cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Topical fluoxetine as a novel therapeutic that improves wound healing in diabetic mice

Diabetic foot ulcers represent a significant source of morbidity in the U.S., with rapidly escalating costs to the health care system. Multiple pathophysiological disturbances converge to result in delayed epithelialization and persistent inflammation. Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) and the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine (FLX) have both been shown to have immunomodulatory effects. Here we extend their utility as a therapeutic alternative for nonhealing diabetic wounds by demonstrating their ability to interact with multiple pathways involved in wound healing. We show that topically applied FLX improves cutaneous wound healing in vivo. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that FLX not only increases keratinocyte migration but also shifts the local immune milieu toward a less inflammatory phenotype in vivo without altering behavior. By targeting the serotonin pathway in wound healing, we demonstrate the potential of repurposing FLX as a safe topical for the challenging clinical problem of diabetic wounds.
Prototyping Systems Thinking Curriculum Development for Pre-college Students

This paper describes the results of the first 5 years effort to develop a new focus and process for creating an awareness of systems thinking methodology in pre-college students. The effort was undertaken as part of the University of Texas Pre-Freshman Engineering (PREP) program based in San Antonio, TX. The PREP program conducts a 6 week summer classroom environment on local university campuses for Texas Middle School (7-8-9 grades) students focusing on the basics of Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM.) Our particular effort was to add a fourth year known as PREP IV. PREP IV served as a prototyping laboratory to experiment with new curricula for introducing the systems thinking mindset to pre-college students.
Initial development of the Hookah Smoker Scale: Assessing young adults’ mental schemas about hookah “smokers”

Many young adult hookah tobacco users do not consider themselves hookah "smokers," but data on this topic are limited. There are no existing measures of young adults' mental schemas of hookah "smokers." We examined the factor structure and reliability of the Hookah Smoker Scale and examined associations with perceived harm and addictiveness and attitudes toward hookah. Two hundred and forty-six young adult (ages 18-30) hookah smokers participated in a cross-sectional online study. Participants completed items assessing schemas characterizing hookah smokers and valid measures of perceived harm and addictiveness of hookah smoking, risk appraisals, and attitudes toward hookah. Exploratory factor analysis using principal axis factoring with oblique rotation extracted a 12-item scale with three dimensions (Regular Use, Social-Enabled Use, and Self-Enabled Use). The scale explained 69.7% of the variance (eigenvalue = 9.2). Cronbach's α for the scale was .89, with Cronbach's α ≥ .80 for four-item subscales. Higher subscale scores indicate stronger beliefs that the dimension characterizes a hookah smoker. Higher Regular Use scores (score variance = 46.9%; eigenvalue = 5.6) were associated with greater perceived harm and addictiveness (β = 0.21, p = .01), greater risk appraisals (β = 0.20, p = .02), and more negative attitudes toward hookah (β = -0.18, p = .03). The Hookah Smoker Scale is a promising measure that can be used to identify targets for preventing and reducing young adults' hookah tobacco use. Findings also suggest young adults associate health risks of hookah with daily smoking, but not with intermittent social smoking patterns.
A Pilot Double-Blind Randomized Trial of Perampanel for Essential Tremor

Background Perampanel is a noncompetitive antagonist of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole propionic acid glutamate receptors suggested to modulate tremor. Objectives To assess the efficacy and tolerability of perampanel for essential tremor. Methods This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, cross-over trial involving 26 patients titrated to 8 mg/day or a lower maximally tolerated dose as monotherapy or adjunct to antitremor medication. Tremor was assessed at the beginning and end of each 14-week treatment arm. The primary endpoint was change in the videotaped performance subscale of The Essential Tremor Rating Assessment Scale, scored by a blinded rater. Secondary endpoints included change in The Essential Tremor Rating Assessment Scale Activity of Daily Living and Quality of Life in Essential Tremor and Subject Global Impression of Change subscales. Results Data are available for 15 and 11 participants who completed placebo and perampanel arms, respectively. Perampanel was superior to placebo on the primary endpoint (P = 0.028), Activity of Daily Living (P = 0.009), and Subject Global Impression of Change (P = 0.016), but not Quality of Life (p = 0.48). Video scores were rated >50% improved in 3/11 on perampanel and 0/15 on placebo. Adverse events were more likely on perampanel (especially at >4 mg/day) than on placebo, leading to withdrawal (36% vs. 10%) and dose reduction (41% vs. 15%). Adverse events more common with perampanel included imbalance/falls (50% vs. 10%), dizziness (36% vs. 10%), and irritability (27% vs. 5%). Conclusions These findings suggest that perampanel exerts efficacy for some persons with essential tremor, but this population appears prone to adverse events.
Brief Report: Relationship Between Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Cardiovascular Disease in Persons With HIV.

