cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Legal Structure of Democracy

The institutional structure and legal framework that organize democracy can dramatically shape the practice and experience of democracy. This is true for the most visible, macro-scale institutional choices, such as whether the legislature should be chosen through proportional representation or first-past-the-post elections, and whether the executive-legislative relationship should be a parliamentary or separated powers one. It is also true for many less visible choices, such as the way legal rules structure and regulate political parties; the way in which election districts are designed (in systems that use these districts); the institutional structures and rules by which elections are administered and potentially explosive election disputes are resolved; the methods by which the law permits elections to be financed; or the way institutions and law address the tension between majoritarianism and recognition of minority interests. The 'new institutionalism' in political science and legal studies over the last two decades has generated important insights into the theoretical and empirical dimensions of these effects. This chapter surveys the state of the academic literature in law and political science on these issues. The chapter is part of the forthcoming Oxford Handbook of Law and Politics.
Arthropod Developmental Endocrinology

Embryonic development in arthropods appears to be largely controlled by gene regulatory cascades and networks, and gene products that move by diffusion. By contrast, postembryonic growth and differentiation are controlled almost entirely by circulating hormones and secreted growth factors. Also, in contrast to the dozens and perhaps hundreds of genes that control early stages of embryonic specification and differentiation, only a very small handful of developmental hormones control an extraordinarily diverse array of postembryonic developmental processes ranging from growth, to moulting, metamorphosis, and the development of alternative phenotypes in response to environmental signals. Hormones such as ecdysone and juvenile hormone can have many categorically different effects, depending on the species, stage of the life cycle, and target tissue. Some hormones, such as ecdysone, appear to be used universally across the Arthropoda whereas others such as juvenile hormone and androgenic hormone are taxon restricted (to the Insecta and decapod Crustacea, respectively).
Ferroelectric Thin Films for Memory Applications: Nanoscale Characterization by Scanning Force Microscopy

Development of high-density ferroelectric memory devices requires implementation of new techniques capable of high-resolution non-destructive testing of these devices. This paper considers the principle and application of scanning force microscopy, namely its piezoresponse mode, to nanoscale characterization of switching behavior and reliability properties of ferroelectric thin films and capacitors. Spatial variations in imprint and switching behavior within individual capacitors have been studied by probing local switching characteristics. Investigation of the scaling effect on capacitor-to-capacitor variability of switching parameters has been used to predict the grain size limit to sustain a required level of performance reliability of memory devices. Special attention is given to investigation of the microscopic mechanisms of polarization decay (retention loss) and dielectric breakdown.
Lactation Space Experiences and Preferences Among Health Care Workers in an Academic Medical Center.

Abstract Background: Comprehensive workplace lactation support programs can reduce the risk for early breastfeeding discontinuation; however, scant evidence is available to inform user-centered des...
A crisis within an epidemic: critical opioid shortage in US hospitals.

The overprescribing and misuse of prescription and non-prescription opioid painkillers has led to an epidemic of addiction and overdose. In 2016 alone, 42 249 deaths were attributed to opioid overdose in the USA, five times higher than in 1999 and higher than the annual number of deaths attributed to motor vehicle accidents or firearms.1 2 In response, the Trump administration has declared the opioid epidemic a national ‘public health emergency’,3 directing US$6 billion in additional funds towards combatting this crisis, including for substance abuse treatment and mental health services, addiction research and diversion prevention efforts.4 5 However, in the midst of these efforts and the attention that has been focused on them, a seemingly oxymoronic crisis has emerged—critical shortage of injectable opioids in our nation’s hospitals. In June 2017, on the heels of a warning letter from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for violations of good manufacturing practices, Pfizer, which produces of almost two-thirds of US’s injectable opioids, began cutting back production of these drugs during an upgrade of its manufacturing plant in McPherson, Kansas.6 These injectable opioids include some of the most commonly administered painkillers for hospitalised patients, including hydromorphone, fentanyl and morphine. With production at the Pfizer plant not expected to normalise through at least the first half of this year, and other injectable opioid manufacturers unable to scale up production to meet demand, shortage of these medications has …
Identification and validation of a prognostic proteomic signature for cervical cancer.

Abstract Objective To date, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) has provided the most extensive molecular characterization of invasive cervical cancer (ICC). Analysis of reverse phase protein array (RPPA) data from TCGA samples showed that cervical cancers could be stratified into 3 clusters exhibiting significant differences in survival outcome: hormone, EMT, and PI3K/AKT. The goals of the current study were to: 1) validate the TCGA RPPA results in an independent cohort of ICC patients and 2) to develop and validate an algorithm encompassing a small antibody set for clinical utility. Methods Subjects consisted of 2 ICC patient cohorts with accompanying RPPA and clinical-pathologic data: 155 samples from TCGA (TCGA-155) and 61 additional, unique samples (MCW-61). Using data from 173 common RPPA antibodies, we replicated Silhouette clustering analysis in both ICC cohorts. Further, an index score for each patient was calculated from the survival-associated antibodies (SAAs) identified using Random survival forests (RSF) and the Cox proportional hazard regression model. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and the log-rank test were performed to assess and compare cluster or risk group survival outcome. Results In addition to validating the prognostic ability of the proteomic clusters reported by TCGA, we developed an algorithm based on 22 unique antibodies (SAAs) that stratified women with ICC into low-, medium-, or high-risk survival groups. Conclusions We provide a signature of 22 antibodies which accurately predicted survival outcome in 2 separate groups of ICC patients. Future studies examining these candidate biomarkers in additional ICC cohorts is warranted to fully determine their clinical potential.
Time Patterns in Motor Learning

(1950). Time Patterns in Motor Learning. Research Quarterly. American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 182-187.
Increasing Access to Opioid Use Disorder Treatment: Assessing State Policies and the Evidence Behind Them.

