cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transnational social movement organizations and gender mainstreaming bureaucracies: an event history analysis, 1981-1998

The 1980s and 1990s marked an explosive historical period in both the advancement of transnational social movement organizations and changes in the institutional structures of nation states. As a n...
Study on Effectiveness Evaluation of Weapon Systems Based on Grey Relational Analysis and TOPSIS

To evaluate the effectiveness of weapon systems, the advantages and disadvantages of grey relational analysis and TOPSIS for multiattribute decision-making is pointed out, and an effectiveness evaluation model of weapon systems by combining grey relational analysis and TOPSIS is proposed. The model aggregates the grey relational grade and the distance to a new integrated closeness and reflects not only the trend but also the situation of the alternative. The example illuminates that the model is effective for the effectiveness evaluation of weapon systems.
Leaving the Limits of Linearity for Light Microscopy.

Nonlinear microscopy has enabled additional modalities for chemical contrast, deep penetration into biological tissues, and the ability to collect dynamics on ultrafast timescales across heterogene...
Mayakonda, A Fortified Headquarters Town of the Chitradurga Nayakas

The Chitradurga Nayakas ruled part of central Karnataka between the 1550s and 1779. When mapped by the British in the early 1800s, the former Chitradurga kingdom comprised eleven parganas or distri...
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty: the “cable” technique

Video 1Video demonstration of endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty performed using a novel suture pattern termed the "cable" technique.
Instability of a uniform electric field in pure non-Abelian Yang-Mills theory

We study the Schwinger process in a uniform non-Abelian electric field using a dynamical approach in which we evolve an initial quantum state for gluonic excitations. We evaluate the spectral energy density and number density in the excitations as functions of time. The total energy density has an ultraviolet divergence which we argue gets tamed due to asymptotic freedom, leading to ${g}^{4}{E}^{4}{t}^{4}$ growth, where $g$ is the coupling and $E$ the electric field strength. We also find an infrared divergence in the number density of excitations whose resolution requires an effect such as confinement.
Change in facility-level share of Medicaid patients with cancer following implementation of the affordable care act.

e18543Background: Although Medicaid expansions associated with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) significantly increased insurance coverage for Americans with cancer, there is evidence that some facili...
Effects of fatty acid nitroalkanes on signal transduction pathways and airway macrophage activation.

Fatty acid nitroalkenes are reversibly-reactive electrophiles that are endogenously detectable at nM concentrations and display anti-inflammatory, pro-survival actions. These actions are elicited through the alteration of signal transduction proteins via a Michael addition on nucleophilic cysteine thiols. Nitrated fatty acids (NO2-FAs), like 9- or 10-nitro-octadec-9-enolic acid, will act on signal transduction proteins directly or on key regulatory proteins to cause an up-regulation or down-regulation of the protein’s expression, yielding an anti-inflammatory response. These responses have been characterized in many organ systems, such as the cardiovascular system, with the pulmonary system less well defined. Macrophages are one of the most abundant immune cells in the lung and are essential in maintaining lung homeostasis. Despite this, macrophages can play a role in both acute and chronic lung injury due to up-regulation of anti-inflammatory signal transduction pathways and down-regulation of pro-inflammatory pathways. Through their propensity to alter signal transduction pathways, NO2-FAs may be able to reduce macrophage activation during pulmonary injury. This review will focus on the implications of NO2-FAs on macrophage activation in the lung and the signal transduction pathways that may be altered, leading to reduced pulmonary injury.
A Review on Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM) Beams: Fundamental Concepts, Potential Applications, and Perspectives

Inspired by the recent scientific interest in harnessing the unique features of orbital angular momentum (OAM) for communications applications, we review the fundamental properties of OAM, summarize the methods for the generation of OAM beams, discuss potential applications, and pinpoint technical challenges of OAM-based communications.
Ruthenium(II)-arene complexes with naphthalimide-tagged N,O- and N,N-chelating ligands: Synthesis and biological evaluation

Abstract A new family of ruthenium(II)-arene complexes with naphthalimide functionalized N,O- and N,N-chelating ligands of the general formula [Ru(η6-p-cymene)Cl(L)] (2b–4b) (where: L = 4-[N-(2-((2-hydroxy-5-Br-phenyl)methyl imino)ethyl)]-N-butyl-1,8-naphthalimide (2a), 4-[N-(2-((2-hydroxy-5-Cl-phenyl)methyl imino)ethyl)]-N-butyl-1,8-naphthalimide (3a), and N-butyl-4-[N-(2-((2-hydroxy-5-NO2-phenyl)methylimino)ethyl)]-N-butyl-1,8-naphthalimide (4a), and [Ru(η6-p-cymene) Cl(L′)]Cl (8b–9b) (where L′ = N-(2,2′-dipyridylaminoethyl)-1,8-naphthalimide (8a) and N-(2,2′-dipyridylaminopropyl)-1,8-naphthalimide (9a) have been synthesized and characterized. The in vitro cytotoxic activities of the ligands (2a, 9a) and the complexes (2b–4b, and 8b–9b) have been evaluated against the human melanoma skin cancer (CRL7687) and normal noncancerous (CA-M75) cell lines. All the compounds exhibit potent cytotoxic activities with IC50 values of ∼1 μM or less but displayed variable selectivity. The compounds with N,O-ligands were found to be less selective than those containing N,N-chelating ligands. Notably, complex 9b displayed the highest selectivity towards cancer cells over health cells. The interactions of the compounds with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) have also been investigated by UV–Vis and fluorescence spectra, ethidium bromide displacement assay and gel electrophoretic studies, which revealed that the compounds bind to CT-DNA moderately presumably through an intercalative mode.
Morphology and Crystalline Architecture of Polyaryletherketones

