cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Functional implications of root cortical senescence for soil resource capture

Root phenes play a primary role in plant adaptation to edaphic stress. Understanding the functional implications of root phenotypes will enable the development of crop varieties with improved soil resource acquisition. Root cortical senescence (RCS) is a type of programmed cell death in cortical cells of several Poaceae species. Until recently there has been very little attention to the functional implications of RCS for water and nutrient capture. We explore the functional implications of RCS as an adaptive trait for water and nutrient acquisition. The present review summarizes evidence from our own studies and other published work, and provides novel insights into the fitness landscape of RCS. Progress has recently been achieved in understanding the development and physiological implications of RCS. We propose that RCS is a useful trait for water and nutrient acquisition, particularly in edaphic stress conditions. Further research is needed to understand the utility and tradeoffs of RCS in the context of specific environments, management practices, and phenotypic backgrounds. The utility of RCS for improved plant performance under edaphic stress merits investigation in the field. RCS may be a useful breeding target for improved soil resource capture in several major crop species including wheat, barley, and triticale.
Abnormal linear elasticity in polycrystalline phosphorene

Phosphorene, also known as monolayer black phosphorous, has been widely used in electronic devices due to its superior electrical properties. However, its relatively low Young's modulus, low fracture strength and susceptibility to structural failure has limited its application in nano devices. Therefore, in order to design more mechanically reliable devices that utilize phosphorene, it is necessary to explore the mechanical properties of polycrystalline phosphorene. Here molecular dynamics simulations are performed to study the effect of grain size on the mechanical performance of polycrystalline phosphorene sheets. Unlike other two-dimension materials with planar crystalline structure, polycrystalline phosphorene sheets are almost linear elastic, resulting from its high bending stiffness due to its intrinsic buckled crystalline structure. Moreover, the percentage increase of stiffness for polycrystalline phosphorene associated with the increase of grain size from 2 to 12 nm is only 15.9%, much smaller than that for other two-dimension materials with planar crystalline structure. This insensitivity could be attributed to the small difference between the elastic modulus of the crystalline phase and amorphous phase of polycrystalline phosphorene. In addition, the strength deduction obeys well a logarithm relation of grain size, well explained by the dislocation pile-up theory analogous to that of polycrystalline graphene. Overall, our findings provide a better understanding of mechanical properties of polycrystalline phosphorene and establish a guideline for manufacturing and designing novel phosphorene-based nano devices and nano structures.
Feasibility and reliability of a virtual reality oculus platform to measure sensory integration for postural control in young adults

Background Using Unity for the Oculus Development-Kit 2, we have developed an affordable, portable virtual reality platform that targets the visuomotor domain, a missing link in current clinical assessments of postural control. Here, we describe the design and technical development as well as report its feasibility with regards to cybersickness and test-retest reliability in healthy young adults. Method Our virtual reality paradigm includes two functional scenes ('City' and 'Park') and four moving dots scenes. Twenty-one healthy young adults were tested twice, one to two weeks apart. They completed a simulator sickness questionnaire several times per session. Their postural sway response was recorded from a forceplate underneath their feet while standing on the floor, stability trainers, or a Both Sides Up (BOSU) ball. Sample entropy, postural displacement, velocity, and excursion were calculated and compared between sessions given the visual and surface conditions. Results Participants reported slight-to-moderate transient side effects. Intra-Class Correlation values mostly ranged from 0.5 to 0.7 for displacement and velocity, were above 0.5 (stability trainer conditions) and above 0.4 (floor mediolateral conditions) for sample entropy, and minimal for excursion. Conclusion Our novel portable VR platform was found to be feasible and reliable in healthy young adults.
Evaluation of the Therapeutic Utility of Phosphodiesterase 5A Inhibition in the MDX Mouse Model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a devastating and ultimately fatal disease characterized by progressive muscle wasting and weakness. DMD is caused by the absence of a functional dystrophin protein, which in turn leads to reduced expression and mislocalization of dystrophin-associated proteins including neuronal nitric oxide (NO) synthase mu (nNOSμ). Disruption of nNOSμ signaling results in muscle fatigue and unopposed sympathetic vasoconstriction during exercise, thereby increasing contraction-induced damage in dystrophin-deficient muscles. The loss of normal nNOSμ signaling during exercise is central to the vascular dysfunction proposed over 40 years ago to be an important pathogenic mechanism in DMD. Recent preclinical studies focused on circumventing defective nNOSμ signaling in dystrophic skeletal and cardiac muscle by inhibiting phosphodiesterase 5A (PDE5A) have shown promising results. This review addresses nNOS signaling in normal and dystrophin-deficient muscles and the potential of PDE5A inhibition as a therapeutic approach for the treatment of cardiovascular deficits in DMD.
Preliminary experience with robot-assisted laparoscopic staging of gynecologic malignancies.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of integrating robot-assisted technology in the performance of laparoscopic staging of gynecologic malignancies. Methods: Seven patients underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic staging procedures for gynecologic cancers. Data were collected and analyzed as a retrospective case series analysis. Results: We attempted 7 robot-assisted laparoscopic staging procedures with no conversions to laparotomy. The median lymph node count for lymphadenectomy was 15 (range, 4 to 29). Mean operating time was 257 minutes (range, 174 to 345). The average estimated blood loss was 50 mL. One patient developed sinusitis and required intravenous antibiotics. The median hospital stay was 2 days. Conclusion: Robot-assisted laparoscopic staging is a feasible technique that may overcome the surgical limitations of conventional laparoscopy.
Gender and Women's Studies, Applied Research on