Objective:Combatting the opioid epidemic requires systemic policy changes that address the underutilization of medication-assisted treatment, a therapy that is effective in treating opioid use diso...
Sensing Methodologies in Agriculture for Soil Moisture and Nutrient Monitoring

Development and deployment of sensing technologies is one of the main steps in achieving sustainability in crop production through precision agriculture. Key sensing methodologies developed for monitoring soil moisture and nutrients with recent advances in the sensing devices reported in literature using those techniques are overviewed in this article. The soil moisture determination has been divided into four main sections describing soil moisture measurement metrics and laboratory-based testing, followed by in-situ, remote and proximal sensing techniques. The application, advantages and limitations for each of the mentioned technologies are discussed. The nutrient monitoring methods are reviewed beginning with laboratory-based methods, ion-selective membrane based sensors, bio-sensors, spectroscopy-based methods, and capillary electrophoresis-based systems for inorganic ion detection. Attention has been given to the core principle of detection while reporting recent sensors developed using the mentioned concepts. The latest works reported on the different sensing methodologies point towards the trend of developing low-cost, easy to use, field-deployable or portable sensing systems aimed towards improving technology adoption in crop production leading to efficient site-specific soil and crop management which in turn will bring us closer to reaching sustainability in the practice of agriculture.
ENSURE: A General Approach for Unsupervised Training of Deep Image Reconstruction Algorithms

Image reconstruction using deep learning algorithms offers improved reconstruction quality and lower reconstruction time than classical compressed sensing and model-based algorithms. Unfortunately, clean and fully sampled ground-truth data to train the deep networks is often not available in several applications, restricting the applicability of the above methods. This work introduces the ENsemble Stein's Unbiased Risk Estimate (ENSURE) framework as a general approach to train deep image reconstruction algorithms without fully sampled and noise-free images. The proposed framework is the generalization of the classical SURE and GSURE formulation to the setting where the images are sampled by different measurement operators, chosen randomly from a set. We show that the ENSURE loss function, which only uses the measurement data, is an unbiased estimate for the true mean-square error. Our experiments show that the networks trained with this loss function can offer reconstructions comparable to the supervised setting. While we demonstrate this framework in the context of MR image recovery, the ENSURE framework is generally applicable to arbitrary inverse problems.
The Strategies of the Players of an RPG Game in the Context of Water Resources Management: an analysis based on the Discourse of the Collective Subject

Games are widely used in Education because they enable analyzing strategies that come close to reality. In Environmental Education, the game helps understand a particular theme and allows the observation of the approach from a player’s perspective. In this way, each person can develop strategies that s/he considers relevant in the game. This study analyzes players’ strategies in an RPG (Role-Playing Game) in water resources. This work's main contribution is an empirical and qualitative study on individuals’ motivation and how they developed their strategies. As a result, we present the analysis of the players' habits through a semi-structured interview, which resulted in a set of speeches based on the Collective Subject Discourse (CSD).
Bempedoic Acid: A New Avenue for the Treatment of Dyslipidemia.

Uncontrolled dyslipidemia, specifically elevation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, is a major risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease. Currently, statin therapy remains as first-line treatment for reducing both serum cholesterol levels and cardiovascular risk. However, certain patients are unable to achieve desired serum cholesterol levels despite maximally tolerated statin therapy. As a result, several nonstatin therapy avenues have been evaluated for their potential benefits in reducing cholesterol and cardiovascular risk. Bempedoic acid is one such nonstatin therapy option, which has been explored over the past few years to potentially assist patients in further reducing serum cholesterol. Bempedoic acid is a novel prodrug that inhibits cholesterol synthesis upstream of statins by inhibiting adenosine triphosphate-citrate lyase. Bempedoic acid has been studied as a single, once daily 180 mg dose. Administered as monotherapy or in combination with statin or ezetimibe, bempedoic acid significantly reduces low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Furthermore, bempedoic acid was generally well tolerated by patients and rates of adverse events were similar to placebo with few exceptions. Despite proven reductions in cholesterol and favorable safety profile, bempedoic acid will likely remain a third- or fourth-line agent for the treatment of dyslipidemia behind other nonstatin therapies until the improvement of cardiovascular outcomes is demonstrated in future clinical trials.
Speech Pathology Reliability for Stroke Swallowing Screening Items.