Publisher Summary Polyaryletherketones (PAEKs) are linear aromatic polymers exhibiting desirable physical properties and durability against environmental challenge. These properties are the direct result of the chemistry and architecture of the polymer backbone, the manner and extent to which the molecules organize when the polymer is solidified, and any morphological changes that occur during subsequent thermal exposure. It provides a discussion of the semicrystalline nature of the PAEKs and the techniques traditionally used to characterize their structures, including density, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and microscopy. Importantly, the crystallization behavior of the PAEKs does not allow for the degree of crystallinity at room temperature to be obtained readily from DSC. This chapter also contains a description of the effects of thermal history, including annealing and quenching, on structure and physical properties. A brief review of the connection between composition, morphology, and basic physical properties such as stiffness, strength, elongation, and fatigue behavior of neat resins as well as PEEK composites is also given in the chapter. FTIR spectroscopy provides information related to the structure and mobility of dipoles and is commonly used to characterize polymeric materials. DSC provides a relative measure of heat flow that provides an insight into molecular motion. DSC is readily used to determine the heat capacity of a polymer, the glass transition temperature, and the melting point. Depending on the desired magnification, optical and electron microscopy may be useful to examine PAEK polymers. Both techniques can be used in reflection or transmission to provide insight into polymer structure.
A lecture and hands-on laboratory course: introduction to micromachining and MEMS

A 10-week course on micromachining and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technologies has been designed and taught that incorporates both a lecture component (3 hours/week) and a hands-on laboratory component (4 hours/week). By completing this course the students gain an understanding and hands-on experience with photolithography, isotropic and anisotropic wet etching, dry etching, physical and chemical vapor deposition, electroplating, metrology, statistical design of experiments, MEMS release etching, stiction, and MEMS device testing. The layout of the course chip enables students to produce over 100 different devices using both bulk micromachining and surface micromachining. The layout of the chip includes microsensors (accelerometers, pressure sensor, resonant magnetometers), microactuators (torsional magnetic microactuators, optical switches, thermal microactuators), and microstructures (cantilever beams, bridges, neural probes, needles, thin-film stress test structures, bulk micromachining test structures, electrical test structures). This course prepares students to be active participants in the growing MEMS and microsystems industry.
Finite state aeroelastic model for use in rotor design optimization

In this article, a rotor aeroelastic model based on a newly developed finite state dynamic wake, coupled with blade finite element analysis, is described. The analysis is intended for application in rotor blade design optimization. A coupled simultaneous system of differential equations combining blade structural dynamics and aerodynamics is established in a formulation well-suited for design sensitivity computation. Each blade is assumed to be an elastic beam undergoing flap bending, lead-lag bending, elastic twist, and axial deflections. Aerodynamic loads are computed from unsteady blade element theory where the rotor three-dimensional unsteady wake is described by a generalized dynamic wake model. Correlation of results obtained from the analysis with flight test data is provided to assess model accuracy.
Investigating a Lead

Examination of the risk to a particular census tract or tracts from a specific malignancy results in one of only three possible conclusions. First, there may be evidence of an increased risk, but that increase would be predicted on the basis of available information. In this case, there is no likelihood for group action as the reasons for the high risk are familiar, and in most cases they can only be addressed on a personal basis. Second, there may be no evidence of an increased risk, neighborhood concerns to the contrary notwithstanding. In this case, frustration on the part of the residents is likely, if their own observations had led them to expect confirmation of high risk. Finally, there may be an unexplained consistent increase in risk, with or without concern about a specific local source of carcinogens, which may justify further investigation. There is no clear rule to guide the allocation of investigational resources, and priorities are inevitably formulated not only by scientific plausibility and the magnitude of the potential impact, but by public and political pressure.
Examining the Support of Modern Athletic Reform Proposals Developed by the Coalition on Intercollegiate Athletics in Response to Higher Education Athletic Reform: A Case Study

This study was conducted to determine the success for the diffusion of the Coalition on Intercollegiate Athletics (COIA) white paper Framing the Future: Reforming Intercollegiate Athletics. The Stages of Concern Questionnaire (SoCQ) and personal interviews were utilized to collect data and purposeful sampling was used to identify one NCAA Division I university in the state of Texas. Athletic personnel and faculty senate members were asked to complete the SoCQ and participate in an interview for the study. Findings provide evidence that the participants share common concerns in relation to the adoption of the COIA white paper such as creating a balanced approach to academics and athletics, increasing campus pride, and academic integrity. Participants also felt that meaningful collaboration among faculty and staff members can prove beneficial to helping individuals take ownership in the adoption process.
SU-FF-T-240: Clinical Application of MC-Based Non-Iterative Dose-Reconstruction Method for IMRT

