cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Blue holes: Definition and genesis

Blue holes are karst features that were initially described from Bahamian islands and banks, which have been documented for over 100 years. They are water-filled vertical openings in the carbonate rock that exhibit complex morphologies, ecologies, and water chemistries. Their deep blue color, for which they are named, is the result of their great depth, and they may lead to cave systems below sea level. Blue holes are polygenetic in origin, having formed: by drowning of dissolutional sinkholes and shafts developed in the vadose zone; by phreatic dissolution along an ascending halocline; by progradational collapse upward from deep dissolution voids produced in the phreatic zone; or by fracture of the bank margin. Blue holes are the cumulative result of carbonate deposition and dissolution cycles which have been controlled by Quaternary glacioeustatic fluctuations of sea-level.
Petrologic character of Permian and Triassic greenstones from the Melange terrane of eastern Oregon and their implications for terrane origin

Petrography, mineralogy, and geochemistry of lower greenschist fades Permian and Triassic metavolcanics from throughout the pre-Tertiary Melange terrane of eastern Oregon indicate three different sources for these rocks: island arc, alkalic–within plate, and ocean ridge. Most have island-arc affinities. Metabasalts associated with chert at two widely separated localities have nearly identical alkalic compositions. Knockers in serpentinite-matrix melange have diverse sources. Metagabbros of the melange are mostly tholeiitic and may have an origin different from that of the calc-alkaline, arc-related, coherent ophiolite within the terrane. The compositions and lithologies of metavolcanics and metagabbros, as well as the associated metasediments, suggest that the Melange terrane represents a forearc.
Characteristics of production-scale tofu as affected by soymilk coagulation method: propeller blade size, mixing time and coagulant concentration

This study was to investigate the effect of soymilk coagulation method on tofu yield and quality. Tofu was produced from Proto and Vinton soybean varieties using an automatic tofu machine. Stirring with a large three-blade (4W × 7L cm) propeller significantly (p≤0.05) reduced the amount of calcium sulfate and mixing time when compared to a small three-blade (3W × 5L cm) propeller based on the similar tofu yield, protein content and texture. Coagulant concentration had less effect on tofu quality with the small propeller. Calcium sulfate at 19.2 mM in soymilk and stirring 10 s with the large propeller produced Proto tofu with a high yield and sensory quality. Vinton required a different coagulation condition to yield a high quality tofu. The results suggested that the yield and quality of tofu made from different soybean varieties could be improved through modifications of coagulation method.
Anesthesia and bifid sternum repair in an infant

The sternal cleft is a rare congenital abnormality that is a result of failure of sternal fusion, varying from complete to incomplete (bifid), and may be associated with ectopia cordis. The surgical correction of the bifid sternum and its respective anesthetic concerns are presented.
Gender and working models of attachment: Consequences for perceptions of self and romantic relationships

Several theorists have proposed that differential socialization experiences lead men and women to differ in the importance they assign to relationships and in how they interpret and respond to relationships. To explore this idea, this study examined whether men and women who reported similar attachment experiences responded differently to information about the same kind of relationship. Men and women with secure, preoccupied, or avoidant models of attachment imagined themselves in a relationship with a hypothetical partner who displayed secure, preoccupied, or avoidant behavior. As predicted, avoidant men and preoccupied women, whose attachment models exaggerated gender-role stereotypes, expressed the most negativity toward themselves and the relationship. Women also were more likely than men to apply specific information about the imagined relationship to general beliefs about their own relationships. In addition, men and women whose attachment models matched the partner's behavior responded more favorably to the relationship if they both expressed security, but less favorably if they both expressed avoidance. Findings for gender and partner matching closely paralleled those for couples in long-term relationships and support the idea that the meaning and consequences of attachment models must be considered within the context of gender roles.
Viscoelastic behavior of highly crosslinked poly(acrylic acid)

The effects of crosslinking upon the dynamic mechanical properties and swelling behavior of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) have been studied. Materials were prepared by the free radical copolymerization of acrylic acid with varying amounts of the tetrafunctional monomer allyl acrylate (ALA). The results indicated a linear dependence of the glass-transition temperature (Tg) on composition, Tg increasing by ∼43°C over the mole fraction range X = 0−0.37 ALA. Room temperature (25°C) modulus values, as determined by both dynamic and compression methods, were inversely proportional to the initial concentration of ALA. The degree of network formation has been characterized in terms of the molecular weight between crosslinks Mc, and the influence of this parameter on the swelling ratio was discussed.
Theory of the 125 Te nuclear quadrupole interaction and isomer shifts in tellurium, selenium, and sulfur

