cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Temporal bone fractures

Temporal bone injury is frequently associated with severe brain injury which limits the clinical evaluation and detracts from the clinical signs of temporal bone fracture such as sensorineural hearing loss, conductive hearing loss, and facial nerve paralysis. Radiologists are often the first to note the presence of temporal bone fractures and should be familiar with common types of injuries and their clinical implications. We review the traditional classification systems of temporal bone fractures with respect to clinical findings and management and suggest that radiologists should be familiar with the classification systems and, more importantly, focus their attention to identifying all critical temporal bone structures and describing their status of involvement to better the individual care.
Remarkably Robust Monomeric Alkylperoxyzinc Compounds from Tris(oxazolinyl)boratozinc Alkyls and O2

Metal alkylperoxides are remarkable, highly effective, yet often thermally unstable, oxidants that may react through a number of possible pathways including O–O homolytic cleavage, M–O homolytic cleavage, nucleophilic O-atom transfer, and electrophilic O-atom transfer. Here we describe a series of zinc alkyl compounds of the type ToMZnR (ToM = tris(4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazolinyl)phenylborate; R = Et, n-C3H7, i-C3H7, t-Bu) that react with O2 at 25 °C to form isolable monomeric alkylperoxides ToMZnOOR in quantitative yield. The series of zinc alkylperoxides is crystallographically characterized, and the structures show systematic variations in the Zn–O–O angle and O–O distances. The observed rate law for the reaction of ToMZnEt (2) and O2 is consistent with a radical chain mechanism, where the rate-limiting SH2 step involves the interaction of •OOR and ToMZnR. In contrast, ToMZnH and ToMZnMe are unchanged even to 120 °C under 100 psi of O2 and in the presence of active radical chains (e.g., •OOEt). This class of...
Predicting acute denervation in carpal tunnel syndrome

Abstract Objective: To determine which nerve conduction parameters can predict the presence of acute denervation in carpal tunnel syndrome. Setting: The electrodiagnostic laboratories of a hospital and a county hospital district. Design: A retrospective review. Patients: A total of 1,590 consecutive cases from January 1992 to June 1996, diagnosed as having median neuropathy at the wrist. Main Outcome Measures: Evidence of acute denervation on needle electromyography of the abductor pollicis brevis and its relationship to patient age, gender, and parameters obtained from nerve conduction studies, including median sensory latency and amplitude, and median motor latency and amplitude. Results: Logistic regression analysis identified gender, median motor latency, and median motor amplitude (all p ≤ .008) as contributing to the prediction of denervation. Needle examination of the cases with a median motor amplitude Conclusion: The median motor amplitude can predict the presence of acute denervation in the thenar muscles in median neuropathy at the wrist and possibly eliminate a painful needle examination of the median-innervated thenar muscles in over 50% of the cases.
State of health and charge measurements in lithium-ion batteries using mechanical stress

Abstract Despite the fundamental importance of state of health (SOH) and state of charge (SOC) measurement to lithium-ion battery systems, the determination of these parameters is challenging and remains an area of active research. Here we propose a novel method of SOH/SOC determination using mechanical measurements. We present the results of long term aging studies in which we observe stack stress to be linearly related to cell SOH for cells aged with different cycling parameters. The observed increases in stack stress are attributed to irreversible volumetric expansion of the electrodes. We discuss the use of stress measurements for SOC determination, which offers the advantage of being more sensitive to SOC than voltage as well as the ability to measure SOC in the presence of self discharge. Finally we present a simple model to explain the linear nature of the observed stress-SOH relationship. The inherent simplicity of the mechanical measurements and their relationships to SOH and SOC presented in this paper offer potential utility for the improvement of existing battery management systems.
MIF-1 attenuates spiroperidol alteration of striatal dopamine D2 receptor ontogeny

Abstract Long-term postnatal treatment of rats with the dopamine D 2 receptor antagonist, spiroperidol, results in the impaired development of striatal D 2 receptors. Because the tripeptide prolyl-leucyl-glycinamide (MIF-1) attenuates haloperidol-induced up-regulation of striatal dopamine D 2 receptors in adult rats, we studied the effect of MIF-1 on the spiroperidol-induced alteration of striatal D 2 ontogeny. Postnatal treatment of rats with spiroperidol (1.0 mg/kg/day, IP, ×32 days from birth) resulted in a 74% decrease in the B max for [ 3 H]spiroperidol binding with no change in the K d at 5 weeks. When rats were studied at 8 weeks, in the absence of additional treatment, total specific [ 3 H]spiroperidol binding was reduced by 59%. While MIF-1 alone (1.0 mg/kg/day, IP, ×32 days from birth) had no effect on [ 3 H]spiroperidol binding, MIF-1 completely attenuated the ontogenic impairment of striatal D 2 receptors that was produced by spiroperidol treatment. At 5 weeks the B max for [ 3 H]spiroperidol binding was at the saline control level in the group of rats cotreated with spiroperidol and MIF-1. At 8 weeks, with no additional treatments, the specific binding of [ 3 H]spiroperidol to striatum was also at control levels in the group cotreated with spiroperidol and MIF-1. These findings demonstrate that MIF-1 attenuates spiroperidol-induced impairment of development of striatal dopamine D 2 receptors in rats.
Sublogarithmic-space turing machines, nonuniform space complexity, and closure properties