BACKGROUND Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and HIV are independently associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the factors associated with NAFLD in persons living with HIV (PWH) and whether CVD is more frequent in PWH with NAFLD are currently unknown. METHODS From the Partners HealthCare Research Patient Data Registry, we identified PWH with and without NAFLD between 2010 and 2017. NAFLD was defined using validated histological or radiographic criteria. CVD was defined by an ICD-9 diagnosis of coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, peripheral vascular disease, heart failure, transient ischemic attack, or stroke and was confirmed by clinician review. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to examine the relationship between NAFLD and CVD. RESULTS Compared with PWH without NAFLD (n = 135), PWH with NAFLD (n = 97) had higher body mass index and more frequently had hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, coronary artery disease, and CVD (P < 0.01 for all). PWH with NAFLD were also more likely to have CD4 T-cell counts (CD4) <200 cells/mm. In multivariable models, the presence of NAFLD was significantly associated with CVD (adjusted odds ratio 3.08, 95% confidence interval: 1.37 to 6.94) and CD4 <200 cells/mm (adjusted odds ratio 4.49, 95% confidence interval: 1.74 to 11.55). CONCLUSION In PWH, CVD was independently associated with prevalent NAFLD after controlling for traditional CVD risk factors. NAFLD was also associated with CD4 <200 cells/mm, suggesting that immune dysfunction may be related to NAFLD. Both CVD and low CD4 count as risk factors for NAFLD require prospective evaluation.
Probabilistic modeling of cascading failure risk in interdependent channel and road networks in urban flooding

Abstract This paper presents a probabilistic model for assessing risk of cascading failures in co-located road and channel networks. The proposed Bayesian network analysis framework integrates network structural properties and empirical flood propagation data to model the spread of flooding. The model was tested in a multiple watershed scenario in Harris County, Texas (USA), using historical flood data from past events. The results show the capability of the proposed Bayesian network model to quantitatively characterize the failure (i.e., inundation) of road network considering the cascading failure (i.e., overflow) from the channel network. The proposed model also enables simulating the risk of flood cascades (i.e., flood propagation) on the road network with high accuracy. The generic design of the algorithm also enables the adaptation of the proposed framework in other cities and regions. Accordingly, the proposed model provides a new tool to help decision-makers prioritize infrastructure protection plans and emergency response actions.
In silico Drug Repurposing to combat COVID-19 based on Pharmacogenomics of Patient Transcriptomic Data

The ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to affect a growing number of populations in different parts of the world. In the current situation, drug repurposing is a viable strategy to combat COVID-19. The drugs targeting the host receptors that interact with SARS-CoV-2 are possible candidates. However, assessment of their effectiveness in COVID-19 patients is necessary before prioritizing them for further study. We attempted to shortlist the candidate drugs using an in-silico approach. First, we analysed two published transcriptomic data sets of COVID-19- and SARS-infected patients compared to healthy individuals to find the key pathways altered after infection. Then, using publicly available drug perturbational data sets in human cell lines from the Broad Institute Connectivity Map (CMAP), we assessed the effects of the approved drugs on the altered pathways. We also used the available pharmacogenomic data sets from the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) portal to assess the effects of the altered pathways on resistance or sensitivity to the drugs in human cell lines. Our analysis identified many candidate drugs, some of which are already being investigated for treatment of COVID-19 and can serve as a basis for prioritizing additional viable candidate drugs for COVID-19.
Chronic exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation impacts the processing of glycoprotein N-linked glycans in Medaka (Oryzias latipes).

Ionizing radiation is found naturally in the environment. Low doses of IR may have beneficial applications, yet there is also potential for detrimental long-term health effects. Impacts following e...
Elemente einer Theorie nichtphysischer Akteure in der physischen Welt

Dieser Aufsatz zeigt, dass es eine quantenphysikalische und evolutionsbiologische Perspektive fur die (libertarische) Willensfreiheit gibt und dass die sogenannten wissenschaftlichen Argumente gegen diese in Wirklichkeit metaphysische Argumente und nicht stichhaltig sind. Der Aufsatz entwickelt ferner die Idee eines nichtphysischen Organs hoherer Organismen: der Domindar (ein Detektor und Restriktor makroskopischer Indetermination).
"The Cradle of Dari": The Question of "Origins" in Modern Literary Historiography in Afghanistan

Persian literatury has historically remained borderless, transcending any single polity or nationstate. In the modern period, however, nationalist reconfigurations of this literary tradition tend to ascribe to it a territorially bounded definition. Concurrent with the emergence of Persian as a scholarly discipline and a national institution in Iran and Afghanistan, Persian literary historiography has become a significant ground for contention and contestation. While Iranian scholars consider Persian literary history to epitomize the splendor of Iranian cultural heritage, Afghan scholars, in contrast, are keen to point out that the territory that constitutes Afghanistan can best claim to represent the “original” home of Persian literary efflorescence, the ground where Persian literary production emerged, developed, and came to full fruition. This paper offers a critical perspective on M. H. Zhubal’s Tarikh-i Adabiyat-i Afghanistan, a seminal and influential text of literary historical inquiry and philological investigation.
Hydrosocial displacements: Sources and impacts of collaboration as a response to water conflict near three Chilean mines