Purpose: In the past, a dose reconstruction method was developed using Monte Carlo (MC)‐based‐response functions and non‐iterative inversion. This study is to reconstruct in‐vivo dose from portal dose using clinical fields and to investigate the effects of noises from random error and registration error. Method and Materials: A linear relationship exists between the beamlet intensity and the dose responses in a patient and on the electronic portal imaging device. Linear algebraic equations were derived using this relationship and solved inversely to reconstruct an in‐vivo dose. The response functions were acquired using the pre‐commissioned XVMC MC code based on the simulated phantoms and the MLC positions selected for this study. Square open fields and several IMRT fields of prostate cancer were selected with 6MV beams. Film measurements were performed to simulate an in‐patient and portal dose. The reconstructed dose was compared with the in‐patient dose. A sensitivity study was carried out to find the effects of noises on reconstruction accuracy using a computationally‐generated dose distribution. Results: The comparisons between the reconstructed and the measured dose for selected fields showed that greater than 90% of dose distributions met the criteria of 3% dose difference or 3mm distance‐to‐agreement, even though fluctuations of the reconstructed dose at some open fields were observed due to measurement uncertainty and limited MC accuracy (i.e. 1%). As for the noises, the reconstructed distributions met the pass‐rate of 90% for the portal dose given with maximum 5% random error and 4mm registration error. Conclusions: In‐vivo dose for clinical fields was accurately reconstructed using MC‐based‐response functions, non‐iteratively. The method employs known MLC and organ positions. It is particularly useful for quality assurance of the clinical site that does not involve large organ motions. Conflict of Interest:*US patent approved. In part supported by Varian medical systems, Inc.
Outcome impact of goal directed fluid therapy during high risk abdominal surgery in low to moderate risk patients: a randomized controlled trial

Intraoperative goal directed fluid therapy (GDT) guided by an arterial pressure-based cardiac output system has been reported to improve gastrointestinal (GI) recovery in high-risk patients. This study evaluates the impact of this approach on GI recovery in low to moderate risk patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. IRB approved randomized controlled trial in low to moderate risk adults scheduled for major surgery. Patients were randomized to standard (n = 20) or GDT (n = 18) groups, whose fluids were managed to maintain stroke volume variation (SVV) <12 %. The primary outcome measure was GI recovery. Additional measures included quality of recovery score. Continuous, non-normally distributed by Mann-Whitney test; ordinal and nominal by Chi square analysis. GDT patients had lower average intraoperative SVV. The GDT group had faster return of GI function (p = 0.004) and higher quality of recovery scores. In low to moderate risk patients undergoing major abdominal surgery, intraoperative GDT guided by SVV optimization was associated with faster restoration of GI recovery and higher quality of recovery scores. These results suggest that outcome benefits related to the use of an intraoperative goal directed fluid protocol guided by SVV are not limited to high-risk patients.
Spinal Implant Development, Modeling, and Testing to Achieve Customizable and Nonlinear Stiffness

The spine naturally has a nonlinear force-deflection characteristic which facilitates passive stability, and thus there is a need for spinal implants that duplicate this behavior to provide stabilization when the spine loses stiffness through injury, degeneration, or surgery. Additionally, due to the complexity and variability in the mechanics of spinal dysfunction, implants could potentially benefit from incorporating a customizable stiffness into their design. This paper presents a spinal implant with contact-aided inserts that provide a customizable nonlinear stiffness. An analytical model was utilized to optimize the device design, and the model was then verified using a finite element model. Validation was performed on physical prototypes, first in isolation using a tensile tester and then using cadaveric testing on an in-house spine tester. Testing confirmed the performance of the implant and it was observed that the device increased mechanical stability to the spinal segment in flexion-extension and lateral-bending.
Ectopic expression of the ErbB‐3 binding protein Ebp1 inhibits growth and induces differentiation of human breast cancer cell lines

Ebp1, an ErbB-3 binding protein, translocates from the cytoplasm to the nucleus of human breast cancer cells after treatment with the ErbB-3 ligand, heregulin. The purpose of these studies was to examine the effects of ectopic expression of ebp1 on the biological properties of human ErbB-3–expressing breast carcinoma cell lines. Ectopic expression of ebp1 in ErbB-2, ErbB-3–expressing breast carcinoma cell lines resulted in inhibition of colony formation, a decreased proliferation rate, an accumulation of cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, and suppression of growth in soft agar. Ectopic expression of ebp1 led to a more differentiated phenotype in AU565 breast cancer cells, as evidenced by increased expression of lipid droplets and of the milk protein casein. Basal phosphorylation of extracellular regulated kinases (Erks) 1 and 2, kinases activated by heregulin treatment, was also observed in ebp1 transfectants. The promoter for the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 gene, a heregulin-inducible gene, was constitutively activated in ebp1 transfectants as determined by reporter construct analysis. These data demonstrate that ectopic expression of the ErbB-3 binding protein Ebp1 inhibits proliferation and induces differentiation of ErbB-2, ErbB-3–expressing human breast carcinoma cell lines. J. Cell. Physiol. 183:321–329, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
On the Need for Uncertainty Assessment in TMDL Modeling and Implementation

