cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Incorporating allylated lignin-derivatives in thiol-ene gel-polymer electrolytes

Growing environmental and economic concerns as well as the uncertainty that accompanies finite petrochemical resources contributes to the increase in research and development of bio-based, renewable polymers. Concurrently, industrial and consumer demand for smaller, safer, and more flexible technologies motivates a global research effort to improve electrolytic polymer separators in lithium-ion batteries. To incorporate the aromatic structural advantages of lignin, a highly abundant and renewable resource, into gel-polymer electrolytes, lignin-derived molecules, vanillyl alcohol and gastrodigenin are functionalized and UV-polymerized with multi-functional thiol monomers. The resulting thin, flexible, polymer films possess glass transition temperatures ranging from -42.1°C to 0.3°C and storage moduli at 25°C ranging from 1.90MPa to 10.08MPa. The crosslinked polymer films swollen with electrolyte solution impart conductivities in the range of 7.04×10-7 to 102.73×10-7Scm-1. Thiol molecular weight has the most impact on the thermo-mechanical properties of the resulting films while polymer crosslink density has the largest effect on conductivity. The conducting abilities of the bio-based gel-polymer electrolytes in this study prove the viability of lignin-derived feedstock for use in lithium-ion battery applications and reveal structurally and thermally desirable traits for future work.
Online Student Use of a Proximate Community of Engagement at an Independent Study Program

Research has suggested that independent study students may benefit from engaging with a proximate community of engagement (PCE) while completing an online course and that they perceive that such engagement will help them succeed. Independent Study students were surveyed at the completion of their course to assess the level at which they actually interacted with a PCE. Survey findings were confirmed with follow-up interviews with students and their parents to triangulate survey data. Findings revealed that students in the study interacted with a PCE when completing the course. The percentage of students actually engaging with a PCE was lower than the percentages of students from a previous study who perceived that such engagement would be helpful. The research suggests that students made aware of the benefits of a PCE at the beginning of the course, and who receive coaching to curate that community as an assignment in the course, will be more likely to receive the learning benefits of community engagement. Future research to confirm the value of engaging with a proximate community, identifying most helpful and effective interactions, and helping students curate such a community were proposed. Keywords: Independent study, adolescent, online courses, online community, adolescent community of engagement, proximate community of engagement
Flexor carpi radialis brevis: case report of a symptomatic tear

Anatomical variants of muscle are commonly encountered by surgeons and radiologists. The flexor carpi radialis brevis (FCRB) is an anomalous muscle in the distal forearm with an estimated prevalence of 2-8%. In the literature, there are a few case reports of symptomatic FCRB tenosynovitis without a concomitant tear, and treatment methods described include both conservative and surgical management. We present a case of one patient with radial sided wrist pain and a partial FCRB tear, which to our knowledge is the first case report of a symptomatic FCRB tear. We also review existing literature regarding FCRB anatomy, particularly related to intra-operative dissection and exposure. Identification of an anomalous FCRB on imaging may serve to guide clinicians in their differential diagnosis of radial-sided wrist pain, in which FCRB pathological conditions ought to be included.
Sugarbeet leaf disc culture: an improved procedure for inducing morphogenesis

In preparation for gene transfer experiments we investigated factors that might affect the production of shoots and somatic embryos from the wound callus of cultured sugarbeet leaf discs. A complex interaction was found between the leaf disc plating density, the disc culture medium, the source-shoot culture medium and the frequency of disc transfer to fresh medium. The most productive protocol utilized: source shoots maintained on MS medium containing 0.25 mg 1-1 BA; multiple leaf discs (ten 4-mm discs/plate) plated onto an enriched modification of MS medium (RV) containing 1.0 mg 1-1 BA and solidified with 0.3% Gelrite (not permitted to dry during hardening); and transfer of the discs to fresh medium every two weeks during the first month. This standard protocol produced more callus per plate and higher rates of morphogenesis per unit dry weight of callus than did the one-step method of Saunders and Doley. Water availability considerations were found to be critical to obtaining high morphogenic rates. Root induction frequency and quality was superior on shoots transplanted to MS medium containing 1 mg 1-1 NAA as the sole growth regulator compared to IAA at the same concentration.
Algebraic construction of the Jacobian of a hyperelliptic curve

Let’s recall that a hyperelliptic curve C is determined by an equation s2 = f(t), where f is a polynomial of degree 2g+1; C has one point at infinity, and (t)∞ = 2 · ∞ $$ \left( s \right)_\infty = \left( {2g + 1} \right) \cdot \infty . $$ We shall study the structure of Pic C = {group of divisors modulo linear equivalence}.
The Reaction of Phenylglyoxal with Arginine Residues in Proteins

