cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Topological and Mutational Analysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ste14p, Founding Member of the Isoprenylcysteine Carboxyl Methyltransferase Family

Eukaryotic proteins that terminate in a CaaX motif undergo three processing events: isoprenylation, C-terminal proteolytic cleavage, and carboxyl methylation. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the latter step is mediated by Ste14p, an integral endoplasmic reticulum membrane protein. Ste14p is the founding member of the isoprenylcysteine carboxyl methyltransferase (ICMT) family, whose members share significant sequence homology. Because the physiological substrates of Ste14p, such as Ras and the yeast a-factor precursor, are isoprenylated and reside on the cytosolic side of membranes, the Ste14p residues involved in enzymatic activity are predicted to be cytosolically disposed. In this study, we have investigated the topology of Ste14p by analyzing the protease protection of epitope-tagged versions of Ste14p and the glycosylation status of Ste14p-Suc2p fusions. Our data lead to a topology model in which Ste14p contains six membrane spans, two of which form a helical hairpin. According to this model most of the Ste14p hydrophilic regions are located in the cytosol. We have also generated ste14 mutants by random and site-directed mutagenesis to identify residues of Ste14p that are important for activity. Notably, four of the five loss-of-function mutations arising from random mutagenesis alter residues that are highly conserved among the ICMT family. Finally, we have identified a novel tripartite consensus motif in the C-terminal region of Ste14p. This region is similar among all ICMT family members, two phospholipid methyltransferases, several ergosterol biosynthetic enzymes, and a group of bacterial open reading frames of unknown function. Site-directed and random mutations demonstrate that residues in this region play a critical role in the function of Ste14p.
The Impact of Cultural Values on Marketing Ethical Norms: A Study in India and the United States:

Abstract This research investigates the relationship between the cultural values and the marketing ethics in two diverse countries: India and the United States. The results show that these countries are indeed culturally different, though the gaps have narrowed considerably since Hofstede's (1991) study. Furthermore, the results indicate significant differences in the interpretation of the marketing ethical norms between these two countries. The study concludes with an analysis of how different dimensions of culture influence the different facets of marketing ethical norms for both countries. Such a framework should provide valuable insights that international marketers can use to identify differences in the perception of ethical norms across nationalities and, thus, to design more effective and efficient international marketing and management strategies.
Temperature and Dilution Effects in Soot Mass Concentration Measurements

Measurements are made of soot mass concentration in a luminous, liquid fuel spray, diffusion flame at atmospheric pressure. Intrusive sampling probes are used to study the effects of sampling rate, cooling, nitrogen-dilution ratio, and tip geometry on the mass of soot particles deposited on filters. Probe diameters have been kept small to minimize disturbance to the flow-field.Relative soot concentrations are observed to be lowest for uncooled probes, higher for water-cooled probes and still higher for probes with both water cooling and nitrogen injection. Furthermore, soot concentration steadily rises as the nitrogen/sample dilution ratio is increased from zero to as high as 1.5. Sampling rate has little effect on soot concentrations under most, but not all, sampling conditions.Copyright © 1983 by ASME
Actin in emerging neurites is recruited from a monomer pool.

Does actin in the emerging axons of regenerating neurons arise from the assembled or unassembled actin pool in the cell soma? We investigated this question by loading neurons with one of two fluorescently labeled molecules: rhodamine actin (r-actin) and rhodamine phalloidin (r-phalloidin). The assembly behavior of r-actin in vitro was identical to unlabeled actin. R-phalloidin binds tightly only to the filamentous form of actin (F-actin) and stabilizes filaments against disassembly. Hence, r-phalloidin-tagged filaments should be less likely to disassemble than r-actin-tagged filaments. Neurons of 10-d-old chick embryos were loaded with r-actin or r-phalloidin by triturating trypsinized dorsal root ganglia in isotonic sucrose containing the fluorescently tagged molecule. Isolated neurons were plated on glass coverslips in modified L15 medium containing nerve growth factor. Video images of the live cells on a thermoregulated stage were acquired with a computer imaging system.
Reoperation for Hirschsprung Disease: Pathology of the Resected Problematic Distal Pull-Through:

Hirschsprung disease, which consists of aganglionosis of the rectum and sometimes more proximal bowel, requires surgical removal of the aganglionic bowel and creation of ganglionated neorectum using proximal normally innervated bowel. The border between aganglionic and ganglionic bowel is irregular; the transition zone features variable quantities of ganglion cells and numerous large nerves. We report the histopathology of pull-through bowel segments resected because of poor postoperative outcome from 30 patients (22 boys, 8 girls). The most common indication for reoperation was severe constipation/obstruction. Transition zone (bowel with at least two nerves ≥40 µm diameter per 400× high-power field, and ganglion cells) or aganglionic bowel (bowel with at least two nerves ≥40 µm per high-power field diameter, but without ganglion cells) was found in 19/30 (63%) resections. In colons resected because of familial adenomatous polyposis, rare high-power fields showed two enlarged nerves; the mean age of those patients (135 ± 49.4 months) was significantly higher than that of the patients undergoing redo pull-through surgery (67.9 ± 42.8 months). Additional pathology included stricture and enterocolitis. Although there are multiple causes for poor outcomes following surgical therapy for Hirschsprung disease, abnormal innervation of the bowel used for pull-through is common. We recommend that intraoperative consultation at primary pull-through procedure include frozen section evaluation of the circumference of the bowel to be used for pull-through to confirm histologically the presence of both ganglion cells and normal-caliber nerves. The criteria used in this study are most suitable for infants and young children.
The crystal and molecular structure of 1,6-anhydro-β-d-mannopyranose