We show that some of the fundamental closure properties (such as concatenation) that hold for Turing machines (TMs) operating in space above logn, do not hold for TMs operating in space below logn. We also compare the powers of TMs andsweeping TMs operating in space below logn. While the proof that the powers of TMs and sweeping TMs are the same is trivial for space greater than or equal to logn, it is not obvious when the space is sublogarithmic. To explore the nature of sublogarithmic space computations further, we introduce a nonuniform space complexity measure and study some of its fundamental properties (such as closure, hierarchy, and gap) in the sublogarithmic range.
G protein-coupled receptor kinase 5 regulates β1-Adrenergic receptor association with PSD-95

We previously reported that the beta(1)-adrenergic receptor (beta(1)AR) associates with PSD-95 through a PDZ domain-mediated interaction, by which PSD-95 modulates beta(1)AR function and facilitates the physical association of beta(1)AR with other synaptic proteins such as N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors. Here we demonstrate that beta(1)AR association with PSD-95 is regulated by G protein-coupled receptor kinase 5 (GRK5). When beta(1)AR and PSD-95 were coexpressed with either GRK2 or GRK5 in COS-7 cells, GRK5 alone dramatically decreased the association of beta(1)AR with PSD-95, although GRK2 and GRK5 both could be co-immunoprecipitated with beta(1)AR and both could enhance receptor phosphorylation in vivo. Increasing expression of GRK5 in the cells led to further decreased beta(1)AR association with PSD-95. Stimulation with the beta(1)AR agonist isoproterenol further decreased PSD-95 binding to beta(1)AR. In addition, GRK5 protein kinase activity was required for this regulatory effect since a kinase-inactive GRK5 mutant had no effect on PSD-95 binding to beta(1)AR. Moreover, the regulatory effect of GRK5 on beta(1)AR association with PSD-95 was observed only when GRK5 was expressed together with the receptor, but not when GRK5 was coexpressed with PSD-95. Thus, we propose that GRK5 regulates beta(1)AR association with PSD-95 through phosphorylation of beta(1)AR. Regulation of protein association through receptor phosphorylation may be a general mechanism used by G protein-coupled receptors that associate via PDZ domain-mediated protein/protein interactions.
Scalar relativistic all-electron density functional calculations on periodic systems.

Scalar relativistic effects are included in periodic boundary conditions calculations with Gaussian orbitals. This approach is based on the third-order Douglas–Kroll–Hess approximation, allowing the treatment of all electrons on an equal footing. With this methodology, we are able to perform relativistic all-electron density functional calculations using the traditional local spin-density and generalized gradient approximations (GGA), as well as meta-GGA and hybrid density functionals. We present benchmark results for the bulk metals Pd, Ag, Pt, and Au, and the large band gap semiconductors AgF and AgCl.
Towards Pharmacological Modulation of ETS-Dependent Transcription

Specific inhibition or activation of enzymes and other proteins with small molecules is a widely exploited approach to modulating cellular pathways. Targeting the expression of these proteins at the level of transcription has remained relatively unexplored, however, and may offer significant biotechnological and therapeutic potential. We are interested in pharmacological modulation of genes controlled by members of the ETS family of transcription factors. ETS proteins are widely distributed among metazoan phyla and regulate a functionally diverse array of genes. As a model system, we have characterized the inhibition of sequence-specific binding of the ETS domain of PU.1 (Spi-1) to a natural high-affinity site by distamycin. Using previously established thermodynamic data on this protein-DNA system, we have refined the experimental conditions for surface-plasmon resonance (SPR) overcome mass transfer and other issues that have limited the use of SPR in protein-DNA interactions under physiologically relevant conditions. We found that distamycin potently inhibits PU.1 ETS binding with an IC50 of 2.5 nM under physiologic conditions. Since distamycin binds in the minor groove and ETS domains recognize their consensus motif in the major groove, this is an example of allosteric inhibition of a DNA-binding protein. We are now extending our studies to explore the potential of inhibiting the ptgs2 promoter, a native ETS-dependent promoter sequence, in live cells. We have engineered a reporter system based on a bright but destabilized green fluorescent protein (GFP) with a 2-hour biological half-life. We are characterizing this system in various cell lines that respond to various stimuli by inducing expression of the ptgs2 gene. We expect the combination of SPR and GFP reporter to serve as a useful platform for screening and developing ETS-targeting drug candidates.
Broadband silicon photonic switch integrated with CMOS drive electronics

A CMOS driver and broadband silicon photonic switch are co-designed and wire-bond packaged. The integrated switch demonstrates less than 2.1-ns transition times, better than 15-dB extinction, and 5.9-mW total power consumption.
Structural Effects in the Protonic/Electronic Conductivity of Dion-Jacobson Phase Niobate and Tantalate Layered Perovskites

