cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Site-specific observation of acyl intermediate processing in thiotemplate biosynthesis by fourier transform mass spectrometry: the polyketide module of yersiniabactin synthetase.

Complex arrays of thioester bound intermediates are present on 100-700 kDa enzymes during the biogenesis of diverse types of pharmacophores and natural product drugs. These multidomain enzymes, known as nonribosomal peptide synthetases and polyketide synthases (NRPSs and PKSs, respectively), synthesize from simple, physiologically available substrates bioactive compounds that can be further tailored by a host of modifying domains (e.g., methylation, cyclization, and epimerization) to increase the complexity of the mature final product. Interrogation of such covalent intermediates using mass spectrometry (MS) presents an underutilized method for understanding the covalent catalysis executed by NRPS and PKS enzymes. For the PKS module (205 kDa) from the yersiniabactin (Ybt) gene cluster of Yersinia pestis, limited proteolysis afforded a key 11 kDa peptide from the acyl-carrier protein (ACP) domain upon which at least five covalent intermediates could be detected (42, 70, 86, 330, and 358 Da). The isotopic resolution achieved by Fourier transform mass spectrometry (FTMS) allowed for the incorporation of substrates with stable isotopes to confirm the structural assignments of three intermediates (86, 330, and 358 Da) on the Ybt biosynthetic pathway to within 1 Da. Approximately 75% of the enzyme capacity is lost to unproductive decarboxylation of malonyl-S-ACP partly constraining the 1.4 min(-)(1) rate of Ybt production in vitro. Acyl transfer to the ACP domain (on the Ybt pathway) was promoted by a factor of approximately 10 over unproductive CO(2) loss in the presence of the cosubstrate S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), with S-adenosylhomocysteine unable to restore the condensation yield observed with SAM. The data are consistent with Claisen condensation from KS to the ACP carrier site being reversible, with the absence of downstream methylation providing more opportunity for unproductive CO(2) loss. Extension of such FTMS-based studies will allow the direct visualization of multiple intermediates in determining the catalytic order of events and kinetics of NRPS and PKS systems.
You gonna be here long? Religion and Sustainability

Responding to the environmental crisis requires a fundamental transformation of world religions. In the concept of sustainability we find a change not only in religion's understanding of the value of the natural world and the need to alter its own ecological practices, but a possible awakening to the finite nature of human—including religious—existence.
Heterogeneity, Correlatives, and Proposed Stratigraphic Nomenclature of Hayes Tephra Set H, Alaska

Several Holocene tephra deposits of Hayes volcano constitute a marker horizon in southern and east-central Alaska. Their identification is aided by high amphibole/pyroxene ratio and biotite in trace amounts, unique among Holocene tephra deposits of the region. However, correlations are obscured by chemical heterogeneity of the glass which occurs at a scale less than the size of a lapilli. Single-shard analyses confirm that the heterogeneity is due neither to fractionation nor to plagioclase microlites. The heterogeneity may be due to mixing of magmas prior to eruption. It is proposed that the deposits be informally called Hayes tephra set H.
Hexagonal Ferrites For Millimeter Wave Applications

Ferrimagnetic oxides with hexagonal crystal structures (referred to as hexagonal ferrites) are characterized primarily by their foliate (leaf-like or platelet) structure and high anisotropy fields. These properties allow for the preparation of polycrystalline grain oriented magnetic compounds with controlled values of anisotropy fields and attendant preferred direction of magnetization. These highly anisotropic aligned polycrystalline hexagonal ferrite compoundspossess built-in effective magnetic fields (up to 50 kilo-oersteds) in both uniaxial and planar structures, with associated electrical properties appropriate for many application considerations in signal control and processing components at millimeter wave frequencies. This paper reviews the crystal structures and the molecular engineering techniques utilized to prepare aligned uniaxial hexagonal compounds with controlled anisotropy fields up to values of 50 Koe. The properties of these compounds important to millimeter wave applications are summarized.© (1982) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
User program measurement in a time-shared environment

A general discussion of the measurement of software systems is followed by a description of a hardware and software scheme for measuring user programs in a time-shared environment. The TX-2 computer at MIT Lincoln Laboratory was used for the implementation of such a system and the characteristics of this implementation are reported. A scenario showing the system in use is presented. Finally, it is shown how other time-sharing systems may provide similar measuring facilities.
The effect of varying bathymetry on steady, zonal equivalent-barotropic jets

The influence of sudden changes in bathymetry on zonal, equivalent-barotropic, steady oceanic jets on a β plane is considered. Solutions to the perturbations induced by a step-like change in bathymetry yield the well-known results that an eastward-flowing jet will oscillate about the mean axis downstream of the step; upstream the perturbation results in a shear re-adjustment. However, the amplitude of an individual streamlined oscillation depends upon its lateral position in the incident jet. For westward-flowing jets, the perturbation results in a northward or southward migration of streamlines, accompanied by a shear adjustment. Both eastward and westward jets intensity on entering a deeper region and broaden on entering a shallower region. This change in width arises from the opposite sense of the shear vorticities on the two flanks of the jet. The hitherto unexplained broadening of the Kuroshio over the Izu Ridge has been shown to be quantitatively determined by the simple model presented.
Traumatic Injury of Cortical Neurons Causes Changes in Intracellular Calcium Stores and Capacitative Calcium Influx

