cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Primary cilia are required in a unique subpopulation of neural progenitors

The apical domain of embryonic (radial glia) and adult (B1 cells) neural stem cells (NSCs) contains a primary cilium. This organelle has been suggested to function as an antenna for the detection of morphogens or growth factors. In particular, primary cilia are essential for Hedgehog (Hh) signaling, which plays key roles in brain development. Their unique location facing the ventricular lumen suggests that primary cilia in NSCs could play an important role in reception of signals within the cerebrospinal fluid. Surprisingly, ablation of primary cilia using conditional alleles for genes essential for intraflagellar transport [kinesin family member 3A (Kif3a) and intraflagellar transport 88 (Ift88)] and Cre drivers that are activated at early [Nestin; embryonic day 10.5 (E10.5)] and late [human glial fibrillary acidic protein (hGFAP); E13.5] stages of mouse neural development resulted in no apparent developmental defects. Neurogenesis in the ventricular–subventricular zone (V-SVZ) shortly after birth was also largely unaffected, except for a restricted ventral domain previously known to be regulated by Hh signaling. However, Kif3a and Ift88 genetic ablation also disrupts ependymal cilia, resulting in hydrocephalus by postnatal day 4. To directly study the role of B1 cells’ primary cilia without the confounding effects of hydrocephalus, we stereotaxically targeted elimination of Kif3a from a subpopulation of radial glia, which resulted in ablation of primary cilia in a subset of B1 cells. Again, this experiment resulted in decreased neurogenesis only in the ventral V-SVZ. Primary cilia ablation led to disruption of Hh signaling in this subdomain. We conclude that primary cilia are required in a specific Hh-regulated subregion of the postnatal V-SVZ.
Sheep Biting Louse: Notes on the Biology of Lice Reared off the Host

The 12th to 25th generations of a colony of Bovicola ovis (Schrank) (Mallophaga: Trichadectidae) reared and maintained at 68% RH and 37±1.5°C off the host (on a diet prepared from sheepskin) had average lifespans of 78.6 clays for males and 57.0 days for females. The males averaged 29.1 days from egg to adult, and the females averaged 29.3. Males began mating as early as the adult age of 36±6 hours and females within 65 minutes of ecdysis to adults; males 4-5 days old inseminated 1-4 ♀ in 24 hours. The highest average rate of egg production occurred the 2nd week of adult life; hatchability of eggs was 86%, and adults were obtained from 72% of the eggs. The average sex ratio was 1 ♂:1.2 ♀, and parthenogenetic reproduction was not demonstrated. Most nymphs (86%) ecdysed to the adult stage between 2330 and 1130 hours. The life cycle was also completed on diets prepared from goatskin and cowskin, but survival, egg production, and egg hatchability were depressed.
The Ca2+ ATPase content of slow and fast twitch fibers of guinea pig

The Ca ATPase content in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) of fast and slow twitch skeletal fibers was estimated using two well-characterized muscles of the guinea pig: the white bundle of the vastus lateralis and the soleus. Ca ATPase surface density was determined by counting the projections of individual molecules revealed on the cytoplasmic surface of freeze-dried, rotary-shadowed microsomal vesicles isolated from the two muscles. The Ca ATPase densities were 32,000/micron 2 and 25,000/micron 2 for the vastus lateralis and soleus muscles, respectively. The percentage of membrane area occupied by Ca ATPase-free lipid patches was estimated using freeze-fractured, rotary-shadowed in situ SR. In soleus muscle the free SR of terminal cisternae and the longitudinal SR have 34.5 and 19.7% of their surface free of ATPase, respectively. In the white vastus less than 1% of the surface was not occupied by Ca ATPase. These values were combined with stereological data from the literature to give a ratio of total Ca ATPase content per unit fiber volume of 1:2, slow versus fast. This is considerably less than the approximately sixfold difference in the overall relaxation time and the half times to relaxation between the two fiber types. This suggests that other factor such as differences in enzyme kinetics or cytoplasmic Ca buffering proteins must also play a role in determining rate of relaxation.
Rinse Treatment and Oxygen Barrier Properties of Films for Improving Quality Retention in Vacuum‐Skin Packaged Fresh Chicken

Fresh chicken drumsticks rinsed with water or salt solution (28% NaCl) were vacuum-skin packaged in films differing in oxygen transmission rate (OTR) (< 10, 3000, = 7000 cm 2 /m 2 /24h). Salt rinsing decreased surface lightness (CIE L*). Higher OTR films maintained surface redness (CIE a*) better than oxygen barrier film. Neither rinse nor film OTR had any effect on yellowness (CIE b*). Salt rinsing drumsticks also reduced drip loss. Counts of aerobic and coliform bacteria increased during storage for product in all films. Within each film, salt-rinsed drumsticks had lower counts at 3 and 6 d of storage (through 12 d) for total member and coliform bacteria, respectively. Product in low OTR (barrier) film generally had lower bacteria counts than product in higher OTR films.
Contrast-Enhanced Echocardiography in Spindle Cell Sarcoma of the Pericardium