The experiments described in this communication were carried out in order to investigate the usefulness of phenylglyoxal as a reagent for the chemical modification of arginine residues in proteins. Phenylglyoxal reacts with the guanido group of the arginine residue under mild conditions, pH 7 to 8 and 25°. The derivative, which contains two phenylglyoxal moieties per guanido group, is sufficiently stable, particularly under mildly acidic conditions (below pH 4) to permit the isolation of labeled peptides. At neutral or alkaline pH values, the derivative is decomposed slowly. About 80% of the original arginine can be regenerated by incubation of the derivative in the absence of excess reagent for 48 hours at 37° and about pH 7. Bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A (0.5% solution) is inactivated to the extent of 80 to 90% within 30 min by reaction with a 1.5% solution of phenylglyoxal at pH 8.0 and 25°. Of the 4 arginine residues in the molecule, 2 to 3 are modified. Analysis of tryptic-chymotryptic hydrolysates of the inactivated protein show that condensation occurs primarily at arginine residues 39 and 85 in the sequence. These are the 2 arginine residues which x-ray diffraction studies have shown to be closest to the active site of the enzyme. In this modified ribonuclease, the 2 histidine residues, 12 and 119, continue to be susceptible to specific alkylation by iodoacetate. In general, phenylglyoxal (14C-labeled, if desired) may be useful for modification of accessible arginine residues in proteins and may be potentially useful for reversible coverage of arginine residues so that tryptic hydrolysis can take place at lysine residues only. When proteins are treated with a large excess of the reagent for a long period, reaction may also occur with e-amino groups of lysine residues. In all cases, any available α-amino group is deaminated to give a residue of the corresponding α-keto acid. The reagent is very effective in deaminating small peptides to the corresponding α-keto acyl peptides, thus permitting the identification of the end groups by subtractive analysis.
Better Parties, Better Government: A Realistic Program for Campaign Finance Reform

This book does three things. First, it surveys the path of campaign finance regulations since 1971, concluding that the vast majority of provisions - ostensibly designed to reform political practices, keep politicians honest and limit the influence of contributors - have in reality protected incumbents by reducing the funds available to challengers. Although the courts have struck down many of the most egregious incumbent-protection measures enacted by Congress, important ones still remain - particularly restrictions on what political parties can spend in support of their candidates. These restrictions explain why reelection rates for incumbents are so high - up to 98 percent in recent years - despite record-low approval ratings for Congress and demonstrate how the current tangle of laws complex rules, regulations, exceptions, exemptions, and safe harbors that constitute our current campaign finance regime works to the advantage of those who created it. Second, the book surveys various proposed alternatives to our current regulatory regime and finds that most of them would simply perpetuate the incumbent-protective features of the current system, particularly public funding schemes based on mandating campaign funding limits for those who accept government subsidies for their campaigns. Finally, the book suggests that the most modest, yet potentially very effective way to change our current pro-incumbent system is to lift the restrictions on political parties, allowing them to become both the principal vehicles for political fundraising and the principal sources of campaign funds for their candidates. This would improve funding resources for challengers, strengthen the parties, reduce the appearance of corruption inherent in the current candidate-centered fundraising system, and ultimately strengthen American democracy. The book argues that this single reform of ending the restrictions on spending by political parties in support of their candidates would make elections more competitive, improve the candidate and policy choices available to voters and thereby transform American politics.
Un Ensayo Sobre el Surgimiento de Cortes Constitucionales: Los Casos de México y Colombia (An Essay on the Emergence of Constitutional Courts: The cases of Mexico and Colombia)

The English version of this paper can be found at http://ssrn.com/abstract=1134183. This essay explores the emergence of the Mexican Supreme Court and the Colombian Constitutional Court as powerful political actors. Mexico and Colombia undertook constitutional transformations designed to empower their respective national high courts in the 1990s to facilitate a democratic transition. These constitutional transformations opened up political space for the Mexican Supreme Court and the Colombian Constitutional Court to begin to displace political actors in the tasks of constitutional construction and maintenance. These two courts play different roles, however, in their respective democratic orders. Mexico chose to empower its Supreme Court to police vertical and horizontal separation of powers whereas Colombia fashioned a Constitutional Court whose task is to deepen the social bases of democracy by constructing rights. This essay argues that the constitutional changes that occurred are a necessary but not sufficient explanation for the role these two courts play. The agenda courts undertake is shaped both by short-term political bargains and by long-term societal transformations. As a result of both the bargains that led to the adoption of a new constitution and broader intellectual transformations regarding the role of courts in effectuating constitutional guarantees, the Colombian Constitutional Court has pursued a more ambitious agenda than the Mexican Supreme Court.
Conservation of the 3'-untranslated regions of calmodulin mRNAs in cetaceans.

