cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fouling and Protein Adsorption

Adsorption of proteins and the effect of the chemical nature of membrane surfaces on protein adsorption were investigated using 14C-tagged albumin and several microporous membranes (polyvinilydene fluoride, PVDF; nylon; polypropylene, PP; and polycarbonate, PC). The membrane surfaces were modified by exposing them to low-temperature plasma of several different monomers (n-butane, oxygen, nitrogen alone or as mixtures) in a radiofrequency plasma reactor. Transients in the permeability of albumin solutions through the membranes and changes in flux of distilled water through the membranes before and after adsorption of albumin were used to investigate the role of protein adsorption on membrane fouling. The results show that the extent of adsorption of albumin on hydrophobic membranes was considerably more than that on hydrophilic membranes. The hydrophilic membranes were susceptible to electrostatic interactions and less prone to fouling. A pore-blocking model was successfully used to correlate the loss of water flux through pores of defined geometry.
Transplantation for the Very Sick Patient—Donor and Recipient Factors

Patients with end-stage chronic liver disease (CLD) frequently deteriorate with development of a ‘frail’ state and progress to development of extra-hepatic organ failures. Making the clinical judgement when a patient is ‘too sick’ to proceed with liver transplantation is challenging; we summarise recent studies that may inform decision-making. Reports quantify the impact of both recipient and donor factors related to early post-transplant survival, with consistent adverse association of advanced donor and recipient age, under-nutrition, sarcopenia and impaired functional status, and requirement for critical care unit admission and organ support. Survival for ‘very sick’ recipients has shown progressive improvement over time, but evidence is increasing of much greater post-transplant resource use and cost. Factors associated with adverse outcomes in very sick recipients are becoming more clearly delineated. The increasing success of transplantation and exploration of its extended use must be tempered by the recognition of the consequences upon constrained clinical resources.
The M(λ) Surface

It is well known that if n = 1, that is if the dimension of the system is 2, then the function M(λ) lies on a circle or is merely a point. A cursory check of the M(λ) equation, or its representation as $$M = C + {{R}_{1}}U{{R}_{2}} = C + \rho {{e}^{{i\theta }}},$$ easily shows this to be true. In higher derivations, however, the surface is so complicated that it is impossible to visualize in any real sense. For example, if n = 4, the M(λ) function is a 2 × 2 complex matrix. It involves four complex components, and is too much for us in our three-dimensional world.
MAPS: Analyzing Peptide Binding Subsites in Major Histocompatibility Complexes

The adaptive immune system is a defense system against repeated infection. In order to trigger the immune response, antigen peptides from the infecting agent must first be recognized by the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) proteins. Identifying peptides that bind to MHC class II is thus a critical step in vaccine development. We hypothesize that comparing individual subsites of the peptide binding groove could predict the individual amino acids of possible antigens. This modularized approach to individual subsites could reduce the amount of training data needed for accurate classification while also reducing computing times associated with molecular simulation and docking. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated the capability of two classification techniques and multiple modular representations of the MHC subsites to correctly classify the binding preference categories of P1 subsites of MHC class II structures. Our results shows that the average accuracies are 0.87 for K-mean and 0.95 for SVM with all feature vector configurations. Our results demonstrate that accurate predictions on individual binding subsites is possible, pointing to larger scale applications predicting whole-peptide preferences.
Abstract TP144: Delays to In-hospital Rehabilitation Worsen Quality of Life After TIA and Ischemic Stroke

Objective: Early rehabilitation has been suggested to improve outcomes after stroke, though evidence is controversial. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of time to in-hospital (acut...
Neonatal Transport: Current Trends and Practices

Since the inception of organized neonatal transport in the 1940s, advances in clinical care and technology have made the neonatal intensive care unit even more mobile in terms of care delivery. There currently exists an emphasis on quality metrics and simulation-based training for transport team members to achieve high levels of individual and team competence. Emerging therapies such as active cooling for neuroprotective hypothermia and high-frequency ventilation provide evidence-based care in the transport environment to enhance clinical outcomes. Accreditation of neonatal transport programs is now embraced as an indicator of competency and compliance with transport standards.
My own flesh and blood: stratified parental compassion and law in Korean slavery

This article examines the relationship between human emotions and slavery in Chosŏn Korea (1392–1910) by examining legislative processes as well as private practices concerning the status of the of...
STRUT THROUGH THE HEART

Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter strut embolization has been previously described. However, there is limited data to guide management. 60 year-old female with an IVC filter (2007), experienced epigastric pain and underwent a renal stone protocol abdominal computed tomography (CT) that demonstrated
An efficient hybrid integral-equation method for point-absorber wave energy converters with a vertical axis of symmetry