A 37-year-old male was admitted from the emergency department for evaluation of symptoms of congestive heart failure. He presented having experienced atypical chest pain, progressive dyspnea, and swelling of the legs for 2 weeks. Physical examination was notable for tachycardia, elevated jugular venous pressure, muffled heart sounds, and bilateral pitting pedal edema. An ECG showed sinus tachycardia and low-voltage complexes, and chest x-ray revealed cardiomegaly. A 2-dimensional echocardiogram was done to evaluate cardiac chambers and left ventricular function. Surprisingly, it showed compression of the right atrium and right ventricle by a large mass possibly originating from the pericardium, dilated inferior vena cava, no significant respiratory variation in transmitral and tricuspid Doppler velocities, and expiratory reversal of flow in the hepatic veins. A contrast echocardiogram was performed to further assess the cardiac chambers …
Performance of Asynchronous Multiple Access MIMO OFDM Systems

This paper investigates the performance of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) based asynchronous multiple access multiple input multiple output channels. In an asynchronous mode of data transmission, independent decoding without user cooperation is a more appropriate approach. Thus, various suboptimal transmitter diversity techniques such as space-time block coding and beamforming are employed, and their performances are evaluated. The average signal to interference and noise ratio (SENR) resulting from linear minimum mean squared error (MMSE) combining is exploited to compute symbol error rate. Simulation results demonstrate that space-time block coding hardly achieves substantial transmitter diversity gains in asynchronous channels. Moreover, receiver diversity is an important factor of the overall performance in a large system. However, beamforming, which uses only part of existing spatial dimensions, can improve the bit- and symbol-error rate performance in the low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) region where practical communication systems are operated
The effects of recurrent episodes of depression on startle responses

Prior work suggests that major depression is associated with abnormal startle blink responses; however, only chronic or recurrent depression appears to be associated with this effect. The current study tested this hypothesis directly by examining whether recurrent major depression accounted for the anomalous startle seen in major depression using a sample of 515 female twins from the Minnesota Twin Family Study. Blink responses recorded at the age of 20 were examined in relation to number of episodes of depression prospectively assessed from ages 11 to 20. Results showed that only subjects who had experienced multiple episodes of depression showed abnormal startle responses. Subjects who had experienced just one episode of depression in their lifetime did not differ from controls. This lends additional support to the idea that recurrent depression may have a different etiological basis than nonrecurrent depression.
Polyurethane networks from polyols obtained by hydroformylation of soybean oil

BACKGROUND: Vegetable oil-based polyols are a new class of renewable materials. The structure of oil-based polyols is very different from that of petrochemical polyols, and it is closely related to the structure of oils. The objective of this work was to analyze the structural heterogeneity of soy-based polyols and its effect on the properties of polyols and polyurethanes. RESULTS: A series of polyols with a range of hydroxyl numbers were prepared by hydroformylation and partial esterification of hydroxyls with formic acid. Polyols were reacted with diphenylmethane diisocyanate to obtain polyurethanes of different crosslinking density. Gelation was simulated using the Monte Carlo method with a calculated distribution of functionalities for each polyol. CONCLUSIONS: Most polyols are powerful crosslinkers since weight average functionality varied from 5 to 2.5 resulting in gel points from 53 to 83% conversion. Heterogeneity of polyols had a negative effect on mechanical properties of rubbery polyurethanes and this should be taken in account when designing polyols for flexible applications. This effect was not pronounced in glassy polyurethanes. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
MINT: a front end for efficient simulation of shared-memory multiprocessors

MINT is a software package designed to ease the process of constructing event-driven memory hierarchy simulators for multiprocessors. It provides a set of simulated processors that run standard Unix executable files compiled for a MIPS R3000 based multiprocessor. These generate multiple streams of memory reference events that drive a user-provided memory system simulator. MINT uses a novel hybrid technique that exploits the best aspects of native execution and software interpretation to minimize the overhead of processor simulation. Combined with related techniques to improve performance, this approach makes simulation on uniprocessor hosts extremely efficient. >
l determinations for 12C + 12C☆

Abstract Detailed angular-distribution measurements and Legendre-polynomial fits for 12 C ( 12 C , α 0 ) 20 Ne ( g.s ) in the bombardi energy region of the so-called “12 + ” bump in 12 C + 12 C inelastic scattering show conclusively that l = 10 dominates the α 0 exit channel throughout the range, except near the narrow 12 + resonance that was previously known.
Realism and simplicity: disk simulation for instructional OS performance evaluation

Operating system laboratory assignments based on bare hardware or detailed machine simulators can be excessively challenging for many students. In the most often used approach, students develop kernels on virtual machines with a much simplified hardware interface. Traditionally this simplification goes so far as to make realistic performance measurement impossible. We propose Vesper, an instructional disk drive simulator with a high degree of performance realism. Vesper retains simplicity while providing timing statistics close to that of real disk drives. The key to our approach is to provide hardware abstractions that are simple but yet capable of capturing device interactions with major performance impacts. Vesper laboratory assignments allow students to realistically explore the performance consequences of various system designs without the cumbersome aspects of the real hardware interface. This paper describes the design and implementation of the Vesper disk drive simulator. We evaluate the effectiveness of Vesper-based laboratory assignments in terms of operating system performance evaluation. Student experience and feedback are also reported.
Macropartisanship: A Replication and Critique

