cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Distorted-wave calculations of the electron-impact ionization of highly ionized Na-like ions.

We report on distorted-wave calculations of the electron-impact ionization cross sections and rate coefficients for the Na-like ions ${\mathrm{Ti}}^{11+}$, ${\mathrm{Cr}}^{13+}$, ${\mathrm{Fe}}^{15+}$, and ${\mathrm{Ni}}^{17+}$. The cross sections for direct ionization out of the 3s, 2p, and 2s subshells were determined using the configuration-average, distorted-wave approximation. In addition, excitation-autoionization contributions originating from inner-shell excitations of the type 2${s}^{2}$2${p}^{6}$3s\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2${s}^{2}$2${p}^{5}$3snl (n=3,4,5) and 2${s}^{2}$2${p}^{6}$3s \ensuremath{\rightarrow}2s2${p}^{6}$3snl (n=3,4) were calculated by employing the distorted-wave approximation and configuration-interaction, bound-state wave functions. Near threshold, the total-ionization cross sections in all four ions are enhanced by approximately a factor of 5 through excitation autoionization. These excitation-autoionization contributions are large, even though they have been substantially reduced by radiative decay to the bound states of the initial ion. Furthermore, although electron correlation has a minimal effect on the excitation cross sections, the magnitude of the branching ratios for autoionization is quite sensitive to configuration interaction in the autoionizing levels. This is especially true for the 2p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}3d excitations, where configuration interaction between 2${p}^{5}$3s3d and 2${p}^{5}$3${p}^{2}$ can increase the magnitude of the autoionizing rates for levels within the 2${p}^{5}$3s3d configuration by as much as three orders of magnitude. Thus, for example, in the case of the 2p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}3d excitation in ${\mathrm{Ni}}^{17+}$, correlation increases the overall branching ratio for autoionization from 0.27 to 0.53.
Comparisons between GABAB and Muscarinic m2 Receptors on Cerebellar Granule Neurons from Rat Using Antisense Oligodeoxynucleotides

Abstract In primary cultures of cerebellar granule cells, an antisense strategy was used to elucidate the structure and function of GABAB receptors that inhibit adenylyl cyclase activity. The muscarinic m2 receptor, also expressed in cerebellar granule cell cultures, was the positive control determining the effectiveness of the antisense strategy. Three antisense oligodeoxynucleotides were constructed: antisense 7TMR (a 15-mer targeted to the region of mRNA encoding the second transmembrane spanning domain common to the family of G-protein-coupled receptors) and antisense βARK- 1 and βARK-2 (both 15-mers targeted to two different coding regions of the mRNA encoding for β-adrenergic receptor kinase). Using radlolabeled antisense oligonucleotides, all were shown to enter the cells being detected intact even after a 24-h application. At 25 μM, antisense 7TMR completely inhibited the muscarinic m2 receptor-mediated response while partially decreasing the GABAB receptor-mediated response, suggesting that the GABAB receptor may have the common second transmembrane spanning domain. Antisense βARK-1 and βARK-2 prevented the desensitization of the m2 receptor via βARK, but did not change the sensitivity of the GABAB receptor. Thus, the use of antisense oligonucleotides in the presence of a positive control is a useful technique in further characterizing the biochemical structure and physiological function of proteins.
An automated technique for analysis of temporal features in animal vocalizations

Abstract An automated method is described for quantifying the variation in temporal pattern of the frequency components in animal vocalizations. The tape-recorded signals are electronically preprocessed to enable direct analysis by a digital computer. Several examples of temporal parameter analysis are shown for the mating call of a neotropical frog Eleutherodactylus coqui. The principal advantage of this technique is that it provides a continuous measurement combined with a statistical measure and fine temporal resolution.
Indigenous African Education as a Means for Understanding the Fullness of Life: Amara Traditional Education.

The intention of this article is to prompt a serious interest in indigenous African education in order to forge a new future that builds on (a) the positive aspects of our past and (b) carefully selected and imported ideas and methods. To this end, our discussion will focus on the richness of indigenous education. Indigenous African learning plays a vital role in the transmission of values that Africans consider to be essential in understanding and experiencing the fullness of life. Because it is interwoven in the fabric of African life, indigenous education is inseparable from traditional African religious thought and practices -there is no dichotomy between religious and secular thought or values (Mbiti, 1990). Thus Africans do not speak of education as a process or institution separate from everything else in life. There is no distinction between formal, nonformal, or informal education. In fact, the term education is a Western concept that does not speak to the traditional African reality, in which the entire community is continually engaged in learning and teaching. In traditional Africa, learning begins very early in life, soon after birth, and continues to old age. As Menkiti (1984) describes it, the whole of life is a process of learning to become fully human, to attain personhood:
Environmental Threats in the Home: Home Care Nursing Perspectives