Three separate calmodulin (CaM) genes (I, II and III) encoding an identical CaM protein but differing in the 5′- and 3′-untranslated regions of each of the three mRNAs are present and highly conserved in all mammals (so far examined). Primers complementary to the 3′- untranslated region (3′UTR) of each of the three mRNAs occurring in human, rat and mouse were synthesized and used to amplify regions of the 3′UTR from genomic DNA isolated from cetaceans, specifically from the bottled-nosed dolphin (Tursiops truncates), the pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps) and the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae). Using several primers and PCR conditions, the three CaM genes were identified in all three species by this method with one exception. The sequenced regions of the 3′UTRs of the three genes of the cetaceans exhibited a high percentage identity when compared to the corresponding regions of these three CaM mRNAs isolated from humans (85-96%). These partial sequences of the 3′UTR regions and the corresponding regions for humans, rats and mice that were available from the database were aligned and a phylogenetic tree was constructed. The three CaM genes from all species showed a close phylogenetic relationship based on these 3′UTR sequences. Such high conservation of the 3′UTRs suggests a specialized and significant function for this region in mammals.
The Organization and Operation of Inferior Temporal Cortex

Inferior temporal cortex (IT) is a key part of the ventral visual pathway implicated in object, face, and scene perception. But how does IT work? Here, I describe an organizational scheme that marries form and function and provides a framework for future research. The scheme consists of a series of stages arranged along the posterior-anterior axis of IT, defined by anatomical connections and functional responses. Each stage comprises a complement of subregions that have a systematic spatial relationship. The organization of each stage is governed by an eccentricity template, and corresponding eccentricity representations across stages are interconnected. Foveal representations take on a role in high-acuity object vision (including face recognition); intermediate representations compute other aspects of object vision such as behavioral valence (using color and surface cues); and peripheral representations encode information about scenes. This multistage, parallel-processing model invokes an innately determined organization refined by visual experience that is consistent with principles of cortical development. The model is also consistent with principles of evolution, which suggest that visual cortex expanded through replication of retinotopic areas. Finally, the model predicts that the most extensively studied network within IT-the face patches-is not unique but rather one manifestation of a canonical set of operations that reveal general principles of how IT works.
Madonna’s “Like a Prayer”

This chapter deals with Madonna’s background and cultural importance, with a focus on her controversial video classic “Like a Prayer.” We explore the importance of her Italian Catholic background and Italian-American identity and the role of race in the video. The chapter concludes with a discussion of Madonna as a postmodernist artist who has no regard for narrative continuity and who blends Italian-American and African-American musical forms and traditions.
Therapeutic and Medicinal Uses of Terpenes

Terpenes, also known as terpenoids are the largest and most diverse group of naturally occurring compounds. Based on the number of isoprene units they have, they are classified as mono, di, tri, tetra, and sesquiterpenes. They are mostly found in plants and form the major constituent of essential oils from plants. Among the natural products that provide medical benefits for an organism, terpenes play a major and variety of roles. The common plant sources of terpenes are tea, thyme, cannabis, Spanish sage, and citrus fruits (e.g., lemon, orange, mandarin). Terpenes have a wide range of medicinal uses among which antiplasmodial activity is notable as its mechanism of action is similar to the popular antimalarial drug in use—chloroquine. Monoterpenes specifically are widely studied for their antiviral property. With growing incidents of cancer and diabetes in modern world, terpenes also have the potential to serve as anticancer and antidiabetic reagents. Along with these properties, terpenes also allow for flexibility in route of administration and suppression of side effects. Certain terpenes were widely used in natural folk medicine. One such terpene is curcumin which holds anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, antiseptic, antiplasmodial, astringent, digestive, diuretic, and many other properties. Curcumin has also become a recent trend in healthy foods and open doors for several medical researches. This chapter summarizes the various terpenes, their sources, medicinal properties, mechanism of action, and the recent studies that are underway for designing terpenes as a lead molecule in the modern medicine.
The Transition: Africa's Development and the Journal

T issue ends my three years as editor of the Journal of African Development. I want to thank AFEA members for their support. It is with great pleasure that I hand the editorship to Edward Kutsoati. Th ere were two major changes during my editorship, 2008-2010. First, with the support of the membership, we changed the journal’s name to refl ect a broadening of the journal from African economics and fi nance to African development. Second, the journal now produces two issues a year rather than one. As Elizabeth Asiedu and Mohamed El-Hodiri point out in this issue, Africa’s economic performance since the late 1970s ”has been abysmal, both in absolute and relative terms.” Indeed the average real GDP for sub-Saharan Africa in constant (2000) US Dollars, based on World Bank data, declined from $590 in 1975-1981 to $565 in 2002-2008. Th is negative growth contrasts with the rapid growth of East Asia and developing countries generally, and the modest growth of South Asia, spurred by India’s rapid growth since the 1991 economic reforms, which enabled that region to surpass the sub-Sahara’s average income recently. One of the few bright spots in the Asiedu-El-Hodiri fi ndings is that the sub-Sahara’s stagnation and regress may have been followed by per-capita growth from the turn of this century to the latest fi gures, 2002-2008. We can hope that this refl ects a turnaround from decline to continuing growth.
Wearable sensor system to monitor physical activity and the physiological effects of heat exposure

