cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Detailed Modeling and Evaluation of a Scalable Multilevel Checkpointing System

High-performance computing (HPC) systems are growing more powerful by utilizing more components. As the system mean time before failure correspondingly drops, applications must checkpoint frequently to make progress. However, at scale, the cost of checkpointing becomes prohibitive. A solution to this problem is multilevel checkpointing, which employs multiple types of checkpoints in a single run. Lightweight checkpoints can handle the most common failure modes, while more expensive checkpoints can handle severe failures. We designed a multilevel checkpointing library, the Scalable Checkpoint/Restart (SCR) library, that writes lightweight checkpoints to node-local storage in addition to the parallel file system. We present probabilistic Markov models of SC’s performance. We show that on future large-scale systems, SCR can lead to a gain in machine efficiency of up to 35%, and reduce the load on the parallel file system by a factor of two. Additionally, we predict that checkpoint scavenging, or only writing checkpoints to the parallel file system on application termination, can reduce the load on the parallel file system by 20× on today’s systems and still maintain high application efficiency.
Reversible Charge-Accelerated Oxy-Cope Rearrangements

An asymmetric synthesis of the oxetane-containing norbornanone 23 and its coupling to trans-1-propenyllithium to give 24 are reported, in tandem with the preparation of the related alcohols 28 and 30. All three divinyl carbinols undergo anionic oxy-Cope rearrangement very rapidly at low temperature. Quenching of 24-K+ and 28-K+ under these conditions with water or various aqueous salt solutions results in protonation of the alkoxides. If these reaction mixtures are poured instead onto cold (0 °C) silica gel, their sigmatropically related ketones are isolated in very good yield. Whereas the 24-K+ ⇄ 25-K+ equilibrium pair is not reactive to molecular oxygen, 30-K+ is directly converted into an α-hydroperoxy ketone under comparable conditions. These and additional observations are rationalized in the context of atropisomerism involving conversion of oxygen-up enolates, formed reversibly under kinetically controlled conditions, into their thermodynamically favored, more reactive oxygen-down conformers.
A tree search methodology based on sequential dynamic programming and set analysis

Abstract This methodology permits a systematic tree search using a rank ordered list of alternative structures. After initially using all of the subproblems as the data base, dynamic programming (DP) is repeatedly completed on subsets of this data base. As sequences are identified, their subproblem identification numbers are stored and used to reduce the number of subproblem combinations (i.e. DP trials) that must be completed to generate either the complete rank order list or a part of it. Then starting with the apparently best, next best and subsequent sequences, the engineer can systematically evaluate process interactions and integration options to find the best design overall. The structural accuracy of the initial rank order list depends upon the interactions between subproblems and energy integration options for the network.
The density of remaining nerve endings in human skin with and without postherpetic neuralgia after shingles.

The mechanisms of chronic neuropathic pain are not well understood. Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), which occurs in some patients after shingles (herpes zoster), was used to investigate the neural determinants of chronic pain. Skin biopsies were obtained from 38 adults with or without PHN at least 3 months after healing of shingles on the torso. Vertical sections were immunolabeled against PGP9.5, a pan-axonal marker, to measure the density of remaining nerve endings in skin previously affected by shingles. All axons that end in the epidermis are nociceptors, neurons that transmit pain messages. The densities ranged between 2 and 3976 neurites/mm2 skin surface, but the overlap between subjects and without PHN was small. Of 19 subjects without PHN, 17 had more than 670 neurites/mm2 skin surface area (mean±SEM=1569±230), and 18 of 19 subjects with PHN had 640 or fewer neurites/mm2 (mean±SEM=367±92). PHN may be a ‘phantom-skin’ pain associated with loss of nociceptors. This threshold of approximately 650 neurites/mm2 skin surface was not detected in previous studies that used summary statistics. It implies that the absence of pain after shingles may require the preservation of a minimum density of primary nociceptive neurons, and that the density of epidermal innervation may provide an objective correlate for the presence or absence of PHN pain.
Weliness and Coping Activities of African American Counselors

This study examined the physical, emotional, occupational, and spiritual wellness activities of African American counselors and the behaviors they use to cope with racism The author developed a demographic questionnaire and a wellness survey that included an open-ended question on coping with racism These instruments were completed by 91 professional counselors who were certified by the National Board of Certified Counselors. The scores for spiritual and emotional wellness were significantly higher than the scores for physical and occupational wellness. Multiple regression analyses indicated that counselors in school settings (K-12) were less likely to engage in occupational wellness activities than counselors employed elsewhere. There was some indication that gender was related to spiritual wellness and that counselor position was related to emotional and physical wellness. The most used coping behavior against racism was confrontation.
Catalytically active metal oxide-supported rhodium hydride complexes

Abstract Well defined metal oxide-supported rhodium hydride complexes were prepared in which the Rh is covalently anchored to the support through a rhodiumoxygen bond. The various complexes differ in their ligand environments and, as a result, exhibit markedly different behavior as olefin hydrogenation catalysts. Spectral characterization of these complexes was performed and rhodium hydrides were verified as the active species for olefin hydrogenation. Reactivity patterns for these complexes are compared with analogues in homogeneous systems.
Induced mutations in maize