The electronic wave functions for the systems, tellurium chain and tellurium atom present as a substitutional impurity in a selenium chain and selenium and sulfur rings, are obtained by the extended H\"uckel procedure. Using these wave functions, the field gradients at the $^{125}\mathrm{Te}$ nucleus in all these four systems is investigated. Very good agreement is found with M\"ossbauer nuclear quadrupole data in the tellurium chain, both with respect to the magnitude and sign of the quadrupole coupling constant and the asymmetry parameter. For the case $^{125}\mathrm{Te}$ in the rings, the agreement with experiment for the quadrupole coupling constants is not as close but still quite good, the theoretical magnitudes being about 82% for both rings. The signs of the quadrupole coupling constant are not known in these systems, but the theoretical results indicate interestingly that the sign for the selenium ring is the same as in the tellurium chain but opposite in the case of sulfur. The asymmetry parameters are not available experimentally for the rings but are predicted to be very sizable, 0.87 and 0.98, respectively, for selenium and sulfur. For the selenium chain, the sign of the theoretical quadrupole coupling is found in agreement with experiment, but the magnitude is only about one-half the experimental value. The asymmetry parameter is predicted to only be 13% but there is no experimental value available for comparison. Possible reasons are discussed for the less satisfactory agreement with experiment for $^{125}\mathrm{Te}$ in the selenium chain relative to the case of the tellurium chain and the rings. The ratio of the isomer shifts for $^{125}\mathrm{Te}$ in selenium and sulfur ring referred to the tellurium chain is calculated and found to be in good agreement with experiment.
Basophil chemotaxis under agarose: Variability among guinea pig donors and response to sera of different species

Guinea pig basophils were tested against chemotactic factor(s) generated from homologous and heterologous sera. An "under agarose" method of quantitating leukocyte chemotaxis was adapted to measure serum-derived basophil chemotactic factor(s) (BCF). The method was found to be simple, reproducible, and sparing of time and reagents and it provided simultaneous controls. Because of the economy of reagents compared with the Boyden chamber technique, basophils from individual guinea pigs could be studied and were found to be variable in responsiveness. A definite difference in the response of guinea pig basophils to zymosan-activated sera of various other species was demonstrated. Guinea pig basophils responded to zymosan-activated serum from guinea pig and rat but failed to respond to zymosan-activated serum from human, hamster, rabbit, or cow. Optimal conditions were determined for cell numbers, serum activation and dilution, and migration times for studies of guinea pig BCF. The under agarose technique provides a practical alternative to chamber methods for the study of basophil chemotaxis. Although guinea pig basophils do not respond to human serum-derived BCF, the economy of reagents with this technique gives promise toward adaptation of the method to studies of human basophil chemotaxis.
Hyaline matrix material in high-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration: Case report

We present a case of a high-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma metastatic to the abdomen with an unusual extracellular hyaline matrix material seen on fine needle aspiration biopsy. The patient was initially diagnosed with a stage IIIA high-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma and had received four cycles of chemotherapy over the past year. She subsequently developed an abdominal mass that consisted of discohesive small cells with scanty cytoplasm on fine needle aspiration. On the Diff-Quik-stained smears, metachromatic, extracellular hyaline material was identified. This appeared on the Papanicolaou-stained smear as cyanophilic material and did not react with reticulin stain. This case emphasizes the importance to the cytopathologist of including endometrial stromal sarcoma in the differential diagnosis of hyaline matrix material. Diagn. Cytopathol. 16:151–155, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Observations on Preservation of Human Spermatozoa at Low Temperatures

SummaryInitial experiments indicate that when 9 parts of liquefied human semen are treated with 1 part of absolute glycerol and placed in an insulated box containing dry ice, it can be stored for at least 3 months and, after quick thawing in a 37°C water bath, it will show an average spermatozoal survival of 67%, a figure superior to those realized with faster freezing methods. Such revived spermatozoa show no detectable alterations in motility or morphology.
Culture, Context, and Maternal Self-Efficacy in Latina Mothers

Cultural and contextual variables were examined as potential influences of maternal self-efficacy in Latina mothers with infants, as part of a set of papers in this special issue (Le et al., 2008). The sample included 40 low-income women who met high-risk criteria for depression. Maternal self-efficacy, the main parenting variable, was a composite score of items from the Maternal Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (MEQ; Teti & Gelfand, 1991). The main cultural variable was number of years living in the United States. Contextual variables included participants and their partners' yearly income, number of persons living in household, and maternal depressive symptoms. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted with the cultural variable entered first and the contextual variables entered second to determine if cultural processes were associated with maternal self-efficacy at 6 months and at 12 months postpartum, after adjusting for contextual factors. Results indicate that when the infant is 6 months old, a wom...
Evaluation of fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry for assessing the oxidation states of disulfide-containing peptides

Positive and negative ion fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectra of the molecular ion region of calcitonin using several solution matrices produce an isotopic distribution which is indicative of a mixture of reduced and oxidized disulfide bonds. The insensitivity of the distribution to the choice of matrix and positive/negative ion mode suggest that the spectra reflect the natural abundance of reduced calcitonin in the sample, rather than an artifact of the fast atom bombardment technique.
Single-chromosome transcriptional profiling reveals chromosomal gene expression regulation

