contemporains: or pour les papes Pelage II et Gregoire I, pour Paul le Diacre, Gregoire de Tours et Nicetius de Treve, les Lombards etaient des paiens et le sont restes jusqu'a la fin du VI siecle| sur les neufs rois lombards (d'Alboin a Aripert I) se succedant de la conquete a la conversion au catholicisme, deux seulement furent ariens. Ainsi, l'histoire religieuse des Lombards en Italie n'est pas celle de la conversion d'un peuple de l'heresie a l'orthodoxie, mais du paganisme au catholicisme.
Changes in the Localization of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Anaphase-Promoting Complex Upon Microtubule Depolymerization and Spindle Checkpoint Activation

The anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) is an E3 ubiquitin ligase in the ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis pathway (UMP). To understand how the APC/C was targeted to its substrates, we performed a detailed analysis of one of the APC/C components, Cdc23p. In live cells, Cdc23-GFP localized to punctate nuclear spots surrounded by homogenous nuclear signal throughout the cell cycle. These punctate spots colocalized with two outer kinetochore proteins, Slk19p and Okp1p, but not with the spindle pole body protein, Spc42p. In late anaphase, the Cdc23-GFP was also visualized along the length of the mitotic spindle. We hypothesized that spindle checkpoint activation may affect the APC/C nuclear spot localization. Localization of Cdc23-GFP was disrupted upon nocodazole treatment in the kinetochore mutant okp1-5 and in the cdc20-1 mutant. Cdc23-GFP nuclear spot localization was not affected in the ndc10-1 mutant, which is defective in spindle checkpoint function. Additional studies using a mad2 Δ strain revealed a microtubule dependency of Cdc23-GFP spot localization, whether or not the checkpoint response was activated. On the basis of these data, we conclude that Cdc23p localization was dependent on microtubules and was affected by specific types of kinetochore disruption.
Distal Recognition Site for Classical Pathway Convertase Located in the C345C/Netrin Module of Complement Component C5

Previous studies focused on indels in the complement C345 protein family identified a number of potential protein-protein interaction sites in components C3 and C5. Here, one of these sites in C5, near the alpha-chain C terminus, was examined by alanine-scanning mutagenesis at 16 of the 18 non-alanine residues in the sequence KEALQIKYNFSF RYIYPLD. Alanine substitutions affected activities in the highly variable manner characteristic of binding sites. Substitutions at the lysine or either phenylalanine residue in the central KYNFSF sequence had the greatest effects, yielding mutants with <20% of the normal activity. These three mutants were also resistant to the classical pathway (CP) C5 convertase, with sensitivities roughly proportional to their hemolytic activities, but had normal susceptibilities to the cobra venom factor (CVF)-dependent convertase. Synthetic peptide MGKEALQIKYNFS-NH2 was found similarly to inhibit CP but not CVF convertase activation, and the effects of alanine substitutions in this peptide largely reflected those of the equivalent mutations in C5. These results indicate that residues KYNFSF form a novel, distal binding site for the CP, but not CVF convertase. This site lies approximately 880 residues downstream of the convertase cleavage site within a module that has been independently named C345C and NTR; this module is found in diverse proteins including netrins and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases.
In vitro comparison of burst tension and puncture pressure in commonly used organ retrieval bags.

R T t w o t E p aparoscopic organ ablative procedures are being perormed by an ever-expanding number of surgeons. A key ortion of any laparoscopic organ ablative surgery is emoval of the surgical specimen from the body. Most ommonly, this task is performed with the aid of an rgan entrapment sack. Organs can be removed, whole r in parts, through an extended port site incision by inger morcellation or fragmentation with ring forceps. variety of entrapment sacks are available in today’s arket but they all have different properties, advantages, nd disadvantages. In addition, some surgeons make heir own entrapment bags out of other commercially vailable materials, such as a Ziploc plastic bag. The urpose of this study is to compare commonly used rgan entrapment sacks to determine their relative resisance to bursting and instrument puncture and their verall ease of use. Historic studies of organ entrapment acks, although useful, are difficult to interpret and comare because of lack of uniformity from subject to subect and case to case, differences in extraction site locaion and size and type of organs removed, and surgeons’ ethods for morcellation. To avoid these potential bises and ensure uniformity of treatment, we performed ur experiments using in vitro models.
Design Modification of Rotor 67 by 3D Inverse Method — Inviscid-Flow Limit

A design modification of Rotor 67 is carried out with a full 3D inverse method. The blade camber surface is modified to produce a prescribed pressure loading distribution, with the blade tangential thickness distribution and the blade stacking line at midchord kept the same as the original Rotor 67 design. Because of the inviscid-flow assumption used in the current version of the method, Rotor 67 geometry is modified for use at a design point different from the original design value. In the subsonic section, smooth pressure loading shapes generally produce blades with well-behaved blade surface pressure distributions. In the supersonic section, this study shows that the strength and position of the passage shock correlate with the characteristics of the blade pressure loading shape. In general, “smooth” prescribed blade pressure loading distributions generate blade designs with reverse cambers which have the effect of weakening the passage shock.Copyright © 1997 by ASME
Beta Test of Web-Based Virtual Patient Decision-Making Exercises for Residents Demonstrates Discriminant Validity and Learning.

