cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exposure to systemic and intrauterine inflammation leads to decreased pup survival via different placental mechanisms.

Abstract Problem Exposure to systemic maternal inflammation (i.e., maternal sepsis, influenza, human immunodeficiency virus, or pyelonephritis) and intrauterine (IU) inflammation (i.e., chorioamnionitis or preterm labor) have been associated with adverse perinatal sequelae. Whether systemic and localized inflammation leading to adverse outcomes have similar placental mechanisms remain unclear. Method of Study We conducted a study by murine modeling systemic and localized IU inflammation with injections of either intraperitoneal (IP) or IU interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and compared fetoplacental hemodynamic changes, cytokine/chemokine expression, and fetal loss. Results IU IL-1β exposure reduced offspring survival by 31.1% and IP IL-1β exposure by 34.5% when compared with control pups. Despite this similar outcome in offspring survival, Doppler analysis revealed a stark difference: IU group displayed worsened fetoplacental hemodynamic changes while no differences were found between IP and control groups. While both IU and IP groups had increases in pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, specific gene expression trends differed between the two groups, once again highlighting their mechanistic differences. Conclusion While both IP and IU IL-1β exposure similarly affected pup survival, only IU inflammation resulted in fetoplacental hemodynamic changes. We speculate that exposure to maternal systemic and IU inflammation plays a key role in fetal injury by utilizing different placental inflammatory pathways and mechanisms.
Computer-Adaptive Sequential Testing

This chapter describes a framework for the large scale production and administration of computerized tests called computer-adaptive sequential testing or CAST (Luecht, Nungester & Hadadi, 1996; Luecht, 1997; Luecht & Nungester, 1998). CAST integrates test design, test assembly, test administration, and data management components in a comprehensive manner intended to support the mass production of secure, high quality, parallel test forms over time. The framework is a modular approach to testing which makes use of modern psychometric and computer technologies. CAST was originally conceived as a test design methodology for developing computer-adaptive versions of the United States Medical Licensing ExaminationTM (USMLETM) Steps (Federation of State Medical Boards and National Board of Medical Examiners, 1999). The USMLE Steps are high stakes examinations used to evaluate the medical knowledge of candidate physicians as part of the medical licensure process in the U.S.. Although the Steps are primarily mastery tests, used for making pass/fail licensure decisions, total test scores and discipline-based subscores are also reported. Therefore, an adaptivetesting component is also attractive to economize on test length, while maximizing score precision. The CAST framework has been successfully used in two empirical computerized field trials for the USMLE Step 1 and 2 examinations (NBME, 1996, 1997; Case, Luecht and Swanson, 1998; Luecht, Nungester, Swanson and Hadadi, 1998; Swanson, Luecht, Gessaroli, and Nungester, 1998). In addition, CAST has undergone rather extensive simulation research with positive outcomes (Luecht, Nungester and Hadadi, 1996; Luecht and Nungester, 1998). In terms of USMLE, what CAST offers is a comprehensive means to develop mastery tests, with adaptive capabilities. CAST also helps
Introduction: Fichte’s Post-Kantian Project

This chapter introduces the volume by offering a basic overview of Fichte’s philosophy, integrated within which are brief treatments of the various more-specialized topics and problems that each of the subsequent chapters explores in depth. The discussion is structured according to the organization of the volume, and therefore spans each of the following seven areas: (1) Fichte’s historical and intellectual context, (2) Fichte’s metaphilosophy and method, (3) the transcendental fundamentals of the Wissenschaftslehre, (4) Fichte’s ethical theory, (5) his political and social theory, (6) his philosophy’s implications for metaphysics and epistemology, and (7) his thought’s later ramifications, including connections to existentialism, phenomenology, and discourse ethics.
Mercury increase in Lake Champlain fish: links to fishery dynamics and extreme climatic events

Mercury concentrations in Lake Champlain fish increased (2011–2017) for the first time in more than two decades. The increase, however, was not consistent among species or throughout the lake. Mercury concentrations in smallmouth bass and yellow perch from the three Main Lake segments increased significantly while concentrations in the eastern portions of the lake (Northeast Arm and Malletts Bay) remained unchanged or decreased; mercury concentrations in white perch remained unchanged. Factors examined to explain the increase included: atmospheric deposition, lake temperature, chlorophyll-a, fishery dynamics, lake flooding and loading of total suspended solids (TSS). This paper examines how each factor has changed between study periods and the spatial variability associated with the change. We hypothesize fishery dynamics, flooding and TSS loading may be partially responsible for the increase in fish mercury. Both growth efficiency and biomass of fish suggest mercury concentrations would increase in the Main Lake segments and decrease in the eastern portion of the lake. Additionally, two extreme climate events in 2011 resulted in extensive flooding and a four-fold increase in annual TSS loading, both potentially increasing biotic mercury with the impact varying spatially throughout the lake. Changes to the fishery and disturbance caused by extreme climatic events have increased biotic mercury and the processes responsible need further study to identify possible future scenarios in order to better protect human and wildlife health.
Larger active site in an ancestral hydroxynitrile lyase increases catalytically promiscuous esterase activity