Abstract The crystal structure of 1,6-anhydro-β- d -mannopyranose, C 6 H 10 O 5 , is orthorhombic, P2 1 2 1 2 1 , with a = 10.971(2), b = 13.935(3), c = 9.012(1) A, V = 1377.76 » 3 (MoKα, λ = 0.7107 A), Z = 8, D x = 1.563 M.gm −3 , D m = 1.565 M.gm −3 . the structure was solved by MULTAN and refined to R(F) = 0.043 for 2355 reflections. The two symmetry-independent molecules in the unit cell have similar conformations, except for the orientation of one of the three hydroxyl groups. The conformation of the pyranose rings is 1 C 4 distorted towards E o , and that of the anhydro rings is ∘ E . There are significant differences between the two molecules in two of the four CO bond-lengths. These occur where there are important differences in the hydrogen-bonding environment of the oxygen atoms. The molecules are hydrogen-bonded by three linear and three bifurcated OH···O interactions which form four-membered loops linked into infinite chains. Empirical force-field calculations with MMI-CARB reproduced the geometry of the molecules within the variations observed experimentally between the two molecules, except for a CO bond in one of the molecules. The effect of excluding the anomeric effect from the theoretical calculations was not significant. Calculations for an intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded molecule were also carried out as a model for the molecules in a non-polar solvent.
Mixed-mode crack-tip stress fields for orthotropic functionally graded materials

Quasi-static mixed mode stress fields for a crack in orthotropic inhomogeneous medium are developed using asymptotic analysis coupled with Westergaard stress function approach. In the problem formulation, the elastic constants E11, E22, G12, ν12 are replaced by an effective stiffness \({E=\sqrt {E_{11} E_{22}}}\), a stiffness ratio \({\delta =\left({{E_{11}}\mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{E_{11}} {E_{22}}}}\right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {E_{22}}} \right)}\), an effective Poisson’s ratio \({\nu =\sqrt {\nu_{12}\nu _{21}} }\) and a shear parameter \({k=\left({E \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {E {2G_{12}}}}\right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {2G_{12}}}\right)-\nu }\). An assumption is made to vary the effective stiffness exponentially along one of the principal axes of orthotropy. The mode-mixity due to the crack orientation with respect to the property gradient is accommodated in the analysis through superposition of opening and shear modes. The expansion of stress fields consisting of the first four terms are derived to explicitly bring out the influence of nonhomogeneity on the structure of the mixed-mode stress field equations. Using the derived mixed-mode stress field equations, the isochromatic fringe contours are developed to understand the variation of stress field around the crack tip as a function of both orthotropic stiffness ratio and non-homogeneous coefficient.
Mycorrhizal colonization of Ancistrocladus korupensis, a new tropical forest species with anti-HIV activity

A newly-described tropical forest species, Ancistrocladus korupensis, produces an alkaloid, michellamine B, with activity against the human immunodeficiency virus. To reduce leaf-harvest pressure on scarce naturally-occurring plants, efforts are being made to bring the plant into cultivation in or near its native environment. Mycorrhizal colonization of Ancistrocladus korupensis, which may be important for successful cultivation of the plant and production of michellamine B, had not been previously studied. Roots from naturally-occurring plants were examined and observed to be well-colonized by vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae.
Treatment of elevated intracranial pressure in reye syndrome

Continuous intraventricular monitoring of intracranial pressure appears to be a useful aid in the management of patients with Reye syndrome, especially those in stage 3 or 4 coma, in which the mortality rate remains high. Elevations in intracranial pressure can be treated promptly and before the patient shows clinical signs of deterioration. Careful attention to adequate airway care is essential. The use of paralytic agents to reduce pressure secondary to muscle movement is useful. The minimum dose of mannitol required can be carefully titrated, and sudden pressure changes can be combated by release of small amounts of cerebrospinal fluid.
The LBL Wideroe-Based Heavy Ion Injector Project

The LBL Wideroe-based high-intensity heavy-ion injector for the SuperHILAC will be operational by April 1981. It will provide several emA of low charge state ions up through uranium at high duty factor to the SuperHILAC. Several of the subsystems have already operated to specification and will be described.
Coupled modes of multiwaveguide systems and phased arrays

A new theory describing coupled mode propagation in an array of arbitrary optical waveguides is developed. The formulation unambiguously accounts for real and/or imaginary index perturbations and its solutions yield supermode patterns and propagation constants. Several examples of coupled TE slab waveguides are evaluated and the results are shown to compare very favorably with exact solutions. The calculated propagation constants and mode patterns differ quantitatively and qualitatively from those derived from the prior theory. In particular, the supermode gains derived according to the new theory agree very well with exact solutions and predict different supermode ordering and splitting than those derived by the prior theory.
The well-being of children born to teen mothers.