Swallowing screening is critical in rapid identification of risk of aspiration in patients presenting with acute stroke symptoms. Accuracy in judgments is vital for the success of the screening. This study examined speech-language pathologists’ (SLPs) reliability in interpreting screening items. Swallowing screening was completed in 75 individuals admitted with stroke symptoms. Screening items evaluated were lethargy, dysarthria, wet voice unrelated to swallowing, abnormal volitional cough, and cough, throat clear, wet voice after swallowing, and inability to continuously drink with ingestion of 5 and 90 ml water. Two SLPs, each with more than 10 years of experience, made simultaneous independent judgments of the same observations obtained from the screening. Overall, generally high agreement was identified between the SLPs (k[SE] = 0.83[0.03]). Individual kappas ranged from 0.38 (fair) for non-swallowing wet voice to 0.95 (almost perfect) for cough after swallow, with one item omitted due to minimal variation. SLPs demonstrate high reliability in swallowing screening. Results, however, indicate some potential variability. Items associated with trial swallows had the highest reliability, whereas items related to judgments of speech and voice quality had the lowest. Although SLPs have dedicated training and ample opportunity to practice, differences in agreement are evident. Routine practice in hospital departments is recommended to establish and maintain sensitive perceptual discrimination. If other professionals are to provide swallowing screening, knowledge of SLPs’ reliability levels must be considered when identifying screening items, creating education modules, and determining acceptable levels of agreement.
Abstract 9946: Impact of Sex Differences on Invasive Measures of Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction in Patients With Angina in the Absence of Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease

Background: Coronary microvascular dysfunction is associated with worse long-term outcomes, especially in women. Coronary flow reserve (CFR) is typically used to interrogate microvascular function; however its variability limits reliability. Alternatively, the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) is a direct measure of the microvasculature, but has been less thoroughly studied. We investigated sex differences in CFR and IMR in patients with angina in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: We prospectively enrolled 117 women and 40 men with angina in the absence of obstructive CAD. We performed CFR, IMR, fractional flow reserve (FFR), and quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) in the left anterior descending artery. Coronary flow was assessed with a thermodilution method by obtaining mean transit time (Tmn: an inverse correlate to absolute flow) at rest and hyperemia. IMR was measured as distal coronary pressure at hyperemia x hyperemic Tmn. Results: All patients had mini...
Imaging of the axilla before preoperative chemotherapy: Implications for postmastectomy radiation

Postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) improves breast cancer survival in many women with lymph node-positive disease who undergo surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. The role of PMRT after women receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is less clear. The available data suggest that clinical extent of disease at presentation before NAC, pathologic residual disease (especially pathologically involved lymph nodes) after NAC, and response to NAC are key prognostic factors for locoregional recurrence. Therefore, accurate axillary staging before the initiation of NAC and assessment of response to chemotherapy are critically important. Here, the authors review the literature addressing the radiotherapy management of patients with breast cancer who received NAC and underwent mastectomy with a special focus on the imaging modalities used to assess axillary lymph node status.
A Scalable Cloud-Based Queueing Service with Improved Consistency Levels

Queuing, an asynchronous messaging paradigm, is used to connect loosely coupled components to form large-scale, highly-distributed, and fault-tolerant applications. As cloud computing continues to gain traction, a number of vendors currently operate cloud-based shared queuing services. These services provide high availability and network partition tolerance with reduced consistency–atleast once delivery (no-loss) with no effort in message order.
Acute effects of a superoxide radical-generating system on DNA double-strand stability in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Determination by a modified fluorometric procedure.

Abstract The rate of oxyradical generation by a xanthine oxidase-xanthine system to acutely cause DNA strand breakage in Chinese hamster ovary cells was studied in a phosphate-buffered saline system. DNA strand breakage, measured by a fluorometric procedure, was found to increase curvilinearly as a function of oxyradical generation. Results of studying the ability of 5 mM mannitol, 10 mM dimethylthiourea, 300 μg superoxide dismutase/ml, or 1 mg catalase/ml to interfere with DNA damage at a high rate of oxyradical production best supported a hydrogen peroxide-promoted mechanism for DNA breakage.
A phase transition and stochastic domination in Pippenger's probabilistic failure model for Boolean networks with unreliable gates

We study Pippenger’s model of Boolean networks with unreliable gates. In this model, the conditional probability that a particular gate fails, given the failure status of any subset of gates preceding it in the network, is bounded from above by some ". We show that if a Boolean network with n gates is selected at random according to the Barak-Erd˝os model of a random acyclic digraph, such that the expected edge density is cn i1 logn, and if " is equal to a certain function of the size of the largest reflexive, transitive closure of a vertex (with respect to a particular realization of the random digraph), then Pippenger’s model exhibits a phase transition at c = 1. Namely, with probability 1io(1) as n ! 1, we have the following: for 0 • c • 1, the minimum of the probability that no gate has failed, taken over all probability distributions of gate failures consistent with Pippenger’s model, is equal to o(1), whereas for c > 1 it is equal to exp ‡ i c e(ci1) · + o(1). We also indicate how a more refined analysis of Pippenger’s model, e.g., for the purpose of estimating probabilities of monotone events, can be carried out using the machinery of stochastic domination.
Angular Momentum Effects in Charged-Particle Reactions Producing the Isomer Pair Te 1 1 9 m − Te 1 1 9 g

