cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spirituality as Resistance: What would Jesus buy?

There are several frames of resistance mediated through popular cultural visual texts; like spirituality, civil action and so on - we must note that these would not fall into the category of direct political action. Now, resistance is as much a patch work of methods, as it is filamented. Resistance is both interpretative (reactionary, arising as a response to stimulus) and subversive (progressive and pro-active), in relation to authoritarian processes and metanarratives. For instance, in Bill Talen’s political theater, we see how he and his colleagues mediate their Leftist Christian views through pastiche- they rely on parody, dystopia, and theothanatology, inversion of the conventional performance theatre, inscription and inversion of liberation theology. Keywords: Political Theater, Post Colonialism, Spirituality, Stand-up Comedy, Postmodernism, Civil Society.
Subtalar Coalitions: Does the Morphology of the Subtalar Joint Involvement Influence Outcomes After Coalition Excision?

Posteromedial subtalar (PMST) coalitions are a recently described anatomic subtype of tarsal coalitions. We compared with clinical patient-based outcomes of patients with PMST and standard middle facet (MF) coalitions who had undergone surgical excision of their coalition. The included patients had undergone surgical excision of a subtalar tarsal coalition, preoperative computed tomography (CT), and patient-based outcomes measures after surgery (including the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society [AOFAS] scale and University of California, Los Angeles [UCLA], activity score). Blinded analysis of the preoperative CT scan findings determined the presence of a standard MF versus a PMST coalition. The perioperative factors and postoperative outcomes between the MF and PMST coalitions were compared. A total of 51 feet (36 patients) were included. The mean follow-up duration was 2.6 years after surgery. Of the 51 feet, 15 (29.4%) had a PMST coalition and 36 (70.6%) had an MF coalition. No difference was found in the UCLA activity score; however, the mean AOFAS scale score was higher for patients with PMST (95.7) than for those with MF (86.5; p = .018). Of the patients with a PMST, none had foot pain limiting their activities at the final clinical follow-up visit. However, in the group with an MF subtalar coalition, 10 (27.8%) had ongoing foot pain limiting activity at the final follow-up visit (p = .024). Compared with MF subtalar tarsal coalitions, patients with PMST coalitions showed significantly improved clinical outcomes after excision. Preoperative identification of the facet morphology can improve patient counseling and expectations after surgery.
The epistemic responsibilities in medicine of beneficence and respect for patient autonomy

Ethics, Medicine and Public Health - Ethique, Medecine et Politiques Publiques - Vol. 3 - N° 2 - p. 233-240
Development and preliminary pilot evaluation of a brief tablet computer intervention to motivate tobacco quitline use among smokers in substance use treatment.

Background and Objectives The majority of individuals in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment also smoke cigarettes; yet, the availability of smoking cessation services in SUD treatment remains limited. In this study, we developed and piloted a brief intervention for smokers in SUD treatment intended to motivate engagement in tobacco quitline treatment (TIME-TQ). Methods First, we interviewed 19 smokers in SUD treatment to inform the development of TIME-TQ (Phase 1). Second, we delivered a prototype TIME-TQ to 16 smokers in the same SUD treatment program and followed them for 3 months post-discharge (Phase 2). Results Feedback from Phase 1 participants was used to refine response choices and video segments included in the prototype TIME-TQ. Phase 2 participants rated TIME-TQ high on relevance, interest, respectfulness, and helpfulness. Additionally, they reported significant increases in readiness to quit and perceived importance of quitting after receiving TIME-TQ. A total of 8 of the 16 accepted a quitline referral, and 8 of 13 reached for follow-up (four referral acceptors, four decliners) reported efforts to quit or reduce smoking during the follow-up period. However, only three received quitline counseling and none achieved a sustained period of abstinence. Conclusions and Scientific Significance Our results suggest that TIME-TQ activated these patients to quit smoking, but our referral method (standard fax referral) was unsuccessful in helping participants fully engage in quitline treatment or achieving a period of abstinence. Scientific Significance We are now conducting an RCT to evaluate TIME-TQ with a revised referral procedure intended to increase treatment engagement and, ultimately, abstinence rates. (Am J Addict 2017;XX:1–8)
A review of power cycle driven fatigue, aging, and failure modes for semiconductor power modules

Semiconductor power modules are widely used in the electric power conversion applications. The reliability of semiconductor power modules is one of the critical concerns for power converter design, operation, and lifetime estimation. This paper reviews the power cycle driven fatiguing causes, aging process, the failure modes of semiconductor power modules. Function components in a semiconductor power module including semiconductor dies, bond wires, solder layers, and insulated silicone gel are discussed regarding the aforementioned issues.
ACL Injury Prevention Training Results in Modification of Hip and Knee Mechanics During a Drop-Landing Task:

Background:Injury prevention training has been shown to be effective in reducing the incidence of noncontact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury; however, the underlying reason for the success ...
CAMsure: Secure Content-Addressable Memory for Approximate Search