Mobile health monitoring via non-invasive wearable sensors is poised to advance telehealth for older adults and other vulnerable populations. Extreme heat and other environmental conditions raise serious health challenges that warrant monitoring of real-time physiological data as people go about their normal activities. Mobile systems could be beneficial for many communities, including elite athletes, military special forces, and at-home geriatric monitoring. While some commercial monitors exist, they are bulky, require reconfiguration, and do not fit seamlessly as a simple wearable device. We designed, prototyped and tested an integrated sensor platform that records heart rate, oxygen saturation, physical activity levels, skin temperature, and galvanic skin response. The device uses a small microcontroller to integrate the measurements and store data directly on the device for up to 48+ h. continuously. The device was compared to clinical standards for calibration and performance benchmarking. We found that our system compared favorably with clinical measures, such as fingertip pulse oximetry and infrared thermometry, with high accuracy and correlation. Our novel platform would facilitate an individualized approach to care, particularly those whose access to healthcare facilities is limited. The platform also can be used as a research tool to study physiological responses to a variety of environmental conditions, such as extreme heat, and can be customized to incorporate new sensors to explore other lines of inquiry.
At‐Large Elections and Minority Representation in Local Government

Despite a long history of legal challenges alleging that elections conducted at‐large suppress minority representation, this remains the dominant electoral system in local governments throughout the United States. Moreover, a large empirical literature remains divided over the present‐day impact of at‐large elections on the political success of underrepresented groups. We reconcile the competing findings in this literature by providing contingent, causal estimates of the effect of conversion from at‐large to ward elections on minority officeholding, using a novel identification strategy afforded by the California Voting Rights Act of 2001. We find a dramatic positive effect of conversion in districts where Latinos constitute a sufficiently large share of the voting population, and in large and residentially segregated districts. When these conditions are not satisfied, we consistently see null estimated effects.
Implementation of a preoperative screening tool to identify patients at risk for adverse perioperative pulmonary outcomes secondary to E-cigarette vaping: A pilot study

Patient screening was performed either in person or over the phone by Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners and Registered Nurses working under the direction of the anesthesiologist medical director of the preoperative clinic (SE) Prospective collection of pulmonary outcomes data in patients who are vaping is needed to assess the risks involved and provide more informed decision-making as to the timing of elective surgery and the need for preoperative evaluation by a pulmonologist in the context of such use Scott Eber: This author helped screening the patients in the preoperative clinic, design of the assessment tool, data gathering and manuscript review
Teamwork in Virtual World - Impact of “Virtual Team” on Team Dynamic

Teamwork has long been recognized of its fundamental importance to the operations and success of professional organizations. With the recent development in information and communication technology, the organization structure and operation frameworks for teamwork also evolve. The resultant emergence of “virtual team” has become a significant adaptation of teamwork in today’s digital global society. In this paper, we describe our research design for one of the first studies in the impacts of “virtual team” on several important factors of team dynamics and team leaderships, compared to those in traditional teamwork in physical proximity. We also present our preliminary results about the impacts of “virtual team” on team creativity and team member psychological safety.
Dynamic Risk-Aware Patch Scheduling

Every month, many new software vulnerabilities are discovered and published which will pose security risks to power grid systems if they are exploited by attackers. Thus the vulnerabilities must be patched in a timely manner to reduce the chance of being exploited. However, not all vulnerabilities can be patched quickly due to limited security resources at many electric utility companies. This paper studies dynamic risk-aware patch scheduling to determine the order of patching vulnerabilities and minimize the security risk brought by vulnerabilities. We first predict the dynamic probability of exploit over time for each vulnerability and define a metric to compute the vulnerability’s dynamic risk based on the predicted probability. We then formulate two patch scheduling approaches. Evaluations on real datasets show high accuracy in predicting the dynamic probability of exploit and high effectiveness of our solutions in risk reduction compared with other scheduling methods.
Acute superior mesenteric artery thrombosis seven days after discharge for novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP).

Since the emergence of novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP), a number of reports have pointed out an increased coagulation activity in these patients mostly during acute phase of the disease. We are reporting a case of acute superior mesenteric thrombosis in a 55-year-old male with NCP one week after hospital discharge. He returned to the emergency department 7 days later with severe acute abdominal pain and found to have superior mesenteric artery thrombosis. He subsequently underwent emergent exploratory laparotomy, SMA thrombectomy and bowel resection. Acute arterial thrombosis may occur in post hospitalization period in patients with NPC. Since the emergence of novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP) in December 2019, a number of reports have suggested that a large percentage of patients with novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection , particularly those that become critically ill, develop a pro-thrombotic state which places them at a significantly increased risk of thrombosis especially during the acute phase that often requires intensive care unit stay with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). 1, 2, 3 Interestingly, a wide range of increase in D-dimer levels has also been documented in hospitalized COVID-19 patients and there are early reports linking higher D-dimer levels to worse outcomes.4 Based on these reports, most centers employ thrombosis-prevention strategies ranging from prophylactic regimens to full anticoagulation during NCP hospitalization with improved outcomes.5 The optimal potency and duration of anti-thrombotic management is not clear. In addition, there is little evidence on when the increased coagulation activity returns to normal levels after onset of symptoms. We report a case of acute mesenteric ischemia due to superior mesenteric artery thrombosis in a 55-year-old male patient with NCP one week after hospital discharge. The patient consent to publish the case report was obtained according to our institutional guidelines.
Inadequate Bowel Preparation in Pediatric Colonoscopy-Prospective Study of Potential Causes.

