cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mysticism, Girard, and Simone Weil

Readers of the works of Simone Weil (1909–1943) and of her French compatriot Rene Girard (1923–2015) cannot help but notice common interests and themes: victimage, social degradation, violence, Christ, Christianity, ancient religion, myth, and mysticism. Beginning in Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World (1978), Girard frequently refers with admiration to Weil in his writings, but the subterranean influence of the French mystic, philosopher, and classicist upon Girard is earlier, more profound, and arguably more extensive than he himself could measure.
Automatic Modulation Classification Using Moments and Likelihood Maximization

Motivated by the fact that moments of the received signal are easy to compute and can provide a simple way to automatically classify the modulation of the transmitted signal, we propose a hybrid method for automatic modulation classification that lies in the intersection between likelihood-based and feature-based classifiers. Specifically, the proposed method relies on statistical moments along with a maximum likelihood engine. We show that the proposed method offers a good trade-off between classification accuracy and complexity relative to the maximum likelihood classifier. Furthermore, our classifier outperforms state-of-the-art machine learning classifiers, such as genetic programming-based K-nearest neighbor classifiers, the linear support vector machine classifier and the fold-based Kolmogorov-Smirnov algorithm.
Review: Scalar and Omeka

Scalar and Omeka : https://scalar.me/anvc/; http://omeka.org The migration of academic scholarship to digital platforms over the past two decades has seen its share of ups and downs. Advocates of digitization and online publication have pointed out the lower costs of publishing, the democratizing potential of the Internet, and the increased opportunities for collaboration and iterative work afforded by digital and online tools. At the same time, critics of online publication have pointed to questions of rigor and peer review, along with dilemmas such as how to preserve and cite works that are inherently unstable, how to credit individuals involved in collaborative efforts, and how to assess work that by its nature involves ongoing change and multiple versions. To address some of the challenges of digital scholarship, scholarly societies have adopted standards for assessment, including the “Guidelines for the Evaluation of Digital Scholarship in Art and Architectural History” developed by the Society of Architectural Historians in partnership with the College Art Association and released in 2016.1 At the same time, a number of university presses are investing in the development of platforms that reimagine the process of publishing peer-reviewed born-digital work. Take, for instance, the recently released platform Manifold Scholarship, which is being developed by the University of Minnesota Press in collaboration with GC Digital Scholarship Lab at the City University of New York. Like many such platforms, Manifold is open source, meaning the original source code for the software is freely and publicly available for anyone to adopt or modify. In the same spirit, this software departs from the print and even e-book models for textual academic scholarship in that the document remains dynamic, collaborative, and iterative, allowing for commentary from a community of readers as well as revision and expansion of the project by the author beyond its first release. Even as Manifold and …
Introduction to the Special Issue: Critical Reflections and Future Directions in the Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Motivation

This article introduces the special issue titled “Critical Reflections and Future Direction in the Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Motivation.” We begin by framing the importance of research that con...
Histoire De L’Aveugle: “Matiérisme” ’s Critique of Vision

In 1949 Jean L’Anselme published a book dedicated to Jean Dubuffet entitled Histoire de l’aveugle. Comprised of just four illustrations and a cover page, the book — or pamphlet — is held together by two staples. It contains no text save the last page in which the reader is informed that: “Ceci a ete compose/a la main/avec beaucoup de peine/par l’auteur lui-meme.../pour l’art brut/et pour/Jean Dubuffet.” Insisting upon the work’s relationship to the [author’s] body of labor — handmade, and with considerably difficulty — these few lines offer us a great deal of information. Printed “fort modestement a l’aide de dispositifs derisoires dans un petit format et sur un papier a journal de la plus vulgaire sorte,” the book reflects many of the same concerns Dubuffet was preoccupied with in a small book entitled ler dla canpane published just one year prior (1948) — and dedicated to none other than “janlanselm.”1
Domination, Compactness, Contiguity

In this chapter we discuss briefly certain conditions which often facilitate asymptotic arguments. These conditions are satisfied by a sufficient variety of situations to make their study interesting. Perhaps the most useful is the property called “contiguity” for sequences or nets {ℰv}, ℰv = {P0, v, P1, v} of binary experiments. The one-sided version of this is obviously some sort of “asymptotic domination.”
Life expectancy in the United States: international and domestic comparisons by ages and causes of death