Abstract To assist in the prototyping and controller design of point-absorber wave energy converters (WECs), an easy-to-implement hybrid integral-equation method is presented for computing the frequency-domain hydrodynamic properties of bodies with a vertical axis of symmetry in waves. The current hybrid method decomposes the flow domain into two parts: an inner domain containing the body and an outer domain extending to infinity. The solution in the inner domain is computed using the boundary-element method, and the outer-domain solution is expressed using eigenfunctions. Proper matching at the domain boundary is achieved by enforcing continuity of velocity potential and its normal derivative. Body symmetry allows efficient computation using ring sources in the inner domain. The current method is successfully applied to three different body geometries including a vertical truncated floating cylinder, the McIver toroid, and the coaxial-cylinder WEC being developed in the authors’ laboratory. In particular, the current results indicate that, by replacing the flat bottom of the coaxial-cylinder WEC with the Berkeley-Wedge (BW) shape, viscous effect can be significantly reduced with only minor negative impact on wave-exciting force, thus increasing WEC efficiency. Finally, by comparing to experimental measurements, the current method is demonstrated to accurately predict the heave added mass and wave-exciting force on the coaxial-cylinder WEC with BW geometry. If a viscous damping correction factor is used, the heave motion amplitude can also be accurately computed.
Structure and Function of the Reaction Center from Rhodopseudomonas Sphaeroides

A great deal of progress has been made in the elucidation of the structure and function of RCs during the past decade. This topic has been reviewed at several conferences on photosynthesis during the last few years. Looking over these reviews, one discerns a steady buildup of new information and understanding at each successive conference. We hope that you will agree with us at the end of the talk that this trend is still proceeding at a healthy rate.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv2700 Contributes to Cell Envelope Integrity and Virulence.

ABSTRACT The cell envelope of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a key target for antibiotics, yet its assembly and maintenance remain incompletely understood. Here we report that Rv2700, a previously uncharacterized M. tuberculosis gene, contributes to envelope integrity. Specifically, an Rv2700 mutant strain had a decreased growth rate, increased sensitivity to antibiotics that target peptidoglycan crosslinking, and increased cell envelope permeability. We propose that Rv2700 be named a “cell envelope integrity” gene (cei). Importantly, a cei mutant had attenuated virulence in mice. Cei shares predicted structural homology with another M. tuberculosis protein, VirR (Rv0431), and we found that a virR mutant had growth rate, antibiotic sensitivity, and envelope permeability phenotypes similar to those of the cei mutant. Both Cei and VirR are predicted to consist of a transmembrane helix and an extracellular LytR_C domain. LytR_C domains have no known function, but they are also found in a family of proteins, the LytR-Cps2A-Psr (LCP) enzymes, that perform important cell envelope functions in a range of bacteria. In mycobacteria, LCP enzymes attach arabinogalactan to peptidoglycan, and mycobacterial LCP enzyme mutants have phenotypes similar to those of virR- and cei-deficient strains. Collectively, our results suggest that LytR_C domain proteins may contribute to the cell envelope functions performed by LCP proteins. This study provides a framework for further mechanistic investigations of LytR_C proteins and, more broadly, for advancing our understanding of the cell envelopes of mycobacteria and other medically and economically important genera. IMPORTANCEMycobacterium tuberculosis causes about 1.5 million deaths per year. The unique composition of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell envelope is required for this bacterium to cause disease and is the target for several critical antibiotics. By better understanding the mechanisms by which mycobacteria assemble and maintain their cell envelope, we might uncover new therapeutic targets. In this work, we show that a previously uncharacterized protein, Rv2700, is important for cell envelope integrity in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and that loss of Rv2700 attenuates virulence in mice. This family of proteins is found in a broad group of bacterial species, so our work provides a first insight into their potential functions in many species important to the environment, industry, and human health.
Topological defects, orientational order, and depinning of the electron solid in a random potential

Two-dimensional classical electron solids under the influence of modulation-doped impurities are studied by using a molecular dynamics method. We find that in the strong disorder limit the ground state configuration contains both isolated dislocations and disclinations, whereas in the weak disorder regime only dislocations are present. We show, via continuum elasticity theory, that the ground state of the lattice should be unstable against a proliferation of free disclinations above a critical dislocation density. Associated with this, the behavior of the depinning electric field changes.
RAD-Behavior (Recombining Atomized, Discretized, Behavior): A new framework for the quantitative analysis of behavioral execution

ABSTRACT The ability to precisely describe and numerically evaluate organismal phenotypes is a prerequisite for addressing most questions in evolutionary biology and ecology. The quantification and comparison of behavior, loosely defined as an external response to stimuli, is particularly challenging because the myriad axes of variation that exist make comparisons, both within and among species, difficult. Such evaluations often boil down to comparisons of time-budgets (e.g. relative investment in courtship displays) or probabilities (e.g. likelihood of engaging in a class of behaviors in a particular context) – which we refer to as behavioral strategies. A focus on variation in behavioral strategies underlies most research in evolutionary and ecological studies of behavior. Equally important, however, is perhaps the question of ‘how’ animals are actually performing the complex motor sequences that comprise behaviors (i.e. behavioral execution). What are the patterns of movement, the relative transition rates, and kinematics underlying the behaviors exhibited in particular contexts? Understanding how behavioral execution differs among individuals, populations, and species has the potential to provide new insights into the factors shaping variation in behavior and the processes shaping behavioral evolution at different scales. Here, we propose a broad framework for comparing behavioral execution (RAD-behavior: recombining atomized, discretized behavior) that leverages string-matching/bioinformatic tools to understand phenotypic variation in behavioral execution and which holds the potential to yield novel insights about the evolutionary ecology of behavior at multiple scales.
Management of PHACES syndrome: Risk of stroke and its prevention from a neurosurgical perspective