The word home usually evokes images of comfort, security, and safety. For nurses who make home visits, the word also represents an environment for caring. Unfortunately, the home environment is not always safe and may harbor a number of toxic substances that can pose serious health problems for those who live in it. The concept of a healthy environment as important to the health and well-being of the client is not new to nursing. However, it does have special relevance for today’s nurses who have contact with clients at home. This importance is particularly true for the elderly homebound client, who already may be in a weakened or debilitated state. Moreover, environmental threats in the home not only adversely affect the health of the client but also predispose the entire household to allergies and diseases that are costly to society. By virtue of where they work, home care nurses are in a unique position to identify risk and provide information to help their clients have toxinfree home environments. Such interventions promote comfort and quality of life and are key to good health. Moreover, the potential cost-savings to both public and private health care organizations resulting from improved clientele health is an important consequence of “environmental care.” The purpose of this article is to enhance home care nurses’ awareness of environmental threats in the home, and recommendations are given to create nontoxic home environments.
Third World Environmental Justice

This special issue relates the key analytical constructs of environmental justice scholarship – distributive justice, procedural justice and environmental racism – to a series of Third World case studies. It calls attention to the need to theorize both distributive burdens and benefits; treat the relative salience of race as a category of differentiation as an empirical question; and examine new avenues of procedural justice that have opened up to transnational environmental justice activists. The basic position advanced in the collection is that the core issues at the heart of environmental justice struggles are universal. In this sense, the case studies presented here should be read not as though they were part of exceptional Third World circumstances, but instead as part of broader patterns of distributive, procedural and racial injustice with global significance.
Macroencapsulation of dopamine-secreting cells by coextrusion with an organic polymer solution.

Abstract A new method of coextruding living cells in the core of a forming hollow fibre is described. PC12 cells, an immortalized cell line which secretes large amounts of dopamine, and dissociated bovine adrenal chromaffin cells, a non-dividing cell type which also secretes dopamine, were coextruded by a dry-jet wet spinning technique through a double-lumen spinneret from a 15% weight by volume solution of poly(acrylonitrile vinyl chloride) in either dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO), dimethylacetamide (DMAC) or dimethylformamide (DMF). Closure of the fibre was achieved by mounting polytetrafluoroethylene tubes on a rotating coaxial wheel system which squeezed the forming hollow fibre at regular intervals. Spontaneous and potassium-stimulated release of catecholamines from the macrocapsules were quantified under static conditions by ion-pair reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography equipped with electrochemical detection at 2, 4 and 6 wk. At all time periods, coextruded macrocapsules with either PC12 cells or adrenal chromaffin cells released dopamine under either unstimulated or stimulated conditions. An increase over time in dopamine release was observed from PC12 cell coextruded macrocapsules with observable difference between capsules extruded with DMSO, DMAC or DMF as solvents. Well-preserved PC12 cells and adrenal chromaffin cells were present in coextruded macrocapsules with no observable difference between capsules extruded with DMSO, DMAC or DMF as inocuity of macroencapsulation by coextrusion from an organic polymer solution. Owing to the particular fluid dynamics of this technique, minimal potentially toxic cell-solvent contact occurs allowing the use of a wider range of water-insoluble polymeric systems. The ability of encapsulated PC12 cells and adrenal chromaffin cells to release spontaneously dopamine over time also suggests that polymer encapsulation may provide an alternative to the transplantation of dopamine-secreting cells in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
A putative CEA moiety is shared by the cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus) and humans.

CEA-like molecules immunologically distinct from those in humans have been described in non-human primates. These primates do not share the human predilection for colitis and subsequent development of colorectal cancer. CEA expression has not been fully evaluated in a lower-order primate, the cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus), an animal model for colitis and colorectal cancer. We found increased levels of CEA in both colonic washings and tissues of these animals using a commercially available kit, CEA AIA-PACK (Tosoh Medics, Foster City, CA). In contrast, we observed that other CEA kits failed to detect CEA in tamarins. To elucidate the nature of the CEA-like protein detected, we used the two component monoclonal antibodies used in the CEA AIA-PACK kit, and identified the reactive molecules by Western blotting. A band of approximately Mr 50 000 was found to be common to samples from both humans and the tamarins. Minimal binding was observed with NCA antibody. We conclude that a CEA-like molecule shared by humans and tamarins may play a role in the pathogenesis of colitis and cancer in both species.
Performance appraisal of a micro-dumas nitrogen procedure

Summary Realistic estimates of accuracy and precision have been established for a micro-Dumas nitrogen procedure which departs from the classical method in that wire-form nickel oxide is used as the temporary filling in the combustion tube. Data have been collated which reflect an appropriate random sampling of circum- stances under which this method has been used (e.g., replacement of microbalances, apparatus, reagents; a change in environmental conditions; different analysts). The variance between analysts and within sets of measurements on standard reference com- pounds has been determined, and a systematic error detected and effectively reduced in size by a modification of the given procedure. The over-all performance of the method has been judged by statistically analyzing results obtained on 100 compounds of established purity which represent a wide variety of nitrogenous structural groups, and which have a range in nitrogen content of 1.81 to 66.64%.
Olfactory, auditory, and visual ERPs from single trials: no evidence for habituation