The effect of angular momentum on compound-nucleus reactions was investigated by measuring the formation cross-section ratios of the isomers of tellurium-119. Nine reactions were studied. Five proceeded via the compound nucleus $^{122*}\mathrm{Te}$, and two each via the compound nuclei $^{121*}\mathrm{Te}$ and $^{123*}\mathrm{Te}$. Projectiles ranging in size from $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ to $^{18}\mathrm{O}$ were employed. The experimentally determined ratios (upper-state to lower-state) varied from about 0.75 to 25. The expected increase of ratio with energy and projectile size was verified. An apparent direct interaction of $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$ projectiles was observed. Calculations of a simple type which considered only the angular momentum distribution of the compound nucleus, and calculations of the Huizenga-Vandenbosh type were performed for the reactions studied.
HIKES: Hierarchical key establishment scheme for wireless sensor networks

SUMMARY This paper presents a hierarchical key establishment scheme called HIKES. The base station in this scheme, acting as the central trust authority, empowers randomly selected sensors to act as local trust authorities authenticating, on its behalf, the cluster members and issuing private keys. HIKES uses a partial key escrow scheme that enables any sensor node selected as a cluster head to generate all the cryptographic keys needed to authenticate other sensors within its cluster. This scheme localizes secret key issuance and reduces the communication cost with the base station. HIKES provides an efficient broadcast authentication in which source authentication is achieved in a single transmission and a good defense for the routing mechanism. HIKES defends the routing mechanism against most known attacks and is robust against node compromise. HIKES also provides high addressing flexibility and network connectivity to all sensors in the network, allowing sensor addition and deletion. Simulation results have shown that HIKES provides an energy-efficient and scalable solution to the key management problem. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Model Checker for Value-Passing Mu-Calculus Using Logic Programming

Recent advances in logic programming have been successfully used to build practical verification toolsets, as evidenced by the XMC system. Thus far, XMC has supported value-passing process languages, but has been limited to using the propositional fragment of modal mucalculus as the property specification logic. In this paper, we explore the use of data variables in the property logic. In particular, we present value-passing modal mu-calculus, its formal semantics and describe a natural implementation of this semantics as a logic program. Since logic programs naturally deal with variables and substitutions, such an implementation need not pay any additional price-- either in terms of performance, or in complexity of implementation-- for having the added flexibility of data variables in the property logic. Our preliminary implementation supports this expectation.
MR findings in acute and chronic coccidioidomycosis meningitis.

PURPOSE To characterize MR findings in acute and chronic coccidioidomycosis meningitis and relate the imaging features to the clinical course. METHODS We reviewed MR scans and clinical findings of 12 patients with coccidioidal meningitis. RESULTS Patients with active or untreated disease were found to have hydrocephalus and intense enhancement of the cervical subarachnoid space, basilar, sylvian, and interhemispheric cisterns on postcontrast MR scans. Focal parenchymal signal abnormalities suggesting ischemia or infarction were common. Abnormal MR enhancement decreases during therapy, although patients develop cortical and/or brain stem atrophy. CONCLUSIONS Widespread cisternal and cervical subarachnoid meningeal involvement is common in coccidioidal meningitis. Serial contrast MR imaging reflects the effects of therapy in patients with coccidioidal meningitis.
Perinatal morbidity and mortality rates in severe twin-twin transfusion syndrome: results of the International Amnioreduction Registry

Abstract Objective: Serial aggressive amnioreduction is the most widely used therapy for pregnancies that are complicated by twin-twin transfusion syndrome. Survival rates reported with this therapy are 33% to 83%, the wide range attributable to the small number of patients in these case series. Similarly, data on morbidity in survivors are imprecise. We instituted the international twin-twin transfusion syndrome registry to determine the perinatal survival and morbidity rates and the factors that influence perinatal outcome in patients with twin-twin transfusion syndrome who were treated with serial aggressive amnioreduction from 1990 to 1998. Study Design: A total of 223 sets of twins who were diagnosed with twin-twin transfusion syndrome before 28 weeks' gestation from 20 fetal medicine referral centers were analyzed, with follow-up data until 4 weeks after birth. Results: Three hundred forty-six twins (78%; 182 recipients and 164 donors) were born alive. Two hundred sixty-six twins (60%; 144 recipients and 122 donors) were alive 4 weeks after birth. Both fetuses survived to 4 weeks in 108 pregnancies (48.4%), whereas, at least 1 fetus survived in 158 pregnancies (70.8%). The interval between the last amnioreduction and delivery ranged from zero to 138 days (median, 17.5 days). In the infants who survived to 4 weeks after birth, abnormalities on neonatal cranial scan were diagnosed in 24% of recipients and in 25% of donors. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the survival rate was significantly related to gestational age at diagnosis, presence of end-diastolic blood flow in the umbilical artery velocity waveforms, presence of hydrops, mean volume of amniotic fluid removed per week, larger birth weight, and gestational age at delivery. The hemoglobin level difference at birth was the only significant parameter to predict abnormal cranial ultrasonography in newborns. Conclusion: These data document perinatal survival and neonatal morbidity rates in severe twin-twin transfusion syndrome that were treated by serial aggressive amnioreduction. Outcome was influenced by several perinatal risk factors, which may be used to counsel patients before and during therapy. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;185:708-15.)
Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric identification and quantitation of urinary phenols after derivatization with 4-carbethoxyhexafluorobutyryl chloride, a novel derivative.

