cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparative Effectiveness of Initial Treatment at Trauma Center vs Neurosurgery-Capable Non-Trauma Center for Severe, Isolated Head Injury.

Background Head injury is an increasing contributor to death and disability, particularly among the elderly. Older patients are less likely to be treated at trauma centers, and head injury is the most common severe injury treated at non-trauma centers. We hypothesized that patients initially triaged to trauma centers would have lower rates of mortality and higher rates of discharge home without services than those treated at non-trauma centers. Study Design We used the State Emergency Department and Inpatient Databases (2011 to 2012) for 6 states to conduct a retrospective cohort study of patients with severe, isolated head injury. Combined, these databases capture all visits to non-federal emergency departments. We compared in-hospital mortality and discharge status for all adults and for the subgroup aged 65 years or older who initially presented to either a trauma center or a neurosurgery-capable non-trauma center. To account for selection bias, we used differential distance from patients' homes to a trauma center as an instrumental variable and performed a multivariable matched analysis. Results Of 62,198 patients who presented with severe, isolated head injury, 44.2% presented to non-trauma centers and 55.8% to trauma centers. In multivariable matched instrumental variable analysis, initial presentation to a trauma center was associated with no significant difference in overall mortality (−1.06%; 95% CI −3.36% to 1.19%), but a 5.8% higher rate of discharge home (95% CI 1.7% to 10.0%). Among patients aged 65 years or older, initial presentation to a trauma center was associated with a 3.4% reduction in mortality (95% CI 0.0% to 7.1%). Conclusions Patients with isolated, severe head injury have better outcomes if initially treated in designated trauma centers. As 40% of such patients were triaged to non-trauma centers, there are major opportunities for improving outcomes.
Midline (central) fluid percussion model of traumatic brain injury in pediatric and adolescent rats

OBJECTIVE Experimental traumatic brain injury (TBI) models hold significant validity to the human condition, with each model replicating a subset of clinical features and symptoms. TBI is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in children and teenagers; thus, it is critical to develop preclinical models of these ages to test emerging treatments. Midline fluid percussion injury (FPI) might best represent mild and diffuse clinical brain injury because of the acute behavioral deficits, the late onset of behavioral morbidities, and the absence of gross histopathology. In this study, the authors sought to adapt a midline FPI to postnatal day (PND) 17 and 35 rats. The authors hypothesized that scaling the craniectomy size based on skull dimensions would result in a reproducible injury comparable to the standard midline FPI in adult rats. METHODS PND17 and PND35 rat skulls were measured, and trephines were scaled based on skull size. Custom trephines were made. Rats arrived on PND10 and were randomly assigned to one of 3 cohorts: PND17, PND35, and 2 months old. Rats were subjected to midline FPI, and the acute injury was characterized. The right reflex was recorded, injury-induced apnea was measured, injury-induced seizure was noted, and the brains were immediately examined for hematoma. RESULTS The authors' hypothesis was supported; scaling the trephines based on skull size led to a reproducible injury in the PND17 and PND35 rats that was comparable to the injury in a standard 2-month-old adult rat. The midline FPI suppressed the righting reflex in both the PND17 and PND35 rats. The injury induced apnea in PND17 rats that lasted significantly longer than that in PND35 and 2-month-old rats. The injury also induced seizures in 73% of PND17 rats compared with 9% of PND35 rats and 0% of 2-month-old rats. There was also a significant relationship between the righting reflex time and presence of seizure. Both PND17 and PND35 rats had visible hematomas with an intact dura, indicative of diffuse injury comparable to the injury observed in 2-month-old rats. CONCLUSIONS With these procedures, it becomes possible to generate brain-injured juvenile rats (pediatric [PND17] and adolescent [PND35]) for studies of injury-induced pathophysiology and behavioral deficits, for which rational therapeutic interventions can be implemented.
A new approach for evaluating the ductility, volumetric stiffness and permeability of cut-off wall backfill materials

The behaviour of soil–cement and plastic concrete cut-off walls in dams is critically affected by ductility and volumetric stiffness. Post-construction deformation of cut-off walls is common due to...
Opportunity Initiated Systems Design: A Case Study

The field of Instructional Systems Design (ISD) provides models from which instructional changes can be designed and implemented. In ISD programs, students develop skills in the application of this process and apply these skills in a variety of settings. Although our models also provide a framework from which program change can proceed, few examples exist of the application of ISD to the design of an educational system (Squire, 1999). In this paper we describe the application of Opportunity Initiated Systems Design, apractitioner-based ISD model, in light of our own formative evaluation and program revision of the Instructional Design and Technology program at the University of Iowa. In this case study, we found that the communication of shared definitions was critical and that the probabilistic nature of the model was not a limitation but rather a prompt for further opportunities.
Photodynamic therapy of pigmented choroidal melanomas.