We report intron chromosomal expression FISH (iceFISH), a multiplex imaging method for measuring gene expression and chromosome structure simultaneously on single chromosomes. We find substantial differences in transcriptional frequency between genes on a translocated chromosome and the same genes in their normal chromosomal context in the same cell. Correlations between genes on a single chromosome pointed toward a cis chromosome-level transcriptional interaction spanning 14.3 megabases.
User profile replication for faster location lookup in mobile environments

We consider per-user profile replication as a mechanism for faster location lookup of mobile users in a Personal Communications Service system. We present a minimum-cost maximum-flow based algorithm to compute the set of sites at which a user profile should be replicated given known calling and user mobility patterns. We then present schemes for replication plans that gracefully adapt to changes in the calling and mobility patterns.
Liberal Democracy as a Global Phenomenon

I. The Worldwide Democratic Revolution and Its CausesIt being less than ten days after the collapse of the attempted coup by communist hardliners in the Soviet Union, the coup's outcome serves as a useful reminder of the vitality that the democratic dea has for people still living under authoritarianism. The anti-communist revolution in the USSR is of course not an isolated event. The single most remarkable macropolitical phenomenon of the past generation has been the global crisis of authoritarianism, and the spread of liberal democracy in its wake, as noted by Lucian Pye in his presidential addressto this convention two years ago. By my count, there were three democracies in 1790; 13 in 1900, 27 in 1919, and 62 today.This progress has not been linear or continuous, of course: there were 14 fewer democracies in 1940 than in 1919; democracies were overthrown throughout Latin America in the 60s and 70s. Many of the countries thathave become democracies in the past few years are very unstable or of uncertain commitment to liberal values, and it would not be surprising to see a number of them lapse back into some kind of authoritarian rule in the nearfuture, as Thailand has already done this past year. Nonetheless, th trend is there. The 62 countries I countas democracies have a combined population of 2.24 billion people, or approximately 44 percent of the world's population. Moreover, neither the Soviet Union nor China are counted among the 62, and if parts or all of either country democratizes successfully, half to two-thirds of the world's population could be said to enjoy democratic rights and liberties.
STABILITY OF LEAD GLASSES AND POLARIZATION OF IONS

The current theories of glass formation deal mainly with inorganic substances containing oxygen as the negatively charged component. A distinction has been made between those positively charged components which are considered as essential for the formation of the continuous network and those which fit into the interstices of the network and have only a secondary modifying effect on the properties of the glass. While the small and highly charged ions B3+, Si4+, and P5+, which exert a strong electrical attraction on oxygen, have been classified as typical network-formers, the larger, only singly and doubly charged alkali and alkaline earth cations were considered as typical network-modifiers. However, the behavior of Be2+ and Al3+ is intermediate between these extremes and shows that the classification is not precise. Furthermore, the following facts prove that the strength of the forces between the positive and negative components is not the decisive factor for glass formation: S6+ is not a glassformer, whereas PbO favors glass formation even though Pb2+ resembles Sr2+ in many other respects. It is suggested in the present paper that in the case of inorganic substances, the mutual polarization of ions is the common factor responsible for the stability of glasses. In those silicates which contain only cations of noble gas type, the decisive factor is the polarization of O2- by the strong field of the central cation Si4+. The high polarizability of the non-noble gas type cation Pb2+ is considered responsible for the stability of lead glasses. Strong polarization effects diminish the symmetry of the constituent parts which have to move against each other in the process of crystallization. The lack of symmetry of the field of forces around the ions of inorganic substances as well as around the molecules of organic compounds like glycerol appears to be responsible for the high viscosity of the liquid at the solidification temperature and thus for the stability of the vitreous state. The tightness of the electronic shell of oxygen ions in silicates containing only cations of noble gas type is compared on the basis of the apparent Lorentz-Lorenz molar refraction per one O2-. These values are derived from the molar refraction of the silicate by subtracting those of Si4+ and of the other cations in the free gaseous state. It is shown that the electronic shell of the oxygen ions becomes less tight in the series 2Be2+, Si4+, 4/3Al3+, 2Mg2+, 4Li+, etc., which is that of decreasing field strength of the cation. Increase of the ratio of the numbers of O to Si atoms also leads to decreased tightness.
Geiger-mode operation of antimonide-based avalanche photodiodes in the mid-wave infrared

We demonstrate avalanche photodiodes operating in the Geiger-mode with photoresponse at wavelengths longer than 3 mum. For these MBE-grown, antimonide-based APDs, the dark count rate is ~1 MHz at 1.5 V of overbias at 87 K.
Building Autonomically Scalable Services on Wide-Area Shared Computing Platforms