Using an in vitro traumatic injury model, we examined the effects of mechanical (stretch) injury on intracellular Ca2+ store-mediated signaling in cultured cortical neurons using fura-2. We previously found that elevation of [Ca2+]i by the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase inhibitor, thapsigargin, was abolished 15 min post-injury. In the current studies, pre-injury inhibition of phospholipase C with neomycin sulfate maintained Ca2+-replete stores 15 min post-injury, suggesting that the initial injury-induced store depletion may be due to increased inositol trisphosphate production. Thapsigargin-stimulated elevation of [Ca2+]i returned with time after injury and was potentiated at 3 h. Stimulation with thapsigargin in Ca2+-free media revealed that the size of the Ca2+ stores was normal at 3 h post-injury. However, Ca2+ influx triggered by depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores (capacitative Ca2+ influx) was enhanced 3 h after injury. Enhancement was blocked by inhibitors of cytosolic phospholipase A2 and cytochrome P450 epoxygenase. Since intracellular Ca2+ store-mediated signaling plays an important role in neuronal function, the observed changes may contribute to dysfunction produced by traumatic brain injury. Additionally, our results suggest that capacitative Ca2+ influx may be mediated by both conformational coupling and a diffusible messenger synthesized by the combined action of cytosolic PLA2 and P450.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DOSE, ANTI-FACTOR XA ACTIVITY, AND OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS RANDOMIZED TO EDOXABAN IN THE ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48 TRIAL

High (HD) and low doses (LD) of the FXa inhibitor edoxaban (edox) were noninferior to warfarin in preventing stroke/systemic embolism (stroke/SEE) with less bleeding in the ENGAGE-AF trial of 21,105 pts with AF. Dose was reduced 50% for impaired drug clearance. We correlated edox dose, drug levels
Insights into the phosphoryl transfer mechanism of cyclin-dependent protein kinases from ab initio QM/MM free-energy studies.

Phosphorylation reactions catalyzed by kinases and phosphatases play an indispensible role in cellular signaling, and their malfunctioning is implicated in many diseases. A better understanding of the catalytic mechanism will help design novel and effective mechanism-based inhibitors of these enzymes. In this work, ab initio quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical studies are reported for the phosphoryl transfer reaction catalyzed by a cyclin-dependent kinase, CDK2. Our results suggest that an active-site Asp residue, rather than ATP as previously proposed, serves as the general base to activate the Ser nucleophile. The corresponding transition state features a dissociative, metaphosphate-like structure, stabilized by the Mg2+ ion and several hydrogen bonds. The calculated free-energy barrier is consistent with experimental values. Implications of our results in this and other protein kinases are discussed.
Thiourea inclusion complexes of organometallics: optically non-linear materials

Abstract Inclusion complexation of organometallics with thiourea has been found to be an effective mechanism for controlling bulk nonlinear optical properties by inducing molecular dipolar alignment. Structures of the thiourea inclusion compounds with (benzene) Cr(CO) 3 and (1,3-cyclohexadiene)Fe(CO) 3 have been achieved. These materials generate second-harmonic radiation when exposed to the 1.06 μm output of a Nd-YAG laser.
Contact Model for a Pad Asperity and a Wafer Surface in the Presence of Abrasive Particles for Chemical Mechanical Polishing

A contact model for a single spherical (pad) asperity and a flat (wafer) surface, with an interface filled with spherical (abrasive) particles is introduced. Finite element method is used to determine the deformation characteristics of a single spherical abrasive indenting a hyper-elastic pad material. The asperities in Greenwood and Tripp (GT) model, which is widely used for the contact of rough spheres, are replaced with the spherical particles. Relations are developed to predict pad-to-particle-to-wafer contact in two distinct regimes, where a) pad and the wafer are separated by the particle; and b) all three bodies come in contact simultaneously. The results of the model show that the abrasive particles in the (pad) asperity-wafer interface causes the contact to be distributed over an area larger than that predicted by the Hertz model, while the maximum contact pressure becomes relatively lower. The fraction of the load carried by pad-to-wafer and pad-to-abrasive-to-wafer varies along the contact interface of the pad asperity and wafer.
Opportunities for mesoscale science

The regime of mesoscale science, where the granularity of atoms and quantization of energy gives way to apparently continuous and infinitely divisible matter and energy, yields strikingly complex architectures, phenomena, and functionalities that control macroscopic material behavior. Research in mesoscale materials and chemical science is an opportunity space for next-generation discovery, science, technology, and innovation, with promise of new solutions for societal problems such as energy, environment, climate, advanced manufacturing, and economic growth.
The boundary of lower-middle pleistocene on the basis of microvertebrates in Hungary