Maize is one of the most powerful genetic systems for studying plant biology, and an important model system for the grasses. Key to its utility is the wide range of mutations that have been and can be induced in its genome. Here we review the current uses of mutagens in maize, including the wide range of endogenous transposable elements, as well as chemical mutagens, irradiation, and the use of RNAi silencing. In addition, we describe the extensive resources now available publicly as a result of those mutageneses. Most of these efforts are ongoing and the number of mutant lines available to researchers continues to grow at an ever-increasing rate.
The minimization of the back scattering of a cylinder by central loading

A theoretical and experimental study of the minimization of the back scattering by a thin cylinder by central loading is presented. The induced current on a centrally loaded cylinder illuminated by a plane wave at normal incidence was determined theoretically and experimentally. The magnitude and phase of the induced current can be greatly changed by a central impedance. The optimum loading to achieve zero back scatter in the broadside direction from a thin cylinder shorter than two wavelengths and the optimum central impedance for the purpose of minimizing the broadside back scattering from a thin cylinder over a wide range of frequencies has been determined.
Change of concanavalin A induced agglutinability during preimplantation mouse development

Abstract Mouse embryos during early cleavage (zygote to eight-cell stage) were agglutinable with a low concentration (10 μg/ml) of concanavalin A (ConA). This agglutinability was reduced during the first mitotic division. Morulae were agglutinable with a slightly higher concentration (100 μg/ml), whereas blastocysts were not agglutinable even with ConA at a concentration of 5000 μg/ml; however, isolated inner cell masses agglutinated readily at 10 μg/ml of ConA. Embryos grown in vitro behaved as did those isolated directly from the genital tract. Treatment with proteolytic enzymes did not induce agglutinability of mouse blastocyst. The change in agglutinability of trophoblastic cells reflects dramatic changes in the cell surface.
Descriptive epidemiology of calfhood morbidity and mortality in New York holstein herds

Abstract A prospective cohort study was done of 1171 Holstein heifer calves born from July 1983 to 30 April 1985 and kept to be raised as replacements in 26 commercial dairy herds in the vicinity of Cornell University. The objectives were to examine the interrelationships of management with morbidity and mortality at both the individual and herd level, and the long-term effects of morbidity on survical. The study population, data collection and processing methods, and the descriptive epidemiology (e.g. age and temporal distributions) of calfhood morbidity, mortality and treatments are described. The clinical signs (as diagnosed by farmers on standardized check-off forms) studied were: scours/diarrhea within 14 days of birth and from 15 to 90 days of age; dull, listless, droopy ears, or of feed within 90 days of birth; cough, runny nose or eyes, or trouble breathing within 90 days or birth; death prior to 90 days of age. The crude incidence rates of scours within 14 days of birth, scours from 15 to 90 days of age, dullness, respiratory illness and death were 9.9, 5.2, 7.7, 7.4 and 3.5 per 100, respectively, for the period of study. The only seasonal effect on incidence was for scours within 14 days of birth (which was higher in winter compared to summer across both years of the study). The incidence rates of scours from 15 to 90 days of age, dullness and respiratory illness were higher in the first year of the study compared to the second year; there was no effect of season on these outcomes. The mortality rate within 90 days of birth was not related either to year of study or season. The median ages at occurence of scours within 14 days of birth, scours from 15 to 90 days of age, dullness, respiratory illness, and death were 6, 30, 16, 25 and 28 days, respectively. Risks of clinical signs were highest in the first week of life, while risk of death was highest in the third week. Calves with only scours within 14 days of birth or only scours from 15 to 90 days of age were treated primarily with oral electrolytes, oral antibiotics, and restriction of milk consumption. Calves with only dullness or only respiratory illness were treated primarily with intramuscular antibiotics. The median herd incidence rates of scours within 14 days og birth, scours from 15 to 90 days of age, dullness, respiratory illness and death were 5, 0, 0, 0 and 0 per 100, respectively, during the periof of the study.
Pollicization: The Concept, Technical Details, and Outcome

Pollicization substitutes a functioning finger for a deficient thumb. The most indication is thumb hypoplasia with absence or instability of the carpometacarpal joint. However, there are additional causes that may negate thumb function, such as trauma, macrodactyly, multi-fingered hand, and a mirror hand. The technique of pollicization represents a consolidation of contributions from surgeons over the last 100 years. A meticulous stepwise approach from incision to closure is necessary to optimize outcome. Following pollicization, cortical plasticity and motor relearning play a pivotal role in function following pollicization with connections and adjacent sprouting from nearby cortical and/or subcortical territories. Occupational therapy is necessary to encourage large object acquisition followed by smaller objects and ultimately fine pinch. Pollicization is more reliable in patients with isolated thumb hypoplasia and a mobile index finger with robust extrinsic and intrinsic muscle-tendon units compared to and patients with radial forearm deficiencies and diminished index mobility.
Comparison of pharyngeal aspirate and amniotic fluid surfactant composition.

