cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Towards an Integrated GPU Accelerated SoC as a Flight Computer for Small Satellites

Many small satellites are designed to utilize cutting edge technology with the goal of rapidly advancing space based capabilities. As a result, many components take advantage of developments from the miniaturization of smartphone technology. Within the past 2 years, the UGA Small Satellite Research Laboratory has extended this concept into embedded GPUs for high-performance processing in LEO. Here we showcase advances in our research of high-performance space-based computation by integrating a traditional flight computer with existing miniaturized GPU/SoC systems. Such a system paves the way for many of NASA's goals that require space based AI, neural networks, computer vision, and high performance computing. Our system fits a standard CubeSat PC/104+ form factor, and implements many standard protocols such as I2C, SPI, UART, and RS422. The system also has several GPIO pins, 2 USB-C ports, a micro USB port for flashing, an Ethernet port, and a micro SD card slot for development. Additionally, the system is designed to be modular, so that GPU accelerated SoCs can be stacked to form a distributed system. For our primary computer, which handles I/O and initializes processes on the SoC, we choose to use the radiation tolerant Smart Fusion 2 SoC with an ARM Cortex-M3 processor and a FPGA. In addition to this primary computer, we use the Nvidia Tegra X2/X2i as the GPU/SoC workhorse. The primary computer and the TX2i are designed to share memory space with peripherals mounted onto the board, so that no significant file transfer is required between the subsystems. Additionally, Nvidia's Pascal architecture enables GPU-CPU or GPU-GPU communication without PCIe, enabling dense interconnected networks for monitoring and computation. To address thermal concerns, we cap the TX2i's power draw at 7.5 Watts, provide recommendations for thermal interface materials, and ensure that the primary computer only enables the GPU/SoC when parallel computation is specifically requested. Furthermore, radiation mitigation techniques are explored with ECC, software mitigation techniques, and aluminized kapton sheets. In conclusion, this system is a step towards a miniaturized high-performance flight computer well suited for future computational demands.
Integrated outpatient treatment of opioid use disorder and injection-related infections: A description of a new care model

Persons with opioid use disorder (OUD) hospitalized with severe, injection-related infections (SIRI) are frequently hospitalized for the duration of IV antibiotic treatment due to concerns regarding their eligibility for outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT), which is the standard of care for prolonged IV antibiotic courses for patients without drug use. As part of a pilot study, a novel, integrated care model was developed where patients with OUD and SIRI receive addiction consultation and buprenorphine induction while hospitalized, followed by ongoing management in an outpatient clinic that combines office-based opioid treatment with buprenorphine pharmacotherapy and counseling services with OPAT. Through three illustrative case vignettes the outpatient model is described along with challenges, lessons learned and future directions.
Synthesis, crystal structure and physical properties of the solid solutions Ca14–xRExCdSb11 (RE = La–Nd, Sm, Gd–Yb, x ≈ 0.85 ± 0.15)

This article deals with the new antimonides represented with the general formula Ca14–xRExCdSb11 (RE = La–Nd, Sm, Gd–Yb, x ≈ 0.85 ± 0.15). The 12 studied compounds constitute a nearly complete series of rare-earth metal substituted variants of the ternary Ca14CdSb11 phase. All have been synthesized from the respective elements, employing high-temperature reactions under molten flux conditions. The structures have been fully characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods. All materials crystallize in the tetragonal Ca14AlSb11 structure type (space group I41/acd, No. 142, Z = 8). Rare-earth element atoms randomly substitute Ca atoms on the four available crystallographic sites, with a noted preference for the Ca2 site in case of the light (La–Nd) rare-earth elements and the Ca1 site in case of the heavier (Sm, Gd–Yb) ones. The electronic structure calculations and resistivity measurements indicate title compounds as degenerated semiconductors. Magnetization measurements at varied temperature show Curie-Weiss paramagnetic behavior consistent with local-moment magnetism due to the 3+ ground state for the rare-earth metal ions. In the case of the Yb-containing sample, a mixed-valence Yb2+/3+ state is apparent. The measured charge transport properties suggest small bandgap degenerate semiconductor-like behavior and suitability for thermoelectrics.
A Decentralized Optimal Feedback Flow Control Approach for Transport Networks

Finite-time optimal feedback control for flow networks under information constraints is studied. By utilizing the framework of multi-parametric linear programming, it is demonstrated that when cost/constraints can be modeled or approximated by piecewise-affine functions, the optimal control has a closed-form state-feedback realization. The optimal feedback control law, however, has a centralized structure and requires instantaneous access to the state of the entire network that may lead to prohibitive communication requirements in large-scale complex networks. We subsequently examine the design of a decentralized optimal feedback controller with a one-hop information structure, wherein the optimum outflow rate from each segment of the network depends only on the state of that segment and the state of the segments immediately downstream. The decentralization is based on the relaxation of constraints that depend on state variables that are unavailable according to the information structure. The resulting decentralized control scheme has a simple closed-form representation and is scalable to arbitrary large networks; moreover, we demonstrate that, with respect to certain meaningful performance indexes, the performance loss due to decentralization is zero; namely, the centralized optimal controller has a decentralized realization with a one-hop information structure and is obtained at no computational/communication cost.
A Conclusion of the Whole Work