Abstract The author gives a short sketch about the stratigraphical series of the Middle Pleistocene in Hungary—chiefly on the base of examination of microvertebrates. The faunistical characterisation of five different evolutionary stages in this territory are given, i.e., the Tarko, Vertesszollos, Uppony, Solymar and Sutto phases. The uninterrupted succession among the first three and among the last two stages is clear; however, a gap exists between Uppony and Solymar. The author proposes to put the limit of Lower and Middle Pleistocene at the base of the Tarko phase, i.e., the time of the vanishing of the genus Mimomys in temperate Europe.
NEW INSIGHTS ON STOMACH ANATOMY OF CARNIVOROUS BIVALVES

Carnivory is unusual among bivalve molluscs and is limited to a few families in the distantly related orders Pectinida, Mytilida and Anomalodesmata. Despite the significance of dietary shifts in the evolution of the bivalves, the anatomy of the alimentary system, and of the gastric chamber in particular, has been described in detail for only a few carnivorous species. Here we describe the anatomy of the gastric chamber in a pectinid, Propeamussium jeffreysii, and an anomalodesmatan, Bathyneaera demistriata, expanding the known morphological disparity of the alimentary system in both groups. We found the stomachs of both to be modified to varying degrees for a carnivorous habit, with thickened, muscular walls, extensive cuticular linings, and reduced sorting areas and gastric chamber compartments (i.e. the dorsal hood, the left pouch and the food-sorting caecum). Despite some superficial similarity, each retains distinct hallmarks of their ancestry among filter-feeding relatives, allowing precise homology assessment of individual characters to differentiate between them. In addition, we found that the gastric chamber of P. jeffreysii represents an intermediate morphology between previously described P. lucidum and filter-feeding pectinids. Consequently, variation in the anatomy of the gastric chamber in Pectinida parallels a previously identified trend towards greater specialization for carnivory in the Anomalodesmata. Our results indicate that the current classification scheme of stomach types does not reflect phylogenetic affinity across the Bivalvia and highlight the need for accurate homology assessment of individual characters of the gastric chamber for inferring evolutionary relationships.
Analysis of long non-coding RNAs highlights tissue-specific expression patterns and epigenetic profiles in normal and psoriatic skin

Although analysis pipelines have been developed to use RNA-seq to identify long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), inference of their biological and pathological relevance remains a challenge. As a result, most transcriptome studies of autoimmune disease have only assessed protein-coding transcripts. We used RNA-seq data from 99 lesional psoriatic, 27 uninvolved psoriatic, and 90 normal skin biopsies, and applied computational approaches to identify and characterize expressed lncRNAs. We detect 2,942 previously annotated and 1,080 novel lncRNAs which are expected to be skin specific. Notably, over 40% of the novel lncRNAs are differentially expressed and the proportions of differentially expressed transcripts among protein-coding mRNAs and previously-annotated lncRNAs are lower in psoriasis lesions versus uninvolved or normal skin. We find that many lncRNAs, in particular those that are differentially expressed, are co-expressed with genes involved in immune related functions, and that novel lncRNAs are enriched for localization in the epidermal differentiation complex. We also identify distinct tissue-specific expression patterns and epigenetic profiles for novel lncRNAs, some of which are shown to be regulated by cytokine treatment in cultured human keratinocytes. Together, our results implicate many lncRNAs in the immunopathogenesis of psoriasis, and our results provide a resource for lncRNA studies in other autoimmune diseases.
Chlorine Dioxide Treatment of Seafoods to Reduce Bacterial Loads

Various seafoods were treated with fresh chlorine dioxide (Cl0 2 ) solutions (20, 40, 100, and 200 ppm total available ClO 2 ) in 3.5% brine for 5 min, and bacterial loads and sensory quality were evaluated after 0, 3, and 7 d storage on ice. The ClO 2 treated groups at each time period had lower bacterial counts than non-treated and brine-treated groups. The differences in bacterial counts were significant, especially for groups treated with 100 and 200 ppm ClO 2 . Treated ClO 2 solutions contained very low or no bacterial loads. Treated red grouper and salmon with 100 or 200 ppm ClO 2 developed skin discoloration (lighter color) and a chocolate color in the gills.
A low loss multifiber connector and its applications

A plastic molded multifiber connector which can splice fiber ribbons has been widely introduced into fiber-optic subscriber networks. The connector is made by a precision transfer molding method, employing an ultrahigh-precision multi-V-grooves mold. Its dimensional accuracy is so high that single-mode four-fiber ribbons are spliced with an average loss of 0.3 dB using refractive-index matching oil. The connector is mainly used for an optical-fiber ribbon cable which includes factor-mounted connectors and has up to 1000 fibers. Recently, the multifiber plastic connector has been used in an optical filter for fiber ribbons, in a mechanical switch for fiber ribbons, and in a high-speed mechanical switch. >
Population pharmacokinetics analysis of patients receiving enoxaparin by continuous intravenous infusion

