cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Historical Significance of the Letters

Throughout later antiquity both the “middle” Platonists and the Neoplatonists drew upon and regarded as genuine the thirteen Platonic Letters, which provided a loose basis for the Neoplatonist tripartite metaphysics (One, Mind, Soul), Proclus’ threefold division of predicates and other triadic divisions of reality.1 In a brief note, E. R. Dodds drew attention to the fact that Proclus’ tripartition occurs in the Ninth Letter of Pseudo-Dionysius.2 This curious fact becomes more interesting when the historical significance of the Ps.-Dionysian Letters is examined. It is now generally accepted that the author of the Ps.-Dionysian writings was steeped in Proclus and lived in the late fifth or early sixth centuries.3 Thus far no separate study has ever been devoted to the ten Letters which form a striking and significant part of these writings. If their particular use of Proclus is in itself interesting, as will be asserted below (IV, infra), it is also of importance to note the general fact that they are the only extant body of Neoplatonizing Letters. The fact that they are obviously intended to be read along with the treatises in the Ps.-Dionysian Corpus suggests that the author intended to reproduce a kind of Platonic Corpus-“Platonic” as understood by the later Neoplatonists. The Letters would then be intended to supplement the treatises on hierarchy, on divine names, and mystical theology. A glance at their early citation and use in the “biographical” tradition hints at this importance of the Letters.
Quality Assurance and Regulations for Anatomic Pathology

Quality assurance, quality control, and quality improvement activities are important components of any anatomic pathology laboratory. Each of these activities acts synergistically to help minimize error and improve quality. Medical error has a significant impact on morbidity, mortality, and health-care costs. Many methods exist for error detection and classification. Most of the basic components of a quality assurance plan are regulated by various agencies including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the College of American Pathologists, among others. Laboratory accreditation through the College of American Pathologists involves detailed inspections of the laboratory to ensure laboratory safety and quality.
Engineering Yarrowia lipolytica for the production of cyclopropanated fatty acids

Traditional synthesis of biodiesel competes with food sources and has limitations with storage, particularly due to limited oxidative stability. Microbial synthesis of lipids provides a platform to produce renewable fuel with improved properties from various renewable carbon sources. Specifically, biodiesel properties can be improved through the introduction of a cyclopropane ring in place of a double bond. In this study, we demonstrate the production of C19 cyclopropanated fatty acids in the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica through the heterologous expression of the Escherichia coli cyclopropane fatty acid synthase. Ultimately, we establish a strain capable of 3.03 ± 0.26 g/L C19 cyclopropanated fatty acid production in bioreactor fermentation where this functionalized lipid comprises over 32% of the total lipid pool. This study provides a demonstration of the flexibility of lipid metabolism in Y. lipolytica to produce specialized fatty acids.
Sex, Drugs, Alcohol and Subjective Well‐Being: Selection or Causation?

This paper estimates the effects of risky behaviors (e.g., smoking, alcohol, marijuana, risky sex) on subjective well‐being. To identify these effects from endogenous sorting, I use information from the 1997 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth and a system of simultaneous equations for participation in four risky activities and formation of individual happiness. My results provide evidence that smoking and alcohol decrease subjective well‐being by 2.5% and 2.4%, respectively. By contrast, the relationship between having sex with multiple partners, although positive, is not statistically significant at conventional levels. Nevertheless, these effects dwindle over time until participation in any of these behaviors does not have a long‐run impact on well‐being, with the exception of smoking and alcohol consumption, which have a persistent negative impact on subjective well‐being. The results highlight the importance of controlling for endogeneity of risky behaviors and provide an explanation as to why most individuals who engage in such behaviors do not develop longer‐lasting addictions.
Anal carcinoma in giant anal condyloma, multidisciplinary approach necessary for optimal outcome: Two case reports and review of literature.

Anal carcinoma in giant anal condyloma, multidisciplinary approach necessary for optimal outcome: Two case reports and review of literature
The relationship between fruits consumption and body composition in postmenopausal women

After the onset of menopause, women experience excess body weight gain due to adiposity. The present study evaluated the relationship between fruit consumption, total body weight, and lean mass in ...
High Temperature Gas Thermal Diffusivity Measurement with the Line Source Technique

ABSTRACT A new experimental method of obtaining absolute gas thermal conductivity (through measurement of thermal diffusivity) over a wide temperature range is presented. The method makes use of differential thermocouple measurements in the thermal wake downstream of a line source of heat (approximated by an electrically heated fine wire) immersed in a steady, uniform, laminar flow of the gas under study. The theory and experimental technique applicable to this situation are presented and the various possible methods of data analysis discussed. The most favorable method requires precise knowledge only of the gas velocity, distance and relative temperature differences for an absolute determination of the thermal conductivity. No calorimetric measurements with their attendant radiation and end-effect corrections are required, which is an important advantage over conventional techniques. The line source method has been tested on nitrogen in the range 300 – 1100 K and shown to give results in agreement (±2%) with literature data obtained by established means.
Determining Bank Storage of Lake Mead