Here hast thou (good Christian reader), to thy soul’s consolation, from the eternal trinity—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, three distinct persons in one everlasting godhead—the universal estate of the church from Christ’s ascension to the end of the world in wonderful mysteries described and directed unto thee of him by the most holy apostle and evangelist Saint John, wherein it is fully by all due circumstances manifested of the said Holy Ghost what the innocent Christian church is, with all her justifications and blessings, to the singular comfort of the Lord’s true elects, and what the proud synagogue of antichrist is, with her filthy superstitions and plagues, to their forewarning also. This is specially done here of the said Holy Ghost that no true believer should profess himself a citizen of this wretched world with Cain, Nimrod, and other reprobate vessels at the execrable doctrine of men, but at the pure voice of God with Abel and Abraham to seek for that heavenly heritage which is purchased for them in Christ’s blood. Mark here the condition of John being in most painful exile, for he in mystery through all this book representeth every godly believer. By this shall ye well know in this revelation the one church from the other, for the one is maintained by the only preaching of God’s pure word, the other by all kinds of Jewish ceremonies and heathenish superstitions. And by this they also differ: that Christ would have all of love, antichrist of tyrannous constraint (as evidently appeareth in Muhammad and the pope). For that only cause are many necessary things here written in mystery: that they should be hid from the worldly wise hypocrites, and that the just or God’s meek-spirited servants should ask them of their Lord in faith and prayer—in the which daily prayer is that most worthy minister of God, King Henry the Eighth, afore all other to be remembered, which hath so sore wounded the beast that he may before his departure, or Prince Edward after him, throw all his superstitions into the bottomless lake again (from whence they have comen), to the comfort of his people. The grace and peace directed from God the Father and his son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Ghost, in the beginning of this revelation be unto all them which unfeignedly love his verity. Amen.
A Department-Sponsored, Hospital-Based Pathology Education Symposium Is a Cost-Effective Method to Provide Laboratory Staff With Highly Rated Continuing Education Experiences.

CONTEXT.— Continuing education improves the quality of medical care and is a required part of most health care professions. Although a variety of educational modules are available online or at external conferences, completion of these activities can be expensive and time-consuming. In addition, externally produced modules may have limited applicability to a local practice. OBJECTIVE.— To assess the ability of an economically efficient, locally produced, department-wide pathology educational seminar to efficiently meet education requirements for a large number of employees in a large health system. DESIGN.— A multiday continuing education symposium was produced annually from 2013 through 2019 at no cost to participants. Metrics related to attendance, number of educational sessions available for registration, and participant satisfaction were tabulated, trended, and compared with similar metrics tabulated from an external continuing education conference that was offered from 2011 through 2012. RESULTS.— The production of an internal, hospital-based educational symposium increased employee attendance (mean of 635 attendees per year versus 247 at the external program; P < .001) while reducing mean annual cost per attendee ($51 versus $140, P < .001). The number of sessions produced for the internal symposium was 39 per year on average, compared with 12 per year at the external program. Technical staff, residents, fellows, and faculty all contributed to internal educational programming, helping to build a team culture in the department. Overall employee satisfaction was 96.2%. CONCLUSIONS.— An internal educational pathology symposium led to cost-efficient distribution of continuing education credits to a large number of technical staff, with a high degree of reported employee satisfaction.
Status Politics and the Political Influences of Concealed Handgun License Demand in Texas

Do political dynamics inform concealed handguns demand better than crime levels? In this study we argue and find support for the idea that handgun demand is a product of status politics, displays o...
Wound Pain and Wound Healing Biomarkers From Wound Exudate: A Scoping Review.

Purpose Effective management of wound pain is essential for optimal wound healing. Nevertheless, the outcomes of wound pain interventions are based on subjective measures, which can prove problematic in patients with cognitive impairment. Identification of biomarkers associated with wound pain and wound healing can be used to more objectively estimate wound pain and contribute to the development of precise management options to reduce wound pain and promote wound healing. This scoping review aimed to identify wound pain and wound healing biomarkers from wound exudates and to describe different wound collection methods to identify these biomarkers. Methods We searched the literature (PROSPERO database registration number: CRD42018103843) via a scoping review. Search strategy The PubMed database was searched for articles that explored relationships between cutaneous wound pain, wound healing, and biomolecules. Inclusion criteria were articles that reported original data, used adult human samples, and were published in English. Findings Twenty-one articles were retrieved: 17 investigated molecules from wound exudate associated with wound healing status, and 4 reported molecules associated with wound pain. The most frequently observed wound pain biomarkers were proinflammatory cytokines; the most frequently observed wound healing biomarkers were proteases including those in the matrix metalloproteinase family. Six wound exudate collection methods were identified to extract potential wound pain and wound healing biomarkers from wound exudate. Implications The results can guide future wound exudate research to validate these wound pain and wound healing biomarkers and to develop therapies targeting these biomarkers to reduce wound pain and promote wound healing.
Becoming involved internationally