Introduction Correct clinical decision-making is a key competency of surgical trainees. The purpose of this study was to assess validity and effect on resident decision-making accuracy of web-based virtual patient case scenarios in general surgery training. Material and methods During the 2013-2014 academic year, the use of web-based virtual patient scenarios for teaching and assessment of resident critical thinking and decision-making was assessed in 2 urban university−based residency programs. In all, 71 residents (PGY [postgraduate year] 1 = 21, PGY2 = 11, PGY3 = 14, PGY4 = 13, and PGY5 = 12) took the cases over the course of the academic year. Cases were made available to the residents online 1 week before a scheduled debriefing conference with a faculty facilitator and were completed by residents individually on their own schedule. At the completion of each case attempt, residents were given a computer-generated score and feedback. Residents were allowed to repeat the cases before the debriefing if they wished. Cases were required to be completed by 48 hours before the conference, at which time a faculty report was computer generated that measured group and individual performance and identified the frequency of errors in decision-making. This report was reviewed with the residents in the faculty debriefing, and teaching focused on the knowledge gaps identified in the reports. Results The mean percentage of assigned cases completed by categorical residents was 85.7%. Mean score (maximum possible = 100) on the cases increased by resident year (PGY1 = 45.3, PGY2 = 49.3, PGY3 = 53.6, PGY4 = 57.5, and PGY5 = 61.8), a 25% increase between PGY1 and PGY5 (p t tests on case repetition using each resident as his-her own control showed that scores rose by 46 points between attempt 1 and attempt 2 (p Conclusions (1) In a beta test of web-based scenarios that teach and assess clinical decision-making, resident scores improved by 25% from PGY 1 to PGY5 in a stepwise and statistically significant manner, suggesting that such exercises could serve as milestones for competency assessment. Additional studies are needed to acquire evidence for other forms of validity. (2) Repetition of cases after feedback led to highly significant increases in performance, suggesting that requiring repeated training to reach defined levels of competence is practical.
Planar Pixelations and Shape Reconstruction

Given a PL (piecewise linear) set S in the plane R 2 we consider the set P"(S) consisting of all pixels of size " that touch S. This pixelation P"(S) resembles the original set, but may not well approximate various important invariants of the original set such as Betti numbers, perimeter, curvature measures. We describe an algorithm that associates to the pixelation P"(S) a PL-set P"(S) which approximates S in a very strong sense.
Measurement and Modeling of Void Fraction in High-Pressure Condensing Flows Through Microchannels

Void fraction measurements are obtained using high-speed video for the condensation of R404A in tubes of diameter 0.508, 1.00, and 3.00 mm. Experiments were conducted on refrigerant R404A throughout the entire condensation quality range (0.05–0.95) at varying mass fluxes (200–800 kg m−2 s−1) and saturation temperatures from 30 to 60°C (which correspond to the reduced pressure range 0.38–0.77). These high pressures are representative of actual operation of air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment. The influence of saturation temperature on void fraction is most pronounced in the quality range 0.25–0.75. In addition, it was found that the influence of mass flux on void fraction was negligible for all saturation temperatures and tube diameters investigated. Three void fraction models from the literature are compared with the data. Of these, the Baroczy correlation predicted the data the best, with an overall absolute average deviation of 11.2%. A new drift flux void fraction model is developed to predict...
Inhibitory Effect of Human Blood Components on a Lipase of Microbiological Origin.

SummaryHuman plasma, red blood cells, plasma protein fractions and a hemoglobin preparation were found to inhibit lipolytic activity of a microbiological lipase preparation when an olive oil emulsion was used as substrate. Human serum albumin, which was inhibitory in proportion to its concentration, was not inhibitory when triacetin was used as substrate. Hydrolysis of the olive oil emulsion by pork pancreatic extract was not inhibited by human plasma, red blood cells or albumin.
Inherited Magnetic Maps in Salmon and the Role of Geomagnetic Change

Migration in animals has evolved as an adaptation to environmental variability across space and through time. The availability of reliable sensory cues and guidance mechanisms used in navigating among disparate locations is an essential component of this behavior. An "inherited magnetic map" is navigational solution that has evolved in some marine animals that, without prior experience or guidance from older conspecifics, migrate to oceanic foraging grounds. Laboratory experiments demonstrate that navigationally naive salmon encountering magnetic fields characteristic of certain regions along their migratory route will bias their swimming in a particular direction. Simulations of this behavior within realistic models of oceanic circulation suggest that such behavior is highly adaptive, making the migratory route more predictable and facilitating movement into favorable oceanic regions. Such behavior is possible due to the spatial gradients of components of the geomagnetic field (e.g., the inclination angle of field lines and the total field intensity) that provide a bicoordinate grid across much of the Earth's surface. However, this environmental feature is not static, but experiences gradual and unpredictable changes that can be substantial over successive generations. Thus, drift of the geomagnetic field, in addition to variable oceanic conditions, could play a major role in shaping the distribution of marine taxa that are dependent upon such mechanisms for migratory guidance. Several possibilities are discussed for how animals might mitigate the effects of geomagnetic drift, such as calibrating their inherited magnetic map relative to the field in which they develop. Further exploration of the dynamics of the geomagnetic field in context of animal navigation is a promising avenue for understanding the how animals deal with an ever-changing environment.
Fecal Colonization With Extended-spectrum Beta-lactamase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae and Risk Factors Among Healthy Individuals: A Systematic Review and Metaanalysis.