Purpose. To evaluate the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy with chloroaluminum sulfonated phthalocyanine in the treatment of pigmented choroidal melanomas in a rabbit model. Methods. Pigment containing B16F10 murine melanoma cells were implanted transclerally into the subchoroidal space of 28 immunosuppressed New Zealand albino rabbits. The animals were treated with daily injections of cyclosporine and were followed up until tumors at least 2 mm in height were detected by ultrasonography. Twenty-four hours after the intravenous injection of chloroaluminum sulfonated phthalocyanine (CASPc, 5 mg/kg), tumors were irradiated at 675 nm through an argon-pumped dye laser at estimated total light doses of 25 to 70 J/cm 2 . Control animals were treated with light only or photosensitizer only. The animals were followed up for 4 1/2 to 8 weeks with regular fundus examinations. Results. Twenty tumor-bearing rabbits were treated with light and dye. The tumor regressed in 12 animals. Five of these animals were followed up for at least 4 1/2 weeks and the other seven for 8 weeks after treatment. At light doses under 40 J/cm 2 , tumor regrowth was observed in five animals within 10 days of treatment. In all control groups, the tumor-bearing eyes were filled with tumor cells by the third week after implantation. Histologic examination of tumors treated with photosensitizer and light revealed prominent vascular damage early after treatment that resulted in vascular occlusion. Tumor necrosis was evident within 24 hours of treatment. Conclusions. Results suggest that photodynamic therapy may have a role in the treatment of pigmented choroidal melanomas
Married women's labor supply and economic development: Evidence from Sri Lankan household data

Women's labor supply in Sri Lanka has increased steadily since the early 1990s following economic reforms, but remains well below the level predicted by national income, a feature shared by a number of Asian and Latin American countries that have undergone similar reforms and economic growth. To understand the microeconomic determinants of women's work in Sri Lanka's growing economy, this paper estimates a binary‐choice model of married women's labor supply using household survey data spanning a 23‐year period. Decomposition and cohort analysis reveal that women have been drawn into the workforce through falling fertility rates, rising tertiary education, and declining income effects among younger generations, but other factors have undermined this positive trend. Educational attainment reduces married women's labor supply except at the tertiary level, consistent with social stigmas associated with married women in non‐white‐collar employment. The strict sectoral segregation of married women by education level supports this hypothesis. In addition, growth has been concentrated in low‐skilled sectors with self‐employment more prevalent, reducing employment prospects of educated women and prompting their labor force withdrawal. This suggests it is the structure of economic development, rather than speed, that matters for women's labor force activity.
Treatment of Simulated Oil and Gas Produced Water via Pilot-Scale Rhizofiltration and Constructed Wetlands

Extraction of petroleum, natural gas and coal bed methane is often accompanied by the release of large volumes of produced water (PW). Untreated PW poses environmental and health risks; however, there are opportunities for beneficial reuse if potentially hazardous constituents are removed. In a hydroponic system, four plant species (cattail, Typha latifolia; sedge, Carex blanda, sunflower, Helianthus annuus; and Indian mustard, Brassica juncea) were assessed for tolerance to, and rhizofiltration of, metals occurring in synthetic PW. In a separate study, cattail and sedge were grown in a pilot-scale constructed wetland containing either soil or peat and tested for the removal of PW metals. After reaction with PW for 10 weeks in the hydroponic system, Indian mustard was the most effective in removal of Na. All species accumulated more metals in roots compared to aboveground shoots. Cattail roots had the highest BCF for Cr (1156), Cu (2911) and Cd (6047). Mustard roots had a high BCF for Cd (3485). Mustard, cattail and sedge all had TF values 100). TF values for most metals were low. Metal removal, as indicated by tissue metal concentration and BCF, was typically much higher using constructed wetlands compared with rhizofiltration. Based on these data, constructed wetlands may serve as a low-cost, environmentally benign method for the treatment of PW. The reported study may be of practical value to oil and gas production industries that plan to recycle or properly dispose large quantities of oil and gas production wastewater.
The Center for Regional and Tribal Child Welfare Studies: Reducing disparities through indigenous social work education

Abstract This research addresses one of the most pressing and controversial issues facing child welfare policymakers and practitioners today: the dramatic overrepresentation of Indigenous families in North American public child welfare systems. Effective, inclusive education is one necessary component of efforts to reduce such disparities. Yet recruiting students from various cultural communities to the field and educating white social work students and professionals to practice in culturally responsive ways are ongoing challenges. In this ethnography, we examine an apparently successful model of inclusive education: the Center for Regional and Tribal Child Welfare Studies (the Center) at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, School of Social Work. For over a decade, the Center has graduated Indigenous and non-Indigenous child welfare workers with MSWs now practicing within tribal communities, as well as provided continuing education for child welfare professionals. At the Center, Indigenous scholars and social workers, tribal leaders and their allies design and sustain a model of honoring and integrating Indigenous worldviews with Western social work. Experiential learning – engaging the “heart and head” – is a cornerstone of the Center's educational practices. Students and professional colleagues are approached with a “good heart” as “relatives” with positive intentions. They learn about the spirituality, language, culture and history of Indigenous people. The strengths-based curriculum also includes challenging content on the legacy of genocide and historical trauma on Indigenous families and communities, as well as contemporary laws and policies such as the Indian Child Welfare Act. The educational worldview and practices of the Center provide understanding for social work, generally, and child welfare, specifically, that supports effective practice and policy within diverse communities.
High-yield fabrication method for high-frequency graphene devices using titanium sacrificial layers