Purpose To develop a population pharmacokinetic (PK) model for patients receiving continuous intravenous infusion (CI) of enoxaparin and compare results to the PK parameters reported for subcutaneous (SQ). Methods Anti-Xa activity was measured in 48 patients receiving CI of enoxaparin. The population PK parameters were estimated by NONMEM. The effect of the covariates age, weight, height, creatinine clearance and sex were tested in the model. POSTHOC, model estimates were used to compare disposition in patients with three body mass index (BMI) categories: 30 kg m −2(n=11). Results A one-compartment linear model with additive and proportional error adequately described the data. Weight was a significant covariate on clearance (CL) for all estimation methods. The estimation of population CL and volume of distribution (Vd) were significantly higher than those reported for SQ (p 0.05). Conclusions PK parameters for CI are significantly different than those estimated SQ data. Body weight was a significant covariate for the model. Further studies should address issues of changing anti-Xa activity dependent upon both route and rate of administration of enoxaparin. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2004) 75, P30–P30; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2003.11.112
Optimizing Separation of Iodine from Halogen Interferences in Preparation for TIMS Analysis

Low-level analysis of radioiodine performed by TIMS requires an initial chemical separation from interfering higher electron-affinity halogens. Experiments using 125I and 36Cl tracers have shown that iodide can be selectively oxidized and purged from solution while the chloride remains in the solution. A systematic investigation of the experimental factors that affect the oxidation and transfer of iodine along with the separation of iodide from chloride has been completed. Experimental design was used to determine the optimum experimental conditions by obtaining a better understanding of factor affects and interactions. Factors such as gas purge rate, experiment run time, and oxidant concentration were simultaneously studied in a central composite design of experiments and response surfaces were generated from results. Optimizing experimental factors resulted in improved iodide oxidation and transfer efficiencies, halogen separation, and shorter analysis times.
Some practical aspects of moving object deblurring in a perspective plane.

An image restoration problem commonly encountered in many branches of science and engineering is that of removing the effects of uniform object motion. If the direction of object motion is not orthogonal to the line of sight of the imaging device, an image with both nonuniform motion blur and perspective may be produced so that the usual assumption of a space-invariant linear operation is no longer valid. In this paper we show that a proper initial geometrical transformation reduces the problem to one which can be handled by standard methods for removing uniform motion blur. As will be demonstrated, the process is strictly valid for planar (2-D) objects only. For objects with depth, residual space-variant blurs still exist. We highlight through examples several practical aspects of digitally deblurring such objects, including proper geometrical transformations, initial blur estimation, and residual space variance.
Androgenetic alopecia and risk of prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a genetically determined skin condition strongly age dependent and androgens are assumed to play an important role in its development. A link between AGA and prostate cancer has been hypothesized because of their similar risk factors. Objective We sought to systematically review the evidence available on the association between AGA and risk of prostate cancer. Methods We searched the electronic databases MEDLINE and Cochrane for studies examining the association between AGA and risk of prostate cancer. We estimated pooled odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals. We also analyzed the OR for individual hair loss patterns, as defined by the Hamilton scale. Results A total of 7 case-control studies including 8994 patients–4078 cases and 4916 controls–were reviewed. One cohort study was identified but did not meet our inclusion criteria. There was statistically significant association between vertex baldness and prostate cancer (OR 1.25; 95% confidence interval 1.09-1.44; Z = 3.13; P = .002). No statistically significant association between AGA (any pattern) and prostate cancer was identified (OR 1.03; 95% confidence interval 0.93-1.13; Z = 0.55; P = .58). Limitations Only case-control studies, which may be subject to bias, met the inclusion criteria for this meta-analysis. Conclusions Vertex pattern AGA was associated with a significant increased risk of prostate cancer. Any pattern AGA did not show a significant increase in the risk of prostate cancer.
Choosing psychotherapy as a career: Why did we cross that road?

This article addresses the question "Why do people become psychotherapists?" via two approaches. The first involves an examination of the empirical and clinical literature on motivations and influences common to most psychotherapists. The second approach explores multiple pathways to becoming a psychotherapist by considering distinct gender-linked career trajectories. We identify 12 oft-noted themes in the literature on therapists' career paths (e.g., cultural marginalization, a psychologically minded way of understanding self and others) and link these to the narratives of the eight authors in this issue. Finally, we discuss ways in which understanding career motivations may be useful for therapists in their practice.
Post-glacial redistribution and shifts in productivity of giant kelp forests