Abstract Colorectal surgery is international in scope, with many significant colorectal advances being pioneered in other countries. By getting involved in international societies and by travelling the world, a young surgeon can learn from many colorectal pioneers and stay ahead of the curve.
Prevalence of Depression and Anxiety Among Medical Students and House Staff During the COVID-19 Health-Care Crisis.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of anxiety and depression among medical trainees during the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a cross-sectional study of the prevalence of depression and anxiety among medical students, residents, and fellows at a medical university hospital in New York using self-reported PHQ-9 and GAD-7 screening tools administered via an anonymized survey. The study was conducted in April 2020. The authors received 438 responses (33.4% response rate). Nearly half (44.5%) were medical students and female (56.6%). The prevalence of positive screen for depression (45.3%) and anxiety (48.1%) was high. Many reported moderate to severe depression (17.2%) and anxiety (20.3%). Over half (57.3%) experienced significant mood changes and inability to concentrate, and 14.6% had reconsidered their choice of profession since the start of the pandemic. Those who had reconsidered their profession had higher PHQ-9 [8.1 (6.4) vs 4.4 (4.3), p < 0.0001] and GAD-7 scores [8.3 (6.1) vs 4.7 (4.6), p < 0.0001], indicating adverse mental health partly contributed to their reconsideration of choice of profession. Women were more likely to screen positive for anxiety (OR: 1.68) and medical students more likely to screen positive for anxiety (OR: 2.55) and depression (OR: 2.74). The COVID-19 pandemic has placed great strain on health-care resources, including the mental health of medical trainees.
Identification of Dual-Target Compounds with Antifungal and Anti-NLRP3 Inflammasome Activity

Invasive and superficial infections caused by the Candida species result in significant global morbidity and mortality. As the pathogenicity of these organisms is intimately intertwined with host immune response, therapies to target both the fungus and host inflammation may be warranted. Structural similarities exist between established inhibitors of the NLRP3 inflammasome and those of fungal acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS). Therefore, we leveraged this information to conduct an in silico molecular docking screen to find novel polypharmacologic inhibitors of these targets that resulted in the identification of 12 candidate molecules. Of these, compound 10 significantly attenuated activation of the NLPR3 inflammasome by LPS + ATP, while also demonstrating growth inhibitory activity against C. albicans that was alleviated in the presence of exogenous branched chain amino acids, consistent with targeting of fungal AHAS. SAR studies delineated an essential molecular scaffold required for dual activity. Ultimately, 10 and its analog 10a resulted in IC50 (IL-1β release) and MIC50 (fungal growth) values with low μM potency against several Candida species. Collectively, this work demonstrates promising potential of dual-target approaches for improved management of fungal infections.
Development of coronary dysfunction in adult progeny after maternal engineered nanomaterial inhalation during gestation.

Maternal exposure to environmental contaminants during pregnancy can profoundly influence the risk of developing cardiovascular disease in adult offspring. Our previous studies have demonstrated impaired cardiovascular health, microvascular reactivity, and cardiac function in fetal and young adult progeny after maternal inhalation of nano-sized titanium dioxide (nano-TiO2) aerosols during gestation. The present study was designed to evaluate the development of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases later in adulthood. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to nano-TiO2 aerosols (~ 10 mg/m3, 134 nm median diameter) for 4 h per day, 5 days per week, beginning on gestational day (GD) 4 and ending on GD 19. Progeny were delivered in-house. Body weight was recorded weekly after birth. After 47 weeks, the body weight of exposed progeny was 9.4% greater compared with controls. Heart weight, mean arterial pressure, and plasma biomarkers of inflammation, dyslipidemia, and glycemic control were recorded at 3, 9 and 12 months of age, with no significant adaptations. While no clinical risk factors (i.e., hypertension, dyslipidemia, or systemic inflammation) emerged pertaining to the development of cardiovascular disease, we identified impaired endothelium-dependent and -independent arteriolar dysfunction and cardiac morphological alterations consistent with myocardial inflammation, degeneration, and necrosis in exposed progeny at 12 months. In conclusion, maternal inhalation of nano-TiO2 aerosols during gestation may promote the development of coronary disease in adult offspring.
Bach's Feet: The Organ Pedals in European Culture

The organist seated at the king of instruments with thousands of pipes rising all around him, his hands busy at the manuals and his feet patrolling the pedalboard, is a symbol of musical self-sufficiency yielding musical possibilities beyond that of any other mode of solo performance. In this book, David Yearsley presents an interpretation of the significance of the oldest and richest of European instruments, by investigating the German origins of the uniquely independent use of the feet in organ playing. Delving into a range of musical, literary and visual sources, Bach's Feet demonstrates the cultural importance of this physically demanding mode of music-making, from the blind German organists of the fifteenth century, through the central contribution of Bach's music and legacy, to the newly-pedaling organists of the British Empire and the sinister visions of Nazi propagandists.
Genetic Structure of the HLA Region and Implication for Function