By means of a water budget, the bank storage at Lake Mead is evaluated. It is necessary to estimate a part of the inflow to the reservoir. A procedure for making this estimate based on the measured tributary inflow below the streamflow gaging station on the Colorado River near Grand Canyon is suggested. It is found that the amount of water going into and coming out of bank storage in a year is (as of 1965) approximately 6.5% of the quantity being stored or withdrawn from storage as determined by tables giving the relationship between elevation and surface storage. The percentage relationship of bank storage to surface storage is a marked reduction from that which occurred during the initial filling and the earlier life of the reservoir.
Risk factors for neo-osteogenesis in cystic fibrosis and non-cystic fibrosis chronic rhinosinusitis.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this retrospective review was to determine how patient-related factors and culture data affect neo-osteogenesis in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) with CRS. METHODS Information from a database associated with a large tertiary medical center was used to assess adult patients with CF CRS and non-CF CRS (total, n = 102; CF CRS, n = 31; non-CF CRS, n = 71). Radiologic evidence of neo-osteogenesis was measured using the Global Osteitis Scoring Scale (GOSS), and mucosal disease was assessed using the Lund-Mackay score (LMS) by 2 independent reviewers who were blinded to the patient's disease state. Bacterial cultures were obtained endoscopically. Multiple logistic regression models were used to evaluate the effect of age, sex, number of previous surgeries, CF, and culture species on the odds of neo-osteogenesis. RESULTS Fifty-one of the 102 patients (50%) met radiologic criteria for neo-osteogenesis. Sixty-nine patients (67.6%) with CF CRS and non-CF CRS had culture data. In the multiple logistic regression model, male gender was significantly associated with neo-osteogenesis (odds ratio [OR], 5.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.68-17.86; p = 0.006). Pseudomonas aeruginosa was not associated with neo-osteogenesis (OR, 3.12; 95% CI, 0.84-12.80; p = 0.097). Age, number of surgeries, CF, Staphylococcus aureus, and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess risk factors associated with neo-osteogenesis and patients with CF CRS. Interestingly, male gender was the only significant predictor of neo-osteogenesis.
“Ane Wyfis Quarrel”: Complaining Women in Scottish Reformation Satire

The six years following the overthrow of Mary Queen of Scots were marked by civil war in Scotland and an outpouring of political propaganda lambasting the queen and her supporters. Much of this propaganda survives as broadside poetry, written by Robert Sempill and printed by Robert Lekpreuik. Adapting literary forms to make political arguments, the poems are exhortatory and caustic, yet the softer tones of lamentation and complaint also reflect on the hardships suffered by Scottish citizens during this period of strife. Interestingly—given the misogynistic bent of this propaganda—women, particularly Scottish wives, often appear as politically aware and engaged, lamenting the state of the commonweal or even calling for action. This chapter examines the strategy and efficacy of co-opting women’s voices in the form of complaint and for specific political objectives, as well as correlating this material with evidence from the State Papers that suggest the presence of real, if indistinct, women engaged with Scottish affairs.
Increased Dissociation of Adamantanamines in Influenza A M2 S31N with Partial Block by Rimantadine

Abstract The ubiquitous mutation from serine (WT) to asparagine at residue 31 (S31N) in the influenza A M2 channel renders it insensitive to amantadine (AMT) and rimantadine (RMT) block, but it is unknown whether the inhibition results from weak binding or incomplete block. Two-electrode voltage clamp (TEVC) of transfected Xenopus oocytes revealed that the M2 S31N channel is essentially fully blocked by AMT at 10 mM, demonstrating that, albeit weak, AMT binding in a channel results in complete block of its proton current. In contrast, RMT achieves only a modest degree of block in the M2 S31N channel at 1 mM, with very little increase in block at 10 mM, indicating that the RMT binding site in the channel saturates with only modest block. From exponential curve fits to families of proton current wash-in and wash-out traces, the association rate constant (k1) is somewhat decreased for both AMT and RMT in the S31N, but the dissociation rate constant (k2) is dramatically increased compared with WT. The potentials of mean force (PMF) from adaptive biasing force (ABF) molecular dynamics simulations predict that rate constants should be exquisitely sensitive to the charge state of the His37 selectivity filter of M2. With one exception out of eight cases, predictions from the simulations with one and three charged side chains bracket the experimental rate constants, as expected for the acidic bath used in the TEVC assay. From simulations, the weak binding can be accounted for by changes in the potentials of mean force, but the partial block by RMT remains unexplained.
When Time is Short: Reducing delays for neurology patients seeking medical aid in dying (1399)