Children born to early child bearers are more likely than other children to display problem behaviors or poor academic performance but it is unclear whether early childbearing plays a causal role in these outcomes. Using multiple techniques to control for background factors we analyze 2908 young children and 1736 adolescents and young adults in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY79) and the NLSY79 Children and Young Adults (CNLSY79) data sets to examine whether early childbearing causes childrens outcomes. We find evidence that teen childbearing plays no causal role in childrens test scores and in some behavioral outcomes of adolescents. For other behavioral outcomes we find that different methodologies produce differing results. We thus suggest caution in drawing conclusions about early parenthoods overarching effect. (authors)
On making accurate measurements with a harmonic distortion meter

It is pointed out that an avoidable error occurs in making total harmonic distortion measurements by the usually recommended method with art instrument incorporating art average-responding output meter. The error arises from the fact that the average value of a full-wave rectified distortion signal can be reduced by adding a small phase-shifted fundamental component to the distortion. The error is always in the direction to make equipment seem better than it actually is and can amount to ten per cent or more. It can be readily avoided by changing the instrument operating procedure.
The Arabidopsis Prohibitin Gene PHB3 Functions in Nitric Oxide–Mediated Responses and in Hydrogen Peroxide–Induced Nitric Oxide Accumulation

To discover genes involved in nitric oxide (NO) metabolism, a genetic screen was employed to identify mutants defective in NO accumulation after treatment with the physiological inducer hydrogen peroxide. In wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana plants, NO levels increase eightfold in roots after H(2)O(2) treatment for 30 min. A mutant defective in H(2)O(2)-induced NO accumulation was identified, and the corresponding mutation was mapped to the prohibitin gene PHB3, converting the highly conserved Gly-37 to an Asp in the protein's SPFH domain. This point mutant and a T-DNA insertion mutant were examined for other NO-related phenotypes. Both mutants were defective in abscisic acid-induced NO accumulation and stomatal closure and in auxin-induced lateral root formation. Both mutants were less sensitive to salt stress, showing no increase in NO accumulation and less inhibition of primary root growth in response to NaCl treatment. In addition, light-induced NO accumulation was dramatically reduced in cotyledons. We found no evidence for impaired H(2)O(2) metabolism or signaling in the mutants as H(2)O(2) levels and H(2)O(2)-induced gene expression were unaffected by the mutations. These findings identify a component of the NO homeostasis system in plants and expand the function of prohibitin genes to include regulation of NO accumulation and NO-mediated responses.
The Social Context of Alcohol Initiation Among African American and White Youth

Abstract This study documented the social context of alcohol initiation in children and adolescents, and examined gender, age, and ethnic differences among African Americans and Whites. Data comprised 148 youths reporting that they had tried alcohol, with a mean age of 13 years and a mean alcohol use onset age of 10 years. Most respondents (61%) indicated that they were with their parents when they first used alcohol, half were at home at the time, and many first tried alcohol when they were hanging out (39%) or at parties (35%). A number of significant differences were found between younger and older initiators, and White and African American youth, highlighting the importance of designing alcohol prevention interventions targeted by age and race.
"Injury, illness, and work restriction in merchant seafarers".

BACKGROUND: Research on seafarer medical conditions at sea is limited. This study describes the frequency and distribution of seafarer injury and illness at sea, and explores potential risk factors for resultant lost work. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study analyzed a telemedicine database of 3,921 seafarer medical cases between 2008 and 2011 using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. RESULTS: There were over twice as many illness cases (n = 2,764, 70.5%) as injury (n = 1,157, 29.5%) cases. Disability was more often secondary to illness (n = 646, 54.3%), predominantly from gastrointestinal, dermatologic, and respiratory conditions. Logistic regression revealed age, rank, and worksite as potential risk factors for lost work. CONCLUSIONS: This study emphasizes illness as a significant problem occurring in seafarers at sea. Future research should further elucidate risk factors for illness, as well as injury, to inform preventive measures and reduce seafarer disability. Am. J. Ind. Med. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Language: en
Functional and molecular expression of a voltage-dependent K+ channel (Kv1.1) in interstitial cells of Cajal

