cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Activity of selected gluconeogenic and lipogenic enzymes in bovine rumen mucosa, liver and adipose tissue.

The activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, ;malic enzyme', citrate-cleavage enzyme and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase were assayed in homogenates of rumen mucosa, liver and adipose tissue of cattle. Rumen mucosa cytoplasm contained activities of ;malic enzyme' approximately sevenfold those of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, suggesting that the conversion of propionate into lactate by rumen mucosa involves ;malic enzyme'. Neither starvation for 8 days nor feeding with a concentrate diet for at least 3 months before slaughter produced enzyme patterns in the tissues different from those in cattle given only hay, except that the all-concentrate diet caused increased activities of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and ;malic enzyme' in adipose tissues. Rumen mucosa, liver and adipose tissue contained phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase activity. ;Malic enzyme' was absent in liver. Citrate-cleavage enzyme activity was present in liver and adipose tissue but was quite low in rumen mucosa. Liver contained much less glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity than rumen mucosa or adipose tissue.
Leadership for Global Virtual Teams: Facilitating Teamwork Processes

This chapter considers the intersection of leadership and global virtual team dynamics. We consider four key developments in the science of team effectiveness as they apply to virtual teams: (a) team emergent states, (b) team phases, (c) teamwork processes, and (d) team leadership functions. First, we elaborate the importance of team emergent states, highlighting their relevance to team success and acknowledging that leadership is a prominent force to help facilitate their development. Second, we describe the interaction processes through which teams develop optimal emergent states and achieve their goals over time. Leadership is needed that shapes team processes throughout the team lifecycle, and thereby team emergent states and performance. In closing, we offer specific, research-based strategies to guide today’s virtual team leaders in enabling optimal team processes, illustrating these suggestions using examples drawn from a large-scale study of in global virtual teams.
Functions on Metric Spaces

For mappings from one metric space to another we employ either notations like T, S, U or notations like f, g, h. Generally, the transformation notation is cleaner: we write Tx for the image of x under T, which becomes f(x) in the standard function notation.
Mass isotopomer-guided decluttering of metabolomic data to visualize endogenous biomarkers of drug toxicity

Abstract Metabolomics offers the opportunity to uncover endogenous biomarkers that can lead to metabolic pathways and networks and that underpin drug toxicity mechanisms. A novel protocol is presented and discussed that is applicable to drugs which generate urinary metabolites when administered to mice sensitive to its toxicity. The protocol would not apply to drugs that are not metabolized or eliminated by a different route. Separate stable isotope-labeled and unlabeled drug administration to mice is made together with collection of urines from control animals. Untargeted mass spectrometry-based metabolomic analysis of these three urine groups is conducted in addition to principal components analysis (PCA). In the case of unlabeled acetaminophen and [acetyl-2H3]acetaminophen, each given at a hepatotoxic dose (400 mg/kg i.p.) to the sensitive mouse strain (wild-type 129), the PCA loadings plot showed a distribution of ions in the shape of a “fallen-Y” with the deuterated metabolites in one arm and the paired nondeuterated metabolites in the other arm of the fallen-Y. Ions corresponding to the endogenous toxicity biomarkers sat in the mouth of the fallen-Y. This protocol represents an innovative means to separate endogenous biomarkers from drug metabolites, thereby aiding the identification of biomarkers of drug toxicity. For acetaminophen, increased hepatic oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, Ca2+ signaling, heme catabolism, and saturation of glucuronidation, together with decreased fatty acid β-oxidation and cellular energy dysregulation were all implied from the discovered biomarkers. The protocol can be applied to other drugs and may now be translated to clinical studies.
Semantic information, autonomous agency and non-equilibrium statistical physics.

Shannon information theory provides various measures of so-called syntactic information, which reflect the amount of statistical correlation between systems. By contrast, the concept of ‘semantic i...
The Financial State of Municipalities and the Effect on Housing Values

Abstract This study investigates the impact of municipalities' financial condition on the housing values within that municipality. The data consist of 68,882 housing units located in 175 cities throughout 115 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), across 42 states. Information on the housing units and owners' characteristics are drawn from the 2011 Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS) dataset and supplemented with MSA-level economic condition variables. The municipal financial information is drawn from the 2010 government census and consists of detailed information of every local government's finances. The empirical results provide evidence that the financial state of a municipality affects local housing values. In particular, engaging in long-term capital projects leads to higher housing values, while not spending revenues on public goods will not entice individuals to move to the area.
Juggling School with Life: How the Successful Non-traditional Nursing Student Stays in School

Abstract Non-traditional nursing students struggle to balance school and life. The retention of these students is paramount for increasing RNs in the workforce. The beginning development of grounded theory from a thematic qualitative analysis was conducted from the audio recordings of senior associate degree nursing students. This research highlights three themes, “Enhancing Personal Capacity, Learning to Balance, and Maintaining Support.” Students from this research are successful with matriculation, graduation, and licensure.
Resection of primary tumor in liver only metastatic midgut neuroendocrine tumors.