There is a widening gap between life expectancy in the United States and other high-longevity countries (HLCs) and substantial disparities in survival across racial and ethnic groups in America. In this paper we analyze the contribution of age- and cause-specific mortality to life expectancy differences between the United States and other HLCs, and across American subpopulations. Using decomposition techniques and data for 2000-2007, we compare the US to 22 HLCs; American whites to HLCs and to blacks; and US Hispanics to non-Hispanic whites. US life expectancy is lower that of other HLCs by over 2 years, mostly due to deaths between ages 40 to 79. Neoplasms, circulatory diseases, and external causes are the main contributors to the differential, with infant mortality accounting for over 7%. The gap persists when the comparison is limited to U.S whites. At older ages, Americans’ survival is better than that of their international counterparts. White females live 4.52 years longer than black females, and 2.67 years less than Hispanic females on average. The Hispanic advantage becomes most apparent after age 60. The main causes contributing to the international gap also account for most of the domestic disparities. America’s low standing in international comparisons of life expectancy reflects internal inequalities along multiple dimensions including but not limited to race. Vladimir CANUDAS ROMO, Associated Professor, Department of Biostatistics, University of Copenhagen, Oester Farimagsgade 5, Copenhagen, Denmark. E-mail: vlca@sund.ku.dk . Department of Population, Family & Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe Street, Room E4634, Baltimore MD 21205. E-mail: vcanudas@jhsph.edu Michal ENGELMAN, PhD, Department of Sociology, University of Chicago, 1126 East 59th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60637. E-mail: mengelman@uchicago.edu .
A MUSCLE FORCE EXCURSION METER

Publisher Summary A single muscle fiber is composed of many structures called sarcomeres, the basic functional unit of the muscle that is connected in series. A sarcomere is composed of two plates facing each other called z-lines, from each of which numbers of actin and myosin filaments arise and interdigitate. Upon receiving the proper electrochemical stimulus, these filaments exert a strong mutual force of attraction. The parallel contraction of the sarcomeres accounts for the tension produced in a muscle. There exists an optimum distance between the two z-lines where the maximum force of attraction between the actin and myosin fibers can be produced. There is also an optimum extension where the muscle as a whole can produce its maximal force. Conversely, there are also degrees of extension and contraction where insufficient force is produced. The force potential of a muscle is the result of the passive stretch of the muscle and an active component of the force generated by muscle fibers. The importance of attaching the tendon to the proper site cannot be over emphasized; once in place the muscle will not adapt to excessive tension by lengthening, nor will it tighten up if attached too loosely. Tendons cannot stretch an adequate amount to compensate for an improperly placed site of insertion. This chapter discusses the design of the muscle force and excursion meter.
Full-Scale Simulations of Drag Reduction Devices for Class 8 Trucks

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations were performed to evaluate drag reduction devices on a modified full-scale version of the Generic Conventional Model (GCM) geometry. All simulations were performed with a moving ground plane and rotating rear wheels. A trailer base flap simulation was performed for comparison with drag reduction data from wind tunnels and track and road tests. A front spoiler and three mud-flaps with modest drag reduction potential were evaluated in view of their higher probability of adoption by truck fleet operators.
Microdetermination of nitro compounds. I

A specific colorimetric method is described for the determination of nitroanthraquinones. It is dependent on the red color produced on treatment of the sample with tetraethylene pentamine or imino bis-propylamine. The color is stable and is not affected by the presence of water in the system.
C-14: Comparative cryobiology of germplasms in non-traditional species

One of the greatest challenges to retaining viability of frozen gametes and reproductive tissues is understanding and overcoming species-specificities. This is important because there is significant diversity in the cryobiological properties and requirements among cell types and tissues themselves. Systematic studies can lead to successful post-thaw recovery, especially after determining (1) membrane permeability to water and cryoprotectant, (2) cryoprotectant toxicity, (3) tolerance to osmotic changes and (4) resistance to cooling and freezing temperatures. While species-dependency ultimately dictates the ability of specific cells and tissues to survive freeze–thawing, there are commonalities between taxa that allow a protocol developed for one species to provide useful information for another. This is the primary reason for performing comparative cryopreservation studies among diverse species. Our laboratory has compared cellular cryotolerance, especially in spermatozoa, in a diversity of animals – from coral to elephants – for more than 30 years. Characterizing the biophysical traits of gametes and tissues is the most efficient way to develop successful storage and recovery protocols. Such data are only available for a few laboratory, livestock and fish species, with virtually all others (wild mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians) having gone unstudied in this arena. Nonetheless, when a rare animal unexpectedly dies, there is no time to understand the fundamentals of biophysics. In these emergencies, it is necessary to rely on experience and the best data from taxonomically-related species. Fortunately, there are some general similarities among most species, which, for example, allow adequate post-thaw viability. Regardless, there is a priority for more information on biophysical traits and freezing tolerance of distinctive biomaterials, especially for oocytes and gonadal tissues, and even for common, domesticated animals.
Mechanistic study of methylbenzene dealkylation in methanol-to-olefins catalysis on HSAPO-34

Abstract Methylbenzenes entrained within the cavities of silicoaluminophosphate zeotype HSAPO-34 react with methanol in H+-mediated dealkylation to give ethylene and propylene in methanol-to-olefins catalysis. Methylbenzenes dealkylation on solid acids is proposed to occur either via the side-chain mechanism, where an exocyclic C C undergoes successive methylation prior to C C cleavage for olefin elimination, or the paring mechanism, where ring contraction to a bicyclohexenyl cation precedes C C cleavage for olefin elimination. Distinct dealkylation mechanisms prescribe distinct combinations of C atoms—from aromatic methyl, aromatic ring, and methanol/dimethyl ether—to comprise the olefin product. Site-specific isotope tracing that distinguishes between isotope labels in aromatic methyl and aromatic ring positions for each methylbenzene shows that tetramethylbenzene gives ethylene via the side-chain mechanism and penta- and hexamethylbenzene give propylene via the paring mechanism. The ratio of propylene selectivity to ethylene selectivity increases in methanol reactions on HSAPO-34 entrained with a distribution of methylbenzenes deliberately manipulated towards increasing fractions of penta- and hexamethylbenzene, corroborating the conclusion that aromatic precursors and dealkylation mechanisms for ethylene diverge from those for propylene.
Behavioral Counseling Training for Primary Care Providers: Immersive Virtual Simulation as a Training Tool