We introduce CAMsure, the first realization of secure Content Addressable Memory (CAM) in the context of approximate search using near-neighbor algorithms. CAMsure provides a lightweight solution for practical secure (approximate) search with a minimal drop in the accuracy of the search results. CAM has traditionally been used as a hardware search engine that explores the entire memory in a single clock cycle. However, there has been little attention to the security of the data stored in CAM. Our approach stores distance-preserving hash embeddings within CAM to ensure data privacy. The hashing method provides data confidentiality while preserving similarity in the sense that a high resemblance in the data domain is translated to a small Hamming distance in the hash domain. Consequently, the objective of near-neighbor search is converted to approximate lookup table search which is compatible with the realizations of emerging content addressable memories. Our methodology delivers on average two orders of magnitude faster response time compared to RAM-based solutions that preserve the privacy of data owners.
Gamification: Current Research and Applications:

Gamification is the concept of applying game mechanics to non-game activities (Deterding, Dixon, Khaled, & Nacke, 2011). This concept has received a lot of recent interest from industry and many ex...
The dual ABL/SRC inhibitors dasatinib, SKI-606, and INNO-406 are potent inhibitors of T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines expressing the NUP214-ABL1 fusion kinase

1825 The fusion of ABL1 with BCR results in the hybrid BCR-ABL1 oncogene that encodes the constitutively active Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase encountered in the majority of patients (pts) with chronic myeloid leukemia and in approximately 30% of pts with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Episomal amplification of ABL1 has been described in ~6% of pts with T-ALL, in whom this oncogene is found fused with the nuclear pore complex protein NUP214 (NUP214-ABL1). This transcript has been identified in 3 human T-ALL cell lines (PEER, BE-13, and SIL-ALL) among 22 evaluated, providing a framework for the in vitro study of NUP214-ABL1-positive leukemia. Preliminary data from our group suggest that dasatinib has superior activity against NUP214-ABL1-expressing cell lines compared with imatinib and nilotinib. In the present study, we evaluated the activity of the dual Abl/Src tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) dasatinib, SKI-606, and INNO-406 against the human NUP214-ABL1-expressing PEER cell line. Exposure to dasatinib, SKI-606, or INNO-406 for 72 hours (MTS assay) inhibited proliferation of PEER cells with IC50 values of 39 nM, 64 nM, and 86 nM, respectively. In contrast, Jurkat cells, a NUP214-ABL1-negative T-ALL cell line, were remarkably resistant to these TKIs with an IC50 values greater than 5 μM, indicating that the cytotoxicity mediated by these compounds is not related to a general toxic effect on T-ALL cell lines. Treatment of PEER cells with equipotent concentrations of dasatinib, SKI-606, and INNO-406 induced mitochondrial potential loss (chloromethyl-X-rosamine; CMX-Ros) and activation of caspase-3 (Phi-Phi-Lux-G1D2) as evidenced by flow cytometry, which resulted in marked dose- and time-dependent induction of apoptosis. Treatment for 72 hours with dasatinib, SKI-606, and INNO-406 at their respective IC50 concentrations resulted in apoptosis of 46%, 51%, and 53% of PEER cells by annexin V-propidium iodide staining. In experiments focused on cell cycle analysis, exposure to equipotent doses of dasatinib, SKI-606, and INNO-406 for 72 hours, resulted in accumulation of 47.61%, 63.53%, and 57.81% of PEER cells in sub-G1 phase, respectively. Treatment of PEER cells with the 3 TKIs at concentrations ranging from 1 nM to 100 nM for 3 hours resulted in remarkable decrease in CrKL phosphorylation as determined by Western blot. CrKL phosphorylation was inhibited almost completely with all 3 TKIs at concentrations above 10 nM. By contrast, exposure to nilotinib resulted in inhibition of CrKL phophorylation only at concentrations greater than 100 nM. We conclude that dasatinib, SKI-606, and INNO-406 have significant activity against NUP214-ABL1-positive cells and represent promising therapeutic approaches in the context of NUP214-ABL1-positive leukemia that warrant further investigation in clinicaltrials.
Chapter 12 – Thermodynamics of Other Variables

This chapter introduces additional variables other than pressure, velocity, temperature, internal energy, entropy, enthalpy, Helmholtz free energy, and Gibbs free energy to tie thermodynamic equations to other types of processes. For example, the stretching of a rubber band if a rubber band is taken and a stress is introduced by hanging a weight on it, and then hot air is blown on the rubber band, it is discovered that with the constant force, the rubber band contracts with heating. Thermodynamics can be used to understand this effect. Stretching the rubber lines up the strands of polymer that increases the order and decreases the entropy. This decrease in entropy releases heat that increases the temperature of the rubber until the heat is removed. When two phases, such as (solid + liquid), (liquid + gas), and (solid + gas) are brought together, a boundary known as a surface or interface is present. The chapter uses thermodynamic relationships to describe only the bulk properties of a substance and considers the surface properties to be negligible. It also discusses the effects of curvature on the properties of pure substance surfaces and derives relationships to obtain the difference in the thermodynamic properties of a flat surface or the bulk phase, and small droplets.
Robotic surgery in organ transplantation