Hydroxynitrile lyases (HNL9s) belonging to the α/β-hydrolase-fold superfamily evolved from esterases approximately 100 million years ago. Reconstruction of an ancestral hydroxynitrile lyase in the α/β-hydrolase fold superfamily yielded a catalytically active hydroxynitrile lyase, HNL1. Several properties of HNL1 differ from the modern HNL from rubber tree (HbHNL). HNL1 favors larger substrates as compared to HbHNL, is two-fold more catalytically promiscuous for ester hydrolysis (p-nitrophenyl acetate) as compared to mandelonitrile cleavage, and resists irreversible heat inactivation to 35 °C higher than for HbHNL. We hypothesized that the x-ray crystal structure of HNL1 may reveal the molecular basis for the differences in these properties. The x-ray crystal structure solved to 1.96-A resolution shows the expected α/β-hydrolase fold, but a 60% larger active site as compared to HbHNL. This larger active site echoes its evolution from esterases since related esterase SABP2 from tobacco also has a 38% larger active site than HbHNL. The larger active site in HNL1 likely accounts for its ability to accept larger hydroxynitrile substrates. Site-directed mutagenesis of HbHNL to expand the active site increased its promiscuous esterase activity 50-fold, consistent with the larger active site in HNL1 being the primary cause of its promiscuous esterase activity. Urea-induced unfolding of HNL1 indicates that it unfolds less completely than HbHNL (m-value = 0.63 for HNL1 vs 0.93 kcal/mol·M for HbHNL), which may account for the ability of HNL1 to better resist irreversible inactivation upon heating. The structure of HNL1 shows changes in hydrogen-bond networks that may stabilize regions of the folded structure.
Science in the age of machine learning

The rise of machine learning is moving research away from tightly controlled, theory-guided experiments towards an approach based on data-driven searches. Abbas Ourmazd describes how this change might profoundly affect our understanding and practice of physics.
Abstract 2525: Identification of mRNA targets associated with PIWIL1 protein complex in lung cancer cells

Introduction: In previous published work we have shown that RASSF1C promotes expression of PIWIL1 and PIWI interacting RNAs (piRNAs) in lung cancer cells, suggesting the hypothesis that that the RASSF1C-PIWI-piRNA pathway may promote lung cancer cell growth and progression. PIWIL1 protein-piRNA complexes have recently been shown to regulate mRNAs in mouse testes, suggesting that PIWIL1 plays an important role in mRNA cleavage to regulate specific targets involved in cellular growth. To investigate this hypothesis, we used a non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell model to identify candidate mRNAs targeted by the RASSF1C-PIWIL1-piRNA pathway through PIWIL1-protein complex co-immunoprecipitation and RNA sequencing. Methods: Cell lysates were prepared under non-denaturing conditions from the lung cancer cell line H1299 over-expressing RASSF1C (experimental sample) and H1299 over-expressing the vector backbone (control sample) using a co-immunoprecipitation kit (Pierce). The PIWIL1 2C12 monoclonal antibody (Wako Chemicals Inc., Richmond, VA) was used to pull down PIWIL1 protein using 1 mg of cell lysates from experimental and control samples. The RNA associated with the precipitated PIWIL1 protein complex was isolated using a total RNA isolation kit (Qiagen) and the isolated RNA was subjected to RNA deep sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. Results: Differential expression analysis based on read counts was carried out using a fold-change threshold of 2.0, maximum p-value of 0.05, and a minimum 1CPM, identified over 5505 genes that are differentially expressed when comparing read counts from H1299 cells over-expressing RASSF1C to H1299 cells over-expressing the vector back bone. Some of the genes identified with reduced mRNA levels correspond to tumor suppressors such as PTEN and p53 and apoptosis-inducing genes such as BAD and CASP3. Conclusions: Our study was designed to show that PIWIL-protein complexes can be pulled down from lung cancer cell lysates, and that PIWIL-protein complexes are likely to bind and regulate mRNA targets in lung cancer cells. We have identified interesting mRNAs that are potentially silenced by the PIWIL1-piRNA protein complex. Ongoing work is focused on validating some of the potential mRNA targets identified. This paves the way for conducting RNA-sequencing studies to identify specific piRNAs that associate with PIWIL1-protein complexes in the nucleus and cytoplasm. Citation Format: Yousef G. Amaar, Mark E. Reeves. Identification of mRNA targets associated with PIWIL1 protein complex in lung cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 2525.
Interferometric Vision-Based Navigation Sensor for Autonomous Proximity Operation