Background Gut colonization is a risk factor for infections with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing organisms. We aimed to determine the ESBL class A reservoir among healthy individuals. Methods We searched PubMed and EMBASE (through 10 July 2015) looking for studies that contained data for fecal colonization with ESBL class A bacteria among healthy individuals for each World Health Organization-defined region. Distribution of isolates among cefotaximase (CTX-M), sulfhydryl variable, and temoneira enzymes and data on previous antibiotic use, international travel, previous hospitalization, and animal contacts were extracted. Results Sixty-six of 17 479 studies on 28 909 healthy individuals were included. The pooled prevalence of ESBL class A colonization was 14% (95% confidence interval [CI], 9, 20), with an increasing trend of 5.38% annually (P = .003). The pooled prevalence was higher in Asia and Africa (ranging from 46%, 95% CI, 29, 63 to 15%, 95% CI, 4, 31) and lower but still significant in central (3%, 95% CI, 1, 5), northern (4%, 95% CI, 2, 6), and southern Europe (6%, 95% CI, 1, 12) and the Americas (2%, 95% CI, 0, 5). CTX-Ms were the prevalent ESBL enzyme (69%). Antibiotic use for the prior 4 or 12 months was associated with a high colonization risk (risk ratio [RR] = 1.63; 95% CI, 1.19, 2.24 and RR = 1.58; 95% CI, 1.16, 2.16, respectively). International travel was also correlated with ESBL colonization [(RR = 4.06, (95% CI, 1.33, 12.41)]. Conclusions The ESBL colonization rate among healthy individuals is significant worldwide. This should be taken into consideration in infection control and antibiotic management decisions.
Cronkhite Canada Syndrome: Significant Response to Infliximab and a Possible Clue to Pathogenesis.

Cronkhite Canada Syndrome: Significant Response to Infliximab and a Possible Clue to Pathogenesis
Time to Stop Holding the Elevator: A New Piece of the Transport Protein Mechanism Puzzle.

In this issue of Structure, McCoy et al. (2016) describe the 2.55-A X-ray structure of the outward-facing occluded conformation of the Bacillus cereus maltose transporter MalT. This structure represents the penultimate piece needed to complete the picture of the transport cycle of the glucose superfamily of membrane-spanning EIIC components.
007.4 Incident hiv associated with rectal gonorrhoea (gc) and chlamydia (ct) independent of sexual behaviour in men who have sex with men (msm)

Introduction Although STIs are associated with HIV-acquisition, because they share a causal pathway – sex – how much this risk is independent of sexual behaviour remains unknown. Methods We conducted a case-control study of MSM STD clinic patients in Seattle, WA, 2001–2014 to evaluate the role of concurrent and prior rectal STIs in HIV-acquisition. Cases were new HIV diagnoses who tested HIV-negative ≤12 months prior. Controls tested HIV-negative and were matched to cases on year. All included men tested for rectal STI and tested negative for syphilis. We used routinely collected condom-use data to create four sexual behaviour categories: no receptive anal intercourse (RAI) in ≤12 months, consistent condom-use for all RAI, condomless RAI only with HIV-negative partners (CRAIneg), and CRAI with HIV-positive/unknown-status partners (CRAIpos/unk). We used logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (OR) of the association between rectal GC/CT and HIV diagnosis. Results Among 176 cases and 704 controls, concurrent rectal GC (OR3.5 95% CI 2.3–5.5) and rectal CT (OR3.2 95% CI 2.1–5.1) were associated with HIV diagnosis in univariate analysis. Controlling for age, race, number of sex partners, methamphetamine use year and other rectal STI, both rectal GC (aOR2.4 95% CI 1.4–4.0) and CT (aOR2.6 95% CI 1.5–4.4) continued to be associated with HIV diagnosis. Adding sexual behaviours to the model did not change the association between rectal infection and HIV diagnosis (GC aOR2.3, 95% CI 1.4–3.9; CT aOR 2.6 95% CI 1.5–4.3). CRAIneg (aOR3.5 95% CI 1.2–10.4) and CRAIpos/ukn (aOR4.2 95% CI 1.4–12.5) were independently associated with new HIV diagnosis. Rectal infection in ≤12 months was strongly associated with new HIV diagnosis (aOR3.4 95% CI 1.5–7.4). Conclusions Concurrent and prior rectal GC/CT are associated with HIV-acquisition independent of sexual behaviour, suggesting a causal role for rectal STI in HIV-acquisition, and supporting STI control as an HIV-prevention strategy. Disclosure of interest statement This work was funded by the US National Institutes of Health. No pharmaceutical grants were received in the development of this study.