Will TMDL decisions be improved with knowledge of the uncertainty in outcomes from proposed pollutant load reductions? That is, will our decisions generally be better if we have some idea of the range of possible outcomes that might result? I believe that the answer is yes; and yet current practice in water quality assessment and management suggests that others may believe that decision making may be undermined with full disclosure of uncertainties, or perhaps believe that uncertainty is small enough that it can be safely ignored. Despite these reservations, it is noteworthy that the U.S. EPA also believes the answer is ‘‘yes,’’ although their reasoning is unclear. EPA’s perspective is implicit in their technical requirement for an uncertainty-based ‘‘margin of safety’’ ~MOS! in a TMDL application; however, absent from EPA guidance is an explanation as to why decisions improve with an uncertainty analysis. Despite the requirement for an uncertainty-based MOS estimate, few TMDLs are accompanied by actual estimates of forecast uncertainty. Instead, TMDLs are typically proposed with either ‘‘conservative’’ modeling assumptions or an arbitrarily chosen MOS. Neither approach explicitly links the MOS to TMDL forecast uncertainty. However, by hedging the TMDL decision in the direction of environmental protection, the MOS effectively increases the assurance that water quality standards will be achieved. This may seem reasonable and even desirable, but it must be noted that this hedging comes at a cost, and the basis for the hedging cost is totally arbitrary in most cases.
Identification of Petroleum Products by THz-Spectroscopy

The feasibility of THz -Spectroscopy for identifying petroleum products and monitoring oil degradation in the range of 40-600 cm-1 was investigated. Commercial gasoline, diesel and lubricating oil identified at 464 cm-1, 475cm-1 and 449 cm-1 respectively. Furthermore, characteristic frequency of aromatic compounds was revealed at 475, 464, 256, 146 cm-1.
Negotiating Territorial Belonging: A Transnational Social Field Perspective on Mongolia's Kazakhs

Existing for multiple generations in the western-most aimag (province) of Mongolia, the Kazakh-Mongolian community has succeeded in preserving traditional Kazakh culture and language to a far greater degree than any other Kazakh community in the world. To date, this group has abstained from overtly integrating into Mongolian society, while watching approximately half of their community migrate to the newly sovereign state of Kazakhstan. What is the fate of dispersed peoples who refuse to answer the call of a beckoning kin-state? Can minority ethnicity be sustained by small-scale homelands within nationalising host-states? This article applies a transnational social field approach in analysing the multi-faceted and multi-cited discourses of inclusion and exclusion through which this community is currently negotiating its place in the world.
Mechanical performance of the working rat heart: Response to calcium

Although calcium is generally considered a substance that can enhance cardiac pump performance, few data exist to demonstrate such effect when plasma ionized calcium is varied in the clinical concentration range. We have studied the relationship between perfusate ionized calcium concentration ([Ca2+]) and myocardial mechanical performance in the isolated, blood perfused, ejecting rat heart. With pre- and afterload near constant, observations were made before and after steadystate increases in [Ca2+] from low (mean ± SEM: 0.74 ± 0.01 mM) to normal (1.01 ± 0.04 mM); from low (1.01 ± 0.02 mM) to higher than normal (1.45 ± 0.04 mM, i.e., within the clinical hypercalcemia range); and to an excessive value (1.94 ± 0.03 mM). When [Ca2+] was increased from low to normal levels, aortic blood flow and stroke volume increased by approximately 25% of control (P < 0.025); heart rate did not change significantly. In contrast, when [Ca2+] was raised from 1.03 mM (normal value) to 1.45 mM (within the clinical hypercalcemia range) or to 1.94 mM (above the clinical hypercalcemia range), the changes in aortic flow and stroke volume were less (P < 0.05) as compared to those observed when ionized calcium was adjusted from a level below normal. We conclude that the isolated, blood-perfused heart with pre- and afterload near constant, responds to sustained increases in perfusate ionized calcium with increased aortic flow and stroke volume, but that these changes are disproportionally small when ionized calcium is elevated to above normal from a normal baseline value.
Factor Analysis of the Image Correlation Matrix

The factor analysis of the image correlation matrix is suggested. Whether to factor the image correlation matrix itself or to proceed via a new model with an alpha (common) factor analysis of it is mentioned, with particular reference to the determinacy problem. The transformation (rotation) problem, in the oblique case, has a new aspect, for which a tentative resolution is proposed. It is pointed out that the distribution of the images is sensibly multivariate normal, making for "better" factor analyses.
Existence and stability behaviour of a non-linear perturbed stochastic system