The Vision Based Navigation (VisNav) developed at Texas A&M is an opto-electronic sensor that employs specific structured light sources to provide a cost-effective and robust six degree-of-freedom (DOF) relative position and attitude determination. Interferometric Vision-Based Navigation Sensor called “iVisNav” is newly proposed with additional features. This paper presents a new algorithm that involves procurement of rate information, a characteristic of relative motion between two vehicles, by simultaneous usage of beacons (infrared light sources) and a single camera. The algorithm utilizes an interpretation of the geometry of structured beacons, and the phase shift of modulated infrared beam along each travel path. The time derivative of phase shift provides a measure of radial velocity between a beacon and the projection. Evaluation of phase shift measurements with a linear least squares model results in a robust estimation of the relative rate information. A sensor prototype is currently being developed and the preliminary results are discussed in this paper. Moreover, the sensor source integration with a laser Doppler Lidar is being studied, which when incorporated provides a high accuracy rate estimation of an aerospace vehicle.
The Effects of Cross-Sectional Geometry on Wave-Induced Loads for Underwater Vehicles

This article investigates the role that cross-sectional geometry plays on the magnitude and phase of wave-induced linear loads experienced by an underwater vehicle operating near the surface. A towing tank with wave making capabilities is used to measure the wave-induced forces and moments on various cross-sectional shapes experimentally. These are compared to predictions we made using a framework that can handle non-body-of-revolution geometries. In many cases, our experimental results were the opposite of the theoretical predictions. For instance, according to the predictions, for long wavelengths, the aspect ratio of a rectangle should not influence the linear heave force. However, we found that the heave force was proportional to the planform area of the rectangle. This study is a systematic investigation of the effects that changing the cross-sectional shape from a body-of-revolution to either a square, rectangular, or asymmetric shape, has on the wave-induced loads.
Information disclosure policy: Do state data processing efforts help more than the information disclosure itself?

The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) was expected to reduce health risks stemming from emissions of hazardous chemicals by increasing public pressure on polluters. However, raw TRI data fails to transmit accurate information fitted to the public's interest. TRI is a massive and complex data set that, in its raw form, provides information on the pounds of toxics released, rather than the risks these releases pose to human health, which is the true quantity of interest. Consequently, raw TRI data needs to be refined and interpreted in terms of health risks by its users, which requires analytical sophistication and substantial data processing. State governments have attempted to increase of the usefulness of the TRI to the general public via two types of policies: (1) selection and dissemination of raw TRI data for plants within the state, and (2) data processing activities producing more refined reports and further data analysis. This study assesses the effectiveness of those two policies, asking how much each contributes to the intended policy outcome of reducing health risks. Our results show that state-level data dissemination efforts lowered the total number of pounds of chemicals released, but had little effect on health risks. State-level data processing efforts, in contrast, did lead to significant reductions in health risks. We conclude that simple dissemination of the data was ineffective (and even counterproductive in some instances), and that the states' data processing efforts have played a critical role in achieving the TRI's intended policy goal by providing better information to end users. © 2010 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.
Revisiting the “Africa Is Sine Qua Non” Controversy: Stokely Carmichael and Walter Rodney

The decade of the 1960s has gone down in history as revolutionary for both Africa and her Diaspora offspring. For Africa, it ushered in decolonization. For the Diaspora, it unleashed protests for civil and political rights resulting in significant reforms. These achievements notwithstanding, the struggles were far from over. Over the horizons in both Africa and the Diaspora loomed dark clouds of disillusionment and apprehension. There were forces determined to derail and push back progress. Racism and bigotry waxed strong in the Diaspora. Neocolonialism was on the offensive in Africa. However, these moments of shared pessimism and apprehension only enhanced the appeal of Africa. Several Diaspora activists determined that the continent held the key that would unlock the doors of uplift and empowerment. It became imperative therefore that the struggles be consolidated and globalized with Africa solidly as foundation. Leading twentieth-century Diaspora activists theorized Africa as the regenerative force for Diaspora blacks and oppressed peoples worldwide through cultural and political intersections. Paradoxically, a counter-discourse of ethno-cultural (micro) nationalism complicated and problematized Africa’s capacity to function as a unifying Diasporic entity. This chapter analyzes the contending ideas of perhaps the two leading disputants (Stokely Carmichael and Walter Rodney). While they both initially defended this macro-nationalistic frame of analysis, Rodney would later opt for a paradigm that prioritized distinct sites of resistance. Their disagreement foreshadowed ongoing debates on the “Diaspora” as analytical framework.
Moyamoya Arteriopathy

The arteriopathy of moyamoya is progressive and results in severe disability from cerebral ischemia. Once the diagnosis is confirmed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and catheter angiography, initial measures should consist of administration of low dose aspirin (usually 81 mg daily, barring pre-existing contraindications), maintenance of good hydration and avoidance of hyperventilation (to reduce the risk of reflex cerebral vasoconstriction). Definitive treatment is predicated on surgical revascularization of the affected cerebral hemispheres. Operative treatment should be undertaken at a high-volume center with experienced surgeons and anesthesia staff. The specific technique employed depends on the individual presentation and surgeon preference, although most centers will offer indirect approaches such as pial synangiosis to children and young adults, with direct bypass often reserved for older patients or those presenting with crescendo symptoms. Follow-up is important, with postoperative imaging (either MRI or catheter angiogram) and office visits to confirm surgical efficacy and resolution of symptoms.
Randomized controlled trial of the "WISER" intervention to reduce healthcare worker burnout.