The layered Dion-Jacobson phase perovskites HLaTa2O7·xH2O, HLaNb2O7·0.5H2O and structural variants of HLaNb2O7·0.5H2O were prepared and their AC and DC conductivities were measured as a function of temperature and atmosphere. The layered structure in HLaNb2O7·0.5H2O was modified by pillaring, exfoliation-restacking, and further annealing. Exfoliation followed by restacking markedly increased the ionic conductivity, either by creation of mesopores for hydration or by enhanced contact between layers, but pillaring had little effect. HLaNb2O7·0.5H2O was prone to reduction under hydrogen, yielding a mixed ionic-electronic conductor. In-plane conductivity measurements of an oriented film of HLaNb2O7·0.5H2O showed enhanced ionic conductivity attributed to the anisotropic conductivity of the sheets, but reduction under a hydrogen atmosphere was apparent. The reduction could be suppressed by adding water vapor to the ambient atmosphere or by replacing the B-site niobium with tantalum, which is less easily reduced.
MOTHERING, FATHERING, AND DIVORCE: THE INFLUENCE OF DIVORCE ON REPORTS OF AND DESIRES FOR MATERNAL AND PATERNAL INVOLVEMENT*

The present study investigated the extent to which young adults’ reports of—and desires for—maternal and paternal involvement differed between intact and divorced families. An ethnically diverse sample of 1,376 young adults completed measures of reported and desired mothering and fathering across 20 parenting domains. Results indicated that both reports of and desires for father involvement differed sharply by family form (intact versus divorced), whereas few family form differences emerged for reported or desired mother involvement. These findings are discussed in terms of implications for custody and access decisions within the family court system.
The relationships of national gender equality and organizational support with work-family balance: A study of European managers

Most prior research about employees’ work-family balance has examined relationships to organizational characteristics or individual characteristics, but ignored the larger national context in which these relationships occur. We developed a model suggesting that the degree of national gender equality is an important contextual variable that is positively related to organizational work-family supports (i.e. supportive work-family culture and flexible work arrangements), which are in turn related to individual managers’ balance of their work and family responsibilities. We tested the model using survey responses from 505 managers and professionals from 20 European countries and United Nations’ Gender Development Index scores of national gender equality for their countries, and found some support for the predicted relationships. These results highlight the importance of considering the larger context, and especially a nation’s standing in terms of its gender equality, for understanding work-family balance.
Dynamic Kernel Function Fast Fourier Transform With Variable Truncation Scheme for Wideband Coarse Frequency Detection

A 2.56-gigasample-per-second (GSPS) fixed-point fixed-precision dynamic kernel function fast Fourier transform (FFT) with a variable truncation scheme (VTS) is designed for real-time wideband signal detection. Using an Atmel 10-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC), the two-tone real-time signal detection is verified for a bandwidth of 1.14 GHz with 20-MHz channelization and output throughput rates of 50 ns. The proposed design has an averaged single-signal spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) of 27.7 dB and the ability to detect a weak input signal at -45 dBm. The overall dynamic range (DR) of the system is 40.6 dB. This is possible for a fixed-precision FFT design due to the embedded VTS to extend the total DR while preserving the instantaneous DR (IDR) relationship. In addition, with an ideal 8-bit ADC, the averaged single-signal SFDR of 32.60 dB and the two-tone signal IDR of 22 dB are achieved. The overall DR is 48.3 dB. The dynamic kernel FFT uses about 57% of the slices available on a Xilinx XC4VSX55 Virtex 4 field-programmable gate array (FPGA). In comparison with alternative implementations based on Xilinx LogicCORE 256-point IP FFT for 8-bit data, the processing time and the overall DR are considerably superior. Additional case studies that applying the windowing function and the Taylor-series-based square root approximation show favorable results utilizing the VTS for real-time data acquisition and signal-enhancement algorithms for computing high-bit-width data while minimizing the hardware.
Quantitation of pyrethrum residues in brown tree snakes.

A reversed-phase solid-phase extraction‐gas chromatography (SPE‐GC)‐electron capture detection method is developed to quantitate individual rethrin residues in pyrethrum-exposed brown tree snakes. Aliquots (6 g) of homogenized snake tissue are extracted with 10 mL acetonitrile. The rethrins are recovered from the acetonitrile extract and concentrated using C 8 SPE. The rethrins are eluted from the SPE column with pentane, evaporated to near dryness, and reconstituted to 1 mL with 1-propanol. Individual rethrins are quantitated using GC analysis of the 1-propanol solution. Method limits of detection for rethrins range from 0.63 to 6.51 ng/g. The mean recovery for all rethrins is 70.8% with a standard deviation of 5.7%. This method is used to successfully quantitate incurred rethrin residues in pyrethrum-exposed brown tree snakes.
Benefits of digital hearing aids

