cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Uniform brain tumor distribution and tumor associated macrophage targeting of systemically administered dendrimers.

Abstract Effective blood–brain tumor barrier penetration and uniform solid tumor distribution can significantly enhance therapeutic delivery to brain tumors. Hydroxyl-functionalized, generation-4 poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers, with their small size, near-neutral surface charge, and the ability to selectively localize in cells associated with neuroinflammation may offer new opportunities to address these challenges. In this study we characterized the intracranial tumor biodistribution of systemically delivered PAMAM dendrimers in an intracranial rodent gliosarcoma model using fluorescence-based quantification methods and high resolution confocal microscopy. We observed selective and homogeneous distribution of dendrimer throughout the solid tumor (∼6 mm) and peritumoral area within fifteen minutes after systemic administration, with subsequent accumulation and retention in tumor associated microglia/macrophages (TAMs). Neuroinflammation and TAMs have important growth promoting and pro-invasive effects in brain tumors. The rapid clearance of systemically administered dendrimers from major organs promises minimal off-target adverse effects of conjugated drugs. Therefore, selective delivery of immunomodulatory molecules to TAM, using hydroxyl PAMAM dendrimers, may hold promise for therapy of glioblastoma.
Characterization of Indium−Tin Oxide Interfaces Using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Redox Processes of a Chemisorbed Probe Molecule: Effect of Surface Pretreatment Conditions

Surface characterization of indium−tin oxide (ITO) thin films has been carried out with monochromatic X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) following various solution pretreatments, RF air plasma etching or high-vacuum argon-ion sputtering. Commercially available ITO films show high concentrations of hydrolyzed oxides and oxy-hydroxides in the near-surface region, along with stoichiometric oxide (In2O3, SnO2) and variable levels of oxygen defect sites. XPS revealed that solution and vacuum treatments changed both the relative surface coverage of the hydroxides and, to a lesser extent, the concentration of oxide defect sites in the near-surface region. These pretreatments have a significant effect on both the coverage and electron-transfer rates for chemisorbed ferrocene dicarboxylic acid (Fc(COOH)2), with the air-plasma-etched ITO showing the highest surface coverage of Fc(COOH)2 and an RCA treatment showing the highest electron-transfer rates.
Lattice Vibrations in Trigonal HgS

Trigonal HgS (cinnabar) possesses a twofold-coordinated low-symmetry structure highly unusual among ${A}^{n}{B}^{8\ensuremath{-}n}$ crystals. The cinnabar structure is based on close-packed helical chains, with six atoms per unit cell and ${D}_{3}$ symmetry. We have investigated the long-wavelength optical phonons in HgS via their interaction with light: reflectivity in the far infrared and Raman scattering in the visible. Classical-oscillator analysis of the complex reststrahlen spectra has been carried out to obtain frequencies, infrared strengths, dielectric dispersion properties, and, in addition, polariton dispersion curves for the ${A}_{2}$ and $E$ modes. The Raman scattering is dominated by the ${A}_{1}$ lines, and the relative magnitude of the TO and LO $E$ lines indicate that the atomic-displacement contribution to the polarizability modulation exceeds the electro-optic. Marked complementarity between Raman and infrared intensities is noted and connected to a view of the HgS lattice as a geometric perturbation on the rocksalt structure. The frequencies (given as $\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}}$ in ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$) of the observed lattice fundamentals and their symmetry assignments are: 29(39), ${A}_{2}$; 45, ${A}_{1}$; 87(91), $E$; 108(147), $E$; 110(141), ${A}_{2}$; 256, ${A}_{1}$; 280(288), $E$; 333(357), ${A}_{2}$; and 342(350), $E$. (Frequencies in parentheses refer to the longitudinal representatives of the infrared-active modes.) A simple model and the observed frequencies are used to derive approximate vibrational eigenvectors for the symmetric ${A}_{1}$ modes, and, on the basis of electrostatic (TO-LO) and anisotropy (${A}_{2}\ensuremath{-}E$) splittings as well as Raman and infrared intensities, the three eigenvectors corresponding to 108-110 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ are taken to consist largely of rigid-sublattice motions analogous to the optical modes in simple diatomic crystals such as NaCl. The effective charge of these latter vibrations is estimated as $\frac{{e}^{*}}{e}=0.4$.
CHARGE SCREENING AND THE DIELECTRIC CONSTANT OF PROTEINS : INSIGHTS FROM MOLECULAR DYNAMICS

The dielectric constants of myoglobin, apomyoglobin, the B fragment of staphylococcal protein A, and the immunoglobulin-binding domain of streptococcal protein G are calculated from 1−2 ns molecular dynamics simulations in water, using the Frohlich−Kirkwood theory of dielectrics. This dielectric constant is a direct measure of the polarizability of the protein medium and is the appropriate macroscopic quantity to measure its relaxation properties in response to a charged perturbation, such as electron transfer, photoexcitation, or ion binding. In each case the dielectric constant is low (2−3) in the protein interior, then rises to 11−21 for the whole molecule. The large overall dielectric constant is almost entirely due to the charged protein side chains, located at the protein surface, which have significant flexibility. If these are viewed instead as part of the outer solvent medium, then the remainder of the protein has a low dielectric constant of 3−6 (depending on the protein), comparable to that of ...
A New Approach to Weight Loss Just Activate Endothelial NO Synthase