The authors present a fabrication process for the development of high-frequency (>30 GHz) on-wafer graphene devices with the use of titanium sacrificial layers. Graphene patterning requires chemical processes that have deleterious effects on graphene resulting in very low yield. The authors prevent delamination of the delicate graphene from the substrate during the fabrication steps by depositing a blanketing 30 nm titanium layer at the beginning of the process. Additionally, titanium is a low cost, hazardless, and well-established material in the semiconductor industry and, therefore, constitutes an attractive solution for graphene protection. With the proposed blanketing approach, the authors obtain more than 90% device yield, allowing the development of graphene-based reconfigurable, large-area, high-frequency topologies such as antenna arrays. Without the use of this titanium sacrificial layer, they show that the expected yield plummets. In addition, they validate the proposed fabrication procedure through on-wafer measurements in the 220–330 GHz range.The authors present a fabrication process for the development of high-frequency (>30 GHz) on-wafer graphene devices with the use of titanium sacrificial layers. Graphene patterning requires chemical processes that have deleterious effects on graphene resulting in very low yield. The authors prevent delamination of the delicate graphene from the substrate during the fabrication steps by depositing a blanketing 30 nm titanium layer at the beginning of the process. Additionally, titanium is a low cost, hazardless, and well-established material in the semiconductor industry and, therefore, constitutes an attractive solution for graphene protection. With the proposed blanketing approach, the authors obtain more than 90% device yield, allowing the development of graphene-based reconfigurable, large-area, high-frequency topologies such as antenna arrays. Without the use of this titanium sacrificial layer, they show that the expected yield plummets. In addition, they validate the proposed fabrication procedure th...
Comparative Study of 6/4 FSPM and SPM Machine for High-Speed Applications

The surface permanent magnet (SPM) and flux-switching permanent magnet (FSPM) machines are good candidates for high power density and high-speed applications. The SPM and FSPM machines share several similarities such as negligible reluctance torque and high equivalent air gap length. This paper gives a comprehensive comparison on the design of an eight pole SPM and a dual-stator 6/4 FSPM at two different design speeds. The choice and characteristics of magnet retaining sleeves in the SPM machine such as material, thickness, and loss at different speeds are discussed. Depending on the choice of the sleeve, the SPM machine can have severe thermal issues at the high-speed conditions due to either eddy current losses in the sleeve and magnet or low thermal conductivity of the sleeve material. In contrast, the dual-stator 6/4 FSPM machine can operate at high speeds easily because there is no magnet or retaining sleeve in the rotor.
The Scavenging Patterns of Feral Cats on Human Remains in an Outdoor Setting

Two cases of feral cat (Felis catus) scavenging were documented at the Forensic Investigation Research Station in Whitewater, Colorado. Human remains at the facility are placed outside, observed daily, documented with field notes, and photographed; decomposition is scored on a Likert scale. Scavenger activity is monitored with game cameras. The cases documented included: preferential scavenging of the soft tissue of the shoulder and arm, differential consumption of tissue layers, superficial defects, and no macroscopic skeletal defects. This pattern more closely parallels the documented pattern of bobcat (Lynx rufus) scavenging than that of domestic cats. Scavenging among felids is relatively rare, as felids typically prefer to hunt. Such cases studied in detail are relatively few, spatially relative, and lack statistical robustness. While only two examples are reported here, these cases are rare overall, and this documentation may help field investigators understand the place of feral cats within a local scavenger guild.
Pathways to Parenting: The Emotional Journeys of Fathers as They Prepare to Parent a New Infant

This chapter will review the literature on the psychological, social, and emotional preparations that fathers undergo as they prepare to parent a new infant. Risk and resilience factors associated with fathers’ emotional connection to the fetus and psychological adaptation during the perinatal period will be examined. Social and cultural narratives about the importance of early fathering and new data challenging these narratives will be presented. The state of the science of early fathering will be described with implications for clinical work with fathers.
The hidden landscape: Evidence that sea-level change shaped the present population genomic patterns of marginal marine species.