Abstract Industry and scholarly attention to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Social License to Operate (SLO) and Creating Shared Value (CSV) has contributed to the emergence of collaboration between mining stakeholders as a desirable response to conflict over water. This article examines why and how new collaborative mechanisms have emerged in practice, and with what effect on socio-environmental dynamics in communities under pressure from the impacts of mining and climate change. The research is based on qualitative fieldwork among civil society, the private sector, and the public sector near the Escondida, Los Pelambres, and Andina mines in Chile, as well as among national-level representatives of each of these stakeholder groups in Santiago. Results indicate that companies’ discursive emphasis on collaboration reflects actual changes in industry practice that are an improvement of community relations methods. However, the ways this collaboration is currently carried out may result in a transformation and displacement of harms at the root of conflict, rather than permanent solutions to them. Whether, how, and where harms are transformed and displaced depend upon the interaction of geographical and social factors, with the negative impacts of mining tending to flow downstream and/or from more powerful to less powerful communities. These findings are conceptualized in a framework of “hydrosocial displacements,” which adds explanatory and predictive capacity to scholarship in political ecology on the hydrosocial cycle. In addition, the framework offers a policy tool for stakeholders to assess the context of water conflicts and achieve solutions—rather than displacements—of their causes.
Human antibody recognition of H7N9 influenza virus HA following natural infection.

Avian H7N9 influenza viruses cause sporadic outbreaks of human infections and threaten to cause a major pandemic. The breadth of B cell responses to natural infection and the dominant antigenic sites recognized during first exposure to H7 HA following infection are incompletely understood. Here, we studied the B cell response to H7 HA of two individuals who had recovered from natural H7N9 virus infection. We used competition-binding, hydrogen-deuterium mass spectrometry, and single-particle negative stain electron microscopy to identify the patterns of molecular recognition of the antibody responses to H7 hemagglutinin. We found that circulating H7-reactive B cells recognized a diverse antigenic landscape on the HA molecule, including HA head domain epitopes in antigenic Sites A, B, and the trimer interface-II region and epitopes in the stem region. Most H7 antibodies exhibited little heterosubtypic breadth, but many recognized a wide diversity of unrelated H7 strains. We tested the antibodies for functional activity and identified clones with diverse patterns of inhibition, including neutralizing, hemagglutination or egress inhibiting, or HA trimer-disrupting activities. Thus, the human B cell response to primary H7 natural infection is diverse, highly functional, and broad for recognition of diverse H7 strains.
Contiguous Meningioma and B-Cell Lymphoma: A Scoping Review and Case Illustration.

Abstract Background The presentation of a contiguous, synchronous meningioma and central nervous system B-cell lymphoma is a rare diagnosis with paradoxical treatment paradigms. We provide a scoping review of contiguous meningioma and B-cell lymphoma with an additional illustrative case. Methods A systematic approach to review of the literature utilized the OVID Medline and PubMed databases using the Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Only human clinical reports of contiguous, synchronous meningioma and B-cell lymphoma were included. We concurrently detail a representative case treated at our institution. Results We identified 9 case reports meeting our criteria, including the present case. The average age of diagnosis was 67.4 years. Patients showed a female to male predominance of 7:2. The diagnosis of synchronous intracranial tumors was not suspected or discovered until after surgical resection in 100% of cases. All meningiomas were grade 1 on histopathologic diagnosis, while the lymphomas were distributed between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (56%), metastatic lymphoma (22%), Burkitt lymphoma (11%), and follicular lymphoma (11%). All patients underwent surgical resection. Patients (n=5) treated with adjuvant chemotherapy had evidence of longer progression-free survival (Median: 12 months; Range: 3-18 months) compared to those without (n=2; Median: 2 months; Range: 1-3 months). Conclusion Contiguous, synchronous meningioma and B-cell lymphoma is a rare diagnosis that may present radiographically as an inconspicuous solitary intracranial neoplasm. Based on the limited cases and current treatment of lymphoma, survival may be contingent on the prompt initiation of chemotherapy targeting the lymphoma rather than surgical resection of the meningeal mass. Providers should prioritize prompt medical management.
A Conceptual Framework for the Study of Parent-Young Symbiosis

In 1879, the German botanist, Anton De Bary coined the term symbiosis in recognition of the fact that dissimilar organisms often enter into close physical associations. Although broadly defined, the concept was narrowly applied. Most often, the associations referred to were parasitic and the organisms studied were from widely different taxa. Today, the term symbiosis is used more broadly; it includes commensal and mutual as well as parasitic relationships. In other words, one symbiote may benefit without disadvantage to the other (commensal symbiosis) or indeed both may benefit (mutual symbiosis). Moreover, we now recognize that members of the same species, physically dissimilar only with respect to gender or developmental status, may also enter into relationships properly called symbiotic.
Identification of molecular mechanisms that regulate T helper 1 cell plasticity (IRM6P.715)