Sustained consumption of dietary fats induces endothelial dysfunction and insulin resistance in experimental models and humans. Endothelial dysfunction, manifested by reduced endothelium-dependent dilation, is a hallmark of several cardiovascular diseases and obesity. Indeed, exercise training and caloric restriction attenuate endothelial dysfunction and delay the onset or reduce the magnitude of vascular diseases and insulin resistance. Article, see p 1176 A major pathway controlling endothelium-dependent vasodilation is via endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) generation of the vasodilatory, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant autacoid, NO. NO can serve as a paracrine mediator promoting various beneficial functions through several mechanisms including activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase and nitrosation of cellular proteins and lipids that promote vascular relaxation and attenuate proinflammatory pathways. In this issue of Circulation Research , Sansbury et al1 provide striking evidence that eNOS-derived NO actively participates in regulating the extent of adiposity. Previous work has …
Ubiquitous computing: by the people, for the people

One of the challenges in building and evaluating ubiquitous computing systems emanates from the fact that they generally have been built to showcase technological innovation without considering how to foretell whether and how people will eventually accept them in their lives. In this study, participants are introduced to the notion of ubiquitous computing via a scenario-centric presentation including basic everyday objects imbued with some computational power to convey information. Through a detailed survey, participants provide feedback relating to their impressions, rating the performance of each interface on a number of metrics and making comparisons between the ubiquitous and desktop interfaces. We inspire them to think of new ways to use existing ubiquitous interfaces to support their current and possible information needs, as well as better interfaces that can convey this information.
We Infer Rather Than Perceive the Moment We Decided to Act

A seminal experiment found that the reported time of a decision to perform a simple action was at least 300 ms after the onset of brain activity that normally preceded the action. In Experiment 1, we presented deceptive feedback (an auditory beep) 5 to 60 ms after the action to signify a movement time later than the actual movement. The reported time of decision moved forward in time linearly with the delay in feedback, and came after the muscular initiation of the response at all but the 5-ms delay. In Experiment 2, participants viewed their hand with and without a 120-ms video delay, and gave a time of decision 44 ms later with than without the delay. We conclude that participants' report of their decision time is largely inferred from the apparent time of response. The perception of a hypothetical brain event prior to the response could have, at most, a small influence.
Generative Alignment and Semantic Parsing for Learning from Ambiguous Supervision

We present a probabilistic generative model for learning semantic parsers from ambiguous supervision. Our approach learns from natural language sentences paired with world states consisting of multiple potential logical meaning representations. It disambiguates the meaning of each sentence while simultaneously learning a semantic parser that maps sentences into logical form. Compared to a previous generative model for semantic alignment, it also supports full semantic parsing. Experimental results on the Robocup sportscasting corpora in both English and Korean indicate that our approach produces more accurate semantic alignments than existing methods and also produces competitive semantic parsers and improved language generators.
Near-optimal kinodynamic planning for robots with coupled dynamics bounds

The authors consider the following problem: given a robot system, find a minimal-time trajectory from a start state to a goal state, while avoiding obstacles by a safety margin and respecting bounds on velocity and generalized forces. A provably good polynomial-time approximation algorithm for this problem is one for which it is possible to (1) bound the goodness of the approximate solution it produces by an error term epsilon ; (2) polynomially bound the running time (complexity) of the algorithm; and (3) express the complexity as a polynomial function of 1/ epsilon . Using a new trajectory tracking lemma for robots with coupled dynamics bounds and a generalization of the basic algorithm of J. Canny et al. (1988), the authors describe provably good polynomial-time approximation algorithms for nonrotating robots obeying L/sub 2/ dynamics bounds and for open-chain manipulators. These algorithms only consider near-extremal accelerations, thus the out-degree complexity of the search is lower than that of the earlier provably good polynomial-time approximation algorithm of P. Jacobs et al. (1989) for open-chain manipulators. >
Importance of cations in the properties of Zintl phases: the electronic structure of and bonding in metallic Na6TlSb41.