Abstract Urinary phenol is analyzed widely to determine benzene exposure in humans. Most methods utilize direct measurements of phenols after extraction from urine using gas chromatography or high-performance liquid chromatography. We describe a novel derivatization of urinary phenols using 4-carbethoxyhexafluorobutyryl chloride after extraction from urine and subsequent analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The derivative elutes at significantly higher temperature than phenol and the method is free from interferences from more volatile components in urine. We also observed excellent chromatographic properties of these derivatives. In addition, we observed strong molecular ions for the 4-carbethoxyhexafluoro butyryl derivative of phenol (m/z 344), p-cresol (m/z 358) and the internal standard 3,4-dimethylphenol (m/z 372) and other characteristic ions in the electron ionization, thus aiding in unambiguous identification of these compounds. The protonated molecular ions (m/z 373 for derivatized phenol, m/z 359 for derivatized p-cresol and m/z 373 for the internal standard) were the base peaks (relative abundance 100%) in the chemical ionization, although other secondary peaks were less abundant. The assay is linear for phenol concentration of 1–100 mg/l. The within-run and between-run precisions were 4.8% ( X =52.4, S.D. =2.5 mg/l ) and 8.1% ( X =53.0, S.D. =4.3 mg/l ) respectively, and the detection limit was 0.5 mg/l.
HTLV-1 Cell Lines Differ in Constitutively Activated Signaling Pathways That Can Be Altered by Cytokine Exposure

Examination of signaling pathways used by HTLV-1-infected rabbit cell lines revealed differences between one, RH/K30, that mediates asymptomatic infection and another, RH/K34, that causes lethal experimental leukemia. Both lines are IL-2 independent; RH/K30 produces IL-4 while RH/K34 produces IL-10. Examination of the Jak/STAT (Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription) activation of the lines revealed constitutive phosphorylation of Jak1 in both STAT6 phosphorylation, not previously reported for HTLV-1 cells, was observed in RH/K30; STAT1 and STAT3 were phosphorylated in RH/K34. Treatment with cytokines altered the activation of the STAT proteins: IL-2 induced STAT5 phosphorylation in both lines. Supernatant from RH/K34 or IL-10 induced STAT3 phosphorylation in RH/K30 cells. Supernatant from RH/K30 or IL-4 induced STAT6 phosphorylation in RH/K34 cells, which could be reversed with a Jak kinase inhibitor--AG-490.
Pnictogen-Hydride Activation by (silox)3Ta (silox = tBu3SiO); Attempts to Circumvent the Constraints of Orbital Symmetry in N2 Activation

Activation of N(2) by (silox)(3)Ta (1, silox = (t)Bu(3)SiO) to afford (silox)(3)Ta═N-N═Ta(silox)(3) (1(2)-N(2)) does not occur despite ΔG°(cald) = -55.6 kcal/mol because of constraints of orbital symmetry, prompting efforts at an independent synthesis that included a study of REH(2) activation (E = N, P, As). Oxidative addition of REH(2) to 1 afforded (silox)(3)HTaEHR (2-NHR, R = H, Me, (n)Bu, C(6)H(4)-p-X (X = H, Me, NMe(2)); 2-PHR, R = H, Ph; 2-AsHR, R = H, Ph), which underwent 1,2-H(2)-elimination to form (silox)(3)Ta═NR (1═NR; R = H, Me, (n)Bu, C(6)H(4)-p-X (X = H (X-ray), Me, NMe(2), CF(3))), (silox)(3)Ta═PR (1═PR; R = H, Ph), and (silox)(3)Ta═AsR (1═AsR; R = H, Ph). Kinetics revealed NH bond-breaking as critical, and As > N > P rates for (silox)(3)HTaEHPh (2-EHPh) were attributed to (1) ΔG°(calc)(N) P∼As. Calculations of the pnictidenes aided interpretation of UV-vis spectra. Addition of H(2)NNH(2) or H(2)N-N((c)NC(2)H(3)Me) to 1 afforded 1═NH, obviating these routes to 1(2)-N(2), and formation of (silox)(3)MeTaNHNH2 (4-NHNH(2)) and (silox)(3)MeTaNH(-(c)NCHMeCH(2)) (4-NH(azir)) occurred upon exposure to (silox)(3)Ta═CH(2) (1═CH(2)). Thermolyses of 4-NHNH(2) and 4-NH(azir) yielded [(silox)(2)TaMe](μ-N(α)HN(β))(μ-N(γ)HN(δ)H)[Ta(silox)(2)] (5) and [(silox)(3)MeTa](μ-η(2)-N,N:η(1)-C-NHNHCH(2)CH(2)CH(2))[Ta(κ-O,C-OSi(t)Bu(2)CMe(2)CH(2))(silox)(2)] (7, X-ray), respectively. (silox)(3)Ta═CPPh(3) (1═CPPh(3), X-ray) was a byproduct from Ph(3)PCH(2) treatment of 1 to give 1═CH(2). Addition of Na(silox) to [(THF)(2)Cl(3)Ta](2)(μ-N(2)) led to [(silox)(2)ClTa](μ-N(2)) (8-Cl), and via subsequent methylation, [(silox)(2)MeTa](2)(μ-N(2)) (8-Me); both dimers were thermally stable. Orbital symmetry requirements for N(2) capture by 1 and pertinent calculations are given.
Photoelectric Properties of Barium and Calcium