446Background: Surgical management of metastatic midgut neuroendocrine tumors (NET) remains controversial. Resection of primary tumor only without liver resection is advocated only in select patien...
Information flow and credit rating announcements

We employ the implied volatility spread (IVS) and the short lending fee as measures of private information conveyed by their respective markets. Using credit rating announcements as an informational event, we find that both IVS and the short fee have significantly higher predictive power for returns on event days versus non-event days. Both IVS and the short fee also predict the direction and magnitude of credit rating changes. Options order imbalance (OIB) does not explain the results. In models with both explanatory variables, the short fee remains significant in all specifications, while IVS loses explanatory power.
How does a small structural change of anode ionomer make a big difference in alkaline membrane fuel cell performance

Anode ionomers of alkaline membrane fuel cells (AMFCs) play a critical role in hydrogen and water transport thus affecting cell performance and durability. Here, we modified a quaternized poly(biphenyl alkylene) ionomer with two chemical structural variations to increase hydrogen access to the AMFC anode: first, we introduced the symmetric dimethyl groups in the polymer backbone to increase polymer fractional free volume. Second, we replaced hydroxide-conducting alkyl trimethylammonium with alkyl triethylammonium to reduce cation–hydroxide–water co-adsorption on the hydrogen oxidation catalyst to increase hydrogen access to the co-adsorbed layer. We compared the performance benefits of the two structural variations through operating AMFCs under H2/O2 conditions. The membrane electrode assembly employing the modified poly(biphenyl alkylene) ionomer at the anode exhibited >1500 mW cm−2 peak power density at 80 °C with stable short-term durability (>100 h) under a constant current density of 0.6 A cm−2. This study provides an essential insight into designing anode ionomer of highly performing AMFCs.
Organophosphate Esters: Are These Flame Retardants and Plasticizers Affecting Children's Health?

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are applied to a variety of consumer products, primarily as flame retardants and plasticizers. OPEs can leach out of products over time and are consequently prevalent in the environment and frequently detected in human biomonitoring studies. Exposure during pregnancy is of particular concern as OPEs have recently been detected in placental tissues, suggesting they may be transferred to the developing infant. Also, studies have now shown that children typically experience higher exposure to several OPEs compared with adults, indicating they may be disproportionately impacted by these compounds. This review summarizes the current literature on reproductive and child health outcomes of OPE exposures and highlights areas for future research. Experimental animal studies demonstrate potential for OPEs to adversely impact health, and a limited number of epidemiologic studies conducted in adult cohorts suggest that OPEs may interfere with the endocrine system. Neurodevelopment is perhaps the most well studied of children’s health endpoints, and several studies indicate that prenatal and early life OPE exposures impact both cognitive and behavioral development. Associations have also been reported with reproductive outcomes (e.g., fertilization and pregnancy loss) and with the timing of parturition and preterm birth. Cross-sectional studies also demonstrate associations between OPEs and respiratory health outcomes, allergic disease, and measures of adiposity. An expanding body of research demonstrates that OPEs are associated with adverse reproductive health and birth outcomes, asthma and allergic disease, early growth and adiposity, and neurodevelopment. Still, additional research is urgently needed to elucidate the full impact of OPEs on children’s health.
Progressive Cardiac Arrhythmias and Ecg Abnormalities in the Huntington'S Disease Bachd Mouse Model

Huntington's disease (HD) is a dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disease. There is accumulating evidence that HD patients have increased prevalence of conduction abnormalities and compromised sinoatrial node function which could lead to increased risk for arrhythmia. We used mutant Huntingtin (mHTT) expressing bacterial artificial chromosome Huntington's disease mice to determine if they exhibit electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities involving cardiac conduction that are known to increase risk of sudden arrhythmic death in humans. We obtained surface ECGs and analyzed arrhythmia susceptibility; we observed prolonged QRS duration, increases in PVCs as well as PACs. Abnormal histological and structural changes that could lead to cardiac conduction system dysfunction were seen. Finally, we observed decreases in desmosomal proteins, plakophilin-2 and desmoglein-2, which have been reported to cause cardiac arrhythmias and reduced conduction. Our study indicates that mHTT could cause progressive cardiac conduction system pathology that could increase the susceptibility to arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death in HD patients.
Regional Anesthesia Facilitates the Early Recognition of Local Anesthetic Toxicity

Rising concerns regarding the potential long-term neurocognitive effects of general anesthetic agents have renewed an interest in using regional anesthesia instead of general anesthesia in infants. Although generally safe and effective, the primary risk associated with regional anesthesia relates to the use of large doses of local anesthetic agents and the potential for local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST). We present three infants who suffered LAST after receiving regional anesthesia instead of general anesthesia. The early signs and symptoms were quickly identified in the awake state thereby allowing for cessation of continuous drug administration and a rapid response to treat LAST before progression to severe sequelae. J Med Cases. 2019;10(11):338-342 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc3393
In the Best Interests of No One: How New York's "Best Interest of the Child" Law Violates Parents' Fundamental Right to the Care, Custody, and Control of Their Children