In order to mount an effective adaptive immune response, the body relies on a number of specialized CD4+ T cells to perform a variety of functions. These specialized cell types arise from a common naive CD4+ T cell progenitor and include Th1, Th2, Th17, Treg, Th9, Th22, and Tfh populations. Recent work, including our studies, has demonstrated that a considerable amount of flexibility between T helper cell subsets exists to allow the cells to appropriately respond to changing environmental conditions. Initially, we demonstrated that in response to low IL-2 signaling, Th1 cells upregulate Bcl-6 expression, shifting the gene expression program away from a Th1 profile in favor of a Tfh-like program. In this setting, the interaction between T-bet and Bcl-6 acts as a regulatory switch that senses changing environmental conditions to fine-tune the immune response. We have now extended these findings by using RNA-seq to examine the gene expression signatures of both Th1 and Tfh-like cells. This approach has led to the identification of novel transcriptional regulators that may play roles in promoting Th1-to-Tfh cell flexibility. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that in addition to IL-2, IL-15 signaling is a regulator of Th1 cell flexibility. These findings are critical first steps in elucidating the mechanistic players in Th1-to-Tfh plasticity and the environmental signals they respond to, so that we may be able to therapeutically manipulate T helper immune cell potential.
A simple colony-formation assay in liquid medium, termed 'tadpoling', provides a sensitive measure of Saccharomyces cerevisiae culture viability.

Abstract Herewedescribethe ﬁrsthigh-throughputamenablemethodofquantifying Saccharomycescerevisiae culture viability. Current high-throughput methods of assessing yeast cellviability, such as ﬂow cytometry and SGA analysis, do not measure the percentage via-bility of a culture but insteadmeasure cell vitality or colony ﬁtness, respectively. We de-veloped a method, called tadpoling, to quantify the percentage viability of a yeastculture, with the ability to detect as few as one viable cell amongst ~10 8 dead cells. Themost important feature of this assay is the exploitation of yeast colony formation in liq-uid medium. Utilizing a microtiter dish, we are able to observe a range of viability of100% to 0.0001%. Comparison of tadpoling to the traditional plating method to mea-sure yeast culture viability reveals that, for the majority of Saccharomyces speciesanalyzed there is no signiﬁcant difference between the two methods. In comparison toﬂowcytometryusingpropidiumiodide,thehigh-throughputmethodofmeasuringyeastculture viability, tadpoling is much more accurate at culture viabilities<1%. Thus, weshow that tadpoling provides an easy, inexpensive, space-saving method, amenable tohigh-throughput screens, for accurately measuring yeast cell viability. Copyright ©2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Keywords: desiccation tolerance; culture viability; high-throughput method; ﬂow-cytometry
A Gender Gap in Policy Representation in the U.S. Congress

In the first article to evaluate the equality of dyadic policy representation experienced by women, we assess the congruence between U.S. House members' roll-call votes and the policy preferences of their female and male constituents. Employing two measures of policy representation, we do not find a gender gap in dyadic policy representation. However, we uncover a sizeable gender gap favoring men in districts represented by Republicans, and a similarly sizeable gap favoring women in districts represented by Democrats. A Democratic majority further improves women's dyadic representation relative to men, but having a female representative (descriptive representation) does not.
Vibrations from the “Perfect Storm”

[1] Microseismic vibrations during the famous October 1991 “Perfect Storm” were observed at seismic stations across North America. The extreme wave conditions during this storm, in conjunction with the occurrence of Hurricane Grace to the south, are ideal for studying where such vibrations originate and their inland propagation. High-amplitude primary and double-frequency (DF) microseisms were observed at broadband seismic station HRV in eastern Massachusetts. Similar spectral variation observed at seismic station ANMO at Albuquerque, New Mexico, shows transcontinental propagation of vibrations from the Perfect Storm. Cross correlation between wave spectra from widely separated buoy measurements and corresponding DF microseism spectra at HRV give high-correlation coefficients, R2, from the New England coast to Cape Hatteras. Contours of peak R2 scaled by the magnitude of the lag at the peak, together with similarities between wave and microseism spectral variation, imply that the dominant source area of DF microseisms during the Perfect Storm is near the southern Massachusetts coast, not in the open ocean where the highest waves occurred.
Electrophysiology of neuromuscular disorders in critical illness

Introduction Neuromuscular disorders, predominantly critical illness myopathy (CIM) and critical illness polyneuropathy (CIP) occur in approximately one-third of patients in intensive care units. The aim of this study was to review the important role of electrophysiology in this setting. Results In CIM, sarcolemmal inexcitability causes low amplitude compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) that may have prolonged durations. Needle electrode examination usually reveals early recruitment of short duration motor unit potentials, often with fibrillation potentials. In CIP, the findings are usually those of a generalized axonal sensorimotor polyneuropathy. Direct muscle stimulation aids in differentiating CIP and CIM and in identifying mixed disorders along with other electrodiagnostic and histopathologic studies. Identifying evolving reductions in fibular CMAP amplitudes in intensive care unit (ICU) patients predicts development of neuromuscular weakness. Conclusions Knowledge of the various neuromuscular disorders in critically ill patients, their risk factors, and associated electrodiagnostic findings can lead to development of a rational approach to diagnosis of the cause of neuromuscular weakness in ICU patients. Muscle Nerve 47: 452–463, 2013
ESL: a language for supporting robust plan execution in embedded autonomous agents