1. Located within the gastrointestinal (GI) musculature are networks of cells known as interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC). ICC are associated with several functions including pacemaker activity that generates electrical slow waves and neurotransmission regulating GI motility. In this study we identified a voltage-dependent K(+) channel (Kv1.1) expressed in ICC and neurons but not in smooth muscle cells. 2. Transcriptional analyses demonstrated that Kv1.1 was expressed in whole tissue but not in isolated smooth muscle cells. Immunohistochemical co-localization of Kv1.1 with c-kit (a specific marker for ICC) and vimentin (a specific marker of neurons and ICC) indicated that Kv1.1-like immunoreactivity (Kv1.1-LI) was present in ICC and neurons of GI tissues of the dog, guinea-pig and mouse. Kv1.1-LI was not observed in smooth muscle cells of the circular and longitudinal muscle layers. 3. Kv1.1 was cloned from a canine colonic cDNA library and expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Pharmacological investigation of the electrophysiological properties of Kv1.1 demonstrated that the mamba snake toxin dendrotoxin-K (DTX-K) blocked the Kv1.1 outward current when expressed as a homotetrameric complex (EC(50) = 0.34 nM). Other Kv channels were insensitive to DTX-K. When Kv1.1 was expressed as a heterotetrameric complex with Kv1.5, block by DTX-K dominated, indicating that one or more subunits of Kv1.1 rendered the heterotetrameric channel sensitive to DTX-K. 4. In patch-clamp experiments on cultured murine fundus ICC, DTX-K blocked a component of the delayed rectifier outward current. The remaining, DTX-insensitive current (i.e. current in the presence of 10(-8) M DTX-K) was outwardly rectifying, rapidly activating, non-inactivating during 500 ms step depolarizations, and could be blocked by both tetraethylammonium (TEA) and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP). 5. In conclusion, Kv1.1 is expressed by ICC of several species. DTX-K is a specific blocker of Kv1.1 and heterotetrameric channels containing Kv1.1. This information is useful as a means of identifying ICC and in studies of the role of delayed rectifier K(+) currents in ICC functions.
Teachers, Students, and Discrimination: The Policy Impact of Black Representation

Although minority representation is frequently studied, few of the efforts analyze whether or not representation makes a difference. Does recruitment of blacks to bureaucratic positions result in policy formulations more responsive to blacks? Using black teachers as the research focus, this study finds that the larger the proportion of black teachers in a school district, the lower the second generation discrimination against black students. This relationship holds even under controls for black resources, black education, black income, and region.
Executable computational logics: combining formal methods and programming language based system design

An executable computational logic can provide the desired bridge between formal system properties and formal methods to verify them on the one hand, and executable models of system designs based on programming languages on the other. However, not all such logics are equally well suited for the task. This paper gives some requirements that seem important for a computational logic to be suitable in practice, and discusses the experience with rewriting logic, its Maude language implementation, and its formal tool environment, concluding that they seem to meet well those requirements.
Emersion Induces Nitrogen Release and Alteration of Nitrogen Metabolism in the Intertidal Genus Porphyra

We investigated emersion-induced nitrogen (N) release from Porphyra umbilicalis Kutz. Thallus N concentration decreased during 4 h of emersion. Tissue N and soluble protein contents of P. umbilicalis were positively correlated and decreased during emersion. Growth of P. umbilicalis did not simply dilute the pre-emersion tissue N concentration. Rather, N was lost from tissues during emersion. We hypothesize that emersion-induced N release occurs when proteins are catabolized. While the δ15N value of tissues exposed to emersion was higher than that of continuously submerged tissues, further discrimination of stable N isotopes did not occur during the 4 h emersion. We conclude that N release from Porphyra during emersion did not result from bacterial denitrification, but possibly as a consequence of photorespiration. The release of N by P. umbilicalis into the environment during emersion suggests a novel role of intertidal seaweeds in the global N cycle. Emersion also altered the physiological function (nitrate uptake, nitrate reductase and glutamine synthetase activity, growth rate) of P. umbilicalis and the co-occurring upper intertidal species P. linearis Grev., though in a seasonally influenced manner. Individuals of the year round perennial species P. umbilicalis were more tolerant of emersion than ephemeral, cold temperate P. linearis in early winter. However, the mid-winter populations of both P. linearis and P. umbilicalis, had similar temporal physiological patterns during emersion.
Translational Control in the Circadian Regulation of Luminescence in the Unicellular Dinoflagellate Gonyaulax polyedra

Circadian (circa, about; dies, day) control is a temporal regulatory mechanism. It is ubiquitous phylogenetically and controls many different biological processes.1 Rats and cockroaches are active at night, whereas humans and birds are at rest. Body temperature exhibits a daily rhythm in birds and mammals, and the serum level of many hormones fluctuates on a 24-hr cycle. Flowers may exude nectar only at a specific time of day, and bean leaves exhibit regular diurnal movements. In certain cyanobacteria, the enzyme nitrogenase is present at night but not during the day, and many algae are more positively phototactic at a certain time of day.
Tumor ablation treatment planning coupled to robotic implementation: a feasibility study.

The technical development described herein was undertaken to create a tumor ablation treatment system that consists of a software component and a robotic hardware component. First, the software treatment planning system enables applicator placement planning before tumor ablation. For example, it allows creation of overlapping ablations with the goal of treating larger tumors. Second, the robotic hardware system allows accurate applicator placement. The combined treatment system integrates treatment planning with treatment execution by taking the coordinates dictated by the planning system and feeding them to the robotic system for implementation. The feasibility of this system was tested in two patients with large hepatic metastases that required overlapping ablations
Persistent left fifth aortic arch.