Quaternary glacial-interglacial cycles create lasting biogeographic, demographic and genetic effects on ecosystems, yet the ecological effects of ice ages on benthic marine communities are unknown. We analysed long-term datasets to develop a niche-based model of southern Californian giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) forest distribution as a function of oceanography and geomorphology, and synthesized palaeo-oceanographic records to show that late Quaternary climate change probably drove high millennial variability in the distribution and productivity of this foundation species. Our predictions suggest that kelp forest biomass increased up to threefold from the glacial maximum to the mid-Holocene, then rapidly declined by 40-70 per cent to present levels. The peak in kelp forest productivity would have coincided with the earliest coastal archaeological sites in the New World. Similar late Quaternary changes in kelp forest distribution and productivity probably occurred in coastal upwelling systems along active continental margins worldwide, which would have resulted in complex shifts in the relative productivity of terrestrial and marine components of coastal ecosystems.
Vaccination with a Single CD4 T Cell Peptide Epitope from a Salmonella Type III-Secreted Effector Protein Provides Protection against Lethal Infection

Salmonella infections affect millions worldwide and remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. It is known from mouse studies that CD4 T cells are essential mediators of immunity against Salmonella infection, yet it is not clear whether targeting CD4 T cell responses directly with peptide vaccines against Salmonella can be effective in combating infection. Additionally, it is not known whether T cell responses elicited against Salmonella secreted effector proteins can provide protective immunity against infection. In this study, we investigated both of these possibilities using prime-boost immunization of susceptible mice with a single CD4 T cell peptide epitope from Salmonella secreted effector protein I (SseI), a component of the Salmonella type III secretion system. This immunization conferred significant protection against lethal oral infection, equivalent to that conferred by whole heat-killed Salmonella bacteria. Surprisingly, a well-characterized T cell epitope from the flagellar protein FliC afforded no protection compared to immunization with an irrelevant control peptide. The protective response appeared to be most associated with polyfunctional CD4 T cells raised against the SseI peptide, since no antibodies were produced against any of the peptides and very little CD8 T cell response was observed. Overall, this study demonstrates that eliciting CD4 T cell responses against components of the Salmonella type III secretion system can contribute to protection against infection and should be considered in the design of future Salmonella subunit vaccines.
Accurate modeling and simulation of parallel interconnection in high-speed integrated circuits

The evaluation of the time-domain performance of interconnection lines is becoming increasingly more important in the analysis and design of high-speed integrated circuits. An accurate computer model for n coupled microstrip lines is developed for circuit simulation. Modal analysis is applied to decouple the n coupled line system into n independent lines and the characteristic solution of the lossy transmission line equation is modeled into a simple time-varying equivalent circuit. This model has been implemented into a circuit simulator, called iSMILE, that significantly reduces the model development time. Simulation results on propagation delay times and crosstalks are presented for the case of high-speed GaAs HEMT (high-electron-mobility transistor) integrated circuits. >
Epidemiology of binge eating disorder.

Objective: First described over 50 years ago, binge eating disorder (BED) only recently has become the focus of epidemiologic studies. This article provides a comprehen- sive review of these studies. Method: Relevant studies were examined and summarized in the form of a narrative review. Results: Similar to the early studies of bulimia nervosa (BN), the first generation of epidemiologic studies of BED is limited in scope or methodology. They focus on prevalence rates and provide only basic demographic characteristics and often use less than optimal sampling or assessment methods. Discussion: Results suggest that the demographic profile of BED may be more diverse than that of BN. Future studies should evaluate complex etiologic models in representative samples that include men and a broader range of ethnic minority groups. # 2003 by Wiley Perodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 34: S19-S29, 2003.
Reproductive Biology of Three Cosmopolitan Mealybug (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) Species, Pseudococcus longispinus, Pseudococcus viburni, and Planococcus ficus

ABSTRACT Experiments confirmed that female Pseudococcus longispinus (Targioni Tozzetti), Pseudococcus viburni (Signoret), and Planococcus ficus Signoret (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) must mate to produce viable offspring. Females of all three species were capable of mating multiple times on the same day and on sequential days (range, 1–8 times). Female reproductive output was not increased by multiple copulations. Male P. longispinus, P. viburni, and P. ficus also mated multiple times during their lifetimes (maximum of 9, 11, and 19 times, respectively). Male P. ficus had the highest mean number of copulations (9.6 ± 0.6), followed by P. longispinus and P. viburni. More than half of the P. ficus males survived their first day of copulations and remated the next day when presented with unmated females. P. viburni males also readily mated with unmated females on the day subsequent to their first copulations. Median times between copulations were short for males of all species (<2 min). Constant exposure to ph...
Life of the mind: The interface of psychopharmaceuticals, domestic economies, and social abandonment