The novel metallic compound Na6TlSb4 consists of four-membered TlSb3 rings joined by pairs of Sb atoms into Tl2Sb8 units, the last of which is further interconnected into 1D anionic chains via Tl−Tl bonds. The contrast of its metallic conductivity with that of the 2 − e- poorer, electron precise, and semiconducting Zintl phase K6Tl2Sb3, which has virtually the same anionic network, has been investigated by ab initio LMTO-DFT methods. Sodium ion participation is found to be appreciable in the (largely) Sb p valence band and especially significant in an additional low-lying conduction band generated by antimony pπ and sodium orbitals. The one pyramidal 3-bonded Sb atom appears to be largely responsible for the interchain conduction process. The substitution of one Tl by Sb, which occurs when the countercation is changed from potassium in K6Tl2Sb3 to sodium, yielding only Na6TlSb4, is driven by a distinctly tighter packing, a corresponding increase in the Madelung energy, and binding of the excess pair of el...
Estimation of environmental and toxicological properties: Approach and methodology

The estimation of properties of environmental interest is discussed. A general method for estimation based on molecular topology is presented and examples given for several studies. The most widely used topological method is based on the molecular connectivity indexes, which represent molecular structure in numerical form. Other methods presented include shape indexes and an additivity model. The variety of examples discussed and references given indicates the vitality of the use of molecular topology.
Phase II clinical research design in cardiology: learning the right lessons too well: observations and recommendations from the Cardiovascular Cell Therapy Research Network (CCTRN).

Clinical trials demonstrate the best of medical expertise and epidemiological elegance. From the simple building blocks of contemporaneous control groups, randomization, and blinding, they assemble a clear picture of the nature of the treatment-effect relationship. This accomplishment has earned them the star ascendant position in cardiovascular research. Their advantage was demonstrated with Bradford Hill’s work on streptomycin, and as knowledge of the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic disease produced possibilities for new treatments, cardiovascular researchers applied this new research tool to identify effective therapies in a sequential approach (Figure 1). Figure 1. The traditional phases of clinical trials. *The study takes place before Food and Drug Administration approval. This work accelerated with clinical trials demonstrating treatment benefits for chronic diseases such as hypertension,1,2 lipid abnormalities,3,4 and heart failure,5,6 cementing their role in identifying new therapies to prevent the sequela of cardiovascular disease in vulnerable populations. However, the limitations of early clinical trial interpretation also appeared. The findings of the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial (MRFIT),7 the International Verapamil SR/Trandolapril Study (INVEST),8,9 the Early Versus Late Intervention Trial With Estradiol (ELITE),7,10 the Cardiac Arrhythmia Suppression Trial (CAST),11,12 and the US Carvedilol program controversy13–19 together served to undermine the confidence of cardiologists in the interpretation of clinical trial results. Thought leaders in the field identified the interpretation problem (ie, the hyperreliance on P values to reflect positive results for any analysis in a clinical trial) and called for a fundamental change in the design and analysis of clinical trials. Subsequent work produced the following clinical trials principles: (1)There should be clear and prospective declaration in the written protocol about all important aspects of the clinical trial with particular emphasis on the end points …
α-synuclein, LRRK2 and their interplay in Parkinson's disease.

Of the various genetic factors contributing to the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD), only mutations in a-synuclein (a-syn) and LRRK2 genes cause clinical and neuropathological phenotypes closely resembling the sporadic cases. Therefore, studying the pathophysiological functions of these two PD-related genes is particularly informative in understanding the underlying molecular pathogenic mechanism of the disease. PD-related missense and multiplication mutations in a-syn may cause both early- and late-onset PD, whereas various PD-related LRRK2 missense mutations may contribute to the more common lateonset PD. While intensive studies have been carried out to elucidate the pathogenic properties of PD-related mutant a-syn and LRRK2, our knowledge of their normal functions and their potential genetic interplay remains rudimental. In this review, we summarize the progress made regarding the pathophysiological functions of a-syn, LRRK2 and their interaction in PD, based on the available literature and our unpublished observations.
Secondary amyloidosis complicating psoriasis

Abstract Background: Amyloidosis is a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by extracellular deposition of fibrillar protein. Secondary amyloidosis occurs in patients with chronic infectious or inflammatory processes. Only 18 cases of secondary amyloidosis complicating psoriasis have been reported. Objective: We characterized secondary amyloidosis complicating psoriasis. Methods: We reviewed all cases of coexisting psoriasis and amyloidosis seen at the Mayo clinic from 1950 to 1992. The clinical characteristics were summarized, and the literature was reviewed. Results: There were 28 cases of coexistent disease, and in five of these psoriatis was the only inflammatory condition preceding the development of secondary amyloidosis. Histopathologic confirmation with Congo red staining was available in four cases, and immunohistochemical confirmation of the characteristic amyloid A subtype was performed in two. Conclusion: Follow-up of four patients supports the view that amyloidosis associated with psoriasis is an aggressive disease that may be fatal.
NF-κB Mediates αvβ3 Integrin-induced Endothelial Cell Survival