Behavioral counseling represents an efficacious approach for improving health behaviors on a population level, and the primary care setting is an appropriate context in which to implement this approach. However, evidence suggests that the utilization of behavioral counseling techniques in primary care, including those informed by motivational interviewing, is sub-optimal. Insufficient training has been cited as a barrier to utilizing counseling in the primary care setting. Recent work has evaluated the effectiveness of virtual simulations that can provide access to "virtual" patients while retaining the scalability inherent to a digital medium. However, these educational interventions have been limited to simulations delivered through a two-dimensional screen. More immersive simulations delivered through a head-mounted display can create a realistic practice environment that encompasses a learner's entire field of view, which may confer additional benefits with respect to training outcomes. The purpose of this short article is to briefly review the relevant literature across disciplines to conceptualize the potential effectiveness of this technology as a training tool for behavioral counseling. Immersive virtual simulations are designed to induce a psychological phenomenon referred to as presence, whereby a learner perceives themselves as existing within the virtual environment. As such, immersive virtual simulations can provide opportunities for practice, coaching, and feedback in an environment that closely approximates the clinical setting in which counseling will be delivered. Through its effects on presence, this technology may be particularly useful for developing empathy, which is an important component of counseling. Recommendations for future research are also provided.
The influence of maternal nesting behaviour on offspring survival: evidence from correlational and cross-fostering studies

The maternal effect of nesting behaviour is important in oviparous species because choice of microhabitat (e.g. shade cover, temperature) can determine the environment in which embryos develop. In turn, this maternal choice can influence developmental trajectories and offspring phenotypes and survival. We studied maternal nesting behaviour in a western painted turtle, Chrysemys picta, population in northern Idaho, U.S.A. During 2013–2016, we examined maternal choice of nest microhabitat and used correlational data to quantify consequences on egg survival. In 2017, we conducted a cross-fostering experiment to decouple the effects of intrinsic maternal effects from extrinsic environmental factors on egg survival, while simultaneously manipulating the level of nest shade cover and distance from water using artificial nests. Females chose nest sites that were more open and warmer than randomly available habitat. Additionally, of three nesting areas, the coolest area with the most shade cover was used least by nesting females. Egg survival was associated with nest temperature in some, but not all, years. In the cross-fostering experiment, egg survival did not differ between natal and foster eggs, but was greater in maternal nests than in artificial nests. Additionally, egg survival increased with canopy openness and minimum nest temperature, especially for eggs in artificial nests. Overall, these results suggest that females select nesting conditions (warm and open nest sites) that positively affect hatching success.
ACE overexpression in myeloid cells increases oxidative metabolism and cellular ATP.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) affects blood pressure. In addition, ACE overexpression in myeloid cells increases their immune function. Using MS and chemical analysis, we identified marked changes of intermediate metabolites in ACE-overexpressing macrophages and neutrophils, with increased cellular ATP (1.7–3.0-fold) and Krebs cycle intermediates, including citrate, isocitrate, succinate, and malate (1.4–3.9-fold). Increased ATP is due to ACE C-domain catalytic activity; it is reversed by an ACE inhibitor but not by an angiotensin II AT1 receptor antagonist. In contrast, macrophages from ACE knockout (null) mice averaged only 28% of the ATP levels found in WT mice. ACE overexpression does not change cell or mitochondrial size or number. However, expression levels of the electron transport chain proteins NDUFB8 (complex I), ATP5A, and ATP5β (complex V) are significantly increased in macrophages and neutrophils, and COX1 and COX2 (complex IV) are increased in macrophages overexpressing ACE. Macrophages overexpressing ACE have increased mitochondrial membrane potential (24% higher), ATP production rates (29% higher), and maximal respiratory rates (37% higher) compared with WT cells. Increased cellular ATP underpins increased myeloid cell superoxide production and phagocytosis associated with increased ACE expression. Myeloid cells overexpressing ACE indicate the existence of a novel pathway in which myeloid cell function can be enhanced, with a key feature being increased cellular ATP.
A Retrospective Study of Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists for the Management of Diabetes After Transplantation