We present here mechanisms and models for building autonomically scalable and resilient services on wideâarea shared computing platforms in which resources at a node are allocated to competing users on fairâshare basis. There is no platformâwide resource manager for the placement of users on different nodes. Building scalable services in such environments poses unique challenges due to fluctuations in the available resource capacities and node crashes. The service load may surge in a short time due to flash crowds. We present here models for estimating the service capacity under varying operating conditions. Autonomic scaling of service capacity is performed by dynamic control of the degree of service replication based on the estimated service capacity and the observed load. Furthermore adaptive load distribution mechanisms are needed because of the varying service capacities of the individual replicas. We present the results of our evaluations of these mechanisms on Planet Lab.
Silicon micromachining using in situ DC microplasmas

This paper reports on the generation of spatially confined plasmas and their application to silicon etching. The etching is performed using SF/sub 6/ gas and dc power applied between thin-film electrodes patterned on the silicon wafer to be etched. The electrodes also serve as a mask for the etching. The typical operating pressure and power density are in the range of 1-20 Torr and 1-10 W/cm/sup 2/, respectively. The plasma confinement can be varied from 1 cm by varying the electrode area, operating pressure, and power. High power densities can be achieved at moderate currents because the electrode areas are small. Etch rates of 4-17 /spl mu/m/min., which enable through-wafer etching and varying degrees of anisotropy, have been achieved. The etch rate increases with power density, whereas the etch rate per unit power density increases with operating pressure. Scaling effects are explored for varying sized mask openings. Plasma resistance measurements and electric field modeling are used to provide an initial assessment of the microplasmas.
A Shared Decision-Making Primary Care Intervention for Type 2 Diabetes

PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to test the feasibility of a brief shared decision-making (SDM) goal-setting intervention among individuals with type 2 diabetes. METHODS A convenience sample of 58 patients from the University Internal Medicine Resident Clinic was recruited to participate in the study. Outcomes were tested through a pilot test of the intervention and ongoing conversations with clinic nursing staff and physicians. Patient outcomes included preintervention and postintervention hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c), weight and blood pressure levels, preintervention and postintervention patient survey questionnaires, and documented diabetes goals. RESULTS Most providers indicated that the SDM intervention did not impose major demands. Patient-centered interviewing and an SDM approach to goal setting led to 75.9% of patients having at least 1 diabetes management goal documented in their medical record after intervention. HbA1c level, weight, and diabetes empowerment score showed a trend toward improvement, as did patient ratings of "life disruption from having diabetes." Postintervention perceived knowledge of diabetes and treatments increased significantly (P = .001), as did the mean numbers of documented diabetes management goals (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS An SDM intervention for individuals with type 2 diabetes appears to be feasible and may improve major diabetes outcomes in primary care. SDM workbooks and activities can encourage patients to identify realistic diabetes goals with primary care providers. These results are encouraging. Future randomized trials with larger samples are warranted.
Cd adsorption onto Pseudomonas putida in the presence and absence of extracellular polymeric substances

The role of bacterial extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in metal adsorption was determined by studying Cd adsorption onto the gram-negative bacterial species Pseudomonas putida with and without enzymatic removal of EPS from the biomass material. A range of experimental approaches were used to characterize the Cd adsorption reactions, including bulk proton and Cd adsorption measurements, FTIR spectroscopy, and fluorescence microscopy. The proton-reactivities of the biomass samples with EPS are not significantly different from those obtained for EPS-free biomass. Similarly, the presence of EPS does not significantly affect the extent of Cd removal from solution by the biomass on a mass-normalized basis, based on bulk Cd adsorption measurements conducted as a function of pH, nor does it appear to strongly affect the Cd-binding groups as observed by FTIR. However, fluorescence microscopy indicates that Cd, although concentrated on cell walls, is also bound to some extent to EPS. Together, the results from this study suggest that the P. putida EPS can bind significant concentrations of Cd from solution, and that the nature and mass-normalized extent of the binding is similar to that of the cell wall. Therefore, the EPS-bearing systems do not exhibit enhanced mass-normalized removal of Cd from solution relative to the EPS-free systems. The presence of the EPS effectively increases the viability of cells exposed to aqueous Cd, likely due to sequestration of the Cd away from the cells due to Cd-EPS binding.
Gender and Entrepreneurship as a Career Choice: Do Self-assessments of Ability Matter?