Event-related potentials (ERPs) using olfactory, auditory, and visual stimuli were recorded from young adults to assess possible component habituation across single trials among modalities. A single-stimulus ERP paradigm was used that employed a 10-min inter-stimulus interval (ISI) to minimize possible sensory adaptation and three stimulus trials for each modality to assess initial habituation effects. The present findings were: (1) P3 amplitude does not habituate appreciably over the initial three trials but may increase from the first to second trial. (2) ERPs from a single-stimulus paradigm with a very long ISI produce significantly correlated component amplitudes for the olfactory, auditory, and visual modalities. (3) P3 amplitude from olfactory stimuli demonstrated scalp topography similar to that for auditory and visual ERPs. These findings suggest that the single-stimulus task using a long ISI produces highly comparable and stable P3 components from olfactory, auditory, and visual stimuli. Application of single-stimulus paradigm to olfactory ERP methods is supported.
Le VEGF en physiologie et pathologie thyroïdienne

Gustave Roussy (1874-1948) is remembered as a distinguished French neuropathologist and a leader in the field of oncology. However, his original contribution to the study of hypothalamic functions and neuroendocrinology remains ignored. Among Roussy's discoveries is the first experimental demonstration of the hypothalamic origin of diabetes insipidus and adiposo-genital dystrophy. Also, based on his own histological work, he pioneered the concept of neurosecretion, which was termed by him "neuricrinie".
Magnetron with virtual cathode

The lifetime limitation of high power magnetrons is failure of their cathodes due to intense electron bombardment [1]. In the present work we study the operation of a compact relativistic magnetron [2] with a virtual cathode (VC) in the interaction space of the device instead of a physical cathode. A VC whose potential is equal to that of a real cathode appears in an electron beam when it is injected into a vacuum channel with a current that exceeds the space-charge-limiting current Ilim [3]. As follows from the stationary theory [4], a VC appears at a distance about channel radius from the injection plane and the axial position of the VC is closer to the plane as the injected current increases above Ilim. Evidently, for stable magnetron operation the injected current must exceed Ilim at least by the anode current. Nevertheless, the stationary theory cannot answer many uncertainties that are necessary for using such a VC in a magnetron as, for example, the time for VC formation; change in VC position when electrons deposit onto the anode; the VC position when the plane of injection is absent, but a source of electrons is outside the magnetron; and others. We study these problems using the particle-in-cell (PIC) code MAGIC.
Investigation into mechanism of protection of pigmented alkyd coatings using electrochemical and other methods

Abstract This paper reports some work conducted on several different alkyd coatings. Electrochemical techniques particularly the electrochemical noise method (ENM) have been used to monitor the performance of two and three coat systems in sodium chloride solutions. For one of the coatings systems comparison has been made between the results from room temperature continuous immersion exposure and accelerated tests both a cabinet test and a high temperature immersion test and good correlation has been obtained. Detached films have also been examined to obtain mechanism information and to clarify how these alkyd coatings work to prevent corrosion. Both the DC resistance characteristics, the noise resistance and the inhibitive properties of extracts have been examined. These tests appear to give information which is useful in deciding how effective the coating will be both when intact and when it needs to protect at a break or scribe. The work provides pointers for investigations of low VOC coatings from renewable resources such as water soluble alkyd–linseed oil coatings.
Retinal axons to the medial terminal nucleus of the accessory optic system in old world monkeys

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and HRP conjugated to wheat germ agglutinin (WGA-HRP) were used as anterograde tracers in the monkey visual pathways. In addition to known optic pathways, we observed labeled fibers which left the lateral terminal nucleus of the accessory optic system, traveled around the cerebral peduncle, and could be followed as far as the medial terminal nucleus.
Use of vancomycin in high-flux hemodialysis: experience with 130 courses of therapy

Vancomycin is often administered to hemodialysis patients at long dosage intervals because its removal by hemodialysis is considered to be negligible. We and others, however, have demonstrated significant removal of vancomycin by high-flux hemodialysis. This report describes our experience with 89 courses of vancomycin using a revised regimen with a loading dose followed by 500 mg doses after each dialysis treatment, and compares results with 41 courses using single weekly dosing. All patients were dialyzed with high-flux membranes using volumetric ultrafiltration and bicarbonate dialysate. Serum vancomycin levels were obtained two hours after completion of infusion (peak) and immediately prior to dialysis (trough) and were measured by Abbot TDx fluorescence polarization immunoassay. Duration of multiple-dose therapy was 11 +/- 8 days, with mean total dose 3.6 +/- 1.8 g. Initial doses of 20 mg/kg rapidly and reliably established therapeutic pre-dialysis serum levels (10 to 25 micrograms/ml). In patients treated with multiple dosing 431 pre-dialysis levels were obtained. The mean level was 15.9 +/- 5.7 micrograms/ml; 55 levels (13%) were less than 10 micrograms/ml and 22 (5%) were above 25 micrograms/ml. In patients treated once weekly, 77% of levels were below 10 micrograms/ml by five days after administration, and 84% at one week. No patient developed demonstrable ototoxicity. Twenty-five patients were treated for > or = two weeks, five for > or = four weeks, and two for > five weeks, with no evidence of toxic accumulation. Mean peak level was 20.1 +/- 4.6 micrograms/ml, with a mean difference from preceding pre-dialysis level of 7.2 +/- 2.2 micrograms/ml. We conclude that in high-flux hemodialysis, a 20 mg/kg loading dose of vancomycin followed by 500 mg doses after each dialysis treatment achieves predictable, adequate and safe therapeutic levels, does not lead to unacceptably high peaks, and does not accumulate during long treatment courses. By contrast, once-weekly vancomycin dosing resulted in subtherapeutic serum levels after five to seven days, and should be abandoned in the high-flux setting.
Finite-difference analysis of borehole flows involving domain contractions around three-dimensional anomalies