OBJECTIVE Test web-based implementation for the science of enhancing resilience (WISER) intervention efficacy in reducing healthcare worker (HCW) burnout. DESIGN RCT using two cohorts of HCWs of four NICUs each, to improve HCW well-being (primary outcome: burnout). Cohort 1 received WISER while Cohort 2 acted as a waitlist control. RESULTS Cohorts were similar, mostly female (83%) and nurses (62%). In Cohorts 1 and 2 respectively, 182 and 299 initiated WISER, 100 and 176 completed 1-month follow-up, and 78 and 146 completed 6-month follow-up. Relative to control, WISER decreased burnout (-5.27 (95% CI: -10.44, -0.10), p = 0.046). Combined adjusted cohort results at 1-month showed that the percentage of HCWs reporting concerning outcomes was significantly decreased for burnout (-6.3% (95%CI: -11.6%, -1.0%); p = 0.008), and secondary outcomes depression (-5.2% (95%CI: -10.8, -0.4); p = 0.022) and work-life integration (-11.8% (95%CI: -17.9, -6.1); p < 0.001). Improvements endured at 6 months. CONCLUSION WISER appears to durably improve HCW well-being. CLINICAL TRIALS NUMBER NCT02603133; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02603133.
Analysis of Software Failure Data

In this chapter we discuss Bayesian analysis of software failure data by using some of the software reliability models introduced by Singpurwalla and Soyer (1996). In so doing, we present details concerning Bayesian inference in these models, and discuss what insights can be obtained from the models when they are applied to real data. We also present approximation procedures that facilitate the Bayesian analysis and discuss model comparison.
Type I and Type II Bayesian Methods for Sparse Signal Recovery Using Scale Mixtures

In this paper, we propose a generalized scale mixture family of distributions, namely the Power Exponential Scale Mixture (PESM) family, to model the sparsity inducing priors currently in use for sparse signal recovery (SSR). We show that the successful and popular methods such as LASSO, Reweighted ${\ell }_{1}$ and Reweighted ${\ell }_{2}$ methods can be formulated in an unified manner in a maximum a posteriori (MAP) or Type I Bayesian framework using an appropriate member of the PESM family as the sparsity inducing prior. In addition, exploiting the natural hierarchical framework induced by the PESM family, we utilize these priors in a Type II framework and develop the corresponding EM based estimation algorithms. Some insight into the differences between Type I and Type II methods is provided and of particular interest in the algorithmic development is the Type II variant of the popular and successful reweighted ${\ell }_{1}$ method. Extensive empirical results are provided, and they show that the Type II methods exhibit better support recovery than the corresponding Type I methods.
The molecular era of the mitochondrial calcium uniporter

The mitochondrial calcium uniporter is an evolutionarily conserved calcium channel, and its biophysical properties and relevance to cell death, bioenergetics and signalling have been investigated for decades. However, the genes encoding this channel have only recently been discovered, opening up a new 'molecular era' in the study of its biology. We now know that the uniporter is not a single protein but rather a macromolecular complex consisting of pore-forming and regulatory subunits. We review recent studies that harnessed the power of molecular biology and genetics to characterize the mechanism of action of the uniporter, its evolution and its contribution to physiology and human disease.
Data Preparation 101: How To Use Query- By-Example To Get Your Research Dataset Ready For Primetime

Researchers are often distressed to discover that the data they wanted to use in their landmark study is not configured in a way that is usable by a Statistical Analysis Software Package (SASP). For example, the data needed may come from two or more sources and it may not be clear to the researcher how to get them combined into one analyzable dataset. Fortunately, there is hope. The query facility within database management software (DBMS), such as Microsoft Access, is particularly well-equipped to do the data reconfigurations necessary to get datasets ready for a SASP. Unfortunately, most researchers have either never been exposed to a DBMS or are unaware of the powerful data-transforming queries that they can perform. The purpose of this paper is to introduce researchers to some very helpful and relatively easy to learn techniques for solving common dataset misconfiguration problems. It is presented in three sets of hands-on examples: (1) how to import a dataset from an electronic spreadsheet into a database table, (2) how to use an easy-to-learn DBMS facility called Query-By-Example (QBE) to perform specific data reconfiguration tasks, and (3) how to import the reconfigured dataset from the DBMS into a SASP. The software used is MS Excel, MS Access, and SPSS (originally called Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). The examples are presented step-by-step so that the reader can follow along using files downloadable from the authors website
Dynamics of human placental lactogen.