The only permanent rule in the game of Calvinball is that you can never play the game with the same rule twice. Calvin, a six-year-old imaginative comic figure from Bill Watterson’s famous comic, Calvin and Hobbes, created Calvinball with the intention of making a game that could not be more disorganized. Any player may declare a new rule at any point in the game. Zones on the playing field are created “spontaneously and inconsistently by players.” Score does not need to be kept with any logical consistency. Penalties may be in any form deemed fit. And, “[a]ny rule that is carried out during the course of the game may never be used again.”
Association of Zonula occludens (ZO) protein-1 with N-cadherin in human melanoma cells

2768 Under normal homeostasis, melanocyte growth is tightly regulated by the surrounding keratinocytes. During the process of malignant transformation, nascent melanoma cells are able to escape from keratinocytes through down-regulation of E-cadherin and the switching of binding partners, so that they communicate amongst themselves and with fibroblasts. The precise role of fibroblasts in melanoma development is currently unknown. It is likely that the infiltrating-fibroblasts are contributing to the increased survival of the early-stage tumor, via altered signaling resulting from novel cell-cell adhesion patterns, gap-junction communications and the enhanced or altered secretion of extracellular matrix proteins. The Zonula occludens (ZO)-1 protein contains SH3 and multiple PDZ domains, and is a component of both the tight and adherens junctions found at sites of cell-cell contact. It is likely that ZO-1 is critical in transducing the signals from the extracellular environment, via adhesion proteins, to the intracellular milieu through recruitment of signaling proteins. To date, its role in tumor progression has been little studied. Here we report the expression of ZO-1 in human melanoma cell lines and human melanoma samples. Immunostaining experiments demonstrate the presence of ZO-1 in cell-cell contacts between both melanoma-melanoma cells and melanoma-fibroblasts. In contrast to this finding, no ZO-1 staining was seen in melanocyte-melanocyte cell-cell contacts nor with melanocyte-keratinocyte contacts, suggesting that the expression of ZO-1 is acquired during malignant transformation. N-cadherin is known to be involved in melanoma-melanoma and melanoma-fibroblast adhesion. Immunofluorescence co-localization experiments demonstrated that ZO-1 and N-cadherin were co-localized at sites of cell-cell contact between melanoma-melanoma cells and melanoma-fibroblasts. ZO-1 is known to form protein-protein complexes with other molecules involved in cell-cell communication, such as the gap-junction forming connexins, and members of the phospholipase C family. Currently, co-immunoprecipitation studies are being performed to elucidate the binding partners of ZO-1 in melanoma cells. It is anticipated that these studies will lead to enhanced understanding of the nature and role of melanoma-fibroblast communication in disease progression.
The association between union membership and perceptions of safety climate among US adult workers.

Abstract Objectives An individual’s perceptions of their workplace safety climate can influence their health and safety outcomes in the workplace. Even though union membership has been declining in the US, union members still comprise 10% of the working population and have higher-than-industry average non-fatal illness and injury rates. Due to limited research focused in this area, this study examined whether union membership was associated with worker perceptions of safety climate. Methods This was a secondary data analysis study utilizing data from the Quality Work Life module from the General Social Survey centered on US workers aged 18 and above. Propensity-score matching was implemented to reduce potential selection bias between unionized and non-unionized workers. Linear regression explored the association between union membership and perceptions of safety climate, controlling for age, sex, education, industry, resource adequacy, supervisor support, co-worker support, and workload. Results For perceived safety climate (on a 0–16 scale, the higher the more positive), those in union had a lower mean of perceived safety climate (12.44) compared to those not in a union (13.20). Based on the regression results, those who were in a union reported more negative perceptions of their workplace safety climate in a 12-month period (β = −0.61, p Conclusions By demonstrating a commitment to proactive injury prevention and bolstering the business’s overall safety performance indicators, businesses who are open to collaborations with unions may see some long-term benefits (e.g. return on investment, increased job satisfaction) and enhance union workers’ perceptions of safety climate.
Regal Fritillary (Speyeria idalia) Sex Ratio in Tallgrass Prairie: Effects of Survey Timing and Management Regime