A number of human disease processes are strongly associated with certain antigens of the HLA system. Although HLA antigens, expressed on most body tissues, are the “strong” barriers to tissue transplantation, their role outside of the medical artifacts of transplantation and transfusion has not been clearly appreciated. Review of this area requires first an outline of what is known of The genes and gene products of the HLA major histocompatibility complex (MHC), followed by a summary of some of the principal disease relationships and discussion of the potential mechanisms of such associations in relation to the immunobiological role of the MHC.
Finite Element Modeling of Hard Turning

Due to its favorable effects on the machined surface, hard turning processes are replacing grinding for finishing various mechanical components of hardened steels such as transmission shafts, bearings and gears. During hard turning, the cutting tool is exposed to a very severe environment. The specific cutting stresses and the temperatures are high. For a tool to perform successfully under these severe conditions and to have a good surface quality, factors such as the cutting tool edge geometry, feed rate, and cutting speed have to be carefully selected. In this study, the finite element method (FEM) is used as a tool for understanding the fundamentals of hard turning process and for the prediction of the effect of CBN tool edge preparation and cutting conditions on the process variables. In addition, a methodology for obtaining flow stress data for machining simulations from machining and compression tests has been developed. Since practical hard turning is a 3D process, two numerical methods are used to study te process: 1) simplification of the 3D hard turning process using an analytical model and 2D FEM and 2) 3D FEM.
Psychometric properties of the 15-item geriatric depression scale in functionally impaired, cognitively intact, community-dwelling elderly primary care patients.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the psychometric properties of the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), a brief depression screening measure. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Nineteen counties in western New York, West Virginia, and Ohio. PARTICIPANTS: Nine hundred sixty functionally impaired, cognitively intact, community-dwelling primary care patients aged 65 and older. MEASUREMENTS: The GDS-15, major depression as measured using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview, depressed mood, life satisfaction, suicidal ideation, and reported suicide attempts. RESULTS: Exploratory factor analyses suggested a two-factor structure for the GDS-15 in this category of patients, with component subscales assessing depression and positive affect. Cronbach alpha coefficients provide evidence for moderate, although acceptable, internal consistency reliability. Significant associations between the GDS-15 and measures of depressed mood, life satisfaction, and suicidal ideation demonstrated construct validity, whereas acceptable sensitivity and specificity to discriminate between depressed and nondepressed patients demonstrated criterion validity. Internal consistency reliability and construct validity did not differ significantly between patients with low and high functional impairment. A significant weakness of the scale is its low correlation with suicide attempt status. CONCLUSION: In general, this study provides evidence of impressive psychometric properties of the GDS-15 when administered to a sample of functionally impaired, cognitively intact, community-dwelling primary care patients.
Exchange Rate Arrangements in the Americas: Lessons from East Asia?

Even before a consensus had developed about the lessons from the East Asian crises, events in Brazil and Russia added grist to the policy analysts' mill. In this welter of conflicting interpretations, it is difficult to settle on an appropriate set of responses, in part because there is no common view on what precipitated these events. In this paper, I set forth an integrated reading of the theory and empirical literature on financial crises and exchange rate regimes. These messages are then applied to the question of the optimal exchange rate and monetary arrangements for the emerging economies of the Americas. The key points that flow from this analysis are the following. First, recent financial crises not interpreted as the inevitable outcome of globalization, but rather the consequence of private agents exploiting either explicit or implicit government guarantees to insure private liabilities. These liabilities could take the form of officially guaranteed bank debt (as in the 1980s) or insolvent banks and dollar-denominated corporate debt (the 1990s). Second, while fixed exchange rate regimes do not "cause" all such financial crises, they may exacerbate them, to the extent that they make government guarantees more explicit. This is especially true because our knowledge of the equilibrium exchange rate - in real time - is very limited. Third, currency boards and dollarization might mitigate the likelihood of currency crises, but they cannot provide inoculation against financial crises, unless the Federal Reserve Board is willing to take on the role of regulator and lender of last resort. Furthermore, such "hard fix" regimes are likely to impose heavy costs upon the economies in question since the economies of the region do not constitute an optimal currency area. Thus, the lesson I take from recent experiences in the global capital is that, except for the most pathologically managed economies, freely floating exchange rates are often the best route to take. The caveat is not a trivial one. If, for instance, Brazil is unable to bring its budget deficit somewhat in line, then dollarization that imposes a hard constraint upon its fiscal system might be beneficial on net. Whether this option would be politically feasible is a question I leave to those better equipped to answer this question. The article is structured in the following manner. Section 2 contains a discussion of the major features of recent financial crises. Section 3 will address the issue of exchange rate overvaluation, while the subsequent section forwards some thoughts on the desirability of hardfixes of the exchange rate. Concluding remarks follow.
A digital computer program for the simulation of positive or negative particle beams on a PC