The gender gap in entrepreneurship has typically been understood through women’s structural disadvantages in acquiring the resources relevant for successful business ownership. This study builds on resource-based approaches to investigate how cultural beliefs about gender influence the process by which individuals initially come to identify entrepreneurship as a viable labor-market option. Drawing on status characteristics theory, this study evaluates (1) how cultural beliefs about gender and entrepreneurship influence self-assessments of entrepreneurial ability, and (2) the extent to which such assessments account for the gender gap in business start-ups. Results suggest that women are significantly less likely to perceive themselves as able to be an entrepreneur and they hold themselves to a stricter standard of competence when compared to similarly situated men. This gender difference in self-assessments accounts for a significant portion of the gender gap in entrepreneurship after controlling for rele...
Gun Culture: Mapping a Peculiar Preference for Firearms in the Commission of Suicide

Research has shown how honor cultures promote aggression against others (e.g., homicide) and the self (e.g., suicide). Two studies examine the connection between honor and a predilection for guns in the commission of suicide. Study 1 shows that Whites living in honor states are especially likely to use guns to commit suicide, controlling for gun accessibility. Study 2 reveals that a “gun access gap” in honor states—a positive difference between the proportion of all suicides that involve a gun and the gun ownership rate—predicts outcomes linked previously to honor cultures: homicides and accidental deaths.
MOS-Controlled thyristors&#8212;A new class of power devices

A new class of power devices is described that is based on an optimal combination of MOS and thyristor elements. Devices of this class function in the ON-state and OFF-state in a manner indistinguishable from a thyristor yet can switch from on-to-off or off-to-on by applying a voltage to its MOS gate. Thus, the devices exhibit extremely low forward drop, high surge current capability, and enjoy negative thermal feedback. To turn off the device, one activates the gate so that FET's are turned on to effectively short one of the emitting junctions of the thyristor. These FET's need only block a maximum of about 1 V when off and carry a sizable current for about 1 µs when on. To turn on the device, any of the normal methods may be employed. However, it is most convenient to use the same MOS gate electrode (and polysilicon layer) and a voltage of the opposite polarity to turn on the thyristor with another FET-just as if it were a normal MOS gated thyristor. The current density that can be turned off depends on the density and effective resistance of the turn-off FET's while turn-on speed and di/ dt rating depend on the initial turn-on area, which in turn depends on the density of the ON-FET's. If the OFF-gate voltage is maintained during the desired OFF-state period, the device has, effectively, an infinite dv/dt capability. Switching speed is most similar to, but somewhat faster than, that of gate turn-off thyristors (GTO's) and, as in other bipolar devices, depends chiefly on carrier recombination time, device thickness, and turn-off di/dt .
31P NMR characterization of cellular metabolism during dexamethasone induced apoptosis in human leukemic cell lines.

31P NMR has been used to study the effects of dexamethasone on phosphorus metabolism in one dexamethasone (dex)-sensitive (CEM-C7) and three different dex-resistant (CEM-C1, CEM-4R4, and CEM-ICR27) human leukemic cell lines. The use of these cell lines, containing widely varying amounts of glucocorticoid receptors, made it possible to evaluate the receptor-mediated contributions to the modes of action of dexamethasone in these cells. To evaluate the effects of dexamethasone without any significant contribution from experimental conditions, all the experiments were done with parallel controls. Results obtained showed: (1) significantly different levels of phosphorylethanolamine (PE) and phosphorylcholine (PC) among cell lines, suggesting significant differences in phospholipid metabolism; (2) the dexamethasone induced reduction of phosphomonoester (PE + PC), ATP, and metabolic rates probably through glucocorticoid receptor mediated mechanisms; (3) the dexamethasone induced stimulation of cellular metabolism in a process which seems to be independent of glucocorticoid receptors; and (4) the dexamethasone induced alkaline shift of intracellular pH in all the cell lines except ICR27. The reduction in PME levels seems to be an earlier step in dexamethasone-induced apoptosis than the reduction in ATP. The degree of alkaline shift was found to correlate with the number of glucocorticoid receptors present. The possible involvement of phospholipid metabolites as second messengers in dexamethasone-induced apoptosis is discussed. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
New Evidence on Price and Product Quality

A variety of investigations have indicated that consumers subjectively perceive a positive relation between price and product quality. However it is also necessary to consider the objective analysis of actual price-quality relations which exist among competing products available for consumer choice. This investigation reviews findings from some subjective and objective evaluations of the price-quality relationship, followed by an objective analysis of price versus quality among 135 recently marketed groups of products in five product categories. Findings indicate that for 51 percent of the products a positive price-produce quality relation may be inferred, and dramatic differences in this relation are evident from one product category to another. Implications of these findings for the efficiency of consumer decision-making, the performance of consumer markets and future research on objective price-quality relations are discussed.
Do Male Dropouts Benefit from Obtaining a GED, Postsecondary Education, and Training?