Amniotic fluid and oropharyngeal aspirate lung maturity profiles obtained simultaneously at delivery in 16 patients are compared. The lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio was greater in oropharyngeal aspirates than in amniotic fluid (p
The consequences of restricted water accessibility on schedule-induced polydipsia

Twelve naive female albino rats were assigned to three groups (four subjects per group), and each group was given access to water for one of three 20-sec periods during the interpellet interval. Water intakes of all subjects in each group increased substantially relative to baseline conditions with nonsignificant differences in water intakes between groups. Although schedule-induced polydipsia develops under conditions of restricted water accessibility, the concept of reinforcement probability alone cannot adequately predict the relative degree of water intakes, but must be considered in relation to other potent variables.
Ion‐Beam Mixing of Iron Oxide Marker Layers in Doped and Undoped Alumina Thin Films

Thin films of iron-doped and pure amorphous alumina with embedded marker layers of iron oxide (Fe2O3) were ion-beam mixed with 210-keV argon in a temperature range of −164° to 750°C. The marker exhibited a strong temperature-dependent spreading (T > 470°C) into the undoped alumina matrix, but the marker spreading into the iron-doped matrix was inhibited by the presence of the dopant.
CbgA, a Protein Involved in Cortex Formation and Stress Resistance in Myxococcus xanthus Spores

CbgA plays a role in cortex formation and the acquisition of a subset of stress resistance properties in Myxococcus xanthus spores. The cbgA mutant produces spores with thin or no cortex layers, and these spores are more sensitive to heat and sodium dodecyl sulfate than their wild-type counterparts.
A tale of two rivers: Comparing NPS‐local interactions in two areas

Abstract The studies presented here concern the responses of local community residents to the presence and actions of the National Park Service in two relatively newly designated river areas. In one case, a bitter, protracted conflict between local community groups and the agency occurred, while in the other instance, remarkably harmonious relationships developed. Reasons for the differences in response between the two areas are discussed from the perspective of the interpretive paradigm in sociology. It is suggested that community response can be understood on the basis of the social construction of the meaning of agency presence on the part of local residents. It is further suggested that this social construction is the result of both day‐to‐day interactions and key symbolic events. Implications with respect to the success of management strategies are discussed.
MAKING SENSE OF ENTREPRENEURIAL OUTCOMES MEASUREMENTS IN THE LITERATURE: SUGGESTIONS FOR RESEARCHERS AND POLICYMAKERS

This article addresses three questions: (1) How has entrepreneurial outcome been measured? (2) How can these measurements be categorized? (3) What measures are most appropriate and when? It provides an inventory of the measures that have been used, and presents two frameworks through which to understand how they can be organized. The first framework organizes the various measures along the dimensions of time and performance. The second borrows the lifecycle approach to defining different outcomes as transition points between the stages in the lifecycle. Each framework is discussed in terms of its relevance to entrepreneurship researchers and policy makers.
Relationship of Oxidized Phospholipids on Apolipoprotein B-100 Particles to Race/Ethnicity, Apolipoprotein(a) Isoform Size, and Cardiovascular Risk Factors Results From the Dallas Heart Study

Background— Elevated levels of oxidized phospholipids (OxPLs) on apolipoprotein B-100 particles (OxPL/apoB) are associated with cardiovascular disease and predict new cardiovascular events. Elevated lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] levels are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in whites and also in blacks if they carry small apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] isoforms. The relationship of OxPL/apoB levels to race/ethnicity, cardiovascular risk factors, and apo(a) isoforms is not established. Methods and Results— OxPL/apoB levels were measured in 3481 subjects (1831 black, 1047 white, and 603 Hispanic subjects) in the Dallas Heart Study and correlated with age, sex, cardiovascular risk factors, and Lp(a) and apo(a) isoforms. Significant differences in OxPL/apoB levels were noted among racial/ethnic subgroups, with blacks having the highest levels compared with whites and Hispanics (P<0.001 for each comparison). OxPL/apoB levels generally did not correlate with age, sex, or risk factors. In the overall cohort, OxPL/ap...
Perceived treatment assignment and smoking cessation in a clinical trial of bupropion versus placebo.

INTRODUCTION Psychoactive effects of smoking cessation medi cations such as bupropion may allow participants in smoking cessation clinical trials to correctly guess their treatment assignment at rates greater than chance. Previous research has found an association between perceived treatment assignment and smoking cessation rates among moderate to heavy smokers (≥ 10 cigarettes per day [cpd]) in two bupropion clinical trials. METHODS The aim of this study was to determine the impact of perceived treatment assignment on end-of-treatment cotinine-verified smoking abstinence at Week 7 and Week 26 among African American light smokers (≤ 10 cpd) enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of bupropion. Participants (n = 390) included in this study reported their perceived treatment assignment on the end-of-treatment (Week 7) survey. RESULTS Participants were predominantly female (63.1%), 48.1 years of age (SD = 11.2), and smoked an average of 8 cpd (SD = 2.5). Participants given bupropion were more likely to correctly guess their treatment assignment (69%; 140/203) than those assigned to placebo (51.3%; 96/187) (p < .0001). After adjusting for treatment condition, participants who perceived assignment to bupropion versus placebo were not more likely to be abstinent than those who perceived assignment to placebo at Week 7 or at Week 26. The interaction between treatment and perceived treatment assignment was also nonsignificant. CONCLUSIONS Consistent with two previous studies testing bupropion, participants assigned to bupropion were more likely to correctly guess their treatment assignment than those assigned to placebo. However, in contrast to previous studies with heavier smokers, perceived treatment assignment did not significantly impact cotinine-verified abstinence in light smokers.
Stalking the wild Tetrahymena.