Abstract Background and Objectives A multidisciplinary approach for PHACES is essential. A meticulous diagnostic and treatment protocol for PHACES patients with cerebrovascular anomalies within the intermediate and high risk strata for ischemic stroke is presented. We also differentiate the vasculopathy associated with PHACES syndrome from moyamoya angiopathy. Methods Medical records and radiological imaging were reviewed. After initial magnetic resonance imaging/angiography (MRI/MRA), H215O-PET scan (baseline and Acetazolamide challenge) was performed in three patients and 6-vessel cerebral angiography was performed in two patients. Two patients with significant intracranial cerebrovascular anomalies underwent cerebral revascularization. Results Each patient presented with a facial hemangioma at birth and additional cerebrovascular anomalies ranging from hypoplasia to steno-occlusive changes of intracranial cerebral arteries. Additional involvement of the cardiovascular system was observed in two patients. Additional to MRI/MRA, a H215O-PET helped stratify the three patients into intermediate (n=1) and high risk groups (n=2). The high-risk group patients underwent individualized cerebral revascularization for future stroke prevention. The patient in intermediate risk group will be followed. Cerebrovascular angiopathy seen in all patients was typical for PHACES without moyamoya and was not progressive at follow-up. Conclusions Patients within the intermediate and high-risk strata for ischemic stroke must undergo a 6-vessel cerebral angiography and further hemodynamic evaluation to indicate need for cerebral revascularization to prevent ischemic stroke. Non-progressive vasculopathy associated with PHACES can itself be hemodynamically relevant for neurosurgical intervention. This vasculopathy is distinct from moyamoya angiopathy, which can occur in conjunction with PHACES, resulting in concurrent progressive vasculopathy that would otherwise be absent.
Impact of ductal stenting on pulmonary artery reconstruction in patients with duct-dependent congenital heart diseases-an institutional experience.

Objectives This study aims to review our institutional experience of ductal stenting (DS) on the growth of pulmonary arteries (PAs) and surgical outcomes of PA reconstruction in this subset of patients. Methods This is a retrospective study done in neonates and infants up to 3 months of age with duct-dependent pulmonary circulation who underwent DS from January 2014 to December 2015. Post-stenting PA growth, surgical outcomes of PA reconstruction, post-surgical re-interventions, morbidity and mortality were analysed. Results During the study period, 46 patients underwent successful DS, of whom 38 underwent presurgery catheterization and definite surgery. There was significant growth of PAs in these patients. Biventricular repair was done in 31 patients while 7 had univentricular palliation. Left PA augmentation was required in 13 patients, and 10 required central PA augmentation during surgery. The mean follow-up period post-surgery was 4.5 ± 1.5 years. No significant postoperative complications were seen. No early or follow-up post-surgery mortality was seen. Four patients required re-interventions in the form of left PA stenting based on the echocardiography or computed tomography evidence of significant stenosis. Conclusions DS provides good short-term palliation and the growth of PAs. However, a significant number of stented patients require reparative procedure on PAs at the time of surgical intervention. Acquired changes in the PAs following DS may be the reason for reintervention following PA reconstruction.
An investigation of iodine intake and iodine nutritional status of adults in Tianjin City

Objective To study the intake of iodine and iodine nutritional status of adults and provide a scientific basis for choosing appropriate salt iodine content in the region. Methods By using multi stage random sampling method, according to the four corners of 4 directions, 4 non water iodine counties or districts were selected from Nankai District, Jixian County, Dagang District and Hangu District. Totally 1 to 4 administrative villages were selected (neighborhood committees) from each district or county as the survey points. Ten to 15 households were selected from each survey points. All the members more than 18 years old of each household were investigated(excluding pregnant and lactating women). Of the 225 households, 404 people, salt iodine of the family, urinary iodine and water iodine were detected. The questionnaire survey was used to investigate the daily salt intake of residents per capita. The daily intake of iodine was calculated by the method of dietary frequency. Salt iodine content was detected by direct titration method; iodine in water was detected by cerium sulfate catalytic spectrophotometry; urinary iodine was detected by arsenic cerium catalytic spectrophotometry. Results A total of 24 drinking water samples were tested, the median water iodine was 8.0 μg/L. A total of 225 salt samples and 404 urine samples were tested, the medians of family salt and urinary iodine were 23.30 mg/kg and 149.0 μg/L, respectively. Investigation was done on salt intake and dietary intake of 393 people, the per capita consumption of salt intake was (11.45 ± 5.70) g/d. Salt supplied 148.75 μg/d iodine and food supplied 82.47 μg/d iodine. The total contribution rate of iodized salt to the total iodine intake was 68.99% (193.18/280.00) in the population of iodized salt consumer. The value of urinary iodine and iodine intake were correlated (r = 0.170,P < 0.05). Conclusions The adult iodine nutrition in Tianjin city is in the appropriate level. Iodized salt is the main source of iodine intake for adults, so salt iodine is a indispensable iodine nutrition source for adults. Key words: Adult; Iodine; Salts; Food
Flattening the curve of new publications on COVID-19.