The authors use longitudinal data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth to investigate whether the wage trajectories of male high school dropouts are affected by the acquisition of the General Educational Development (GED) credential, by postsecondary education, and by training. The authors show that acquisition of the GED results in wage increases for dropouts who left school with weak skills, but not for dropouts who left high school with stronger skills. College and training provided by employers are associated with higher wages for male dropouts.
Concept Grounding and Knowledge of Set Theory

C. S. Jenkins has recently proposed an account of arithmetical knowledge designed to be realist, empiricist, and apriorist: realist in that what's the case in arithmetic doesn't rely on us being any particular way; empiricist in that arithmetic knowledge crucially depends on the senses; and apriorist in that it accommodates the time-honored judgment that there is something special about arithmetical knowledge, something we have historically labeled with 'a priori'. I'm here concerned with the prospects for extending Jenkins's account beyond arithmetic—in particular, to set theory. After setting out the central elements of Jenkins's account and entertaining challenges to extending it to set theory, I conclude that a satisfactory such extension is unlikely.
The cAMP response element binding protein modulates expression of the transient outward current: implications for cardiac memory.

Objective: Long-term cardiac memory (LTCM), expressed as a specific pattern of T-wave change on ECG, is associated with 1) reduced transient outward potassium current ( I to), 2) reduced mRNA for the pore-forming protein of I to, Kv4.3, 3) reduced cAMP response element binding protein (CREB), and 4) diminished binding to its docking site on the DNA, the cAMP response element (CRE). We hypothesized a causal link between the decrease of the transcription factor CREB and down-regulation of I to and one of its channel subunits, KChIP2, in LTCM. Methods: After three weeks of left ventricular pacing to induce LTCM (8 paced, 7 sham control dogs), epicardial KChIP2 mRNA and protein levels were assessed by real-time PCR and Western blotting. Mimicking the CREB down-regulation in LTCM, CREB was knocked down in situ in other dogs using adenoviral anti-sense. Effects on the action potential notch, reflecting I to, were investigated in situ using monophasic action potential (MAP) recordings and at the cellular level by the whole-cell patch clamp technique. CREB binding in the KChIP2 promoter region was ascertained by electrophoretic mobility-shift assays. Results: In LTCM, epicardial KChIP2 mRNA and protein were reduced by 62% and 76%, respectively, compared to shams ( p <0.05). CREB binding by the canine KChIP2 promoter region was demonstrated. CREB knockdown led to disappearance of the phase1 notch in MAP and ablation of I to. Conclusions: These results strengthen the hypothesis that down-regulation of CREB-mediated transcription underlies the attenuation of epicardial I to in LTCM. They also emphasize that ventricular pacing exerts effects at a subcellular level contributing to memory and conceivably to other forms of cardiac remodeling.
Introduction to 'Modern Christian Teachings on Law, Politics, and Human Nature'

Modern Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox Christians alike produced original teachings on law and politics, constructing them on the foundations of their theology, particularly their theology of human nature. But, until recent years, these Christian legal teachings did not penetrate Western legal education, given its pervasive devotion to legal positivism. With the rise of interdisciplinary legal studies, however, these teachings have begun to influence the law both in the West and beyond. This chapter introduces a score of major modern Christian thinkers whose views on law, politics, and human nature deserve closer study by jurists and theologians alike.
Effect of urease injection on body weights of growing rats and chicks.

SummaryExperiments with 40-day-old chicks and 60 weanling Sprague Dawley rats were conducted. The experimental subjects were immunized with jackbean urease injected during the first 4 weeks of experiments lasting 8. weeks. During the 4-8 week or post injection period, the immunized chicks gained 905 g vs. 777 g for their controls and were more efficient in converting feed to weight gain. In 2 successive experiments immunized rats grew slightly faster and showed a difference in feed efficiency which was statistically significant. In both chicks and rats there were no differences in body weight during the 0-4 week injection period. Antibodies to urease were demonstrable in sera of immunized rats by in vivo methods with C-14 urea and by in vitro tests. Soybean diets were fed.
Influence of Temperature, Moisture, and Propionic Acid on Mold Growth and Toxin Production on Corn

The influence of temperature and propionic acid on mold growth and toxin production on whole corn with 10, 15, or 20% added water was studied. Levels of propionic acid tested at each moisture level were 0, .025, .05, and .1%. Each flask of corn was inoculated with spores of a citrinin-producing Penicillium spp. and was then incubated for 8 weeks at a constant temperature of 5 C, at 5 C at night and room temperature during the day, or at room temperature both at night and during the day. The corn was then dried, ground, and fed to chicks to determine the presence of citrinin. Regardless of acid level or moisture content, neither mold growth nor toxin production occurred on the corn incubated at 5 C. Both mold growth and toxin production occurred on corn either partially or totally incubated at room temperature but were more prevalent in the latter. Increasing the moisture content resulted in greater mold growth and toxin production, especially on the corn incubated at room temperature. Higher levels of propionic acid were needed to prevent mold growth and toxin production as the moisture content of the corn increased.
Kinetics of Mixed Ethanol/n-Butanol Esterification of Butyric Acid with Amberlyst 70 and p-Toluene Sulfonic Acid