We live on a microbial planet. Microorganisms dominate in terms of numbers of lineages, numbers of organisms, biomass and evolutionary innovations. Yet much remains to be learned about our microbial neighbours. We have gotten to know a few species that have been transformed into ‘laboratory rats’ (i.e. model organisms), but even here our understanding of the natural history of these lineages remains inadequate as there are few data from populations living in natural habitats. Zufall et al. (2013) move beyond this trend by providing insights into the natural history of Tetrahymena thermophila, a ciliate that has been used in many studies of cellular and molecular biology. Characterization of T. thermophila sampled from numerous ponds across this ciliate's range in Eastern North America reveals the following: (i) considerable differentiation among isolates, with the greatest diversity among lineages in New England, and (ii) a relatively small effective population size for this model ciliate. Such population data are fundamental for inferences about the origins of the numerous remarkable features of T. thermophila.
Combination Therapy in Experimental Invasive Aspergillosis

Combination antifungal therapy was assessed in an immunosuppressed rabbit model of invasive aspergillosis. Treatment with fluconazole, amphotericin B, or a combination of both significantly prolonged survival of animals lethally challenged with Aspergillus fumigatus. High-dose amphotericin B was the most effective therapy for invasive aspergillosis. Although no antagonism was seen when fluconazole was given prophylactically or therapeutically in combination with amphotericin B, combination therapy did not augment the antifungal activity of amphotericin B. Animals given a sublethal challenge of A. fumigatus had lower mortality rates when given amphotericin B, fluconazole as treatment or prophylaxis, or various combination therapies. Only animals treated with flucytosine had mortality rates comparable to those of controls. No antagonism was observed with combinations of fluconazole and amphotericin B, flucytosine and amphotericin B, or fluconazole and flucytosine. These observations provide evidence that fluconazole, flucytosine, and amphotericin B used in various combinations are not antagonistic and may provide some insight into the treatment of invasive aspergillosis in humans.
Maturation and in vitro Fertilization of Follicular Oocytes of the Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri sciureus)

These studies were conducted to examine the procedures and variables of an in vitro fertilization system used to provide embryos for developmental studies in the squirrel monkey, Saimuri sciureus. During these trials, conducted over the past 5 years, 745 oocytes were aspirated from 2168 follicles (34.4% recovery rate). Of these oocytes 137 (18.4%) were atretic. Of the remaining 608 oocytes, 38% matured to the metaphase II stage. Differences in aspiration procedures did not affect maturation or in vitro fertility. Male squirrel monkeys used to supply semen were of significantly differing fertility. Volumes and cellular composition of follicular fluid were determined for 4 sizes of follicles and of these the smallest (1 mm diameter) follicles yielded significantly higher proportions of atretic ova. The highest in vitro fertilization rates occurred with 5% CO2 in air with a TC-199 medium containing both pyruvate and serum proteins. Addition of either 10 or 100 mIU of insulin to this culture medium did not alter in vitro maturation or fertilization, but did significantly reduce the formation of monolayers by follicle cells.
Understanding and Harnessing Placebo Effects: Clearing Away the Underbrush

Despite strong growth in scientific investigation of the placebo effect, understanding of this phenomenon remains deeply confused. We investigate critically seven common conceptual distinctions that impede clear understanding of the placebo effect: (1) verum/placebo, (2) active/inactive, (3) signal/noise, (4) specific/nonspecific, (5) objective/subjective, (6) disease/illness, and (7) intervention/context. We argue that some of these should be eliminated entirely, whereas others must be used with caution to avoid bias. Clearing away the conceptual underbrush is needed to lay down a path to understanding and harnessing placebo effects in clinical medicine.
A generalization of Bernoulli's theorem.