The regal fritillary, Speyeria idalia (Drury), was once a common inhabitant of North American grassland communities. Regal fritillary populations are commonly reported to have a male biased adult sex ratio (ASR) throughout their range. We assessed the observed ASR of regal fritillary throughout an annual flight period, investigated how the overall density of both sexes changed, and tested effects of prescribed fire, grazing and haying management treatments on male and female density. We found that regal fritillary exhibited an observed 2:1 male biased ASR across the entire emergence period. Our analysis also revealed that male density peaked earlier than female density in the flight period. Point estimates of density indicated sites that received prescribed burning at the moderate fire-return interval supported ≥1.3 times greater density of males and ≥5.6 times greater density of females versus sites burned with short and long fire-return intervals. Additionally, this effect was enhanced when combined with grazing which showed males were ≥1.9 times and females had ≥1.2 times greater point estimates of density in sites that were grazed and burned at a moderate fire-return interval versus other sites. The relatively stable status of regal fritillary within our study region suggests that a 2:1 male to female ASR may be considered the model composition of populations throughout their range. Likewise, the dynamic nature of the ASR throughout the flight period highlights the importance of conducting surveys across the flight period. Finally, these results corroborate an increasing number of research results that reveal common prairie management practices, such as prescribed fire can be applied within sites that contain regal fritillary and continue to support stable populations.
Human rights hackers: crafting advocacy in Accra, Ghana

This article explores how groups of human rights activists in one of Ghana’s largest informal settlements craft innovative advocacy strategies, drawing on their experience with and knowledge of mul...
[Value of chitinase-like protein YKL-40 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid for predicting refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children].

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the value of chitinase-like protein YKL-40 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) for predicting refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (RMPP) in children. METHODS A total of 50 children with common Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) and 22 children with RMPP were enrolled. The two groups were compared in terms of clinical features, laboratory examination results, imaging findings, and YKL-40 levels in BALF. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the value of YKL-40 in BALF for predicting RMPP. RESULTS Compared with the common MPP group, the RMPP group had significantly higher incidence rates of fever, shortness of breath, lung consolidation, and pleural effusion (P < 0.05) and significantly higher serum levels of C-reactive protein and lactate dehydrogenase (P < 0.05). The RMPP group had a significantly higher level of YKL-40 in BALF than the common MPP group (P < 0.05). The ROC curve plotted based on the level of YKL-40 in BALF had an area under the ROC curve of 0.750, a sensitivity of 72.7% and a specificity of 64.0% for predicting RMPP. CONCLUSIONS There is an increase in the level of YKL-40 in BALF in children with RMPP, and the level of YKL-40 in BALF has a certain value for predicting RMPP.
Biotic Interactions between the Gametophytes of Wall Rue (Asplenium ruta-muraria) and Other Fern Species

Premise of research. The gametophytes of ferns are nutritionally independent of the sporophytes and are potentially hermaphroditic. The sexual expression of fern gametophytes is based on environmen...
A modeling study to determine the contribution of interbasin versus intrabasin phosphorus loads on the southwestern nearshore of Lake Ontario

Abstract Elevated phosphorus and nuisance algae such as Cladophora have been persistent environmental concerns in the coastal areas of Lake Ontario. Phosphorus is regarded as one of the drivers of nearshore Cladophora and the most likely mitigation that can be used to control levels of this nuisance algae in the lakes. The Niagara River, carrying the Lake Erie interbasin load, is the major contributor of the overall phosphorus load to Lake Ontario. Due to circulation patterns in the lake, this contribution is especially significant in the southwestern nearshore areas. Here we apply a mathematical model to provide insight into the relative contribution of the Niagara River versus loadings from local rivers (intrabasin loads) on the nearshore phosphorus concentrations in this region. We performed numerical experiments to determine to what extent the Niagara, Genesee and smaller local rivers impact the nearshore (
Dangling phosphine complexes: Phosphine exchange in pentacarbonyl tungsten complexes of bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)phenylphosphine

Abstract The reaction of [W(CO)5NH2Ph] with Ph2PCH2PPhCH2PPh2 under mild conditions and stoichiometric control leads to two sets of linkage isomers: [(OC)5W{κ1-PPh(CH2PPh2)2}] 6a and [(OC)5W(κ1- PPh2CH2PPhCH2PPh2)] 6b; [(OC)5W{μ-PPh2CH2PPh(CH2PPh2)}W(CO)5] 7a and [(OC)5W(μ-PPh2CH2PPhCH2PPh2)W(CO)5] 7b. Isomers 6a and 6b exist in solution in equilibrium with K = 4.35 for 6b/6a in CDCl3 at 55 °C. Under the same conditions, the rate of isomerization of 6a to 6b is 4.32 × 10−6 s−1. Isomerization is thought to proceed by an initial attack of a carbonyl group by a pendant phosphine followed by ring opening and a 1,2-phosphine shift. At higher temperatures, chelated complexes with four- and six-membered rings are formed: [(OC)5W{μ-κ1-, κ2-PPh2CH2 (PhPCH2PPh2)W(CO)4 }] 9a, [(OC)5W{μ-κ1-, κ2-PPh (CH2PPh2)2}W(CO)4 }] 9b, and [(OC)4W{κ2-(PPh2CH2)2PPh}] 10b. X-ray crystal structures of 6a, 7b, and 9b have been determined.
Global Teams in the Military