An 11-month-old female underwent cardiology evaluation during hospital admission for apnea. Physical examination revealed 2 distal pulses in the upper extremity and slightly diminished pulses in the lower extremity. Noninvasive blood pressures were as follows: right arm 107/76, left arm 91/51, right leg 107/55, left leg 94/76. Echocardiogram revealed left aortic arch, but coarctation of the aorta could not be ruled out and cardiac catheterization was performed. Catheterization revealed the presence of a persistent left fifth aortic arch (Fig 1). Ascending aortic pressure was 105/49. Because access to the femoral arteries could not be obtained and the catheter could not be passed beyond the isthmus, noninvasive cuff pressure of the left lower extremity was measured concomitantly and was 85/45, giving a systolic gradient of 20 mm Hg. Double left aortic arch (DLAA) as a result of persistent left fifth aortic arch is a very rare premortem diagnosis. Postmortem cardiac pathologic collection has suggested that the incidence may be higher, largely due to failure of recognition. In 1999, there had been 26 reported cases of DLAA and ten of these (38%) were associated with coarctation of the aorta [1]. Of these, five (50%) were associated with interruption of the left fourth arch. Persistent left fifth aortic arch can exist in both systemic-tosystemic configuration (such as this case) and in systemic-to-pulmonary configuration. The latter is extraordinarily difficult to differentiate from patent ductus arteriosis. The presence of double left aortic arch is not, in itself, an indication for intervention.
Gene Expression Analysis Reveals New Possible Mechanisms of Vancomycin-Induced Nephrotoxicity and Identifies Gene Markers Candidates

Vancomycin, one of few effective treatments against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is nephrotoxic. The goals of this study were to (1) gain insights into molecular mechanisms of nephrotoxicity at the genomic level, (2) evaluate gene markers of vancomycin-induced kidney injury, and (3) compare gene expression responses after iv and ip administration. Groups of six female BALB/c mice were treated with seven daily iv or ip doses of vancomycin (50, 200, and 400 mg/kg) or saline, and sacrificed on day 8. Clinical chemistry and histopathology demonstrated kidney injury at 400 mg/kg only. Hierarchical clustering analysis revealed that kidney gene expression profiles of all mice treated at 400 mg/kg clustered with those of mice administered 200 mg/kg iv. Transcriptional profiling might thus be more sensitive than current clinical markers for detecting kidney damage, though the profiles can differ with the route of administration. Analysis of transcripts whose expression was changed by at least twofold compared with vehicle saline after high iv and ip doses of vancomycin suggested the possibility of oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage in vancomycin-induced toxicity. In addition, our data showed changes in expression of several transcripts from the complement and inflammatory pathways. Such expression changes were confirmed by relative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Finally, our results further substantiate the use of gene markers of kidney toxicity such as KIM-1/Havcr1, as indicators of renal injury.
Acceleration of peritoneal dialysis by surface‐active agents

Peritoneal dialysis is an effective method of removing endogenous poisons, but it is a slow process. In a search for agents to accelerate dialysis across the peritoneum, a number of wetting agents were tested and used in the peritoneal fluid. Dialysis tests were run on rabbits with radioactive urea and rate constants were calculated from dialysate and blood curves. The anionic and cationic wetting agents had significant effects, while the nonionic wetting agents were much weaker. On the basis of effectiveness and gross toxicity dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate 0.01 percent was chosen as the most promising accelerator. It was evaluated in more detail and found to accelerate the dialysis of urea to about four times the rate of controls. When tested with radioactive creatinine the acceleration was two to threefold. It was concluded that dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate is worthy of the further work required to bring it to the stage of clinical trial.
Spacecraft energy storage systems

Flywheel Energy Storage Systems represent an exciting alternative to traditional battery storage systems used to power satellites during periods of eclipse. The increasing demand for reliable communication and data access is driving explosive growth in the number of satellite systems being developed as well as their performance requirements. Power-on orbit is the key to this performance, and batteries are becoming increasingly unattractive as an energy storage media. Flywheel systems offer very attractive characteristics for both energy storage, in terms of energy density and the number of charge/discharge cycles, and the important side benefit of spacecraft attitude control.
Implementing New Reform Guidelines in Teaching Introductory College Statistics Courses

This article introduces the recently adopted Guidelines for the Assessment and Instruction in Statistics Education (GAISE) and provides two examples of introductory statistics courses that have been redesigned to better align with these guidelines.
DEVIANT BEHAVIOR AND THE REMAKING OF THE WORLD