In order to respond to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) pandemic, all fields of medical and biological sciences are working to improve the understanding of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this race against time, studies are expeditiously conducted and journal review and acceptance processes accelerated. Although this approach dramatically reduced the time required to publish, could the quality of these new studies be affected? Indeed, reducing the review time may allow for errors or biases to be missed, jeopardising the validity of evidence-based medicine principles. Abundance of information can also be confusing for healthcare practitioners and governments.1 Moreover, redundancy in COVID-19 trials could lead to lost time and energy for research teams, scientific journals and reviewers.2 In order to explore this phenomenon, we used the Medline database …
Eyeball-like Yolk-shell Bimetallic Nanoparticles for Synergistic Photodynamic-photothermal Therapy

Noble metal-based nanomaterials offer great potential as cargoes for multifunctional cancer treatment. In this research, Au eyeball-like nanoparticles (NPs) with open-mouthed Pd shells were synthes...
The PRC2-dependent epigenetic reprograming of the bladder epithelium exacerbates urinary tract infections

Mucosal imprint sensitizes recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), a significant health and quality of life burden worldwide, which are associated with heightened inflammatory host response, severe basal cell hyperplasia and impaired superficial cell differentiation. Here, we show that bladder infections induce expression of Ezh2, the methyltransferase of polycomb repressor complex 2 (PRC2)-dependent epigenetic gene silencing program. In mouse models of UTIs, urothelium-specific inactivation of PRC2 reduces the urine bacteria burden. The mutants exhibit a blunted inflammatory response likely due to the diminished activity of NF-{kappa}B signaling pathway. PRC2 inactivation also improves urothelial differentiation and attenuates basal cell hyperplasia phenotype. Moreover, the Ezh2-specific small molecule inhibitors markedly improve disease outcomes of bladder superinfection and chronic cystitis. Taken together, these findings suggest that the UTI-induced epigenetic reprograming in the bladder urothelium likely contributes to the mucosal imprint, and further suggest that targeting PRC2 methyltransferase offers a non-antibiotic strategy to mitigate UTIs.
In darkness we seek light: The impact of focal and general lighting designs on customers’ approach intentions toward restaurants

Abstract For many hospitality businesses, environmental lighting design can be a powerful tool to be leveraged to stage the servicescape when creating marketing collateral to attract customers. Addressing this underexplored topic, the current research examines how and why focal and general lighting designs, as presented in the restaurant’s ambient images, influence consumers’ approach intentions: namely, the perceptions of attractiveness of the restaurant and their visit intention. Our findings demonstrate that images that present focal lighting (e.g., table lighting) against a generally dimmed dining ambience can effectively boost the restaurant’s perceived attractiveness and visit intention among diners who are of high (vs. low) relational intimacy. Moderated-moderated mediation analysis (Hayes, 2018) further reveals that it is ambient intimacy that explains such effects. Theoretical and managerial implications of this research are presented before discussing limitations and future research opportunities.
Modeling the transmission of COVID-19 in the US – A case study

We propose a mathematical model to investigate the transmission dynamics of COVID-19. The model incorporates both human-to-human and environment-to-human transmission pathways, and employs different transmission rates to represent the epidemiological characteristics at different time periods. Using this model and publicly reported data, we perform a case study for Hamilton County, the fourth-most populous county in the state of Tennessee and a region that could represent the typical situation of COVID-19 in the United States (US). Our data fitting and simulation results show that the environment may play an important role in the transmission and spread of the coronavirus. In addition, we numerically simulate a range of epidemic scenarios and make near-term forecasts on the development and trend of COVID-19 in Hamilton County.
69/71Ge separation from proton irradiated metallic gallium, gallium oxide and gallium-nickel alloy targets