Effective engagement in complex, global teamwork is vital to successful military operations. The purpose of this chapter is to share insights gained through both research and experiences, providing an overview of the significant challenges faced by leaders of global military teams, followed by a description of some of the research being conducted to address these challenges. The chapter begins with a definition to encompass ‘global teams’ found in the military and a description of the types of global teams composed by military members. Then, the significant challenges currently faced by leaders of global military teams are broken down into questions related to composing the team, building and training the team, and monitoring and improving performance. Within the discussion of these challenges, ongoing research focused on enhancing performance in global teams is presented and critical areas of focus for future research are discussed.
Agonist- and voltage-gated calcium entry in cultured mouse spinal cord neurons under voltage clamp measured using arsenazo III

Spinal cord neurons is dissociated cell culture were loaded with the calcium indicator arsenazo III using the whole-cell patch-clamp recording technique. Under voltage-clamp, depolarizing voltage steps evoked transient increases in absorbance at 660 nm, with no change at 570 nm, the isosbestic wavelength for calcium-arsenazo III complexes. The optical response occurred with a threshold depolarization to -30 mV, peaked at +10 mV, and decreased with further depolarization, consistent with an elevation of cytoplasmic free calcium resulting from Ca2+ flux through voltage-dependent calcium channels. Inward current responses to the excitatory amino acids N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) and L-glutamate were also accompanied by calcium transients; these were dose-dependent, varied with the driving force for inward current, and were blocked by extracellular Mg2+ in a voltage-dependent manner, suggesting Ca2+ flux through NMDA-receptor channels. Responses to kainate, quisqualate, and GABA were not accompanied by comparable calcium transients. [Ca2+]i transients evoked by depolarizing voltage steps were of maximal amplitude at the start of recording and declined with time, reflecting rundown of voltage-dependent calcium channels. In contrast, [Ca2+]i transients evoked by NMDA gradually increased in amplitude during periods of whole-cell recording lasting 1-2 hr. Procedures resulting in loading of the neuron with Ca2+ accelerated the increase in amplitude of [Ca2+]i transients evoked by NMDA, but slowed the decay of [Ca2+]i transients evoked by voltage steps. Our results provide evidence for 2 independent sources of transmembrane Ca2+ flux in vertebrate neurons, through voltage-gated calcium channels and through NMDA-receptor channels. The Ca2+ flux gated by NMDA-receptor- specific agonists may play a role in synaptic plasticity, in regulating excitability, and in the excitotoxic response to excitatory amino acids.
A reactive measurement framework

Often when assessing complex network behavior a single measurement is not enough to gain a solid understanding of the root causes of the behavior. In this initial paper we argue for thinking about "measurement" as a process rather than an event. We introduce reactive measurement (REM), which is a technique in which one measurement's results are used to automatically decide what (if any) additional measurements are required to further understand some observed phenomenon. While reactive measurement has been used on occasion in measurement studies, what has been lacking is (i) an examination of its general power, and (ii) a generic framework for facilitating fluid use of this approach. We discuss REM's power and sketch an architecture for a system that provides general REM functionality to network researchers. We argue that by enabling the coupling of disparate measurement tools, REM holds great promise for assisting researchers and operators in determining the root causes of network problems and enabling measurement targeted for specific conditions.
Learning streams: a case study in curriculum integration

During 2004-2005, the Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Mechanical Engineering at Iowa State University in collaboration with educational colleagues in the Research Institute for Studies in Education piloted a new curricula model to improve student learning through vertical integration of educational activities using new program structures. We offered an experimental course sequence during Fall 2004 and Spring 2005, defined as a "learning stream". A learning stream is a basic element of a novel program structure designed specifically to vertically integrate subject matter across courses. A learning stream merges and re-organizes material to more effectively present and reinforce key objectives. Concepts are covered in a more cohesive and timely manner compared to traditional topical organizations, letting students see relationships between concepts. A learning stream emphasizes fundamentals through their application. In some cases, it provides a basis to introduce cross-disciplinary ideas. Students gain proficiency with higher dimensional problem-solving from a conceptual and disciplinary perspective rather than a single subject. The design of a curriculum using learning streams addresses one of the most important questions in engineering education, that is, how to achieve balance between the fundamentals and applications, between theory and practice. In this paper, we describe the learning stream model, a pilot offering, its evaluation, and lessons learned
Some Aspects of Uncertainty in Predicting Sea Ice Thinning

A high proportion of the uncertainty in the decline of Arctic sea ice thick- ness in recent global climate models can be explained by the uncertainty in the ice thick- ness in the late 20th century. Experiments with one model indicate that this sensitiv- ity to the mean state remains even when ice-albedo feedback is eliminated from the model. The magnitude of ice-albedo feedback is quantified and found to be too small to be a major source of uncertainty in thickness decline in climate models. Instead it is shown that the sea ice growth-thickness feedback in combination with large biases in the sea ice thickness during the 20th century can easily give rise to very large uncertainty in fu- ture thickness decline. Reducing biases in the surface fluxes and better tuning the sur- face albedo would improve uncertainty in both present and future prediction.
Matrix metalloproteinase 3 deletion preserves denervated motor endplates after traumatic nerve injury.