The αvβ3 integrin plays a fundamental role during the angiogenesis process by inhibiting endothelial cell apoptosis. However, the mechanism of inhibition is unknown. In this report, we show that integrin-mediated cell survival involves regulation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activity. Different extracellular matrix molecules were able to protect rat aorta- derived endothelial cells from apoptosis induced by serum withdrawal. Osteopontin and β3 integrin ligation rapidly increased NF-κB activity as measured by gel shift and reporter activity. The p65 and p50 subunits were present in the shifted complex. In contrast, collagen type I (a β1-integrin ligand) did not induce NF-κB activity. The αvβ3 integrin was most important for osteopontin-mediated NF-κB induction and survival, since adding a neutralizing anti-β3 integrin antibody blocked NF-κB activity and induced endothelial cell death when cells were plated on osteopontin. NF-κB was required for osteopontin- and vitronectin-induced survival since inhibition of NF-κB activity with nonphosphorylatable IκB completely blocked the protective effect of osteopontin and vitronectin. In contrast, NF-κB was not required for fibronectin, laminin, and collagen type I–induced survival. Activation of NF-κB by osteopontin depended on the small GTP-binding protein Ras and the tyrosine kinase Src, since NF-κB reporter activity was inhibited by Ras and Src dominant-negative mutants. In contrast, inhibition of MEK and PI3-kinase did not affect osteopontin-induced NF-κB activation. These studies identify NF-κB as an important signaling molecule in αvβ3 integrin-mediated endothelial cell survival.
Teen Motherhood and Abortion Access

It is argued that the net effect of any restriction of abortion access on birth rates is an empirical question. This study examines the impact of access to abortion on county teenage birth rates. Birth rates are expected to decrease by 1% among White adolescents aged 15-19 years for a 25-mile increase in the distance to the nearest abortion provider particularly among in-wedlock births. Data are obtained from 1973-88 National Natality Local Area Summary files for counties in the US and four other national sources. Data did not provide useful information on the empirical relationship between access and birth rate for densely populated urban areas. Cross-sectional findings that had omitted variable bias indicate that an increase of 25 miles in distance to a provider was associated with an additional 1.4 births per 1000 White teenage women or a 3% increase in the average teen birth rate of 45/1000 White teenagers. The findings from a county fixed-effects model that controlled for omitted variable bias indicate that an increase of 25 miles was associated with a reduction in teen births of 0.5/1000 or about 1% of the mean birth rate. Both Medicaid restrictions and parental consent laws were negative and significant and more negative in poor and more isolated counties. The state-year effects models did not change findings on distance and Medicaid restriction effects. The effects of changes in timing of laws suggests that laws followed preexisting trends. Changes in distance to provider were primarily in the first 2 years following the change. Out-of-wedlock births were unaffected by changes in distance to providers. The out-of-wedlock teen birth rate increased with a complete ban on abortions. Fewer wanted births were associated with small restrictions. Findings imply that closing of clinics during 1977-88 had an impact on teen birth rates of under one-tenth of 1%. The 20% increase in teen births was unexplained.
Relationship of colonic mucosal background to neoplastic proliferative activity in dimethylhydrazine-treated mice.

Abstract Proliferative activity of background and neoplastic colonic mucosa was examined following five months of weekly injections of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (20 mg/kg) and one or four months of rest to determine whether previously reported changes may result from an acute or chronic effect of dimethylhydrazine and whether differences exist between stages of neoplasia. To determine whether neoplasia is responsive to a proliferative stimulus, 1,2-dimethylhydrazine dihydrochloride-treated mice were inoculated with Citrobacter freundii. The labeling index and the proliferative zone increased in background mucosa after one month; whereas after four months labeling index, proliferative zone and crypt heights increased, but the mitotic index decreased. There was a positive linear correlation between advancing tumor grade and increasing tumor labeling index and mitotic index. Background labeling index, even when elevated by C. freundii inoculation, had no effect upon tumor labeling index. Mitotic index diminished in background and neoplastic mucosa following prolonged rest and increased in both following C. freundii inoculation. These studies show that 1,2-dimethylhydrazine dihydrochloride causes long-term changes in background mucosa that are apart from a reparative response to cytotoxicity. As tumors progress, labeling index and mitotic index increase, suggesting a multistage process of evolution.
Early behaviors in hand‐reared, squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus)

The development of behaviors during the first 50 days of life was observed in four squirrel monkeys who had been separated from their mothers shortly after birth. Behaviors observed included those related to nursing and maternal contact as well as sensory development, locomotion, and eating. Those behaviors closely related to maternal contact and nursing were particularly strong and persistent as compared to similar behaviors in rhesus monkeys, a result consistent with the differences in the maternal behaviors of these two species. Two of the monkeys who survived to adulthood developed a stereotyped thumb sucking and resultant malocclusions of the front deciduous teeth, whereas the third surviving monkey displayed stereotyped in-place rocking.
Successes and Challenges from Formation to Implementation of Eleven Broad‐Extent Conservation Programs