MacKuen, Erikson, and Stimson (1989, 1992) argue that the aggregate distribution of party identification, or macropartisanship, shifts significantly over short periods in response to changes in presidential popularity and consumer sentiment. Their results are based on a subset of Gallup surveys available from 1953 to 1988 and only those CBS /New York Times surveys conducted during the Reagan administration. We replicate this analysis using a more extensive inventory of Gallup and CBS /New York Times data and find considerably less evidence of partisan fluctuation. The amount of partisan change caused by short-term movements in consumer sentiment and presidential popularity is found to be two to three times smaller than initially reported by MacKuen et al. (1989). Our results indicate that macropartisanship adjusts to short-term shocks in a limited and gradual fashion, consistent with traditional views of partisan realignment.
Characterization of N-terminal formaldehyde adducts to hemoglobin †

A procedure to prepare and purify adducts of formaldehyde (FA) to the N-terminus of peptides was developed. FA-VHLTPEEK and FA-VLSPADK were produced with purities >95% upon incubation of the peptides with FA in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at a pH level of 7.4. The peptides were purified by preparative liquid chromatography and were characterized by their retention times in liquid chromatography, their fragmentation patterns obtained by tandem mass spectrometry, and their accurate mass and nuclear magnetic resonance measurements. This is the first time an imidazolidone-type structure has been reported for FA adducts. The same peptides were identified in tryptic digests of human hemoglobin incubated with FA at physiological conditions and in human hemoglobin specimens. These peptides are suitable for use as calibrators for the quantitative assessment of internal exposure to FA.
Land rental values and the agrarian economy: England and Wales, 1500–1914

I use the rents and prices of land held by charities in England and Wales to estimate statistically the nominal and real rental value of farmland from 1500 to 1912. Real land rental values increased fourfold between 1500 and 1912. Combining these estimates with farm wages and rates of return I calculate agricultural output from factor payments, as well as output per worker, from 1500 to 1912. Finally the productivity of agriculture is calculated. These new series suggest that measured agricultural productivity doubled between 1500-39 and 1860-69. But the productivity growth was fairly evenly spread over this long period, and was much less in the years 1760 to 1860 than standard accounts of the Industrial Revolution such as Crafts (1985) assume. Thus these estimates imply a substantial reduction in estimates of output growth in England in the Industrial Revolution era. Further the rate of productivity growth in England in the years 1500-1789 is no greater than the growth rates Philip Hoffman finds for the Paris Basin. Finally, contrary to expectation, the source of productivity growth before 1869 is overwhelmingly growing yields as opposed to growth of labor productivity.
Effects of temperature and sand on E. coli survival in a northern lake water microcosm

A concern for public health officials is the presence of Escherichia coli (E. coli), an indicator of fecal contamination, in monitoring recreational waters. While E. coli is unlikely to cause disease in humans, its presence may indicate other more pathogenic microorganisms. Many factors can lead to changes in the survival of E. coli outside of the animal intestine and may affect the probability of colonizing a new host. Survival of bacteria in recreational water has been linked to water temperature, and most recently to the presence of sand on the beach. This project looked at the survival of an environmental E. coli isolate in lake water. Lake water microcosms were placed at 4, 10, 14, or 258C for up to 36 d and an enzyme-substrate test (Colisure w , IDEXX Corp.) was used to determine the most probable number (MPN) of E. coli/100 ml water. E. coli numbers at all temperatures declined over the duration of the experiment. The decline was most pronounced at 148C and was slowest at 48C. The presence of sand in the microcosm increased the time that E. coli survived, regardless of temperature. From a beach management standpoint, these findings indicate that E.coli may persist in the environment in cooler water longer than in the warmer water encountered in late summer.
Searching for Collaborators in Agent Networks

Research on social networks have received increasing attention in multiagent systems due to the popularity of peer-to-peer networks, social networking sites, electronic supply chains, etc. The common underlying research issue in these domains is the search and location of desirable interaction or collaboration partners in a relatively large population. This paper is motivated by some recent, intriguing research results involving agent-organized networks (AONs). In AONs agents have a limited number of collaboration partners at any time, represented by edges in a network of agent nodes, and can rewire edges, i.e., change partners, to improve performance. It was found that random selection of partners at every time period produced better performance but incurred larger search costs in a production and exchange economy compared to gradual rewiring of edges in the network. We propose an exponentially decaying exploration scheme that produces similar utilities to random rewiring but with much less rewiring costs. We also experiment with more realistic problem domains involving manufacturing profits, inventory costs, and stockpiling limits and observe superior utilities with our proposed searching scheme for collaborators.
Developing magnetorheological finishing (MRF) technology for the manufacture of large-aperture optics in megajoule class laser systems