Management of post-transplant diabetes mellitus is challenging; there is a lack of prospective randomized controlled trials for safety and efficacy of antidiabetic medications in solid organ recipients. Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) are a relatively new class of medications used to manage type 2 diabetes in the general population. They have several benefits besides glycemic control, including weight loss and improved cardiovascular risk. However, they have not been studied extensively in the post-transplant population for safety and efficacy. We conducted a retrospective study of patients who had received kidney, liver, or heart transplant, had diabetes either pre- or post-transplant, and were treated with GLP-1RA. We identified seven kidney, seven liver, and five heart transplant recipients who had received GLP-1RA. We assessed changes in immunosuppressant levels, rejection episodes, changes in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), weight, and body mass index (BMI) while on the GLP-1RA. We also looked at changes in insulin dose, other diabetes medications, heart rate, blood pressure, and renal function. After a mean follow-up period of 12 months, there were no significant changes in tacrolimus (FK506) levels and renal function for the period of GLP-1RA use. At the end of 12 months, the mean drop in weight was 4.86 kg [95% CI − 7.79, − 1.93]. The BMI decreased by a mean of 1.63 kg/m2 at the end of 12 months [95% CI − 2.53, − 0.73]. HbA1c decreased from baseline by 1.08% [95% CI − 1.65, − 0.51], 0.96% [95% CI − 1.68, − 0.25], and 0.75% [95% CI − 1.55, 0.05] at 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. Our data suggest that GLP-1RA do not affect tacrolimus levels or transplant outcomes in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients in the short term. GLP-1RA also seem to be as effective in SOT recipients for glycemic control and weight loss as in the non-transplant population with diabetes.
Colloidal synthesis, physical properties, and applications of zero- and one-dimensional GeSn nanostructures

Although germanium (Ge) is a semiconductor frequently used in many facets of materials science, its optical applications are limited because of an indirect band structure, which significantly diminishes absorption and emission efficiency. However, sufficiently high levels of tin (Sn) alloying enable an indirect-to-direct band structure crossover, resulting in improved optical properties. Moreover, the bandgap of GeSn alloys can be tuned by simply varying the alloy composition; therefore, the material can be modified for compatibility with silicon (Si) based electronics. While lattice mismatch makes the solubility of Sn in Ge extremely low in bulk alloys (<1%), metastable nanoalloys produced under nonequilibrium conditions show minimum to no lattice strain, allowing the synthesis of GeSn nanoalloys with wider tunability of Sn (up to 95%). Furthermore, the size-tunable confinement energy characteristic of GeSn nanoalloys has been shown to greatly increase the energy gaps, resulting in tunable visible to near-IR optical properties. Herein, the authors summarize recent advances in the synthesis of 0D and 1D GeSn alloy nanostructures and their emerging physical properties in light of their potential applications in advanced electronic and photonic technologies.
Nanoparticle-based "Two-pronged" approach to regress atherosclerosis by simultaneous modulation of cholesterol influx and efflux

Reduction of lipoprotein uptake by macrophages and stimulation of cholesterol efflux are two essential steps required for atherosclerotic plaque regression. We used the optimized mannose-functionalized dendrimeric nanoparticle (mDNP)-based platform for macrophage-specific delivery of therapeutics to simultaneously deliver SR-A siRNA (to reduce LDL uptake) and LXR ligand (LXR-L, to stimulate cholesterol efflux) - a novel "Two-pronged" approach to facilitate plaque regression. mDNP-mediated delivery of SR-A siRNA led to a significant reduction in SR-A expression with a corresponding decrease in uptake of oxLDL. Delivery of LXR-L increased expression of ABCA1/G1 and cholesterol efflux. Combined delivery of siRNA and LXR-L led to a significantly greater decrease in macrophage cholesterol content compared to either treatment alone. Administration of this in vitro optimized formulation of mDNP complexed with SR-A-siRNA and LXR-L (Two-pronged complex) to atherosclerotic LDLR-/- mice fed western diet (TD88137) led to significant regression of atherosclerotic plaques with a corresponding decrease in aortic cholesterol content.
A New Ultrasonographic Parameter to Enhance Diagnostic Yield of Ultrasonography in Patients with Ulnar Mononeuropathy at the Elbow (2398)

Objective: To determine a new ultrasonographic parameter, including cut-off values for ratio of maximum cross sectional area (CSA) at elbow in symptomatic arm to asymptomatic one (M-ratio) and comparing ratio values of CSA at elbow to: wrist (E/W), mid-forearm (E/F), and mid humerus (E/H) between affected and unaffected arms to improve the sensitivity and specificity of neuromuscular ultrasonography (NM US) in diagnosis of ulnar neuropathy at elbow (UNE). Background: UNE is the second most common entrapment neuropathy. UNE is classically diagnosed using electrodiagnosis which has shown sensitivities ranging from 37% to 86% and specificities of 95% or greater. Several studies have shown ultrasonography can be a valuable diagnostic modality for UNE, especially in entrapment neuropathies Design/Methods: A retrospective case-control analysis of unilateral ulnar mononeuropathy cases (based on the ultrasound and electrodiagnosis) was performed to identify inter- and intra-nerve ratio values between affected and unaffected arms. To identify the best cut-off point for ratios between symptomatic and asymptomatic sides that would distinguish between cases and controls, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed Results: Forty two cases and 45 controls were enrolled. Controls were significantly more likely to be female, and had lower mean weight compared to cases, however there were no significant differences in age, height or BMI. In ROC analysis, the area under of the curve for M ratio was 0.984 and the best cut-off point was 1.22 [Sensitivity: 92.9%, Specificity: 97.8%, positive predictive value (PPV): 97.5%, negative predictive value (NPV): 93.6%]. Optimal cut-off point for E/W, E/F and E/H ratios were 1.07 (Sensitivity: 98%, Specificity: 78%, PPV: 80%, NPV: 94.7%), 1.11 (Sensitivity: 95%, Specificity: 80%, PPV: 81.6%, NPV: 94.7%) and 1.18 (Sensitivity: 95%, Specificity: 93%, PPV: 93%, NPV: 95%), respectively. Conclusions: The M-ratio exhibits a high diagnostic accuracy in the ultrasonographic diagnosis of UNE, surpassing more conventionally used NM US parameters. Disclosure: Dr. Mamarabadi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Morren has nothing to disclose. Dr. Shook has nothing to disclose.
Nanoparticle α-ZrP Enhanced Superhydrophobicity