ESL (Execution Support Language) is a language for encoding execution knowledge in embedded autonomous agents. It is similar in spirit to RAPs (1989), RS (1983), and RPL Reactive Plan Language, and its design owes much to these systems. Unlike its predecessors, ESL aims for a more utilitarian point in the design space. ESL was designed primarily to be a powerful and easy-to-use tool, not to serve as a representation for automated reasoning or formal analysis (although nothing precludes its use for these purposes). ESL consists of several sets of loosely coupled features that can be composed in arbitrary ways. It is currently implemented as a set of extensions to Common Lisp, and is being used to build the executive component of a control architecture for an autonomous spacecraft.
The Black Pearl mine, Arizona - Wolframite veins and stockscheider pegmatite related to an albitic stock

Wolframite-bearing quartz veins flanked by greisen alteration occur at and near the Black Pearl mine, Yavapai County, Arizona. The veins are genetically related to a small albitite stock, and cut a series of Proterozoic metasedimentary and intrusive rocks. The largest vein, the only one mined, is located at the apex of the stock. Field relations imply that this stock is a late-stage differentiate of time 1.4-Ga anorogenic Lawler Peak batholith, which crops out about 3 km to the south. The albitites are of igneous origin and have suffered only minor deuteric alteration. A thin (1 to 2 m) pegmatite unit ('stockscheider') occurs at the contact of the Black Pearl Albitite stock with the country rocks. Directional indicators and other evidence suggest that the pegmatite was formed in the presence of a volatile-rich fluid phase close to the time of magma emplacement. The sudden change from coarse-grained microcline-rich pegmatite to fine-grained, albite-rich albitite suggests pressure quenching, possibly due to escape of fluids up the Black Pearl vein. Stockscheider-like textures typically occur near the apical contacts of productive plutons. The presence or absence of this texture is a useful guide in prospecting for lithophile metal deposits.
Brief paper: Stability problem of systems with multiple delay channels

A new form of coupled differential-difference equations with one delay in each channel is proposed to model systems with multiple delays. This formulation has significant advantage over the traditional differential-difference equations or the prevailing form of coupled differential-difference equations with multiple delays. Fundamental solutions, general solutions, and the construction of the Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional are discussed. For systems with a large number of state variables with multiple low-dimensional delay elements, this formulation allows a drastic reduction of computational cost as compared to the traditional differential-difference equation formulation when the discretized Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional method is used.
Characterization of polymer conformation and morphology through small-angle neutron scattering—A literature review

Small-angle neutron scattering, SANS, stands forth as one of the most important of the new tools for evaluating polymer chain conformation and morphology. This paper reviews the SANS literature through 1982, with a few early 1983 references added. The theory of SANS is outlined and compared to light scattering. SANS values of polymer molecular weights and radii of gyration obtained in the bulk state were found to be in agreement with values obtained from dilute solutions by light scattering. In each case, deuterated fractions of polymer were inserted into the hydrogeneous matrix, or vice versa, to provide contrast. Several new research areas are then discussed, including unidirectional stretching of elastomers, stress-relaxation, polymer-polymer miscibility, crystallization from the melt compared with crystallization from dilute solutions, nonclassical aggregation during bulk polymerization of thermoset systems, morphology of polymer blends, block copolymers and ionomers, the core-shell structure of latexes and polymer blocks, and grafts as surfactants in emulsions and latexes. Much new and sometimes unexpected information is being provided by the SANS research now in progress.
Aspirin-Induced Mucosal Cell Death in Human Gastric Cells: Role of a Caspase-Independent Mechanism

Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used for the treatment of pain and inflammation. Their use may result in gastroduodenal side effects, such as gastric irritation and ulcer formation. Although various strategies have been employed to minimize these adverse effects induced by NSAIDs, effective therapeutic targeting of this problem has been prevented by an incomplete understanding of the mechanisms underlying their pathogenesis. This study was undertaken to determine the role that non-caspase-mediated apoptosis plays in inducing cellular injury and death in gastric mucosa exposed to aspirin. We proposed that the responsible mechanism was through mitochondrial failure, increased mitochondrial membrane permeability, and translocation of the intramitochondrial protein apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF). Human gastric adenocarcinoma mucosal cells (AGS cells) received no pretreatment or were preincubated with caspase inhibitors for 30 min. Cells were then treated with 40 mM aspirin for 2-4 h. Apoptosis was assessed by measuring the DNA-histone complex formation. Cell viability was determined by an acridine orange-ethidium bromide (EtBr) assay. The activation of AIF was evaluated by both Western blotting of the cytosol and mitochondrial extracts as well as by visualization and staining using fluorescence microscopy. Results showed that caspase inhibitor preincubation decreased DNA-histone complex formation when compared to aspirin treatment alone. Based on light microscope visualization, however, we determined that caspase inhibitor preincubation was unable to prevent AGS cell damage and death. These findings were confirmed by the acridine orange-EtBr test, which showed decreased cell viability with caspase inhibitor preincubation and aspirin treatment. We then tested whether non-caspase-mediated cell death occurred through an AIF mitochondrial pathway using Western blotting and fluorescence microscopy to determine AIF activation. The results showed that untreated cells had AIF localized to the mitochondria and cytosol. With 40 mM ASA at 4 h, translocation of AIF from the mitochondria to the nucleus occurred, showing activation. Caspase inhibition with z-VAD was unable to prevent AIF localization to the nucleus and subsequently unable to prevent cell death. Our results indicate that ASA in the presence of caspase inhibitors causes gastric mucosal cell death through a caspase-independent pathway suggestive of apoptosis-like programmed cell death. Effective therapeutic targeting of aspirin-induced apoptosis likely requires inhibition of both mitochondrial and caspase-mediated pathways.
Tipping the Civil-Military Balance: Institutions and Human Rights Policy in Democratic Argentina and Chile