Over the last eight years we have been developing advanced MRF tools and techniques to manufacture meter-scale optics for use in Megajoule class laser systems. These systems call for optics having unique characteristics that can complicate their fabrication using conventional polishing methods. First, exposure to the high-power nanosecond and sub-nanosecond pulsed laser environment in the infrared (>27 J/cm 2 at 1053 nm), visible (>18 J/cm 2 at 527 nm), and ultraviolet (>10 J/cm 2 at 351 nm) demands ultra-precise control of optical figure and finish to avoid intensity modulation and scatter that can result in damage to the optics chain or system hardware. Second, the optics must be super-polished and virtually free of surface and subsurface flaws that can limit optic lifetime through laser-induced damage initiation and growth at the flaw sites, particularly at 351 nm. Lastly, ultra-precise optics for beam conditioning are required to control laser beam quality. These optics contain customized surface topographical structures that cannot be made using traditional fabrication processes. In this review, we will present the development and implementation of large-aperture MRF tools and techniques specifically designed to meet the demanding optical performance challenges required in large aperture high-power laser systems. In particular, we will discuss the advances made by using MRF technology to expose and remove surface and subsurface flaws in optics during final polishing to yield optics with improve laser damage resistance, the novel application of MRF deterministic polishing to imprint complex topographical information and wavefront correction patterns onto optical surfaces, and our efforts to advance the technology to manufacture largeaperture damage resistant optics.
Quantitative Methods in Peace Research

Quantitative methods are an important component of peace research, since many of the issues addressed are inherently quantitative - the frequency and intensity of conflict, or the determination of military expenditures, for instance. This article argues that quantitative peace research could be improved if authors put more emphasis on the substantive issues and less on the mechanical application of rule-based, statistical techniques. After some methodological discussion, seven questions are posed that quantitative researchers might ask themselves; an attempt is made to show why these questions are important. If quantitative peace researchers asked themselves these questions more often, the substantive contribution of quantitative peace research could be increased.
Developmental venous anomaly in association with neuromigrational anomalies

This report describes a male neonate with unusual neuroradiologic findings at birth. The patient's subsequent clinical course and the evolution of his findings on serial magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance venograms are consistent with a developmental venous anomaly. The case underscores the association of developmental venous anomalies with neuromigrational disorders such as polymicrogyria and nonschizencephalic clefts. It also emphasizes the importance of recognizing this problem for prognostication and treatment.
Development of Systems Engineering Model for UREX Process

The mission of the Transmutation Research Program (TRP) at University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) is to establish a national nuclear technology research capability, a nuclear engineering test bed that can carry out effective transmutation and advanced reactor research and development effort. The main task of the Chemical Engineering Division, Argonne National Laboratories (ANL) is to design, model, and demonstrate countercurrent uranium solvent-extraction process. The division has developed MS Excel macros interface, called Argonne Model for Universal Solvent Extraction (AMUSE), to calculate flowsheets for treating high-level liquid waste. The AMUSE code forms all computational basis for flowsheet design and process development. The extraction process, including U, Tc, Pu/Np, Cs/Sr, and Am/Cm separations, is complicate and requires further system optimization for robust performance. A systems engineering model is proposed by the Nevada Center for Advanced Computational Methods (NCACM) at UNLV that provides process optimization through the adjustment on feed compositions, stages, number of sections and flow rates. The NCACM is designing and developing a MS Visual Basic graphical user interface (GUI) that provides multiple-run results and data reporting and presentation. All calculations are made by the interaction with the MS Excel macros, defined in ANL AMUSE codes. An optimization model, developed with the GUI, interconnects with MatLab’s optimization toolbox, commercial software from MathWorks. Due to the nature of the AMUSE code, all the computational results are generated from the existing AMUSE macros. The model also examines measure effects of process deviations, caused by operational upsets or product diversion.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Cardiac Valve Papillary Fibroelastoma: Surgical Excision for Revealed or Potential Embolization

Cardiac papillary fibroelastomas (CPF) are benign endocardial papillomas commonly formed from valve endothelium. The majority of tumors are found on the left side of the heart, with only a few case reports of pulmonary valve fibroelastomas. We report here a case of pulmonary valve papillary fibroelastoma that was successfully managed with simple excision of the mass.
A Strength–Porosity Relation Involving Different Pore Geometry and Orientation

A number of empirical and semiempirical expressions which relate the strength of brittle polycrystalline materials to the total porosity have been proposed by various investigators. The present study demonstrates from a purely theoretical point of view that not only the total porosity but the pore shape and orientation are important factors affecting the strength. A strength-porosity relation is derived that takes pore shape and orientation into account. Examples of how various types of pores should affect the strength are presented.
A novel method for viral gene delivery in solid tumors