Gender and women's studies refers to scholarship about and the academic study of the meaning and implications of gender and gendered roles across society, including a focus on power, oppression, and the intersection of identities. As an interdisciplinary field, it draws upon, addresses, and adds to topics covered by all of the hard and social sciences and the arts. In this article we discuss the development of women's studies as an academic field; its intellectual backgrounds and offshoots; the current state of the discipline; current academic programs, methodological issues and problems; and emerging directions in theory and research.
Iontophoresis of Bases, Nucleosides, and Nucleotides

Purpose. To investigate whether transdermal iontophoresis may be potentially useful for delivery of oligonucleotide drugs, the electro-transport of representative bases (uracil and adenine), nucleosides (uridine and adenosine) and nucleotides (AMP, ATP, GTP and imido-GTP) across mammalian skin in vitro has been considered.
Gender equity in computer science through computing in the arts – a six-year longitudinal study

ABSTRACTComputing in the Arts (CITA) is an interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts degree program, which integrates computer science with art theory and practice. We present a 6-year study that explores the impact of the CITA degree on broadening participation. We find that CITA attracts a different student population than traditional computer science degrees. We find that it attracts and retains almost twice as many female students as a traditional computer science degree. Finally, we find that it graduates approximately equal numbers of female and male students. The CITA curriculum maintains its strong computer science character, as it contains several core computer science courses and traditional upper-level computer science courses. We introduce the CITA curriculum model, which combines computer science courses, art courses and several structured synthesis experiences. We show that creating a CITA-like degree is fairly inexpensive, as the curriculum mostly reuses existing courses.
You Had Us at “Humans Do Not Have a General Need for Cognitive Consistency”

I am of old and young, of the foolish as much as the wise,Regardless of others, ever regardful of others,Maternal as well as paternal, a child as well as a man,Stuff'd with the stuff that is coarse...
Interpersonal trauma and suicide attempts in low-income depressed mothers in home visiting.

Abstract Background Risk of suicide is a major concern for depressed mothers in the perinatal period. The strongest predictor of completing suicide is having made a previous attempt. Little is known about the clinical features of low-income, depressed mothers who have attempted suicide in contrast to those who have not. Objective This study examined clinical and psychosocial features of 170 low-income, young, depressed mothers with and without previous suicide attempts who were enrolled in an early childhood home visiting program. Method Mothers were identified via screening at three months postpartum and diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) using a semi-structured interview. Psychiatric history and presentation, child maltreatment history, intimate partner violence, and social functioning were measured. Results 31.8% of mothers had previous suicide attempts. Mean age of first attempt was 14.38 years (SD = 2.55) and the median number of lifetime attempts was 2. In contrast to no attempts, those who had attempted suicide had more MDD symptoms, earlier age of first MDD episode, and more episodes. A previous attempt was associated with greater childhood trauma, more current MDD symptoms and PTSD diagnosis. No differences were found on intimate partner violence. Mothers who made an attempt reported lower levels of tangible social support and smaller social networks. Conclusions History of suicide attempts is associated with childhood trauma history and later psychosocial impairments in low income, depressed mothers in home visiting. Implications for addressing the needs of depressed mothers with suicide attempt histories in the context of early childhood programs are discussed.
Laser atherectomy and drug-coated balloons for the treatment of femoropopliteal in-stent restenosis: 2-Year outcomes

BACKGROUND Femoropopliteal (FP) artery is one of the most anatomically challenging areas for sustained stent patency. The incidence of FP in-stent restenosis (ISR) is estimated at 50% at 24 months. Prior studies have shown that lesion debulking with laser atherectomy (LA) combined with drug coated balloon (DCB) have superior outcomes compared to LA + balloon angioplasty (BA) ISR, but there have not been studies evaluating 2-year outcomes. METHODS This was a dual-center retrospective cohort study that compared patients with FP-ISR treated with LA + DCB versus LA + BA. Cox regression analysis was used to examine 2-year outcomes of target lesion revascularization (TLR) and the composite outcome of TLR or restenosis. Multivariable analysis was performed for clinical and statistically significant (in the univariate analysis) variables. RESULTS One hundred and seventeen consecutive patients with Tosaka II (n = 32) and III (n = 85) ISR were analyzed. Sixty-six patients were treated with LA + DCB and 51 with LA + BA. The LA + DCB group had more lesions with moderate to severe calcification (58% vs. 13%; p < .0001). The LA + DCB group was more likely to be treated with the use of embolic protection devices (64% vs. 23%, p < .001) and cutting balloons (61% vs. 6%, p < .001). Bail-out stenting rates were lower in the LA + DCB group (32% vs. 57%, p = .008). LA + DCB was superior (HR: 0.57; 95% CI: 0.34-0.9, p = .027) for the composite outcome of 2-year TLR or restenosis. The 12-month KM estimates for freedom from TLR or restenosis were 66% in the LA + DCB group versus 46% in the LA + BA group. The 24-month KM estimates were 45% in the LA + DCB group versus 24% in the LA + BA group. CONCLUSIONS The combination of DCB + LA was associated with decreased rates of bail-out stenting and improved 2-year TLR or restenosis rates. Randomized clinical trials examining the DCB + LA combination for FP-ISR are needed.
Existential Threat Fuels Worldview Defense, but not after Priming Autonomy Orientation