My remarks tonight will consist of a critique of the societal reaction or labeling perspective on deviant behavior. The societal reaction school belongs almost exclusively to sociology, and I am not a sociologist. I am a political scientist. I do not want to claim great clarity about the scope and substance of my field, but I do know that it includes the study of power and the bases of power in social life; and it includes the study of the state and the uses of state force in social life. My discussion of the societal reaction school is shaped by these preoccupations. I will try to show that the arguments of the school are implicitly arguments about power and about the state, and thus about the central issues in the study of political life. But the particular understanding of the nature of power and of the nature of the state, in the world constructed by the societal reaction school, flies in the face of a good deal of human experience. In order to develop my critique, I first need to locate the ideas of the societal reaction school by retracing some of the main steps in the development of sociological thought on deviance. For a very long time and long before there were sociologists, social thinkers, usually out of an expressed concern for social order, have tried to understand why people sometimes break the rules of their society. The reason for this focus seems evident. Social order depends on the observance of rules. But inherent in the imposition of many rules is the exercise of power, the domination of some people by other people against their will, and the use of the state to enforce that domination. And inherent in the defiance of many rules is not only a threat to social order, but a challenge to the particular pattern of domination on which that social order rests. Domination and challenge, and thus conformity and deviance, are at the center of history. They are expressions of the basic dialectical movements through which societies change, or perhaps fail to change. Grand theories of state and society-because they are about the nature of social order and the nature of challenges to that order-are, however indirectly, statements about that basic dialectic. Grand theories of state and society are, in order words, also theories about the phenomena we have come to call deviance.
Production of Mannitol by Fungi from Cotton Dust

Cotton dust associated with high pulmonary function decrements contains relatively high levels of mannitol. In this study, cotton leaf and bract tissue and dust isolated from cotton leaf tissue were examined by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and capillary gas chromatography. Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium herbarum, Epicoccum purpurascens, and Fusarium pallidoroseum were isolated from cotton leaf dust. The fungal samples, cotton dust, and cotton leaf contained mannitol. This study demonstrates that fungi from a late-fall harvest of cotton leaf material produce mannitol and are a probable source of the mannitol found in cotton dust.
Sexual dichromatism in frogs: natural selection, sexual selection and unexpected diversity

Sexual dichromatism, a form of sexual dimorphism in which males and females differ in colour, is widespread in animals but has been predominantly studied in birds, fishes and butterflies. Moreover, although there are several proposed evolutionary mechanisms for sexual dichromatism in vertebrates, few studies have examined this phenomenon outside the context of sexual selection. Here, we describe unexpectedly high diversity of sexual dichromatism in frogs and create a comparative framework to guide future analyses of the evolution of these sexual colour differences. We review what is known about evolution of colour dimorphism in frogs, highlight alternative mechanisms that may contribute to the evolution of sexual colour differences, and compare them to mechanisms active in other major groups of vertebrates. In frogs, sexual dichromatism can be dynamic (temporary colour change in males) or ontogenetic (permanent colour change in males or females). The degree and the duration of sexual colour differences vary greatly across lineages, and we do not detect phylogenetic signal in the distribution of this trait, therefore frogs provide an opportunity to investigate the roles of natural and sexual selection across multiple independent derivations of sexual dichromatism.
Multiple objective decision-making using fuzzy sets

One of the most useful aspects of fuzzy set theory is its ability to represent multio-bjective decision problems involving vague or fuzzy objectives. This paper presents a model for solving multi-objective decision problems when the objectives are of varying degrees of importance. This is done by assigning to each objective a power indicative of its importance and then raising each fuzzy set to its appropriate power. These powers are obtained by getting the eigenvector of the maximum eigenvalue of a matrix of paired comparisons of the objectives.
Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders and the Chiari 1 Malformation

The Chiari 1 malformation is characterized by > 5-mm herniation of the cerebellar tonsils through the foramen magnum. Consequent compression of the brain stem and nearby neuronal structures involved in respiratory control and maintenance of pharyngeal wall muscle tone may result in respiratory changes during sleep. These changes include respiratory failure and arrest, as well as sleep-related breathing disorders (ie, OSA and central sleep apnea). Although data have accrued on the significance of sleep-related breathing disorders in patients with the Chiari 1 malformation, many management questions remain unanswered. This article reviews the available literature on prevalence and management of sleep-related breathing disorders in patients with the Chiari 1 malformation.
The application of 1-3 piezocomposites in acoustic transducers

This review focuses the 1-3 piezocomposites, consisting of long thin rods of electrically active ceramic held parallel to each other by a passive matrix phase. Considered are situations where these piezocomposites function as true composite materials, that is, situations where all acoustic wavelengths are so large that the detailed structure is lost and the material may be considered as a new homogeneous medium with new effective material properties. Applications in naval sonar systems and medical ultrasonic imagers are illustrated with commercial product literature. Recent innovations highlighted include material fabrication techniques, finite-element modeling, and the use of electrostrictive ceramics. >
Effects of expiratory positive airway pressure on the electromyographic activity of accessory inspiratory muscles in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affect the action of the diaphragm, placing the muscle at a mechanical disadvantage and requiring the recruitment of accessory muscles of inspiration. Objective: To evaluate the electromyographic activity (EA) of sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and of scalene muscles during and after the use of EPAP (expiratory positive airway pressure) in COPD patients. Methods: A clinical single-blind trial involving 13 (57.1±7.1 years; 7M,6F) subjects with normal spirometry (controls) and 12 (57.2±8.3 years; 4M,8F) COPD patients (FEV 1 44.0±20.0%predicted; FEV1/CFV 66.8±17.4). At baseline, we determined EA during spontaneous respiration, lung function parameters, and respiratory muscle strength. Subsequently, 15 cmH 2 O EPAP was applied by face mask for 25 min, during which the EA of the SCM and scalene muscles was recorded every 5 min. A final record was obtained 10 min after the mask removal. Results: We found that the behavior of the EA of SCM and scalene muscles was comparable between the controls and COPD patients (p= 0.716 and p =0.789, respectively). However, during the use of EPAP, both muscles showed a trend toward an increase in the EA. In addition, there was a significant decrease in the EA of the SCM between the baseline and final measurements (p=0.034). Conclusions: EPAP promotes a transient increase in EA and scalene muscle SCM, suggesting that use of this modality pressure increases the activity of these muscles. However, after removal of the EA muscle SCM reduces the levels below that obtained at baseline.
Abstract 61: T Cell--Specific Deficiency of ABCG1 Protects Against Atherosclerosis

