cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lexical text segmentation using dictionaries

Text segmentation refers to the task of partitioning text into disjoint segments based on some matching and optimization criteria. Examples include partitioning text into words, graphemes, and phonemes. The problem is especially challenging when the language does not require spaces, punctuation, or other simple separators; when segments may be combined in nontrivial ways; and in the presence of errors in transcription or recognition. This paper focuses on a purely lexical method of segmentation: Text is segmented using only a dictionary of known words along with a compatible cost function. No grammatical or other higher-level knowledge is used. The method uses efficient algorithms for multiple-string matching, such as the classic Aho-Corasick algorithm, to yield significant improvements in running time when compared with a simpler dynamic programming algorithm. An experimental study compares the running times of the dictionary-based and dynamic programming algorithms.
Latrunculin B and substratum stiffness regulate corneal fibroblast to myofibroblast transformation

Abstract The transformation of keratocytes and fibroblasts to myofibroblasts is important to corneal wound healing as well as formation of stromal haze. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of latrunculin B, an actin cytoskeleton disruptor in conjunction with a fundamental biophysical cue, substrate stiffness, on myofibroblast transformation in vitro and in vivo. Rabbit corneal fibroblasts were cultured on substrates of differing compliance (1.5, 22, and 71 kPa) and tissue culture plastic (TCP; > 1 GPa) in media containing 0 or 10 ng/ml TGFβ1 for 72 h. Cells were treated with 0.4 μM Lat-B or DMSO for 30 min every 24 h for 72 h. RNA was collected from cells and expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), keratocan, and ALDH1A1 determined using qPCR; immunocytochemistry was used to assess α-SMA protein expression. A rabbit phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) model was used to assess the impact of 0.1% Lat-B (n = 3) or 25% DMSO (vehicle control, n = 3) on corneal wound healing by assessment of epithelial wound size with fluorescein stain and semi-quantitative stromal haze scoring by an observer masked to treatment group as well as Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) at set time points. Statistical analysis was completed using one-way or two-way analysis of variance. Treatment with Lat-B versus DMSO resulted in significantly less αSMA mRNA (P ≤ 0.007) for RCF cells grown on 22 and 71 kPa substrates as well as TCP without or with TGFβ1, and significantly decreased α-SMA protein expression in RCFs cultured on the intermediate (22 kPa) stiffness in the absence (P = 0.028) or presence (P = 0.018) of TGFβ1. Treatment with Lat-B versus DMSO but did not significantly alter expression of keratocan or ALDH1A1 mRNA in RCFs (P > 0.05) in the absence or presence of TGFβ1, but RCFs grown on stiff hydrogels (71 kPa) had significantly more keratocan mRNA expression versus the 22 kPa hydrogel or TCP (P
Lymphoma in autopsy cases

Lymphoproliferative disorders cause significant morbidity and mortality, either related to the disease itself or therapy complications. Some cases of lymphoma may have vague clinical presentation, especially in the absence of lymphadenopathy, and a clinical work up may not be conclusive. Our study focuses on autopsy cases of lymphoma patients, emphasizing clinically unsuspected cases. Autopsy records from the last 20 years at our institution were searched, and the clinical parameters were recorded. Fifteen cases of lymphoma were identified, and 5 cases were diagnosed at the time of autopsy. Most B-cell lymphoma cases were mainly nodal disease, while T-cell lymphoma cases had widespread extra-nodal disease. Most deaths in B-cell lymphoma are due to infection/therapy induced immunosuppression, whereas T-cell lymphoma deaths are due to organ infiltration by lymphoma. Postmortem examination may reveal clinically unsuspected lymphoma, especially in rapidly deteriorating patients with vague presentation such as skin rash, bowel obstruction/bleeding or pacemaker malfunction.
Comparison of differentiating Dictyostelium discoideum cell types separated by an improved method of density gradient centrifugation.

Abstract During the migrating slug stage of development of the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum , the precursor cells of the mature spores and stalk are known to differ from each other. In order to explore these differences on a variety of levels, we have improved existing methods for the isopyknic purification of the precursor types. Prespore and prestalk amoebae obtained from mechanically dissociated slugs were separated by centrifugation on preformed Percoll density gradients. The isolated precursor cells are greater than 90–95% pure, show good viability and developmental competence, and can be obtained in relatively large amounts. We have performed initial comparisons of the differentiating amoebae with respect to their location within the slug, protein composition, and developmental capabilities. Density centrifugation reveals heterogeneity among posterior slug cells: The majority of these cells have the expected prespore characteristics, but there is also a minor (lighter) density fraction resembling anterior, prestalk amoebae. Thirty polypeptides synthesized preferentially by prespore or prestalk slug cells were detected by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and fluorography. Some of these proteins are equally cell-specific when their accumulation is measured by silver staining; others are remarkably non-specific when stained. When the isolated precursor populations were allowed to complete development, they differed in terms of developmental territory size and timing, and in ways which suggest differences in cell cohesion and chemotaxis.
Exploring workplace TB interventions with foreign‐born Latino workers