Integration of conservation partnerships across geographic, biological, and administrative bound- aries is increasingly relevant because drivers of change, such as climate shifts, transcend these boundaries. We explored successes and challenges of established conservation programs that span multiple watersheds and consider both social and ecological concerns. We asked representatives from a diverse set of 11 broad- extent conservation partnerships in 29 countries 17 questions that pertained to launching and maintaining partnerships for broad-extent conservation, specifying ultimate management objectives, and implementation and learning. Partnerships invested more funds in implementing conservation actions than any other aspect of conservation, and a program's context (geographic extent, United States vs. other countries, developed vs. developing nation) appeared to substantially affect program approach. Despite early successes of these organizations and benefits of broad-extent conservation, specific challenges related to uncertainties in scaling up information and to coordination in the face of diverse partner governance structures, conflicting objec- tives, and vast uncertainties regarding future system dynamics hindered long-term success, as demonstrated by the focal organizations. Engaging stakeholders, developing conservation measures, and implementing adaptive management were dominant challenges. To inform future research on broad-extent conservation, we considered several challenges when we developed detailed questions, such as what qualities of broad-extent partnerships ensure they complement, integrate, and strengthen, rather than replace, local conservation efforts and which adaptive management processes yield actionable conservation strategies that account explicitly for dynamics and uncertainties regarding multiscale governance, environmental conditions, and knowledge of the system?
Brain blood flow and velocity: correlations between magnetic resonance imaging and transcranial Doppler sonography.

Objective—Because transcranial Doppler TCD is unable to measure arterial diameter, it remains unproven whether the changes in cerebral blood velocity it measures are representative of changes in cerebral blood flow. Our study was designed to compare velocity changes to flow changes measured by two MRI techniques, perfusion MRI and arterial spin labeling, using flavanol-rich cocoa to induce cerebral blood flow changes in healthy volunteers. Methods—We enrolled 20 healthy subjects aged 62 to 80 years (mean 73 years). Each was studied at baseline and after consuming standardized servings of cocoa for 7–14 days. Results—Changes in middle cerebral artery flow by TCD were significantly correlated with changes in perfusion assessed by gadolinium MRI (r=0.63; p<0.03). Measures with arterial spin labeling showed a stronger correlation with borderline significance. Conclusions—Changes in flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery associated with drinking cocoa were highly correlated with changes in cerebral blood flow measured by two MRI techniques, using the tracer gadolinium and arterial spin labeling. These results validate Doppler measures of cerebral blood flow velocity as representative assessments of cerebral blood flow.
Observations on the Hyponatremia following Mitral Valvulotomy

Thirty-seven patients subjected to mitral valvulotomy were studied before and after operation with regard to the incidence, extent, and mechanism of postoperative hyponatremia. Balances of water, sodium, and chloride were carried out on 27 patients. The serum sodium fell below 131 mEq. per liter in 16 cases in the immediate postoperative period, the serum chloride fell below 99 mEq. per liter in all cases but one and below 90 mEq. per liter in 11 cases. The small negative balances of sodium and chloride were inadequate, by themselves, to account for the observed hyponatremia in any case. Appreciable (over 100 mEq.) intracellular shifts of sodium (using the chloride space as a reference) were associated with hyponatremia in only three cases. The retention of water during the immediate postoperative period (allowing for insensible losses) was enough to explain the observed hyponatremia in all but three cases, although the level of fluid intake was not well correlated with the occurrence of hyponatremia. The...
Ischemia/reperfusion: a clinically relevant model of intestinal injury yielding systemic inflammation

Abstract Background/Purpose Multisystem organ failure (MSOF) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the critically ill patient. Animal models of endotoxin-induced sepsis were used to develop therapeutic regimens, which thus far have failed in clinical trials. Because multiple etiologies of MSOF affect the intestine, the authors hypothesized that during sepsis the gut may act as a possible trigger of the inflammatory cascade. As ischemia and reperfusion of the small intestine disrupts gut barrier function, thereby activating systemic inflammatory responses, the authors evaluated a murine model of ischemia/reperfusion to investigate these systemic responses to local mucosal and epithelial injury. Methods C57BL/10 and Balb/c mice underwent variable amounts of gut ischemia by superior mesenteric artery occlusion. Animals were evaluated for survival as well as gross and microscopic intestinal damage. Results Maximal ischemic damage occurred in the distal jejunum and proximal ileum. More severe epithelial damage and transmural inflammation were observed in C57BL/10 mice, which correlated with a higher mortality. Conclusions This model mimics what is observed clinically with intestinal injury resulting from a progressive ischemic insult with eventual systemic manifestations. This reproducible model of systemic inflammation elicits variable responses from genetically different animals, the results of which may lead to a better understanding of MSOF.
Abdominal muscle activity during speech production.