The application of minimally invasive surgical technologies has gained widespread adoption. The surgical robotic system has allowed surgeons to perform complex procedures, otherwise unachievable. Robotic systems afford access to minimally invasive surgery to more patients with a variety of pathological conditions. Better surgical dexterity and vision for surgeons, in addition to a facilitated learning curve, compared to conventional laparoscopic surgery, leads to lower rate of complications and higher patient satisfaction. Until recently, these benefits were inaccessible for patients in need of solid organ transplants. Conventional laparoscopy has been seen as non-applicable for such a technically demanding procedure. The introduction of the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System has expanded the ability to complete solid organ transplantation in a minimally invasive fashion. Robotic applications in kidney, pancreas, and liver transplantation have been reported. There are several groups which report their experiences and initial results showing the viability of this technique in the field. The biggest experience has been described in kidney transplantation. One of the main advantages of the robotic surgery is the significantly lower rate of surgical site infections, which in immunosuppressed patients is reflected in superior outcomes. Another proven advantage is that the robotic kidney approach permits transplantation in extreme BMI categories without additional technical complications. The first results in pancreas transplantation and living donor hepatectomies are very promising; however, larger series are needed in order to address the value of the robotic surgery in other areas of solid organ transplantation.
Auditory Displays for Take-Over in Semi-automated Vehicles

With the field of automated vehicles rapidly growing comes the question of how we communicate to a driver that they need to take over in emergency or other urgent situations. Auditory displays can enhance communications between the driver and the automated vehicle. After a review of related literature, guidelines for audio displays were determined and a preliminary pilot experiment was conducted to further understand how drivers’ reaction time to urgent situations would vary based on the type of sound they were alerted with. Results suggest that speech may give the quickest response time and a word choice may matter if using a spearcon. This paper is expected to contribute to designing further research studies for take-over displays in the automated vehicle.
On Time-Modulation-Enabled Nonreciprocity

This letter is to provide a review of recent works carried out on time-modulation-based nonreciprocal devices. It first provides an introduction of various modulation mechanisms and device architectures used in those studies and discusses the commonality and difference among the concepts of those approaches. Examples of on-chip implementations are presented. Potentials and challenges of time-modulation approaches in replacing ferrite-based nonreciprocal devices have also been discussed.
Traumatic Rupture of the Female Urethra

The clinical course of 4 female patients with complete traumatic rupture of the urethra was evaluated in an effort to propose guide lines for the investigation and initial management of this unusual injury. Treatment modalities are determined by the level of urethral injury and the subsequent effect on continence. We recommend a retropubic approach for bladder neck injuries, a transvaginal approach for proximal urethral ruptures with reanastomosis over a stenting catheter and acceptance of a hypospadiac neomeatus for distal urethral ruptures.
Equilibrium and Nonequilibrium Phases

The question of lattice stability plays an important role in any discussion of the physics of pure metal or alloy systems. This is particularly true of Ti alloys, whose lattice stability (i.e., structural phase stability) has technical as well as fundamental significance. The crystal structures of the three long periods of transition elements change more or less systematically from hep through bcc to fee as their group numbers increase from IV to VIII. Whether or not it is associated with an underlying physical significance, a useful correlation also exists between the crystal structures of binary transition-metal (TM) alloys and their average group numbers or electron/atom ratios. Frequently designated “e/a ratio,” this quantity, defined as the average number of valence s + d electrons, takes on the values 4 to 10 when applied to the members of the seven columns of the transition-metal block of the periodic table headed by the elements Ti to Ni. It will become apparent as this book develops that several important electronic properties (including superconductive ones) may also be indexed in terms of the above-defined “conventional electron/atom ratio,” or quantities related to it such as the atomic-volume-corrected “electron concentration” of Jensen, Matthias, and Andres [Jen65] or the “effective electron/atom ratio,” Neff, of DeSorbo et al [DES 65]. Another quantity, advocated by Luke, Taggart, and Polonis [Luk64] as being appropriate for the indexing of the compositional threshold for martensitic transformation in Ti-TM alloys, is an average Pauling valence which, although equal to the conventional e/a for the transition elements of groups IV to VI, never exceeds 6 for elements of later groups.
Supporting Cognition and Well-Being in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Intervention

About one in five older adults in the community have cognitive impairments greater than expected for age, but less severe than dementia. Activity-based interventions tailored to this important “in-between” group may help to extend continued independence in everyday functioning while sustaining mood and well-being. This chapter reviews research on cognitive wellness interventions for persons with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and describes a 1-year pilot intervention based on individualized plans for increasing cognitive and physical activity. The need for controlled trials of MCI interventions with follow-up and measurement of impacts beyond cognition (e.g., well-being and everyday function) is discussed.
The Growth-Inhibitory Effects of TGFβ