With a photoelectric cell in which Ba was fractionated and repeatedly distilled, values of ${\ensuremath{\phi}}_{0}$ at room temperature, as obtained by Fowler's method, were found to be 2.520 and 2.510 electron volts, the difference being attributed to either differences in crystal structure or chemical purity. For both conditions of the surface, the cell showed extraordinary constancy of work function. Measurements 100\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C above room temperature yielded a temperature coefficient of (2.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.7)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$ ev/\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. The absolute photoelectric yield of the surface was determined. The optical reflection coefficient was found to vary from 43 percent at 4000A to 63 percent at 7000A. The work function of a Ca surface prepared by single distillation was 2.706 ev. After repeatedly heating the surface to 100\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C the data did not fit Fowler's theoretical curve. The departures were consistent with the assumption that, after heating, the surface was not homogeneous. Analysis of the data gave evidence of two emitting surfaces having work functions differing by approximately 0.2 ev.
Co-ordinated transportation for large metropolitan communities

TRAFFIC congestion in our large centers of population exacts a staggering toll in inconvenience and financial loss each year. Emphasis to alleviate this condition has taken the direction of expediting the movement of vehicles. Analysis shows the fundamental problem to be that of moving people. In the light of this, co-ordinated transportation systems, such as here described, offer most attractive possibilities.
Catechol-O-methyltransferase: characteristics, polymorphisms and role in breast cancer

Catechol estrogens are carcinogenic, probably because of their estrogenicity and potential for further oxidative metabolism to reactive quinones. Estrogenic quinones cause oxidative DNA damage as well as form mutagenic depurinating adenine and guanine adducts. O-Methylation by catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) blocks their estrogenicity and prevents their oxidation to quinones. A single gene encodes both membrane bound (MB) and soluble (S) forms of COMT. The COMT gene contains 34 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The valine108 (S-COMT)/158 (MB-COMT) SNP encodes a low activity form of COMT and has been widely studied as a putative risk factor for breast cancer, with inconsistent results. Investigations of two other SNPs in the promoter of MB-COMT that may affect its expression have also provided mixed results. Future studies on the role of COMT in breast cancer should incorporate measurement of biomarkers that reflect COMT activity and its protective effects.
The relationship of the cell surface to metabolism; the stimulation of fermentation by extracellular potassium.

Abstract 1. 1. Metabolism of glucose and fructose by yeast cells in an acid medium is markedly stimulated by potassium. The effect is primarily on fermentation, with a consequent increase in the respiratory quotient under aerobic conditions. 2. 2. Other ions have a lesser effect on fermentation in the order Rb+ > Ca++ = Mg++ > Na+ = Li+ = NH4+ = Cs+. None of these ions inhibit the potassium effect. 3. 3. The competitive relationship exists between the extracellular potassium and hydrogen ions. Hydrogen ion represses whereas potassium ion increases the rate of fermentation. 4. 4. The potassium effect on fermentation is not influenced by the net movement of potassium into or out of the cell nor is it influenced by the intracellular concentration of potassium. It is therefore concluded that an interaction between glucose and the cells takes place on the cell surface where it can be influenced by the extracellular rather than intracellular hydrogen- and potassium-ion concentrations.
Oxytocin/Vasopressin-Related Peptides Have an Ancient Role in Reproductive Behavior

Many biological functions are conserved, but the extent to which conservation applies to integrative behaviors is unknown. Vasopressin and oxytocin neuropeptides are strongly implicated in mammalian reproductive and social behaviors, yet rodent loss-of-function mutants have relatively subtle behavioral defects. Here we identify an oxytocin/vasopressin-like signaling system in Caenorhabditis elegans, consisting of a peptide and two receptors that are expressed in sexually dimorphic patterns. Males lacking the peptide or its receptors perform poorly in reproductive behaviors, including mate search, mate recognition, and mating, but other sensorimotor behaviors are intact. Quantitative analysis indicates that mating motor patterns are fragmented and inefficient in mutants, suggesting that oxytocin/vasopressin peptides increase the coherence of mating behaviors. These results indicate that conserved molecules coordinate diverse behavioral motifs in reproductive behavior.
Advent of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-3-carboxamides with potent multi- and extended drug resistant antituberculosis activity