Although mortality salience (MS) typically motivates worldview defensiveness, priming an autonomy/self-determined orientation may attenuate that defensiveness. In Study 1 (n = 156) MS (vs. pain) ha...
Optimizing Training using Information Theory-Based Curriculum Learning Factory

We present a new system that can automatically generate input paths (syllabus) for a convolutional neural network to follow through a curriculum learning to improve training performance. Our system utilizes information-theoretic content measures of training samples to form syllabus at training time. We treat every sample as 2D random variable where a data point contained in the sample (such as a pixel) is modelled as an independent and identically distributed random variable (i.i.d) realization. We use several information theory methods to rank and determine when a sample is fed to a network by measuring its pixel composition and its relationship to other samples in the training set. Comparative evaluation of multiple state-of-the-art networks, including, GoogleNet, and VGG, on benchmark datasets demonstrate a syllabus that ranks samples using measures such as Joint Entropy between adjacent samples, can improve learning and significantly reduce the amount of training steps required to achieve desirable training accuracy. We present results that indicate our approach can reduce training loss by as much as a factor of 9 compared to conventional training.
The Alveolar Stem Cell Niche of the Mammalian Lung

The alveolar region of the mammalian lung evolved to enable highly efficient gas exchange between the millions of air-filled sacs known as alveoli and blood circulating through the pulmonary vessels. Each alveolus is composed of epithelial and mesenchymal populations; Type 1 (AT1) and Type 2 (AT2) epithelial cells line the sacs while the mesenchymal compartment is composed of endothelial cells, pericytes, several different fibroblast subpopulations, and immune cells. Compared with organs such as the intestine and skin, there is normally little cell turnover in the adult lung. However, if the alveolar epithelium is damaged, for example, by toxic agents or viral infections, or if a lung lobe is removed, there is extensive repair or compensatory regrowth (neoalveolarization) of the tissue. It is now well accepted that AT2s function as epithelial stem cells for the alveoli, capable of long-term self-renewal and differentiation into AT1s. However, many important questions remain, in particular, about the functional heterogeneity of AT2s and how the different components of their local environment or niche interact to regulate their proliferation and differentiation. Known signaling factors include ligands and antagonists of the WNT, FGF, EGF and bone morphogenetic (BMP) signaling pathways as well as cytokines produced by immune cells. The relative contribution of these factors to alveolar homeostasis, repair and regrowth is discussed.
Simple Imaging Techniques for Plant Growth Assessment

Quantification of plant phenotypic traits, such as height, width, stem diameter, and leaf area, is often performed manually in the field; however, these measurements can be performed more quickly and precisely through simple imaging techniques using an image processing program. This new 5-page publication of the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department, written by Shinsuke Agehara, describes simple imaging techniques for plant growth assessment using the public domain program ImageJ.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1353
A Portfolio Theory Approach to Solve the Product Elimination Problem

The authors have developed an easy-to-use approach, derived from financial portfolio theory, for determining which product(s) to eliminate. This approach takes into account the effect the product deletion will have on the overall rate of return and the overall risk of the product portfolio.
Chapter 3 – Results and Discussion

The electrochemical oxidation of catechol (CT) in the presence of thiosemicarbazide (TSC) in buffer solution (pH 5.3) was studied by cyclic voltammetry and controlled potential coulometry. The controlled potential coulometry was carried out with composite graphite working electrode. The oxidation mechanism was then suggested. The concentration of TSC in aqueous solutions was determined according to the linear dependence of the anodic peak current with concentration. The calibration plot was linear in the ranges of 1×10−5 to 8.5×10−4 mol L−1 with linear regression coefficient (R2) of 0.995. The relative standard deviation of the determination was 2% (n=6). A novel glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with a composite film of poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (P4VP/MWCNT–GCE) was used for the voltammetric determination of paracetamol (PCT), aspirin (ASA), and caffeine (CF). The detection limits were 1.7, 4.42, and 1.2 nM for PCT, ASA, and CF respectively. The differential pulse voltammetry determination of ASA and CF in the presence of PCT showed that ASA could be assayed in biological samples free from the interference of CF and PCT. Besides, voltammetric sensors for hydroquinone (HQ) and CT were developed. The P4VP/GR–GCE and P4VP/MWCNT–GCE have exhibited excellent sensitivities in the measurement of HQ and CT with detection limits of 8.1 nM (HQ) and 26 nM (CT), 15 nM (HQ) and 2.6 nM (CT), respectively.
Analysis of Keshan disease surveillance data in Pingliang city of Gansu province between 2007 and 2009