Abdominal muscle activity was investigated during resting tidal breathing and speech production in upright and supine body positions in five male and five female young adult subjects. Results showe...
METAEPISTEMOLOGY AND DIVINE REVELATION

In Crossing the Threshold of Divine Revelation, William Abraham offers a rich, subtle defense of an epistemology of divine revelation. In this paper, I focus on a cluster of metaepistemological claims made by Abraham. Specifically, I argue that Abraham's remarks about epistemic fit and the epistemic standards we bring to bear in making evaluations of divine revelation claims commit him to a species of epistemic relativism. I suspect, however, that Abraham does not think of himself as an epistemic relativist. If this is the case, then I believe Abraham needs to rethink his metaepistemological commitments that imply epistemic relativism.
Some Common Confusions About Consent in Rape Cases

Consent to sex matters, because it can transform coitus from being among the most heinous of criminal offenses into sex that is of no concern at all to the criminal law. Unfortunately, the normative task of making the law of rape more just is commonly impaired by conceptual confusion about what consent means. Consent is both a single concept in law and a multitude of opposing and cross-cutting conceptions of which courts and commentators tend to be only dimly aware. Thus, consent can be a mental state on a woman's part, an expression by her, or both; it can consist of facts about a woman's mental state or expressive conduct that do not necessarily constitute a defense to rape or consist only such facts as do constitute a defense to rape; and it can consist of facts about a woman's mental state or expressive conduct or a legal fiction of such facts. In so far as we are unaware of the ways in which this conceptual framework structures the way we think about consent, we risk confusing ourselves and others in undertaking to make the law of rape more just. Some examples are (1) confusion as to whether the defense of consent ought to be deemed to consist of a mental state on a woman's part or an expression; (2) confusion about the relationship between consent to sexual intercourse and resistance to it; and (3) confusion about the relationship between force and non-consent.
Foreword: The Making of The Cambridge Dictionary of Christianity

The following essays in this special issue of the Journal of World Christianity are slightly revised papers presented during two panels on The Cambridge Dictionary of Christianity in Atlanta: one at the American Academy of Religion (October 30, 2010); the other at the Society of Biblical Literature (November 21, 2010). As the Editor of this Dictionary I was asked to write a response to these papers. Yet, it soon became clear that it made more sense for me to write a “foreword.” Introducing The Cambridge Dictionary of Christianity and how it was produced will be more helpful to the readers.
Cognitive mediation of women's sexual decision making: the influence of alcohol, contextual factors, and background variables

As a result of the current STI epidemic, women are at particularly high risk. Sexual relations with men are the greatest source of risk for women in contracting HIV or other STIs. Because the male condom is still the most effective means of protection against these diseases, prevention efforts for women need to concentrate on the ability to effectively negotiate condom use. To date, research has primarily addressed the role of knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about condoms in predicting their use rather than the situation within which individuals make sexual decisions. Our first goal is to present a theoretical model focusing on the situational influences and cognitive processes occurring at the time of a woman's sexual interaction with a man. The underlying premise for this model is that sexual decision making is mediated by a series of primary and secondary appraisals during the sexual encounter. Our second goal is to discuss specific contextual influences on women's cognitions during the process leading to sexual decision making. We review the literature on the effects of alcohol consumption, relationship status, and sexual arousal on the cognitive appraisal process, as well as on sexual decision making. Finally, although our main interest is the specific situation and context, we also review the influence of background factors and experiences that are especially relevant to the cognitive appraisal process, including alcohol expectancies, sexual victimization, sexuality-related characteristics, relationship-related characteristics, and other personality traits. Examining women's cognitive processes at the time of a sexual encounter can yield information that will enhance women's power to protect themselves against HIV and other STIs.
Estimation of Acetylcholine and the Dynamics of its Metabolism

The development of sensitive and reliable methodology for the chemical estimation of choline (Ch) and its esters has had a substantial impact on contemporary understanding of cholinergic mechanisms and the roles they play both in normal function and disease. This report presents a brief summary of the principal features of the methods now in common use and reviews the experimental designs into which they have been incorporated for the dynamic assessment of ACh metabolism.
Evaluation of WO 2012/177618 A1 and US-2014/0179750 A1: novel small molecule antagonists of prostaglandin-E2 receptor EP2

Recent studies underscore that prostaglandin-E2 exerts mostly proinflammatory effects in chronic CNS and peripheral disease models, mainly through a specific prostanoid receptor EP2. However, very few highly characterized EP2 receptor antagonists have been reported until recently, when Pfizer and Emory University published two distinct classes of EP2 antagonists with good potency, selectivity and pharmacokinetics. The purpose of this article is to evaluate recently published patents WO 2012/177618 A1 and US-2014/0179750 A1 from Emory, which describe a number of cinnamic amide- and amide-derivatives as a potent antagonists of EP2 receptor, and their neuroprotective effects in in vitro and in an in vivo model. A selected compound from this patent(s) also attenuates prostate cancer cell growth and invasion in vitro, suggesting these compounds should be developed for therapeutic use.
Ureaplasma urealyticum and infected renal calculi.