A set of nine 2,7-dimethylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-3-carboxamides and one 2,6-dimethylimidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidine-3-carboxamide were synthesized. The compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antituberculosis activity versus replicating, nonreplicating, multi- and extensive drug resistant Mtb strains. The MIC90 values of seven of these agents were ≤1 μM against the various tuberculosis strains tested. A representative compound of this class (1) was screened against seven nontubercular strains as well as other nonmycobacteria organisms and demonstrated remarkable microbe selectivity. A transcriptional profiling experiment of Mtb treated with compound 1 was performed to give a preliminary indication of the mode of action. Lastly, the in vivo ADME properties of compounds 1, 3, 4, and 6 were assessed. The 2,7-dimethylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-3-carboxamides are a druglike and synthetically accessible class of anti-TB agents that have excellent selective potency against multi- and extensive drug resistant TB and enc...
Teaching Formulation Skills in an Upper Level Fluid Mechanics Course

This paper represents an instructional experience to teach formulation skills to upper level students in the thermal-fluids concentration area following a synthesizing and reinforcing approach. Common deficiencies in student performance are discussed and linked to the background context. This work establishes a systematic feedback loop for instructors teaching lower level courses and provides guidelines for the graduate emphasis. Examples are presented from a collection of four upper level courses in Fluid Mechanics. The paper also furnishes motivational techniques, observations, results and comments that can strengthen future administration of this approach.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
The Contingent Effects of Semantic Price Cues

This research endeavors to understand the contingent effects of semantic price cues while taking into consideration several important contextual factors. These factors include where the customer encounters the semantic cue (in-store, at-home, online), whether the consumers’ shopping goal is hedonic or utilitarian in nature, the impact of shopping alone or with a companion, as well as the consumer’s motivation to process the product information. Findings indicate that a within-store cue (compared to a between store cue) enhances evaluations when the shopping in a store with a utilitarian goal, when shopping alone, and when their motivation to process is low. A meta-analysis of the results demonstrates the robustness of the differential impacts of these semantic cues.
Effects of matrix components on aromatase activity in breast stromal cells in culture

Local estradiol production within breast tissue is maintained by the aromatase cytochrome P450arom complex, which has been localized primarily to the stromal component of tumors but also has been detected in the breast epithelial cells. Paracrine interactions between stromal and epithelial components of the breast are critical to the sustained growth and progression of breast tumors. Maintenance of the differentiated state, including hormone and growth factor responsiveness, requires extracellular matrix proteins as substrata for cells. This research has focused on developing a cell culture system that more closely mimics in vivo interactions in order to dissect actual paracrine signaling between these two cell types. Human fibroblasts were isolated from breast tissue and were maintained in a cell culture system grown on plastic support or on a collagen I support matrix. The collagen I matrix model supports cell maintenance and subsequent differentiation on collagen rather than maximal proliferation, therefore allowing for a more accurate environment for the study of hormonal control and cellular communication. Initial experiments compared aromatase activity of patient fibroblasts grown on plastic versus collagen I using the tritiated water release method. Constitutive aromatase activity was found to be lower when cells were grown on a collagen gel for 4-7 days (7.7 fold lower) using DMEM/F12 containing 10% dextran coated charcoal stripped serum. However, fibroblasts grown on collagen I appeared to be significantly more responsive to stimulation by 100 nM dexamethasone (plastic: 6.0 fold induction, collagen: 33.2 fold induction) when pretreated for 12 h prior to measurement of aromatase activity. In an effort to examine paracrine interactions between the stromal and epithelial cells in breast tissue, experiments using conditioned media from fibroblast cultures were performed. Testosterone administration to fibroblasts results in the production of estradiol into the media in sufficient concentrations to elicit an increase in pS2 expression when the conditioned media is administered to MCF-7 cells. The addition of a potent aromatase inhibitor resulted in a complete suppression of fibroblast-derived estrogens and showed only a modest increase in pS2 expression. Culturing breast fibroblasts and epithelial cells on extracellular matrix allows for a more meaningful examination of the paracrine interactions between these cell types within the context of an appropriate extracellular environment. This study highlights the need for evaluation of gene expression in cell culture systems that accurately reflect the tissue microenvironment.
Application of Kevlar to parachute system design

Kevlar-29, an aramid fiber manufactured by DuPont, is being used on parachute systems requiring high strength-to-weight ratios or resistance to sustained high temperatures. Tests of parachutes using Kevlar webbing, braided cords, ribbons, and thread have demonstrated that these Kevlar materials can be used successfully in ribbon parachutes with no detrimental effects on performance. A few changes must be made in the design of a ribbon parachute to accommodate Kevlar's high modulus. Examples of parachutes that use Kevlar suspension lines, radials, ribbons, reefing lines, bridles, and skirt bands are presented to show that they are much lighter and more resistant to aerodynamic heating than their all-nylon counterparts.
Impact assessment of biomass burning on air quality in Southeast and East Asia during BASE-ASIA