Esterification of butyric acid with ethanol, n-butanol, and ethanol/n-butanol mixtures was studied using Amberlyst 70 cation-exchange resin and homogeneous p-toluene sulfonic acid as catalysts. The kinetics of individual alcohol esterification were first examined in batch reactions at different temperatures and catalyst loadings, and then esterification in ethanol/n-butanol mixtures of varying concentration ratios was characterized. Both nonideal solution and ideal solution kinetic models were developed. These models accurately predict the esterification of butyric acid by the individual alcohols; a simple additive combination of the individual alcohol esterification kinetics properly describes mixed alcohol esterification, indicating that the alcohols do not compete with each other or inhibit esterification when present together. When solution density is included in the kinetic rate expression to account for the actual concentration of −OH groups in ethanol and n-butanol, butyric acid esterification kine...
Elevation of glutathione and related enzyme activities in high-grade and metastatic extremity soft tissue sarcoma

Background: Glutathione is a free radical scavenger implicated in the chemoresistance of certain tumors. As treatment with chemotherapy has added little to improved survival in adult soft tissue sarcoma and little is known concerning the mechanisms of chemoresistance in sarcoma, we studied concentrations of glutathione (nmol/mg protein) and activities ofγ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (GCS; nmol/mg protein/h) andγ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP; U/mg protein) in extremity soft tissue sarcoma.
Responses to a print media campaign promoting healthier beverage choices on a college campus

ABSTRACTThis study investigated the efficacy of a public health print media campaign to impact sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among the population at a small, Northeastern women’s college. A repeated measures design indicated age was a predictor of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption (p < .05). Reactions to the campaign underscore the necessity to utilize alternative marketing methods, and to consider the unique attributes and sensitivities of this population. These results set the stage for future research on best practices for designing and implementing an educational initiative on a college campus concerning the negative health consequences of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption.
Analyzing collaborative contexts: professional musicians, corporate engineers, and communities in the himalayas

This paper reports on the collaborative experiences and theories of members of professional and community settings who work with others in their everyday practices. Data are drawn from interviews and field observations with professional musicians who collaborate regularly for performances, corporate engineers working in groups, and community members exchanging perspectives on sustainable practices for their village. Performing chamber music, designing a new technology-driven plane, or making decisions about sustainability in rural communities, all require sophisticated collaboration to generate ideas from multiple perspectives, problem solve, and innovate. The research we present explores the demands on the environment, the relational space, and the shifts that occur for participants in their collaborative settings. The findings from these studies emphasize the multidimensionality of collaboration and the importance of collaboration as a tool for learning and decision-making in given contexts.
Urethral Striated Sphincter Responses to Electro-Bulbocavernosus Stimulation

AbstractElectric stimuli of known strength, duration and frequency were applied to the glans penis, and the cystosphincterometric and electromyographic responses of the urethral striated sphincter were recorded. Studies performed on male subjects, including normal men, patients with a neurologic deficit and patients who had undergone prostatectomy, indicate the usefulness of this technique in evaluating the striated sphincter excitability via the pudendal reflex arc. The intravenous administration of diazepam produced a notable increase in the striated sphincter threshold, indicating the applicability of this technique to evaluate the effect of various neuropharmacologic agents on the striated sphincter activity. In addition, the transit time through the pudendal reflex arc was measured with this method to assess the somatic neural integrity of the lower urinary tract. Also, studies on patients with post-radical prostatectomy incontinence have suggested that our technique of striated sphincter evaluation ...
New Frontiers in Bioinorganic Chemistry: A Tribute to Harry Gray on his 80th Birthday

When I was asked to serve as guest editor for a special issue of the Israel Journal of Chemistry dedicated to my close friend and colleague Harry Gray, on the occasion of his 80th birthday, the idea of organizing the issue around the theme of “New Frontiers in Bioinorganic Chemistry” immediately came to mind. Harry is without a doubt one of the pioneers of those frontiers, most of whom (in the US, at least), like him, came to the field from more traditional inorganic areas.
Metabolic modeling of a chronic wound biofilm consortium predicts spatial partitioning of bacterial species