In this article, I address the embroilment of medical science in the lifeworlds of the urban poor in Brazil, particularly the place of psychopharmaceuticals within households. I explore how psychiatric diagnostics and treatments are integrated into a domestic "dramaturgy of the real" and how family members use them to assess human value and to mediate the disposal of persons considered unproductive or unsound. I focus on the life of Catarina, who was deemed mad and left by her family in an asylum in southern Brazil. Disabled and abandoned, Catarina began to compile a "dictionary" of words that have meaning for her. By tracing Catarina's words back to the people, households, and medical institutions that she had once been a part of, I illuminate the complex network in which her abandonment and pathology took form as well as the edges of human imagination that she keeps expanding. From this examination, one comes to understand how economic globalization, state and medical reform, and acceleration of claims over human rights and citizenship coincide with and impinge on a local production of social death. One also sees how mental disorders gain form at the juncture between the subject, her biology, and the technical and political coding of her sense of being alive. Hers is not just bare life, though: Thinking through her condition, Catarina anticipates social ties and one more chance. This is also a story of the methodological and ethical challenges I faced as I supported Catarina's search for consistency and her demands for continuity.
Policy, Politics, and the National Mathematics Advisory Panel Report: Topology, Functions, and Limits

Analyzing Foundations for Success: The Final Report of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel (2008), the author situates it in evolving U.S. intergovernmental relations about education, ongoing policy discourses, and texts. State and local policy makers exercise considerable discretion on education, even with the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Federal policy makers rely on these policy makers and an expanding extrasystem of education providers to implement their proposals. The report’s alignment with some key ideas in current policy discourses may increase the likelihood that some recommendations will get attention, but intergovernmental arrangements, changing political winds, and worsening economic circumstances pose major implementation hurdles.
Neutrophils and renal failure

In many diseases and acute inflammatory disorders, important components of pathological processes are linked to the neutrophils' ability to release a complex assortment of agents that can destroy normal cells and dissolve connective tissue. This review summarizes the mechanisms of tissue destruction by neutrophils and the role of kidney-specific factors that promote this effect. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate H (NADPH) oxidase is a membrane-associated enzyme that generates a family of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI). There is increasing evidence that ROIs are implicated in glomerular pathophysiology: ROIs contribute to the development of proteinuria, alter glomerular filtration rate, and induce morphological changes in glomerular cells. Specific neutrophil granules contain microbicidal peptides, proteins, and proteolytic enzymes, which mediate the dissolution of extracellular matrix, harm cell structures or cell function, and induce acute and potentially irreparable damage. Although both ROI and neutrophil-derived proteases alone have the potential for tissue destruction, it is their synergism that circumvents the intrinsic barriers designed to protect the host. Even small amounts of ROI can generate hypochlorus acid (HOCl) in the presence of neutrophil-derived myeloperoxidase (MPO) and initiate the deactivation of antiproteases and activation of latent proteases, which lead to tissue damage if not properly controlled. In addition, neutrophil-derived phospholipase products such as leukotrienes and platelet-activating factor contribute to vascular changes in acute inflammation and amplify tissue damage. Increasing evidence suggests that mesangial cells and neutrophils release chemotactic substances (eg, interleukin 8), which further promote neutrophil migration to the kidney, activate neutrophils, and increase glomerular injury. Also, the expression of adhesion molecules (eg, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 on kidney-specific cells and beta-2-integrins on leukocytes) has been correlated with the degree of injury in various forms of glomerulonephritis or after ischemia and reperfusion. Together, these results suggest that neutrophils and adhesion molecules play an important role in mediating tissue injury with subsequent renal failure. Conversely, chronic renal failure reduces neutrophil function and thereby can increase susceptibility to infection and sepsis.
Parametric level-set approach for hyperspectral diffuse optical tomography

We explore the development and performance of algorithms for hyperspectral diffuse optical tomography (DOT) in which data from hundreds of wavelengths are collected and used to determine the concentration distribution of chromophores in the medium under investigation. An efficient method is detailed for forming the images using iterative algorithms applied to a linearized Born approximation model. Specifically, a parametric level-set approach is employed to obtain estimates of chromophore concentrations and scattering properties. We report image reconstructions using 126 wavelengths with mean square error around 0.05 for each chromophore in simulated data, a significant improvement over reconstructions using the level-set method and a pixel based method using fewer wavelengths chosen optimally according to the criterion in [1]. We additionally report improvement in reconstruction for phantom measurements where species concentrations are estimated more accurately than images constructed using fewer wavelengths.
Stimulation of colonic glycoprotein synthesis by dibutyryl cyclic AMP and theophylline.

The effects of dibutyryl cyclic AMP (B2cAMP) and theophylline on glycoprotein synthesis in rabbit colon were studied in mucosal organ cultures using [3H]glucosamine as a precursor. Addition of B2cAMP (1 mm) to culture medium caused a significant increase in glycoprotein synthesis after 12 and 24 hr compared with biopsies cultured in control medium. The increase in glycoprotein synthesis was observed only if the cyclic nucleotide was present continuously in the incubation medium for at least 12 hr. The stimulatory effect of B2cAMP on [3H]glucosamine incorporation was blocked by cycloheximide. B2cAMP also stimulated mucosal uptake of glucosamine into the intracellular pool and markedly enhanced specific activity of mucosal galactosyltransferase, an enzyme involved in glycoprotein synthesis. Addition of 5 mm theophylline caused a greater than 2-fold increase in cAMP levels, which was also accompanied by an increase in glucosamine uptake and incorporation into mucosal glycoproteins. This study demonstrates that elevation of intracellular CAMP concentration in colon epithelium in vitro is associated with an increase in glycoprotein synthesis. These effects may be mediated in part by (1) increased uptake of glycoprotein precursors such as glucosamine, and (2) increased activity of glycoprotein synthetic enzymes.
Biomedical monitoring using electroniccapsule