Intratumoral infusion is the most commonly used method for viral gene delivery in clinical trials for cancer treatment. However, a potential problem in this approach is that viral vectors may disseminate from tumor to normal tissues during and after the infusion. To reduce the dissemination, we developed a novel method based on a biocompatible polymer, poloxamer 407, which could significantly increase the viscosity of virus suspension when the temperature was changed from 4°C to 37°C. With this method, we could significantly increase transgene expression in solid tumors and reduce virus dissemination by 2 orders of magnitude after intratumoral infusion of adenoviral vectors. The mechanism of reduction was likely to be that the viscous poloxamer solution blocked convection of viral vectors in the interstitial space and the lumen of microvessels in the vicinity of the infusion site. This method has a potential to be used in the clinic for enhancing efficacy and reducing toxicity in viral gene therapy.
Intrauterine pressure waveform characteristics of spontaneous and oxytocin- or prostaglandin F2α-induced active labor

Abstract Intrauterine pressure waveforms of active first-stage labor from patients in spontaneous and PGF 2α - or oxytocin-induced labor are compared. The initial pressure (P i ), maximum pressure amplitude (P m -P i ), maximum rates of rise (P x ) and fall (P n ) of the intrauterine pressure, the time (T 1 ) from P i toP x , the time (T 2 ) fromP x to P m -P i , the time (T 3 ) from P m -P 1 toP n , and the time (T 4 ) fromP n to the termination of the contraction were measured. The mean P m -P i was greater in PGF 2α -induced labor (50.2±18.1 torr) than in oxytocin-induced labor (46.8±17.0 torr) or spontaneous labor (43.2±16.8 torr). The mean P i was lower in spontaneous labor (11.5±6.0 lorr) than in PGF 2α -induced (17.1±9.2 torr) or oxytocin-induced (19.6±8.4) labors. Whether compared by raw means, by decile subsets of the amplitude, or by mean values adjusted for differences in the covariate P m -P i , the analyses demonstrate that the contractions of spontaneous labor and PGF 2α -induced labor are similar in respect to T 3 , T 4 , T T ,P x ,P n , T 1 + T 2 , and the ratio of (P m -P i )/P x . T 1 is shorter and T 2 longer in PGF 2α -induced contractions than in spontaneous labor, but the times to peak amplitude (T 1 + T 2 ) are identical. Oxytocin-induced contractions are characterized by lower (P m - P i )/P x , shortening of the duration of T 1 , and the total duration of contraction (T T ). The significance of these results is discussed, and it is concluded that the contractions of spontaneous labor and PGF 2α -induced labor represent similar physiologic states, and both are different from oxytocin-induced contractions.
Themes from variation: probing the commonalities of symbiotic associations.

SYNOPSIS. Research on symbiosis (including antagonistic and mutualistic associations) wrestles, directly or indirectly, with the paradox: why are symbiotic associations so prevalent in the biosphere in the face of ubiquitous immune or antibiotic defenses among organisms? The symposium ‘‘Living Together: the Dynamics of Symbiotic Interactions’’ considered several questions: 1. How do symbiotic species partners come together? Do symbioses share similar patterns of signal recognition and response? 2. What roles do nutrients and metabolites play in symbiotic interactions, and how are metabolic exchanges affected by environmental changes? 3. In what ways do the dynamics of multispecies symbioses differ from two-species associations? 4. How do antagonistic (parasitic, pathogenic) symbioses differ from mutualistic ones? In what ways do changes in the biotic and physical environment affect the evolutionary balance of symbiotic associations? 5. What are the coevolutionary patterns of symbiotic associations? 6. Which research techniques, and strategies of experimental design, might be useful across a broad range of symbiotic associations? Two themes emerged from the symposium. First, all the participants have incorporated multiple techniques and perspectives into their work, approaches which facilitate the understanding of symbiotic dynamics at several levels of biological organization. Secondly, many of the papers addressed genetic and environmental variation in symbiotic interactions. Such approaches are useful tools for analysis of the mechanics of interspecies interactions and for characterization of the most important factors which influence them. They provide us with the tools to evaluate symbioses in a world of complexity, variation and change. Nothing unconnected ever occurs. —sign on a church, Cambridge, Massachusetts So essential is the property of self/non-self recognition to life, and so ingrained is the perspective that absence of infection is a requisite of organismal health, that symbiotic interactions (protracted, intimate associations between two or more species: Saffo, 1992b) continue to surprise us, even as we continue to document the ubiquitous distribution of symbioses in the biosphere. We are intrigued by these apparent exceptions to our axenic rule, by ways in which species can live for extended periods in close association with another—often inside another—despite immune defenses which should make such ways of life improbable or impossible. Perhaps in part because of the diversity of these ‘‘exceptions,’’ as well as the technical complexities of studying symbiotic interactions, researchers have tended to focus empirical work on individual symbioses, and on their implications for the particular taxa involved, or the ecological, evolutionary, nutritional, medical or agricultural relevance of each. There is no doubt that each symbiosis provides particular points of fascination, and each offers particular developmental, physiological, evolutionary or ecological lessons for us. Consider these few examples.
Puerto Rico and the Bankruptcy Clause