Chronic wounds are often colonized by consortia comprised of different bacterial species growing as biofilms on a complex mixture of wound exudate. Bacteria growing in biofilms exhibit phenotypes distinct from planktonic growth, often rendering the application of antibacterial compounds ineffective. Computational modeling represents a complementary tool to experimentation for generating fundamental knowledge and developing more effective treatment strategies for chronic wound biofilm consortia. We developed spatiotemporal models to investigate the multispecies metabolism of a biofilm consortium comprised of two common chronic wound isolates: the aerobe Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the facultative anaerobe Staphylococcus aureus. By combining genome-scale metabolic reconstructions with partial differential equations for metabolite diffusion, the models were able to provide both temporal and spatial predictions with genome-scale resolution. The models were used to analyze the metabolic differences between single species and two species biofilms and to demonstrate the tendency of the two bacteria to spatially partition in the multispecies biofilm as observed experimentally. Nutrient gradients imposed by supplying glucose at the bottom and oxygen at the top of the biofilm induced spatial partitioning of the two species, with S. aureus most concentrated in the anaerobic region and P. aeruginosa present only in the aerobic region. The two species system was predicted to support a maximum biofilm thickness much greater than P. aeruginosa alone but slightly less than S. aureus alone, suggesting an antagonistic metabolic effect of P. aeruginosa on S. aureus. When each species was allowed to enhance its growth through consumption of secreted metabolic byproducts assuming identical uptake kinetics, the competitiveness of P. aeruginosa was further reduced due primarily to the more efficient lactate metabolism of S. aureus. Lysis of S. aureus by a small molecule inhibitor secreted from P. aeruginosa and/or P. aeruginosa aerotaxis were predicted to substantially increase P. aeruginosa competitiveness in the aerobic region, consistent with in vitro experimental studies. Our biofilm modeling approach allows the prediction of individual species metabolism and interspecies interactions in both time and space with genome-scale resolution. This study yielded new insights into the multispecies metabolism of a chronic wound biofilm, in particular metabolic factors that may lead to spatial partitioning of the two bacterial species. We believe that P. aeruginosa lysis of S. aureus combined with nutrient competition is a particularly relevant scenario for which model predictions could be tested experimentally.
Cognitive decline and the PPAR-γ Pro12Ala genotype: variation by sex and ethnicity.

Objective We investigated the association between the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma Pro12Ala polymorphism and cognitive decline in older adults. Methods Participants from a population-based cohort of older Hispanic and non-Hispanic white adults (n = 492) were administered the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), a multi-domain cognitive screening tool, and the Behavioral Dyscontrol Scale (BDS), a measure of executive cognitive function, at baseline and at follow-up, an average of 22 months later. Multiple linear regression was used to investigate the association between the two cognitive test scores and the Pro12Ala polymorphism. Results At baseline, presence of the Ala12 allele was not significantly associated with MMSE score (P = 0.62) nor with BDS score (P = 0.85). Heterogeneity was present for cognitive decline as measured by the MMSE among ethnic, sex and Ala12 allele status (P = 0.04 for three-way interaction term). Stratification by the cross-classification of sex and ethnicity revealed significantly greater declines in MMSE score among male Hispanic carriers of the Ala12 allele compared to male Hispanic non-carriers (decline = 4.0 versus 1.6 points; P = 0.02). A significant difference in decline between Ala12 carriers and non-carriers was not present among the other sex/ethnic groups. Conclusions Carriers of the PPAR-γ Ala12 allele showed greater cognitive decline compared to non-carriers as detected by the MMSE but the risk varied across sex and ethnic groups. Male Ala12 carriers of Hispanic origin may be a high-risk group for cognitive decline.
Cornel West’s Pragmatic Understanding of America

Cornel West’s intellectual performance does not fit neatly into the usual academic categories. One of his goals from the beginning, as he himself repeatedly attests, has been “to examine critically...
Incremental comprehension of Japanese passives: Evidence from the visual-world paradigm

Psycholinguistic research has shown that sentence processing is incremental (e.g., Altmann & Kamide, 1999). In Japanese, a verb-final language, native speakers use case markers to incrementally assign thematic roles and predictively activate a structural representation of upcoming linguistic items. This study examined whether second-language learners of Japanese, guided by case markers, generate predictions as to whether the upcoming verb involves the active or passive voice. The results show that the native speakers made predictive eye movements before the verb, but the learners did not; the learners were less efficient in using case-marker cues than the native speakers and relied more on verb morphology information. These results suggest that case markers guide thematic role assignments, expediting the processing for Japanese native speakers. Learners may depend more on information from the verb to compensate for the inefficiency in case-marker-driven predictive processing.
Freedom, the State, and War: Hegel’s Challenge to World Peace

Several conflict theorists have appropriated Hegel’s ‘struggle for recognition’ to highlight the healthy dimensions of conflict and to explore ways of reaching reconciliation through mutual recognition. In so doing, some scholars attend to the interpersonal dimension of reconciliation, while others focus on the interstate dimension of reconciliation. This paper argues that both approaches miss important Hegelian insights into the modern state. Hegel understands that freedom must be situated and bounded in order to take a concrete form. He believes that concrete freedom and domestic reconciliation create an atmosphere that can pressure the state to be more confrontational with other states by attaining a stronger individuality. Thus, the common concern about freedom among Hegelian states remains a ‘thin’ version of communication, vulnerable to such factors as national honor or recognition status. Hegel’s challenge urges peace-inspired scholars to explore ways of achieving concrete freedom and domestic reconciliation while simultaneously relieving interstate conflict.