216 Objectives 69Ge (t1/2=39 h, 21% β+, Emax=1205 keV) is an attractive PET isotope due to its low positron energy and low abundance of gamma emissions. It is produced from the (p,n) reaction on natural Ga (69Ga, 60%; 71Ga, 40%). The co-produced 71Ge (t1/2=11.43 d) decays by pure electron capture, making it a potential therapeutic isotope with its subsequent Auger electron emission. In this work, we have developed three different target systems (A,B,C) for Ga irradiation, as well as the separation chemistry based on extraction chromatography using a commercially available resin. Methods (A) 16 MeV protons were directed downward on an external beamline (-30°) onto 300 mg of molten elemental natGa pooled on a water-cooled niobium support. (B) A second target was fabricated by pressing ~100 mg of Ga2O3 into a water-cooled aluminum target holder, covered with a molybdenum foil (250 µm) to degrade the proton energy to 11 MeV to avoid the 69Ga(p,2n)68Ge reaction. (C) A third target was a Ga-Ni alloy with a melting point >500°C made by electrodeposition from a mixed salt bath onto a gold substrate. The separation of 69/71Ge from the bulk target material and other radionuclidic impurities was carried out in HNO3 using 200 mg of an extraction resin packed in a 5 mm diameter column. Radionuclidic assay employed a high purity germanium (HPGe) detector. The Ga-Ni alloy composition was verified by x-ray fluorescence (Ga = 9.26 keV; Ni =7.48 keV) using a 109Cd excitation source. Results 69Ge yields for the three target systems were as follows: A=0.33; B=0.18+/-0.02 (n=2); C=0.19+/-0.03 mCi/μA-h (n=3). Electrodeposited Ga-Ni targets had a thickness of 42+/-6 mg/cm2. Yields of 62+/-7% (n=4) of 69Ge activity were eluted in 600 μL of de-ionized water. All the contaminating radionuclides were effectively separated from the 69/71Ge final product, as quantitatively measured with the HPGe detector. Conclusions We have developed the targetry and separation chemistry for 69/71Ge, a potentially useful radioisotope pair for PET and targeted radionuclide therapy.
The Influence of Emotions on Treatment Decisions About Low-Risk Thyroid Cancer: A Qualitative Study.

Background: Little is known about the role of emotions in treatment decisions for thyroid cancer. We aimed to characterize the emotional content of patient–surgeon communication during decision-mak...
On the Rule of Law: History, Politics, Theory

The rule of law is the most important political ideal today, yet there is much confusion about what it means and how it works. This 2004 book explores the history, politics, and theory surrounding the rule of law ideal, beginning with classical Greek and Roman ideas, elaborating on medieval contributions to the rule of law, and articulating the role played by the rule of law in liberal theory and liberal political systems. The author outlines the concerns of Western conservatives about the decline of the rule of law and suggests reasons why the radical Left have promoted this decline. Two basic theoretical streams of the rule of law are then presented, with an examination of the strengths and weaknesses of each. The book examines the rule of law on a global level, and concludes by answering the question of whether the rule of law is a universal human good.
Interrelationship of Tumour and Immune System

Cancers are genetic diseases and, although there may be elements of heritable predisposition as in some cases of colon carcinoma [1, 2], essentially determined by somatic genetics. Varying numbers of chromosomal aberrations as well as mutations in genes considered crucial for malignant transformation have been correlated with tumour development. However, a one-to-one correlation of a particular genetic abnormality translating into a malignant cell physiology with a particular tumour type, as it is the case for the bcr-abl translocation in CML and some acute leukemias, is the exception rather than the rule. Departing from the earlier single hit genetic concepts, cancers are now generally seen as the result of a number of genetic alteration that affect various cellular functions. As Weinberg and co-workers have argued for many years, there are three essential events that convert a normal cell into a tumour cell [3, 4]. These essentials affect growth control which are the oncogene function, tumour suppressor gene function and telomerase activity. The initial models proposed by Vogelstein [5] for the ontology of colon carcinoma and subsequently by Isaacson [6, 7] for MALT lymphoma have postulated a defined succession of genetic alteration. However, as a result of intense research on cancer genetics and despite of recurring themes of oncogene functions and tumour suppressor gene defects, we are now faced with a picture of considerable heterogeneity of the factors, events, succession of events and paths that lead to malignant transformation and control malignant development. Mutations that distinguish tumour cells from their parental cell types have been numbered to be in the order of hundreds of thousands [8, 9] and often tumour progression is found to go along with increasing genetic instability [10, 12]. To accommodate this diversity in the genetics of malignant transformation an increasing number of researchers in the field interpret cancer as the product of an often continuous somatic evolution. In this context, Tsao and co-workers [13] have re-evaluated the genetics of the development of colon carcinoma and present clear evidence for early diversification and co-evolution of tumour cell lines of different malignancy.
A conserved role of αA-crystallin in the development of the zebrafish embryonic lens