Abstract The conservation of potential vorticity Q can be expressed as ∂(ρQ/∂t + ∇·J = 0, where J denotes the total flux of potential vorticity. It is shown that J is related under statistically steady conditions to the Bernoulli function B by J = ∇θ × ∇B,where θ is the potential temperature. This relation is valid even in the nonhydrostatic limit and in the presence of arbitrary nonconservative forces (such as internal friction) and heating rates. In essence, it can be interpreted as a generalization of Bernoulli's theorem to the frictional and diabatic regime. The classical Bernoulli theorem—valid for inviscid adiabatic and steady flows—states that the intersections of surfaces of constant potential temperature and constant Bernoulli function yield streamlines. In the presence of frictional and diabatic effects, these intersections yield the flux lines along which potential vorticity is transported.
Atrial Remodeling After the Fontan Operation

The hemodynamics after Fontan surgery are notable for hypertension and dilation of the right atrium (RA). The effect of this stress on atrial cytoarchitecture has not been systematically studied and might be relevant to arrhythmias and their treatment. Morphologic and histopathologic analyses were performed on tissue from the RA and left atrium (LA) from autopsy specimens of Fontan hearts (n = 47). The findings were compared to those from control samples from young patients with normal atrial hemodynamics (n = 15). Most Fontan specimens were from young patients who died after a relatively short duration of Fontan physiology. The tissues were analyzed for wall thickness, fibrosis content, and fibrosis pattern. The mean wall thickness for the RA (3.0 ± 1.0 mm) and LA (2.3 ± 0.6 mm) in the Fontan hearts was significantly greater than that in the control hearts (RA, 1.8 ± 0.4 mm; LA, 1.8 ± 0.5 mm; p
Scalable Interconnection and Integration of Nanowire Devices without Registration

A general strategy for the parallel and scalable integration of nanowire devices over large areas without the need to register individual nanowire−electrode interconnects has been developed. The ap...
Internationale Multimedia-Trends: Die Entwicklung der Märkte in USA, Japan, Frankreich und England

Nach einem Uberblick uber Multimedia als globaler Wirtschaftstrend werden 4 Lander bezuglich ihrer Multimediaaktivitaten naher analysiert: USA - Mythos und Realitat des interaktiven Fernsehens; Japan - SpaterStart auf dem Superhighway; Frankreich - Multimedia uber den PC; England - Telefonie uber Kabelsysteme. Im Fazit und Ausblick wird zusammengefast, das die Multimediamarkte weiterhin als sehr interessante Markte einzustufen sind, das aber ihre Entwicklung doch etwas langsamer vor sich geht, als ursprunglichvon vielen Marktteilnehmern erwartet wurde.
THEORY OF COMPLEX LIFE CYCLES: APPLICATION IN PLETHODONTID SALAMANDERS

Abstract Experimental studies of complex life cycles in plethodontid salamanders are reviewed and evaluated in the context of seven theoretical life-history models that focus on amphibians having biphasic life cycles. Such life cycles are found in the single species of the subfamily Hemidactylinae and in some members of the subfamily Spelerpinae and genus Desmognathus. In general, data on plethodontids provide only limited support for the predictions of the models. Given that the models have been formulated mainly for pond-breeding amphibians, several investigators have suggested that ancestral adaptation to streams in biphasic plethodontids have prescribed different evolutionary trajectories in the metamorphic response of these salamanders, in comparison with pond-breeding frogs and salamanders. Larval and metamorphic characters tabulated for biphasic plethodontids show that there is considerable inter- and intraspecific variation in larval periods and sizes at metamorphosis. In all lineages, in most spe...
Native Purification and Labeling of RNA for Single Molecule Fluorescence Studies

The recent discovery that non-coding RNAs are considerably more abundant and serve a much wider range of critical cellular functions than recognized over previous decades of research into molecular biology has sparked a renewed interest in the study of structure-function relationships of RNA. To perform their functions in the cell, RNAs must dominantly adopt their native conformations, avoiding deep, non-productive kinetic traps that may exist along a frustrated (rugged) folding free energy landscape. Intracellularly, RNAs are synthesized by RNA polymerase and fold co-transcriptionally starting from the 5' end, sometimes with the aid of protein chaperones. By contrast, in the laboratory RNAs are commonly generated by in vitro transcription or chemical synthesis, followed by purification in a manner that includes the use of high concentrations of urea, heat and UV light (for detection), resulting in the denaturation and subsequent refolding of the entire RNA. Recent studies into the nature of heterogeneous RNA populations resulting from this process have underscored the need for non-denaturing (native) purification methods that maintain the co-transcriptional fold of an RNA. Here, we present protocols for the native purification of an RNA after its in vitro transcription and for fluorophore and biotin labeling methods designed to preserve its native conformation for use in single molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) inquiries into its structure and function. Finally, we present methods for taking smFRET data and for analyzing them, as well as a description of plausible overall preparation schemes for the plethora of non-coding RNAs.
Tannin inhibits adenylate cyclase in airway epithelial cells