The aim of the present paper is to study a non-linear perturbed integral equation of the form for t⩾0 and ωϵΩ the supporting set of the probability measure space (Omega;, F, P). Sufficiant conditions are given for the existence and uniqueness of a random solution, a. mean square continuous stochastic process, and the stability behaviour of the system. Stability in the mean, almost surely stable, and exponentially stable; in the moan of the above system are studied.
Tics moderate treatment outcome with sertraline but not cognitive-behavior therapy in pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Background The presence of a comorbid tic disorder may predict a poorer outcome in the acute treatment of pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Methods Using data from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded Pediatric OCD Treatment Study (POTS) that compared cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT), medical management with sertraline (SER), and the combination of CBT and SER (COMB), to pill placebo (PBO) in children and adolescents with OCD, we asked whether the presence of a comorbid tic disorder influenced symptom reduction on the Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS) after 12 weeks of treatment. Results Fifteen percent (17 of 112) of patients exhibited a comorbid tic disorder. In patients without tics, results replicated previously published intent-to-treat outcomes: COMB > CBT > SER > PBO. In patients with a comorbid tic disorder, SER did not differ from PBO, while COMB remained superior to CBT and CBT remained superior to PBO. Conclusions In contrast to CBT outcomes, which are not differentially impacted, tic disorders appear to adversely impact the outcome of medication management of pediatric OCD. Children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder and a comorbid tic disorder should begin treatment with cognitive-behavior therapy alone or the combination of cognitive-behavior therapy plus a serotonin reuptake inhibitor.
Approaches to syntax

L'A. retrace les developpements de la linguistique au cours de la deuxieme moitie du 20 e siecle. Il montre que la source de nombreux malentendus sont les mots eux-memes, utilises dans des sens techniques differents par differents chercheurs : les mots langage et langue en premier lieu, mais aussi les mots grammaire, syntaxe, morphologie, lexique et semantique. L'A. examine plus specifiquement les developpements de la syntaxe et le moment ou la notion de constituants immediats a joue un role important dans les discussions entre linguistes
The utility of MARS MRI in patients with metal-on-metal bearings: commentary on an article by Alister J. Hart, MA, MD, FRCSG(Orth), et al.: "Pseudotumors in association with well-functioning metal-on-metal hip prostheses. a case-control study using three-dimensional computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging".

Metal-on-metal bearings for total hip arthroplasty have a long history of use that dates back to the introduction of the McKee-Farrar prosthesis in the 1960s. Metal-on-metal bearings ultimately fell out of favor because of the excellent clinical results of the Charnley low-friction arthroplasty concept, which employed metal-on-UHMWPE (ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene) bearing surfaces. However, the use of metal-on-metal bearings was revisited in the 1990s as polyethylene-associated periprosthetic osteolysis emerged as a major clinical problem limiting the longevity of hip reconstructions in high-demand patient populations. Within the last decade, numerous metal-on-metal designs for both total hip arthroplasty and hip resurfacing arthroplasty have been introduced into the marketplace. However, over the last several years it has become evident that contemporary metal-on-metal bearings are not immune to some of the problems, including periprosthetic osteolysis, that have plagued other bearing surface combinations. In addition, investigators described a distinct histological pattern, termed “aseptic lymphocyte-dominated vasculitis-associated lesion” (ALVAL), that was associated with symptomatic metal-on-metal bearings. More recently, investigators described local soft-tissue reactions termed “pseudotumors” in association with symptomatic metal-on-metal devices. Initially, studies of adverse local tissue reactions (including osteolysis, ALVAL, and pseudotumors) in retrospective studies of metal-on-metal implants did not indicate the prevalence. However, case-control studies and registries began to document that certain metal-on-metal bearing designs were associated with an unacceptably high failure rate, leading to high-profile device recalls that captured the attention of the worldwide media. In some cases, the adverse local tissue response …
L'Hospital's Rule and the Central Limit Theorem

Abstract Beginning probability students are often confused by the use of Taylor polynomials in the proof of the central limit theorem. This article provides a proof of the central limit theorem based on L'Hospital's rule rather than on Taylor polynomials.
A chemical and physical comparison of ferritin subunit species fractionated by high-performance liquid chromatography☆

Selected chemical and physical properties were measured for different forms of ferritin subunits which had been separated by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Ferritin subunits from porcine spleen behaved, on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, as though they were approximately Mr 2000 larger than equine spleen ferritin, whereas no difference in size was observed by gel chromatography in 6 M guanidinium chloride. All subunit species exhibited similar isoelectric focusing properties. In contrast to previous reports, no carbohydrate could be found associated with any of the isolated subunit species. Thus, the aberrant behavior of the porcine ferritin subunits between the two empirical molecular weight estimation methods appears to be the result of factor(s) other than protein intrinsic charge or covalently attached carbohydrate.
Evidence for a new Z-type left-handed DNA helix: properties of Z(WC)-DNA