αA- and αB-crystallins are small heat shock proteins that bind thermodynamically destabilized proteins thereby inhibiting their aggregation. Highly expressed in the mammalian lens, the α-crystallins have been postulated to play a critical role in the maintenance of lens optical properties by sequestering age-damaged proteins prone to aggregation as well as through a multitude of roles in lens epithelial cells. Here, we have examined the role of α-crystallins in the development of the vertebrate zebrafish lens. For this purpose, we have carried out morpholino-mediated knockdown of αA-, αBa- and αBb-crystallin and characterized the gross morphology of the lens. We observed lens abnormalities, including increased reflectance intensity, as a consequence of the interference with expression of these proteins. These abnormalities were less frequent in transgenic zebrafish embryos expressing rat αA-crystallin suggesting a specific role of α-crystallins in embryonic lens development. To extend and confirm these findings, we generated an αA-crystallin knockout zebrafish line. A more consistent and severe lens phenotype was evident in maternal/zygotic αA-crystallin mutants compared to those observed by morpholino knockdown. The penetrance of the lens phenotype was reduced by transgenic expression of rat αA-crystallin and its severity was attenuated by maternal αA-crystallin expression. These findings demonstrate that the role of α-crystallins in lens development is conserved from mammals to zebrafish and set the stage for using the embryonic lens as a model system to test mechanistic aspects of α-crystallin chaperone activity and to develop strategies to fine-tune protein-protein interactions in aging and cataracts.
A TEST FACILITY FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF HEAVY VEHICLE SUSPENSION PARAMETERS

The Highway Safety Research Institute (University of Michigan) Heavy Vehicle Suspension Testing Facility is described, a new installation for the measurement of compliance, kinematic, and coulomb friction properties of heavy-vehicle suspension and steering systems as they react to vertical force, roll moment, lateral force, brake force, and aligning moment. The facility was designed and constructed under the sponsorship of the Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association, Ad Hoc Committee on Heavy Truck Braking and Handling. Single and tandem-axle suspensions (maximum tandem spread 180 cm. or 70 in.) of all common on-highway truck widths can be tested in their normal configuration or as mounted on an abbreviated frame section. All measurements are performed at steady-state or quasi-steady-state. The facility has three major mechanical systems: a static structure, a movable table, and four wheel pad assemblies. Various test procedures are described, and qualitative findings to date are reviewed. Detailed descriptions of machine elements and specific suspension data are appended.
INPUT USE, COSTS STRUCTURE, RETURN AND RESOURCE USE EFFICINCY ANALYSIS OF WHEAT CROP IN SOUTH GUJARAT, INDIA

Present study was designed to measure input use, cost structure, return and resource use efficiency in wheat production of South Gujarat division of Gujarat, India. In present investigation The sample of 240 Wheat farmers were selected from study area which input-output data collected based on rabi cropping season with a view to examine the input use, cost structure and returns in production and marketing of wheat and the resource use efficiency of wheat growers in year 2013-14. We was used the log linear type Cobb-Douglas production function. The results of study revealed that the average total cost of cultivation of wheat was ` 45784.31. It was the highest on large farms followed by 45720.79 on medium farms, and 39016.69 on small farms. Higher costs on large farms are associated with intensive use of Human labour, bullock labour, manures & fertilizers and irrigation charges. The average overall farm harvest price received by the wheat growers was ` 1552.79 per quintal. It varied from ` 1500.43 on small farms to ` 1597.43 on large farms. The average net profit per hectare over (Cost-C 2 ) was ` 20017.55 and it increased with the increase in size of farms. The overall input-output ratio was 1:1.44 on the basis of total cost of cultivation. It was the highest (1: 1.48) on large farms, followed by medium farms (1:1.43), and small farms (1:1.35). The average cost of production per quintal of wheat was about ` 1285.86 which was lower than the market price of wheat ranging from ` 1600 to ` 1950 per quintal. Functional analysis of wheat crop revealed that seed, N fertilizer, irrigation, human labour, No. of weeding, P fertilizer F.Y.M, bullock labors, and No. of spray i.e. 0.511,0.371, 0.288 , 0.188, 0.171, 0.148, 0.059, 0.029, and 0.020 respectively. This is positive and statistically significant, indicated which indicated that if expenses made on these resources, then it will be gives profitable returns.
Examining the Effects of Digital Social Networks on New Physical Human Interactions and Social Networks: A Validation of Dunbar’s Numbers

The digital social network of a user, who had undergone two radical locational changes, was analyzed to assess if digital social networks were influencing the ability of the user to create new physical social bonds in regards to proximal distance of existing social interactions and if new physical social networks conformed to Dunbar’s theorem of the social network size limit. The social network data (users equating to nodes and physical friendships to links) was implemented into the network analysis software “Gephi”. Standard network measures were assessed on the three digital sub-networks with the user removed from the calculations. Two separation algorithms were assessed on the network data, the Force Atlas algorithm and the Fruchterman Reingold algorithm. The results contradicted with existing research indicating that existing digital social networks did not have an effect on the creation of new social bonds after a radical locational change. The creation of new physical social networks conformed in part to Dunbar’s network size limit theorem and existing social links did not affect the user’s ability to create new social partnerships.
The Fibromyalgia Story: Medical Authority and Women's Worlds of Pain

a strong step in showing the potential for both in her own work. She has written a book that will be of great interest to social movement researchers, cultural sociologists, and anyone who likes a good narrative (analysis). She successfully shows how taking stories seriously can help us better understand how political action is a negotiation between culture and structure. Her expansive application of narrative and varied case studies are not intended to be the final word, but rather the first. As she argues, “the impossibility of logically explaining events compels us to tell stories, which in turn preserve the ambiguity that compels us to tell more stories.” (p. 43) Thus, she leaves it to her readers to recognize the value of this perspective, to take up the challenge of narrative and to start telling their own stories... click!
Respiratory dyskinesia in a patient with Parkinson disease successfully treated with STN DBS