Objective: This quality improvement project sought to reduce delays related to medical system factors that might result in lost time or opportunities for patients seeking Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) via the neurology clinic. Background: In states where Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) is legal, patients with neurodegenerative disease comprise the second largest population seeking lethal prescriptions following those with cancer. Eligibility for MAID generally requires that the patient has the ability to independently request and potentially ingest the lethal medication, necessitating intact capacity, communication, and swallowing capabilities, all of which can be threatened by progressive neurologic disease. Design/Methods: A defined referral process was created for the 3-appointment sequence outlined for MAID in state law. Weekly frozen appointments were designated to help reduce wait times for these patients. All faculty neurologists received education regarding the state laws, institutional policies, and the new departmental process for MAID. Chart review was completed for patients seeking MAID in the pre- and post-intervention groups. Neurologists completing the training were also surveyed regarding their understanding of the process and policies both prior to and after the training. Results: While the average time from appointment request to appointment occurrence was not significantly different between the pre- and post-intervention groups, there was a trend toward fewer nonstandard appointments (overbooks and add-ons) following the intervention. These measures also helped to formalize the MAID process within our neurology department, leading to improved administrative handling of appointments, and enhanced neurologist understanding of MAID, as demonstrated by self-reported scales. Conclusions: MAID is an evolving area of practice in neurology, with many states enacting or drafting related new legislation currently. This project provides a model of timely and efficient access to neurologists for patients seeking MAID, which is an important issue for patients with neurological disease near the end of life. Disclosure: Dr. Treat has nothing to disclose. Dr. Vaughan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kluger has nothing to disclose.
Cdc42 activity in Sertoli cells is essential for maintenance of spermatogenesis

Sertoli cells are highly polarized testicular supporting cells that simultaneously nurture progressively maturing germ cells. Proper localization of polarity protein complexes within Sertoli cells, including those responsible for blood-testis barrier formation, are vital for successful spermatogenesis. However, the mechanisms and developmental timing that underlie the establishment of polarity are poorly understood. To investigate this aspect of testicular function, we conditionally deleted Cdc42, encoding a Rho GTPase involved in regulating cell polarity, specifically in Sertoli cells. Cdc42 deletion disrupted adult Sertoli cell maturation and localization of polarity proteins, but did not affect fetal and early postnatal testicular development, nor the onset of the first wave of spermatogenesis. By early adulthood, however, conditional knockout males exhibited a loss of spermatogenic cells, resulting in a complete lack of sperm. These findings demonstrate that Cdc42 plays an essential role in establishing adult Sertoli cell polarity and, thus, maintaining steady-state spermatogenesis and healthy sperm production.
Robust Project-Based Organizations for the Design of Complex Engineered Systems:

Cost and schedule overruns have become increasingly common in projects that set out to deliver complex engineered systems. Considering the well-established relationship between systems and organiza...
Diverse Views of Political Empowerment Among Community College Students Who Receive Food Assistance Benefits

This article examines political empowerment related to voting. The profession of social work requires practitioners to consider the social political roots of problems and to work to remediate them through micro and macro interventions, informed by political empowerment. Political empowerment involves having the power, ability, critical awareness, and sense of group identity to take action in order to create change in a political system. Findings from a qualitative study are presented to explore how recipients of food assistance benefits, enrolled in community college make decisions about voting. Data collected provides rich and contextual insight into how the decision to vote or not vote corresponds with an academic understanding of political empowerment and suggests that choosing not to vote may represent a type of political empowerment. Social work interventions related to voting for this population could include reducing stigma around government assistance, voter engagement, and work with systems to recognize the political power of those who are often left out of the process.
Health Advocacy and Training Perceptions: a Comparison of Medical Student Opinions

The American Medical Association considers health advocacy to be a core aspect of a physician’s responsibility, which has sparked medical schools to institutionalize training. However, there is little information regarding student perspectives on advocacy education. To evaluate medical student opinions on advocacy education and to determine similarities and differences across classes. In this qualitative study, four focus groups were conducted with five to eight students from each medical school class. Students were randomly selected from rosters and received an email to participate. Sessions were audiotaped and transcribed, and demographic data was obtained. Investigators reviewed transcripts independently and identified important items in each transcript then consolidated common themes into groups. These themes were integrated into concept map representations. Of those contacted, 25 (16%) students chose to participate in focus group sessions. All participants who responded to questionnaires (n = 24) identified advocacy in medicine as very important. Definitions of advocacy varied among students and classes. Common themes in all focus groups included feeling overwhelmed by advocacy due to lack of time, lack of perceived prioritization in medical education, feelings of imposter syndrome, and inability to align individual views with healthcare systems. Another common theme was frustration that students learned of advocacy through didactic sessions rather than engagement in advocacy work. All participating students identified advocacy as an important aspect of medicine, yet students felt inadequately prepared to participate in advocacy work. This reveals an opportunity to improve upon the formal education needed to engage in advocacy.
An Hypothesis for the Localization of Atherogenesis and Its Relationship to Endothelial Regulation and Transport