A surface coating made of α-zirconium phosphate (α-ZrP) nanoparticles was synthesized using one-step drop-cast processing. The coating consisted of surface-modified α-ZrP nanoparticles of three dif...
Time-course transcriptomic analysis of Petunia ×hybrida leaves under water deficit stress using RNA sequencing.

Water deficit limits plant growth and development, resulting in quality loss of horticultural crops. However, there is limited information on gene regulation and signaling pathways related to water deficit stress response at multiple time points. The objective of this research was to investigate global gene expression patterns under water deficit stress to provide an insight into how petunia (Petunia ×hybrida ‘Mitchell Diploid’) responded in the process of stress. Nine-week-old petunias were irrigated daily or placed under water stress by withholding water. Stressed plants reduced stomatal conductance after five days of water deficit, indicating they perceived stress and initiated stress response mechanisms. To analyze transcriptomic changes at the early stage of water deficit, leaf tissue samples were collected 1, 3, and 5 days after water was withheld for RNA sequencing. Under water deficit stress, 154, 3611, and 980 genes were upregulated and 41, 2806, and 253 genes were downregulated on day 1, 3, and 5, respectively. Gene Ontology analysis revealed that redox homeostasis processes through sulfur and glutathione metabolism pathways, and hormone signal transduction, especially abscisic acid and ethylene, were enriched under water deficit stress. Thirty-four transcription factor families were identified, including members of AP2/ERF, NAC, MYB-related, C2H2, and bZIP families, and TFs in AP2/ERF family was the most abundant in petunia. Interestingly, only one member of GRFs was upregulated on day 1, while most of TFs were differentially expressed on day 3 and/or 5. The transcriptome data from this research will provide valuable molecular resources for understanding the early stages of water stress-responsive networks as well as engineering petunia with enhanced water stress tolerance.
Collaborative Learning and Personalization in Multi-Agent Stochastic Linear Bandits.

We consider the problem of minimizing regret in an $N$ agent heterogeneous stochastic linear bandits framework, where the agents (users) are similar but not all identical. We model user heterogeneity using two popularly used ideas in practice; (i) A clustering framework where users are partitioned into groups with users in the same group being identical to each other, but different across groups, and (ii) a personalization framework where no two users are necessarily identical, but a user's parameters are close to that of the population average. In the clustered users' setup, we propose a novel algorithm, based on successive refinement of cluster identities and regret minimization. We show that, for any agent, the regret scales as $\mathcal{O}(\sqrt{T/N})$, if the agent is in a `well separated' cluster, or scales as $\mathcal{O}(T^{\frac{1}{2} + \varepsilon}/(N)^{\frac{1}{2} -\varepsilon})$ if its cluster is not well separated, where $\varepsilon$ is positive and arbitrarily close to $0$. Our algorithm is adaptive to the cluster separation, and is parameter free -- it does not need to know the number of clusters, separation and cluster size, yet the regret guarantee adapts to the inherent complexity. In the personalization framework, we introduce a natural algorithm where, the personal bandit instances are initialized with the estimates of the global average model. We show that, an agent $i$ whose parameter deviates from the population average by $\epsilon_i$, attains a regret scaling of $\widetilde{O}(\epsilon_i\sqrt{T})$. This demonstrates that if the user representations are close (small $\epsilon_i)$, the resulting regret is low, and vice-versa. The results are empirically validated and we observe superior performance of our adaptive algorithms over non-adaptive baselines.
A troponin T variant linked with pediatric dilated cardiomyopathy reduces the coupling of thin filament activation to myosin and calcium binding.