Background Persons born outside the United States are more likely to be diagnosed with tuberculosis disease (TB) than native-born individuals. Foreign-born Latinos at risk of TB may be difficult to reach with public health interventions due to cultural and institutional barriers. Workplaces employing large concentrations of foreign-born Latinos may be useful locations for TB interventions targeting this high-risk population. Method This study used a two-phase approach to investigate the feasibility of workplace TB interventions. The first phase investigated employer knowledge of TB and receptiveness to allowing TB interventions in their businesses through 5 structured interviews. The second phase investigated foreign-born workers' knowledge of TB and their receptiveness to receiving TB interventions in their places of employment through 12 focus groups stratified by gender and education. Results Phase 1: Only 1 of the 5 employers interviewed had a high level of knowledge about TB, and three had no knowledge other than that TB was a disease that involved coughing. They were receptive to workplace TB interventions, but were concerned about lost productivity and customers finding out if an employee had TB. Phase 2: There was no observed differences in responses between gender and between the bottom two education groups, so the final analysis took place between a gender-combined lower education group and higher education group. The higher education group tended to have knowledge that was more accurate and to view TB as a disease associated with poverty. The lower education group tended to have more misconceptions about TB and more often expressed concern that their employers would not support worksite interventions. Conclusions The results from both phases indicate that more TB education is needed among both foreign-born Latino workers and their employers. Obstacles to implementing workplace TB interventions include knowledge, potential productivity loss, employer liability, and perceived customer response.
Regulatory effects of brown adipose tissue thermogenesis on maternal metabolic adaptation, placental efficiency, and fetal growth in mice

To determine the role of UCP1-mediated thermogenesis in controlling maternal metabolic adaptation to pregnancy, energy metabolism of C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) and Ucp1 gene knockout (Ucp1−/−) mice was...
Judging scandal: Standards or bias in politics.

As the number of political scandals rises, we examined the circumstances that might influence how a politician would be judged as a result of a scandal. Specifically, we hypothesized that ingroup b...
How evolutionary theory guides policy

Monique Borgerhoff Mulder welcomes a study on Darwinian solutions to social issues. Monique Borgerhoff Mulder welcomes a study on Darwinian solutions to social issues.
Race, Gender, and Social Exchange in Young Adult Unions

AbstractSocial scientists often conceptualize romantic partner selection as an asymmetric exchange in which partners of different race or gender offer different desired qualities. For example, whit...
The Utility of Rivaroxaban as Primary Venous Thromboprophylaxis in an Adult Trauma Population.

Abstract Background Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a frequent and morbid complication after injury. Despite utilization of twice-daily enoxaparin, a significant proportion of patients still develop VTE. The purpose of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of rivaroxaban to enoxaparin for the prevention of VTE in patients with multisystem injuries. Materials and methods This retrospective cohort analysis evaluated VTE rate in multiply injured patients at a level I trauma Center. Propensity matching was used to compare patients receiving rivaroxaban or enoxaparin. The primary outcome was incidence of VTE during or up to 6 mo after admission. Secondary outcomes included major and minor bleeding, hospital mortality, and hospital length of stay. Results A total of 2106 patients were randomly selected from the entire cohort for inclusion. Patients who developed a VTE with no significant difference between groups (14 [1.3%] in the rivaroxaban group and 14 [1.3%] in the enoxaparin group, P = 1) was 1.3%. In addition, there was no difference in deep venous thrombosis (10 [0.9%] in the rivaroxaban group and 12 [1.1%] in the enoxaparin group) or pulmonary embolism (6 [0.6%] in the rivaroxaban group and 2 [0.2%] in the enoxaparin group). Incidence of bleeding, minor or major, was equivalent between groups (P > 0.05). Hospital length of stay and mortality were significantly higher in the enoxaparin group compared with rivaroxaban (11 [1.0%] versus 0 [0%] respectively, P Conclusions Rivaroxaban demonstrated a similar incidence of VTE and bleeding complications as enoxaparin. Rivaroxaban may be a safe and effective alternative for VTE prophylaxis in this high-risk population.
Short Communication: The Belly–Tendon Derivation Yields Superior Ocular Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential Amplitudes in a Normal Pediatric Sample

Purpose The purpose of the investigation was to determine whether the “belly–tendon” electrode derivation produced ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (oVEMPs) in children that were superi...
Preclinical efficacy of the GPER-selective agonist G-1 in mouse models of obesity and diabetes.