Oftentimes, to understand the genetic relatedness and diversity of today's populations requires considering the ancient landscape on which those populations evolved. Nowhere is this clearer than along Earth's coastline, which has been in its present-day configuration for only about 6.5% of the past 800,000 years (Dolby et al., 2020; Miller et al., 2005). During ice ages when glaciers expanded in the Northern Hemisphere, they stored enough of the planet's water to drop global sea level by ~120 m below present levels ("lowstand", Figure 1a), and there have been at least eight of these 100,000-year cycles preceding today. When glaciers melted, ocean water reflooded shorelines, shifting and re-forming marginal marine habitats globally and shaping the relatedness of populations (Dolby et al., 2016). In a From the Cover article in this issue of Molecular Ecology, Stiller et al. (2020) integrate population genomic analysis of leafy seadragons in southern Australia with estimates of available seabed area to reveal that the expansion of habitat that accompanied this reflooding led to strong demographic expansions. With statistical models, they also show that western populations were eliminated and then recolonized because the continental shelf there is narrow, leaving little available habitat when sea level was low (Figure 1b). Their results document the dynamic and interrelated nature of a hidden, changing landscape and the evolution of species inhabiting it.
Chemokine Receptor-6 Promotes B-1 Cell Trafficking to Perivascular Adipose Tissue, Local IgM Production and Atheroprotection.

Chemokine receptor-6 (CCR6) mediates immune cell recruitment to inflammatory sites and has cell type-specific effects on diet-induced atherosclerosis in mice. Previously we showed that loss of CCR6 in B cells resulted in loss of B cell-mediated atheroprotection, although the B cell subtype mediating this effect was unknown. Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) harbors high numbers of B cells including atheroprotective IgM secreting B-1 cells. Production of IgM antibodies is a major mechanism whereby B-1 cells limit atherosclerosis development. Yet whether CCR6 regulates B-1 cell number and production of IgM in the PVAT is unknown. In this present study, flow cytometry experiments demonstrated that both B-1 and B-2 cells express CCR6, albeit at a higher frequency in B-2 cells in both humans and mice. Nevertheless, B-2 cell numbers in peritoneal cavity (PerC), spleen, bone marrow and PVAT were no different in ApoE -/- CCR6 -/- compared to ApoE -/- CCR6 +/+ mice. In contrast, the numbers of atheroprotective IgM secreting B-1 cells were significantly lower in the PVAT of ApoE -/- CCR6 -/- compared to ApoE -/- CCR6 +/+ mice. Surprisingly, adoptive transfer (AT) of CD43- splenic B cells into B cell-deficient μMT -/- ApoE -/- mice repopulated the PerC with B-1 and B-2 cells and reduced atherosclerosis when transferred into ApoE -/- CCR6 +/+ sIgM -/- mice only when those cells expressed both CCR6 and sIgM. CCR6 expression on circulating human B cells in subjects with a high level of atherosclerosis in their coronary arteries was lower only in the putative human B-1 cells. These results provide evidence that B-1 cell CCR6 expression enhances B-1 cell number and IgM secretion in PVAT to provide atheroprotection in mice and suggest potential human relevance to our murine findings.
Matching in cluster randomized trials using the Goldilocks Approach

In group or cluster-randomized trials (GRTs), matching is a technique that can be used to improve covariate balance. When baseline data are available, we suggest a strategy that can be used to achieve the desired balance between treatment and control groups across numerous potential confounding variables. This strategy minimizes the overall within-pair Mahalanobis distance; and involves iteratively: 1) making pairs that minimize the distance between pairs of clusters with respect to potentially confounding variables; 2) visually assessing the potential effects of these pairs and resulting possible randomizations; and 3) reweighting variables of selecting weights to make pairs of clusters. In step 2, we plot the between-arm differences with a parallel-coordinates plot. Investigators can compare plots of different weighting schemes to determine the one that best suits their needs prior to the actual, final, randomization. We demonstrate application of the approach with the Mupirocin-Iodophor Swap Out trial. A webapp is provided.
Quantum Noise Imaging using Quadrature Squeezed Vacuum Optical Fields

We propose imaging techniques that utilized quantum fluctuation analysis of a squeezed vacuum field to image opaque objects at low-photon environment. Our method uses a CCD camera-based homodyne detection, allowing noise quadrature selection.
3D integration and measurement of a semiconductor double quantum dot with a high-impedance TiN resonator

One major challenge to scaling quantum dot qubits is the dense wiring requirements, making it difficult to envision fabricating large 2D arrays of nearest-neighbor-coupled qubits necessary for error correction. We describe a method to ameliorate this issue by spacing out the qubits using superconducting resonators facilitated by 3D integration. To prove the viability of this approach, we use integration to couple an off-chip high-impedance TiN resonator to a double quantum dot in a Si/SiGe heterostructure. Using the resonator as a dispersive gate sensor, we tune the device down to the single electron regime with an SNR = 5.36. Characterizing the individual systems shows 3D integration can be done while maintaining low-charge noise for the quantum dots and high-quality factors for the superconducting resonator (single photon QL = 2.14 × 104 with Qi ≈ 3 × 105), necessary for readout and high-fidelity two-qubit gates.
Lack of Enteral Feeding Associated with Mortality in Prematurity and Necrotizing Enterocolitis.