This paper presents a system simulation of wireless telemetry for a bio medical application. The idea is for the patient to swallow a capsule that then travels through the digestive tract or alimentary canal of the human body. Passing internal organs of different sizes and density making the communication between the capsule and the receiver more complex. The capsule includes a battery, transmitter, camera and antenna. The images from the camera are transmitted to the receiver located outside and in close proximity to the human body. The simulated system included a transmitter and dual receiver antenna design, transmitter and receiver block diagrams and a thermal analysis of what is happening inside the human body due to the effects of the transmitting antenna.
Homologous Series of Heavier Element Dipnictenes 2,6-Ar2H3C6E=EC6H3-2,6-Ar2 (E = P, As, Sb, Bi; Ar = Mes = C6H2-2,4,6-Me3; or Trip = C6H2-2,4,6-iPr3) Stabilized by m-Terphenyl Ligands

The synthesis and characterization of several m-terphenyl heavier main group 15 (P, As, Sb, or Bi) dihalides, together with their reduction to give a homologous series of double-bonded dipnictenes, are reported. Reaction of LiC6H3-2,6-Mes2 (Mes = C6H2-2,4,6-Me3) or LiC6H3-2,6-Trip2 (Trip = C6H2-2,4,6-iPr3) with the appropriate trihalide affords 2,6-Mes2H3C6ECl2 (E = As, 1; Sb, 2; Bi, 3) and 2,6-Trip2H3C6ECl2 (E = P, 4; As, 5; Sb, 6; Bi, 7). The compounds 1−7 were characterized by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy as well as by 31P NMR spectroscopy in the case of 4. In addition, the structures of 3, 5, and 6 were determined. Reduction of the phosphorus species 4 with potassium in hexane gives a mixture of the diphosphene 2,6-Trip2H3C6PPC6H3-2,6-Trip2, 12, and the phosphafluorene species, 1-(2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl)-5,7-diisopropyl-9-phosphafluorene, 11. The compound 11, which results from the insertion of a phosphorus into a C(Ar)−C(i-Pr) bond was synthesized in higher yield by the reduction of 4 with magnesium...
Cystic meningiomas: MR characteristics and surgical correlations.

PURPOSE To describe the MR appearance of cystic meningiomas, and to correlate the MR appearance with the surgical and neuropathologic findings. METHODS Eight patients with cysts associated with meningiomas were studied on a 1.5-T MR system. Unenhanced sagittal T1- and axial T2-weighted images were obtained in all patients. Axial and coronal gadopentetate dimeglumine-enhanced T1-weighted spin-echo images were obtained in seven patients. Additional sagittal T1-weighted spin-echo contrast-enhanced images were obtained in four patients. RESULTS The cystic components were intratumoral and eccentric in two cases, intraparenchymal in one case, and extraparenchymal (trapped cerebrospinal fluid) in five cases. Cyst wall enhancement was present in two of seven cases performed with intravenous gadopentetate dimeglumine. There was no correlation between cyst signal intensity and cyst content. A preoperative diagnosis of cystic meningioma was possible in all eight cases. CONCLUSIONS MR demonstrates the extradural location of the tumor and its cystic component, correlates well with the surgical presentation and the neuropathologic results, and allows the preoperative diagnosis of cystic meningioma based on the MR findings. Division into three types of cysts aids the neurosurgeon, who must decide whether total resection is feasible. To obtain total resection and reduce the risk of recurrence with an intratumoral cyst, the surgeon must ensure that the plane of resection is in fact between the thin enhancing membrane of the tumor cyst and the adjacent arachnoid. In cases in which the cyst is trapped cerebrospinal fluid or intraparenchymal in location, the cyst wall adjacent to or within the brain parenchyma is not included in the resection.
Modifying agricultural export taxes to make them less market-distorting

Abstract From 2006 to 2014, close to 40 countries levied an export tax on at least one agricultural product. Export taxes impose costs on the global economy by reducing total world welfare compared to free trade, and in particular hurt the tax-imposing country’s own domestic producers of the taxed good. Yet countries with export taxes have objectives that might make it unlikely for them to eliminate, or even reduce, the taxes. This article examines how a conventional export tax could be modified to make it less market-distorting, and thereby less welfare-diminishing, for both the tax-imposing country and the rest of the world. From a total world welfare perspective, the modified policy analyzed here is a “second best” alternative to the first best policy of abolishing the export tax and allowing free trade, but nonetheless it improves global economic welfare compared to the standard export tax. The modified policy discussed here achieves the same economic objectives as the tax, such as reducing the domestic price of the exported good, increasing domestic purchases, and raising revenue, but also generates additional exports beyond the volume that occurs under the tax alone. Also, the tax does not involve any government subsidies to producers or consumers. The main original feature of the modified export tax policy therefore is that it not only increases net economic welfare (compared to the unmodified tax scenario), but does so in a way that does not reduce the welfare of any economic group.
The College Completion Puzzle: A Hidden Markov Model Approach