Tannin, isolated from cotton bracts extract and implicated in the pathogenesis of byssinosis, inhibits adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) production and Cl- secretion in bovine airway epithelial cells in part by inhibiting adrenergic receptor binding. The purpose of this study was to determine whether tannin affected other parts of the adrenergic-cAMP signal transduction pathway by examining the effect of tannin on guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GTP)-regulatory pathways (G proteins) and on adenylate cyclase activity. cAMP production in confluent airway epithelial cells was measured in the presence of cholera toxin (100 micrograms/ml), an activator of GS proteins, and forskolin (0.1-1,000 microM), a direct activator of adenylate cyclase. Cholera toxin stimulated cAMP production; this response, however, was inhibited in cells pretreated with 50 micrograms/ml tannin. Forskolin (100 microM) stimulated cAMP production 13-fold above baseline values. Tannin pretreatment inhibited the stimulatory effect of forskolin on cAMP release in a dose-dependent manner with a tannin concentration causing 50% inhibition of 7.5 micrograms/ml. The stimulatory effect of forskolin on cAMP release was completely inhibited in cells pretreated with 50 micrograms/ml tannin. The inhibition was reversible 3 h after removal of tannin from the solution. Tannin also inhibited forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in a dose-dependent, noncompetitive manner. We conclude that forskolin and cholera toxin stimulate cAMP production in airway epithelial cells and that tannin inhibits the production of cAMP in airway epithelial cells by a direct effect on adenylate cyclase activity.
Usury Law, Payday Loans, and Statutory Sleight of Hand: Salience Distortion of American Credit Pricing Limits

In the Western intellectual tradition usury law has historically been the foremost bulwark shielding consumers from harsh credit practices. Historically, the United States commitment to usury law has been deep and consistent. However, the recent rapid growth of the payday loan industry belies this longstanding American tradition. In order to understand the evolution of American usury law, this paper presents a systemic empirical analysis of all fifty state usury laws in two time periods: 1965 and the present. The highest permissible price of a typical payday loan authorized under each state's usury law was calculated. These prices were then translated into Annual Percentage Rate (APR) format following the federal Truth-in-Lending Act price disclosure regulations. Moreover, this Article also compares how each state legislature describes its most expensive permissible payday loan, with how that loan is characterized under federal price disclosure law. It does so by suggesting a new financial concept which I label: salience distortion. This analysis produces three findings: (1) usury law has become more lax; (2) usury law has become more polarized; and, (3) usury law has become more misleading. These findings suggest that the numeric language in current state usury statutes is not chosen because it helpfully describes some expectation of commercial behavior. Rather, legislatures have chosen the language of most current credit price caps because it sounds in an ancient moral tradition - a mythology of sorts - that roughly delineates popular perception of moral and immoral interest rates. Exploiting this normative tradition as well as common behavioral economic heuristics, many state legislatures use small, innocuous numbers in usury law because they are attempting to minimize the public and media outcry over their decision to legalize triple digit interest rate consumer loans.
Adapting the Patient-centered Specialty Practice Model for Populations With Cirrhosis

United States health care is moving rapidly from volume- to value-based reimbursement. An essential part of this movement will be the development of alternative payment models where a specific bundle of care (colonoscopy), episode of care (a year of care for attributed Crohn’s patients), or ongoing care of a specialty-centric patient population (patients with cirrhosis) are covered within a contract that links health outcomes, quality of care, and payment together. Gastroenterologists are slowly becoming aware of these concepts. Primary care has its patient-centered medical home and now specialists have a patient-centric specialty practice where patient populations are cared for principally by a specialty practice within a well-defined care delivery structure. Previous Road Ahead columns have illustrated these concepts, and this month, Meier and colleagues provide an excellent definition and example of how practices can participate in this new world order.
International Legal Sanction Processes

This writing outlines various aspects of sanction processes within which several types of actors can and do participate. Sanction objectives are addressed, such as prevention, deterrence, restoration, reparation, rehabilitation, long-term reconstruction, and correction. Formal fora are identified as well as more specific sanction strategies and problems.
Genetics and Friedreich Ataxia

The effects of genetic understanding on clinical evaluation and therapy of Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) are reviewed from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia.
Effect of 4'-(3,3-Dimethyl-1-triazeno) acetanilide and Other Compounds on Several Lepidopterous Pests of Cotton

Laboratory applications of 4'-(3,3-dimethyl-l-triazeno) acetanilide (American Cyanamid CL-24055) to cotton plants limited leaf feeding and reduced the larval weights of the bollworm, Heliothis zea (Boddie); tobacco budworm, H. virescens (F.); cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hubner); yellow woollybear, Diacrisia virginica (F.); and cotton leafworm, Alabama argillacea (Hubner). Feeding damage by the cabbage looper was reduced 90% when larvae were placed on leaves 2 hr after 24 hours. Injection or topical applications of CL-24055 to bollworm larvae did not reduce larval feeding as much as foliage applications. In field-cage studies a 58% reduction occurred in populations of bollworm larvae after treatment with CL-24055. Also, in a field test with CL-24055, a 22% reduction occurred in squares and bolls damaged by Heliothis spp. Tobacco budworm larvae fed leaves treated with CL-24055 weighed less, whether or not the labial palpi were removed. The following materials caused no (A1%) reduction in tobacco budworm and cabbage looper larval feeding and weight: alpha- (3-phenylpropyl) piperonyl alcohol; phenacyl thiocyanate; N-sec- butyl- p -toluamide; p -(1,1,3,3-teracnetgyt-butyl) phenyl propionate; octyl m -toluate;4 (or5)-chloro- N-N -diethy 1-2-methylcyclohexanecarboxamide; N ,2,2-trimethy1-4',5'-(methylenedioxy)-3 (2-methylpropenyl)-2'-propylcyclopropanecarboxanilide; N -butylsuccinimide; 2-methyoxyethyl 4(or 5)-chloro-2-methylcyclohexanecarboxylate; calamus oil distillate fractions; imidazole; and the plant pigment quercetin (3,3', 4'5,7-pentahydroxyffavone).
Endophyte—Host Associations in Forage Grasses. V. Occurrence of Fungal Endophytes in Certain Species of Bromus and Poa