A finite-difference analysis in cylindrical coordinates of borehole flows governed by Poisson's equation yields an infinite cylindrical electrical grid as a model. The customary technique of truncating the medium in order to obtain a finite grid can be avoided at least to some extent by using the recently developed theory of infinite electrical networks. When the medium around the borehole is either uniform or cylindrically layered except for a three-dimensional anomalous region near the borehole, infinite electrical network theory allows one to represent the medium outside any cylinder S containing the anomaly and centered on the borehole by an infinite continued fraction of circulant-Laurent operators. The continued fraction in turn can be represented by scalar conductances connected to the grid's nodes on S. By choosing S just large enough to contain the anomaly, one can replace the large system of equations resulting from the usual medium truncations far removed from the anomaly by a much smaller systems of equations for the grid within and on S. An operational calculus for the circulant-Laurent operators and the fast Fourier transform expedites the computations, and moreover allows a rapidly computed determination of the solution outside S.
Rhizosphere acidification and cadmium uptake by strawberry clover.

Strawberry clover (Trifolium fragiferum L.) is a hardy legume found in indigenous or introduced populations throughout the world. Tolerance to saline and alkaline soils, flooding, and heavy metals make it a good prospect for reclamation projects. The research, described here, was conducted to: (i) characterize the morphological variation in plants from available seed sources, (ii) evaluate cadmium uptake and tolerances over a wide range of morphological variants, and (iii) elucidate the variability in the effects of roots on rhizosphere pH and the relationship to cadmium uptake. Seeds from selected accessions were planted in the greenhouse for comparison of morphological variation. The accessions examined had a mean height of 10.7 ± 7 cm. Accessions 254916 and 237925 are tall with high rhizosphere pH values and might be useful in phytoremediation. Strawberry clover accessions were also grown hydroponically to examine differences in cadmium uptake. The ability of strawberry clover roots to change rhizosphere pH and take up cadmium was examined using culture tubes containing nutrient agar, a moderate level of cadmium, and a pH indicator dye. The results provided evidence for a negative correlation between rhizosphere pH and cadmium uptake.
Effect of capillary cross section geometry and size on the separation of proteins in gradient mode using monolithic poly(butyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) columns

Abstract Porous polymer monoliths have been prepared in capillaries with circular or square cross-sections and lateral dimensions of 50, 75, 100 μm as well as in a rectangular 38 μm × 95 μm capillary. These capillaries have been used to determine the effect of the size and shape of their cross-section on the porous and hydrodynamic properties of poly(butyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) monoliths. The capillaries were studied by scanning electron microscopy and evaluated for their permeability to flow and their performance in the liquid chromatographic separation of a protein mixture comprising ribonuclease A, cytochrome c, myoglobin, and ovalbumin using a linear gradient of acetonitrile in the mobile phase. No differences resulting from channel geometry were found for the various capillary columns. These results demonstrate that standard capillaries with circular geometry are a good and affordable alternative conduit for modeling the processes carried out in microfluidic chips with a variety of geometries.
Thumb trauma: Bennett fractures, Rolando fractures, and ulnar collateral ligament injuries

Injuries to the thumb are predominated by fractures of the proximal phalanx, ligamentous injuries about the metacarpophalangeal joint, and metacarpal base fractures. This article will attempt to summarize recent advancements within the realm of thumb trauma, with particular attention to Bennett fractures, Rolando fractures, and ulnar collateral ligament injuries.
Synthesis of novel 3′,6′-dideoxy-3′,6′-epithio and 2′,6′-dideoxy-2′,6′-epithio nucleosides

Abstract New 3′,6′-dideoxy-3′,6′-epithio and 2′,6′-dideoxy-2′,6′-epithionucleosides were prepared from 3′,6′-dideoxy-3′,6′-epithioglucofuranose derivatives, which were obtained from 3-trifluoromethanesulfonyl diacetone allose.
Hypersingular integral operators along surfaces

In this note, we estimate the boundedness for singular integral operators along curves and surfaces with highly singular kernels.
Hyperspectral imaging for detecting pathogens grown on agar plates