Abstract A double antibody radioimmunoassay procedure was set up to measure the human placental lactogen (HPL) in the blood of normal pregnant women. By the use of this technique the dynamics of this protein were studied. It was found that the content of HPL was the same in serum and plasma and that the blood content did not change with time of day, activity of the subject, or blood glucose level. There is a progressive rise in the blood HPL content during normal pregnancy and the level of HPL at term is not related to either the placental weight or the infant birth weight. The HPL does not cross the placental barrier and it is rapidly cleared from the maternal circulation after delivery with a half-life of only 29 minutes.
Stretched and upside-down maps of auditory space in the optic tectum of blind-reared owls; acoustic basis and behavioral correlates

Vision during early life plays an important role in calibrating sound localization behavior. This study investigates the effects of visual deprivation on sound localization and on the neural representation of auditory space. Nine barn owls were raised with eyelids sutured closed; one owl was congenitally anophthalmic. Data from these birds were compared with data from owls raised with normal visual experience. Sound localization behavior was significantly less precise in blind-reared owls than in normal owls. The scatter of localization errors was particularly large in elevation, though it was abnormally large in both dimensions. However, there was no systematic bias to the localization errors measured over a range of source locations. This indicates that the representation of auditory space is degraded in some way for blind-reared owls, but on average is properly calibrated. The spatial tuning of auditory neurons in the optic tectum was studied in seven of the blind-reared owls to assess the effects of early visual deprivation on the neural representation of auditory space. In normal owls, units in the optic tectum are sharply tuned for sound source location and are organized systematically according to the locations of their receptive fields to form a map of auditory space. In blind-reared owls, the following auditory properties were abnormal: (1) auditory tuning for source elevation was abnormally broad, (2) the progression of the azimuths and elevations of auditory receptive fields across the tectum was erratic, and (3) in five of the seven owls, the auditory representation of elevation was systematically stretched, and in the two others large portions of the representation of elevation were flipped upside down. The following unit properties were apparently unaffected by blind rearing: (1) the sharpness of tuning for sound source azimuth, (2) the orientation of the auditory representation of azimuth, and (3) the mutual alignment of the auditory and visual receptive fields in the region of the tectum representing the area of space directly in front of the animal. The data demonstrate that the brain is capable of generating an auditory map of space without vision, but that the normal precision and topography of the map depend on visual experience. The space map results from the tuning of tectal units for interaural intensity differences (IIDs) and interaural time differences (ITDs; Olsen et al., 1989).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Drug-Induced Angioedema

Angioedema (AE) is the end result of deep dermal, subcutaneous and/or submucosal swelling, and represents a major criterion in the definition of anaphylaxis. Drug-induced AE, like other cutaneous drug reactions, is most frequently elicited by betalactam antibiotics and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. However, differences exist in their underlying pathophysiology (IgE mediated vs. pseudoallergic). Blockers of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system are the most common class of medications associated with isolated AE and are most probably related to elevated bradykinin levels. Typically, ACE inhibitor-associated AE can occur up to several years after initiating treatment, and may sporadically recur even after discontinuation. A comprehensive investigation of AE must include analysis of complement factors, tryptase levels as well as specific allergy tests. Furthermore, other possible causative agents ought to be excluded. Every patient with drug-induced AE must receive an allergy pass as well as emergency medication including epinephrine. In some cases, inhibitors of the bradykinin system may be considered for treatment.
Extremum Seeking control of smart inverters for VAR compensation

Reactive power compensation is used by utilities to ensure customer voltages are within pre-defined tolerances and reduce system resistive losses. While much attention has been paid to model-based control algorithms for reactive power support and Volt Var Optimization (VVO), these strategies typically require relatively large communications capabilities and accurate models. In this work, a non-model-based control strategy for smart inverters is considered for VAR compensation. An Extremum Seeking control algorithm is applied to modulate the reactive power output of inverters based on real power information from the feeder substation, without an explicit feeder model. Simulation results using utility demand information confirm the ability of the control algorithm to inject VARs to minimize feeder head real power consumption. In addition, we show that the algorithm is capable of improving feeder voltage profiles and reducing reactive power supplied by the distribution substation.
Kind of a drag: gender, race, and ambivalence in The Birdcage and To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar.

SUMMARY This paper examines the ways in which two Hollywood films featuring drag queens, Too Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar and The Birdcage, offer a kind of “both/and” look at the complexities of gender, sexuality, race, and culture, simultaneously challenging some institutionalized attitudes (especially heterosexism) while reinforcing others (especially sexism and racism)-making the use of drag as a locus of discovery in both films, at best, ambivalent.
Comparison of various sink strengths for analyzing radiation creep, growth and swelling

The essential physics involved in the reaction-rate-theory analysis of radiation effects at temperatures where both vacancies and self interstitials are mobile is contained in the expressions used for the strengths of distributed point-defect sinks such as dislocations, cavities and grain boundaries. These sink strengths have been obtained by various authors in distinctly different ways, thus giving rise to some possible confusion in comparing the various results. This is even more true with respect to the effect of interaction fields on these sink strengths and the so-called bias factors or sink efficiencies have been defined in entirely different ways, thus rendering quantitative comparisons difficult. We present here a comparison of several procedures in the literature, and attempt to make reasonable quantitative comparisons.
A Review of “APA Handbook of Sexuality and Psychology, Volumes 1 and 2”