The structure of Z-DNA, currently accepted as a model for all left-handed DNAs, fails to provide convincing explanations for at least four well established properties of left-handed DNA polymers in solution. However, the major discrepancies between theory and experiment are resolved by the structure presently proposed for Z[WC]-DNA, a new left-handed, zig-zag double helix with Watson-Crick-type backbone directions. Structural features of Z[WC]-DNA include the presence of an additional H-bond between each guanine N2-amino group and an adjacent phosphate oxygen, the capacity to form four-stranded, base-matched complexes that should readily precipitate from solution, and backbone progressions that are the same as B-DNA (opposite to Z-DNA). However, since Z[WC]-DNA and Z-DNA have many parameters in common, they could be difficult to distinguish in a majority of existing experiments. In view of the close relationship of the new helix to B-DNA, which allows a relatively unhindered right-to-left transition in handedness, Z[WC]-DNA is theorized to be the left-handed structure preferentially generated in vivo by the torque available in naturally occurring DNA supercoils.
Time Windows in Cognitive Development.

The problem of integrating new information with old is fundamental to the development of cognition. The solution to this problem underlies establishment of the knowledge base, learning, category formation and expansion, the modification and selective strengthening of memories, language acquisition, access to information after very long intervals, and individual differences in a number of different domains. This article introduces a new construct, the time window, that characterizes when and how such integration occurs. It describes the characteristics of time windows, evidence for them, factors that affect them, research illustrating their generality, and their theoretical and applied implications
Photodetachment of ferrocyanide in reverse micelles.

Solvated electrons have been generated in reverse micelles (RMs) through photodetachment of ferrocyanide (Fe(CN) 6 4- ) in sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) RMs. We have measured both bleach recovery of the parent ferrocyanide CN stretch in the infrared and the decay of the solvated electron absorption at 800 nm. The bleach recovery has been fit to a diffusion model for the geminate recombination process. The fit parameters suggest a narrowing of the spatial distribution of ejected electrons due to confinement in the RMs when compared to bulk water. The diffusion coefficient of the solvated electron does not appear to be significantly affected by RM confinement. The decay of the solvated electron absorption exhibits an additional decay component that is not observed in bulk water and is smaller for larger RMs. No corresponding additional component is seen in the parent ferrocyanide IR bleach recovery, which supports our interpretation that the confinement-induced new decay process in RMs is due to electrons reacting with AOT headgroups.
Lysosomal Protease Inhibitors Induce Meganeurites and Tangle-like Structures in Entorhinohippocampal Regions Vulnerable to Alzheimer's Disease

Lysosomal protease inhibitors induce signs of human brain aging in rat hippocampal slices. The present studies tested if they (1) also cause neurofibrillary tangles and (2) reproduce regional patterns of pathology found in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Slices of hippocampus plus retrohippocampal cortex were prepared from rats at postnatal days 6-7 and maintained for 2-5 weeks. In agreement with earlier studies, 6- to 12-day infusions of selective (ZPAD) or generalized (chloroquine) inhibitors of lysosomal proteases generated meganeurites of the type found in aged human cortex. Surveys and quantitative analyses established that the meganeurites developed almost exclusively in AD vulnerable regions. Antibodies against the phosphorylated tau protein in neurofibrillary tangles labeled thick filaments running through neurons in the superficial layers of entorhinal cortex in 6-day ZPAD-treated slices. The general appearance of the stained structures resembled that of early stage tangles. More mature tangle-like profiles were found at a number of sites after longer incubations; these were threefold more frequent in the superficial (AD vulnerable) than in the deep layers of the entorhinal cortex. Immunoblots indicated that essentially all phosphorylated tau labeling in the slices involved approximately 29-kDa fragments of the native isoforms. These findings establish that lysosomal dysfunction triggers the parallel formation of meganeurites and tangles with the regional distribution of both effects reflecting that for AD vulnerability.
Assessment of the prerequisite skills for cognitive behavioral therapy in children with and without autism spectrum disorders.

The purpose of this study was to assess the cognitive skills of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) thought to be necessary for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Forty children with ASD and forty age-matched typically developing children between the ages of 7–12 years participated. Groups were comparable with regard to nonverbal IQ, but children with ASD had significantly lower verbal IQ. Children completed three CBT-related tasks requiring emotion recognition, discrimination among thoughts, feelings and behaviors, and cognitive mediation. With the exception of the emotion recognition task, children with ASD performed comparably to typically developing children and with a high rate of accuracy.
Hummingbird flight stability and control in freestream turbulent winds