Human obesity has become a global health epidemic, with few safe and effective pharmacological therapies currently available. The systemic loss of ovarian estradiol (E2) in women after menopause greatly increases the risk of obesity and metabolic dysfunction, revealing the critical role of E2 in this setting. The salutary effects of E2 are traditionally attributed to the classical estrogen receptors ERα and ERβ, with the contribution of the G protein–coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) still largely unknown. Here, we used ovariectomy- and diet-induced obesity (DIO) mouse models to evaluate the preclinical activity of GPER-selective small-molecule agonist G-1 (also called Tespria) against obesity and metabolic dysfunction. G-1 treatment of ovariectomized female mice (a model of postmenopausal obesity) reduced body weight and improved glucose homeostasis without changes in food intake, fuel source usage, or locomotor activity. G-1–treated female mice also exhibited increased energy expenditure, lower body fat content, and reduced fasting cholesterol, glucose, insulin, and inflammatory markers but did not display feminizing effects on the uterus (imbibition) or beneficial effects on bone health. G-1 treatment of DIO male mice did not elicit weight loss but prevented further weight gain and improved glucose tolerance, indicating that G-1 improved glucose homeostasis independently of its antiobesity effects. However, in ovariectomized DIO female mice, G-1 continued to elicit weight loss, reflecting possible sex differences in the mechanisms of G-1 action. In conclusion, this work demonstrates that GPER-selective agonism is a viable therapeutic approach against obesity, diabetes, and associated metabolic abnormalities in multiple preclinical male and female models.
Serum magnesium, mortality and disease progression in chronic kidney disease

Magnesium disorders are commonly encountered in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and are typically a consequence of decreased kidney function or frequently prescribed medications such as diuretics and proton pump inhibitors. While hypomagnesemia has been linked with increased mortality, the association between elevated magnesium levels and mortality is not clearly defined. Additionally, associations between magnesium disorders, type of death, and CKD progression have not been reported. Therefore, we studied the associations between magnesium levels, CKD progression, mortality, and cause specific deaths in patients with CKD. Using the Cleveland Clinic CKD registry, we identified 10,568 patients with estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) between 15 and 59 ml/min/1.73 m2 in this range for a minimum of 3 months with a measured magnesium level. We categorized subjects into 3 groups based on these magnesium levels (≤ 1.7, 1.7–2.6 and > 2.6 mg/dl) and applied cox regression modeling and competing risk models to identify associations with overall and cause-specific mortality. We also evaluated the association between magnesium level and slope of eGFR using mixed models. During a median follow-up of 3.7 years, 4656 (44%) patients died. After adjusting for relevant covariates, a magnesium level 2.6 mg/dl (vs. 1.7–2.6 mg/dl) was associated with a higher risk of all-cause death only (HR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.48). We found similar results when evaluating magnesium as a continuous measure. There were no significant differences in the slope of eGFR across all three magnesium groups (p = 0.10). In patients with CKD stage 3 and 4, hypomagnesemia was associated with higher all-cause and non-cardiovascular non-malignancy mortality. Hypermagnesemia was associated with higher all-cause mortality. Neither hypo nor hypermagnesemia were associated with an increased risk of CKD progression.
Comparative analysis of Bacterial Vaginosis microbiota among pregnant and non-pregnant females and isolation of phages against Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, and Shigella flexneri strains.

Abstract Background and objectives Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common vaginal infection in women of reproductive age. It shifts the paradigms of the vagina from healthy, beneficial microbiota to facultative and strict anaerobes. BV remains one of the most arduous and controversial challenges in modern-day clinical microbiology because of its high prevalence and relapse rates. A lot of research has been carried out on it. Still, its etiology is unknown, which gave this infection global importance. The current study was designed to investigate and compare the microbiota of pregnant and non-pregnant females suffering from BV, and phages were isolated against BV microbiota. Material and methods The samples were collected from the vagina by using a speculum, and swabs were streaked on different media to isolate bacteria. The microbiological analysis was performed by microscopy, biochemical testing, and antibiotic susceptibility was determined by using Metronidazole and Clindamycin. Furthermore, the phages were isolated and characterized against BV strains. Results and conclusion The Gram staining showed high prevalence of Staphylococcus (36% vs. 33%), followed by Streptococcus (31% vs. 14%) and Enterococcus (7% vs. 14%) in non-pregnant and pregnant females' respectively. However, the exception was observed in non-pregnant BV positive females, who had Shigella flexneri in their samples. The antibiotic sensitivity showed Metronidazole was resistant against all BV microbiota, and Clindamycin showed susceptibility against 3 strains. Phages were isolated against three bacterial strains, i.e. E. faecalis, E. faecium, and S. flexneri. Bacterial reduction assay showed bacterial growth decreases in the presence of phage suspension, pH stability showed phages’ maximum lytic activity at pH 7 for E. faecalis and E. faecium and pH 9 for S. flexneri. However, the thermal stability showed phages' highest lytic activity at 55 °C for E. faecalis, 70 °C for E. faecium, and 40 °C for S. flexneri. Phage genome isolation showed that all phages nucleic acid was DNA in nature and between 15 and 20kbp. SEM analysis showed they were circular in shape and might belong to the Podoviridae family. This study provides an understanding of pathogens involved in BV and helps the doctors to treat the patients accordingly. Furthermore, this study showed that Bacterial Vaginosis and BV secondary bacteria have associations. BV secondary microbiota is also involved in the pathogenesis of this infection, whereas bacteriophage therapy has the potential to be used as an alternative treatment to antibiotics.
Effect of Semiconductive Layer on Space Charge Accumulation in XLPE