This paper is concerned with the development of a hyperspectral imaging technique for detecting and identifying one of the most common foodborne pathogens, Campylobacter . Direct plating using agars is an effective tool for laboratory tests and analyses of microorganisms. The morphology (size, growth pattern, color, etc.) of colonies grown on agar plates has been widely used to tentatively differentiate organisms. However, it is sometimes difficult to differentiate target organisms like Campylobacters from other contaminants grown together on the same agar plates. A hyperspectral imaging system operating at the visible and near infrared (VNIR) spectral region from 400 nm to 900 nm was set up to measure spectral signatures of 17 different Campylobacter and non- Campylobacter subspecies. Protocols for culturing, imaging samples and for calibrating measured data were developed. The VNIR spectral library of all 17 organisms commonly encountered in poultry was established from calibrated hyperspectral images. A classification algorithm was developed to locate and identify Campylobacters , non- Campylobacter contaminants, and background agars with 99.29% accuracy. This research has a potential to be expanded to detect other pathogens grown on agar media.
The Future Promises of Xenotransplantation a,b

: The use of animals as a source of organs and tissues for humans has been an enduring goal of transplantation. Xenotransplantation, as such, would overcome a shortage of human donors and allow for biochemical or genetic approaches to modification of transplants. The use of animal organs and tissues, however, is hindered by an intense immune response of the recipient against the graft. The molecular basis for this immune response has recently been elucidated, at least in part, and specific approaches to therapy, including the genetic engineering of source animals, have been developed. Other hurdles, including the physiologic limitations of the transplant and the possibility of transferring infectious agents from the transplant into the host, may also be important. The development of specific therapies and the application of genetic engineering to overcome these problems can now be envisioned. As the immunologic, physiologic, and infectious hurdles to xenotransplantation are addressed, new efforts will focus on the use of the transplant to impart novel functions to answer the therapeutic needs of the transplant recipient.
Definitive radiotherapy for early (T1-T2) Glottic Squamous cell carcinoma: a 20 year Cleveland clinic experience

To report our 20 yr experience of definitive radiotherapy for early glottic squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Radiation records of 141 patients were retrospectively evaluated for patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics. Cox proportional hazard models were used to perform univariate (UVA) and multivariate analyses (MVA). Cause specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) were plotted using cumulative incidence and Kaplan-Meir curves, respectively. Of the 91% patients that presented with impaired voice, 73% noted significant improvement. Chronic laryngeal edema and dysphagia were noted in 18% and 7%, respectively. The five year LC was 94% (T1a), 83% (T1b), 87% (T2a), 65% (T2b); the ten year LC was 89% (T1a), 83% (T1b), 87% (T2a), and 53% (T2b). The cumulative incidence of death due to larynx cancer at 10 yrs was 5.5%, respectively. On MVA, T-stage, heavy alcohol consumption during treatment, and used of weighted fields were predictive for poor outcome (p < 0.05). The five year CSS and OS was 95.9% and 76.8%, respectively. Definitive radiotherapy provides excellent LC and CSS for early glottis carcinoma, with excellent voice preservation and minimal long term toxicity. Alternative management strategies should be pursued for T2b glottis carcinomas.
Novel Gait Adaptation and Neuromotor Training Results Using an Active Leg Exoskeleton

The gait of every adult is unique and expected to be ingrained within the neuromuscular system. The major scientific question that we ask in this paper if it is possible to alter the gait of healthy individuals using special purpose design of robots and training paradigms. This paper describes novel experimental results with an active leg exoskeleton (ALEX) and a force-field controller (FFC) developed for neuromotor training of gait and rehabilitation of patients with walking disabilities. ALEX is a motorized leg orthosis having a total of 7 DOFs with hip and knee actuated in the sagittal plane. The FFC applies forces on the foot to help the leg move on a desired trajectory. The interaction forces between the subject and the orthosis are designed to be ?assist-as-needed? for safe and effective gait training. Simulations and experimental results with the FFC are presented. Experiments have been performed on six healthy subjects walking on a treadmill. It was shown that a healthy subject could be retrained in about 45 min with ALEX to walk on a treadmill with a considerably altered gait. In the coming months, this powered orthosis will be used for gait training of stroke patients.
Functions of SR proteins in the U12-dependent AT-AC pre-mRNA splicing pathway.