OBJECTIVES Inadequate bowel preparation (IBP) for colonoscopy leads to missed diagnosis, longer anesthesia time, higher chance of complications and increased costs. Adult studies have demonstrated that patient characteristics such as male gender and obesity are associated with IBP. Little is known about factors affecting bowel preparation in children. Our aim was to determine factors associated with IBP in children. METHODS We prospectively enrolled children undergoing outpatient colonoscopy. Quality of bowel preparation was assessed using Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS) score (range 0-9). Data collected included patient demographics, indication, and type of insurance. Patients were divided into two groups based on BBPS score-adequate (BBPS score > 5) and inadequate (BBPS score < 5) and groups were compared using Student t-test and chi-square test. Possible predictors were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression models. RESULTS A total of 334 children were prospectively enrolled of whom 321 were studied further (age range 2-18 years; mean age 12.4 years; 60.4% female; 85.9% Caucasian). The mean BBPS score was 6.8 (standard deviation of ±2). IBP was reported in 12.8% (41/321). Multivariable logistic regression analysis did not show statistical differences between the groups in studied patient factors including age, gender, obesity, race, insurance type, and indication for colonoscopy. CONCLUSION Contrary to several adult studies, the results of our prospective study did not show any relationship between examined patient factors and IBP in children. Interestingly, IBP was less prevalent in our pediatric study compared to published adult data (12.8% vs 20-40%).
Psychology: A Truth in Neglect in Neuromuscular Clinics. A Meta-analysis of Mood Disorders in Myasthenia Gravis Clinics. (P1.142)

Objective: To study the relatively left-out psychological aspects of Myasthenia gravis. Background: The usual approach of neuromuscular neurologists treating patients with Myasthenia is dominated by the spree of looking for somatic aspects of the disease only, with psychological aspects heaping up in the blind spots. Psychological factors such as depression, anxiety, or stress can trigger myasthenia, influence under-diagnosis or over-diagnosis by causing physical fatigue, or influence the overall quality of life. Available data in this field is scattered, by no means ample, or satisfying. Scattered annual reports of quality improvement projects from reputable institutions have reported unexpected high prevalence of mood disorders in Myasthenia. Design/Methods: A meta-analysis of Pub med and Ovid articles published in original or translated English between 1980 and 2016 from five continents sourcing from Australia, Brazil, China, England, Germany, Japan, Serbia, and USA, was done. Results: Over 2600 patients were studied, highest being from Europe, especially Germany. Important revelations were: mood disorders, present in about a third of the patients, were higher in the late-onset disease forms. Emotional stress was a trigger of myasthenia aggravation especially with older age of onset, lower educational level, more severe and longer duration disease. Depression was a powerful quality of life affecting factor second only to decreased mobility, influenced by the doses of oral corticosteroid. Plasma exchange treatment failed to improve mood in spite of uplifted muscle power and ambulation, suggesting that mood disorders were not solely due to decreased somatic abilities. Conclusions: This study, involving five continents for 35 years, indicate the unappreciated high prevalence of mood disorders in neuromuscular clinics addressing Myasthenia. Very few clinics, even among the respected ones, use available tools to detect unsolicited mood disorders. Such determination, followed by outcome measures may justify the necessity of changing the paradigm, presently in practice countrywide. Study Supported by: None. Disclosure: Dr. Bandyopadhyay has nothing to disclose. Dr. Altiero has nothing to disclose.
Science and Media

This article is reproduced from the previous edition, volume 20, pp. 13654–13657, © 2001, Elsevier Ltd.
Methanol as Raw Material

Methanol is synthesized from CO and H2 in large quantities at low price and with a high degree of purity (Danner, 1970; see also Sect. 8.4). This is the reason for the large amount of work towards syntheses starting with methanol, and aiming at the same or similar compounds obtainable from the direct hydrogenation of CO. In this Chapter, the most important of these methanol based processes will be discussed.
Signs of Elastooptic Coefficients in Low-Symmetry Materials

For CaWO4 calcium-tungstate crystals based of piezooptic π im and elastic C mn coefficients, we fill the matrix of elastooptic constants p in and compute the errors of their determination. We reveal the following empirical regularity: the signs of piezo- and elastooptic coefficients with identical subscripts coincide. It is shown that this law remains true for some other low-symmetry crystals that belong to different symmetry classes. Calcium tungstate dominates over some known acoustooptic materials by the higher values of elastooptic coefficients and, hence, is a promising material for applications in acoustooptic devices.
Wake Turbulence Detection and Economic Impact of Proposed Improvements