Airflow conditions close to the Earth's surface are often complex, posing challenges to flight stability and control for volant taxa. Relatively little is known about how well flying animals can contend with complex, adverse air flows, or about the flight control mechanisms used by animals to mitigate wind disturbances. Several recent studies have examined flight in the unsteady von Karman vortex streets that form behind cylinders, generating flow disturbances that are predictable in space and time; these structures are relatively rare in nature, because they occur only the immediate, downstream vicinity of an object. In contrast, freestream turbulence is characterized by rapid, unpredictable flow disturbances across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales, and is nearly ubiquitous in natural habitats. Hummingbirds are ideal organisms for studying the influence of freestream turbulence on flight, as they forage in a variety of aerial conditions and are powerful flyers. We filmed ruby-throated hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) maintaining position at a feeder in laminar and strongly turbulent (intensity ∼15%) airflow environments within a wind tunnel and compared their mean kinematics of the head, body, tail and wing, as well as variability in these parameters. Hummingbirds exhibited remarkably stable head position and orientation in both smooth and turbulent flow while maintaining position at the feeder. However, the hummingbird's body was less stable in turbulent flow and appeared to be most sensitive to disturbances along the mediolateral axis, displaying large lateral accelerations, translations and rolling motions during flight. The hummingbirds mitigated these disturbances by increasing mean wing stroke amplitude and stroke plane angle, and by varying these parameters asymmetrically between the wings and from one stroke to the next. They also actively varied the orientation and fan angle of the tail, maintaining a larger mean fan angle when flying in turbulent flow; this may improve their passive stability, but probably incurs an energetic cost as a result of increased drag. Overall, we observed many of the same kinematic changes noted previously for hummingbirds flying in a von Karman vortex street, but we also observed kinematic changes associated with high force production, similar to those seen during load-lifting or high-speed flight. These findings suggest that flight may be particularly costly in fully mixed, freestream turbulence, which is the flow condition that hummingbirds are likely to encounter most frequently in natural habitats.
Presolar diamond, silicon carbide, and graphite in carbonaceous chondrites: implications for thermal processing in the solar nebula

Abstract We have determined abundances of presolar diamond, silicon carbide, graphite, and Xe-P1 (Q-Xe) in eight carbonaceous chondrites by measuring the abundances of noble gas tracers in acid residues. The meteorites studied were Murchison (CM2), Murray (CM2), Renazzo (CR2), ALHA77307 (CO3.0), Colony (CO3.0), Mokoia (CV3 ox ), Axtell (CV3 ox ), and Acfer 214 (CH). These data and data obtained previously by Huss and Lewis (1995) provide the first reasonably comprehensive database of presolar-grain abundances in carbonaceous chondrites. Evidence is presented for a currently unrecognized Ne-E(H) carrier in CI and CM2 chondrites. After accounting for parent-body metamorphism, abundances and characteristics of presolar components still show large variations across the classes of carbonaceous chondrites. These variations correlate with the bulk compositions of the host meteorites and imply that the same thermal processing that was responsible for generating the compositional differences between the various chondrite groups also modified the initial presolar-grain assemblages. The CI chondrites and CM2 matrix have the least fractionated bulk compositions relative to the sun and the highest abundances of most types of presolar material, particularly the most fragile types, and thus are probably most representative of the material inherited from the sun's parent molecular cloud. The other classes can be understood as the products of various degrees of heating of bulk molecular cloud material in the solar nebula, removing the volatile elements and destroying the most fragile presolar components, followed by chondrule formation, metal-silicate fractionation in some cases, further nebula processing in some cases, accretion, and parent body processing. If the bulk compositions and the characteristics of the presolar-grain assemblages in various chondrite classes reflect the same processes, as seems likely, then differential condensation from a nebula of solar composition is ruled out as the mechanism for producing the chondrite classes. Presolar grains would have been destroyed if the nebula had been completely vaporized. Our analysis shows that carbonaceous chondrites reflect all stages of nebular processing and thus are no more closely related to one another than they are to ordinary and enstatite chondrites.
Notes from the laboratories of democracy: state government enactments of market- and state-based health insurance reforms in the 1990s.

We identify two policy strategies that state governments pursue to reduce uninsurance, and we classify policies as being either state based or market based. The two policy strategies are distinguished by whether states rely on the institutional capa- bilities of the state or market processes to provide insurance. We develop and test mod- els to explain states' adoptions of each type of policy. Using Poisson regression, we evaluate hypotheses suggested by the two strategies with data from U.S. states in the 1990s. The results indicate that institutionally more-capable state governments with strong liberal-party presence in the legislature adopt more state-based policies and fewer market-based policies. By contrast, the model of market-based, business-targeted reforms reveals that government capability plays a smaller role. Instead, these policies are driven by economic affluence, political competition, higher incomes, greater unin - surance, and more previous attempts to address the uninsurance problem. These findings reveal distinct institutional, partisan, electoral and demographic influences that shape state-based and market-based strategies. First, policy choices can be driven by the presence or absence of state capability. The domain of feasible policy choices open to states with institutional capability may be decidedly different than that available to states with fewer institutional resources. Second, while market- based policy approaches may be the most feasible politically, they may be the least successful in remedying practical uninsurance issues. These results thus reveal that institutional characteristics of states create an important foundation for policy choice and policy success or failure. These results would suggest that the national govern- ment's strategy of pursuing market-based solutions to the problem will not result in its being solved.
Di- and polynuclear complexes as precursors to nanocomposite materials: an overview