The author examines the physiological and psychological characteristics of the impaired ear and attempts to develop an understanding that can be used as the basis for designing a hearing aid. In addition, the limitations of today's hearing aids are examined. Secondly, new technology, such as digital signal processing, are examined as to its potential in hearing aid applications. Is digital processing practical and what are the potential benefits? Lastly, future directions of hearing aid research and development are discussed. >
The challenge of mixed cerebrovascular disease

Stroke in general, and ischemic stroke in particular, are routinely defined using clinical criteria. Incorporating brain imaging and neuropathological findings into an expanded conceptual definition of stroke will result in a vastly increased prevalence of the disease. The resultant category of mixed cerebrovascular disease thus may include subclinical infarct, cerebral white matter disease, and cerebral microbleeds. Subclinical brain infarcts occur five times more frequently than does clinical ischemic stroke. Abnormalities of cerebral white matter are present in more than 95% of the population over the age of 65 years, and magnetic resonance imaging evidence of cerebral microbleeds is found in at least 18% of the population, beginning at the age of 60 years. Pathologic evidence supports at least a partial microvascular origin for cerebral white matter disease and cerebral microbleeds. Emphasizing mixed cerebrovascular disease as a conceptual framework allows for a focus on common underlying mechanisms and new therapeutic strategies.
Gene Expression Patterns Associated with the Biosynthesis of the Sunscreen Scytonemin in Nostoc punctiforme ATCC 29133 in Response to UVA Radiation

Under exposure to UV radiation, some cyanobacteria synthesize sunscreen compounds. Scytonemin is a heterocyclic indole-alkaloid sunscreen, the synthesis of which is induced upon exposure to UVA (long-wavelength UV) radiation. We previously identified and characterized an 18-gene cluster associated with scytonemin biosynthesis in the cyanobacterium Nostoc punctiforme ATCC 29133; we now report on the expression response of these genes to a step-up shift in UVA exposure. Using quantitative PCR on cDNAs from the N. punctiforme transcriptome and primers targeting each of the 18 genes in the cluster, we followed their differential expression in parallel subcultures incubated with and without UVA. All 18 genes are induced by UVA irradiation, with relative transcription levels that generally peak after 48 h of continuous UVA exposure. A five-gene cluster implicated in the process of scytonemin biosynthesis solely on the basis of comparative genomics was also upregulated. Furthermore, we demonstrate that all of the genes in the18-gene region are cotranscribed as part of a single transcriptional unit.
OMICtools: an informative directory for multi-omic data analysis

Recent advances in ‘omic’ technologies have created unprecedented opportunities for biological research, but current software and database resources are extremely fragmented. OMICtools is a manually curated metadatabase that provides an overview of more than 4400 web-accessible tools related to genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics. All tools have been classified by omic technologies (next-generation sequencing, microarray, mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance) associated with published evaluations of tool performance. Information about each tool is derived either from a diverse set of developers, the scientific literature or from spontaneous submissions. OMICtools is expected to serve as a useful didactic resource not only for bioinformaticians but also for experimental researchers and clinicians. Database URL: http://omictools.com/
The Structure of Morphological and Genetic Diversity in Natural Populations of Carica papaya (Caricaceae) in Costa Rica

In Costa Rica, dioecious Carica papaya has been observed growing in disturbed areas and within secondary lowland forests. Such populations can serve as a reservoir of genetic and morphological diversity for this tropical fruit crop. We quantify the levels and patterns of the diversity of naturally occurring populations of C. papaya and address the demographic history of these populations. We measured 29 vegetative and reproductive morphological traits in situ from 252 plants and found significant heterogeneity among regional populations in the majority of these traits. Significant variation was found among regional populations with respect to fruit size and shape, with plants in the Nicoya Peninsula possessing smaller, less fleshy fruit, a characteristic of previously described wild populations of papaya. We then assessed the levels and patterns of genetic diversity in 164 plants from natural populations and 20 cultivars. Natural populations exhibit a deficiency of heterozygotes; however, this is much more pronounced within the cultivars. Although there is little genetic differentiation among natural populations, we did find evidence of cryptic genetic population structure. Analyses of population demography indicate that these natural populations have undergone a recent genetic bottleneck, followed by recent population expansion, possibly promoted by the transformation of the Costa Rican landscape for agricultural use. Abstract in Spanish is available at http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/loi/btp.
Hearing in tiger beetles (Cicindelidae).