Objective To unveil the current situation and bends of Keshan disease in Pingliang city of Gansu province, to evaluate the outcome of related prevention and control measures, and to provide scientific basis for further prevention and treatment of the disease. Methods According to the "the central allowance local public health special funds endemic disease prevention programs grams mountain monitoring programme" and "the diagnostic criteria for Keshan disease" (GB 17021-1997), between 2007 and 2009, local residents from nine monitoring points in Pingliang city of Gansu province were clinically examined, and electrocardiography(ECG) tracings and Xray were taken of suspected cases. Corn, wheat samples and hair samples of children, adults and women were collected, and selenium content of these samples was determined by 2.3-2-amino-naphthalene fluorescence method. Results A total of 5846 residents were surveyed in 3 years, 247 cases of Keshan patients were detected, with a detection rate of 4.23%(247/5846), of which potential cases of Keshan disease 214, the detection rate was 3.66% (214/5846); chronic Keshan disease 33 cases, the detection rate was 0.56% (33/5846); no acute type and subacute Keshan disease detected. A total of 764 abnormal ECG cases were detected, and abnormal detection rate was 13.07%(764/5846). Two hundred and seven cases of suspected patients were examined by chest X-ray, 80 cardiac enlargement cases were detected, the detection rate was 38.6% (80/207). The 262 hair samples of children, adults and women were analyzed, hair selenium was (0.279 ± 0.098)mg/kg. Of the 9 corn and 31 wheat samples collected, corn selenium was (0.0079 ± 0.0029)mg/kg; wheat selenium was (0.0104 ± 0.0078)mg/kg. Conclusions Overall Keshan disease is in a stable and subsided trend in Pingliang city of Gansu province, but there are still a number of potential chronic types, sporadic new cases, suggesting that the disease monitoring, comprehensive prevention and treatment of the patients are the focus. Key words: Keshan disease; Electrocardiography; X-rays; Surveillance
Recent land cover changes in the Southwestern US lead to an increase in surface temperature

Abstract The increase in large-scale land cover change (LCC) in recent decades, particularly in response to climate-driven disturbances, has potential to impact local and regional changes in climate due to modification of carbon sources and sinks, albedo, surface roughness and energy fluxes. Using observational data, we predict the impact of two of the most extensive LCCs occurring in the Southwestern US: drought-induced tree mortality and shrub encroachment into grasslands, on surface temperature. We developed a new energy balance method that extracts the biophysical responses to environmental conditions, to predict how structural changes in albedo, surface roughness and canopy conductance following LCC will alter surface temperature. This method allows us not only to explain the observed differences in surface temperature between two non-adjacent study sites with different environmental conditions, but also to separate the contribution of biophysical and non-biophysical properties to surface temperature. Our results suggest that changes in biophysical properties due to shrub encroachment and tree mortality in the Southwestern US (independent of changes in other environmental properties) can potentially lead to an increase in midday surface temperature (11AM to 2PM) of 1 to 2 degrees Celsius, comparable to changes in surface temperature following deforestation. Although the average surface temperature increase in response to both shrub encroachment and tree mortality is similar, the biophysical properties driving the temperature change are different in each scenario. Change in aerodynamic conductance following tree mortality is the largest contributor to heating, while reduced albedo and canopy conductance drive the increase in surface temperature following shrub encroachment. We also show how this increase in daytime surface temperature could be further intensified with future climate, especially with the expected reduction in soil water availability in the Southwest.
Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy in a Healthcare Worker During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Caused by the Virus or the Demands of the Many Being Placed on the Few?

We present a case of Takotsubo (stress-induced) cardiomyopathy (TCM) in a healthcare worker that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. TCM, or broken-heart syndrome, has various presentations. This case sheds light on how stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic may cause cardiac illness in healthcare workers. Learning points The various symptoms indicating Takotsubo cardiomyopathy are characterized and defined.Physicians should be aware that stress in healthcare workers may cause heart disease.
Hybrid statistical modelling of the frequency response function of industrial robots

Abstract Models that predict the Frequency Response Function (FRF) of six degree-of-freedom (6-dof) industrial robots used for machining operations such as milling are usually built using Experimental Modal Analysis (EMA) of vibration data obtained from modal impact hammer tests performed at a finite number of points in the robot's workspace corresponding to specific arm configurations. While modal impact hammer tests are not constrained by the operating conditions of the robot, such as specific arm configurations allowed by part fixturing, they are limited by the number of workspace points that can be practically sampled and the associated robot downtime. Alternatively, the process of determining robot FRFs from on-line machining process data (e.g., forces and vibration) through Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) enables a denser sampling of the robot's workspace without requiring robot downtime. However, OMA may require several long tool paths and one or more complex part setups to enable sampling of a sufficiently large number of locations/arm configurations. This paper presents an efficient hybrid statistical modelling methodology that combines the two approaches, thus enabling possible optimization of sampling density and robot downtime, to efficiently determine the robot FRFs as a function arm configuration. The approach consists of first calibrating a Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) model with FRF data derived from EMA conducted at a small number of discrete locations in the robot's workspace. Then, FRFs calculated from OMA of milling forces and tool tip vibration data derived from robotic milling tests are used to update the initial GPR model using Bayesian inference and efficient hyperparameter updating. The proposed hybrid robot FRF modelling method is experimentally validated and shown to yield accurate predictions of the robot FRF while being computationally efficient.
Terahertz auto oscillations in non-collinear coplanar metallic antiferromagnets