Dyskinesia in Parkinson disease (PD) usually involves the neck, trunk, limbs, and face.1– 3 Isolated or predominant respiratory involvement is rarely reported, and can lead to inappropriate cardiopulmonary tests and management. We report successful diagnosis and treatment of such a case for the first time using bilateral subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN DBS). Acknowledgement: The authors thank the patient for cooperation.
A compact high stability optical clock based on laser-cooled Ca

We report new measurements and modifications for a simple, compact, Ca atomic clock at 657 nm. External measurements were made against an independent Yb lattice optical clock via a fs-laser frequency comb. These results lead to upper limits for the Ca clock instability that are competitive on short time scales with the best existing atomic standards.
Student Snapshots: An Alternative Approach to the Visual History of American Indian Boarding Schools

Photographs of American Indian boarding school students have often been usedto illustrate the federal forced assimilation practices of the 1870s–1930s. Taken by officialschool photographers, these propagandistic images were produced to emphasize the“civilizing” benefits of the boarding school system. Although some Native studentsobtained cameras and recorded their own boarding school experiences, the visual historystill relies on the institutionally-produced images. Using a collection of photographscreated by Parker McKenzie (Kiowa) and his classmates while attending Rainy Mountainand Phoenix Indian Schools, this paper intends to rectify that exclusion through a readingof these snapshots as examples of visual sovereignty. The concept of visual sovereigntyinvolves examining Native self-representations as the (re)claiming of indigenous identitiesin order to counter colonial imagery that has dominated the archives.
Fatigue Bond Characteristics and Degradation of Near-Surface Mounted CFRP Rods and Strips in Concrete

AbstractThis study investigates the bond characteristics and degradation under fatigue loading of near-surface mounted (NSM) carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) rods and strips embedded in concrete. Thirty-six concrete block specimens (350×300×150 mm) were tested under single shear. Sinusoidal waveform fatigue loading with a range of 10–50% of the corresponding static bond strength was applied with the number of cycles varying from 0 to 10,000, which was then followed by static pullout test to determine the local bond-slip relationship between the NSM reinforcement and concrete. Two separate sets of specimens were also subjected to the same fatigue loading up to failure to obtain the corresponding fatigue life. It was found that specimens strengthened with NSM rods mostly failed due to the breakage of concrete and epoxy, while those with NSM strips all failed due to slippage of NSM reinforcements at a lower pullout strength after the fatigue cycles. For both types of reinforcement, as the number of fa...
Suppression of Early IL-4 Production Underlies the Failure of CD4 T Cells Activated by TLR-Stimulated Dendritic Cells to Differentiate into Th2 Cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) activated through TLRs provide a potent negative signal for Th2 cell development that is independent of positive signals for Th1 cell development such as IL-12 and IFN-γ. In this study we demonstrate that the ability of TLR-activated DCs to suppress Th2 cell development is Ag dose-independent and unique to DCs that have been activated through TLRs vs by cytokines. We show that TLR-activated DCs inhibit early IL-4 production by CD4 T cells and thus inhibit their ability to subsequently increase GATA-3 expression and commit to the Th2 lineage. This occurs independently of expression of the GATA-3 antagonist T-bet. Although CD4 T cells activated by TLR-activated DCs make IL-2, they are not capable of phosphorylating STAT5 in response to this cytokine. This inhibition of responsiveness to IL-2 appears to underlie the failure to make early IL-4. Our findings suggest that DCs provide instructional signals for T cell differentiation before cytokine-mediated Th cell selection and outgrowth.
Membrane origin for a signal eliciting a program of cell differentiation

Abstract Evidence is presented to indicate that the retionic acid (RA)-induced program of myeloid differentiation and growth arrest by HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells was initiated by a signal originating at the cell membrane. Free RA and RA covalently immobilized on a solid substrate elicited similar kinetics of differentiation and G1/0-specific growth arrest. No evidence of cell-induced RA detachment from the solid substrate was found. The data explain why HL-60 cells which are deficient in cellular RA-binding protein (CRABP) nevertheless respond to RA.
An application of Nienhuys-Thiemann's theorem to Ring derivations on H(G)

In this paper as an application of Nienhuys-Thiemann's theorem we show that a ring derivation on H(G), the algebra of analytic functions on a region G, is linear.
Panic disorder in the families of patients with normal coronary arteries and non-fear panic disorder

Patients with non-fear panic disorder (NFPD) meet DSM-III-R criteria for panic disorder, but do not report subjective fear or anxiety. Although apparently common in medical settings, this controversial group is in need of further diagnostic validation. This study assessed family history of panic disorder in patients with chest pain and normal coronary arteries (CP/NCA) and either NFPD, panic disorder with fear, or no panic. It was hypothesized that the two panic disorder groups would have similar, elevated rates of panic disorder in their first-degree relatives, compared to patients without panic. The results support the hypothesis; about 17% of the first-degree relatives of both NFPD and panic disorder patients were diagnosable with panic disorder according to proband interviews, whereas only 4.6% of the first-degree relatives of patients without panic were so diagnosable. These results support the diagnostic validity of NFPD in CP/NCA patients, because such patients had a family history of panic disorder similar to patients with a more classical panic disorder presentation. The lack of fear symptoms and behavior in NFPD may cause panic disorder to be overlooked as a potential cause of somatic symptoms in patients with no medical explanation for their condition.
Answering the 'so what?' question for empirical research in bioethics.