Long time DC pressure on high voltage cables will lead to the accumulation of space charge in XLPE cables, thus endangering cable insulation. In order to study the effect of the thickness of semiconducting layer on the space charge in XLPE, the space charge in 10kV and 220kV XLPE sample with different thickness of semiconducting layer was measured and compared based on PEA method. Firstly, the samples were pressurized to the specified voltage, then kept this voltage for 30 minutes, then depressurized to 0, and lastly maintained for 90 minutes. The variation of space charge distribution during the pressurized stage was analyzed with the space charge density as the characteristic parameter. The results show that the space charge near the anode and cathode is accumulated by the semi-conductive coating during the period of maintaining pressure; the thicker the semi-conductive layer is, the more obvious the accumulation of space charge is; the longer the time of maintaining pressure, the more space charge accumulates.
Molecular Phenotypes as Key Intermediates in Mapping Genotypes to Fitness

We argue that the staggering complexity of the relationship between the organism’s genomic sequence and its evolutionary success, as measured by organismal fitness, can become more tractable when viewed through the lens of phenotypic features. These phenotypic features can refer to molecular properties of a protein or protein complex or represent morphological characteristics such as body size and beak shape in birds. Using protein evolution as an example, we demonstrate that it is possible to describe phenotypic landscapes, in which every protein sequence is associated with a phenotypic value such as free energy of protein folding, using compact and interpretable models that can be learned from relatively small-scale datasets. The predicted phenotypic values then serve as explicit inputs to a model of organismal fitness, with the functional form of the fitness function given by biophysical considerations or learned from evolutionary data (fitness measurements for a collection of genotypes). Thus, instead of being a high-dimensional function of genotypes, fitness becomes a low-dimensional function of one or several phenotypes, making it much easier to visualize fitness landscapes and analyze their properties. Moreover, evolutionary dynamics on such landscapes can be decomposed into generation of phenotypic differences by mutations and subsequent motion on the low-dimensional fitness landscape. This two-tiered approach, made possible by recent advances in high-throughput molecular biology, may hold a key to better understanding of the evolutionary processes that have shaped, and continue to shape, all life on Earth.
QUANTUM GROUP AND MAGNETIC TRANSLATIONS: BETHE ANSATZ SOLUTION FOR THE HARPER’S EQUATION

We present the Bethe ansatz solution for the problem of Bloch electrons in magnetic field described by the Harper’s equation We made explicit a natural relation between magnetic translations and the quantum group Uq(sl2) and express the midband spectrum and the Bloch function in terms of solutions of the Bethe ansatz equations. In this letter we present solution for the critical value λ=1.
Transition to a New Electronic Health Record and Pediatric Medication Safety: Lessons Learned in Pediatrics within a Large Academic Health System

Transition to a New Electronic Health Record and Pediatric Medication Safety: Lessons Learned in Pediatrics within a Large Academic Health System Introduction While the Electronic Health Record (EHR) has become a standard of care, pediatric patients pose a unique set of risks in adult-oriented systems. Standardization among multiple institutions and patient populations (neonates, pediatrics and adult) creates difficulty due to level of care, equipment, medication practices and support systems. Despite extensive preparation, multiple issues were encountered and unanticipated in pediatrics. The pediatric population presents a unique …
The Therapeutic Benefit of Radiotherapy for Chordoma Patients with Positive Surgical Margins