A variant in troponin T associated with dilated cardiomyopathy, R134G, decouples thin filament activation from calcium and myosin binding. These defects lead to molecular and cellular hypocontracti...
On the Conformation, Coacervation and Function of Polymeric Models of Elastin

In a recent review (1) entitled “Conformations of the Repeat Peptides of Elastin in Solution: An Application of Proton and Carbon-13 Magnetic Resonance to the Determination of Polypeptide Secondary Structure”, the secondary structures of the monomers and polymers of the repeat peptides of tropoelastin were described. The repeat peptides, as reported by Foster et al. (2) and Gray et al. (3) but with the permutation given in terms of the conformational unit, are Val1-Pro2-Gly3-Gly4, Val1-Pro2-Gly3-Val4-Gly5, and Ala1-Pro2-Gly3-Val4-Gly5-Val6. Derivatives of these monomers, their permutations, oligomers and high polymers were studied in four different solvents dimethylsulfoxide, methanol, trifluoroethanol and water. More recently each of the three monomers have been studied in chloroform and their possible conformations examined by means of extensive conformational energy calculations (4–6). In each solvent and in the conformational energy calculations, all of the repeat peptides were found to contain the β-turn with Pro2 and Gly3 at the corners as a dominant conformational feature (see Figure 1). This β-turn utilizes a hydrogen bond between the C-O of residue 1 and the N-H of residue 4.
Colorectal Cancer: Adjuvant Therapy

The stage of disease at presentation is the most important predictor of outcome for colon cancer patients. Stage I (T1-2N0M0) disease carries an excellent prognosis of up to 95% 5-year survival rate after resection, and surgical treatment alone is considered sufficient; adjuvant treatment is not indicated.1 Patients with stage II disease (T3-4N0M0) also have excellent 5-year survival, averaging 70–80%, but a subset of high-risk patients have poorer prognosis.1 As such, it has been suggested that some stage II patients may benefit from adjuvant therapy, but the role of treatment in this patient population remains controversial. In contrast, adjuvant treatment repeatedly has been shown to improve survival for stage III (TanyN1-2M0) disease.
Distant synapses raise their voices

By showing that synaptic strength increases as a function of distance from the soma, Magee and Cook have solved the long-standing puzzle of how synapses on distal dendrites can influence action potential initiation.
A Powerful tool of Justice: Paralegals and the provision of affordable and accessible legal services

In many parts of Africa, a quiet revolution is transforming the delivery of legal assistance to pre-trial detainees and accused persons. Too poor to afford the services of a lawyer, and unable to rely on inadequate – or nonexistent – state-funded legal aid systems, many Africans are at the mercy of often oppressive and corrupt criminal justice systems. This is beginning to change as paralegals – who are less expensive and more accessible than lawyers – are empowering the poor and marginalised in their interactions with police, prosecutors, and the courts. In almost two dozen countries across Africa, paralegals are providing a critical service, particularly in the early stages of the criminal justice process. They provide primary legal aid services that often no one else is providing, which in turn results in the elimination of unnecessary pre-trial detention, the speedy processing of cases, diversion of young offenders, and reduction of case backlogs. Some paralegal services also provide food and medical supplies to people in detention. They may also be present at police stations in order to deter ill-treatment and forced confessions. Paralegals play a valuable role in reducing prison overcrowding by locating the family members of pre-trial detainees and facilitating bail hearings. This article gives an overview of paralegal services in a number of African countries, and shows how these services are assisting thousands of pretrial detainees and accused persons to access justice in environments where legal services are scarce or non-existent.
Analysis of intubations

Abstract Introduction: After finding the success rate of intubations in our air medical program to be less than optimal (with a success rate of only 73%), a protocol for increased doses of sedatives and neuromuscular blocking (NMB) agents was developed for field use by flight nurses and paramedics. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed for 100 intubations before and 100 intubations after establishment of this protocol. Results: Success rate of intubation increased from 73% to 96%, which was statistically significant (p Conclusions: Our results suggest that protocois including sedatives and NMB agents can be used safely and effectively by an appropriately trained air medical team of nurses and paramedics and may improve patient care.
Intercultural education for multicultural societies

Abstract This article presents evidence for the need for intercultural education in multicultural societies. Pupils who are culturally different from the majority need it to learn to function effectively in their own culture as well as in the majority culture. Since an important objective of education is to prepare individuals to function effectively in their environment, all children in multicultural societies could profit from exposure to effective intercultural education. Our research with American teachers and their Latin American or Hispanic pupils suggests that teachers also need to learn about the patterns of perceptions, values, and behaviors of culturally different pupils. Objections to intercultural education are listed and refuted. Advantages and disadvantages of three new approaches to intercultural education are discussed. Special attention is given to the attributional approach, an informational approach which is particularly well suited for use in educational settings. Research bearing on the effectiveness of this approach is presented.
Degradation of O-Phosphohydroxylysine in Rat Liver: PURIFICATION AND PROPERTIES OF 2-AMINOADIPIC SEMIALDEHYDE DEHYDROGENASE

Abstract A soluble enzyme which catalyzes the oxidation of 2-aminoadipic semialdehyde to 2-aminoadipate has been partially purified from rat liver cytoplasm. The enzyme, which exhibits a sharp optimum activity at pH 7.5, requires NAD+ and shows a high degree of substrate specificity. It is more sensitive to heat than is the common nonspecific aldehyde dehydrogenase, which does not act on 2-aminoadipic semialdehyde. The apparent Km values for NAD+ and 2-aminoadipic semialdehyde were estimated to be 0.2 mm and 0.02 mm, respectively. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 250,000.
Sustained sleep deprivation impairs host defense