Human rights issues topped the agenda for many democratic presidents who followed repressive military regimes in Latin America. Traditional approaches assume that the military is powerful enough to suppress human rights initiatives. Transitions approaches closely link success or failure to military power at the time of regime change. Evidence shows not only that there were instances of policy success but also that these are not fully explained by the transitional balance of power. The authors argue that policy outcomes are inextricably tied to levels of institutional concentration and autonomy in the executive branch. Human rights gains occur when policy-making authority is centered in a few hands and where the president can use institutional channels suitably closed to military influence. Low levels of concentration and autonomy result in policy setbacks; mixed levels lead to moderate success. The authors test the model with a comparative case study of governments in Argentina and Chile.
Critical Pedagogy and Implications for Human Resource Development

The problem and the solution. When confronted with workplace learning, personnel in human resource development (HRD) tend to concentrate on internal processes, techniques to manipulate behavior (performance), and yield to pervasive and often pernicious accountability schemes that trivialize learning. The standpoint of this article is to take a macro-historical view contextualizing the worker, the organization, and the entity (capital) into an accountability framework that privileges quality of life of citizens above commoditization and fast capitalism.
Recombination of antiprotons with positrons at low temperatures

The formation of antihydrogen atoms via three-body recombination (TBR) of antiprotons with positrons is considered. A collisional radiative model for the recombination process is employed to study the time dependence of state-resolved antihydrogen populations. We show that at low temperatures T−9/2 scaling of the TBR coefficient does not characterize the total recombination rate, and an alternative expression for the three-body rate coefficient is proposed.
On Building Bridges, Facilitating Dialogue, and Delineating Priorities: A Tribute to Mark Easterby-Smith and his Contribution to Organizational Learning

We honor Mark Easterby-Smith for three fundamental contributions to the organizational learning (OL) discipline. First, Mark Easterby-Smith’s entrepreneurial spirit and intellectual curiosity have led him to evolve dynamically as the field has evolved. From his roots in management education and development, Mark’s work has connected the four areas of organizational learning, the learning organization, knowledge management, and dynamic capabilities. Second, consistent with his criticism that the OL field has been dominated by quantitative methods and positivist approaches, Mark has pursued qualitative work and generated rich case data and novel theories. Finally, in a discipline in which diverse terms and definitions abound and interconnections among these terms are frequently absent, Mark Easterby-Smith has taken the role of an organizer, an integrator, and a builder. He has facilitated dialogue in a very inclusive fashion. Indeed, the way in which Mark Easterby-Smith has evolved and supported the communi...
Electrogenic Sodium Pump in Squid Giant Axon

Squid giant axon possesses a hyperpolarizing electrogenic sodium pump which is stimulated by internal sodium and by external potassium. This conclusion is based on the following observations: strophanthidin depolarizes the membrane and enhances the depolarizing effect of 5 or 10 millimolar external potassium; the magnitude of these effects is directly related to the internal sodium concentration; both effects are abolished by cyanide.
Morse theory and finiteness properties of groups

. We examine the finiteness properties of certain subgroups of “right angled” Artin groups. In particular, we find an example of a group that is of type FP(Z) but is not finitely presented.
Alumina: Catalyst and support. XVI: Aromatization and dehydroisomerization of branched C6C8 hydrocarbons over “nonacidic” chromia-alumina catalyst☆☆☆

Abstract The aromatization and dehydroisomerization has been studied over a “nonacidic” chromia-alumina catalyst in which the alumina was prepared from potassium aluminate. The reactions were carried out at atmospheric pressure and at about 530 °C. 2,2,4-Trimethylpentane formed only p -xylene over this catalyst while 2,3,4-trimethylpentane produced all the three xylenes and ethylbenzene. The aromatics derived from 2,2,3-trimethylpentane consisted mostly of m -xylene and toluene. 2,2-Dimethylbutane dehydroisomerized mainly to 2-methylpentenes and 2-methylpentadienes, while 2,3-dimethylbutane went to 2- and 3-methylpentenes. Neopentane did not undergo a dehydroisomerization reaction. The dehydrogenation reactions involving branched hydrocarbons were accompanied by a cracking reaction involving the preferential splitting of the bonds between the highly substituted carbon atoms. Small amounts of 1,1,2-trimethylcyclopropane were observed in the dehydrogenation reaction of 2,2-dimethylbutane. The mechanism of aromatization and dehydroisomerization has been discussed and the involvement of adsorbed cyclopropane- and cyclobutane-type intermediates in the transition state has been proposed.
Three-dimensional morphological measurements of LiCoO2 and LiCoO2/Li(Ni1/3Mn1/3Co1/3)O2 lithium-ion battery cathodes