The transforming growth factor (3s (TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3) are members of a large superfamily of peptides that control a variety of cellular processes including proliferation, differentiation, and development (Massague 1992; Massague et al. 1992; Kingsley 1994; Ravitz and Wenner 1997). In parAbstract ticular, TGF-β1 controls cellular differentiation, adhesion, cell cycle progression, and extracellular matrix production in a number of different cell types (Massague et al. 1991; Ravitz and Wenner 1997). TGFβ binding to high affinity cell surface receptors leads to initiation of signal transduction pathways that conclude with cell type-specific phenotypes. The TGFβ type I and II receptors are N-linked glycoproteins that interact with each other as well as with TGFβ itself (Wrana et al. 1992; Franzen et al. 1993; Chen and Weinberg 1995). Both the type I and II receptors contain cytoplasmic domains that show homology to serine-threonine kinases (Lin et al. 1992; Wrana et al. 1992; Franzen et al. 1993; Carcamo et al. 1994; Kingsley 1994; ten Dijke et al. 1994) and, indeed, the initiating signaling event is probably phosphorylation of the type I by the type II receptor (Wrana et al. 1992). In addition, the type II receptor can also phosphorylate itself (Chen and Weinberg 1995). The type III TGFβ receptor seems to be involved in regulation of ligand access to the type I and II receptors (Lopez-Casillas et al. 1993; Wang et al. 1991).
Myology of the Feeding Apparatus of Myrmecophagid Anteaters (Xenarthra: Myrmecophagidae)

The musculoskeletal feeding apparatus of anteaters in the family Myrmecophagidae (Eutheria: Xenarthra) is described, compared among the three extant genera (Tamandua, Myrmecophaga, Cyclopes), and interpreted in a phylogenetic framework. Character polarities are assessed with reference to other xenarthrans, eutherians, and didelphid marsupials. Xenarthrans are widely regarded as basal eutherians, and this is reflected in the apparent retention of plesiomorphic character states in jaw and pharyngeal musculature. Jaw closing muscles are architecturally simple, the stylohyoideus is absent, the stylopharyngeus is robust and architecturally complex, and the superior pharyngeal constrictor is weak. At the same time, the highly specialized trophic ecology of myrmecophagids is reflected in derived features of the jaw, tongue, and palatal musculature. The sternomandibularis is present, the tongue is largely composed of a sternog-lossus with no attachments to the hyoid apparatus, other glossus muscles are modified and do not enter the tongue, and the mylohyoideus and stylopharyngeus contribute to the soft palate, while other palatal muscles vary among the myrmecophagid genera. Feeding apparatus mycology provides further support for myrmecophagid monophyly. Documentation of the morphological transformations that lead to the myrmecophagid condition is hampered by incomplete data on feeding apparatus structure in nonmyrmecophagid xenarthrans (sloths and armadillos) but a tentative character mapping onto an independently derived phylogeny is offered.
Using concept maps to characterise cellular respiration knowledge in undergraduate students

ABSTRACTMeaningful learning occurs by relating new information to and revising prior knowledge, making it essential to understand student knowledge before helping them move toward a more scientific...
Understanding the Costs Associated With Surgical Care Delivery in the Medicare Population.

BACKGROUND Surgical care has been largely untargeted by Medicare payment reforms because episode costs associated with its delivery are not currently well understood. OBJECTIVE To quantify the costs of inpatient and outpatient surgery in the Medicare population. METHODS We analyzed claims data from a 20% national sample of Medicare beneficiaries (2008-2014). For a given study year, we identified all inpatient and outpatient procedures and constructed claims windows around them to define surgical episodes. After summing payments for services rendered during each episode, we totaled all inpatient and outpatient episode payments by surgical specialty. For inpatient episodes, we determined component payments related to the index hospitalization, readmissions, physician services, and postacute care. For outpatient episodes, we differentiated by the site of care (hospital outpatient department versus physician office versus ambulatory surgery center). We used linear regression to evaluate temporal trends in inpatient and outpatient surgical spending. Finally, we estimated the contribution of surgical care to overall Medicare expenditures. RESULTS Total Medicare payments for surgical care are substantial, representing 51% of Program spending in 2014. They declined modestly over the study period, from $133.1 billion in 2008 to $124.9 billion in 2014 (-6.2%, P = 0.085 for the temporal trend). While spending on inpatient surgery contributed the most to total surgical payments (69.4% in 2014), it declined over the study period, driven by decreases in index hospitalization (-16.7%, P = 0.002) and readmissions payments (-27.0%, P = 0.003). In contrast, spending on outpatient surgery increased by $8.5 billion (28.7%, P < 0.001). This increase was realized across all sites of care (hospital outpatient department: 36.6%, P < 0.001; physician office: 22.1%, P < 0.001; ambulatory surgery center: 36.6%, P < 0.001). Ophthalmology and hand surgery witnessed the greatest growth in surgical spending over the study period. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Surgical care accounts for half of all Medicare spending. Our findings not only highlight the magnitude of spending on surgery, but also the areas of greatest growth, which could be targeted by future payment reforms.
Designing truth: Facilitating perpetrator testimony at truth commissions

Truth commissions aim to promote transparency, accountability, and reconciliation by compiling detailed narratives of political violence. To achieve this end, both victims and perpetrators of abuse...
Analysis of Factors Associated With Malpractice Litigation in Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty, the third most common cosmetic surgical procedure in the United States, represents the second most litigated facial plastic surgery procedure. Previous examinations of litigation speci...
Multi-droplet splat solidification with re-melting during precision droplet manufacturing