Objective Traumatic peripheral nerve injuries often produce permanent functional deficits despite optimal surgical and medical management. One reason for the impaired target organ reinnervation is degradation of motor endplates during prolonged denervation. Here we investigate the effect of preserving agrin on the stability of denervated endplates. Because matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3) is known to degrade agrin, we examined the changes in endplate structure following traumatic nerve injury in MMP3 knockout mice. Methods After creation of a critical size nerve defect to preclude reinnervation, we characterized receptor area, receptor density, and endplate morphology in denervated plantaris muscles in wild-type and MMP3 null mice. The level of agrin and muscle-specific kinase (MuSK) was assessed at denervated endplates. In addition, denervated muscles were subjected to ex vivo stimulation with acetylcholine. Finally, reinnervation potential was compared after long-term denervation. Results In wild-type mice, the endplates demonstrated time-dependent decreases in area and receptor density and conversion to an immature receptor phenotype. In striking contrast, all denervation-induced changes were attenuated in MMP3 null mice, with endplates retaining their differentiated form. Agrin and MuSK were preserved in endplates from denervated MMP3 null animals. Furthermore, denervated muscles from MMP3 null mice demonstrated greater endplate efficacy and reinnervation. Interpretation These results demonstrate a critical role for MMP3 in motor endplate remodeling, and reveal a potential target for therapeutic intervention to prevent motor endplate degradation following nerve injury. ANN NEUROL 2013;73:210–223
Juarochos: Fleeing Ciudad Juárez

The story of the drug war that continues to rend the social fabric of Cuidad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, is not only conveyed through images of the horrendous brutality and daily reports of grim statistics, but also through chronicles of commonplace lives. The Campos Ordinola family, whose attempt at establishing a new life in this northern border city after immigrating from Ejido Guadalupe in the southern state of Veracruz was thwarted by economic hardship and the random violence, is just one example of many. This essay looks at their daily life in chaotic Juarez and their return again to the security of the small town from which they set out nine years ago.
Signal detectability: the use of ROC curves and their analyses.

Issues related to ROC curves are addressed. The original article on the subject by Lee Lusted, describing the "state of the art" 20 years ago, is reviewed. The concepts that Lusted addressed are th...
A class of fault-tolerant multiprocessor networks

A class of efficient interconnection networks for large multiprocessor systems is introduced. The important characteristics of these networks are their capability of maximal fault-tolerance, higher density, admitting simple distributed-routing algorithms both for the faulty and fault-free network, and ease of self diagnosis. The fault-tolerant routing is fully distributed and does not require any topological table. The self-diagnostic algorithm is semidistributed, and is based on a combinatorial structure known as the Hadamard matrix. The diagnostic scheme has high degree of fault-tolerance, which asymptotically approaches to a level of 100%. The scheme can be made more secure and fault-tolerant by using various froms of Hadamard matrix. >
Test for ΔT=1/2 in K+→3π and K 2 0 →3π decay modes

We have studied the consequences of the ΔT=1/2 selection rule on the energy spectra of the pions in K+→3π, K 2 0 →3π decay modes. Without any dynamical assumptions one can conclude that the π+, π0 spectra in K+→π0+π0+π+ and the π0, π+ (or π−) spectra in K 2 0 →π++π−+π0 respectively should be the same. The effect of strong final state π-π interactions on the general structure of the decay amplitude is discussed and the possibility of detecting experimentally the presence of such strong interactions is suggested. The question of whether the experimental spectra provide a critical test of ΔT=1/2 rule is also considered.
Portopulmonary Hypertension*: A Tale of Two Circulations

Pulmonary involvement is common in patients with portal hypertension and can manifest in diverse manners. Changes in pulmonary arterial resistance, manifesting either as the hepatopulmonary syndrome or portopulmonary hypertension (PPHTN), have been increasingly recognized in these patients in recent years. This review summarizes the clinicopathologic features, diagnostic criteria, as well as the latest concepts in the pathogenesis and management of PPHTN, which is defined as an elevated pulmonary artery pressure in the setting of an increased pulmonary vascular resistance and a normal wedge pressure in a patient with portal hypertension.
Folding by cataclastic flow: evolution of controlling factors during deformation