A new hypothesis is advanced for the localization of atherogenesis in which the initial event in the formation of a foam cell lesion is a localized increase in endothelial permeability to LDL due to transient open junctions in regions of elevated cell turnover. The new hypothesis attempts to relate this initial event to a complex sequence of reactions involving a new model for the mediation of LDL receptors on the basal side of the endothelial cell, the subsequent recruitment of monocytes and their conversion to macrophages subject to endothelial mediation and finally the migration and proliferation of smooth muscle cells in the intima.
Changes and challenges in the Software Engineering Laboratory

Since 1976, the Software Engineering Laboratory (SEL) has been dedicated to understanding and improving the way in which one NASA organization, the Flight Dynamics Division (FDD), develops, maintains, and manages complex flight dynamics systems. The SEL is composed of three member organizations: NASA/GSFC, the University of Maryland, and Computer Sciences Corporation. During the past 18 years, the SEL's overall goal has remained the same: to improve the FDD's software products and processes in a measured manner. This requires that each development and maintenance effort be viewed, in part, as a SEL experiment which examines a specific technology or builds a model of interest for use on subsequent efforts. The SEL has undertaken many technology studies while developing operational support systems for numerous NASA spacecraft missions.
Calculable Natural Numbers

Publisher Summary This chapter discussesa theory of calculable numbers. It extends classical arithmetic by adding the unary predicate K, which means “is calculable.” The logic of the extended theory is more restricted than classical, but the restrictions do not affect the K-free fragment of the theory. The quantifiers restricted to calculable numbers have meaning close to that of intuitionistic quantifiers. Formulas of intuitionistic arithmetic can be translated into the extended language by restricting all quantifiers to K and, in turn, the extended system also contains intuitionistic arithmetic. The chapter also provides comparison of the proposed theory with other theories of Shapiro and Myhill in which classical and intuitionistic systems coexist. Further, the chapter explores the development of a proposed theory of calculable numbers on the basis of an informal axiomatization.
Greater Yield of Subsarcolemmal Mitochondria from Skeletal Muscle of Obese Subjects with No Change in Intrinsic Mitochondrial Function

Whether obesity influences content and functional capacity of skeletal muscle mitochondria (MITO) remains unresolved. In this study, biopsies of vastus lateralis from lean and obese human subjects ...
Changes in mitotic indices in roots of Vicia faba L. 3. Effects of colchicine on cell cycle times.

Abstract Roots of Vicia faba were treated with solutions of colchicine (0.000125–1.0 per cent) for 3 h. The frequencies of the various stages of mitosis and of tetraploid cells were determined immediately after treatment ended and at intervals during the following 30 h. 1. 1. With the exception of 0.000125 per cent colchicine, all treatments induced changes in prophase numbers. 0.00125–0.025 per cent colchicine appeared to induce a stimulation in interphase that resulted, 4–6 h later, in significantly higher numbers of prophases. 0.5 and 1 per cent solutions induced an initial decrease in prophase numbers but there was a subsequent compensatory increase. Prophase stimulation contributed significantly to the high mitotic indices found after treatment. 2. 2. Metaphase was prolonged, resulting in an accumulation of metaphases. This occurred after all treatments except that with 0.000125 per cent colchicine. The most pronounced increases in metaphase number occur about the same time as, or immediately after, increases in prophases. Metaphase delay appears to last about 2 h. 3. 3. Anaphase was suppressed by all treatments. The period of anaphase inhibition increased with increasing concentrations of colchicine. 4. 4. Tetraploid cells at metaphase appeared at different times and in different frequencies following treatments with different concentrations of colchicine. The intermitotic time of the fastest population of tetraploid cells shows no direct correlation with colchicine concentration. 5. 5. Colchicine changes mitotic cycle times and so disrupts the population of cells in a meristem, by effecting both cells in mitotis and cells in interphase. It is suggested that its effects in interphase results from an induced change in the balance of endogenous growth factors. Whatever the underlying mechanism, the kinetics of mitotic cycles are changed for at least 1–2 cycles by colchicine and treated populations are no longer normal.
Effect of prolonged starvation on substrate uptake in the isolated perfused rat heart.