(1986). Endophyte—Host Associations in Forage Grasses. V. Occurrence of Fungal Endophytes in Certain Species of Bromus and Poa. Mycologia: Vol. 78, No. 5, pp. 846-850.
Development of a Structural Kinematic Mounting System for Small Payloads

The Small Payload Quick Return (SPQR) vehicle is being designed to return small thermally controlled payloads from the International Space Station. The vehicle has a goal of providing environments at a variety of temperatures with a special focus on the need to quickly return refrigerated, frozen and cryogenic biological samples. During development a need was identified for a payload mounting system with a small single interface, a high thermal resistance and a self-alignment mechanism. This structural mounting is planned to be actuated by crewmembers in a microgravity environment without the use of advanced tooling. In response to this need a kinematic mounting system is being developed for securing a payload using discrete contact locations between concave and convex surfaces. When a force is applied in one direction these contracting surfaces will bind a system in two rotation modes and all three translation modes. This system will allow for simple one step integration of a payload which will drastically decrease the possibility of human error while maintaining a very simple structure with only one moving part and excellent thermal resistance. Using this formation an astronaut may be able to load hardware that would self-align in relation to its container, and could be fully secured in three dimensions by the application of a single fastener. The proposed mounts will be integrated into testing with the SPQR vehicle for thermal vacuum testing, vibration loading and impulse loading requirements.
Re-reading The Crying of Lot 49 : A Note on the Oz Connection

A disembodied head floats in the shower steam in the dressing room scene of chapter three of The Crying of Lot 49. While Oedipa Maas interviews Randolph Driblette backstage after the performance of The Courier's Tragedy, "He stuck his head out of the shower. The rest of his body was wreathed in steam, giving his head an eerie, balloon-like buoyancy" (78). Just as "[s]omething came to her viscera" in recognition of Driblette's look of "deep amusement" (78), something danced in my viscera too in response to this visual image of Driblette's suspended head: the purely American fable containing the archetypal suspended head, The Wonderful Wizard of OZ , "one of the most important cultural documents and fairy tales in American history" (Leach 1). Alluding to Oz by using the illusion of the floating head surrounded by steam is an apt way for Pynchon to introduce L. Frank Baum's nineteenth-century American trickster as a model for Driblette, trickster/director of The Courier's Tragedy.
Twombly: The Demise of Notice Pleading, the Triumph of Milton Handler and the Uncertain Future of Antitrust Enforcement

The Supreme Court’s decision in Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544 (2007) is a watershed ruling whose impact on private litigation, especially antitrust litigation, will reverberate for decades. Twombly has redefined notice pleading and has clearly raised the bar for plaintiffs. To survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must be “plausible,” that is, it must contain enough facts to raise a reasonable expectation that pretrial discovery will reveal evidence of illegal conduct. Conclusory allegations or formulaic recitations of the elements of a claim are not sufficient and can be ignored by the court. In so ruling, the Court explicitly abrogated the plaintiff-oriented “no set of facts standard” set forth in Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41 (1957), which had governed pleadings for half a century.Twombly, however, is not simply about pleadings. Underlying the decision were the Court’s broader policy concerns about the need to (1) rid the system of baseless litigation; and (2) cabin the high cost of pretrial discovery. The Court concluded these concerns were best addressed at the motion to dismiss stage. Substantively, Twombly has engineered a dramatic shift in the balance of power in antitrust litigation from plaintiffs to defendants, reversing a trend that Milton Handler had bemoaned over forty years ago. Nor is Twombly without its critics. The decision is at odds with the fundamental tenets of notice pleading and the vague plausibility standard has created much uncertainty that will take years for the lower courts to resolve. Moreover, to the extent the Court’s ruling was motivated by the high cost of discovery, that concern might be better addressed by enforcement of existing discovery limitations rather than by wholesale revision of pleading standards. Unquestionably, the path to victory for plaintiffs in private antitrust litigation has become more arduous in the wake of Twombly.
Treatment of Pediatric Type 2 Diabetes

Objective: To review the current literature for the efficacy and safety of available treatments for type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in the pediatric population. Data Sources: A search from January 1990 to April 2016 was conducted using PubMed and clinicaltrials.gov using the search terms diabetes mellitus, type 2; adolescent; child; and pediatric. Bibliographies of chosen articles were reviewed. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Relevant articles and preliminary data from clinical trials on metformin, insulin, sulfonylureas, thiazolidinediones (TZDs), glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, and α-glucosidase inhibitors for the treatment of pediatric T2DM were reviewed. Studies included randomized controlled, observational, and open-label designs. Data Synthesis: Metformin, studied in 4 of the reviewed trials, and premixed insulin appear to be safe and effective in pediatric patients with T2DM. TZDs were well tolerated and yielded favorable results, but may have limited appl...
Pharmacokinetic and metabolic disposition of p-chloro-m-xylenol (PCMX) in dogs.