Abstract Folding at upper crustal levels occurs by bending of beds and flexural slip between beds. As a fold's interlimb angle decreases, changes in bed thickness and limb rotation are accommodated by various mechanisms, depending on deformation conditions. In the elastico-frictional (EF) regime, cataclastic flow may be the dominant mechanism for fold tightening. The Canyon Range (CR) syncline, located in the Sevier belt of central Utah, shows this type of deformation. The fold involves three thick quartzite units, with slight lithological variations between them. Fold tightening took place in the EF regime ( The initial outcrop scale fracture/DZ network geometry is a product of the growth and linking of micro-scale cataclasite zones, which in turn is controlled by primary lithological variations. Once a fracture network forms, the material behavior of the fractured rock is unlike that of the original rock, with sliding of fracture-bound blocks accomplishing ‘block-controlled’ cataclastic flow. Thus, initial lithological variations at the micro-scale largely control the final deformation behavior at the largest scale. During progressive fold tightening, additional factors regulate cataclastic flow, such as fracture/DZ reactivation or healing, during folding. Although initial lithological variations in different units may produce unique network geometries, each unit's behavior may also depend upon the behavior of adjacent units. In the CR syncline, during the initial stages of cataclastic flow, the inherent nature of each quartzite unit results in unit-specific fracture network geometries. As deformation progresses, unit-specific networks begin to interact with those in surrounding units, resulting in feedback mechanisms regulating the later stages of network development. Thus, the nature of cataclastic flow changes dramatically from the initial to the final stages of folding.
Importance of recycling education: a curriculum development at WSU

The use of recyclable materials has been continuously increasing worldwide due to economic, environmental, and technological developments. Not reusing recyclable materials means that they will be degraded or corroded, and then completely destroyed by nature, thus representing a waste of resources and much environmental damage. To increase both academic and public awareness of recycling, the authors have developed a three-credit-hour recycling course entitled “Recycling of Engineering Materials” at the College of Engineering at Wichita State University, which was taught in spring 2008 and 2010. The lectures focused on basic characterization and separation techniques of recyclable materials, recycled products, environmental concerns, and potential commercial applications. Throughout the lectures, students were expected to gain an understanding of recycling concepts, processing techniques, recent progress on recycling, as well as health issues relating to toxic and hazardous materials and their handling procedures. The survey results confirmed that the course is well established and understood by the undergraduate and graduate students.
The t(14;18)(q32;q21)/IGH-MALT1 translocation in MALT lymphomas is a CpG-type translocation, but the t(11;18)(q21;q21)/API2-MALT1 translocation in MALT lymphomas is not.

To the editor: In a recent issue of Blood , Murga Penas et al identified a novel cluster region on MALT1 from t(14;18)(q32;q21) IGH-MALT1 translocations in MALT lymphomas, which bears many similarities to the bcl-1 major translocation cluster (MTC) from mantle cell lymphomas and the bcl-2 major
An investigation of spatial behavior in agile guidance tasks

Humans are capable of agile and adaptive spatial behaviors that are far beyond the capabilities of today's autonomous systems. Spatial behaviors have been investigated in AI, cognitive science and neuroscience. This paper describes an engineering-oriented perspective that is intended to bridge the gap between these fields. We claim that spatial behavior cannot be fully understood by considering the agent and its environment separately. In our approach, we put the emphasis on the interaction between the agent's dynamics and the task environment. We hypothesize that specific patterns emerge from this interaction and that these patterns are used by human operators to mitigate the complexity involved in agile and adaptive spatial performance. This paper describes preliminary experiments and a methodology to investigate these hypotheses.
Innovation Management: Reaping the benefits of Open Platforms by assimilating internal and external innovations

Abstract Joseph Schumpeter in his well-known study of the business cycles proposed that there is a temporal clustering of a number of major technological innovations during periods of deflation and recession which accounted for the dramatic growth of the so-called leading sectors. But, in this day and age of Friedman's “flat world” technological advances, and social media, Schumpeter's theory may not hold ground. Clearly, the locus of innovation is shifting from largely being confined to operations within the four walls of the corporation, to a more distributed, open model of innovation. The capacity to innovate and to assimilate it is now considered as key factor behind the economic dynamism of any region. Additionally, the opportunity to engage with customers in more participatory processes, advancing science through more open, collaborative, and rapid means, and creating markets and pathways for people around the world to connect and innovate. This paper attempts to take a survey of the literature from Schumpeter's linear model to Dosi's evolutionary economics to Chesbrough's Open Innovation model. The paper also looks at the empirical data which clearly points to the Open Innovation where useful knowledge can be found from a wealth of possible sources as the best model in the current environment of rapid technological advances. The paper will look at some companies like Microsoft, Adobe, Xerox, etc., which are reaping the benefits of Open Platforms as part of this innovation model.
E Pluribus Unum (Out of Many, One):

Written to initiate a dialogue about race in the academy, this narrative focuses on the experience of Black Ph.D. students in predominantly White academic institutions. Experimental in method and representation, this article poses important questions about race in academia. The author utilizes several qualitative opportunities, writing as autoethnography, poetry, and narrative. As a participant and researcher of the experience, the author is given the unique position of telling and listening, observing and explaining, strategizing and editing. The author takes your story (a construction developed to create a bridge between your world and mine) and combines it with her story, (the author’s motivations for writing about this experience), and folds it into their story (compiling the findings of the research based on an interview), to create our story (a collective narrative of the Black Ph.D. experience). Hence, the title, “E Pluribus Unum,” which translates “out of many, one.”
Technetium-99m complexes of EDTA analogs: Studies of the radiochemistry and biodistribution