The pattern of substrate uptake by the heart in prolonged starvation, when lipid reserves are approaching depletion, has been examined. The classical Langendorff perfused heart preparation was employed to determine substrate uptakes in male rats fed ad libitum or starved for 7 days. Levels of metabolites in "arterial" and "venous" perfusion media and in heart tissue were determined by fluoroenzymatic assays, with the exception of palmitic acid which was analyzed by gas chromatography. It was found that glucose is the principal fuel of oxidation in perfused hearts of ad libitum-fed rats, whereas palmitate (FFA) is the major fuel of oxidation in perfused hearts of starved rats, followed by lactate, glucose, beta-hydroxybutyrate, pyruvate and alanine. Such changes might be related to some of the alterations in the metabolic pathway (e.g., glycolytic inhibition) in prolonged starvation.
The Value-relevance of Earnings and Book Value across Profit and Loss Firms: The Case of R&D Spending

We examine the effect of omitting research and development (R&D) expenditures, which is an important value-relevant item embedded in earnings for estimating the Ohlson (1995) valuation model for loss firms. Consistent with the analytical insight, we find that R&D expenditures are positively (negatively) associated with stock prices for loss (profit) firms. For high R&D intensity loss firms, the empirical specification with disaggregated earnings leads to about 45 percent improvement in explanatory power: the adjusted R2 for the disaggregated and bottom-line earnings model are about 32% and 22%, respectively. We find that the coefficient on book value of equity decreases when earnings are disaggregated, which suggests that book value of equity is value-relevant partly due to its correlation with R&D expenditures. In other words, the evidence suggests that book value of equity provides information on expected future earnings rather than abandonment values for loss firms engaged in R&D activity. These findings have implications for empirical research design in studies of value-relevance of accounting information and studies of earnings process.
Notes on Pre-Set Pushdown Automata

Motivated by practical implementation-methods for recursive program-schemata we will define and study presetting techniques for push-down automata. The main results will characterize the languages of preset pda's in terms of types of iterated substitution languages. In particular when conditions of "locally finiteness" and of "finite returning" are imposed we get a feasible machine-model for a class of developmental languages. The accepted family extends to the smallest AFL enclosing it when we drop the condition of locally finiteness. At the same time this family will be the smallest such full AFL. If all conditions are removed, present pda's exactly represent the family of iterated regular substitution languages, a sub-family of the indexed languages. Deterministic preset pda's are also studied, and the language-family they define is shown to be closed under complementation, generalizing a classical result.
Slow progression and sequential documentation of a giant basal cell carcinoma of the face.

A 74-YEAR-OLD MAN came to the Emergency Department for evaluation of a massive lesion encompassing the nose, the left side of the face, the upper lip, and conjunctiva of the left lower eyelid. His complaints at that time included loss of vision in the left eye and pain of the left side of the face. The patient reported that the lesion had been present for many years. It was his practice to make a yearly visit to the local Woolworth store to take a photo of himself in the photographic booth. On review of a photograph taken 27 years before admission, a lesion suggestive of early basal cell carcinoma (BCC) could be identified at the apex of the left nasolabial fold (Fig 1). Fifteen years later, the lesion was clearly visible at the left nasolabial fold and was approximately 1 to 2 cm in maximal diameter (Fig 2). Ten years after this, the lesion had approximately doubled in size (Fig 3). In the 5 years before his admission to the Emergency Department, the tumor had grown rapidly, invading local structures of his left hemiface (Fig 4). On admission, the patient could only perceive light in his left eye. A CT scan was obtained, which revealed a large mass beginning from the soft tis-
Activation of immunoglobulin kappa gene rearrangement correlates with induction of germline kappa gene transcription.

Abstract We have developed a sensitive polymerase chain reaction assay for measuring the fraction of rearranged immunoglobulin kappa genes in a cell population. Using this assay with Abelson virus-transformed murine pre-B cells, we have found that bacterial lipopolysacharide treatment, which activates transcription of the unrearranged kappa constant region gene, also activates kappa gene rearrangement. In addition, we have been able to detect kappa gene rearrangement in cell lines that do not produce a functional heavy chain gene product (mu protein). These results implicate transcription or transcription factor binding as a regulator of immunoglobulin gene rearrangement.
Reducing respirator fit test errors: a multi-donning approach.

Abstract As a continuation of recent studies to assess the accuracy of existing fit test methods, a multi-donning approach to fit testing is presented. As an example of that approach, a multi-donning quantitative fit test for filtering-facepiece respirators is presented and analyzed by comparing its error rates with those of the single-donning approach of current fit test methods. That analysis indicates the multi-donning fit test has the potential to reduce both the alpha error and the beta error to half that of single-donning fit tests. The alpha error is the error of failing a respirator that should pass; the beta error is the error of passing a respirator that should fail. Lowering fit test error rates for filtering-facepiece respirators is important because fit testing is an essential means of helping assure that an individual has selected an adequately fitting respirator. To reduce the alpha and beta error inherent in current fit test methods, the proposed fit test for filtering-facepiece respirator...
Competition and geographical integration in commercial bank lending

Abstract This paper tests the hypothesis that interest rates on bank commercial loans in the regions of the United States are generated in an integrated national market. The tests — of a joint hypothesis compounded of integration, behavioral models, and the absence of systematic errors in the data — are applied to 60 series of data (short-term and long-term loans in five size classes in six regions). The joint hypothesis is not rejected for five of the six regions and four of the five size classes. The exceptional region is the Southeast; the exceptional loan-size class is $1,000 to $9,000, the smallest in the sample.
Lanthanum inhibits brain adenylate cyclase and blocks noradrenergic depression of Purkinje cell discharge independent of calcium.