A synergy of numerical simulation, ground-based measurement and satellite observation was applied to evaluate the impact of biomass burning originating from Southeast Asia (SE Asia) within the framework of NASA's 2006 Biomass burning Aerosols in Southeast Asia: Smoke Impact Assessment (BASE-ASIA). Biomass burning emissions in the spring of 2006 peaked in MarcheApril when most intense biomass burning occurred in Myanmar, northern Thailand, Laos, and parts of Vietnam and Cambodia. Model performances were reasonably validated by comparing to both satellite and ground-based observations despite overestimation or underestimation occurring in specific regions due to high uncertainties of biomass burning emission. Chemical tracers of particulate K(+), OC concentrations, and OC/EC ratios showed distinct regional characteristics, suggesting biomass burning and local emission dominated the aerosol chemistry. CMAQ modeled aerosol chemical components were underestimated at most circumstances and the converted AOD values from CMAQ were biased low at about a factor of 2, probably due to the underestimation of biomass emissions. Scenario simulation indicated that the impact of biomass burning to the downwind regions spread over a large area via the Asian spring monsoon, which included Southern China, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait. Comparison of AERONET aerosol optical properties with simulation at multi-sites clearly demonstrated the biomass burning impact via longrange transport. In the source region, the contribution from biomass burning to AOD was estimated to be over 56%. While in the downwind regions, the contribution was still significant within the range of 26%-62%.
Economics vs. harmonious civilization

Economics presents capitalism as a harmonious society made coherent by a network of mutually advantageous transactions. This article challenges that view, showing how economists structured their abstract theory in terms of transactions in order to eliminate any consideration of the conflicts and contradictions within capitalism. To make this point, the article includes examples, such as the United States Federal Reserve's efforts to strangle economic growth to keep wages in check, the performance of development states, and the repeated bankruptcies of US railroads during the nineteenth century.
Ultrafast Laser Nanomachining of Analytical and Diagnostic Biomedical Devices

Taking advantage of precise damage by femtosecond lasers, we construct fluidic devices for biomedical analyses and diagnostics. We demonstrate lab-on-a-chip components for integrated chemical analysis, micro scale sensors, and nanopores for patch-clamp and resistive-pulse sensing.
Mechanism of Volatile Anesthetic Action on Ion Channelsa

Single channel recording techniques have been used to study effects of halothane and isoflurane on the properties of nicotinic channels activated by 250 nM acetylcholine in cell-attached patches of BC3H1 mouse tumor cells grown in culture. Halothane and isoflurane were diluted in air and delivered as vapors in the atmosphere above the cells. Both halothane and isoflurane shortened the duration of individual opening events and caused openings to appear grouped together in bursts. The slower time constant of channel open-time distributions was decreased 50% by approximately 0.25% isoflurane (0.12 mM) or 0.30% halothane (0.15 mM) at room temperature. Total open time per burst was also decreased by each agent, an effect that is not consistent with a sequential channel blocking model. Effects of halothane and isoflurane can be explained by a sequential blocking model only if anesthetics also enhance the rate at which open channels normally close. Alternatively, results are also consistent with a cyclic blocking model in which blocked channels may close directly without having to pass back through the open state.
Traumatic Thoracic Aortic Rupture in the Pediatric Patient

Background Traumatic thoracic aortic rupture is a rare injury in the pediatric patient. Experiences with thoracic aortic rupture in patients less than 17 years of age are needed to help identify factors that can influence injury occurrence, diagnosis, management, and outcome. Methods Between July 1989 and December 1995, 6 children were treated operatively for thoracic aortic rupture from blunt trauma at a level I pediatric trauma center. The average age was 13.2 years (range, 8 to 16 years). There were 4 females and 2 males. There were 5 motor vehicle accidents and 1 bicycle accident. Aortic injury was suspected based on the mechanism of injury and abnormal chest roentgenogram results, and was confirmed by aortography (3 cases) or chest computed tomography (2) and transesophageal echocardiography (3). Life-threatening central nervous system or gastrointestinal injuries were evaluated or treated first. Operative repair of the thoracic aorta was performed by cardiopulmonary bypass (2 patients) and clamp and sew technique (4). Results Aortic ruptures were complete transections at the ligamentum arteriosum in 5 of 6 (83%); the other case was a cervical arch pseudoaneurysm. Associated injuries included pulmonary contusion (100%), pelvic/long bone fractures (50%), visceral laceration/perforation (50%), central nervous system (33%), paraplegia (17%), and myocardial contusion (17%). There were no rib fractures. Four of 5 patients (80%) were not wearing seat belts, and 2 of these were ejected. The average time from injury to the operating room was 17.6 hours (range, 5 to 48 hours); the time from diagnosis to the operating room exceeded 5 hours with aortography and was less than 3 hours with chest computed tomography and transesophageal echocardiography. Each diagnostic modality accurately identified an aortic injury. The average time for cardiopulmonary bypass and for clamp and sew was 52 minutes (range, 49 to 55 minutes) and 34 minutes (range, 16 to 45 minutes), respectively. One patient with preoperative paraplegia regained partial function; there were no other patients with paraplegia. There were no deaths. All patients are alive 2 months to 7 years after repair. Conclusions The multiply injured child with severe blunt trauma and an abnormal chest roentgenogram requires a search for aortic injury. We believe the most effective algorithm to follow for the diagnosis of traumatic thoracic aortic rupture in the child involves selective performance of chest computed tomography and transesophageal echocardiography. Our experience suggests that the mechanism of injury, the duration to diagnosis of an aortic injury, and failure to use seat belts may contribute to morbidity. A high index of suspicion and a systematic approach to the diagnosis and to the management strategy for injuries to the thoracic aorta can contribute to a good outcome in those few children who survive the injury.