. Tympanic hearing organs (ears) are reported for several tiger beetle (Cicindelidae) species. The paired ears are positioned bilaterally on the first abdominal tergum and consist of cavities covered by thin tympana. When the beetle is not flying the elytra covers its ears and reduces their sensitivity to sound. However, when the beetle is flying, its exposed ears are capable of detecting ultrasonic pulses. Under a microscope, beetles with their elytra artificially raised contract their abdomens in response to ultrasound. Ultrasonic emissions directed toward flying beetles induce them immediately to fly downward and land, a response which probably aids escape from predators, particularly echolocating bats. Other possible uses for the ears are the avoidance of diurnal insect predators and intraspecific communication.
Detection and removal of brood infested with eggs and larvae of small hive beetles (Aethina tumida Murray) by Russian honey bees

SummaryThe response of Russian honey bees to brood infested with small hive beetle (SHB) eggs and larvae was compared to that of a commercial stock (predominantly of A. m. ligustica). Test brood was grouped as follows: a) NoP = no perforation either of capping or cell wall; b) PWall = perforation of cell wall only; c) PCap = perforation of capping only; and d) PBoth = capping and cell wall perforations. All perforations were made by SHB. Our results showed that brood cells with perforations of the cell wall (PWall and PBoth) had the highest infestation (76.53 ± 2.10%) and number of eggs (58.46 ± 2.85 eggs). Because PCap showed low levels of infestation (29.17 ± 3.31% and 15.60 ± 1.31 eggs per infested cell), we calculated brood removal based on data from PWall and PBoth groups. Within 6 h, both stocks removed the contents of 39.24 ± 4.94% of PWall cells. A higher removal rate of 50.51 ± 5.80% was observed in PBoth cells. These two groups of brood had the highest numbers of eggs per infested cell (50–70 eg...
Haven for the night: sleeping site selection in a wild primate

Many animals seek refuge when they sleep, often employing different sleeping sites in successive time periods. Switching from one sleeping site to another might reduce predation or parasite exposure or increase proximity to food resources that are temporally and spatially heterogenous. However, achieving these effects will depend on the synchronous and nonsynchronous use of the same sleeping sites by conspecifics. We assessed the use of multiple sleeping sites by 5 wild baboon (Papio cynocephalus) social groups to evaluate how sites were exploited at both the population and group level. Of 126 woodland sleeping sites used by the study population over ~900 nights of observation, 10 sites were used more than 100 times; these preferred sites accounted for ~60% of all known sleeping sites. On average, individual groups left sleeping sites after 1–2 nights of continuous use, and the same group did not reuse a site for an average of 45 nights. However, at the population level, preferred sites were reused on average every 4 nights. This near-continuous occupation suggests that groups competed for access to preferred sites, perhaps because preferred sites represented better protection from predators, lower parasite prevalence, or had better foraging opportunities nearby. The number of trees in a sleeping site and the time since a site was last used were significant factors distinguishing sites used on a given night by the most dominant versus most subordinate social group. These findings highlight the importance of evaluating resource use at multiple levels of social organization.
Early Identification of Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Early identification and treatment of children with autism and other developmental disorders is an international priority. Currently there is great interest in lowering the age of identification. Attention has been focused on public awareness campaigns and the regular use of developmental screening tests by health care providers, health workers and others. In this article the authors discuss the rationale for the use of autism specific screening tests, review the characteristics of selected tools, and make recommendations for the diagnostic evaluation of young children for autism spectrum disorder in an international context.
Professional Writing Expertise.

Writing extended texts for publication is a major cognitive challenge, even for professionals who compose for a living. Serious writing is at once a thinking task, a language task, and a memory task. A professional writer can hold multiple representations in mind while adeptly juggling the basic processes of planning ideas, generating sentences, and reviewing how well the process is going. This chapter will open with the question of how to define the concept of professional writing and an explanation of the demands that writing processes make on cognitive resources. The characteristics of professional-level writers and writing expertise are then enumerated and explored. In the final section, the acquisition of writing skill will be discussed, with comparisons and contrasts to other kinds of expertise highlighted. Much remains to be learned, but the lessons from the state-of-the-art research literature can be helpful to aspiring professional writers.
The Asymptotic Distribution of Characteristic Roots and Vectors in Multivariate Components of Variance

The asymptotic distribution of the characteristic roots and vectors of one Wishart matrix in the metric of another as the two degrees of freedom increase in fixed proportion is obtained. In the balanced one-way multivariate analysis of variance these two matrices are the sample effect and error covariance matrices, and the numbers of degrees of freedom are (approximately) proportional to the number of classes. The maximum likelihood estimate of the effect covariance matrix of a given rank depends on the characteristic roots and vectors.
FMAC for coexisting ad hoc cognitive radio networks

Media access control plays a critical role in cognitive radio networks (CRNs). In our previous work, we have proposed a fairness-oriented media access control (FMAC) protocol to achieve fair and efficient coexistence of infrastructure-based CRNs. In this paper, we enhance FMAC to be used for coexisting ad hoc CRNs, where no centralized base stations exist, and secondary users (SUs) access channel independently. In FMAC, the contention window size is essential to network performance such as throughput. We first derive the optimal contention window size, which can then be used by SUs to achieve optimal throughput. However, the optimal contention window size is closely related to the total number of users of all CRNs, which is typically unknown to each individual SU of coexisting ad hoc CRNs. We attack this problem by building a bridge between the average number of consecutive idle time slots and optimal contention window size, since the average number of consecutive idle time slots can be easily observed by each individual SU. Hence, SUs can independently adjust their contention window size by observing their current average number of consecutive idle time slots and eventually approach the optimal contention window without the information of the total number of SUs. Extensive simulations are conducted and the results verify that the enhanced FMAC is able to significantly improve the fairness among coexisting ad hoc CRNs while maintaining good throughput.
Eukaryotic Initiation Factor eIFiso4G1 and eIFiso4G2 Are Isoforms Exhibiting Distinct Functional Differences in Supporting Translation in Arabidopsis.