Puerto Rico has about $72.6 billion in outstanding debt, and its public corporations have about $24.8 billion of that debt. But Puerto Rico's public corporation are not permitted to file for municipal bankruptcy under chapter 9 of the Bankruptcy Code. To solve this problem, Puerto Rico recently enacted an insolvency statute, commonly called the “Recovery Act,” which is a practical blend of chapters 9 and 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The new law provides a framework to restructure the public corporations’ debts. Immediately after the Recovery Act was signed into law, bondholders filed two lawsuits against it. The suits contend that the Recovery Act violates the Bankruptcy Clause, which the plaintiffs argue gives the federal government the exclusive right to legislate on bankruptcy. Indeed, the plaintiffs even call for the court to recognize the existence of a “Dormant Bankruptcy Clause,” like its better-known relative in the Commerce Clause. The plaintiffs also make a companion argument that the federal Bankruptcy Code supersedes the new Puerto Rican law, despite the exclusion of the Commonwealth’s municipal entities from the Code’s chapter 9. In short, the bondholders argue that Congress intended to preclude Puerto Rico and its divisions from any bankruptcy process whatsoever, and the Act interferes with that purpose. None of these arguments stands up to much scrutiny. This paper explains why.
Sovereignty: Organized Hypocrisy. By Stephen Krasner. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1999. 207p. $69.95 cloth, $24.95 paper.

Few concepts in international relations have aroused as much debate and emotion among political leaders, activists, and scholars as that of sovereignty. Diplomats continually invoke it, transnational organizations attempt to circumvent it, and scholars debate its meaning and wonder whether globaliza- tion is making it obsolete. Yet, most accept the premise that sovereignty is not only the foundation of our international system but also one of the few consequential institutions we have in world politics.
Efficient Error-Correcting Codes for Sliding Windows

We consider the task of transmitting a data stream in the sliding window model, where communication takes place over an adversarial noisy channel with noise rate up to 1. For any noise level c 0. Decoding more than a (1 − c)-prefix of the window is shown to be impossible in the worst case, which makes our scheme optimal in this sense. Our scheme runs in polylogarithmic time per element in the size of the window, causes constant communication overhead, and succeeds with overwhelming probability.
Advanced Fighter Aircraft Sub-Systems Optimal Synthesis/Design and Operation: Airframe Integration Using a Thermoeconomic Approach

A decomposition methodology based on the concept of “thermoeconomic isolation” and applied to the synthesis/design and operational optimization of an advanced tactical fighter aircraft is presented in this paper. Conceptual, time, and physical decomposition are used. The physical decomposition strategy employed, called Iterative Local-Global Optimization (ILGO), was developed by Munoz and von Spakovsky and has been applied to a number of complex stationary and transportation applications. This decomposition strategy is the first to successfully closely approach the theoretical condition of “thermoeconomic isolation” when applied to highly complex, highly dynamic, non-linear systems. The total system is decomposed into eight sub-systems, five of which have degrees of freedom (a total of 493). These five are the airframe sub-system (AFS), the propulsion sub-system (PS), the environmental control sub-system (ECS), the fuel loop subsystem (FLS), and the vapor compression and PAO loops subsystem (VC/PAOS). The three without degrees of freedom are the equipment group (EGS), the permanent payload (PPS) and the expendable payload (EPS). For the ones with degrees of freedom, detailed aerodynamic, geometric, thermodynamic, and physical models at both design and off-design were formulated and implemented. The highly complex problem of integrating the synthesis/design of the airframe sub-system with the PS and the thermal driven sub-systems (ECS, FLS, and VC/PAOS) is solved using the novel decomposition approach mentioned above. The most promising set of aircraft sub-system configurations based on both aerodynamic performance and energy integration analysis are evaluated for all mission stages including the transients segments. The optimal configuration (synthesis) and geometry (design) of the airframe sub-system is determined simultaneously with that for the total aircraft system, i.e. with that for all of the other sub-systems. Results for this system and its sub-systems are presented below.
ANTI-THYMOCYTE GLOBULIN PROTECTS AGAINST ISCHEMIA REPERFUSION INJURY IN THE IMMEDIATE POST HEART TRANSPLANT PERIOD

Ischemia reperfusion injury after heart transplant (Htx) is not uncommon. This may lead to rejection and endothelial cells dysfunction with subsequent development of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV). It has been reported that the use of anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) as induction therapy post-tx
Spectral Optical Transfer Function of a Wide-Field Double-Fourier Interferometer

Wide-field double-Fourier imaging interferometry is a multi-aperture spectroscopic imaging technique. Due to the separation of the apertures, the optical transfer functions associated with the recovered hyperspectral images are shown to vanish around the DC spatial frequency.
Studies in wound healing. III. Contraction in vit. C. deficiency.