ATP-binding cassette transporter G1 (ABCG1) promotes cholesterol efflux from peripheral cells to HDL particles, which transport cholesterol to liver for processing for excretion. ABCG1, and not ABCA1, was found to be critical for the proliferation of T lymphocytes. Despite this, to date, very little is known about the role of ABCG1 in T cells during atherogenesis. In this study, we aim to understand how ABCG1 regulates T cell function and how absence of ABCG1 selectively in T cells impacts atherosclerosis. We found that, on a high cholesterol diet, mice with T cell-specific ABCG1 deficiency on the LDLR-/- background (LCK-Cre+/ABCG1fl/fl/LDLR-/-) developed 40% less atherosclerotic lesions than their littermate controls (LCK-Cre-/ABCG1fl/fl/LDLR-/-) (P<0.0001). Furthermore, we found that the percentage of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells was increased in the LCK-Cre+/ABCG1fl/fl/LDLR-/- mice compared to the littermate controls (P<0.01). Since Tregs are considered anti-atherogenic, we hypothesize that the deficiency of ABCG1 in T cells confers changes in Tregs, which exerts our observed atheroprotective effect. We found that Tregs are hyperproliferative in the LCK-Cre+/ABCG1fl/fl/LDLR-/- mice. We have also found increased conversion of naive CD4+ T cells into Tregs in the LCK-Cre+/ABCG1fl/fl/LDLR-/- mice both in vivo and in vitro . Furthermore, the Treg proliferation and differentiation can both be enhanced by the addition of excess cholesterol in vitro . To determine if deficiency of ABCG1 in Treg cells alone is sufficient to drive their induction, we examined the T cell compartment in wild-type and Treg-specific ABCG1 deletion mice (Foxp3-Cre+/ABCG1fl/fl). The percentage of Tregs in Foxp3-Cre+/ABCG1fl/fl mice was significantly higher than that of wild-type controls (P<0.01). In short, we have provided evidence that ABCG1 deficiency in T cells leads to decreased atherosclerosis and induction of Tregs. By tying these two findings together, our study provides novel insights in sterol-mediated regulation of Tregs and its impact on atherosclerosis.
Precedential Constraint, its Scope and Strength: A Brief Survey of the Possibilities and Their Merits

In this essay I examine how broadly precedents constrain (their scope) and how strongly they do so (their strength). With respect to scope, I look at three models of precedent and conclude that only one of these is both constraining and coherent. With respect to strength, I affiliate overruling precedents with the more general issue of legal transitions and conclude that no algorithm for when to overrule is available. Overruling precedents turns out to be only an instance of the more general problem of the rationality of rule following.
Logic and Theism: Arguments For and Against Beliefs in God’s Existence

(2004). Logic and Theism: Arguments For and Against Beliefs in God’s Existence. Ars Disputandi: Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 161-164.
Oral, osmotic minipump, and intramuscular administration to sheep of the Veratrum alkaloid cyclopamine.

AbstractLogistic and biologic aspects of three separate means of administration of cyclopamine for experimental induction of terata or embryonic death in sheep were examined. Oral capsule administration of crystalline cyclopamine is logistically simple and biologically effective, but costly in terms of amount of compound required. Embryos were affected in five of seven ewes dosed cyclopamine orally at higher levels (four nonpregnant and one with cyclopia). Intramuscular administration of cyclopamine dissolved in ethanol was logistically simple but without biologic effect at levels tested. Three of three treated ewes had normal offspring. Osmotic minipump administration of powdered cyclopamine suspended in propylene glycol was logistically unsatisfactory with serious delivery complications. Osmotic minipump administration of cyclopamine dissolved in ethanol was logistically very satisfactory, and one ewe among three treated animals was nonpregnant at term. There were no nonpregnant ewes nor deformed offspr...
Lymphoma presenting as a solitary bone lesion