The American Psychological Association (APA) website proudly proclaims that “The APA Handbook on [sic] Sexuality and Psychology marks a turning point in the status of sexuality within the disciplin...
Soil greenhouse gas emissions and carbon budgeting in a short‐hydroperiod floodplain wetland

Understanding the controls on floodplain carbon (C) cycling is important for assessing greenhouse gas emissions and the potential for C sequestration in river-floodplain ecosystems. We hypothesized that greater hydrologic connectivity would increase C inputs to floodplains that would not only stimulate soil C gas emissions but also sequester more C in soils. In an urban Piedmont river (151 km2 watershed) with a floodplain that is dry most of the year, we quantified soil CO2, CH4, and N2O net emissions along gradients of floodplain hydrologic connectivity, identified controls on soil aerobic and anaerobic respiration, and developed a floodplain soil C budget. Sites were chosen along a longitudinal river gradient and across lateral floodplain geomorphic units (levee, backswamp, and toe slope). CO2 emissions decreased downstream in backswamps and toe slopes and were high on the levees. CH4 and N2O fluxes were near zero; however, CH4 emissions were highest in the backswamp. Annual CO2 emissions correlated negatively with soil water-filled pore space and positively with variables related to drier, coarser soil. Conversely, annual CH4 emissions had the opposite pattern of CO2. Spatial variation in aerobic and anaerobic respiration was thus controlled by oxygen availability but was not related to C inputs from sedimentation or vegetation. The annual mean soil CO2 emission rate was 1091 g C m−2 yr−1, the net sedimentation rate was 111 g C m−2 yr−1, and the vegetation production rate was 240 g C m−2 yr−1, with a soil C balance (loss) of −338 g C m−2 yr−1. This floodplain is losing C likely due to long-term drying from watershed urbanization.
Relation of Polysaccharide Content to Some Biological Properties of Endotoxins from Mutants of Salmonella typhimurium

Kessel, R. W. I. (Rutgers, The State University, New Brunswick, N.J.), Henry H. Freedman, and Werner Braun. Relation of polysaccharide content to some biological properties of endotoxins from mutants of Salmonella typhimurium. J. Bacteriol. 92:592–596. 1966.—Endotoxins were extracted by the phenol-water procedure from a variety of Salmonella typhimurium mutants with known differences in the composition of their cell wall polysaccharides. The lethality of these preparations for mice proved to be correlated with the complexity of the polysaccharide: endotoxin from the smooth parent strain and from rough strains with several sugars attached to the heptose-phosphate backbone were of high toxicity, whereas endotoxin from a mutant possessing only glucose attached to the heptose-phosphate backbone was less toxic, and endotoxin from a mutant possessing the backbone only was least toxic. All of these mutants yielded endotoxins that were equally capable of protecting mice against subsequent challenge with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Material obtained from a heptoseless mutant by the phenol-water method proved to be neither toxic nor protective. The apparent dissociation of biological properties that can be achieved with the aid of endotoxin preparations from certain mutants is discussed in terms of possible mechanisms.
Regulation of Ethylene Evolution and Leaf Abscission by Auxin.

Abstract : It is shown that auxin enhanced ethylene evolution occurs in a variety of plant material, and that ethylene evolution can be constrolled by endogenous as well as exogenous levels of auxin. The importance of auxin regulated ethylene evolution on a physiological process is demonstrated by investigating the abscission of bean petiole explants.
Beyond satisfaction: Desire, consumption, and the future of socialism

Anti-capitalist thinkers in the West have long argued that the expansion of markets creates new wants faster than it can satisfy them, and that consumption under capitalism is a form of addictive behavior. Recently, however, the relentless expansion of desire has come to be seen as a strength rather than a weakness of capitalist regimes. To understand this change socialists must consider whether there is a point to consumer spending that goes beyond satisfaction with what one gets. Freud's notion of instinctual ambivalence illuminates the ways in which spending itself is a fusion of the desires to lose and to gain. This helps to explain how the socialist distinction between satisfying and addictive consumption misses the mark. Broadening this insight, we can see that Western thought about justice, originating in Judeo-Christian theology, conceals a fundamental ambivalence about both domination and gain by suggesting that inequality (beginning with that between God and man) is “justified” when the dominating party loses and the gainer submits. Ironically, however, the new post-utilitarian rationale for capitalism undermines this putative “justification” of social inequality in consumer-oriented capitalist societies by bringing our internal ambivalence about gain and dominance to the surface. This development creates an opportunity for a new beginning in Marxian social theory. The final sections of the essay suggest that social theory has been trapped in a debate over whether predators (and their human counterparts) kill in order to eat or eat in order to kill (Marx vs. Nietzsche). To break this trap we must shift the basis of social criticism from the metaphor of predation to the metaphor of parasitism. This changes the focus of critical analysis from unmasking the predator in every situation to identifying in every social structure the mechanisms of incorporation, mutual subversion, asymmetrical exchange, and surplus-creation (as distinct from equilibrium). If neither the desire for gain nor the desire for dominance are self-explanatory, then the Marxian critique of Nietzsche and the Nietzschean critique of Marxism both have valid points. The essay concludes with reflections about the importance of addressing the post-utilitarian rationale of capitalism with the same depth and comprehensiveness that we find in Marx's critique of its utilitarian rationale.
Antiradiation Compounds IX. Dithiocarbamates of Strongly Basic Pyridines and Pyrimidines