SummaryFull thickness skin wounds in scorbutic guinea pigs contract at same rate during the first 2 weeks of healing as do those in normal animals. There appears to be a delay in initiation of contraction. Significance of these observations is discussed.
Adsorption of Small Alkanes on ZSM-5 Zeolites: Influence of Brønsted Sites

The adsorption of a series of small alkanes was studied experimentally on H-ZSM-5 zeolites using calorimetric measurements in order to determine their interactions with the Bronsted sites. Differential heats measured on four ZSM-5 samples with different Si/Al2 ratio and with different defect concentrations were found to depend strongly on the Bronsted-site density but not on the presence of defects. The interactions for CH4 with the Bronsted sites were minimal but the effect was significant (up to 11 ± 2 kJ/mol extra heats) for larger alkanes, such as n-C6H14. The affinity of the alkanes with the Bronsted sites increased with the gas-phase proton affinity of the alkanes and the calculated affinity of the alkanes for the strong acid, fluorosulfonic acid. The extra heats of adsorption in H-ZSM-5 over its siliceous counterparts can therefore be associated with the strength of hydrogen bonding between the adsorbed alkane and the Bronsted sites, which in turn increases with molecular size. Specifically, extra ...
Disability and Chronic Illness Identity: Interviews with Lesbians and Bisexual Women and Their Partners

Disability rights activists and cultural workers are articulating disability identity and culture. Through interviews with lesbians and bisexual women with disabilities or chronic illnesses and their partners, the present study examined disability/chronic illness identity on the level of individual, couple, and community. Participants shared differing perspectives about how disability/chronic illness identity relates to other aspects of identity, and about whether disability/chronic illness identity is fluid or constant. They described several challenges they have encountered in developing disability/chronic illness identity. Couples talked about developing boundaries and balance in their relationships, and about how disability or chronic illness has strengthened their relationships. A number of participants spoke about identity as intimately linked with community. Implications for community building are discussed.
Association of Albuminuria With Cardiac Dysfunction in US Hispanics/Latinos.

Higher urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) has been associated with cardiac dysfunction in the general population. We assessed the association of UACR with cardiac structure and function in the Echocardiographic Study of Latinos (Echo-SOL), an ancillary study of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos across 4 US sites. Echo-SOL participants underwent standard 2-dimensional echocardiography, including speckle-tracking strain analysis. UACR was categorized as normal and high-normal (based on the midpoint of values below microalbuminuria), microalbuminuria (≥17 mg/g for men; ≥25 mg/g for women), and macroalbuminuria (≥250 mg/g; ≥355 mg/g). Simultaneous assessments were made of left ventricular (LV) mass index and hypertrophy and measures of LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction. We assessed the association of UACR with subclinical cardiac measures, adjusting for sociodemographic and cardiometabolic factors. Among 1,815 participants (median age 54, women 65%), 42% had normal UACR, 43% high-normal UACR, 13% microalbuminuria, and 2% macroalbuminuria. Prevalence of LV hypertrophy was 13%, LV systolic dysfunction (ejection fraction
Human Neuronal Cell Lines as in Vitro Models

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on human neuronal cell lines as in vitro models. The chapter describes the general development of a culture strategy and the various parameters, which may be tried in order to establish optimal cell growth and differentiation. Several new techniques have emerged that may be used to generate cell lines. A particularly successful strategy has utilized oncogene containing retroviruses. This requires a relatively high density of dividing cells. Viral oncogenes that are able to transform cells and, thereby immortalize them, are infected into recipient cells and during the process of DNA replication, become inserted into the genome and are therefore, stably transmitted to progeny. Another method that has been used to generate neuronal cell lines is somatic cell hybrids. A continuous cell line may be fused with a desired cell, such as a specific neuronal cell, and this may generate somatic cell fusions that are capable of continuous propagation. A problem with some somatic cell hybrids is that the chromosome content is unstable and cells may subsequently shed chromosomes, altering their phenotype. This chapter discusses in detail the selection of tissues and preparation of cells for plating. The chapter also explains maintenance of cell cultures and differentiation of neuronal cell lines. Characterization of neuronal cell lines is also discussed in detail in this chapter.
The Entropy Rate Admissibility Criterion for a Phase Transition Problem

We summarize the recent results concerning the entropy rate admissibility criterion applied to a hyperbolic-elliptic mixed type system describing a phase transition problem. The system we discuss is given by $$ \begin{gathered} v_t - u_x = 0, \hfill \\ u_t - f(v)_x = 0, \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ (1) where v, u, and are strain, velocity, and stress, respectively. The first and second equations express the conservation of mass and linear momentum, respectively. We assume that is a nonmonotone function of v as depicted in Figure 1.1.. It is important to note that if is nonnegative, the system is hyperbolic and if is negative, the system is elliptic. In our case there are two intervals (0,a] and [s, oo) where the system is hyperbolic. These two intervals correspond to two different phases of a material. These two phases are called the a-and,s-phase. The Maxwell stress is the value of stress for which the areas A and are equal. The strains for the Maxwell stress in the a-and 0-phase are denoted by vc, and vo, respectively. This is a hyperbolic-elliptic mixed system capable of describing the phase transition problem. A very well-known example is the van der Waals fluid where -f is the pressure and v is the specific volume (the reciprocal of density). Another well-known example is the martensite-austenite phase transition in elasticity.
Anandamide enhances extracellular levels of adenosine and induces sleep: an in vivo microdialysis study.