Abstract Precision Droplet Manufacturing (PDM) is an additive manufacturing process to build complex 3D parts one nano-liter molten metal droplet at a time from a CAD file without the need for tooling. Component integrity is explored by simulating the droplet splat solidification process via a finite-difference simulation which utilizes an analytical start valid for short times and also allows for re-melting of previously deposited material. Transformations are used to convert the moving-boundary problem to a fixed-boundary problem. Re-melt depth as a function of process parameters is investigated and an analysis of realistic parameters for building with aluminum indicates that successful inter-droplet splat bonding is feasible. In addition, the computed solidification rates verify PDM’s classification as a rapid solidification process. Furthermore, multi-layer simulations demonstrate that layer stacking is a sustainable process, meaning that it is possible for layers to always solidify fully before the next layer of material arrives on the substrate.
CHAPTER 5 – Radiopharmaceuticals for Imaging the Brain

This chapter discusses the development and application of radiopharmaceuticals, which are used to produce emission tomography (ET) images. It also reviews some of the most common radiopharmaceuticals that are used clinically and in clinical research for studies related to the brain. Emphasis is placed on radiopharmaceutical development related to neurotransmitter receptor systems. The dopamine neurotransmitter receptor system has been most widely studied using these imaging methods and applications of dopamine radiopharmaceuticals are discussed. It is noted that the number of targets in the brain are numerous and emphasis on radiopharmaceutical development has to be prioritized according to relevance to health and disease. In oncology, metabolic studies with 18F-FDG have taken a front seat, but there is an increasing effort to understand molecular basis of cancer. Although efforts have been made in the past to develop receptor-based targeting of cancer, current efforts are now being placed increasingly on genomic studies.
An Ecological Latent Class Model of Adolescent Risk and Protective Factors: Implications for Substance Use and Depression Prevention.

To provide a comprehensive view of the unique contexts shaping adolescent development in the U.S., we utilized latent class analysis (LCA) with indicators of risk and protection across multiple dom...
The Role of Sex Hormones in Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy and second leading cause of cancer death in men in Western countries. Little is understood about its causes, but steroid hormones, particularly androgens, are suspected to play a major role. Human populations at high risk for prostate cancer may have slightly higher androgen production, circulating androgens, 5α-reductase activity, or androgen receptor transactivation activity than low-risk populations. Elevated circulating estrogens have been found in some high risk populations, such as African American men, suggesting estrogen involvement. Studies in rats have clearly demonstrated that testosterone is a weak complete carcinogen and a strong tumor promotor for the prostate, but the exact mechanisms of these activities are not clear. Treatment of rats with a combination of testosterone and 17β-estradiol can induce prostate cancer at high incidence, while androgens alone cause a low prostate cancer incidence, indicating involvement of estrogens as well. This effect may involve genotoxic activity of estrogens, as well as receptor-mediated changes in prostatic sex steroid metabolism and receptors. Aromatase in the prostate may provide a local source of estrogens. Perinatal estrogen exposure is carcinogenic for rodent male accessory sex glands. Hyperplastic/metaplastic changes have been reported in human prostatic tissues following prenatal DES exposure, indicating that this exposure also targets the human prostate. The mechanisms of prenatal estrogen effects may involve hormonal imprinting. A multifactorial hypothesis of the role of steroid hormones in prostate carcinogenesis may involve androgens as strong tumor promotors acting via androgen receptor-mediated mechanisms to enhance the carcinogenic activity of strong endogenous genotoxic carcinogens, such as reactive estrogen metabolites and reactive oxygen species, and possibly weak environmental carcinogens; these processes are modulated by environmental factors such as diet and by genetic determinants such as hereditary susceptibility and polymorphic genes that encode for receptors and enzymes involved in the metabolism and action of steroid hormones.
Charging two for the price of one.

A structure of the complex of tRNAGlu and class I glutamyl-tRNA synthetase from Thermus thermophilus provides new details of tRNA recognition, and an accompanying mutational study provides a model for how a discriminating enzyme could have evolved from a less discriminating predecessor.
Studies of the mechanism of anthranilate synthase. Evidence for an acyl-enzyme.

Abstract The mechanism of anthranilate synthase reaction was studied using hydroxylamine as an inhibitor. Changes in the NH2OH concentration result in a concomitant alteration in the rates of synthesis of γ-glutamylhydroxamate and anthranilate. However, the sum of the two products appears to be constant. Moreover, the degree of inhibition elicited by NH2OH at different concentrations is similar for the over-all reaction, i.e., formation of anthranilate and the partial reaction of glutamine hydrolysis also catalyzed by anthranilate synthase in the absence of Mg++. γ-Glutamylhydroxamate is hydrolyzed by anthranilate synthase and the slopes and Vmax for its hydrolysis as well as that of glutamine are similar. γ-Ethylglutamate is also hydrolyzed by anthranilate synthase and this reaction requires chorismate. Addition of NH2OH yields γ-glutamylhydroxamate. The Vmax for this substrate is again similar to that obtained with γ-glutamylhydroxamate. These studies suggest the participation of an acyl-enzyme complex in the reaction catalyzed by anthranilate synthase.
A review of radio interferometric imaging of comets