PBGUNS, an expanded and improved version of the SNOW2D code for extracted ion beams will be described and demonstrated. The new code includes the electrode description and electron beam capabilities of the SPEED code. The new version includes positive and negative ion beam extraction systems and may include skew/sup 1/ (azimuthal energy particles) permitting the simulation of thermal effects in high energy plasmas, thermal effects in low energy electron beams, and the computation of x-x' emittance plots from axisymmetric simulations. Plasma electrons (and positive ions for negative ion beams) are simulated with background Boltzmann distributions. Electrodes are described with quadratic equations while potentials are solved by basic relaxation techniques on a rectangular array of squares. Smooth electrodes are created by extending fields into electrodes. A fine mesh covers the cathode and/or plasma-extraction region to furnish the additional accuracy required for the calculations near the particle emission surface. Axisymmetric and rectangular magnetic fields can be included in the trajectory calculations. It is written in FORTRAN 77, employing Calcomp-Versatec type plotting routines and is run on 386 or 486 IBM PC's with DOS Extenders. Generic FORTRAN 77 is used to facilitate the transfer of the program to other computers with only minor modifications. >
Application of an Asthma Screening Questionnaire in Children with Sickle Cell Disease.

Objective: Asthma in sickle cell disease (SCD) patients is associated with elevated morbidity and mortality. Early detection and initiation of treatment may therefore lead to improved outcome. Utility of an asthma screening questionnaire to identify obstructive airway disease and physician diagnosed asthma in children with SCD at an outpatient setting as an effective, easy-to-administer screening tool has not previously been evaluated in this population. Methods: A previously validated asthma screening questionnaire and spirometry were prospectively administered to 41 SCD children at a routine clinic visit. Results: Prevalence of obstructive airway was 51.2% (n = 21) and physician diagnosis of asthma 33.3% (n = 13). Sensitivity (40%) and specificity (75%) of the questionnaire was poor in detecting obstructive airway disease, but sensitivity (77%), specificity (100%), positive predictive value (100%), and negative predictive value (90%) were high in detecting physician diagnosis of asthma. Conclusion: An asthma screening questionnaire could be a useful tool in identifying at-risk SCD children who may benefit from further management.
Speculative attacks and macroeconomic fundamentals: evidence from some European currencies

Abstract This paper evaluates the role of macroeconomic fundamentals in generating episodes of speculative pressures on six currencies of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM). The observed regime changes are first estimated by a set of speculative pressure indicators; the contribution of economic fundamentals are then examined by using the implications of the basic speculative attack literature. In general, episodes of speculative pressures appear to be associated with a deterioration in economic fundamentals only for some of the sample currencies, confirming the view that consistent macro policies are necessary but not sufficient to ensure the maintenance of an exchange rate peg.
Utilization of laparoscopic antireflux surgery at a single Veterans Affairs facility compared with the Veterans Affairs national trend

Abstract Background The widespread use of laparoscopy in the early 1990s has led to an increase in the utilization of antireflux procedures for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This trend has been observed in the private sector, but not within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system. Published data suggest that among patients undergoing antireflux surgical procedures, those in the VA were less likely than those in the private sector to undergo laparoscopic surgery. The objective of this study was to determine the trend in the use of laparoscopic antireflux surgical procedures at our VA facility and compare it with the national VA trend. Methods All antireflux operations performed at our VA facility from 1991 to 2002 were recorded along with techniques used. National VA data on the utilization of antireflux procedures from 1991 to 1999 was extracted from a recent publication by Finlayson et al. Results In contrast to the trend observed nationally across VA hospitals, the rate of utilization of antireflux surgery at our VA facility has increased compared with baseline in 1991. Of 83 fundoplications performed from 1991 to 2002, 76 (92%) were attempted or completed laparoscopically. The conversion rate from laparoscopic to open approach was 6.6%. Conclusions We have observed an increase in the utilization of antireflux surgery since 1991 at our VA facility. In addition, most fundoplications were performed laparoscopically. These findings are in contrast to published national VA data. The presence of surgeons with interest in laparoscopy, institutional support, and a dedicated esophageal function laboratory may explain these findings.
Evidence for phosphorylation of pancreatic islet pyruvate kinase.

Abstract Rabbit pancreatic islet cytosol catalyzes the calcium-activated phosphorylation by [γ 32 P]ATP of a protein with a molecular weight of 57,000 that is precipitated with antipyruvate kinase antibodies. We were unable to demonstrate that phosphorylation in the presence of calcium or cAMP had any immediate effect on rat pancreatic islet pyruvate kinase activity. This finding is consistent with our inability to confirm the finding of others that pancreatic islets contain phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase activity (Diabetes, 34:246, 1985). Since the carboxykinase catalyzes phosphoenolpyruvate formation and pyruvate kinase catalyzes essentially the opposite reaction, if the carboxykinase were present in the beta cell, pyruvate kinase would need to be inhibited to prevent recycling of phosphoenolpyruvate.
Perturbation of gene expression and steroidogenesis with in vitro exposure of fathead minnow ovaries to ketoconazole.