Higher education in America is characterized by widespread access to college but low rates of completion, especially among undergraduates at less selective institutions. We analyze longitudinal transcript data to examine processes leading to graduation, using Hidden Markov modeling. We identify several latent states that are associated with patterns of course taking, and show that a trained Hidden Markov model can predict graduation or nongraduation based on only a few semesters of transcript data. We compare this approach to more conventional methods and conclude that certain college-specific processes, associated with graduation, should be analyzed in addition to socio-economic factors. The results from the Hidden Markov trajectories indicate that both graduating and nongraduating students take the more difficult mathematical and technical courses at an equal rate. However, undergraduates who complete their bachelor’s degree within 6 years are more likely to alternate between these semesters with a heavy course load and the less course-intense semesters. The course-taking patterns found among college students also indicate that nongraduates withdraw more often from coursework than average, yet when graduates withdraw, they tend do so in exactly those semesters of the college career in which more difficult courses are taken. These findings, as well as the sequence methodology itself, emphasize the importance of careful course selection and counseling early on in student’s college career.
Effective Containment of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections in a Bone Marrow Transplantation Program Resulting from the Combined Implementation of Molecular Epidemiology, Infection Control, and Early Treatment Strategies.

Abstract Although the precise incidence, epidemiology, and impact of human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) infection may differ greatly from center to center, there is little debate about the potential for associated morbidity and mortality. We report our approach to infection control and clinical management to reduce the clinical impact of HRSV in our BMT population. An outbreak on our BMT unit was identified in the Winter of 2000–2001. RT-PCR and nucleotide (nt) sequencing of a 270 nt variable region of the HRSV G gene of 6 cases and 12 unrelated community controls was performed. Of the 6 cases, 4 were identified as group A (genotype GA2) and 2 were identified as group B (genotype GB3). Sequences of the GA2 hospital cluster cases were identical as were the 2 hospital case GB3 isolates and the hospital case sequences differed from their respective community controls. These data suggested that there were 2 separate introductions of virus from the community followed by nosocomial spread within the outpatient facility and we were able to direct our infection control efforts and treatment strategies accordingly. An educational campaign was implemented for staff and patients emphasizing the importance of early identification and isolation of patients with HRSV. All patients with either upper (URTI) or lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) symptoms were isolated and a nasopharyngeal swab for HRSV direct detection and CXR were performed. Post-transplantation, patients with an URTI and a positive swab for HRSV received aerosolized ribavirin (1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide, 6g per day) and 1.5g per kg bodyweight per day of an intravenous immunoglobulin preparation (IVIg) for 3 days. Patients with a positive NP swab and an abnormal CXR or a requirement for supplemental oxygen also received IVIg and ribavirin; however, the treatment was continued until patients no longer required oxygen supplementation. Overall, 3 patients had received autologous and 19 had received allogeneic grafts (14 nonmyeloablative, 5 myeloablative). Steroid administration was not a risk factor for disease. Since the sentinel outbreak, there was a significant decrease in the case attack rates per 10,000 patient days (0.30, 0.27, 0.15, and
Insider Financing and Venture Capital Returns

Staged financing of venture capital-backed firms is valuable to both investors and entrepreneurs, but comes with a potential cost: hold-up. With asymmetric information and strong control rights, financial intermediaries may earn rents on their inside knowledge. We find that environments where insiders have the significant potential to hold-up the entrepreneur -- financings where only previous investors participate -- have predictable outcomes and returns. However, in contrast to predictions from the theory of hold-up, we show that these inside financings lead to a higher likelihood of failure, lower probability of IPOs, and lower cash on cash multiples than rounds with new (outside) investors. Inside financings also appear to be negative NPV, suggesting that investors make inefficient continuation decisions. We propose a novel alternative and show how the findings are consistent with a manifestation of an agency problem driven by changing opportunity costs over the VC fund life-cycle.
Nonlinear Radar for Finding RF Electronics: System Design and Recent Advancements

An extensive review of nonlinear radar systems is performed. Emphasis is placed on designs relevant to detecting RF electronics that were not intentionally manufactured as visible radar targets. The state of the art in nonlinear radar is conveyed by presenting high-level system architecture, explaining the rationale behind design decisions pertaining to that architecture, and listing the specifications that nonlinear radar designers have achieved. The authors’ recent advancements in nonlinear radar technology are summarized.