We present an overview of cometary observations carried out with the VLA. These include OH imaging observations, studies of other molecules and searches for continuum emission. Primarily, we discuss the OH observations obtained of Comet Halley, a periodic comet, and Comet Wilson, a “new” comet. The emission from Comet Halley is confined to a region a few times 105 km. The emission from Comet Wilson shows sporadic blobs at large distances (~ 106 km from the center), which vary abruptly in both position and velocity. The generally accepted picture of excitation by UV pumping in a spherical outflow of cometary gas explains the coarse phenomenology, but other effects seem to cause significant modulations of the OH emission. We suggest that for Comet Halley, collisional effects near the edge of the quenching region, which is coincidently the approximate distance to the cometopause, may be important, and that for Comet Wilson, outgassing from cometesimals ejected from the nucleus may be significant. We further show that asymmetric line profiles are more common than previously thought. Lengthening integration times and lowering the velocity resolution results in a smooth, round shape for the comet’s brightness distribution. In addition, spectral profiles become broader and more symmetric after long integration times and after integration over larger spatial regions. In addition to the OH observations we summarize the H2CO detection experiments for comets Halley and Machholz.
Energy flows in ecosystems

All organisms in an ecosystem can be placed on a trophic level, depending on whether they are producers or consumers of energy within the food chain (see the photo). Ecologists have long debated what regulates the trophic structure and dynamics of ecosystems ( 1 ). This is important because trophic structure and dynamics regulate many of the goods and services that ecosystems provide to wildlife and humankind, such as the production of harvestable food and energy, carbon sequestration and modulation of climate change, and nutrient uptake and control of global biogeochemical cycles ( 2 ). A study by Hatton et al. on page 1070 of this issue ( 3 ) and a recent report by Lafferty et al. ( 4 ) represent important advances toward a unified theory of trophic structure that captures observed trends across all ecosystems.
Biomechanics for Life

This chapter describes how the floating skeleton concept, which emerged as an academic idea in my biomechanical research, helped me confront some real-world challenges.
A5RE4X[TO4]4 crystal growth and photoluminescence. Hydroflux synthesis of sodium rare earth silicate hydroxides

Single crystals of Na5RE4(OH)[SiO4]4 (RE = Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb–Yb, Y) were grown using the hydroflux synthetic method. All compositions adopt the tetragonal I space group with lattice parameter ranges of a = 11.5275(4)–12.0588(3) A and c = 5.3951(4)–5.4846(13) A. Intense photoluminescent properties were observed for Na5Eu4(OH)[SiO4]4, Na5Gd4(OH)[SiO4]4, and Na5Tb4(OH)[SiO4]4. The magnetic susceptibility was measured for the magnetic rare earth containing compositions, where the terbium analogue displayed antiferromagnetic order at T = 2.8 K.
Electromechanical alterations in the cerebrovasculature of stroke-prone rats.

Background and Purpose —Cerebrovascular pressure-dependent constriction (PDC) is associated with smooth muscle (SM) depolarization and Ca2+ influx through voltage-gated channels. We studied the alterations in electromechanical contraction in the middle cerebral arteries (MCAs) of stroke-prone Wistar-Kyoto spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRsp) in relation to the stroke-related loss of PDC. Methods —Constriction to pressure, elevated [K+]o and/or [Ca2+]o, and SM membrane potentials (Em) were measured in isolated pressurized MCAs of SHRsp and stroke-resistant SHR. Results —MCAs of SHRsp exhibited an age-related decrease in PDC before hemorrhagic stroke and a loss of PDC after stroke. At 100 mm Hg, the MCAs of poststroke SHRsp maintained partial constriction that was not altered with pressure but was inhibited by nifedipine (1 μmol/L). The MCAs of poststroke SHRsp constricted to vasopressin (0.17 μmol/L) but not to elevated [K+]o. When pressure was reduced from 100 to 0 mm Hg, the MCAs from young prestroke SHRsp exhibited SM hyperpolarization (−38 to −46 mV), whereas those of poststroke SHRsp maintained a constant, depolarized Em (−34 mV). Alterations in Em with varying [K+]o suggested that there was a decrease in SM K+ conductance in the MCAs of poststroke SHRsp. Conclusions —The observation that the MCAs of poststroke SHRsp depolarize but do not constrict to elevated [K+]o suggests the presence of dysfunctional voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. The inability to alter Em with pressure or to constrict to depolarization could partially contribute to the loss of PDC in the MCAs of poststroke SHRsp.
Modular synthetic design enables precise control of shape and doping in colloidal zinc oxide nanorods