Dithiocarbamates of exceptionally strong bases in the pyridine and pyrimidine series, e.g. , the 1-alkyl-2- and 4-imino derivatives, have been obtained. Significant protection in mice against ionizing radiation was provided by a dithiocarbamate of one of the strong bases, whereas the dithiocarbamates of weaker bases have generally shown a lower level of protection.
Differences in mouse ovarian cells as distinguished by horseradish peroxidase labelling

The extracellular space of mouse ovarian follicles and stroma contained horseradish peroxidase (HRP) reaction product one minute after intravenous injection of the tracer. In addition to pinocytotic uptake of the tracer, non-vesicular staining with HRP reaction product, heretofore unrecognized, was noted in a variety of ovarian cell-types. This diffuse staining was correlated with changes in cellular morphology suggestive of degeneration. These findings are discussed in relation to the composition of cell populations comprising follicles and ovarian stroma and alterations in cell function.
Assessment of Pain After SCI in Clinical Trials

Even though over one third of persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) report significant pain and individuals may have as many as five pain sites, the treatment of pain has received relatively little attention in the SCI literature. One factor related to this may be the lack of consensus about appropriate pain measures. We review measures of the various aspects of pain and pain treatments used in the field of pain medicine and assess their usefulness in SCI pain trials based on existing literature. We conclude that sufficient knowledge on SCI pain and its measurement exists to make progress in treatment trials possible.
Development of in-situ full-field spectroscopic imaging analysis and application on Li-ion battery using transmission x-ray microscopy

This paper presents the advance in spectroscopic imaging technique and analysis method from the newly developed transmission x-ray microscopy (TXM) at the beamline X8C of National Synchrotron Light Source. Through leastsquares linear combination fitting we developed on the in situ spectroscopic images, a time-dependent and spatially resolved chemical composition mapping can be obtained and quantitatively analyzed undergone chemical/electrochemical reactions. A correlation of morphological evolution, chemical state distribution changes and reaction conditions can be revealed. We successfully applied this method to study the electrochemical evolution of CuO, an anode material of Li-ion battery, during the lithiation-delitiation cycling.
The manufacture, solubility, and stability of hypodermic tablets containing morphine salts.

Hypodermic tablets containing morphine sulfate, morphine and atropine sulfates, and the Schlesinger formula have been studied. The tablet bases used included lactose, lactose with ascorbic acid, lactose with sodium metabisulfite, and mannitol. The usual moistening agents were employed. The finished tablets were stored under accelerated aging conditions and then subjected to macroscopical examinations, rate of solubility tests, and quantitative alkaloidal assays. Using the recommended method of manufacture and storage, the finished products did not discolor, did not show any significant loss in alkaloidal content, and dissolved in water in a reasonable period of time, after storage for nearly a year under various accelerated aging conditions.
Modeling the loss of inner belt protons by magnetic field line curvature scattering

The sudden loss of energetic protons in the inner radiation belt has been observed during geomagnetic storms. It is hypothesized that this sudden loss occurs because of changes in the geomagnetic field configuration which lead to a breakdown of the first adiabatic invariant, μ, in a process called magnetic field line curvature scattering or μ scattering. Comparison of observations to various analytic model predictions for μ scattering induced loss has, however, yielded discrepancies. To better understand how well the analytic models predict the proton loss, test particle simulations are carried out for various magnetic field configurations. Although our simulation results agree well with the analytic models for single μ-scattering events, the results after cumulative μ scattering can show significant disagreement with the theoretical predictions based on analytic models. In particular, we find the assumption that protons with predicted initial δμ/μ > 0.01 or e > 0.1 are ultimately lost overestimates the proton loss. Based on the test particle simulation results, we develop a new empirical model, called the “e-onset” model, to predict the minimum value of e at which all protons of a given pitch angle and energy can be assumed to be lost due to μ scattering. By applying our e-onset model as the variable cutoff condition between trapping and detrapping, we obtain very good agreement between theoretical predictions and the simulation results for a range of Kp, suggesting that the e-onset model can potentially serve as an easy-to-use and more reliable predictor of inner belt proton loss due to μ scattering than the previously used fixed-valued cutoff conditions.
Multiple Sensor Integration/Fusion Through Image Processing: A Review