IT has been reported that lanthanum (La3+) can reversibly antagonise the depressant effect of noradrenaline (NA) on cerebral cortical neurones1,2. Because this ion is known to interfere with membrane actions of calcium3–7, it was proposed, on the basis of this and other data, that the inhibitory effects of NA are mediated through a mechanism involving transmembrane movement of Ca2+ (refs 1 and 2). On the other hand, evidence from other laboratories has suggested that the effects of NA are primarily related to the activation of a NA-sensitive adenylate cyclase, with a consequent increase in the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP8–10. We now report that La3+ is a potent inhibitor of brain adenylate cyclase and suggest that this ion blocks responses of cerebellar Purkinje cells to NA by means of a mechanism involving the inhibition of NA-stimulated increases in cyclic AMP, independent of an effect on calcium.
India ink staining of proteins on nitrocellulose paper

Abstract India ink staining of proteins that have been electrotransfer blotted onto nitrocellulose paper is described. This stain proved to be a useful adjunct to the enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot technique. It is more sensitive than Coomassie blue, amino black, and fast green stains and is simple to use.
Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine gene expression in rat sciatic nerve chronic constriction injury model of neuropathic pain.

Cytokines may be pathophysiologically involved in hyperalgesia. Uncertainty exists about the types of cytokines and their site of action. To study the role of key pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in a chronic constriction model of neuropathic pain, mRNA expression of TNF, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 was quantified using competitive RT-PCR. Each cytokine mRNA in rat sciatic nerve was examined at days 3, 7, 14, and 45 after chronic constriction injury (CCI). We also undertook behavioral testing of these rats. Thermal warming and touch thresholds were significantly reduced at days 3, 7, and 14 in the CCI group, compared with the sham-operated group. Cytokine gene expression in sciatic nerve was significantly increased at day 7 for IL-1β and IL-6 and at day 14 for TNF. Expression of IL-10 underwent a gradual and progressive increase, reaching statistical significance at day 45.
Enhanced plutonium absorption in iron-deficient mice.

The total body burden of plutonium 24 or 96 hr following a single gastric intubation was approximately fourfold greater in iron-deficient than in iron-replete mice. There was also a more rapid translocation of plutonium from soft tissues to bone in the iron-deficient mice by 96 hr after gavage. In the iron-replete group only liver concentrations of plutonium increased during the corresponding time period. (auth)
Collection development and local documents: History and present use in the United States

Abstract The extent of city publishing is described, and the reasons why governments publish are related to the libraries' need for this material. The characteristics and types of documents and other modes of community information systems are analyzed, as is the usefulness of local documents as archival and reference material. The difficulties of collecting municipal publications, the need for regional bibliographic efforts and coordinated input into national network are also stressed. Recommendations are made on the forms and types of local documents that should be found in core collections. Patterns in the organization and collecting of local documents since the turn of the century are reviewed, including municipal reference libraries, local depository arrangements, exchange programs, special collections and neighborhood centers. The historic role of the Library of Congress in regard to local documents is evaluated. For the individual library the use of special lists, directories and major indexes are also considered. The acquisitions process and a suggested acquisitions policy are outlined with emphasis on sharing. A few comments are added on organization and classification.
A theory of the influences of space-charge field on domain switching in PLZT 7/65/35 ceramic

In this paper we propose a phenomenological theory to explain the influences of a stored space-charge field on domain switching in the electrooptic ceramic PLZT 7/65/35, and show that the resulting numerical predictions of the strain versus electric field curve (butterfly loop) and the electric displacement versus electric field curve (hysteresis loop) are in qualitative agreement with those obtained experimentally. In particular, the stored space-charge field can prohibit as much as 50% of the dipoles from switching in any direction via the application of an external electric field alone; it can also prohibit some of the remaining dipoles from being aligned in the direction opposite to it. We believe that these are the first quantitative results in this regard.
Fetal membrane distention: Determination of the intrauterine surface area and distention of the fetal membranes preterm and at term