Owing to their nonlinear dynamics, frequency tunability, nanoscale size, and the ability to operate over broad temperatures, spin torque-driven ferromagnet (FM)-based oscillators are excellent candidates for various neuromorphic computing applications [1] . However, FM oscillators operate at gigahertz speed, which limits the net throughput of the architecture. Antiferromagnet (AFM)-based oscillators can operate at terahertz (THz) frequency due to a strong exchange interaction [2] , and thus help overcome the limits of FM oscillators for neuromorphic computing. Also, the dynamics of AFMs can be tuned to display coherent rotation as well as non-coherent spikes [4] , which have a similarity to the dynamics of neurons. Prior works have focused on the dynamics in collinear AFMs, such as NiO [2] , [3] , [4] , while that in non-collinear AFMs is virtually unexplored even though their larger magnetoresistance and anomalous Hall effects should enable efficient detection. Here, we report a numerical analysis of the THz dynamics of non-collinear coplanar conducting AFMs such as Mn 3 Ir and Mn 3 Sn and compare their performance to that of NiO. Unlike NiO, the oscillations of the order parameter in metallic AFMs studied here are transduced into voltage signal using the tunnel anisotropy magnetoresistance (TAMR) measurement [6] .
Abnormal triaging of misfolded proteins by adult neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis-associated CSPα mutants causes lipofuscin accumulation

Mutations in DNAJC5 (encoding the J domain-containing HSP70 co-chaperone CSPα) are associated with adult neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (ANCL), a dominant-inherited neurodegenerative disease featuring lysosome-derived autofluorescent storage material (AFSM) termed lipofuscin. Functionally, CSPα has been implicated in chaperoning synaptic proteins and in misfolding-associated protein secretion (MAPS), but how CSPα dysfunction causes lipofuscinosis and neurodegeneration is unclear. Here we report two distinct protein quality control functions of CSPα at endolysosomes and perinuclear vesicles, respectively. We show that the endolysosome-associated CSPα promotes microautophagy of misfolded clients, but is dispensable for MAPS. By contrast, the perinuclear-localized CSPα, regulated by a previously unknown CSPα interactor named CD98hc, is critical for MAPS but unneeded for microautophagy. Importantly, these processes are coupled by CSPα in a J-domain regulated manner. Uncoupling these two processes, as seen in cells lacking CD98hc or expressing ANCL-associated CSPα mutants, generates CSPα-containing AFSMs resembling NCL patient-derived lipofuscin, and also induces neurodegeneration in a Drosophila ANCL model. These findings suggest that blocking MAPS while allowing CSPα-mediated microautophagy disrupts lysosome homeostasis, causing CSPα-associated lipofuscinosis and neurodegeneration.
Working Paper Containing Excerpts of My Leading Upcoming Book Titled ‘A Historical Mapping of Expression of Love and Death in William Shakespeare Elizabethan Era by Thileni Rasadarie D. Wickramaratne’

In this Working Paper containing excerpts of my upcoming book I argue that the historical background that forms the setting for William Shakespeare's plays is what influenced the themes of true love, war and death. I argue that loyalty to Empire is a theme that William Shakespeare pays allegiance to and Shakespeare is critical of love that betrays this loyalty in politics.
On a characteristic method for the SN neutron transport equation

Abstract We present a quadratic characteristic (QC) method for solving the SN neutron transport equation. In this QC method, the SN equation is integrated analytically on each gird point based on the method of characteristics, in which the scattering source and the cell boundary incoming angular flux are approximated with second-order polynomial functions, respectively. Numerical experiments show that the QC method is very robust and can achieve second-order accuracy and it possesses the asymptotic diffusion limit.
U.S. Catholic Schools and the Religious Who Served in Them: The Struggle to Continue the Tradition in the Post-Vatican II Era

This last in a series of three articles surveying the contributions of the religious to U.S. Catholic schooling focuses upon these contributions during the decades following the close of the Second Vatican Council. In an era when control of Catholic schooling was in transition from the hands of the religious to their lay collaborators, these women and men extended the legacy of their forebears by continuing to give form to the mission and purpose of U.S. Catholic schooling””namely, what it means to be an American Catholic””for the youth of the post-Vatican II era. These young women and men will provide leadership for the American Catholic Church during the first decades of the new millennium. This last in a series of three articles surveying the contributions of the religious to U.S. Catholic schooling focuses upon these contributions during the decades following the close of the Second Vatican Council. In an era when control of Catholic schooling was in transition from the hands of the religious to their lay collaborators, these women and men extended the legacy of their forebears by continuing to give form to the mission and purpose of U.S. Catholic schooling””namely, what it means to be an American Catholic””for the youth of the post-Vatican II era. These young women and men will provide leadership for the American Catholic Church during the first decades of the new millennium.
Inflammation and Inflammatory-Like Diseases