ABSTRACT Background Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Recently, there has been an increased recognition of the importance of intestinal immunity and the associations with antibiotics and enteral feeds in the pathophysiology of NEC. The primary purpose of this study is to examine the association of enteral feeds on the survival of premature neonates with NEC. Material and methods A retrospective review using the Vermont Oxford Network for a Level IV NICU from January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2019 was performed. All neonates had a gestational age between 22 to 29 weeks, weighed at least 300 grams (n = 653), had a reported enteral feed status and were treated for NEC (n = 43). Data analysis utilized two-tailed t-tests for NEC and infection rates then Fisher's exact tests for survival status. Results The incidence of NEC in the population was 6.6% (43/653). Of the 43 neonates treated for NEC, 27 were enterally fed, while the other 16 were not. All 27 neonates with NEC that were able to achieve enteral feeds survived and had an infection rate of 22.2%. Meanwhile, all 16 neonates with NEC that were unable to achieve enteral feeds died and had an infection rate of 62.5%. Conclusions There is a significant association between enteral feeds and NEC, survival, and infection rates in premature neonates. These findings support the importance of intestinal immunity and the microbiota in NEC. Given the limitations of the retrospective review, the profound survival advantage with enteral feeds reinforces the need for further study.
The Jews of Medieval Western Christendom, 1000-1500

List of maps Preface Introduction Part I. Prior Legacies: 1. The Muslim legacy 2. The Christian legacy 3. The Jewish legacy Part II. The Pan-European Roman Catholic Church: 4. Theological doctrine 5. Ecclesiastical policies 6. Imagery of Judaism and the Jews 7. Cultural and spiritual creativity: danger, challenge, stimulus 8. Looking ahead Part III. The Older Jewries of the South: 9. Southern France 10. Christian Spain 11. Italy and Sicily Part IV. The Newer Jewries of the North: Northern France: 12. Northern France 13. England Part V. The Newer Jewries of the North: Germany and Eastern Europe: 14. Germany 15. Eastern Europe Part VI. Material Challenges, Successes and Failures: 16. Obstacles and attractions 17. The governing authorities 18. Successes 19. The dynamics of deterioration Part VII. Spiritual Challenges, Successes and Failures: 20. Proselytizing, conversion and resistance 21. Strengthening traditional lines of Jewish cultural creativity 22. Innovative lines of cultural creativity 23. New and creative Jewish culture Epilogue Notes Bibliography Index.
Introduction: Cultural Construction And The Vices

This chapter represents a selection of the research stimulated by my summer seminar on The Seven Deadly Sins as Cultural Constructions in the Middle Ages," which was held at Darwin College, Cambridge University, July 12-August 13, 2004, and was supported by a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Cultural communication from the past (word, image, music) is always part of a tradition - by which it is neither wholly determined nor which it can completely discard. Social constructionism" conceives of the objects of its study as something similar to the cultural construction of ideas. The conceptual history of the seven deadly sins participates in the study of the political and social ethics of medieval communities. The chapter focuses on the pastoral and rhetorical appearance of clerical presentations of the sins for homiletic and dramatic purposes on clearly-defined occasions in the liturgical calendar. Keywords: cultural construction; liturgical calendar; seven deadly sins; social constructionism
Enzymatic Synthesis of Cytidine Diphosphate 3,6-Dideoxyhexoses VII. MECHANISTIC ROLES OF ENZYME E1 AND PYRIDOXAMINE 5'-PHOSPHATE IN THE FORMATION OF CYTIDINE DIPHOSPHATE-4-KETO-3,6-DIDEOXY-d-GLUCOSE FROM CYTIDINE DIPHOSPHATE-4-KETO-6-DEOXY-d-GLUCOSE

Abstract CDP-4-keto-3,6-dideoxy-d-glucose, an intermediate in the biosynthesis of the 3,6-dideoxyhexoses in the Salmonellae and the five serotypes of Pasteurella pseudotuberculosis, is synthesized from CDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-d-glucose. The reaction requires two enzymes, E1 and E3, pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate, and NAD(P)H. Spectroscopic studies have shown that a peak at 402 nm is formed when CDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-d-glucose, E1, and pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate are mixed together at 25°. If [methylene-3H]pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate is used in the incubation mixture, tritium is released into the solvent. Finally, utilizing gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopic techniques, it has been shown that when E1, CDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-d-glucose, and pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate are incubated in 97% 18O-labeled water, an 18O exchange occurs at C3 and C4 of the sugar moiety of the CDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-d-glucose. These data indicate that E1 catalyzes the formation of a Schiff base between the 4-keto group of CDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-d-glucose and pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate. A reversible dehydration then occurs, resulting in the expulsion of —OH from C3 and the establishment of a Schiff base-Δ-3,4-glucoseen intermediate, still enzyme-bound, which is ultimately reduced by E3 and NAD(P)H.
A Comparative Assessment of the Politics of Judicial Retirement in Canada and the United Kingdom