Abstract Objective: This study was undertaken to obtain an accurate measurement of the intrauterine surface area and the degree of distention of the apposed fetal membranes preterm and at term. Study Design: Serial longitudinal images of the uterus in 23 women between 25 and 41 weeks' gestation were obtained by ultrasonography. A Mathematica (Wolfram Research, Inc, Champaign, Ill) program assembled a 3-dimensional image and calculated the intrauterine surface area for each patient. The surface areas of the placental amnion and membranes were measured in vitro after delivery. From these measurements the degree of distention of each fetal membrane in vivo was calculated. Results: The mean calculated intrauterine surface areas were as follows: 1037 ± 70 cm 2 (25-29 weeks' gestation, n=4), 1376 ± 121 cm 2 (30-34 weeks' gestation, n=4), and 1876 ± 307 cm 2 (37-41 weeks' gestation, n=15, P = .0021 by Wilcoxon rank sum test). The surface areas of the expelled membranes at 25 to 29, 30 to 34, and 37 to 41 weeks' gestation were 737 ± 61 cm 2 , 855 ± 77 cm 2 , and 1115 ± 149 cm 2 , respectively. The ratios of intrauterine surface area to the area of the expelled membrane and hence a measure of the degree of distention in vivo were 1.4 ± 0.05 at 25 to 29 weeks' gestation (n = 4), 1.6 ± 0.2 at 30 to 34 weeks' gestation (n = 4), and 1.7 ± 0.3 at term (n = 15). Conclusion: The intrauterine surface area in vivo increases during gestation. The surface area of the fetal membranes as measured in vitro increases to a lesser extent. The fetal membranes are therefore distended in vivo. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2000;182:128-34.)
Self-assembled monolayers of alkanethiols on gold modulate electrophysiological parameters and cellular morphology of cultured neurons.

Abstract Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of ω -substituted alkanethiols on gold have been explored as well defined in vitro model surfaces for the investigation of neuronal growth and function. When used as cell culture substrates, surfaces with monolayers functionalized with terminal −COOH groups support neuron attachment and growth even without an intermediate protein layer. Addition of a poly- l -lysine layer (PLL) to the −COOH terminated monolayers significantly increases total neurite outgrowth. Mixed monolayers containing −COOH and −CH 3 terminal groups in 1:10 and 1:100 ratios poorly support neuron adhesion and preclude neurite extension. A layer of PLL improves the ability of mixed monolayer surfaces to support neuronal growth in culture. The morphology of cultured neurons depends on the chemical composition of SAMs on the support surface. Using glass microelectrode intracellular recording, the properties of cell culture substrates modulate the dynamic properties of action potentials of cultured neurons. These findings provide insight into the cellular responses of excitable cells to the chemical details of a surface and, thus, may help direct the rational design of biologically active materials.
Experimental measurement of electron particle diffusion from sawtooth-induced density-pulse propagation in the Texas Experimental Tokamak.

Electron density perturbations produced by sawtooth oscillations in the interior of the Texas Experimental Tokamak are measured with a high-resolution, multichannel, far-infrared interferometer. Abel inversion over the sawtooth perturbation indicates a space-time evolution which is diffusive in character. The diffusion coefficient is determined from a density-pulse--propagation model and found to be appreciably larger than equilibrium values.
Just War, Not Prevention

The debate over going to war in Iraq has in many quarters become a debate about the ethical implications of preemption and prevention rather than about the war itself. But neither prevention nor preemption can have any moral standing in the abstract, since it is the circumstances, not the concepts, that inform their qualities as strategies. The question, rather, is whether the decision to engage in a new war against the Iraqi regime is just.Indeed, it is surprising to find that so much less has been said about basic principles of just war—that is, a just cause, a right intention, proportionality, and so on—than about the largely legal questions of preemption and prevention. But concepts like preemption and prevention are really about the timing and method of war; they say nothing about the moral content of the conflict itself, and in the end an emphasis on them obscures the fundamental question of justice. Put another way, if a particular military action, including launching war, is just and proper, then the means and scheduling are subject, like anything else, to scrutiny under the guidance of the principles of just war. But they are not separate questions in and of themselves.
Review of radiation risks from computed tomography: essentials for the pediatric surgeon

Abstract Background/Purpose Over the past several years, increasing attention has been focused on the potential for radiation exposure from computed tomography (CT) for inducing the development of cancers. An understanding of these issues is important for the practice of pediatric surgery. Methods Medline based clinical review of current medical literature of the risks for the induction of cancers by CT. Data includes estimates of cancer risk from computer models, epidemiologic data from survivors of atomic bomb radiation exposure, and consensus opinions from expert panels. Results Review of scientific evidence demonstrates varied opinions, but consensus suggests there may be a potential for an increased risk of cancer from low level radiation exposure such as from CT. These calculations suggest that there may be as high as 1 fatal cancer for every 1000 CT scans performed in a young child. Conclusions Pediatric surgeons should be aware of the potential risks of CT. Minimizing the radiation risks of CT is a complex endeavor, and will require investments from pediatric surgeons as well as pediatric radiologists.
Partial characterization of guard-cell phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase: kinetic datum collection in real time from single-cell activities.