The three-dimensional (3D) morphologies of two types of lithium-ion battery cathodes, LiCoO_2 (LCO) and LiCoO_2/Li (Ni_(1/3)Mn_(1/3)Co_(1/3))O_2 (LCO/NMC) composites, have been measured using focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) and transmission X-ray microscopy (TXM). TXM measurements were taken at X-ray energies that can provide clear contrast between LCO and NMC particles in the composite cathodes. Multiple three-dimensional image volumes were collected and statistical analyses were done to assess the accuracy and spatial variation of structural parameters including oxide volume fractions, surface areas, and particle size distributions. Comparisons of un-cycled and cycled batteries showed small changes in structure, but spatial and cell-to-cell microstructural variations, found especially in the LCO/NMC cathodes, were large enough to limit the ability to distinguish actual cycling-induced structure changes. The observation of cathode metal cations on the battery anode after cycling may explain, at least in part, the observed 30% capacity loss.
An outbreak of coxsackie B-5 virus infection in a newborn nursery

An outbreak of Coxsackie B-5 virus infection among newborn infants in a maternity hospital is described. The infection was sporadic and mild among full-term infants, whereas the majority of premature infants exposed became infected and ill. The infected infants showed a spectrum of illness from apparent health to manifest aseptic meningitis, but the severe reactions usually associated with Coxsackie infections in the newborn were absent; there was no clinical evidence of myocarditis. The first cases detected were the result of in utero infections. The majority of infants developed a neutralizing titer to the virus, but some premature infants failed to develop complement-fixing antibodies.
Movement and gastroesophageal reflux in awake term infants with “near miss” SIDS, unrelated to apnea

Forty-five term infants who had a "near miss" for SIDS were studied with a continuous overnight polygraphic recording of endoesophageal pH, respiration, and ECG. Recordings were examined for occurrences of GER and for central apnea of 10 seconds or greater duration. There were 341 apneic events greater than or equal to 10 seconds recorded in 46 studies, with a mean of 7 +/- 7. In 91% of the infants, no apneas exceeded 15 seconds. Only 31 episodes of apnea greater than or equal to 10 seconds occurred during GER: in two of these episodes the apneic event was greater than or equal to 15 seconds. Twenty-four of the 31 apneas greater than or equal to 10 seconds during periods of pH less than 4 occurred in one infant. A total of 356 precipitous pH drops was recorded (mean 8.7 +/- 7.4). The pH drops occurred most frequently when the patient appeared to be awake (73%), and in 84% of events there was movement before and during the pH change. We conclude that the majority of these near miss SIDS infants had GER associated with movement during awake periods, without any temporal relationship to apnea. Although reflex apnea following GER may be seen in some term infants, this problem may be more significant for the immature infant.
Development and Evaluation of a Monolithic Floating Dosage Form for Furosemide

□ The poor bioavailability of orally dosed furosemide (60 %), a weakly acidic drug, is due to the presence of a biological window comprised of the upper gastrointestinal tract. The purpose of the present study was to develop and optimize in vitro a monolithic modified- reiease dosage form (MMR) for furosemide with increased gastric residence time and to evaluate the in vivo performance of the dosage form. The principle of floatation was used to restrict the MMR to the stomach. A two-factor three-level full factorial experimental design was employed for formulation development. A flow-through cell was designed to evaluate in vitro dissolution parameters. Quadratic regression models indicated the polymer viscosity and polymendrug ratio to be significant ip
Teachers’ Ratings, Sex, and SCAT as Predictors of Rank in High School Class

Data from 561 high-school seniors were analyzed using multiple linear regression to determine the independent contribution of each variable to the criterion of rank in class (R). Significant F ratioswere obtained for SCAT V and Q, teachers’ ratings of Accuracy (ACCU), Effort and Industry (E-I), and Reliability and Responsibility (R-R). R-R and ACCU, but not E-I, were found to be significant preditors of SCAT V and SCAT Q. Females were significantly higher than males on R, ACCU, E-I, and R-R and lower on SCAT Q. The data were interpreted as supporting the effectiveness of teachers’ ratings in predicting academic performance in high school. Females’ superior performance on teacher ratings was interpreted as evidence that females conformed more than males to teachers’ expectations.
The emergence of global properties from local interactions: static properties and one-dimensional patterns