In this study, we test theories of judicial retirement developed in the U.S. to study analogous patterns of retirement in the top appellate courts in the countries of Canada and the United Kingdom. In particular, we explore the relative importance of personal, institutional and political factors on the decision of a judge to retire from judicial service. Using survival analysis to examine the career patterns of all judges appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada (1875-2012), as well as the Judicial Committee of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom (1875-2009), we find that these judges either choose to stay on the court as long as possible (i.e., until they die or reach mandatory retirement age) or they retire for personal reasons.
Natural Rights: Henry George and the Economic Fruits of a Good Society

This article examines Henry George's understanding of how natural rights grow out of a just society. His views were influenced by the 17-super-th-century proponents of natural rights, but cannot be subsumed under them. The connection of freedom to obligation affirmed by George's classical Protestantism allowed him to overcome tension between theories of natural law and natural rights. Rights and responsibilities were not abstractions for George. His practical solution for restructuring society offers a modern path to a more just society in which rights would abound.
Ising models with long-range antiferromagnetic and short-range ferromagnetic interactions

We study the ground state of a $d$-dimensional Ising model with both long-range (dipole-like) and nearest-neighbor ferromagnetic (FM) interactions. The long-range interaction is equal to ${r}^{\ensuremath{-}p}$, $pgd$, while the FM interaction has strength $J$. If $pgd+1$ and $J$ is large enough the ground state is FM, while if $dlp\ensuremath{\leqslant}d+1$ the FM state is not the ground state for any choice of $J$. In $d=1$ we show that for any $pg1$ the ground state has a series of transitions from an antiferromagnetic state of period 2 to $2h$-periodic states of blocks of sizes $h$ with alternating sign, the size $h$ growing when the FM interaction strength $J$ is increased (a generalization of this result to the case $0lp\ensuremath{\leqslant}1$ is also discussed). In $d\ensuremath{\geqslant}2$ we prove, for $dlp\ensuremath{\leqslant}d+1$, that the dominant asymptotic behavior of the ground-state energy agrees for large $J$ with that obtained from a periodic striped state conjectured to be the true ground state. The geometry of contours in the ground state is discussed.
Quantum chemical protocols for modeling reactions and spectra in astrophysical ice analogs: the challenging case of the C+ + H2O reaction in icy grain mantles

Icy grain mantles that accrete on refractory dust particles in the very cold interstellar medium or beyond the snow line in protoplanetary disks serve as minute incubators for heterogeneous chemistry. Ice mantle chemistry can differ significantly from the gas phase chemistry that occurs in these environments and is often richer. Modeling ices and their chemistry is a challenging task for quantum theoretical methods, but theory promises insight into these systems that is difficult to attain with experiments. Density functional theory (DFT) is predominately employed for modeling reactions in icy grain mantles due to its favorable scalability, but DFT has limitations that risk undercutting its reliability for this task. In this work, basic protocols are proposed for identifying the degree to which DFT methods are able to reproduce experimental or higher level theoretical results for the fundamental interactions upon which ice mantle chemistry depends, including both reactive interactions and non-reactive scaffolding interactions. The exemplar of this study is the reaction of C+ with H2O, where substantial methodological differences are found in the prediction of gas phase relative energetics for stationary points (about 10 kcal mol−1 for the C–O bond energy of the H2OC+ intermediate), which in turn casts doubt about employing it to treat the C+ + H2O reaction on an ice surface. However, careful explorations demonstrate that B3LYP with small correlation consistent basis sets performs in a sufficiently reliable manner to justify using it to identify plausible chemical pathways, where the dominant products were found to be neutral HOC and the CO− anion plus one and two H3O+ cations, respectively. Predicted vibrational and electronic spectra are presented that would serve to verify or disconfirm the pathways; the latter were computed with time-dependent DFT. Conclusions are compared with those of a recent similar study by McBride and coworkers (J. Phys. Chem. A, 2014, 118, 6991).
DECIPHER: harnessing local sequence context to improve protein multiple sequence alignment

Alignment of large and diverse sequence sets is a common task in biological investigations, yet there remains considerable room for improvement in alignment quality. Multiple sequence alignment programs tend to reach maximal accuracy when aligning only a few sequences, and then diminish steadily as more sequences are added. This drop in accuracy can be partly attributed to a build-up of error and ambiguity as more sequences are aligned. Most high-throughput sequence alignment algorithms do not use contextual information under the assumption that sites are independent. This study examines the extent to which local sequence context can be exploited to improve the quality of large multiple sequence alignments. Two predictors based on local sequence context were assessed: (i) single sequence secondary structure predictions, and (ii) modulation of gap costs according to the surrounding residues. The results indicate that context-based predictors have appreciable information content that can be utilized to create more accurate alignments. Furthermore, local context becomes more informative as the number of sequences increases, enabling more accurate protein alignments of large empirical benchmarks. These discoveries became the basis for DECIPHER, a new context-aware program for sequence alignment, which outperformed other programs on large sequence sets. Predicting secondary structure based on local sequence context is an efficient means of breaking the independence assumption in alignment. Since secondary structure is more conserved than primary sequence, it can be leveraged to improve the alignment of distantly related proteins. Moreover, secondary structure predictions increase in accuracy as more sequences are used in the prediction. This enables the scalable generation of large sequence alignments that maintain high accuracy even on diverse sequence sets. The DECIPHER R package and source code are freely available for download at DECIPHER.cee.wisc.edu and from the Bioconductor repository.
Understanding the anomalous temperature data from the Large Block Test at Yucca Mountain, Nevada