Primary lymphoma of bone has characteristic clinical and radiologic manifestations; however, its histologic features and clinical outcome show considerable variability. The histologic and immunophenotypic features of 13 adult patients with lymphoma as a solitary bone lesion were compared with clinical outcome. All tumors studied were non-Hodgkin lymphoma of anaplastic or large cell type and included B-cell (9 cases), T-cell (3 cases), and null cell (1 case) phenotypes. All patients responded well initially to systemic chemotherapy (with or without radiotherapy); however, disease in 6 patients progressed or recurred, and 5 patients died of disease. Local disease progression was seen in 2 patients, with 4 patients experiencing relapse at distant sites. Expression of CD30, present in 7 cases, was associated with an anaplastic or large noncleaved histologic appearance. Absence of CD30 expression characterized 6 cases, including 4 with multilobate or cleaved morphologic features. Five of 6 cases that recurred were associated with CD30 expression, including 3 with anaplastic features. The 4 tumors with cleaved or multilobate nuclear morphologic features were associated with long disease-free survivals and may represent a distinct lymphoma subtype with a good prognosis.
Highly Efficient Aluminum-Catalyzed Ring-Opening Polymerization of Cyclic Carbonates, Lactones, and Lactides, Including a Unique Crystallographic Snapshot of an Intermediate

The synthesis of a new well-defined aluminum-based catalyst (1) for the ring-opening polymerization of cyclic carbonates, lactones, and lactides is described. Compound 1 is supported by a cheap and...
Epidemiological Analysis of Mumps in Nan'an District of Chongqing,2008-2010

Objective To understand the incidence and epidemiological characteristics of mumps in Nan`an District during 2008-2010,and provide scientific evidence for developing contro1 strategies.Methods Descriptive epidemiological method was adopted to conduct the statistical analysis on epidemic data of mumps in Nan`an District during 2008-2010.Results The number of cases reported from 2008 to 2010 was 1 185,the yearly incidence rate was 65.53/105,the incidence rate of each year was 28.37/105,58.21/105 and 110.26/105 respectively,incidence throughout the year,with the onset time focused in May to August.Cases were mainly the children in school(60.68%) and in kindergarten(24.14%).The incidence in children group was highest,accounting for 41.01%.The male to female ratio was1.33∶l.Conclusion The mumps incidence in Nan'an District of Chongqing increased year by year.Students and kindergarten children are the major groups of incidence,which should be the focus of future mumps prevention and control work.
Pathophysiology of pain in critically ill patients.

Misconceptions about the pathophysiology of pain leads to inadequate pain management in critically ill patients. Critical care nurses often choose a conservative approach to analgesic administration because they believe that the potential adverse effects of these medications outweigh the risks associated with unrelieved pain. However, pain can precipitate its own problematic sequelae. A solid understanding of the complex physiological mechanisms underlying pain and its consequences will enable the critical care nurse to accurately assess and make sound clinical decisions for patients in pain.
SU-F-T-66: Characteristics of Electron Beams From Varian Trubeam

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the electron beam data between Truebeam and 2300ix Varian accelerators for percent depth dose for broad beam and small circular cutouts, cone factors, head scatter factor as a function of cone size and SSD, phantom scatter factor, blocking factor, distance factor and virtual source position. Methods: Measurements were performed for Truebeam and 2300ix Varian accelerators. The main energies used were: 6, 9, 12, 16 and 20 MeV. PDD was measured at SSD = 100 cm for open beam and small circular cutouts (r = 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 6.6cm) for different energies. Measurements to determine the head scatter factor (H) were done as a function of radius for six representative energies and five cone sizes (6, 10, 15, 20 and 25cm2). The phantom scatter factor (PSF) is defined as the ratio of blocking factor in water at reference depth and head scatter factor in air. PSF was measured as a function of radius and electron energy. Distance factor was measured for all energies and cones for three SSD’s (100, 110 and 120cm). Results: The percent depth dose (PDD) was measured for small cutouts of radius r = 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 and 5.6cm. Blocking factor (BF) was measured for Truebeam and 2300ix accelerators, for different circular cutouts and energies for a 10×10 cone. Cone factors were compared between the two accelerators for different energies and applicator sizes. Conclusion: Cone factors measured for the two accelerator types differ by up to 5% for the largest applicator size. Blocking factors differs by up to 3%, with the largest variation for the smallest field size (0.5cm). Distance factor for different SSD’s differ by up to 4.5%.
Efficient Parallel Zonal Statistics on Large-Scale Global Biodiversity Data on GPUs

Analyzing how species are distributed on the Earth has been one of the fundamental questions in the intersections of environmental sciences, geosciences and biological sciences. With world-wide data contributions, more than 375 million species occurrence records for nearly 1.5 million species have been deposited into the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. The sheer amounts of point and polygon data and the computation-intensive point-in-polygon tests for zonal statistics for biodiversity studies have imposed significant technical challenges. In this study, we have developed efficient techniques to enable parallel zonal statistics on the global GBIF data completely on GPUs with limited memory capacity. Experiment results have shown that an impressive end-to-end response time under 100 seconds can be achieved for zonal statistics on the 375+ million species records over 15+ thousand global eco-regions with 4+ million vertices on a single Nvidia Quadro 6000 GPU device. The achieved high performance, which is several orders of magnitude faster than reference serial implementations using traditional open source geospatial techniques, not only demonstrates the potential of GPU computing for large scale geospatial processing, but also makes interactive query driven visual exploration of global biodiversity data possible.