Author(s): Murillo-Rodriguez, Eric; Blanco-Centurion, Carlos; Sanchez, Cristina; Piomelli, Daniele; Shiromani, Priyattam J | Abstract: STUDY OBJECTIVES:The principal component of marijuana, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol increases sleep in humans. Endogenous cannabinoids, such as N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide), also increase sleep. However, the mechanism by which these molecules promote sleep is not known but might involve a sleep-inducing molecule such as adenosine. Microdialysis samples were collected from the basal forebrain in order to detect levels of adenosine before and after injection of anandamide. DESIGN:Rats were implanted for sleep studies, and a cannula was placed in the basal forebrain to collect microdialysis samples. Samples were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. SETTINGS:Basic neuroscience research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS:Three-month-old male F344 rats. At the start of the lights-on period, animals received systemic injections of dimethyl sulfoxide (vehicle), anandamide, SR141716A (cannabinoid receptor 1 [CB1] antagonist), or SR141716A and anandamide. One hour after injections, microdialysis samples were collected (5 microL) from the basal forebrain every hour over a 20-minute period for 5 hours. The samples were immediately analyzed via high-performance liquid chromatography for adenosine levels. Sleep was also recorded continuously over the same period. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS:Anandamide increased adenosine levels compared to vehicle controls with the peak levels being reached during the third hour after drug injection. There was a significant increase in slow-wave sleep during the third hour. The induction in sleep and the rise in adenosine were blocked by the CB1-receptor antagonist, SR141716A. CONCLUSIONS:Anandamide increased adenosine levels in the basal forebrain and also increased sleep. The soporific effects of anandamide were mediated by the CB1 receptor, since the effects were blocked by the CB1-receptor antagonist. These findings identify a potential therapeutic use of endocannabinoids to induce sleep in conditions where sleep may be severely attenuated.
11C-Choline PET/CT for Detection and Localization of Parathyroid Adenomas

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of 11C-choline PET/CT for the detection of parathyroid adenomas by retrospectively reviewing a large patient population. MATERIALS AND METHODS. In this single-institution retrospective study, 7088 11C-choline PET/CT scans performed of 2933 men with prostate cancer from January 2005 through February 2016 were evaluated. Patients with suspected parathyroid adenomas were identified through a review of the electronic medical record and relevant imaging. Patient demographics, laboratory results, and lesion characteristics were noted. Pathologically proven parathyroid adenomas and lesions in patients with imaging or laboratory findings consistent with the diagnosis were considered positive. RESULTS. Thirteen men (mean [± SD] age, 72 ± 7 years) with pathologically or laboratory-proven parathyroid adenomas were identified. All had abnormally elevated serum calcium and parathyroid hormone levels. All adenomas were tracer avid on 11C-choline PET/CT (...
A synthetic pathway for the production of 2-hydroxyisovaleric acid in Escherichia coli.

Synthetic biology, encompassing the design and construction of novel artificial biological pathways and organisms and the redesign of existing natural biological systems, is rapidly expanding the number of applications for which biological systems can play an integral role. In the context of chemical production, the combination of synthetic biology and metabolic engineering approaches continues to unlock the ability to biologically produce novel and complex molecules from a variety of feedstocks. Here, we utilize a synthetic approach to design and build a pathway to produce 2-hydroxyisovaleric acid in Escherichia coli and demonstrate how pathway design can be supplemented with metabolic engineering approaches to improve pathway performance from various carbon sources. Drawing inspiration from the native pathway for the synthesis of the 5-carbon amino acid l-valine, we exploit the decarboxylative condensation of two molecules of pyruvate, with subsequent reduction and dehydration reactions enabling the synthesis of 2-hydroxyisovaleric acid. Key to our approach was the utilization of an acetolactate synthase which minimized kinetic and regulatory constraints to ensure sufficient flux entering the pathway. Critical host modifications enabling maximum product synthesis from either glycerol or glucose were then examined, with the varying degree of reduction of these carbons sources playing a major role in the required host background. Through these engineering efforts, the designed pathway produced 6.2 g/L 2-hydroxyisovaleric acid from glycerol at 58% of maximum theoretical yield and 7.8 g/L 2-hydroxyisovaleric acid from glucose at 73% of maximum theoretical yield. These results demonstrate how the combination of synthetic biology and metabolic engineering approaches can facilitate bio-based chemical production.
The Diffusion Process of Strategic Motivating Language

Motivating language is a leader oral communication strategy which has been linked to such positive employee outcomes as higher job performance, increased job satisfaction, lower intention to turnov...
Toward Union in Love: The Contemplative Spiritual Tradition and Contemporary Psychoanalytic Theory in the Formation of Persons

This article explores points of intersection between the Christian tradition of spiritual direction informed by the contemplative spiritual tradition and contemporary psychoanalytic psychology and ...
Predation in State and Nation

U.S. criminal justice policies have created the uniquely American style of mass incarceration. Since 1973, America has seen a sustained and substantial rise in its incarcerated population and the f...