Inflammatory processes in the wall of the small intestine can be due to, or enhanced by, various highly divergent factors. Several of these are: 1) Direct action on the intestinal mucosal membrane by chemicals or toxins produced by bacteria. 2) Impaired arterial or venous circulation in the involved intestinal segment; intramural bleeding as a result of abdominal blunt trauma; a greatly prolonged coagulation time. Both embolic processes and thrombosis, or intramural hematomas, can lead to necrosis of the intestinal wall. 3) Ulcerations can also develop in mucosa swollen as a result of lymphedema. Lymph drainage can be disturbed by a number of causes such as tumorous growth, inflammatory processes, or fibrotic shriveling. Although rare, congenital lymphedema can also occur. 4) Stimulation of the mucosa by parasites not normally found in the intestine. 5) Lowered resistance of the intestinal mucosal membrane as a result of marked atrophy of the folds of Kerkring can also lead to increased susceptibility to harmful agents.
Expression and purification of functional human 17 alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase (P450c17) in Escherichia coli. Use of this system for study of a novel form of combined 17 alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase deficiency.

Enzymatically active human 17 alpha-hydroxylase cytochrome P450 (P450c17) has been expressed in and purified from Escherichia coli. The cDNA containing modifications within the amino-terminal eight codons which are favorable for expression in E. coli, as well as codons for 4 histidine residues at the carboxyl terminus, was placed in the pCWori+ expression vector. The modified human P450c17 was detected spectrophotometrically (400 nmol of P450c17/liter culture) and was found to be integrated into E. coli membranes. This previously inaccessible human P450 was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity (10.7 nmol of P450/mg) from solubilized bacterial membranes using two sequential chromatographic steps, nickel nitrilotriacetate followed by hydroxylapatite. The expected enzymatic activities of human P450c17 were reconstituted by addition of purified rat liver NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase, giving turnover numbers of 8.0 nmol/min/nmol P450 for pregnenolone, 6.5 nmol/min/nmol P450 for progesterone, 0.06 nmol/min/nmol P450 for 17 alpha-hydroxypregnenolone, and no detectable activity for 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone. This system was utilized to study the molecular basis of a novel form of combined 17 alpha-hydroxylase, 17,20-lyase deficiency resulting from compound heterozygous mutations, a missense point mutation Tyr64(TAT)–> Ser (TCT), and an Ile112 duplication (ATCATC). Upon expression of these mutant proteins in E. coli, the Tyr64 mutant has 15% of the wild type 17 alpha-hydroxylase activity, whereas the Ile112 duplication shows no activity, results consistent with the observed clinical phenotype.
Recognizing the Shared Ownership of Subsurface Resource Pools

This Article debunks the widely held view that the law of property in oil and gas is governed by a common law rule of capture. Rather, the common law courts embraced the paradigm of shared property for subsurface pools of oil and gas and treated these resources as owned by tenants in common, as modified by a nuisance exception for injuries to subsurface resource pools.In this revisionist description of the common law, we show that when faced with questions about the disruption of subsurface resource pools, courts were not concerned about title but about the hidden nature of the resources and the resulting inability of courts to determine which oil and gas was underneath which surface property. Instead of focusing on the capture of wild animals, courts held that injuries to subsurface oil and gas are damnum absque injuria and not legally actionable by analogy to earlier cases dealing with subsurface water. Moreover, although courts could not offer a remedy for diminution of subsurface resource pools because the resources were hidden, the migratory nature of the resources induced courts to develop several doctrines that required each surface owner to take into account the interests of other surface owners when deciding how to exploit the subsurface common pool resource: causes of action for malicious interference, waste, and unreasonable exploitation. The common law recognized, on the one hand, limits on the judicial ability to regulate hidden resources while, on the other hand, recognizing the responsibilities that arose from shared migratory ownership of subsurface resource pools.
A Note on Suicidal Behaviors among Intimates

This paper presents a breif report of four (of 62) cases in which a relative or intimate friend made a suicide attempt within a month of the significant other's suicide, usually using a similar method.
Necessity and realization of universally verifiable secret sharing

Argues the necessity of universally verifiable secret sharing for secrets as individual users' cryptographic keys, and proposes protocols to realize such secret sharing for two most common public-key cryptosystems: discrete logarithm-based and integer factorization-based. The universal verifiability achieves the sharing of secrets with multiple third parties as shareholders using two-party protocols in which a single verifier, who can be anybody, can verify the correctness of the secret sharing for the (off-line) multiple shareholders. Several advantages result: (i) dropping of the honesty requirement on the verifier and the shareholders, (ii) dropping of the online availability requirement on the multiple shareholders, and (iii) the simplicity of two-party protocols which provide users with the freedom and flexibility to choose multiple shareholders they trust in real time of share distribution. The two-party protocols proposed offer a practical solution for secure data backup and key recovery services.
Association of type 2 diabetes mellitus and seroprevalence for cytomegalovirus.