At the conclusion of an interesting target article on the role of empirical research in bioethics, Alexander Kon (2009) asserts that, “The ultimate goal of empirical inquiry is to improve care” (59...
Carl Schmitt's Critique of Liberalism: Against Politics as Technology

Introduction Part I. Between Critical Theory and Political Existentialism: Schmitt's Confrontation with Technology: 1. Antinomies of 'economic-technical thought': attempting to transcend Weber's Categories of Modernity 2. Myth as antidote to the 'Age of Neutralizations': Nietszche and cultural conflict as response to technology Part II. Liberalism as Technology's Infiltration of Politics: 3. Emergency powers 4. Representation 5. Law 6. The state Part III. Liberalism and Fascism: Technology and Politics: Epilogue and summary Conclusion.
THE CONTRACTILE VACUOLE AND RELATED STRUCTURES IN TETRAHYMENA PYRIFORMIS.

SYNOPSIS. The nephridial system of T. pyriformis consists of a contractile vacuole with its two pores and an elaborate network of tubules. Both the vacuole and its tubules constitute a continuous system of single membranes of approximately 70 A in thickness. Tubular fibrils of about 250 A extend from the pore wall to the vacuole membrane and appear to function in dilating the pore prior to systole. The nephridial tubules arise directly from the wall of the vacuole and are continuous with it throughout the vacuolar cycle. The tubules appear to be contiguous with the granular endoplasmic reticulum. A typical Golgi complex was not found. Some speculation about the interrelation of these structures as regards function is offered.
Synthesis and simple 18F-labeling of 3-fluoro-5-(2-(2-(fluoromethyl)thiazol-4-yl)ethynyl)benzonitrile as a high affinity radioligand for imaging monkey brain metabotropic glutamate subtype-5 receptors with positron emission tomography.

2-Fluoromethyl analogs of (3-[(2-methyl-1,3-thiazol-4yl)ethynyl]pyridine) were synthesized as potential ligands for metabotropic glutamate subtype-5 receptors (mGluR5s). One of these, namely, 3-flu...
Banking on the King: The Evolution of the Royal Revenue Farms in Old Regime France

�The writing and allocation of French tax farm contracts changed dramatically after the Fronde (1648 阂1653): they were gradually transformed from small, competitively auctioned, units into a large cartel known as the Company of General Farms. Surprisingly, the crown 鈂s revenues increased. I present a transaction cost argument to explain the behavior of tax farm lease prices as tax farming changed during the seventeenth century. Cartelization of tax farms lowered costs faced by the crown. The tax farm system 鈂s evolution offers insights into how organizations evolve to protect their property rights in the absence of well functioning representative institutions. fundamental insight of the historical literature on public finance is that the establishment of fiscal institutions capable of providing sufficient and stable revenues is a prerequisite for the establishment of credible property rights. Without sufficient revenues, the ruler is forced to search for new sources of funds to satisfy his needs, usually undermining property rights in the process. The literature is dominated by the success story of Great Britain which, after the Glorious Revolution, adopted an independent central bank, parliament, and an efficient tax bureaucracy. 1 France, on the other hand, is typically portrayed as the
Survival patterns of the first 500 patients with AIDS in San Francisco.

Les taux de survie rapportes dans cet article sont inferieurs a ceux rapportes dans la ville de New York ― 45% a New York contre 30% a San Francisco ― pour une survie de 1 an et 25% a New York contre 2% a San Francisco pour une survie de 2 ans
Evaluation of bioabsorbable seamguard for staple line reinforcement in stapled rectal anastomoses.

Introduction. The concept of staple line reinforcement is a growing area of interest. This study evaluated the feasibility and effect of using bioabsorbable Seamguard (BSG) to bolster end-to-end st...
Ventricular Function II. Quantitative Relationship between Coronary Flow and Ventricular Function with Observations on Unilateral Failure

Left main coronary artery blood flow, cardiac output and pressures in the pulmonary artery, the aorta and both atria were continuously recorded in the dog. Restriction of left coronary flow increased left atrial pressure substantially, but right atrial pressure only slightly; left ventricular work, cardiac output and arterial pressure fell markedly. During restriction of left coronary flow, the left ventricular function curve (modified Starling curve), which does not normally show a descending limb even at high filling pressures, developed a pronounced descending limb. Unilateral ventricular failure was demonstrated.