Increased separations of aircraft following heavy jets, which have been mandated because of the threat posed by aircraft trailing wake vortices, have aggravated the problem of air traffic delays at some of the busier airports. An extensive vortex measurement program at three major airports has provided the data base for the design of a Vortex Advisory System which will permit reduction of the vortex imposed separations under certain measurable wind conditions. This system which promises to effect an appreciable reduction in traffic delay is currently undergoing testing at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.
Endoreduplication and Programmed Cell Death in the Cereal Endosperm

Endoreduplication and programmed cell death are important processes during the development and maturation of cereal endosperm. Endoreduplication results in the formation of multiple copies of each chromosome in the nucleus, and it leads to cells with ploidies of 24C to 96C, and sometimes even higher. Although it has generally been thought that this process is associated with cell enlargement and increased levels of gene expression, recent studies of maize endosperm development provided data that do not support this hypothesis. Programmed cell death commences in starchy endosperm cells around mid-development, and ultimately affects nearly all of the endosperm cells, except for those in the aleurone layer. The progression of programmed cell death, which appears to be mediated by increasing levels of ethylene and gibberellic acid, is mediated by cysteine proteases that appear to be similar to vacuolar processing enzymes. Presumably, the loss of viability of starchy endosperm cells facilitates hydrolysis of stored nutrients and their uptake by the embryo during seed germination.
Enterococcus hirae implicated as a cause of diarrhea in suckling rats.

A Lancefield group D enteric streptococcus was isolated from diarrheic suckling rats that had been inoculated orally with stool from a diarrheic human. After oral administration of the organism to other suckling rats, diarrhea was reproduced, and the enteric streptococcus was reisolated. The brush border of small intestinal villi in affected animals was coated with numerous adherent gram-positive cocci. The organism was identified as Enterococcus hirae by a battery of biochemical tests. These and previous studies indicate that certain enterococci should be considered as etiologic agents of diarrheal disease in neonatal animals. Images
From " Uncertifiable " medical practice to the Berlin Clinic of women doctors: the medical career of Franziska Tiburtius ( M. D. Zürich,1876 )

SUMMARY ABSTRACT Problems in gender expectations and relationships complicated increasing professionalization of medical arts at an important point of transformation toward the modern industrial European state. Subordination of women's work in these processes altered possible outcomes for German society in general and for female medical careers in particular. Franziska Tiburtius was one of twenty German women graduated from the caeducational medical school in Zurich, Switzerland, in the nineteenth century. She was a founder of the Clinic of Women Doctors despite prohibitions against certifying women as physicians. Imperial Germany was the last Western nation to admit women to full medical practice in 1899.
The Term Structure of Interest Rates and Unconventional Federal Reserve Monetary Policy

The term structure of interest rates argues that a fundamental determinant of the Treasury yield curve is expected future short-term interest rates. In early 2013 it is possible to construct a predicted yield curve based on future expectations, and compare it to the actual yield curve. Due to the unconventional Federal Reserve policies that began in 2008, the actual yield curve lies well below that predicted by the term structure theory. Our research indicates that the cumulative impact as of January 2013 of the unconventional Fed monetary policies is to decrease the 10-year Treasury yield by about 80 basis points.
Rhesus macaque θ-defensin RTD-1 inhibits proinflammatory cytokine secretion and gene expression by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB and MAPK pathways

θ-Defensins are pleiotropic, macrocyclic peptides that are expressed uniquely in Old World monkeys. The peptides are potent, broad-spectrum microbicides that also modulate inflammatory responses in vitro and in animal models of viral infection and polymicrobial sepsis. θ-Defensins suppress proinflammatory cytokine secretion by leukocytes stimulated with diverse Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands. Studies were performed to delineate anti-inflammatory mechanisms of rhesus θ-defensin 1 (RTD-1), the most abundant θ-defensin isoform in macaque granulocytes. RTD-1 reduced the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-8 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human blood monocytes and THP-1 macrophages, and this was accompanied by inhibition of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activation and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. Peptide inhibition of NF-κB activation occurred following stimulation of extracellular (TLRs 1/2 and 4) and intracellular (TLR9) receptors. Although RTD-1 did not inhibit MAPK in unstimulated cells, it induced phosphorylation of Akt in otherwise untreated monocytes and THP-1 cells. In the latter, this occurred within 10 min of RTD-1 treatment and produced a sustained elevation of phosphorylated Akt (pAkt) for at least 4 h. pAkt is a negative regulator of MAPK and NF-κB activation. RTD-1 inhibited IκBα degradation and p38 MAPK phosphorylation, and stimulated Akt phosphorylation in LPS-treated human primary monocytes and THP-1 macrophages. Specific inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) blocked RTD-1-stimulated Akt phosphorylation and reversed the suppression of NF-κB activation by the peptide. These studies indicate that the anti-inflammatory properties of θ-defensins are mediated by activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway and suppression of proinflammatory signals in immune-stimulated cells.
U.S. ethnic minorities' attitudes towards Whites: The role of shared reality theory in intergroup relations