The pharmacokinetic and metabolic profile of p-chloro-m-xylenol (PCMX) was studied in healthy mongrel dogs after intravenous and oral administration of single doses of 200 and 2000 mg of PCMX, respectively. Calculation of pharmacokinetic parameters was based on compartmental and noncompartmental methods. The mean pharmacokinetic parameters of elimination half-life and mean residence time were 1.84 and 1.69 hr, respectively. The apparent volume of distribution at steady state was estimated to be 22.4 liters, and the plasma clearance was 14.6 liters/hr. The bioavailability of PCMX was 21%, indicating low absorption for this drug. PCMX's metabolite data show that a presystemic elimination process (first-pass effect) is also occurring. PCMX plasma concentrations after intravenous administration of 500-, 200-, and 100-mg doses were found to be proportional to the dose given, demonstrating that the pharmacokinetic profile of PCMX is linear over the dose range studied. Biotransformation studies showed that urinary excretion was not the major route for rapid elimination of unchanged PCMX and almost all material excreted in urine was associated with the conjugated species (glucuronides and sulfates). Statistical significant differences were not found (P > 0.05) between the percentages excreted in urine of PCMX and its conjugated metabolites after intravenous and oral administration. The percentages excreted in urine after iv and oral doses of unchanged PCMX were, respectively, 0.45 and 0.37; total conjugates, 46.3 and 43.3; sulfates, 38.1 and 33.2; and glucuronides, 8.2 and 10.2.
How many ways are there to make a root

Plants often make the same organ in different development contexts. Roots are a quintessential example, with embryonic, primary, lateral, adventitious, and regenerative roots common to many plants. The cellular origins and early morphologies of different roots can vary greatly, but the adult structures can be remarkably similar. Recent studies have highlighted the diversity of mechanisms that can initiate roots while late patterning mechanisms are frequently shared. In the middle stages when patterning emerges, evidence shows that antagonistic auxin-cytokinin interactions regulate tissue patterns in root embryogenesis, vascular organization, and regeneration but it is not yet clear if a common ontogeny for the root body plan exists.
Leadership Characteristics and Volunteer Retention in Nonprofit Organizations

This article examines the effects of leadership integrity, leadership inclusiveness, volunteer satisfaction, and volunteer retention in nonprofit organizations. A survey and semistructured in-depth interviews uncovered volunteers’ experiences, perceptions, and observations of leadership in nonprofit organizations. A mixed-method research approach was used to investigate the direct and indirect relationship between five hypotheses: (1) leadership integrity and volunteer satisfaction, (2) leadership inclusiveness and volunteer satisfaction, (3) volunteer satisfaction and volunteer retention, (4) leadership integrity and volunteer retention, and (5) leadership inclusiveness and volunteer satisfaction. Three of the hypotheses were supported by both the quantitative and qualitative data, and two hypotheses were supported by the qualitative data only. Overall, the findings captured the internal motivation of volunteers in the nonprofit area and further suggested that leadership inclusiveness is a better indicator of volunteer retention than is leadership integrity or volunteer satisfaction.
On Exact Solutions of Rarefaction-Rarefaction Interactions in Compressible Isentropic Flow

Consider the interaction of two centered rarefaction waves in one-dimensional, compressible gas flow with pressure function \(p(\rho )=a^2\rho ^\gamma \) with \(\gamma >1\). The classic hodograph approach of Riemann provides linear 2nd order equations for the time and space variables t, x as functions of the Riemann invariants r, s within the interaction region. It is well known that t(r, s) can be given explicitly in terms of the hypergeometric function. We present a direct calculation (based on works by Darboux and Martin) of this formula, and show how the same approach provides an explicit formula for x(r, s) in terms of Appell functions (two-variable hypergeometric functions). Motivated by the issue of vacuum and total variation estimates for 1-d Euler flows, we then use the explicit t-solution to monitor the density field and its spatial variation in interactions of two centered rarefaction waves. It is found that the variation is always non-monotone, and that there is an overall increase in density variation if and only if \(\gamma >3\). We show that infinite duration of the interaction is characterized by approach toward vacuum in the interaction region, and that this occurs if and only if the Riemann problem defined by the extreme initial states generates a vacuum. Finally, it is verified that the minimal density in such interactions decays at rate O(1)/t.
Questions of montage and filmic space in L’Amour fou and Out 1 by Jacques Rivette

This article explores the practice and theory of two aspects of film form in the work of Jacques Rivette in the late 1960s and early 1970s: montage and filmic space. Under examination will be the t...
Vocational Training for Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Work and the self-worth and independence derived from it are key elements of adult life. Until recently adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have received little attention from clinicians and researchers. However, this trend is changing with considerate interest on vocational programs that are emerging. This chapter advocates for transitioning to vocational training from primary education for individuals with ASD to assist them in developing skills that will help with future employment.