SR proteins play critical roles in the major pre-mRNA splicing pathway. A second pathway processes U12-dependent AT-AC introns. We demonstrate, by biochemical complementation, the requirement for SR proteins in splicing of AT-AC introns. Whereas SR proteins were sufficient to activate splicing of a P120 AT-AC intron, splicing of a sodium channel AT-AC intron required an additional nuclear fraction. Individual recombinant SR proteins promoted splicing of both substrates, but displayed marked preferences. SR proteins supported basal AT-AC splicing, and also splicing stimulation via a downstream enhancer or conventional 59 splice site. Analysis of chimeric transcripts revealed that information dispersed throughout exons and introns dictates SR protein specificity and the requirement for the additional nuclear fraction. Thus, SR proteins function in both major and minor splicing pathways, and in coordinating the activities of both spliceosomes via exon definition. These results suggest that despite the substantial differences in intron consensus sequences and in four of the five snRNPs in each spliceosome, at least some of the interactions involving SR proteins are conserved between the two pathways.
The emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate

The kinetics of the emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate have been examined in the light of recent advances in theory. It has been found that, if allowance is made for the decrease in the termination rate, the kinetics of the reaction can be predicted up to the point where all monomer is absorbed by growing monomer-polymer particles. In order to do this it must be assumed that the efficiency of initiation is low and is a function of the size and number of growing particles in the latex. A possible explanation for these observations is discussed.
Microsurgery in China and the development of Western reconstructive microsurgery.

The development of extremity replantation and reconstructive microsurgery was initially carried out independently among the pioneering centers throughout the world. The comparative development of these techniques is outlined. With the fast growth of microsurgical procedures, many of the U.S. residency programs have incorporated microsurgery training into the curriculum.
Can Lightning Produce Significant Levels of Mass-Independent Oxygen Isotopic Fractionation in Nebular Dust?

Based on recent evidence that oxide grains condensed from a plasma will contain oxygen that is mass independently fractionated compared to the initial composition of the vapor, we present a first attempt to evaluate the potential magnitude of this effect on dust in the primitive solar nebula. This assessment relies on previous studies of nebular lightning to provide reasonable ranges of physical parameters to form a very simple model to evaluate the plausibility that lightning could affect a significant fraction of nebular dust and that such effects could cause a significant change in the oxygen isotopic composition of solids in the solar nebula over time. If only a small fraction of the accretion energy is dissipated as lightning over the volume of the inner solar nebula, then a large fraction of nebular dust will be exposed to lightning. If the temperature of such bolts is a few percent of the temperatures measured in terrestrial discharges, then dust will vaporize and recondense in an ionized environment. Finally, if only a small average decrease is assumed in the O-16 content of freshly condensed dust, then over the last 5 million years of nebular accretion the average delta O-17 of the dust could increase by more than 30 per mil. We conclude that it is possible that the measured " slope 1" oxygen isotope line measured in meteorites and their components represents a time-evolution sequence of nebular dust over the last several million years of nebular evolution O-16-rich materials formed first, then escaped further processing as the average isotopic composition of the dust graduaUy became increasingly depleted in O-16 .
Sonochemically produced fluorocarbon microspheres: A new class of magnetic resonance imaging agent

With the intent of increasing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR] of fluorine magnetic resonance imaging and enabling new applications, we have developed a novel class of agents based on protein encapsulation of fluorocarbons. Microspheres formed by high-intensity ultrasound have a gaussian size distribution with an average diameter of 2.5 pm. As with conventional emulsions, these microspheres target the reticuloendothelial system. However, our sonochemically produced microspheres, because of a high encapsulation efflciency, show increases in the SNR of up to 30OOh compared to commercially available emulsions. We also demonstrate an increase in the circulation lifetime of the microspheres within the bloodstream by more than 30-fold with a chemical modification of the outer surface of the microsphere. Finally, by encapsulating mixtures of fluorocarbons that undergo solid/ liquid phase transitions, we can map temperature in the reticuloendothelial system, with signal changes of approximately 20-fold over a 5°C range.
Glycoprotein C-independent binding of herpes simplex virus to cells requires cell surface heparan sulphate and glycoprotein B

Previous studies have shown that the initial interaction of herpes simplex virus (HSV) with cells is binding to heparan sulphate and that HSV-1 glycoprotein C (gC) is principally responsible for this binding. Although gC-negative viral mutants are impaired for binding and entry, they retain significant infectivity. The purpose of the studies reported here was to explore the requirements for infectivity of gC-negative HSV-1 mutants. We found that absence or alteration of cell surface heparan sulphate significantly reduced the binding of gC-negative mutant virus and rendered cells resistant to infection, as shown previously for the wild-type virus. We isolated a recombinant double-mutated HSV strain that produces virions devoid of both of the known heparin-binding glycoproteins, gB and gC. The drastically impaired binding of these mutant virions to cells, relative to gC-negative and wild-type virions, indicates that gB mediates the binding of gC-negative virions to cells. Thus at least two HSV glycoproteins can independently mediate the binding of HSV to cell surface heparan sulphate to start the process of viral entry into cells.
Using Dynamic Symbolic Execution to Improve Deductive Verification

One of the most challenging problems in deductive program verification is to find inductive program invariants typically expressed using quantifiers. With strong-enough invariants, existing provers can often prove that a program satisfies its specification. However, provers by themselves do not find such invariants. We propose to automatically generate executable test cases from failed proof attempts using dynamic symbolic execution by exploring program code as well as contracts with quantifiers. A developer can analyze the test cases with a traditional debugger to determine the cause of the error; the developer may then correct the program or the contracts and repeat the process.
Autoimmunity to GABAA-receptor-associated protein in stiff-person syndrome