In the current research, we suggest that shared reality, the belief that one perceives the world the same way as another group, can predict attitudes towards that group. We tested shared reality theory in the context of American ethnic minority groups' (i.e. African Americans, Asian Americans, and Latinas/os) attitudes towards White Americans. In surveys of two samples recruited from different geographical locations in the USA, we tested predictions derived from different theories of intergroup relations. Using mediational analysis, we defined models to assess the extent to which shared reality theory predicted—directly and indirectly—prejudicial attitudes towards Whites. We tested the model derived from shared reality theory against other theoretical alternatives. Taken together, the results of the research indicated that shared reality predicts attitudes towards White Americans among these three ethnic groups. Thus, shared reality is a relevant, though largely overlooked, factor in intergroup dynamics.
Particle flow for nonlinear filters, Bayesian decisions and transport

We derive a new algorithm for particle flow with non-zero diffusion corresponding to Bayes' rule, and we report the results of Monte Carlo simulations which show that the new filter is an order of magnitude more accurate than the extended Kalman filter for a difficult nonlinear filter problem. Our new algorithm is simple and fast to compute, and it has an especially nice intuitive formula, which is the same as Newton's method to solve the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) problem (but for each particle rather than only the MLE), and it is also the same as the extended Kalman filter for the special case of Gaussian densities (but for each particle rather than just the point estimate). All of these particle flows apply to arbitrary multimodal densities with smooth nowhere vanishing non-Gaussian densities.
Studies on Synthetic Polypeptide Antigens XVIII. THE ROLE OF COMPOSITION, CHARGE, AND OPTICAL ISOMERISM IN THE IMMUNOGENICITY OF SYNTHETIC POLYPEPTIDES

Studies of systematically varied series of synthetic polypeptides lead to several generalizations about the chemical factors involved in antigenicity. Polymers containing aromatic amino acids generally elicit more antibody than those not containing aromatic amino acids. This is not an exclusive property, however, since the incorporation of alanine can enhance immunogenicity in some cases. Tyrosine and phenylalanine are equally effective in enhancing antibody formation, but there is no correlation between the amount of antibody elicited and the amount of the aromatic amino acid in the polypeptide. The charge of the antigen plays essentially a restrictive role: completely charged and highly charged polypeptides are very poor immunogens. The immunogenicity of d -amino acid polymers and the stereospecificity of the antibody response have been confirmed, and the reason for the difficulty in eliciting antibody formation has been established. Immunization with the relatively large doses of antigen used with l polymers (2 to 20 mg) does not generally elicit antibody formation with d antigens, but low doses (0.3 to 0.6 mg) of antigen administered over a long period of time induce antibody formation to a wide variety of d -polypeptides. The d polymers do not display a significant booster effect, and eventually the antibody response is abolished by continued injection of the antigen. Using this same low dosage schedule, polylysine and polyglutamic acid of both optical configurations also elicit antibody. Thus, the generalization can be made that small doses of poor immunogens stimulate antibody formation and larger doses induce immunological paralysis. The experiments described in this study suggest that the method needed to induce antibody formation is determined by quite general properties of the antigen (e.g. optical configuration, excessively high charge) and that the quantitative control of antibody production depends upon both the general properties and the detailed composition of the antigen (e.g. types of amino acids).
Axiological Scientific Realism and Methodological Prescription

In this chapter I distinguish between two kinds of meta-hypotheses, or hypotheses about science, at issue in the scientific realism debate. The first (Type-D) are descriptive empirical hypotheses regarding the nature of scientific inquiry. The second (Type-E) are epistemological theories about what individuals (scientists or non-scientists) should/can justifiably believe about (successful) scientific theories. Favoring (variants of) the realist Type-D meta-hypotheses, I argue that realist and non-realist efforts in the debate over Type-Es have been valuable in the quest to describe and understand the nature of scientific inquiry. For the realism debate itself has inadvertently and indirectly laid the foundations for an important kind of Type-D meta-hypothesis, one regarding flexibility in theorizing in the history of science—which, in turn, is relevant to refining our descriptions of the nature of scientific inquiry. After illustrating this result with regard to the historical argument (a.k.a. the pessimistic induction) against realism, I suggest that such empirically attained meta-hypotheses can, in turn, be made methodologically prescriptive.
Kinetics of spermatogenesis, cell-cycle analysis, and testis development in nymphs of the tick Dermacentor variabilis