Abstract Ketoconazole is a fungicidal drug that inhibits function of cytochrome P450s in the synthesis of steroids. To examine if inhibition of P450 function affects gene expression in a dynamic manner, we conducted in vitro exposures of ovary tissue from fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) to 0.5 μM ketoconazole to investigate effects on steroid production and gene expression over time. Expression of four key steroidogenesis genes was examined at 1, 6, and 12 h of exposure. 11β- and 20β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases were down regulated at 1 h and Cytochrome P450 17 was down-regulated at 12 h, consistent with the absence of steroid production. In contrast, cytochrome P450 19A was up-regulated at 6 h, indicating feedback regulation. Microarray analysis of 12 h exposures indicated enrichment of biological processes involved in neurotransmitter secretion, lymphocyte cell activation, sodium ion transport, and embryonic development. These data suggest that, with the exception of cytochrome P450 19A, these steroid metabolic genes are regulated in a feed forward manner and that the effects of ketoconazole may be broader than anticipated based on the mechanism of action alone.
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibits the synthesis and release of human decidual prolactin.

Bone marrow-derived cells are major cellular components of human decidua, with macrophages comprising about 30% of the cells in term tissue. Because cytokines released by bone marrow-derived cells are known to affect hormone release in many tissues, we examined whether cytokines affect the release of PRL from human decidual cells. Exposure of primary decidual cell cultures from term pregnancies to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha), interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), IL-1 beta, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF beta), and IL-8 caused dose-dependent inhibition of PRL release. Initial inhibition by each of the cytokines was noted after 24 h of exposure, and maximal inhibition of 33-60% occurred after 3 or 4 days. The maximal inhibitions by TNF alpha, IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, TGF beta, and IL-8 were 60%, 55%, 46%, 36%, and 33%, respectively, and the half-maximal effective doses of TNF alpha, IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, and TGF beta were 70, 2.8, 0.6, and 40 pM, respectively. The cytokine-induced decrease in ...
The pattern of synthesis and distribution of membrane bound RNA in brain synaptosomes

The pattern of RNA synthesis and its distribution in subcellular fractions of goldfish brain was studied using uridine-5H3 as the precursor. About 14% of the total RNA synthesized was found to be associated with the synaptosomal fraction after a 3 hr labelling time. The sedimentation characteristics of this RNA was compared with that of the nuclear and cytoplasmic components of brain. The results suggest that the synaptosomal RNA is a membrane-bound fraction with distinctive properties.
Comparison of Learning Styles of Pharmacy Students and Faculty Members

Objectives. To compare dominant learning styles of pharmacy students and faculty members and between faculty members in different tracks. Methods. Gregorc Style Delineator (GSD) and Zubin’s Pharmacists’ Inventory of Learning Styles (PILS) were administered to students and faculty members at an urban, Midwestern college of pharmacy. Results. Based on responses from 299 students (classes of 2008, 2009, and 2010) and 59 faculty members, GSD styles were concrete sequential (48%), abstract sequential (18%), abstract random (13%), concrete random (13%), and multimodal (8%). With PILS, dominant styles were assimilator (47%) and converger (30%). There were no significant differences between faculty members and student learning styles nor across pharmacy student class years (p>0.05). Learning styles differed between men and women across both instruments (p<0.01), and between faculty members in tenure and clinical tracks for the GSD styles (p=0.01). Conclusion. Learning styles differed among respondents based on gender and faculty track.
A phylogenetic analysis of the purple photosynthetic bacteria

Seven species of purple photosynthetic bacteria have been characerized by oligonucleotide cataloging of their 16S ribosomal RNAs. The relationships so revealed among them do not agree well with their classical taxonomic classification. However, they are in agreement with those derived from comparative analysis of cytochromec sequences. Since the two macromolecules, rRNA and cytochromec, are functionally unrelated, the agreement between the two methods virtually rules out lateral gene transfer as the cause of either result. The patterns seen reflect the true genealogies of the organisms. The purple photosynthetic bacteria constitute a major phylogenetic unit—apparently as extensive as the Gram-positive bacteria—but a unit that is not phylogenetically isolated. Intermixed genealogically with these photosynthetic species are many classically recognized nonphotosynthetic Gram-negative organisms. A number of the latter have specific relatives within the photosynthetic cluster.
VECTOR POLAR METHOD FOR THE ANALYSIS OF WAVE INTERSECTIONS.

