cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microtubule inhibitors elicit differential effects on MAP kinase (JNK, ERK, and p38) signaling pathways in human KB-3 carcinoma cells.

Microtubule inhibitors are widely used in cancer chemotherapy, but the signaling mechanisms that link microtubule disarray to destructive or protective cellular responses are poorly understood. Because members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family have been implicated in regulation of cell survival and cell death, we examined the extent and kinetics of activation of JNK, ERK, and p38 MAPKs in response to treatment of KB-3 carcinoma cells with several microtubule inhibitors. All four agents tested (vinblastine, vincristine, Taxol, and colchicine) caused significant (6- to 13-fold) activation of JNK, concomitant inactivation of ERK, and a reduction in basal p38 MAPK activity. JNK activation and ERK inactivation occurred prior to caspase 3 activation. The microtubule inhibitors also induced phosphorylation of Raf-1 kinase. SEK-1, upstream of JNK, was also activated and phosphorylated in response to the microtubule inhibitors, and sustained phosphorylation of three endogenous JNK substrates (c-Jun, ATF-2, and JunD) was observed. By comparison, the antitumor agent doxorubicin induced activation of JNK and p38 but had no effect on ERK activity or Raf-1. These data demonstrate that microtubule inhibitors elicit distinct and specific effects on MAPK-mediated signaling pathways and suggest in particular that coordinate and reciprocal alterations in JNK and ERK activities are important facets of the cellular response to microtubule disruption.
Effect of pressure and propellant composition on graphite rocket nozzle erosion rate

The objective of this work is to study the nozzle erosion rates at a broad range of pressures from 7 to 55 MPa with two baseline propellants: one is a nonmetallized propellant and the other is a metallized propellant, called propellants S and M, respectively. A comprehensive model for graphite nozzle erosion minimization and a numerical code has been advanced to predict the nozzle throat recession rates at high pressures. Four different kinetic schemes for heterogeneous graphite oxidation reactions were compared. The recession rate was found to increase almost linearly with pressure. The magnitudes of recession rates depend on the chemical kinetic scheme and the propellant composition. Contrary to popular belief, at lower pressures (P < 14 MPa), the heterogeneous kinetic rates showed a pronounced effect on the erosion rates, though at higher pressures, the nozzle throat erosion is mainly diffusion controlled. This observation stresses the importance of more accurate and definitive kinetic parameters for graphite oxidation reactions, especially at lower pressures. It was also observed that, besides H 2 O, the OH species affects the nozzle recession rate greatly. For the metallized propellant, the concentrations of major oxidizing species such as H 2 O, OH, and CO 2 are substantially reduced in comparison with the nonmetallized propellant, resulting in significant reduction of the erosion rates. A comparison of experimental data and predicted results from the graphite nozzle erosion minimization code shows excellent agreement especially for the nonmetallized propellant. To substantially reduce the throat recession rates at high pressures, it is suggested that the boundary-layer control at the throat region could be an effective method for future nozzle design considerations.
Sensory irritation of the upper airways by airborne chemicals.

Twenty-seven chemicals all containing the >CC< group have been tested for their potential sensory irritation properties to the upper respiratory tract when administered in an aerosol form to mice. An analytical model for the data is suggested for comparison of the activity of these compounds, and the essential molecular features for sensory irritant activity in these compounds are delineated. Correlation between the biological and chemical reactivity data suggests that these compounds initiate the sensory irritation reaction by associating with SH groups of a receptor molecule on the free nerve endings of the afferent trigeminal which are located at the surface of the nasal mucosa.
Boundary condition sensitivity analysis of the stochastic flow equation

The effect of random vs deterministic boundary conditions on the direct solution of one- and two-dimensional flow systems was examined. The one-dimensional case allows exact analytical solutions for the hydraulic gradient for various boundary conditions. The results demonstrate how a simple modeling choice (i.e. random vs deterministic boundary conditions) can make a significant difference in the mean and variance of the hydraulic gradient. The two-dimensional system models the location of constant head boundaries and no-flow boundaries as random. In the case of steady-state flow in a rectangular domain, a relatively constant increase in head variance was found throughout the domain. Finally, we show that no-flow boundaries whose positions are deterministically known, lower the head variance at points near the boundaries more than at the boundaries themselves.
Volumetric magnetic resonance imaging in patients with epilepsy and extratemporal structural lesions