The eukaryotic translation initiation factor (eIF) 4G is required during protein synthesis to promote the assembly of several factors involved in the recruitment of a 40S ribosomal subunit to an mRNA. Although many eukaryotes express two eIF4G isoforms that are highly similar, the eIF4G isoforms in plants, referred to as eIF4G and eIFiso4G, are highly divergent in size, sequence, and domain organization but both can interact with eIF4A, eIF4B, eIF4E isoforms, and the poly(A)-binding protein. Nevertheless, eIF4G and eIFiso4G from wheat exhibit preferences in the mRNAs they translate optimally. For example, mRNA containing the 5′-leader (called Ω) of tobacco mosaic virus preferentially uses eIF4G in wheat germ lysate. In this study, the eIF4G isoform specificity of Ω was used to examine functional differences of the eIF4G isoforms in Arabidopsis. As in wheat, Ω-mediated translation was reduced in an eif4g null mutant. Loss of the eIFiso4G1 isoform, which is similar in sequence to wheat eIFiso4G, did not substantially affect Ω-mediated translation. However, loss of the eIFiso4G2 isoform substantially reduced Ω-mediated translation. eIFiso4G2 is substantially divergent from eIFiso4G1 and is present only in the Brassicaceae, suggesting a recent evolution. eIFiso4G2 isoforms exhibit sequence-specific differences in regions representing partner protein and RNA binding sites. Loss of any eIF4G isoform also resulted in a substantial reduction in reporter transcript level. These results suggest that eIFiso4G2 appeared late in plant evolution and exhibits more functional similarity with eIF4G than with eIFiso4G1 during Ω-mediated translation.
Robert Katzmann's "Judging Statutes"

Chief Judge Robert Katzmann has written a compelling short book about statutory interpretation, stressing the importance to sensible interpretation of knowing Congress as an institution (as few judges do). Both as a resource for teaching, and as a useful compendium of the current literature, it is a very welcome addition to the genre. Though he is careful and fair to both, readers will not be surprised to find his views on the purposive rather than the textualist side of the current disputes.. The book could set the framework for a two or three hour legislation class supplemented by cases and other readings of the instructor’s choosing. Or it might more simply be used as an independent reading assignment as law school begins, to apprise twenty-first century law students just how important the interpretation of statutes will prove to be in the profession they are entering, and how unsettled are the judiciary’s means of dealing with them. It should be required reading for all who teach in the field.
A Qualitative Analysis of Post-operative Nutritional Barriers and Useful Dietary Services Reported by Bariatric Surgical Patients

Outcomes studies show many bariatric patients fail to lose optimal weight or regain significant weight post-surgery. One reason for weight regain may be difficulty adhering to the postoperative diet. Cross-sectional survey methodology collected text data on perceived postoperative nutritional barriers and helpful dietary services reported by bariatric patients. Participants were solicited from an online obesity support website, and 440 responses related to perceived barriers and 330 responses regarding postoperative services were examined using inductive content analysis. Barriers were categorized as being Internal, External, and None. Internal barriers were classified as Psychological, Physiological, and Psychophysiological, with Psychophysiological being the most commonly reported (85.9 %). Helpful services reported included categories of None, Provided, and On their Own. Sixty-two percent of participants reported receiving at least one Provided service that was helpful, including knowledge and support from professionals like registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs). However, 22 % of participants reported seeking out at least one service On their Own such as through the Internet, and 27 % of participants reported not receiving or not using any helpful services. The physiological nature of post-surgical changes and the mental stamina required of positive eating habits contribute to postoperative adherence difficulties. Many patients likely exhibit poor habits pre-surgery, and without added help to change these behaviors may regain weight. Participants in this study indicated that convenient access to an RDN was helpful. Bariatric facilities should include staff well-trained in the specific nutritional barriers patients face and provide availability of staff beyond the initial postoperative phase.
Has the Individual Retirement Account Lost its Luster? Recent Scrutiny of Rollovers and Non-Spousal Inheritance Rights May Dull the Ira for Retirement and Estate Planning

While the legal landscape is constantly evolving, some areas of the law seem to be more fluid than others. Taxation is one area of the law that seems to be in a perpetual state of flux -- and the 2013 tax year was no exception. Many of the recent changes in the tax landscape involve the treatment of the Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) -- perhaps in large part due to the ever-growing popularity of these planning vehicles.As of 2012, 40 percent of American used IRAs as part of their retirement income planning strategies. According to data reported the third quarter in 2013, a quarter, or $6.2 trillion, of retirement assets were held in IRAs. In other words, IRAs have taken center stage in the retirement income-planning arena, so it comes as no surprise that their tax treatment has received significant attention in recent months. All eyes are now focused on recent developments that may impact how this critical tax-deferred retirement vehicle is used in the future. To this end, this Highlight will explore: (1) the creation of the IRA; (2) major developments in the laws that impact IRAs; (3) a recent Tax Court decision's modifications to the rules governing IRA-to-IRA rollover; and (4) the pending Supreme Court decision regarding the asset protection rules applicable to non-spousal inherited IRAs.
The Multi-State Performance Test: A Measure of Law Schools' Competence to Prepare Lawyers