The Vector Polar Method is a graphical technique for the solution of wave interaction problems that are concerned with overall results, rather than with the progress of the process. The paper describes the application of this method to wave intersections, that is interactions in steady flow. The fundamental concepts for the method are developed from basic principles, and its use is illustrated by a number of multi-wave intersection processes, including triple front intersections and their reflections.
Photoelectron Spectroscopy and DFT Calculations of Easily Ionized Quadruply Bonded Mo24+ Compounds and Their Bicyclic Guanidinate Precursors†

A series of five bicyclic guanidinate compounds containing various combinations of five- and six-membered rings and substituted alkyl groups have been shown by photoelectron spectroscopy to be easily ionized, with the one having two six-membered rings and four ethyl groups being the most easily ionized. The corresponding anions are capable of forming paddlewheel compounds having quadruply bonded Mo 2 4+ units which are also easy to ionize. The most easily ionized compound is the ethyl-substituted Mo 2 (TEhpp) 4 complex which has a broad first ionization band centered around 4.27 ± 0.03 eV and an ionization onset at the very low energy of 3.93 ± 0.03 eV. Even the compound with ligands containing two five-membered rings, which favors a long Mo-Mo separation because of the large ligand bite, has an ionization energy (4.78 eV) that is less than those of well-known organometallic reducing agents such as (η 5 -C 9 Me 7 ) 2 Co and (η 5 -C 5 Me 5 ) 2 Cr.
Contextual Validity and the Effects of Low Constraint Sentence Contexts on Lexical Decisions

Subjects made lexical decisions after reading either (a) low-constraint sentence contexts that did not predict the identity or meaning of congruous targets (e.g. “Mary went to her room to look at h...
Characterizing relapse prevention in bipolar disorder with adjunctive ziprasidone: clinical and methodological implications.

Background: Ziprasidone, adjunctive to either lithium or valproate, has previously been shown to be associated with a significantly lower risk of relapse in bipolar disorder compared with lithium or valproate treatment alone. Methods: This placebo-controlled outpatient trial with ziprasidone adjunctive to lithium or valproate or lithium and valproate alone, for subjects with a recent or current manic or mixed episode of bipolar I disorder, comprised a 2.5- to 4-month, open-label stabilization period, followed by a 6-month, doubleblind maintenance period. These post hoc analyses characterize the relapse outcomes by dose, relapse types and timing as well as all-reason discontinuations during the maintenance period. Results: Time to relapse and all-reason discontinuation were both statistically significant in favor of the ziprasidone 120 mg/day group compared with placebo (p ¼0.004 and 0.001, respectively) during the 6month double-blind period. There was no difference in time to relapse in the 80 and 160 mg/day dose groups compared with placebo (p ¼ 0.16 and 0.40, respectively) and, likewise, for time to all-reason discontinuation (p¼ 0.20 for both doses). The majority of relapses in each group occurred prior to week 8, and most were depressive in nature. Limitations: The primary study was not designed to compare relapse rates by dose groups. Conclusions: These analyses confirm the effectiveness of ziprasidone (80–160 mg/day) in preventing relapses in subjects with bipolar disorder, with the 120 mg/day dosage appearing to have the highest relapse prevention rate.
Functions of skin-resident γδ T cells

The murine epidermis contains resident T cells that express a canonical γδ TCR and arise from fetal thymic precursors. These cells are termed dendritic epidermal T cells (DETC) and use a TCR that is restricted to the skin in adult animals. DETC produce low levels of cytokines and growth factors that contribute to epidermal homeostasis. Upon activation, DETC can secrete large amounts of inflammatory molecules which participate in the communication between DETC, neighboring keratinocytes and langerhans cells. Chemokines produced by DETC may recruit inflammatory cells to the epidermis. In addition, cell–cell mediated immune responses also appear important for epidermal–T cell communication. Information is provided which supports a crucial role for DETC in inflammation, wound healing, and tumor surveillance.
‘A school in every district’: The cultural geography of conversion on Aneityum, Southern Vanuatu ∗

(1985). ‘A school in every district’: The cultural geography of conversion on Aneityum, Southern Vanuatu. The Journal of Pacific History: Vol. 20, No. 1, pp. 23-41.
Beryllium Alters Lipopolysaccharide-Mediated Intracellular Phosphorylation and Cytokine Release in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells

Beryllium exposure in susceptible individuals leads to the development of chronic beryllium disease, a lung disorder marked by release of inflammatory cytokine and granuloma formation. We have previously reported that beryllium induces an immune response even in blood mononuclear cells from healthy individuals. In this study, we investigate the effects of beryllium on lipopolysaccharide-mediated cytokine release in blood mononuclear and dendritic cells from healthy individuals. We found that in vitro treatment of beryllium sulfate inhibits the secretion of lipopolysaccharide-mediated interleukin 10, while the release of interleukin 1β is enhanced. In addition, not all lipopolysaccharide-mediated responses are altered, as interleukin 6 release in unaffected upon beryllium treatment. Beryllium sulfate-treated cells show altered phosphotyrosine levels upon lipopolysaccharide stimulation. Significantly, beryllium inhibits the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transducer 3, induced by lipop...
Rate constants for reactions of iodine atoms in solution