Molecularly doped silica xerogels can be prepared via sol-gel procedures by the addition of low-valent di- or polynuclear complexes containing bifunctional ligands to conventional silica sol-gel formulations. These bifunctional ligands contain distal (alkoxy)silyl groups, so that the dopant complexes can become covalently incorporated into the silica xerogel matrix as it is being formed. Subsequent thermal treatment under solely reducing conditions leads to decomposition of the precursor complex and to the formation of crystalline nanoparticulate material which is highly dispersed throughout the silica xerogel matrix. Such dopant complexes act as single-source precursors for silica xerogel nanocomposites containing nanoclusters of Ru, PtSn, CCo3 or Co2P. An overview of the synthesis and characterization of these nanocomposites is described.
On possible coexistence of superconductivity and spin density waves in organic superconductors

Abstract If superconductivity coexists with a spin density wave for the same electrons, then both spin-singlet and spin-triplet Cooper pairs must occur. When the electron-electron interaction varies strongly over the Fermi surface, spin-singlet superconductivity occuring alone at high pressures must have T c sensitive to nonmagnetic impurities as observed experimentally. The theory predicts that T c becomes less sensitive to impurities and the a-axis critical magnetic field increases for the coexistence state.
Caring for ACHD in a Market-Driven Society

Introduction Our cardiology community is responding to the growing number of emerging adults with often complex congenital heart disease. Collaborations are springing up between adult and pediatric cardiologists, advanced practice nurses, patients, and families to address the health care, research, and advocacy needs for this population. Workforce and institutional needs are being defined and research collaborations are being formed. Meanwhile, health care reform is evolving through fits and starts with little predictability regarding its medium and long-term impact. Since ultimately finances trump philosophy, it is essential that we understand the financial underpinnings of healthcare delivery to patients with this unique model of chronic disease in order to carry out these plans. What is unique about this population with chronic disease? The most obvious feature is that they have the potential of contributing to the GDP for 40+ years. Another is that for the more complex lesions, society has already invested a considerable amount to achieve survival into adult life. Finally, the period of early adulthood is relatively uneventful in terms of complications and resource utilization compared with early childhood and later adult life. Thus, the basic needs to maintain cardiovascular status and prevent secondary disability may be modest in comparison with treating some of the severe consequences of their disease, such as poorly managed valve regurgitation or arrhythmia that eventually requires costly solutions such as transplantation. It is important, therefore, to define the resource requirements and potential health outcomes of a healthcare system that would be designed for this population.
Signal-Induced Disassembly of the SCF Ubiquitin Ligase Complex by Cdc48/p97

Summary A large group of E3 ubiquitin ligases is formed by the multisubunit SCF complex, whose core complex (Rbx1/Cul1-Cdc53/Skp1) binds one of many substrate recruiting F-box proteins to form an array of SCF ligases with diverse substrate specificities. It has long been thought that ubiquitylation by SCF ligases is regulated at the level of substrate binding. Here we describe an alternative mechanism of SCF regulation by active dissociation of the F-box subunit. We show that cadmium stress induces selective recruitment of the AAA + ATPase Cdc48/p97 to catalyze dissociation of the F-box subunit from the yeast SCF Met30 ligase to block substrate ubiquitylation and trigger downstream events. Our results not only provide an additional layer of ubiquitin ligase regulation but also suggest that targeted, signal-dependent dissociation of multisubunit enzyme complexes is an important mechanism in control of enzyme function.
The Nutrition of the Freshwater Dinoflagellate Ceratium hirundinella

SYNOPSIS. A defined medium was devised for a freshwater isolate of the dinoflagellate Ceratium hirundinella. Highest cell yields were produced at 7,700–10,000 lux. The optimum pH range was between 7.0 and 7.5: the optimum temperature 21°C. Ceralium hirundinella tolerated a wide range (per liter) of Ca (0.1–100 mg) and Mg (0.1–50 mg) ion concentrations. The optimum range for growth was 20–30 rns Ca and 10–30 mg Mg. Cells cultured in media lacking Ca often became teratological yet motilp and viable. Variations in the Ca:Mg ratio had little effect on cell yield if the sum of the concentrations of the 2 ions remained the same. Organic as well as inorganic sources of N and P were utilized. NH4 sources became toxic at elevated levels (7 mg N liter-1). Methionine was not used as N source. Cells could not be completely depleted of P, but concentrations ≤ 0.01 mg P liter-1 resulted in poor growth. Vitamin B12, but not thiamine or biotin, was required. Highest cell yields were at a PII-metals concentration of 30 ml liter-1; a t 100-ml liter-1 cell yield was very low. Additions (per liter) of Fe (0.5 mg) and Mo (0.1 mg) to the basal medium produced higher cell yields, but Cu (0.1 mg) and V (0.1 mg) inhibited growth.
Physical Problems with Discontinuous Initial Conditions.

These problems are usually treated by the methods developed by the great. French mathematician Jean Baptist Joseph Fourier who died 100 years ago.
Moment–tensor solutions estimated using optimal filter theory: global seismicity, 2000

Abstract Moment–tensor solutions, estimated using optimal filter theory, are listed for 324 moderate-to-large size earthquakes that occurred during the year 2000.