Abstract The preparation of technetium-99 m aminopolycarboxylate complexes was carried out under anerobic conditions using stannous ions as the reducing agent. Electrophoresis and thin layer chromatography were used for analysis, showing that DTPA, EDTA and 1-methyl-EDTA preparations contained most of the 99 m -Tc radioactivity in the chelate form. Kinetic studies showed that binding to 1-phenyl-EDTA was slow. All compounds migrated towards the anode on electrophoresis, enabling separation from free pertechnetate and reduced 99 m Tc. Quantitative distribution studies in mice and computerized renograms in rabbits showed that renal clearance was the main excretory route, but all compounds were cleared more slowly than 131 -hippuran. The presence of the lipophilic phenyl group in the EDTA molecule produced excretion partially by the biliary route. These complexes belong to a series of bifunctional chelates which has the potential to produce new 99m Tc-radiopharmaceuticals having the in vivo stability of 99 Tc-EDTA.
Multiframe blind deconvolution of astronomical images

Maximum-likelihood estimation techniques are presented for the problem of forming object estimates from turbulence-degraded images when the point-spread functions are unknown. The inability of unconstrained maximum-likelihood methods to form meaningful estimates is acknowledged, and iterative algorithms are derived for estimating the object by using both a penalized maximum-likelihood method and a physically meaningful parameterization of the point-spread functions by phase errors distributed over an aperture.
Statistical and mathematical sources of regional science theory: Map pattern analysis as an example ?

Krugman states that “Regional science is not a unified subject. It is best described as a collection of tools.” Unfortunately such a perspective fails to fully acknowledge theoretical dimensions of the accompanying refocusing on geographic expressions of economic linkages, such as those highlighted in spatial externalities specifications. Such promulgated aspects of the spatial economic landscape relate to map pattern, and certainly the spatial statistics and spatial econometrics theory that accompanies it, as well as the underlying substantive theory garnered from a variety of sources. The principal implication is other than “loose- jointed, do-the-best-you-can theorizing”.
Telomerase activity and telomere length in pediatric patients with malignancies undergoing chemotherapy

Telomerase activity and telomere length in mononuclear cells (MNCs) and granulocytes from peripheral blood (PB) and bone marrow (BM) specimens were studied in pediatric acute leukemia (ALL, n = 15; AML, n = 11) and pediatric solid tumor (ST) patients (n = 9) at diagnosis, during and after chemotherapy. In four ST patients, tumor tissue was also available. For comparative analysis, MNCs from healthy donors (n = 53) were analyzed. Telomerase was evaluated using a modified telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay, and telomere length by terminal restriction fragment (TRF) analysis. At diagnosis, high telomerase activity was detected in MNCs from all leukemia patients, which was similar to the activity from ST biopsy specimens. This exceeded by 10- to 20-fold the activity in PB MNCs from ST patients and healthy donors (P < 0.05). Granulocyte fractions lacked telomerase activity in all groups. BM MNCs in leukemia patients revealed a four-fold higher telomerase activity than PB (P = 0.005). After induction chemotherapy and response to treatment, telomerase activity decreased to borderline or undetectable levels in PB MNCs in leukemia (P < 0.01). Average telomeres in PB MNCs from pediatric patients were significantly longer (n = 25; 10.9 kbp) than telomeres in PB and BM MNCs from adult healthy donors (7.45 kbp) (P < 0.0001). At diagnosis, telomeres were shorter from BM compared to PB specimens in leukemia (P < 0.05), and two peak TRFs were observed corresponding to the malignant and normal cell clones. With the attainment of remission, the lower TRF peak, reflecting the leukemic population, was lost. In leukemia patients, mean TRFs increased on average 2.2 kbp after induction chemotherapy, but decreased thereafter on consolidation and maintenance chemotherapy (1 kbp). This was comparable to an average telomere loss of 1.2 kbp in PB specimens from ST patients after chemotherapy. In all patients, telomere loss in granulocytes as compared to MNCs was more pronounced with 1.8 vs 1 kbp, respectively (P = 0.014). Our results demonstrate that at diagnosis, telomerase was consistently and highly upregulated in BM and PB specimens in leukemia, decreased after induction therapy, and correlated with remission. BM specimens in leukemia had higher telomerase activity, probably due to the greater leukemic burden than in PB. Telomeres were significantly longer in children than in adults, but shortened as a consequence of chemotherapy with repeated cycles of hematopoietic regeneration. In acute leukemia, with the loss of the leukemic burden after induction chemotherapy, longer mean TRFs were found, a reflection of the repopulation with normal cells. Our findings suggest that telomerase activity may be useful in the management of childhood malignancies. The significance of telomere length shortening in pediatric patients undergoing chemotherapy and possible telomere regeneration after myelosuppressive treatment remain to be determined.