Prolonged sleep deprivation in rats causes an unexplained hypercatabolic state, secondary malnutrition symptoms, and mortality. The nature of the vital impairment has long been a mystery. Its determination would help to elucidate the type of organic dysfunction that sleep prevents. There are no gross detectable disturbances in intermediary metabolism, clinical chemistry, or hematological indexes that provide substantial clues to the mediation of sleep-deprivation effects. Furthermore, postmortem examinations reveal no systematic morphological or histopathological findings. Taken together, the cachexia and the absence of evidence of structural damage or organ dysfunction pointed to involvement of a regulatory system that was diffuse, possibly the immune system. Blood cultures revealed invasion by opportunistic microbes to which there was no febrile response. These results suggest that the life-threatening condition of prolonged sleep deprivation is a breakdown of host defense against indigenous and pathogenic microorganisms.
DRIVERS OF RIPARIAN TREE INVASION ON A DESERT STREAM

Understanding mechanisms of exotic species' invasions is essential to managing riparian landscapes throughout the world. In the southwestern USA, the two most dominant invaders of riparian habitats are the exotic tree species tamarisk (Tamarix ramosissima, Tamarix chinensis, and their hybrids) and Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia). These plants were introduced around 1900, and their success may be facilitated by river regulation, river channel changes, and precipitation patterns. We hypothesized that riparian invasion in Canyon de Chelly, Arizona, was initiated by a change point event such as plantings, dam construction, or channel incision and that establishment near a change point was tied to flood events. We aged tamarisk, Russian olive, and native cottonwood trees from study sites in Canyon de Chelly and used tree ring analysis to determine the year of establishment and the elevation of the germination point relative to the channel. We used Bayesian Poisson regression and information theoretics to identify change points and precipitation variables driving annual tree establishment. We found that most tamarisk and Russian olive trees established in the late 1980s, and most cottonwoods established in 1930-1950 and 1980-2000. Regression models indicated that change points occurred in 1983 for Russian olive and 1988 for tamarisk, and precipitation was important for establishment. Although plantings and river regulation probably played a role in tree invasion, our results suggest that these species required precipitation and stream channel change for widespread establishment in Canyon de Chelly. The factors driving riparian invasions may not be those often associated with degraded rivers, such as altered hydrographs and land management changes, thus requiring analyses of the full range of ecological and physical processes. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Wave gradiometry and its link with Helmholtz equation solutions applied to USArray in the eastern U.S.

Wave gradiometry is an array processing technique utilizing the shape of seismic wavefields captured by USArray TA stations to determine fundamental wave propagation characteristics. We first explore a compatibility relation that links the displacement spatial gradients to seismogram displacements and velocities through two unknown coefficients, A→ and B→. These coefficients are solved for through iterative, damped least squares inversion to provide estimates of phase velocity, back azimuth, radiation pattern, and geometrical spreading. We show that the A→ coefficient corresponds to the gradient of logarithmic amplitude, and the B→ coefficient corresponds approximately to the local wave slowness. A→ and B→ vector fields are interpolated to explore a second compatibility relation through solutions to the Helmholtz equation. For most wavefields passing through the eastern U.S., we show that the A→ coefficients are generally orthogonal to the B→ coefficients. Where they are not completely orthogonal, there is a strong positive correlation between ∇·B→ and changes in geometrical spreading, which can be further linked with areas of strong energy focusing and defocusing. We finally obtain isotropic Rayleigh wave phase velocity maps for 15 periods between 20 and 150 s, by stacking results from 37 earthquakes, which show a velocity change along the approximate boundary of the early Paleozoic continental margin. We also observe two low-velocity anomalies, one centered over the central Appalachians where Eocene basaltic volcanism has occurred and the other within the northeastern U.S., possibly associated with the Great Meteor Hotspot track.
The "New Solution" to the Transformation Problem: A Sympathetic Critique

Abstract This paper critically evaluates the “new solution” to the transformation as presented by Foley and Dumenil and others, from the perspective of the author's “macro-monetary” interpretation of Marx's theory. The main issue emphasized is the method of determination of the inputs of constant capital and variable capital in Marx's theory—whether these inputs are taken as given as quantities of money capital or derived from given quantities of physical goods.
Stabilizing/destabilizing effects of axial accelerations in Bridgman growth

Abstract The stabilizing/destabilizing effects of axial accelerations are analyed for Bridgman growth systems that are subjected to small transverse accelerations. The core flows and transport for thermally stabilized dilute systems are modeled by solving the linearized one-dimensional momentum equation simultaneously with the heat transport equation. The resulting velocity function is then used with the mass transport equation to obtain the concentration field. Compositionally stabilized, non-dilute systems were modeled by solving the momentum equation with the mass transport equation and using the result to obtain the thermal field. The axial acceleration is characterized by the Rayleigh number, Ra x = Gr x Pr for dilute systems, and Ra x = Gr x Sc for non-dilute systems (Gr x being the Grashof number corresponding to the axial component of gravity). Microgravity experiments, in which the Ra x is small, are shown to be easily disturbed by very small ( μ g ) transverse accelerations. The application of an axial acceleration O(1μ g) can provide a modest stabilization for non-dilute growth systems with Sc a 1 , but does not significantly affect dilute systems with Pr « 1 . Similarly, for vertical Bridgman growth in normal gravity, it is shown that compositionally stabilized non-dilute systems are much more tolerant to a small misalignment relative to the local vertical than thermally stabilized dilute systems.
Mechanical efficiency and force–time curve variation during repetitive jumping in trained and untrained jumpers