Background: The role of radiation therapy (RT) for the treatment of chordomas remains incompletely described. Previous studies have not found adjuvant RT to improve overall survival (OS), but these studies did not group patients based on surgical margin status or radiation dose or modality. We used the National Cancer Database to investigate the role of RT in chordomas. Methods: Patients were stratified based on surgical margin status (positive vs negative). Utilizing the Kaplan Meier method, OS was compared between treatment modalities (surgical resection alone, therapeutic RT alone, and surgical resection plus therapeutic adjuvant RT). OS was also compared between patients treated with palliative dose ( 65Gy) RT. Similarly, OS was compared between advanced RT modalities including proton beam therapy (PBT) and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), and external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). A multivariable model was used to determine adjusted variables predictive of mortality. Findings: 1,478 chordoma patients were identified; skull base (n=567), sacral (n=551), and mobile spine (n=360). The 5-year survival for the entire cohort was 76%. Surgical resection and therapeutic adjuvant RT improved 5-year survival in patients with positive surgical margins (82% vs 71%, p=0·03). No clear survival benefit was observed with the addition of adjuvant RT in patients with negative surgical margins. High dose RT was associated with improved OS compared to palliative and low dose RT (p 65Gy) was superior to palliative/low dose EBRT (< 65Gy) (HR 0.52:95%CI 0.33-0.84, p=0·007). Interpretation: Patients with positive surgical margins benefit from adjuvant RT. Optimal OS is associated with adjuvant RT administered with advanced techniques and a cumulative dose >65 Gy. Funding Statement: No funding was obtained for this study. Declaration of Interests: None of the authors have any conflicts of interests pertaining to this study. Ethics Approval Statement: This study received appropriate IRB approval prior to collecting patient data.
Declines in contraceptive visits in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract Objective To document the change in contraceptive visits in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. Study design Using a nationwide sample of claims we analyzed the immediate and sustained changes in contraceptive visits during the pandemic by calculating the percentage change in number of visits between May 2019 and April 2020 and between December 2019 and December 2020, respectively. We examined these changes by contraceptive method, region, age, and use of telehealth, and separately for postpartum individuals. Results Relative to May 2019, in April 2020, visits for tubal ligation declined by 65% (95% CI, -65.5, -64.1), LARCs by 46% (95% CI, -47.0, -45.6), pill, patch, or ring by 45% (95% CI, -45.8, -44.5), and injectables by 16% (95% CI -17.2, -15.4). The sustained change in visits in December 2020 was larger for tubal ligation (-18%, 95% CI, -19.1, -16.8) and injectable (-11%, 95% CI, -11.4, -9.6) visits than for LARC (-6%, 95% CI, -6.6, -4.4) and pill, patch, and ring (-5%, 95% CI, -5.7, -3.7) visits. The immediate decline was highest in the Northeast and Midwest regions. Declines among postpartum individuals were smaller but still substantial. Conclusions There were large declines in contraceptive visits at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and visit numbers remained below pre-pandemic levels through the end of 2020. Implications Declines in contraceptive visits during the pandemic suggest that many people faced difficulties accessing this essential health service during the COVID-19 pandemic
The Front Lawn Nudist

As the title of this chapter indicates, the front lawn nudist (FLN) is someone who appears sans clothes on his front lawn. He does not violate the non-aggression principle (NAP), nor private property rights. He engages in this act on his own land. Nevertheless, his actions provide a challenge to libertarians such as me who regard the NAP and private property rights as the be-all and end-all of this philosophy. We have a problem here. The FLN violates no rights the libertarian is required to respect, and yet, and yet, he makes his neighbors miserable. They just do not want to witness his rather depraved actions. Less so do they wish their impressionable young children to observe this behavior of his. Why is this a problem? It is because libertarianism aims not only at justice, but, also, at economic welfare, utilitarianism, broadly conceived. We libertarians maintain that not only is our system just, but, also, does not make vast numbers of people despondent, as would be true in the present case.
One Hat Too Many?: Investment Desegregation in Private Equity

The nature of private equity investing has changed significantly as two dynamics have evolved in recent years: portfolio companies have begun to experience serious financial distress, and general partners have started to diversify and desegregate their investment strategies. Both developments have led private equity shops - once exclusively interested in acquiring equity positions through leveraged buyouts - to invest in other tranches of the investment spectrum, most particularly public debt. By investing now in both private equity and public debt of the same issuer, general partners are generating a host of new conflicts of interest between themselves and their limited partners, between multiple general partners in the same consortia, and between private investors and public shareholders.In this essay, we identify and explore these various new tensions that have begun to arise in the private equity industry. We then propose and examine an array of possible ways to eliminate or alleviate those conflicts, exploring the regulatory, fiduciary, and pragmatic strengths and weaknesses of each approach. General partners can seek investor unanimity or consent for follow-on investments, but certain tax and practical barriers complicate that approach. Alternatively, they can opt for a range of architectural prophylaxes to protect against conflicts. These add costs on everyone, however, and, experience in related fields shows, they do not work. Investors, for their part, can attempt to diversify their own investment holdings to counterbalance risk, but this still leaves some vulnerable to opportunistic fund managers, and may increase costs for all investors as well. We propose a less costly and more efficient solution: advisers and investors should work together to create a vibrant secondary market for private equity interests to create a salutary exit option, which would in turn discipline the investment behavior of fund managers in this turbulent new investing environment.
Internet governance by social media platforms

An emerging area of inquiry in Internet governance scholarship is the role of private information intermediaries in enacting governance via technical design choices and user policies. Following this trajectory, this paper addresses governance by social media rather than governance of social media. Informed by conceptual frameworks from Internet governance and Science and Technology Studies, it examines the extent to which these platforms either promote or constrain rights in three thematic areas: (1) anonymous speech and individual privacy; (2) the ability to express ideas or, stated as a negative liberty, freedom from censorship; and (3) technical affordances of interoperability and permissionless innovation. Because of their unique role as the intermediaries providing citizens with access to the digital public sphere, social media platforms are central points of control on the Internet. Viewing these private platforms through an Internet governance lens, rather than a content lens, suggests that social media technical architectures and policies actually pose several challenges to communication rights as well as to the open Internet. There is an opportunity for Internet governance studies, which have primarily focused on governmental policies and new global institutions, to give greater consideration to the direct policymaking role of private intermediaries and the accompanying phenomenon of the privatization of human rights.
Enzymes in Acid-Base Reactions