Abstract Cytokinetic analyses were carried out on the testis of the American dog tick ( Dermacentor variabilis ) nymph during the developmental period which follows attachment to the host and feeding. The spermatogonial cell division cycle in vivo was determined: Tc, 22.8 hr; S, 6.7 hr; G 1 , 8.2 hr; G 2 , 4.0 hr; P, 3.5 hr; M, 0.4 hr. Histological techniques were used to determine the timing of spermatocyte differentiation and accumulation. This accumulation is markedly biphasic, occurring as two distinct waves during the developmental period. Models of germarial zone division-induction are presented, and the theoretical population curves generated by these models compared to the empirical data. Development of a previously-unreported secretory tissue in close association with the nymphal testis is described, and some correlations between germarial division activity and endocrine events known from related species presented.
Assay variability in serum prostate‐specific antigen determination

Consistency and reproducibility of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) measurement are essential in the application of this analyte to early detection or screening programs. In the present investigation, we sought to compare serum PSA levels determined by the IMx assay (Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, IL) and the Tandem E (Hybritech Inc., San Diego, CA) to determine whether there were differences. Two hundred twenty-eight random sera from our archival bank were investigated. One hundred-eight specimens were in the Tandem range of 2.0-10.0 ng/ml, and prostatic histology was known based on either systematic sector needle biopsy or transurethral resection. PSA was measured with three different lost of the IMx and Tandem assays. Over the entire range, there was a good correlation (r2 = 0.985); however, in the more useful clinical range of 2.0-10.0 ng/ml, the correlation was reduced to 0.923; in the 2.0-6.0 ng/ml range, it was further reduced to 0.852. The slope for the entire range was 0.948; however, in the 2.0- to 10.0-ng/ml range, it was 0.894; in the 2.0- to 6.0-ng/ml range, the slope was 0.815. Using PSA cutoffs of 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0 ng/ml, significant decrease in abnormal PSA values in men with cancer was observed with the IMx compared with Tandem. These data suggest that the IMx and the Tandem PSA assays are not equivalent, and in most patients a lower value is realized with the IMx assay. This bias appears to be greater in men with prostate cancer. Clinicians must be aware which assay their patients are being tested with, and laboratory technicians should run internal standards to ensure lack of significant intralot variability and consistency over time.
Modulation Detection Interference in Listeners With Normal and Impaired Hearing

Listeners were asked to detect amplitude modulation (AM) of a target (or signal) carrier that was presented in isolation or in the presence of an additional (masker) carrier. The signal was modulat...
MAGNETIC FIELD DESIGN AND MEASUREMENT FOR THE COLORADO 52 INCH CYCLOTRON

A brief description of the magnet and spiral shim design for the Colorado 52 inch cyclotron will be given showing the correlation between the model and full scale designs. Measuring techniques employing Hall plates and digital recording are described. The equilibrium orbit properties as a function of magnetic field from 5 to 14 kgauss are given. A linear programming procedure for determination of current settings is described.
Organic compounds in stony meteorites

Abstract Eight carbonaceous chondrites (Orgueil, Cold Bokkeveld, Mighei, Murray, Felix, Lance and Warrenton), five non-carbonaceous chondrites (Richardton, Bjurbole, Karoonda, Abee and Hvittis) and one achondrite (Norton County) were examined for organic constituents. Hydrocarbon-type organic matter was extracted from the samples with organic solvents (benzene-acetone and acetone-methanol) and studied by ultra-violet, visible and infra-red absorption spectroscopy and by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Both aliphatic and aromatic compounds were detected; in addition carbonyl groups appeared to be present as well as unsaturated groups of the vinyl or allylic type. The extractions also separated elemental sulfur in Orgueil, Cold Bokkeveld, Mighei and Richardton. Amino acids and sugars were encountered in all the meteorites studied. The sugars were present in small quantities (5–26 μ g/g) with mannose and glucose the most abundant. Amino acids were present in greater concentrations—30–500 μ g/g in the carbonaceous chondrites and 8–50 μ g/g in the others. Seventeen amino acids were detected: serine, glycine, alanine, the leucines. glutamic acid, asparatic acid and threonine were found to be the most abundant. C'hondrules were isolated from Mokoia, Bjurbole and Richardton, and analysed for sugars and amino acids. Those from Mokoia and Bjurbole were carefully washed before analysed. No sugars were present and glycine was the only water-soluble amino acid found. Besides glycine a great variety of ninhydrin-positive compounds appeared on the chromatograms. In the acid hydrolyzate, alanine, serine, threonine, the leucines, glutamic acid and aspartic acid were also present. Acid hydrolyzates of carbonaceous chondrites contained 16 diazonium-sensitive compounds, four of which had the Chromatographic properties (in terms of Rf value and color) of hydroxy-berizoic, p-hydroxybenzoic, p-hydroxyphenylacetic, and vanillic acids. In addition, fifteen unidentified, ultraviolet-absorbing and fluorescing compounds appeared on the chromatogram. All extracts were tested for optical rotation on a polarimeter capable of measuring 0.0005°. No rotation could be detected. The absence of rotation, the type and distribution pattern of amino compounds in chondrules and matrix, the lack of pigments, fatty acids and presumably nucleic acids in addition to other biochemical criteria, suggest that the organic material has been synthesized by chemical rather than known biochemical processes.