Stiff-person syndrome (SPS) is an autoimmune neurological disorder characterized by autoantibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. To search for biomarkers that distinguish SPS from other neurological disorders (OND), we used surface enhanced laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (SELDI-TOF) mass spectrometry to obtain proteomic profile of sera from 25 GAD-positive SPS patients and 25 controls. A significant decrease was found in the level of a protein corresponding to GABAA-receptor-associated protein (GABARAP), which is responsible for the stability and surface expression of the GABAA-receptor. Up to 70% of the SPS sera examined, compared with 10% of the controls, immunoprecipitated GABARAP protein. Antibodies raised against GABARAP immunostained neuronal cell bodies as well as axonal and dendritic processes, as visualized by confocal microscopy. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the IgG from GABARAP antibody-positive patients, but not controlIgG, significantly inhibited thesurfaceexpressionof GABAA-receptor. Weconclude that GABARAP is a new autoantigen in SPS. Because the patients’ IgG inhibits the expression of GABAA-receptors, the circulating antibodies could impair GABAergic pathways and play a role in the clinical symptomatology of SPS patients.
Discussion on the paper “A note on the crack-plane stress field method for analysing SIFs and its application to a concentric penny-shaped crack in a circular cylinder opened up by constant pressure” by Wang Qizhi

Dr. Qizhi employed the so-called section method for deriving an approximate analytical expression for the SIF for a penny shaped crack in an infinitely long cylinder subjected to uniform axial load
The coiled-coil protein-binding motif in Fusarium verticillioides Fsr1 is essential for maize stalk rot virulence.

Fusarium verticillioides (Sacc.) Nirenberg (teleomorph Gibberella moniliformis Wineland) is one of the key pathogens of maize stalk rot disease. However, a clear understanding of stalk rot pathogenesis is still lacking. Previously, we identified the F. verticillioides FSR1 gene, which plays a key role in fungal virulence and sexual mating. The predicted Fsr1 protein contains multiple protein-binding domains, namely a caveolin-binding domain, a coiled-coil structure, and a calmodulin-binding motif at the N terminus and a WD40 repeat domain at the C terminus. Fsr1 shares significant similarity to a family of striatin proteins that play a critical role in cellular mechanisms that regulate a variety of developmental processes. Significantly, FSR1 function is conserved in Fusarium graminearum, where it also plays a direct role in pathogenesis. In this study, our goal was to determine the motif(s) in Fsr1 that are directly associated with fungal virulence. We complemented the FSR1 knockout (Δfsr1) strain with mutated versions of the FSR1 gene, and determined that the Fsr1 C-terminal WD40 repeat domain is dispensable for vegetative growth and maize stalk rot virulence. We also examined the potential link between FSR1-mediated virulence and cell wall-degrading enzyme (α-amylase, pectinase and cellulase) activities. Further characterization of the N-terminal region revealed that the coiled-coil structure is essential for virulence in F. verticillioides. The coiled-coil domain is involved in a variety of protein–protein interactions in eukaryotic systems, and thus we hypothesize that the interaction between Fsr1 and the putative Fsr1-binding protein triggers downstream gene signalling that is associated with F. verticillioides virulence.
Cellular neural networks: theory

A novel class of information-processing systems called cellular neural networks is proposed. Like neural networks, they are large-scale nonlinear analog circuits that process signals in real time. Like cellular automata, they consist of a massive aggregate of regularly spaced circuit clones, called cells, which communicate with each other directly only through their nearest neighbors. Each cell is made of a linear capacitor, a nonlinear voltage-controlled current source, and a few resistive linear circuit elements. Cellular neural networks share the best features of both worlds: their continuous-time feature allows real-time signal processing, and their local interconnection feature makes them particularly adapted for VLSI implementation. Cellular neural networks are uniquely suited for high-speed parallel signal processing. >
Quenching the Fire Fueling Cancer in the Gut