SummaryIn a group of 41 patients with infection lithiasis, the presence of Ureaplasnm urealyticutn in urine and in the calculi was investigated. A control group of 27 patients with metabolic lithiasis was simultaneously evaluated, Ureaplasma urealyticum was detected in a total of 10 patients with infection lithiasis. In 7 of those patients, U. urealyticutn was the only urease producing microorganism detected, while in the remaining 3 it was detected along with common bacteria. We believe that U. urealyticum may be considered as a possible causative factor of infection lithiasis.
Gas–Liquid Chromatography of Trimethylsilyl Ethers of Cyclitols

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the use of gas–liquid chromatography (GLC) for the preparation of volatile derivatives of cyclitols through trimethylsilylation. Because of the low solubility of some cyclitols, the amount of pyridine included in the trimethylsilylating reagent can be increased. This mixture may be stored over long periods of time if precaution is taken to exclude moisture and to use a bottle cap containing an inert liner such as polyethylene or Teflon. The trimethylsilylating reagent in question is generally useful for all cyclitols. Occasionally, the reaction time must be extended, as in the case of neo-inositol that has 24–48 hours as its reaction time.
Arsenic: A Review of the Element’s Toxicity, Plant Interactions, and Potential Methods of Remediation

Arsenic is a naturally occurring element with a long history of toxicity. Sites of contamination are found worldwide as a result of both natural processes and anthropogenic activities. The broad scope of arsenic toxicity to humans and its unique interaction with the environment have led to extensive research into its physicochemical properties and toxic behavior in biological systems. The purpose of this review is to compile the results of recent studies concerning the metalloid and consider the chemical and physical properties of arsenic in the broad context of human toxicity and phytoremediation. Areas of focus include arsenic's mechanisms of human toxicity, interaction with plant systems, potential methods of remediation, and protocols for the determination of metals in experimentation. This assessment of the literature indicates that controlling contamination of water sources and plants through effective remediation and management is essential to successfully addressing the problems of arsenic toxicity and contamination.
Sedation and Monitoring in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

It is sobering to realize that a critical component to virtually every endoscopic procedure, namely sedation and analgesia, has remained until a few years ago a poorly studied entity that was rife with historical uncontrolled data and extrapolations. Over the past 5 years, the vista of this topic has tremendously expanded to provide practitioners with an impressive array of medications and physiologic monitoring that tout deeper levels of sedation and analgesia with the promise of a more rapid recovery and satisfaction from both the patient’s and physician’s standpoints. Important questions to ponder are: Are deeper levels of sedation truly superior to our time-tested medications? Are they safer? Who should be allowed to administer them? Concomitant with this renaissance have been the ever-changing avenues of guidelines and regulations. How do we optimally train for deep sedation and provide the appropriate continuous quality improvement and risk management? In this issue of the Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Clinics of North America ,a n impressive group of contributors at the forefront of sedation research has been assembled to provide endoscopists and dedicated nursing personnel alike a comprehensive review of important topics in the field sedation and analgesia. A discussion on the pharmacology and agents used to provide moderate and deep sedation provides the basic framework that is a crucial element in determining the driving force behind the developments in sedation and analgesia. An evidencebased approach on the use of unsedated endoscopy is also provided. Other topics included the use of propofol, patient-controlled sedation and analgesia, extended
Umbilical temperature correlation with core and skin temperatures at rest, in the heat and during physical activity

AbstractPurpose: to determine the correlation of umbilical temperatures (Tumb) with simultaneously recorded chest wall temperature (Tchest) and rectal temperature (Trectal) in adults during rest, heat exposure and exercise.Methods: A total of 28 healthy men, wearing different types of clothing (athletic garb, a spandex full body heating garment, firefighter bunker gear) had average and peak umbilical, chest wall and rectal temperature measurements taken during sedentary temperature stabilisation stages, heat exposure periods and active exercise phases.Results: Curvilinear relationships were noted between Tchest and Tumb compared with Trectal and their association became noticeably positive and linear at approximately 35.5 °C. Polynomial regression analysis of Trectal with linear and quadratic forms of Tchest and Tumb indicated an overall R2 of 0.657 and 0.767, respectively. Bivariate analysis of a restricted data set (where Tchest and Tumb ≥35.5°), indicated that Tumb was significantly associated with Tre...
Reproductive Outcomes among Men Treated for Cancer

In 1983, at the National Naval Medical Center (Bethesda, Maryland), I consulted on a patient who had metastatic colon cancer. He had received chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil and methotrexate two and a half months and one month before conception and again around the time of conception of a pregnancy. In the fourth month of pregnancy, the obstetricians asked for genetic advice about this couple. The man’s history was also unusual because his father had died of lymphoma, and ureteral transitional cell carcinoma had occurred in a brother and two paternal cousins. Ultrasound examination of the fetus and amniocentesis were recommended to monitor the pregnancy. The fetus was found to have a deletion in the long arm of chromosome 1. Was this chromosomal defect due to exposure of the man’s germ cells to chemotherapy? The unusual circumstances might support such a conclusion but the mother had the same minor chromosomal deletion and was clinically normal; hence, the deletion was called a normal variant in this family. A normal baby was born, six weeks after his father’s death.
Phoneme Error Pattern by Heritage Speakers of Spanish on an English Word Recognition Test.