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a wide-band gap II–VI semiconductor with various optoelectronic applications owing to its transparency to visible light and tunable optical/electronic properties achieved by doping. While exquisite morphology control has been demonstrated for colloidal cadmium-chalcogenide II–VI nanocrystals over the past two decades, shape control strategies for solution-grown anisotropic ZnO nanocrystals (<100 nm) are limited in scope – they suffer from large polydispersities and highly branched nanorods. Here, we present a modular synthetic design approach that overcomes many of the synthetic challenges associated with zinc oxide nanorods and enables nearly independent control of morphology and impurity incorporation. Manipulation of alcoholysis reaction kinetics through multiple precursor solution injections and judicious use of phosphonic acid surfactants enables the synthesis of nanorods with highly tunable shapes, lengths (40–200 nm), diameters (6–80 nm), and doping levels (with aluminum – Al3+ – cations). This work will enable further studies on shape-dependent phenomena in colloidal metal oxide nanorods as well as facilitate understanding of doping and plasmonics in anisotropic nanoscale metal oxide systems.
The French Betrayal of Rwanda – By Daniela Kroslak

In this author's composite assessment of Rwanda's tragic history, readers confront mountains of evidence that establish, emphatically and unambiguously, France's culpability in the sordid events th...
Multiple satellite deoxyribonucleic acids in the calf and their relation to the sex chromosomes

Abstract Four distinct nuclear satellite DNAs from calf (Bos taurus) were isolated and the physical properties of native, single-stranded and renatured duplex molecules of each of the four satellite DNAs were studied by buoyant density-gradient centrifugation. These DNAs were localized in the calf nucleus and on calf metaphase chromosomes by in situ hybridization. In all cases, the calf satellite DNAs are preferentially situated at the centromeres of the autosomes, whereas the X and Y sex chromosomes contain little or none of the satellite DNAs. C-banding techniques showed constitutive heterochromatin at the centromeres of all the autosomes, but not on the X and Y chromosomes. Calf satellite 1 DNA (p = 1.716 g/ml) is at the centromeres of all of the autosomes. Although calf satellite II DNA (p = 1.722 g/ml) is the most widely dispersed over the karyotype, two-thirds of the grains were over the autosomal centromeres. Calf satellites III (p = 1.706 g/ml) and IV (p = 1.709 g/ml) are localized at the centromeres of most, but not all, of the autosomes. The four satellite DNAs each showed a strongly clumped distribution in interphase nuclei of both confluent and growing calf kidney cells in vitro.
A Direct-Current and Audio-Frequency Amplifier

An amplifier suitable for the amplification of small direct-current and low-frequency transient potentials to a usable level is described. In this amplifier two multielement tubes are used as balanced modulators. A carrier voltage is applied in push-pull to two of the grids of these modulators. The plates of these modulator tubes, operating in parallel, are connected to a high-gain amplifier designed for the carrier frequency. Any carrier unbalance appearing in the modulator is amplified to a sufficient level in the carrier-frequency amplifier and applied to a linear detector. The amount of carrier unbalance is determined by the magnitude of the direct-current or low audio-frequency voltage applied to the control grid of one of the modulator tubes. By proper choice of operating conditions a linear relationship between impressed signal voltage and detector output voltage can be obtained. The amplifier is quite stable in its operation and is capable of amplifying signal voltages of the order of a few microvolts.
A modified winner-take-all rule for awarding state electoral votes in US presidential elections and a game model for its analysis

A modification of the ''winner-take-all'' rule for awarding state electoral votes in US presidential elections is proposed. The modified rule has the potential of turning a state that is currently ''safe'' for either major party candidate into a ''battleground'' one, forcing presidential candidates to compete in the state and encouraging state voters (interested in the election result) to vote in presidential elections. A model for estimating the chances of a candidate to win state electoral votes in presidential elections with two major party candidates under the modified ''winner-take-all'' rule is proposed. This model has the form of a two-person game on a polyhedral set of connected strategies with payoff functions each being a sum of two linear functions and a bilinear function. The model is one of the two models applicable for analyzing the proposed rule that are discussed in the article.
Supporting Adult-Student Persistence in Community Colleges

A growing majority of today's college-goers are adult students, and the economic and cultural trends driving this growth are here for the long term. In some respects this is good news: Adult underg...
REGULATION OF AQUAPORIN-4 WATER CHANNELS BY PHORBOL ESTER-DEPENDENT PROTEIN PHOSPHORYLATION

The molecular mechanisms for regulating water balance in many tissues are unknown. Like the kidney, the eye contains multiple water channel proteins (aquaporins) that transport water through membranes, including two (AQP1 and AQP4) in the ciliary body, the site of aqueous humor production. However, because humans with defective AQP1 are phenotypically normal and because the ocular application of phorbol esters reduce intraocular pressure, we postulated that the water channel activity of AQP4 may be regulated by these agents. We now report that protein kinase C activators, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate, and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate strongly stimulate the phosphorylation of AQP4 and inhibit its activity in a dose-dependent manner. Phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (10 microM) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (10 nM) reduced the rate of AQP4-expressing oocyte swelling by 87 and 92%, respectively. Further, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate significantly increased the amount of phosphorylated AQP4. These results demonstrate that protein kinase C can regulate the activity of AQP4 through a mechanism involving protein phosphorylation. Moreover, they suggest important potential roles for AQP4 in several clinical disorders involving rapid water transport such as glaucoma, brain edema, and swelling of premature infant lungs.
Generation of chemical concentration gradients in mobile droplet arrays via fragmentation of long immiscible diluting plugs.