BACKGROUND Infection is known to play a role in type 1 diabetes, but there is a paucity of information on its role in diabetes mellitus type 2. We examined the seroprevalence of selected viruses in a group of predominantly Hispanic patients with type 2 diabetes and control subjects without diabetes. METHODS One hundred thirteen patients, 83 with type 2 diabetes and 30 control subjects, all undergoing hemodialysis at the same facility in San Antonio, Texas, were tested for antibodies against coxsackie B viruses, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and parvovirus. Sixty-six of these patients and 25 control subjects were tested bimonthly for 6 months. RESULTS We observed a greater seroprevalence of anti-CMV IgG antibodies among patients with diabetes (97.6%), compared with control subjects (86.7%), and the difference was statistically significant [OR = 6.2, 95% CI: 1.1 to 36.0, P < 0.05]. Three draws on a subset of 91 patients produced still greater odds [OR = 12.4, 95% CI: 1.3 to 117, P < 0.05]. There were significantly more (P < or = 0.001) vascular complications among patients with diabetes. There was a colinearity of trends between diabetes, seropositivity to CMV, and age. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicated an up to 12 times greater odds of having type 2 diabetes for persons previously exposed to CMV. Since accelerated atherosclerosis is also associated with diabetes and CMV, past CMV infection may be a common factor that links atherosclerosis and diabetes. No other viruses tested in this study, either coxsackie B viruses or parvovirus, showed a significant association with type 2 diabetes.
High power density pulsed X-band heterojunction bipolar transistors

Abrupt junction Npn AlGaAs/GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistors giving 10 GHz output power density of 6.2 mW/μm 2 (18.7 W per mm emitter length) are reported. Pulse length was 300 nS with 33 % duty cycle. Associated gain and power-added efficiency were 5.0 dB and 46 %, respectively. Associated peak power was 561 mW. Peak and average powers were measured as a function of pulse length at fixed duty cycle and found to increase sharply from CW values for pulse lengths less than 1000 nS
Effects of varying the amounts of dietary calcium on selenium metabolism in dairy calves

Abstract Influence of dietary Ca on Se metabolism was studied with 16 intact male Holstein calves averaging 86kg. Calves were assigned randomly and fed one of four diets containing. .17, .67 1.31, and 2.35% Ca at 3% of their body weight for 4 wk. The diets contained .062ppm Se and .34% P. Four days prior to the end of the experiment, calves were dosed orally with radioactive 75 Se. Dietary Ca had no significant effect on 75 Se absorption. There was a slight curvilinear relationship between apparent 75 Se absorption and dietary Ca intakes. Urinary excretion of 75 Se and stable Se tended to decrease with increasing dietary Ca, but differences were not significant. No significant differences were found in concentration of 75 Se in several tissues. Kidney and liver had the highest concentration with that in kidney being about four times that of liver. Apparent 75 Se absorption was decreased 10 to 6%, respectively, in calves fed extremely low and high amounts of Ca, compared with those receiving the requirement (.67% Ca). These small reductions along with a small R 2 suggest that dietary Ca probably is of little practical importance relative to Se metabolism in calves.
Hospital Factors and Nontransfer of Small Babies: A Marker of Deregionalized Perinatal Care?

Hospital Factors and Nontransfer of Small Babies: A Marker of Deregionalized Perinatal Care?
Evaluation of Multi Atlas-based Approaches for the Segmentation of the Thyroid Gland in IMRT Head and Neck CT Images

Segmenting the thyroid gland in head and neck CT images for IMRT treatment planning is of great importance. In this work, we evaluate and compare multi-atlas methods to segment this structure. The various methods we evaluate range from using a single average atlas representative of the population to selecting one atlas based on three similarity measures. We also compare ways to combine segmentation results obtained with several atlases, i.e., vote rule, and STAPLE, which is a commonly used method to combine multiple segmentations. We show that the best results are obtained when several atlases are combined. We also show that with our data sets, STAPLE does not lead to the best results.
The past confronts the present: Lyric protest in the works of Romualdas Granauskas

(1982). The past confronts the present: Lyric protest in the works of Romualdas Granauskas. Journal of Baltic Studies: Vol. 13, No. 4, pp. 299-306.
Expression of four myosin heavy chain isoforms with development in mouse uterus