[1] The Large Block Test (LBT) at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, is unique because of its size, which is large enough to include a number of large fractures, while still small enough so that boundary conditions and heterogeneities can be adequately controlled or characterized. Extensive mapping of the test block has established the presence of many small and large fractures. Preheat air injection testing has also revealed that the block is highly heterogeneous, with fracture permeability varying more than four orders of magnitude. We hypothesize that these large fractures and the resulting heterogeneity play a significant role in the development of coupled thermal-hydrological (TH) processes in the LBT. A large volume of TH data, including temperature and saturation measurements, has been collected from the LBT. Some of these temperature data from the LBT, particularly those recorded by sensors TT1-14 and TT2-14, appear anomalous. We show that these anomalous temperature data can be understood only if heterogeneity is invoked. As an example, we show that the heat pipe signature, an indication of the extent of TH coupling, in TT2-14 is significantly longer in duration than that in TT1-14. We show that such a difference can be explained only if one includes a high-permeability layer, the existence of which has been indicated by air injection testing, through the location of sensor TT2-14. Similarly, the oscillating temperature pattern in all sensors of borehole TT2 during 4470–4500 hours of heating is shown to be the result of rainwater flowing down a high-permeability fracture. The irregular temperature pattern in borehole TT1 happens because of rainwater reaching the source of heat quickly through a highly permeable, inclined fracture and vapor rising upwards through a less permeable vertical fracture. We also demonstrate that the anomalous temperature pattern recorded by TT1-14 during 2500–3500 hours of heating can be explained in terms of continuous upward movement of vapor and the downward flow of condensate through the fractures. We conclude that the temperature data from the LBT are the results of coupled TH processes occurring in a heterogeneous environment.
Selective resistance of L1210 cell lines to inhibitors directed at the subunits of ribonucleotide reductase.

Abstract L1210 cell lines were generated which were resistant to specific ribonucleotide reductase inhibitors. Hydroxyurea-resistant L1210 cells (HU-7) were cross-resistant to IMPY but sensitive to deoxyadenosine and deoxyguanosine. Deoxyadenosine-resistant L1210 cells (Y-8) were cross-resistant to 2-fluorodeoxyadenosine and showed only a small increase in resistance to hydroxyurea or IMPY. L1210 cells which were generated in the presence of deoxyadenosine/EHNA/IMPY/Desferal were markedly resistant to deoxyadenosine, deoxyguanosine and 2-fluorodeoxyadenosine with moderate increases in resistance to IMPY. The HU-7, Y-8 and ED2 cell lines were sensitive to the inhibitory effects of MAIQ and HAG-IQ. The HU-7 L1210 cell line had elevated levels of ribonucleotide reductase activity and this activity showed normal inhibition by hydroxyurea, IMPY, dATP, dGTP and dTTP. The Y-8 L1210 cell line did not have elevated levels of ribonucleotide reductase activity, but had altered allosteric properties relative to dATP. The ED2 L1210 cell line had elevated levels of ribonucleotide reductase activity and had altered allosteric properties relative to dATP. These data show that resistance to ribonucleotide reductase inhibitors is specifically generated in response to the particular drug. The biochemical basis can be related to either increased levels of ribonucleotide reductase activity or loss of feedback control by dATP or both.
Electron microscopic measurements of the thickness of various membranes in oxyntic cells from frog stomachs

Frog gastric mucosa was fixed in glutaraldehyde, acrolein, or potassium permanganate with osmium tetroxide controls. The spacing between the centers of the two dense components in the unit membranes composing vesicotubules was indistinguishable from the spacing in the plasma membrane at the glandular lumen. The spacing in the membranes of mitochondria and ribosome-coated endoplasmic reticulum was consistently smaller than the spacing of the plasma membrane or the vesicotubules. Except for the endoplasmic reticulum, the spacing in most membranes fixed in the aldehydes was larger than the spacing in corresponding membranes preserved by inorganic fixatives. The vesicotubules may not be a part of the endoplasmic reticulum in frog oxyntic cells but, rather, probably have the potential for communicating directly with the cell exterior.
Time-critical information services: update on exploratory analysis of emergency response and related e-governmental services