The term “acid-base reaction” is taken here in the broadest sense; that is, it includes any reaction involving a heterolytic cleavage and/or formation of covalent bonds, without an apparent transfer of an odd number of electrons. This definition covers most of the enzymatic reactions other than oxidation-reduction reactions. Enzymes included in this category are the majority of transferases, hydrolases, lyases, isomerases, and ligases (synthetases).
Rhabdomyolysis After Major Urologic Surgery: Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Outcomes

Objective To study the epidemiology, risk factors, and outcomes of rhabdomyolysis (RM) after major urologic surgery. Materials and Methods The National Inpatient Sample (2003-2011) was used to identify patients who underwent radical prostatectomy, radical or partial nephrectomy, or radical cystectomy. Demographics included age, sex, race, and comorbidities. Factors examined included bleeding, hospital teaching status, minimally invasive technique, and development of RM. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors of RM. Outcomes of mortality, acute kidney injury (AKI), length of stay, and charges in patients with RM were compared with those of controls. Results A weighted population of 1,016,074 patients was identified with 870 (0.1%) developing RM, which was significantly more likely for radical or partial nephrectomy and radical cystectomy patients compared with radical prostatectomy patients. On multivariate analysis, independent risk factors for RM included younger age, male sex, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, obesity, and bleeding. Race, minimally invasive technique, and teaching status were not associated with RM when controlling for other factors. Patients with RM experienced increases in mortality, AKI, length of stay, and hospital charges. Conclusion Rhabdomyolysis is a rare complication after urologic surgery. Risk factors include male sex, younger age, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, obesity, and perioperative bleeding. Patients who develop RM have a higher risk of AKI, mortality, prolonged hospital stay, and increased charges.
D-galactosamine hepatotoxicity. IV. Further studies of the pathogenesis of fatty liver.

Abstract Female rats received a single ip injection of d -galactosamine-HCl, (GalN), 750 mg/kg body weight. Groups of animals were sacrificed at intervals until 72 hr after injection and their plasma lipids, lipoproteins, and hepatic triglyceride content determined. The results revealed a progressive increase in hepatic triglycerides, which was apparent within 2 hr of GalN injection, reaching a maximum of 114.8 ± 18.4 mg/g wet wt liver at 24 hr followed by a gradual return toward normal values. Despite the accumulation of fat in the liver, the plasma triglycerides remained normal or were slightly elevated. Striking changes were observed in the plasma lipoprotein pattern on agarose electrophoresis. These changes, observed within 2 hr of injection, were a decrease and then absence of the α- and pre-β-lipoprotein bands and the appearance of an abnormally migrating β-band. Characterization of the plasma lipoproteins by zonal ultracentrifugation resulted in the isolation of a triglyceride-rich lipoprotein of abnormal density. By light microscopy the hepatocytes were enlarged due to massive fatty droplet accumulation. Ultrastructural studies revealed distention of the Golgi zones with lipoprotein droplets and secretion of these lipid droplets into the perisinusoidal space. Studies with Triton WR 1339 disclosed that plasma triglycerides were higher post-Triton in the GalN-treated rats than in the controls. The results of all of these studies indicate that GalN produces a fatty liver although hepatic lipoprotein secretion is not inhibited.
Relative Contributions of Secondary and Tertiary γ′ Precipitates to Intergranular Crack Growth Resistance in IN100 Alloy

This paper examines the role of secondary and tertiary ' on intergranular crack growth rate in P/M IN100. A series of different heat treatments were carried out on the as received material to vary the ' statistics (size and volume fraction) through control of the different features of the heat treatment cycle. Dwell fatigue crack growth experiments have been performed on as received as well as heat treated specimens at 650°C and 700°C in air with dwell time loading cycles. Results on the as-received material show that the intergranular crack growth rate while temperature dependent, is independent of the hold time period. For the modified microstructures tested at 650°C, the dwell crack growth rate is shown to be sensitive to ' variations. Considering that the yield strength of the continuum is a function of ' statistics, the role of ' on intergranular cracking was illustrated by correlating the crack growth rate and the continuum yield strength. This inverse relationship is examined numerically by modelling the grain boundary fracture path as an interface surrounded by near and far field continuum regions represented by viscoplastic flow formulations. Results of the model show that an increase in the continuum yield strength is accompanied by a lower viscous strain, resulting in higher constraint on the grain boundary sliding and thus, a decrease in the crack growth rate. This observation was further examined by calculating the individual components of yield strength associated with tertiary and secondary ' precipitates. These components were correlated with the crack growth rate, showing higher sensitivity to the tertiary ' precipitate hardening effects.
Oxidation and reduction of soluble cytochrome c by membrane-bound oxidase and reductase systems.