Since the emergence of the university law school as the primary educator of almost all American lawyers, some members of the profession have questioned its focus as unacceptably remote from law practice. Ironically, law schools grew in prominence in the nineteenth century against a backdrop of apprenticeships with practicing lawyers in which, for a fee, the trainees read Blackstone and Coke, copied legal documents, and watched their mentor do his work. This "hands-on" training lost any attraction it may have had to an aspiring lawyer very quickly. The arrangement had a tendency to degenerate into mere drudgery in the absence of a dedicated lawyer-teacher in the role of the supervising attorney. It is not surprising, then, that when Harvard Law School in 1829 filled its prestigious Dane professorship by the appointment of United States Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story, students who could afford it preferred life in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to what was the dreary routine of the law office apprenticeship.The education of lawyers has long been characterized by the debate about how lawyers are best trained. Is the best preparation for the true lawyer the study of the law through noteworthy case opinions as a science within the classroom, or is it through apprentice-training under the supervision of lawyers, some of whom have themselves become skilled in its actual practice? A close reading of the seminal advocates of each approach belies the simplistic aspects of such a dichotomous question. Christopher C. Langdell, the father of the modern American law school himself, speaks of legal doctrine's application to human affairs as what endows its true significance. And Jerome Frank, the eminent New Dealer and the apostle of the "law clinic," recognizes the critical role of the knowledge of legal rules and principles of opinions in a lawyer's armamentarium. Thus, any consideration of how law schools may best prepare competent lawyers must necessarily accept that the answer is a matter of balance in emphasis, and not the exclusion of either the intellectual challenge or practical experience. Both knowledge and its application are essential, although at times through the history of legal education, one or the other has taken a secondary role.In this essay, I will address two issues that provide the context for the place of a performance test in a bar exam alongside the multi-state objective and essay form components: First, what is the significance of the implementation of the performance test as part of the bar exam? Second, will the performance test affect the way law schools prepare students to be lawyers? After all, the emergence of the Multi-State Performance Test provides the law school with yet another opportunity to reflect on how it prepares its students for the practice of law.
Thermodynamic and kinetic destabilization of magnesium hydride using Mg-In solid solution alloys.

Efforts to thermodynamically destabilize magnesium hydride (MgH2), so that it can be used for practical hydrogen storage applications, have been a difficult challenge that has eluded scientists for decades. This letter reports that MgH2 can indeed be destabilized by forming solid solution alloys of magnesium with group III and IVB elements, such as indium. Results of this research showed that the equilibrium hydrogen pressure of a Mg–0.1In alloy is 70% higher than that of pure MgH2. The temperature at 1 bar hydrogen pressure (T1bar) of Mg–0.1In alloy was reduced to 262.9 °C from 278.9 °C, which is the T1bar of pure MgH2. Furthermore, the kinetic rates of dehydrogenation of Mg–0.1In alloy hydride doped with a titanium intermetallic (TiMn2) catalyst were also significantly improved compared with those of MgH2.
Oügenesis and Oviposition in Chrysops atlanticus (Diptera: Tabanidae)

Chrysops atlanticus Pechuman females contained as much as 50% yolk in ovarian follicles one day after eclosion. Autogenous egg development was completed within 10 days of adult emergence. C. atlanticus also produced and deposited eggs in the laboratory following the ingestion of human blood, but neither the rate of follicular development nor fecundity significantly differed when data from autogenous and anautogenous cycles were compared. Of the 40 egg masses collected from S. alterniflora leaves, egg numbers averaged 167.6 and ranged 15-256; hatch rates averaged 78%. Sucrose supplements (10% solutions) enhanced the survival of females in the laboratory by an avg of 20 days but had no apparent affect on fecundity. No more than one follicular relic (= dilatation) could be found per ovariole in field-caught, host-seeking flies or in a blood-fed female that had oviposited in the laboratory; thus, the reliability of the Polovodova method for physiological age determination of this species is questionable.
Characteristics of Super-high Yield Population in Yongyou Series of Hybrid Rice