Mechanical efficiency (ME), the ratio between work performed and energy expenditure, is a useful criterion in determining the roles of stored elastic energy and chemically deduced energy contributing to concentric performance in stretch-shortening cycle movements. Increased force production during the eccentric phase has been shown to relate to optimal muscle-tendon unit (MTU) length change and thus optimization of usage of stored elastic energy. This phenomenon, as previously reported, is reflected by higher jump heights and ME. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if ME may be different between trained and untrained jumpers and thus be accounted for by variation in force production in the eccentric phase as a reflection of usage of stored elastic energy during various jump types. This investigation involved 9 trained (age 20.7 ± 3.2 years, height 178.6 ± 5.3 cm, body mass 79.0 ± 5.5 kg) and 7 untrained (age 21.43 ± 2.37 years, height 176.17 ± 10.89 cm, body mass 78.8 ± 12.5 kg) male jumpers. Trained subjects were Division I track and field athletes who compete in the horizontal or vertical jumping or running events. Force-time and displacement-time curves were obtained during jumping to determine jump height and to calculate work performed and to observe possible differences in force production in the eccentric phase. Respiratory gases with a metabolic cart were obtained during jumping to calculate energy expenditure. ME was calculated as the ratio between work performed and energy expenditure. The subjects completed four sessions involving 20 repetitions of countermovement jumps (CMJ) and drop jumps from 40 cm (DJ40), 60 cm (DJ60) and 80 cm (DJ80). The trained jumpers jumped significantly higher in the CMJ, DJ40, DJ60 and DJ80 conditions than their untrained counterparts (p ≤ 0.05). ME was significantly higher in the trained in comparison to the untrained jumpers during DJ40. The amount of negative work during all jump types was significantly greater in the trained jumpers. There was a significant correlation between negative work and ME in the trained jumpers (r = 0.82) but not in the untrained jumpers (r = 0.54). The present study indicates that trained jumpers jump higher and have greater ME, possibly as a result of increased for production in the eccentric phase as a reflection of optimal MTU length change and thus increased usage of storage of elastic energy.
10 Meter sub-orbital large balloon reflector (LBR)

Now in Phase II of the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program, our team is advancing key technologies required to realize a suborbital, 10 meter class telescope suitable for operation from radio to THz frequencies. The telescope consists of an inflatable, half-aluminized spherical reflector deployed within a much larger carrier balloon — either zero pressure or super pressure.
Exploiting the Relationship Between Structural Modularity and Sparsity for Faster Network Evolution

A network is structurally modular if it can be divided into tightly connected groups which are weakly connected or disconnected from each other. Such networks are known to be capable of fast evolutionary adaptation, which makes modularity a highly desired property of networks involved in evolutionary computation. Modularity is known to correlate positively with another network parameter, sparsity. Based on this relationship, we hypothesize that starting evolution with a population of sparse networks should increase the modularity of the evolved networks. We find that this technique can enhance the performance of an existing technique for modularity evolution, multiobjective performance-connection cost (P&CC) optimization, and enable a multiobjective algorithm which maximizes performance and minimizes time since last mutation to produce modular solutions almost as efficiently as the P&CC optimization does.
Fabrication of composite microstructures by capillarity-driven wetting of aligned carbon nanotubes with polymers

The interaction, or wetting, of long aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) forests with off-the-shelf (no solvent added) commercial thermoset polymers is investigated experimentally. A technique for creating vertically aligned CNT composite microstructures of various shapes is presented. The effective wetting of the forests, as evidenced by a lack of voids, by three polymers with widely varying viscosities supports the feasibility of using CNT forests in large-scale hybrid advanced composite architectures. Among various routes identified for the polymer to penetrate the forest, capillarity-driven wetting along the CNT axis is the preferred route. Aligned CNT microstructures are useful in many applications including test structures for direct mechanical and multifunctional property characterization of the aligned CNT?polymer composite materials.
IMMUNIZATION OF DISSOCIATED SPLEEN CELL CULTURES FROM NORMAL MICE

A culture system for cell suspensions from mouse spleens has been described. The system provides adequate conditions for in vitro immunization on initial exposure to heterologous erythrocytes. The in vitro response closely parallels that observed in vivo with respect to size, early kinetics, antigen dose, and the inhibitory effect of passive antibody. The response of cultured cells differs in two respects from that seen in vivo. There is an increase in the ability to discriminate between different varieties of homologous erythrocytes and the in vitro response does not appear to be limited by whatever mechanisms regulate the in vivo response.