Abstract The kinetics of the reduction of soluble ferricytochrome c by the membrane-bound succinate-cytochrome c reductase system on fragments of inner mitochondrial membrane has been studied spectrophotometrically for comparison with the oxidation of ferrocytochrome c by the membrane-bound oxidase. The time course of the reduction is composed of a part proceeding at constant rate (zero order part), where the rate-limiting step is somewhere on the substrate side of cytochrome c1, then a part where the reaction is first order in ferricytochrome c. During the latter part the reaction with soluble ferricytochrome c is rate-limiting. As previously observed with the oxidase (Smith, L., and Conrad, H. (1956) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 63, 403) the first order rate constant varies with the total concentration of cytochrome c in the reaction mixture. However the properties of the first order reductase reaction differ considerably from those of the first order oxidase reaction, implicating reaction of the reductase with different groups on cytochrome c.
Preferring Rabbits To Revolution: A Comparative Analysis of Marxist and Local Food Movement Critiques of Capitalist Agriculture

The Local Food Movement (LFM) in the United States promotes dramatic changes in agriculture that favor environmentally and socially progressive farming. LFM participants emphasize the importance of the health of the land and the need for radical, strategic change in agricultural production. They advocate for small, diversified, organic, owner-operated or collectively owned farms that distribute food locally. These goals reference their complaints about the current agricultural system in the U.S., namely, its domination by corporate and large farms, environmentally damaging techniques, and harmful labor systems. These critiques echo the analysis done by one of the central critics of capitalist agriculture, Karl Marx. Marx decried the systematic mistreatment of workers and degradation of the soil that came from modern capitalists' increasing mechanization and privatization of agriculture. Considering the resonance between these two platforms, this paper analyzes the LFM using Marx's criticisms of capitalist agriculture as a comparative framework with which to evaluate the effectiveness of LFM efforts. This paper focuses on the California LFM, an epicenter of the movement, as a case study and draws specifically on ethnographic insights from Bay Area LFM participants. The comparison of the LFM and Marxist approaches reveals constraints on the LFM's potential impact on U.S. agriculture and suggests that the movement is without a viable strategy for large-scale change.
Microstructure–Property–Design Relationships in the Simulation Era: An Introduction

Computational methods are affecting a paradigm change for using microstructure–property relationships within materials and structures engineering. This chapter examines the emergent use of quantitative computational tools for microstructure–property–design relationships, primarily for structural alloys. Three major phases are described as a historical “serial paradigm,” current “integrated computational materials engineering” and, future “virtual materials systems” emerging from advances in multiscale materials modeling. The latter two phases bring unique demands for integrating microstructure representations, constitutive descriptions, numerical codes, and experimental methods. Importantly, these approaches are forcing a fundamental restructuring of materials data for structural engineering wherein data centers on a hierarchy of model parameterizations and validations, rather than the current application-specific design limits. Examining aspects of current research on microstructure-sensitive design tools for single-crystal turbine blades provides an accessible glimpse into future computational tools and their data requirements. Finally, brief descriptions set context and interrelationships for the remaining chapters of the book.
Analysis of high-resolution electric vehicle charging on time-of-use grid demands

This paper serves to provide factual data to help characterize the localized impacts of electric vehicles. Charging profiles are first studied in high, one-minute data resolution in terms of both power demand and power factor to view the characteristic signature effects of EV charging. How EVs affect localized household power demands and the need for smart-charging methodologies will be discussed. Lastly, total energy usage and maximum power delivered are broken out according to the local utility's time-of-use periods. Results show that subscribers may shift their EV charging profiles to mid or off-peak timeframes, if incentivized to do so.
Dessler, Jimenez, Klein, and Nenes Receive 2012 Atmospheric Sciences Ascent Awards: Citation for Athanasios Nenes

The Atmospheric Sciences section of AGU awards one of the four Ascent Awards to Professor Athanasios Nenes, of the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering of the Georgia Institute of Technology, for the creation of thermodynamical models for tropospheric aerosols and the development of physically based aerosol-cloud parameterizations. In addition, he is recognized for the design of instrumentation and techniques to characterize the hygroscopicity and activation of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and also for contributions to the understanding of the role of aerosols in climate and air quality.
Security-constrained economic dispatch using semidefinite programming

This paper models the security-constrained economic dispatch problem with post-contingency corrective actions. In the nonlinear AC setting, the model is a large-scale nonconvex problem and is difficult to solve. A novel solution approach is proposed to deal with the scale and nonconvexity issues separately and effectively. The key point is to approximate the nonconvex AC feasibility problem with its semidefinite programming (SDP) relaxation and use these SDP models as a convex subproblem within a Benders' decomposition framework. Numerical experiments demonstrate the superior solution quality of this approach and its tractability for IEEE test cases, while suggesting future work for computational improvements on large-scale problems.
Effect of Hypothyroidism on Methylmalonate Excretion and Hepatic Vitamin B-12 Levels in Rats