Multiple sensing is the ability to sense the environment with the concurrent use of several sensors. There are currently a number of different sensors routinely used in image processing applications, and the trend is toward the development of more sophisticated and less expensive sensors. This trend is complemented by the development of parallel and multiprocessor architectures for processing the large amounts of data collected by these sensors. The capabilities of many image processing systems can be greatly enhanced by the organized use of several types of sensors and by the develop-ment of methods capable of integrating the collected data in a way that can yield information otherwise unavailable, or hard to obtain, from any single type of sensor. The advantage in using several similar sensors has already been demonstrated in the context of dynamic scene analysis, where information contained in a sequence of visual intensity images (including stereoscopic images) has been integrated with the twofold objective of obtaining the three-dimensional description and the motion of objects in space. The advantage in using several different sensors is clear from the quite obvious observation that different sensors are sensitive to different signals, each one of which can reveal a particular set of properties of the sensed environment. This paper discusses the advantages of multiple sensor integration/fusion with different sensors through image processing and identifies a number of associated problems. It reviews preliminary work on the solution of these problems and indicates the direction of future research.
Three orthologs in rice, Arabidopsis, and Populus encoding starch branching enzymes (SBEs) are different from other SBE gene families in plants.

Abstract Starch branching enzymes (SBEs) play important roles in plant starch synthesis. Three orthologs encoding SBEs in rice, Arabidopsis thaliana, and Populus trichocarpa are described. Putative amino acid sequences of these three SBE genes show ∼ 30% identity to those of SBEI and SBEII from plants such as maize, barley, and wheat. More interestingly, they share ∼ 31% amino acid sequence identity with those of glycogen-branching enzymes from such animals as mouse, horse, and monkey. The three genes have similar genomic structures, but their structural features are quite different from those of genes of both SBEI and SBEII families in plants. Based on phylogenetic analysis and genomic structure comparison, it is proposed that the three SBE genes represent a new family of SBEs.
Early time detection of OH radical products from energized Criegee intermediates CH2OO and CH3CHOO

The OH radical products from unimolecular decay of energized CH2OO and CH3CHOO Criegee intermediates are detected by laser-induced fluorescence shortly after they are formed utilizing 248 nm photolysis of diiodo precursors and subsequent reaction with O2. The OH radicals from both CH2OO and CH3CHOO are produced with average rotational energies of ∼1–2 kcal mol−1. A different mechanism for unimolecular decay of CH3CHOO is evident from noticeably broader OH A-X (1,0) line profiles, which is attributed to Doppler broadening. Modeling of the Doppler profiles suggests that most of the available energy is channeled into translational excitation of the products.
Delayed iatrogenic aortic dissection from coronary bypass managed with extraanatomic bypass

sualizing the abdominal vessels. Surface ultrasonography provides an excellent image but necessitates an exposure of the abdominal aorta and thus was feasible in only 5 cases (41.7%) in our series. Frazin and colleagues first reported use of TEE for visualizing abdominal vessels, in which the probe in the stomach was manipulated by the surgeon. Although laparotomy is mandatory with this method, this report encouraged us to use TEE as “transgastric echoangiography” without manipulation by the surgeon. Intravascular ultrasonography is invasive and necessitates another system and operator in the operative field. TEE visualizes abdominal vessels in nearly every case, is noninvasive, and necessitates no additional system; thus it saves both cost and space. Although no gastric complications developed in this series, manipulation of the probe against resistance may cause mucosal damage. Further investigation in a larger series is mandatory for evaluating the safety and clinical significance of this method.
“We Are the Present's War”: Deconstruction as Moral Response in Richard Powers's Prisoner's Dilemma

This article argues that the “game” of Prisoner's Dilemma is posited in Richard Powers's novel as a moral response to what Amy Elias calls the “historical sublime,” an “unknowable” and “unrepresentable” conception. The rational quandary of the Prisoner's Dilemma is analogous to deconstruction in the way it remains insolvable in its deferral of fixity or stabilization. In this way, the game, as insolvable paradox, is deconstruction, and it enacts Derrida's idea of “infinite” moral responsibility.
Reformation of taste buds by crossed sensory nerves in the rat's tongue.

OAKLEY, B. Reformation of taste buds by crossed sensory nervps in the rat’s tongue. Acta physiol. scand. 1970. 79. 88-94. Rat taste buds degenerate and disappear when their nerve supply is cut. Regeneration of the taste nerve fibres causes certain epithelial cells to differentiate into slender receptor cells comprising the taste bud. In this study by cross-union the glossopharyngeal (IXth) nerve was made to innervate the front of the tongue, and in other rats the chorda tympani nerve was forced to grow to the back of the tongue. ‘These cross-regenerated sensory nerves were able to cause differentiation of epithelial cells into taste buds, whose number and distribution were histologically determined 15 weeks postoperatively. The cross-innervating IXth nerve reestablished taste buds in the existing fungiform papillae in conformity with the normal number and distribution of taste buds at the front of the tongue. The chorda tympani, forced to innervate the hack of the tongue, reestablish in the foliae papillae more than 1.5 times as many taste buds as it normally innervates. The number of taste buds normally innervated by the chorda tympani must, therefore, be restricted by the capacity of the anterior tongue tissue to respond to this nerve’s influence. This study indicates that the distribution and total number of taste buds in the rat tongue is limited by the inherent nature of the tongue region being innervated (tissue-specific) rather than by the type of nerve supplying the taste buds (nervespecific).