Chronic inflammation has now been linked with a number of diseases including colorectal cancer. Interleukin 17 (IL-17) is a potent inflammatory cytokine that is made by a variety of cell types. Retrospective clinical studies have demonstrated that high IL-17 expression in colorectal tumors is associated with progression to lethal metastatic cancer and is thus a strong indicator of poor clinical outcome. More recent studies have used a spontaneous colorectal tumor mouse model with a mutation in the APC gene (called APCmin)—a gene commonly mutated in human colorectal cancers—to show that gene ablation of IL-17 attenuates tumor growth. A recent study by Wang et al. sheds light on how IL-17 promotes cancer. The IL-17 receptor is expressed by a large number of cells and is known to have multiple functions in promoting inflammatory responses; thus, it is important to clarify which cell(s) that respond to IL-17 promote cancer. Using a similar mouse model to APCmin, Wang et al . used a series of cell transfer experiments to demonstrate that transformed intestinal epithelial cells themselves respond to IL-17. Then they stimulated “organoids”—intestinal stem cells cultured in a dish to form 3D structures that resemble an intact intestine—with IL-17 and found that the IL-17 did not influence classical Wnt signaling but instead up-regulated NF-κB to promote proliferation, providing some insight into how IL-17 signaling can exacerbate tumor growth. The authors then asked the more therapeutically relevant question of whether blocking IL-17 will prevent aberrant tumor growth. In the cancer mouse model, long-term treatment with secukinumab and ixekizumab—monoclonal antibodies that block IL-17 signaling currently in clinical trials for treating rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis—could effectively reduce cellular proliferation and reduce tumor load. Chemotherapy actually induces IL-17 in the intestine, suggesting that chemotherapy might be more useful if IL-17 activity could be blocked. To test this, the authors employed a combination treatment consisting of chemotherapy and anti-IL-17 and found a significant reduction in both tumor size and load and a reduction in overall inflammation. Although this treatment has yet to reach the clinic, these results offer the exciting possibility that monoclonal antibodies that are already being tested in patients for other diseases could also be used to treat colorectal cancer and block the fire fueling gut cancer. K. Wang et al ., Interleukin-17 receptor A signaling in transformed enterocytes promotes early colorectal tumorigenesis. Immunity 41, 1052–1063 (2014). [[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://www.cell.com/immunity/abstract/S1074-7613%2814%2900435-X
Inflammasome activation leads to Caspase-1–dependent mitochondrial damage and block of mitophagy

Inflammasomes are intracellular sensors that couple detection of pathogens and cellular stress to activation of Caspase-1, and consequent IL-1β and IL-18 maturation and pyroptotic cell death. Here, we show that the absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes trigger Caspase-1–dependent mitochondrial damage. Caspase-1 activates multiple pathways to precipitate mitochondrial disassembly, resulting in mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial permeabilization, and fragmentation of the mitochondrial network. Moreover, Caspase-1 inhibits mitophagy to amplify mitochondrial damage, mediated in part by cleavage of the key mitophagy regulator Parkin. In the absence of Parkin activity, increased mitochondrial damage augments pyroptosis, as indicated by enhanced plasma membrane permeabilization and release of danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Therefore, like other initiator caspases, Caspase-1 activation by inflammasomes results in mitochondrial damage.
Developing Resources for Teaching Ethics in Geoscience

Ethics education is an increasingly important component of the pre-professional training of geoscientists. Geoethics encompasses the values and professional standards required of geoscientists to work responsibly in any geoscience profession and in service to society. Funding agencies (e.g., the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health) require training of graduate students in the responsible conduct of research; employers are increasingly expecting their workers to have basic training in ethics; and the public demands the highest standards of ethical conduct by scientists. However, there is currently no formal course of instruction in ethics in the geoscience curriculum, and few faculty members have the experience, resources, and sometimes willingness required to teach ethics as a component of their geoscience courses.
Web Usage Among Hispanics In The South Florida Region

The establishment of LAOL by America Online to cater to the Hispanics in the U.S. attests to the growing importance of the Hispanic consumers to corporations. The Hispanic market in the U.S. offers promising and lucrative online business opportunities. Spain’s Terra Network, one of the biggest online content and access providers in the Latin countries, has teamed up with New Jersey based IDT to provide access to U.S. Hispanics (Folpe, 2000). Sears, Roebuck & Company plans to offer Internet sales on its Spanish language website to take advantage of this growing market. Approximately, 13 million households and 2.3 million Hispanic small businesses are using the Web. Still, little published research exists documenting the evaluation and usage of Web by this growing segment of the US population. Applying the gratification and avoidance approach used in the prior studies of media usage and Korgaonkar and Wolin’s seven-factor Web gratification model, the authors explore the Hispanic Web consumers’ use of the Web. The gratification factors <as well as demographic factors of the Hispanic respondents were studied in three usage contexts of the Web: (1) the number of hours per day spent on the Web, (2) the percent of time spent using the Web for business and personal purposes, and (3) if the subjects in the past 12 months made purchases or not from the Web. Multivariate discriminant analysis suggests that the gratification factors along with age, education, and income levels, are significantly correlated with the three usage contexts of the Web. The study results and implications for managers are discussed.
Growth of MonX by Reactive Laser ablation

A pulsed laser deposition technique has been used to grow silicon oxynitride (SiOxNy) thin films at low deposition temperatures (25°C - 300°C). the thin films were found to be quite smooth in surface morphology, extremely inert in chemical solution and highly transparent in the optical range of 0.3 μm to 5 μm. the refractive index was tunable between 1.4 - 2.1 by the addition of oxygen in substitution of nitrogen in the film, and the dielectric constant is much larger than the similar films grown by conventional chemical vapor deposition. the high quality of the SiOxNy films deposited at such low temperatures was resulted from the large kinetic energy carried by the impinging particles created by the ablation of a high-power pulsed excimer laser. the kinetic energy of the impinged particles on the substrate provides thermal energy for surface diffusion and relaxation.