A field experiment was conducted using the representative indica-japonica hybrid rice Yongyou 11, Yongyou 12,Yongyou 13, Yongyou 15, and Yongyou 17 to compare between super-high and high yield populations formed by the regulation of cultivation measures. The results showed that the spikelets of the super-high yield population was higher than that of high yield population, with difference very significant, but the seed-setting rate and 1000-grain weight of the super-high yield population were lower than those of high yield population. The average spikelets per panicle was significantly higher than that of high yield population, meanwhile the number of the primary and secondary branches and total grains were higher than those of high yield population, showing a significant or very significant difference. The dry matter accumulation of the super-high yield population was a little lower than that of the high yield population at the jointing stage, but higher at heading and maturity stages. From the critical leaf-age for productive tillers to jointing stage, the super-high yield population had a steady growth with less ineffective tillers and lower peak number of tillers after jointing stage, the super-high yield population had a steady decline in number of tillers and had higher productive tillers rate, leaf area index, photosynthetic potential and dry matter accumulation, compared with the high yield population. The super-high yield population had higher culm diameter and culm wall thickness in the basal first, second and third internodes, as well as higher bender moment and anti-broken strength, and lower lodging index than the high yield population.
The origins of early american crucible steelmaking: Little competition to the sheffield masters

Over the last twenty years, there has been a discernible increase in the number of scholars who have focused their research on metal production, working and use in antiquity, a field of study which has come to be known as archaeometallurgy. Materials scientists and conservators have worked primarily in the laboratory while archaeologists have conducted fieldwork geared to the study of metal technology in a cultural context with laboratory analysis as one portion of the interpretive program.
Electron backscatter diffraction from unpolished particulate specimens: Examples of particle identification and application to inhalable mineral particulate identification

By simply crushing mineral grains, suspending the powder in a liquid, and dispersing the suspension on a suitable substrate, it is possible to collect adequate compositional and structural information to identify an unknown phase using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) and an electron backscatter diffraction system (EBSD). This technique could have important applications in the identification of inhalable particulate material. A simple test is presented to show how SEM/EDS/EBSD data are used to accurately determine the identity of mineral particles. Individual EBSD patterns contain more useful structural information and can be collected and interpreted more quickly than individual selected-area electron diffraction patterns collected with a transmission electron microscope. A case study is presented as an example of how EBSD is able to determine the phase identity of a potentially asbestiform mineral.
Advancing the understanding of petrophysical data through joint clustering inversion: A sulfide deposit example from Bathurst Mining Camp

Effective use of geophysical methods for mineral exploration requires a good understanding of the petrophysics in the study area. The measured physical property values often show a great level of spread over a wide range, which makes the use of such information challenging in both geophysical inversion and geological interpretation. Often we use a single value such as the mean density value as the representative of the variable density values of a lithological unit. We demonstrate through a field data example from Bathurst Mining Camp that this oversimplified approach does not honor the complexity of the mineralogical and geological processes associated with a lithological unit. We show that we can rectify and advance our understanding of the underlying petrophysics through an iterative use of geophysical inversion, specifically joint clustering inversion, as a hypothesis testing tool.
Reproductive aging: insights from model organisms.

Aging was once thought to be the result of a general deterioration of tissues as opposed to their being under regulatory control. However, investigations in a number of model organisms have illustrated that aspects of aging are controlled by genetic mechanisms and are potentially manipulable, suggesting the possibility of treatment for age-related disorders. Reproductive decline is one aspect of aging. In model organisms and humans of both sexes, increasing age is associated with both a decline in the number of progeny and an increased incidence of defects. The cellular mechanisms of reproductive aging are not well understood, although a number of factors, both intrinsic and extrinsic to an organism’s germline, may contribute to aging phenotypes. Recent work in a variety of organisms suggests that nuclear organization and nuclear envelope proteins may play a role in these processes. Consequences of reproductive aging Reproductive capacity is one of the earliest systems to decline during the lifespan of many metazoans, producing both a decline in the quantity of progeny and an increase in the risk of defects in those progeny well before the end of life. In humans, older maternal age has been associated with higher risk of miscarriage, birth defects and complications during pregnancy [1]. An increased risk of defects is related to paternal age as well; children of older fathers carry a higher risk of neurological disorders such as schizophrenia [2]andotherbirthdefects[3].Increasedageofeitherparentis associatedwithalowerchanceofsuccessfulpregnancy.There is also a growing body of evidence that model organisms experience an early and progressive loss of fecundity with age that echoes that of humans. Thus studies in these organisms can provide useful insights into the common pathways that lead to this decline. The present review describes our current understanding of the molecular basis for reproductive aging and the parallels in model organisms, with a specific focus on emerging research on the nuclear lamina.
An interview with P. Jeffrey Conn.

How did you come to be interested in pharmacology? I became interested in severe brain disorders as a teenager. I watched a close friend experience a suddenonset psychotic break, beginning the journey of a lifelong struggle with schizophrenia. Over time, I became increasingly aware of the struggles of other friends and family members with serious brain disorders. I wanted to understand and help individuals dealing with these devastating disorders, and I therefore entered college with the plan of becoming a clinical psychologist. In my first year as a psychology graduate student I took an introductory course in psychopharmacology and was immediately hooked. I became convinced that the best approach to helping patients suffering from severe brain disorders was to understand the neurobiology and pathophysiology underlying these disorders, and to use this understanding to guide discovery of new therapies. I decided to transition from psychology to pharmacology, and I therefore took courses to strengthen my background in chemistry and biology to allow me to enter a graduate program in pharmacology.