The effect of hypo- and hyperthyroidism on vitamin B-12 metabolism in the rat was studied by measuring methylmalonic acid excretion, B-12 content of liver and oxidation of 2-[14C]histidine. Ten percent pectin was added to increase severity of B-12 deficiency. The addition of thiouracil to a diet containing 10% pectin decreased the excretion of methylmalonic acid suggesting an amelioration of the B-12 deficiency. It was found that part of this decreased methylmalonic acid excretion was due to a decreased food consumption with a correspondingly decreased intake of branched-chain amino acids which are precursors of methylmalonic acid. When attempts were made to increase the protein intake of animals receiving thiouracil so their amino acid intake was equal to that of the control animals, methylmalonic acid excretion was still lower than that of the controls. It was also found that the vitamin B-12 content of the liver was higher in the animals receiving thiouracil than in the controls. Thyroidectomy had the same effect as feeding thiouracil. Liver B-12 levels are rapidly depleted on a B-12 deficient diet containing 10% pectin. It appears that hypothyroidism, induced either by thyroidectomy or by feeding thiouracil, slows the rate of depletion of hepatic B-12 which in turn facilitates the metabolism of methylmalonic acid and decreases its excretion in the urine.
Immunofluorescent analysis of fibronectin and laminin distribution in the vl mutant mouse.

The distribution of fibronectin and laminin was determined in the basement membrane surrounding the caudal neural tube and at the site of initial apposition of the caudal neural folds by means of indirect immunofluorescence histochemistry on 9.0- to 10.5-day mouse embryos fixed in Carnoy's solution and serially sectioned in paraffin. At early phases of development of normal (+/+) and abnormal (vl/vl) embryos the dorsolateral neural basement membrane overlying putative neural crest cells caudal to the hindlimb shows a patchy fibronectin reaction, with laminin virtually absent. In older embryos, both components are present but are discontinuous overlying the neural crest. The results suggest that since discontinuities occur in the basement membrane of abnormal as well as normal embryos, the neural crest cells are not prevented from emigrating from the abnormal neural tube; thus the faulty neural fold fusion that characterizesvl/vl embryos does not appear to be due to a suppression of emigration by the basement membrane. The results also demonstrate the advantages and reliability of embedding in paraffin for analysis of serially sectioned pathological material by means of indirect immunofluorescence, provided that normal controls and abnormals are processed simultaneously.
Identification of the Magnesium−Histidine Stretching Vibration of the Bacteriochlorophyll Cofactors in Photosynthetic Reaction Centers via 15N-Labeling of the Histidines

In this communication, we report low-frequency, near-infrared-exciation RR spectra of bacterial RCs in which the histidine residues of the protein are selectively labeled with {sup 15}N. For practical reasons, the studies were conducted by comparing the vibrational signatures of RCs in which {sup 15}N was universally incorporated (all cofactors and all protein residues) (designated all-{sup 15}N RCs) with those in which [{sup 14}N]histidine was introduced as a reverse label (disignated {sup 14}N-His RCs) into the all {sup 15}N-labeled RCs. The studies of the histidine-labeled RCs reveal that the vibrational characteristics of the BChl core are far more complicated than originally anticipated. These results have clear implications for the photoexcitation dynamics of the BChls in RCs and may also have significant consequences for the dynamics of exogenous ligand binding to heme-based oxygen carriers. 12 refs., 2 figs.
Photo-lability of CO bound to Mo-nitrogenase from Azotobacter vinelandii.

Abstract In the presence of CO and under turnover conditions, Mo-nitrogenase generates three different electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signals. One of the signals, lo-CO, is an S =1/2 signal and occurs under low CO concentrations. The other two signals, hi-CO ( S =1/2) and hi(5)-CO ( S =3/2) displace the lo-CO as the CO concentration is raised above 0.05 atm. Irradiation of hi-CO with visible light at 12 K converts it into lo-CO. Using a series of color filters, the corrected action spectrum is determined and shown to contain 2–3 broad maxima in the region 350–730 nm. The conversion of lo-CO back into hi-CO is accomplished by warming the sample to 77 K for 5 min. Using this temperature cycle, the rate constant for the re-association of CO with lo-CO to form hi-CO is determined in the range 12–90 K. From these data, the activation energy for this reaction is calculated to be 3.9 kJ/mol. Identical irradiation of either lo-CO or hi(5)-CO induces no spectral change, showing that both of these states are photo-stable. The photo-stability of hi(5)-CO demonstrates that it is structurally different from hi-CO.
Spatial variability and clustering of global solar irradiation in Vietnam from sunshine duration measurements

Abstract A study on the spatial variability of long term solar radiation in Vietnam and the results of clustering solar radiation into different regions are presented here. Vietnam has a dense and long network of sunshine duration measurements, and on the contrary the country has a scarce availability of solar irradiance measuring sites. The variability of long term solar radiation can be analyzed by determining daily global irradiation from sunshine duration. A model inspired in Angstrom equation has been developed using the canonical correlation analysis with good performance. The output of the model has been used for characterizing the dispersion of long term solar radiation and its spatial distribution has been also studied by clustering techniques. The comparison with the Koppen climatic information remarks that Vietnam could be divided into 3–4 well defined zones of different solar radiation variability.