Time-critical information services (TCIS) is defined as the medical necessity to deliver emergency services as rapidly as possible, coupled with the dependence of these services upon accurate and timely information from multiple organizations. This paper provides a discussion of the authors' current National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded project involving TCIS, with specific reference to its use in emergency response and related e-government services. The project includes the development of a general framework for understanding and researching the end-to-end performance of inter-organizational e-governmental services and findings from an expert workshop held at the National Center for Digital Government. The TCIS invitational workshop allowed for expert (academic and practitioner) input and feedback on the TCIS dimensions and the best means for understanding their occurrence in on-the-ground emergency medical services (EMS). Workshop participants analyzed TCIS from a socio-technical perspective and provided conceptual, practitioner and methodological critiques and suggestions. Overall, participants found the concept of TCIS to be a valid model for understanding, researching, and developing e-government systems within the specific context of emergency response as well as within the broader context of time-critical services to the public. Workshop recommendations focused on the need to closely assess inter-agency and inter-organizational information exchanges along and between three levels: technical, organizational, and governance.
The Medieval Inheritance of Manuel Puig and Severo Sarduy

In summary, this essay explores the similarities between the works of Manuel Puig and Severo Sarduy, and primary and secondary medieval "works." Ultimately, the argument seeks to reevaluate the supposed "pre-modern age" and establish points of contact between medieval and post-modern aesthetics. We must consider the events and philosophies, inspired by similar crises, that helped to establish "traditional" medieval and Latin American studies and writing. Specific Spanish medieval works and traditions herein described lay bare certain qualities and interpretations that serve
Exploring Cystic Fibrosis Using Bioinformatics Tools: A Module Designed for the Freshman Biology Course.

We incorporated a bioinformatics component into the freshman biology course that allows students to explore cystic fibrosis (CF), a common genetic disorder, using bioinformatics tools and skills. Students learn about CF through searching genetic databases, analyzing genetic sequences, and observing the three-dimentional structures of proteins using a number of computational tools. We also use this opportunity to discuss the genetic, molecular, biochemical, and physiological aspects of CF, in an effort to help students appreciate the interrelationships among concepts and topics in biology within a real-world context. This component provides the freshman students at Savannah State University an early exposure to bioinformatics and prepares them for the upper level courses in this area. It also facilitates meaningful and in-depth learning by linking biological concepts and processes through a case study. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education Vol. 39, No. 1, pp. 17–20, 2011
Early superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery bypass in acute ischemic stroke

Abstract Objective To evaluate the effects and safety of superficial temporal artery–middle cerebral artery (STA–MCA) anastomosis in the early stage after an acute ischemic event and the improvement of present symptoms in patients with intracranial atherosclerotic occlusive disease with stroke/stroke in progress. Methods From 2006 to 2010, 20 patients (15 males and five females) with atherosclerotic cerebrovascular disease were treated with an STA–MCA bypass. All of the patients presented with an acute ischemic stroke or stroke in progress despite maximal medical treatment. The patients underwent an STA–MCA bypass within 7 days from symptom onset. The clinical outcome and hemodynamic study of the 20 patients were preoperatively and postoperatively investigated. A pooled analysis was performed, and the results were compared with those obtained from other delayed STA–MCA bypass studies. Results Among the 20 patients who underwent an early STA–MCA bypass, fourteen (70%) patients achieved a good functional outcome (mRS 0, n = 3; mRS 1, n = 9; mRS 2, n = 2). Prior to surgery, the mean basal regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and cerebrovascular reserve capacity (CVR) in the symptomatic hemisphere were 37.3 ± 4.3 ml/100 g/min and −1.68 ± 2.9%. The mean basal rCBF and CVR had significantly increased postoperatively, and no reperfusion-induced hemorrhage had occurred. In the pooled analysis, no significant differences were observed in the clinical outcome ( P = 0.328) or in the incidence of postoperative complications ( P = 0.516) between patients who underwent an early STA–MCA bypass and in patients who underwent a delayed STA–MCA bypass in previous studies. Conclusions In this study, which consisted of 20 carefully selected patients with acute ischemic stroke, an early STA–MCA bypass was safely and effectively performed, and in some cases, an early STA–MCA bypass resulted in rapid neurological improvement. An early STA–MCA bypass was beneficial in select patients who had acute ischemic stroke with imaging evidence of a small infarction.
Rapid Repair of Potentially Lethal Damage in Normal and Ataxia Telangiectasia Cell Lines

Potentially lethal damage repair (PLDR) was investigated in two normal and three ataxia telangiectasia (AT) human-skin fibroblast cell lines cultured in vitro. Using plateau-phase cells, both the time kinetics and the amount of repair were measured after irradiation. PLDR depended on both dose and survival level, as previously seen in rodent cells. Human cells differed from rodent cells in PLDR speed and the ability to discern two components within the repair response. Fast repair had a t1/2 of approximately 5-7 min while the slow response occurred over hours. AT cells had demonstrable PLDR in contrast to previous studies. Quantitatively, the proportion of fast and slow repair was similar for each dose in either normal or AT cells. However, AT cells had lower levels of both types of repair. When analyzing PLDR in human cells, differences in the rate of repair between human and rodent cells must be taken into account.