Abstract Maximum velocity and Km(PEP·Mg) of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) from stomatal guard cells of Vicia faba L. were determined as a function of pH, presence of malate, and physiological state of guard cells. The biochemical rationale for these measurements is that (a) massive proton extrusion from guard cells, the primary event that drives stomatal movements, has been speculated to alkalinize the cell; (b) guard-cell malate concentration increases severalfold on stomatal opening, and malate, generally an inhibitor of PEPC's, affects the oligomeric state of some PEPC's; and (c) the apparent in vivo activity of guard-cell PEPC is greatly enhanced during stomatal opening, compared with that of other physiological states of these cells. As there are precedents for cell-specific expression of particular forms of PEPC and for labile reversible, posttranslational modifications (which are manifested kinetically as distinct physiological-state isoforms), individual assays were initiated on the addition of a single stomatal complex directly to a microdroplet of assay cocktail. The stomatal complexes (each of which comprises a pair of guard cells having a mass of 6 × 10−9 g) were dissected from lyophilized leaf tissue that had been freeze-quenched either before, during, or after a treatment to open stomata. Vmax at pH 7.0 was not significantly different from that at pH 8.5. Neither Vmax nor Km(PEP·Mg) was distinguished on the basis of the physiological state of the tissue from which the enzyme was extracted. However, Km(PEP·Mg) was >4 × lower at pH 8.5 than at pH 7.0. Malate inhibition was competitive at both pH's, but inhibition was >3 × greater at the lower pH. These data indicate that the combined effects of pH and malate over the range studied can produce changes in enzyme velocity of approximately 24-fold. Thus, the results are consistent with an interpretation that guard-cell PEPC is regulated by the cytoplasmic chemical environment and not by alternations between physiological-state isoforms.
Use of charcoal hemoperfusion with sequential hemodialysis to reduce serum methotrexate levels in a patient with acute renal insufficiency

Acute renal failure induced by methotrexate can be complicated by prolonged high serum levels of methotrexate, resulting in pancytopenia and severe mucositis. The role of dialysis in these patients has not been well elucidated. Serum methotrexate levels were successfully lowered in a patient with methotrexate-induced acute renal failure by charcoal hemoperfusion and sequential hemodialysis. No rebound in serum methotrexate levels was observed after perfusion, a phenomenon previously reported as limiting the usefulness of this procedure.
Me against we: in-group transgression, collective shame, and in-group-directed hostility.

People can experience great distress when a group to which they belong (in-group) is perceived to have committed an immoral act. We hypothesised that people would direct hostility toward a transgressing in-group whose actions threaten their self-image and evoke collective shame. Consistent with this theorising, three studies found that reminders of in-group transgression provoked several expressions of in-group-directed hostility, including in-group-directed hostile emotion (Studies 1 and 2), in-group-directed derogation (Study 2), and in-group-directed punishment (Study 3). Across studies, collective shame—but not the related group-based emotion collective guilt—mediated the relationship between in-group transgression and in-group-directed hostility. Implications for group-based emotion, social identity, and group behaviour are discussed.
Chemoembolization Practice Patterns and Technical Methods Among Interventional Radiologists: Results of an Online Survey

OBJECTIVE. The objective of our study was to assess patterns of chemoembolization use; identify variations in application, technique, and follow-up; and recognize areas of practice conformity and divergence. MATERIALS AND METHODS. During August and September 2010, Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) members with ???chemoembolization expertise??? were invited to participate in an anonymous online questionnaire. RESULTS. Two hundred sixty-eight of 1157 invited SIR members (23%) answered the 34-item survey. Respondents were predominantly male (93%) fellowship-trained full-time interventional radiologists (IRs) (87%) in practice for less than 15 years (69%) at community hospitals (61%) in the United States (91%). IRs (53%) most commonly drove therapeutic decision making. Most respondents (61%) performed 1???5 chemoembolizations per month and preferred drug-eluting beads to iodized oil for unifocal (46% vs 39%, respectively) and multifocal (40% vs 30%) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), although 90Y radioem...
Development and Scale-Up of an Aqueous Ethanolamine Scrubber for Methyl Bromide Removal

A scrubber system was developed specifically to remove methyl bromide liberated during a demethylation process. On-line mass spectrometry (MS) was implemented and developed as a tool to monitor and quantify the methyl bromide scrubber efficiency during the demethylation reaction for laboratory and pilot-plant campaign runs. The MS technique is relatively simple to interface to existing equipment, requires no direct sample contact, and allows for the sampling from multiple ports. Results of the MS on-line monitoring using ethanolamine for both the laboratory and pilot plant showed scrubber removal efficiency of >99%. In addition to MS, ion chromatography and other gravimetric methods were implemented to confirm the level of methyl bromide consumed by the scrubber.