Groups of simple objects, interacting under local rules, can produce global properties of great complexity and rich functionality. In this paper, we address of whether a given global property can emerge from purely local interactions. We provide a necessary condition for the case of static properties, and provide complementary sufficient conditions for patterns on the special case of one-dimensional lattices. This work shows that two general considerations, local checkability and symmetry, are the main determinants of "emergeability," at least in these special cases. This work also shows that relatively unified constructions provide solutions to large classes of patterns.
Characterization Of An Eight-Element Time-Division Multiplexed Interferometric Fiber Sensor Array

We report on the construction and performance of an eight-element time-division multiplexed fiber-optic sensor array. The array, which is based on a transmissive tapped-serial architecture recently developed at our laboratory, utilizes low-coupling-ratio fiber couplers (-1%) to couple light from each sensor element to an output fiber 'bus'. The network exhibits intrinsic optical crosstalk effects which have been fully characterized and compared to theoretical models. Crosstalk figures in the range -25 to -45 dB were experimentally observed, in good agreement with predicted levels of ~-27 to -40 dB.© (1989) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
How well do we know the sunspot number

We show that only two adjustments are necessary to harmonize the Group Sunspot Number with the Zurich Sunspot Number. The latter has been increased from the 1940s on to the present by 20% due to weighting of sunspot counts according to size of the spots and can be corrected by increasing the earlier values as well. The Group Sunspot Number before ~1885 is too low by ~50%. With these adjustments a single sunspot number series results. Of note is that there is no longer a distinct Modern Grand Maximum.
Controller design with real parametric uncertainty

A number of techniques have been developed in recent years for the analysis and design of controllers which are robust with respect to structured complex uncertainty. In particular the complex μ synthesis procedure has been successfully applied to a number of engineering problems. However the presence of real parametric uncertainty in the problem description substantially complicates matters, so that standard complex μ synthesis techniques are no longer adequate. In this paper we develop a procedure to tackle the mixed (real and complex) μ synthesis problem. This procedure involves a "D,G-K iteration" between computing the mixed μ upper bound and solving an H∞ optimal control problem, and has guaranteed convergence to a local minimum of the (nonconvex) problem. The procedure has been implemented in software, and several controller designs are compared with the corresponding complex μ synthesis designs.
Unmarried motherhood: recent trends, composition, and black--white differences.

The National Survey of Family Growth (1982) is used to examine the extent to which racial differences in premarital birth rates can be explained by differences in parents’ socioeconomic status, family structure, and residential characteristics. The findings document a large diversity in premarital births within both populations. Black women from high-risk backgrounds are three times more likely to have a premarital birth than black women from low-risk backgrounds. Racial differences in premarital births arise because (1) black women are more likely to come from high-risk backgrounds and (2) black women from low-risk backgrounds are more likely to have a premarital birth than white women with similar characteristics. There are similar rates of premarital births by race among persons from high-risk backgrounds.
Monoclonal Antibody-Resistant Mutants Selected with a Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Neutralizing Human Antibody Fab Fragment (Fab 19) Define a Unique Epitope on the Fusion (F) Glycoprotein

A recombinant human antibody fragment, designated RSV Fab 19, efficiently neutralizes respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Here we report the results of our sequence analysis of antibody escape mutants that identified F glycoprotein amino acids critical for binding of human or murine RSV F-neutralizing antibodies.
Frequency Tracking a Downlink FH Signal for Mobile Platforms

A mobile platform receiving a frequency hopped (FH) downlink must acquire and track that link to sustain communications. A technique originated by Ziv and Zakai allows us to lower bound the achievable frequency error for a variety of channel conditions (Gaussian, partial-band, Raleigh). In closed loop space-to-ground tracking systems which have an FH uplink as well, frequency precorrection may be needed on each of the terminal's transmissions. The frequency error model developed in this paper is used in combination with models of other frequency error sources to yield analysis that can aid in selecting tracking update rates.
Microbial transformation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene

The manufacture and decommissioning of explosives has generated, and continues to generate, large quantities of waste material whose primary toxic and mutagenic component is 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT). The magnitude of this problem has motivated a great deal of research into treatment processes and environmental fate studies, including characterization of microbial transformations of TNT. This work has encompassed studies with mixed cultures and pure cultures of microorganisms derived from either TNT-exposed or unexposed sources, and studies using microorganisms chosen for their known capacities to degrade other pollutants. Several of these studies are discussed with regard to whether they identified a process that may lead to the complete detoxification or mineralization of TNT. Since oxygen can have a significant influence on the types of biochemical reactions that can occur and on the oxidation of intermediates of TNT transformation processes, studies in which oxygen was not excluded are discussed separately from studies conducted under anaerobic conditions.
The complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of Crotalus horridus (timber rattlesnake)

The complete mitogenome of the timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) was completed using Sanger sequencing. It is 17,260 bp with 13 protein-coding genes, 21 tRNAs, two rRNAs and two control regions. Gene synteny is consistent with other snakes with the exception of a missing redundant tRNA Ser . This mitogenome should prove to be a useful addition of a well-known member of the Viperidae snake family.