Laser flash photolysis (at 248 or 308 nm) or aryl iodides in water or water/methanol solutions produces iodine atoms and phenyl radicals. Iodine atoms react rapidly with added I− to form I2− but do not react rapidly with O2 (k ⩽ 107 L mol−1 s−1). Iodine atoms oxidize phenols to phenoxyl radicals, with rate constants that vary from 1.6 × 107 L mol−1 s−1 for phenol to about 6 × 109 L mol−1 s−1 for 4-methoxyphenol and hydroquinone. Ascorbate and a Vitamin E analogue are also oxidized very rapidly. N-Methylindole is oxidized by I atoms to its radical cation with a diffusion-controlled rate constant, 1.9 × 1010 L mol−1 s−1. Iodine atoms also oxidize sulfite and ferrocyanide ions rapidly but do not add to double bonds. The phenyl radicals, produced along with the I atoms, react with O2 to give phenylperoxyl radicals, which react with phenols much more slowly than I atoms. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Absence of effect of injections of the intestinal hormones secretin and cholecystokinin-pancreozymin upon feeding behavior ☆

Abstract In a search for gastrointestinal hormones involved in the regulation of food intake, the intestinal hormones secretin and cholecystokinin-pancreozymin were injected via chronic intraperitoneal and intraaortal catheters prior to meals taken by fasted rats, and at the initiation of each spontaneous meal of rats fed ad lib. In no case did these injections have an effect upon feeding behavior.
On the interplay of the potential energy and dipole moment surfaces in controlling the infrared activity of liquid water.

Infrared vibrational spectroscopy is a valuable tool for probing molecular structure and dynamics. However, obtaining an unambiguous molecular-level interpretation of the spectral features is made difficult, in part, due to the complex interplay of the dipole moment with the underlying vibrational structure. Here, we disentangle the contributions of the potential energy surface (PES) and dipole moment surface (DMS) to the infrared spectrum of liquid water by examining three classes of models, ranging in complexity from simple point charge models to accurate representations of the many-body interactions. By decoupling the PES from the DMS in the calculation of the infrared spectra, we demonstrate that the PES, by directly modulating the vibrational structure, primarily controls the width and position of the spectroscopic features. Due to the dependence of the molecular dipole moment on the hydration environment, many-body electrostatic effects result in a ∼100 cm−1 redshift in the peak of the OH stretch band. Interestingly, while an accurate description of many-body collective motion is required to generate the correct (vibrational) structure of the liquid, the infrared intensity in the OH stretching region appears to be a measure of the local structure due to the dominance of the one-body and short-ranged two-body contributions to the total dipole moment.
A Proof of the Existence of Speculative Equilibria

Abstract The existence of "speculative" equilibria is proven in a simple overlapping generations, infinite horizon economy. In equilibrium, all agents bid for assets according to increasing functions of private information which is independent of the fundamental value (dividend stream) of the asset. This is a unique best response to the strategies of the other agents, which implies that speculative information is valuable. For certain stationary settings, the existence of speculative equilibria in which all agents use the same bidding function is demonstrated. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: D84, G12, G14.
Rheology and Particle Packing of Chem‐ and Phys‐Adsorbed, Alkylated Silicon Nitride Powders

Three alcohols with extended carbon chain lengths between ∼1 and 2 nm were chem-adsorbed on a Si3N4 powder by reacting with hydroxyl surface groups at temperatures 200°C. Slurry rheology, particle packing density, and body rheology were determined for toluene and dodecane slurries formed with these chem-adsorbed powders. These same properties were determined for slurries where the alcohol was simply added, but not reacted with the powder (phys-adsorbed powders). The viscosities of chem-adsorbed slurries are shear-thinning with longer chains producing lower viscosities at a given shear rate. The relative density of powder compacts produced by pressure filtration (10 MPa) was high (∼0.60) for octadecanol and dodecanol-reacted powders, and lower (∼0.50) for the octanol-reacted powder. When a sufficient amount > 10 times that required for chem-adsorption) of the same alcohol was simply added to the unreacted Si3N4 slurry system, the phys adsorbed slurries exhibited similar rheological behavior as the chem-dsorbed slurries, but, unlike chem-adsorbed slurries, their packing densty was lower, and their slurries were destabilized by water vapor. Stress relaxation experiments showed that bodies formed with the octadecanol chem-adsorbed powders were plastic after consolidation, whereas phys-dsorbed bodies were brittle (fractured before flow). All evidence suggests that the short-chained alkyl groups are steric “stabilizers” at small interparticle distances and thus prevent the particles from making surface-surface contact in common organic liquids; i.e., they produce a short-range interparticle, repulsive potential. Chem-adsorbed molecules, but not phys-adsorbed molecules, persist during particle packing and in moist environments.
Examples of best practice 1. Teaching a Holocaust case study in a post‐conflict environment: education as part of violence, reconstruction and repair

Compiled by Inger Schaap The seminar was beneficial for me, in that I now have a large toolbox filled with methods to teach history which will help me create citizens capable of reflecting before e...