We report a one-step passive microfluidic technique to generate arrays of moving droplets containing variation of chemical concentration between individual drops. We find that a concentration gradient can be established in a long diluting plug by on-chip dilution and extraction of samples via orthogonal coalescence of the plug with a static array of sample drops. The diluting plug containing the gradient is subsequently fragmented by a droplet generator. We show that the technique is flexible, as the dilution range can be tuned by a variety of control parameters including the carrier fluid flow rate, volume of diluting plugs, and stationary drops. We also find that the concentration gradients have a fine resolution and are reproducible to within 2% relative standard deviation. As one demonstrative application, we show the suitability of the technique for generating a dose-response curve for an enzyme inhibition assay. Because of the ability to inject multiple plugs, our technique has the potential for unl...
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Brain Activation in Bipolar Mania: Evidence for Disruption of the Ventrolateral Prefrontal-Amygdala Emotional Pathway

Background Bipolar I disorder is defined by the occurrence of mania. The presence of mania, coupled with a course of illness characterized by waxing and waning of affective symptoms, suggests that bipolar disorder arises from dysfunction of neural systems that maintain emotional arousal and homeostasis. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to study manic bipolar subjects as they performed a cognitive task designed to examine the ventrolateral prefrontal emotional arousal network. Methods We used fMRI to study regional brain activation in 40 DSM-IV manic bipolar I patients and 36 healthy subjects while they performed a continuous performance task with emotional and neutral distracters. Event-related region-of-interest analyses were performed to test the primary hypothesis. Voxelwise analyses were also completed. Results Compared with healthy subjects, the manic subjects exhibited blunted activation to emotional and neutral images, but not targets, across most of the predefined regions of interest. Several additional brain regions identified in the voxelwise analysis also exhibited similar differences between groups, including right parahippocampus, right lingual gyrus, and medial thalamus. In addition to these primary findings, the manic subjects also exhibited increased activation in response to targets in a number of brain regions that were primarily associated with managing affective stimuli. Group differences did not appear to be secondary to medication exposure or other confounds. Conclusions Bipolar manic subjects exhibit blunted brain fMRI response to emotional cues throughout the ventrolateral prefrontal emotional arousal network. Disruption of this emotional network may contribute to the mood dysregulation of bipolar disorder.
THE SEVEN-COMPONENT ASSEMBLY OF THE BOWL-SHAPED CAGES CP*7RH7(CN)122+ AND CP*7RH3IR4(CN)122+

A novel bowl-shaped cyanometalate cage [Cp*7Rh7(CN)12]2+ (3) forms via the reaction between MeCN solutions of Et4N[Cp*Rh(CN)3] and [Cp*Rh(NCMe)3](PF6)2; this seven-component condensation proceeds in 89% yield. 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopic measurements as well as a single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies show that 3 features a C3v Rh7(CN)9 cage, which can be described as a fragment of a Rh8(CN)12 box.
Measuring the Impact of Experimental Parameters upon the Estimated Thermal Conductivity of Closed-Cell Foam Insulation Subjected to an Accelerated Aging Protocol: Two-Year Results

The thermal conductivity of many closed-cell foam insulation products changes over time as production gases diffuse out of the cell matrix and atmospheric gases diffuse into the cells. Thin slicing has been shown to be an effective means of accelerating this process in such a way as to produce meaningful results. Recent efforts to produce a more prescriptive version of the ASTM C 1303 standard test method have led to the initiation of a broad ruggedness test. This test includes the aging of full size insulation specimens for time periods up to five years for later comparison to the predicted results. Experimental parameters under investigation include: slice thickness, slice origin (at the surface or from the core of the slab), thin slice stack composition, product facings, original product thickness, product density, and product type. This paper will cover the structure of the ruggedness test and provide a glimpse of some early trends.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO PSYCHOHISTORY: XIII. COURTLY LOVE TODAY: ROMANCE AND SOCIALIZATION IN INTERPERSONAL SCRIPTS

This pilot study measured current acceptance of medieval rules of love operationalized in two scales adapted from an important 12th-century Latin treatise about courtly love. One item about a doctr...
On electronic public space: Talk shows in theoretical perspective

Call‐in radio and television programming has received an enormous amount of attention since the 1992 U.S. presidential election campaign. Yet we know very little about why people call in to these programs, or whether the phenomenon has any theoretical importance for political science or communications. This article presents some exploratory data on the subject and draws upon some existing theoretical insights, in order to illuminate the role of call‐in programs in American political culture. It suggests a few possible routes for the study of talk programs, emphasizing their importance for political communication.
The Contribution of John Howard Yoder to Recent Discussions in Christian Social Ethics

The publication of The Politics of Jesus in 1972 established John Howard Voder as the most intellectually compelling, critical, and constructive Mennonite theologian of this generation. In that volume, Voder articulated an interpretive method and a substantive doctrinal position that affirmed his sectarian and ‘restoration’ theological vision but at the same time gained him a serious hearing in several corners of the North American Christian community. His recent tenure as President of the Society of Christian Ethics and appointment in the Department of Theology at Notre Dame University are only two examples of his standing among ecumenically-minded Christians.