In smooth muscle tissue, two or three isoforms of myosin heavy chain (MHC) have been reported (SM1, SM2, and/or NM). In mouse uterus tissue, four bands in the region of the MHC's can be resolved on high resolution SDS polyacrylamide gels. Western blots using smooth muscle (SM) MHC-specific and nonmuscle (NM) MHC-specific polyclonal antibodies show the upper two bands in the MHC region are SM isoforms, whereas the lower two bands are NM isoforms. One-dimensional peptide maps of these four bands show each to have a unique pattern of polypeptide fragments following α-chymotrypsin digestion. Developmental expression of myosin heavy chains (MHC) in mouse uterus, aorta, bladder, and stomach (6 ages, 10–150 days) was determined using tissue homogenates. In the uterus, both SM MHC's show an increase in relative content with increasing age, whereas the NM MHC's show a decrease. The mouse aorta shows a significant increase in the SM MHC's and a significant decrease in the NM MHC from day 10 to day 30, which is similar to data reported for the rat aorta. Whereas both the bladder and stomach contain relatively small amounts of NM MHC's (∼ 10% or less), these quantities do show decreases with development. The SM1:SM2 ratio for the uterus remains high (3.4 at 150 days) through development; the aorta, bladder, and stomach also start out high, but tend toward 1.0 in the 150-day animals. The presence of four MHC isoforms in the uterus with unique developmental regulation of expression is consistent with hypotheses of unique functional roles for these isoforms. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A new class of order types

Abstract Let φ4 be the class of all order-types ϕ with the properties that every uncountable subtype of ϕ contains an uncountable well-ordering, but ϕ is not the union of countably many well-orderings. It is proved that φ4 ≠ 0, and a way is found of associating stationary sets with most of the types in φ4 which is useful for applications. A number of results concerning the structure and embeddability properties of φ4 are obtained, including some consistency and independence results. One consequence is the independence of Jensen's combinatorial principle □ω1.
Predictors of hospital admission for food-related allergic reactions that present to the emergency department

Background Guidelines do not provide specific hospitalization criteria for patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with food-related allergic reactions. Objective To determine predictors of hospital admission for ED patients with food-related allergic reactions. Methods We performed a medical record review at 3 academic centers of patients presenting to the ED for food-related allergic reactions ( International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes 693.1, 995.0, 995.1, 995.3, 995.7, 995.60–995.69, 558.3, 692.5, and 708.X) between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2006. We focused on patient demographics, medical history, food triggers, clinical presentation, pre-ED and ED management with a specific focus on epinephrine treatment, and disposition. Predictors of hospital admission were determined using multivariable logistic regression. Results Through random sampling and appropriate weighting, the 1,112 cases reviewed represented a study cohort of 2,583 patients. Most patients (80%) were discharged from the ED. The age and sex of patients admitted to the hospital and those discharged were similar. Multivariable analysis identified 3 factors associated with a higher likelihood of hospital admission: meeting the criteria for food-related anaphylaxis (odds ratio [OR], 2.31; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23–4.33), pre-ED epinephrine treatment (OR, 6.65; 95% CI, 3.04–14.57), and epinephrine treatment within 1 hour of ED triage (OR, 3.78; 95% CI, 1.68–8.50). Patients with food-related allergic reactions triggered by shellfish were less likely to be admitted to the hospital (OR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.08–0.68). Conclusions Most patients presenting to the ED with food-related allergic reactions are discharged. Several patient factors were independently associated with hospital admission in ED patients with food-related allergic reactions.
Site-specific gap-misrepair mutagenesis by O4-ethylthymine.

Abstract The mutagenicity of the DNA base O-alkylation adduct, O4-ethylthymine, specifically incorporated into the plasmid vector pUC8 at the unique SalI and HincII recognition sites, was studied in vivo. Escherichia coli, Micrococcus luteus and AMV DNA polymerases catalyze the incorporation of O4-ethylTMP against template adenine and guanine residues, resulting in DNA sequence alteration during subsequent replication in the host E. coli K-12 strain JM83. The greatest mutation frequency was observed with error-prone AMV DNA polymerase. High levels of cognate restriction endonuclease-resistant mutant plasmid isolates were obtained by gap replication repair in the presence of O4-ethylTTP. The yields of mutant isolates were dependent upon the relative concentration of the competing pyrimidine deoxynucleoside triphosphates, TTP and dCTP, in the misreplication reaction. Repair of incorporated O4-ethyITMP of plasmid DNA by in vitro treatment with specific alkyltransferase, prior to transformation in the host, effectively increases the mutagenic efficiency of the adduct. The results obtained are consistent with the high miscoding potential O4-ethylthymine observed in in vitro studies and its ability to base-pair with noncomplementary guanine residues in DNA.
A Comparison of Hydrogen Bonding and Order in a Polyurethane and Poly(urethane−urea) and Their Blends with Poly(ethylene glycol)

The effect of hydrogen bonding on the phase behavior of a chemically similar polyurethane and polyurea and their blends with poly(ethylene glycol) is examined. The polyurethane and polyurea were synthesized from the same diisocyanate, 1,5-diisocyanato-2-methylpentane, using an aromatic diol and aromatic diamine, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to characterize the distribution of hydrogen bonds in these polymers and their blends. The distribution of hydrogen bonds in the polyurethane homopolymer was found to be quite similar to that found in an amorphous polyurethane studied previously in this laboratory. However, upon annealing, some sort of ordered structure was detected spectroscopically. The polyurea formed an equivalent ordered structure much more readily at room temperature. Ordered hydrogen-bonded domains were also detected in the spectra of the blends, either after an extended time at room temperature or after annealing at an elevated temperature. The formation of ord...