BACKGROUND Heritage speakers acquire their native language from home use in their early childhood. As the native language is typically a minority language in the society, these individuals receive their formal education in the majority language and eventually develop greater competency with the majority than their native language. To date, there have not been specific research attempts to understand word recognition by heritage speakers. It is not clear if and to what degree we may infer from evidence based on bilingual listeners in general. PURPOSE This preliminary study investigated how heritage speakers of Spanish perform on an English word recognition test and analyzed their phoneme errors. RESEARCH DESIGN A prospective, cross-sectional, observational design was employed. STUDY SAMPLE Twelve normal-hearing adult Spanish heritage speakers (four men, eight women, 20-38 yr old) participated in the study. Their language background was obtained through the Language Experience and Proficiency Questionnaire. Nine English monolingual listeners (three men, six women, 20-41 yr old) were also included for comparison purposes. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Listeners were presented with 200 Northwestern University Auditory Test No. 6 words in quiet. They repeated each word orally and in writing. Their responses were scored by word, word-initial consonant, vowel, and word-final consonant. Performance was compared between groups with Student's t test or analysis of variance. Group-specific error patterns were primarily descriptive, but intergroup comparisons were made using 95% or 99% confidence intervals for proportional data. RESULTS The two groups of listeners yielded comparable scores when their responses were examined by word, vowel, and final consonant. However, heritage speakers of Spanish misidentified significantly more word-initial consonants and had significantly more difficulty with initial /p, b, h/ than their monolingual peers. The two groups yielded similar patterns for vowel and word-final consonants, but heritage speakers made significantly fewer errors with /e/ and more errors with word-final /p, k/. CONCLUSIONS Data reported in the present study lead to a twofold conclusion. On the one hand, normal-hearing heritage speakers of Spanish may misidentify English phonemes in patterns different from those of English monolingual listeners. Not all phoneme errors can be readily understood by comparing Spanish and English phonology, suggesting that Spanish heritage speakers differ in performance from other Spanish-English bilingual listeners. On the other hand, the absolute number of errors and the error pattern of most phonemes were comparable between English monolingual listeners and Spanish heritage speakers, suggesting that audiologists may assess word recognition in quiet in the same way for these two groups of listeners, if diagnosis is based on words, not phonemes.
Duluth : Measuring Degrees of Relational Similarity with the Gloss Vector Measure of Semantic Relatedness

This paper describes the Duluth systems that participated in Task 2 of SemEval-2012. These systems were unsupervised and relied on variations of the Gloss Vector measure found in the freely available software package WordNet:: Similarity. This method was moderately successful for the Class-Inclusion, Similar, Contrast, and Non-Attribute categories of semantic relations, but mimicked a random baseline for the other six categories.
When and how can nephrologists treat hepatitis C virus infection in dialysis patients

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, a major cause of end-stage liver disease, is a common comorbidity in patients on dialysis and causes increased morbidity and mortality. Historically HCV has been extremely difficult to cure with interferon and ribavirin-based therapies, which are also associated with significant side effects, and few dialysis patients ever received HCV treatment. However, in the last 4 years, interferon-free direct-acting antiviral therapies have been approved, and several combinations have been studied in dialysis patients. A recently approved, pan-genotypic, direct-acting antiviral regimen, glecaprevir and pibrentasvir, may simplify prescribing. The simplicity of these new therapies, with few side effects, makes it possible for nephrologists to treat HCV infection in their patients on dialysis. We review the workflow and motivation behind nephrology-led management of HCV infection. We highlight the importance of identifying which patients need referral to a hepatologist or HCV specialist prior to treatment and which can be managed by their nephrologist. Nephrologist involvement would lead to improved access to treatment and ensure that appropriate patients are referred for HCV treatment. In this paper, we review the background of HCV infection, its effect on dialysis patients, and impact on kidney transplantation. In addition, we outline the therapy options for each genotype of HCV, and we discuss the benefits and barriers to nephrology-led HCV treatment.
A Virtual Reality Interface for Interactions with Spatiotemporal 3D Data

Traditional interfaces for interacting with 3D models in virtual environments lack support for spatiotemporal 3D models such as point clouds and meshes generated by markerless capture systems. We present a virtual reality (VR) interface that enables the user to perform spatial and temporal interactions with spatiotemporal 3D models. To accommodate the high volume of spatiotemporal data, we provide a data format for spatiotemporal 3D models which has an average speedup of 3.84 and a space reduction of 43.9% over traditional model file formats. We enable the user to manipulate spatiotemporal 3D data using gestures intuitive from real-world experience or by using a VR user interface similar to traditional 2D visual interactions.