Abstract We studied 30 patients with epilepsy and extratemporal structural lesions using volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements of the amygdala and hippocampus to determine if seizures originating in extratemporal sites caused cell loss and atrophy of medial temporal structures. Seizure types included simple partial seizures in 22 patients, complex partial in 12, secondarily generalized in 15, and drop attacks in 2. The location of the MRI lesions was in the frontal lobe in 19 patients, parietal lobe in 11, occipital lobe in 4, intraventricular in 1, and multifocal in 1. Lesions included tumors in 8 patients, developmental anomalies in 8, atrophic lesions in 6, vascular malformations in 4, and cystic, traumatic, gliotic, and ischemic lesions in 1 each. Hippocampal and amygdaloid volumes were within the normal range in all patients when compared to the normal control group. One patient exhibited a mild asymmetry of the two sides, but this was felt to be part of the larger process of her structural lesion. Significant reduction in hippocampal and amygdaloid volumes is a specific marker for hippocampal and amygdaloid sclerosis.
Capsular and extracellular polysaccharides from Rhizobium microsymbionts of Acacia decurrens

Abstract The capsular polysaccharide produced by a Rhizobium isolated from a root nodule of Acacia decurrens is composed of 3-O-methyl- l -rhamnose: l -rhamnose: d - mannose: d -glucose: d -galacturonic acid in the molar ratios of ∼1:2:2:4:1. The extracellular polysaccharide is similarly constituted. Structural analyses indicate a decasaccharide repeating-unit in which the l -rhamnosyl groups occur as single-unit side-chains. The 3-O-methyl- l -rhamnosyl and one of the α- l -rhamnosyl groups are (1→6)-linked to two of the d -glucosyl residues. The other α- l -rhamnosyl group is (1→4)-linked to the d -galacturonic acid residue. The main-chain residues are all (1→3)-linked, and are partially identified as -(1→3)-α- d -GalpA-(1→3)-α- d -Manp- (1→3)-α- d -Glcp-(1→3)-.
MINIMAL ENTERAL FEEDING DOES NOT AFFECT INTESTINAL GROWTH IN TOTAL PARENTERAL NUTRITION (TPN)-FED NEONATAL DOGS. • 736

MINIMAL ENTERAL FEEDING DOES NOT AFFECT INTESTINAL GROWTH IN TOTAL PARENTERAL NUTRITION (TPN)-FED NEONATAL DOGS. • 736
Use of electrical impedance for continuous measurement of stroke volume of a skeletal muscle-powered cardiac assist device.

This study describes the use of electrical impedance Z to continuously measure the stroke volume SV of a skeletal muscle-powered ventricle (SMV). An SMV was constructed surgically in four anaesthetised dogs. The rectus abdominis (two dogs) or latissimus dorsi (two dogs) muscle was wrapped around a compressible pouch, the ends of which were connected to a saline-filled (0·9 per cent) mock circulation. The motor nerves to the muscle were stimulated to produce tetanic contractions at a rate of 10 min−1. Z was measured between brass sleeve electrodes within the end conduits of the pouch. To derive a simple expression relating pouch volume V to Z, the pouch was represented as two truncated cones with their bases joined. For V ranging from 53 to 103 ml, the relationship between Z and $$1/\sqrt V $$ was nearly linear; i.e. $$Z = m(1/\sqrt V ) + b$$ . Impedance-derived stroke volume SV (ΔZ) was calculated using this linear approximation and the impedance measured just before and after muscle contraction. The stroke volume SV (EM) ejected by the pouch during muscle contraction was measured with an electromagnetic flowmeter. The linear regression coefficients ranged from 0·99 to 2·55; the correlation coefficients ranged from 0·90 to 0·98. In general, SV(ΔZ) tracked SV(EM) very well, although SV(ΔZ) tended to overestimate SV(EM).
A year of decision

A message from its 2007 president indicates that the year 2007 will be a time for major decision-making by the Computer Society.
Mechanism of IL-1β Modulation of Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Involves p38 Kinase and Activating Transcription Factor-2 Activation

The defective intestinal epithelial tight junction (TJ) barrier has been postulated to be an important pathogenic factor contributing to intestinal inflammation. It has been shown that the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β causes an increase in intestinal permeability; however, the signaling pathways and the molecular mechanisms involved remain unclear. The major purpose of this study was to investigate the role of the p38 kinase pathway and the molecular processes involved. In these studies, the in vitro intestinal epithelial model system (Caco-2 monolayers) was used to delineate the cellular and molecular mechanisms, and a complementary in vivo mouse model system (intestinal perfusion) was used to assess the in vivo relevance of the in vitro findings. Our data indicated that the IL-1β increase in Caco-2 TJ permeability correlated with an activation of p38 kinase. The activation of p38 kinase caused phosphorylation and activation of p38 kinase substrate, activating transcription factor (ATF)-2. The activated ATF-2 translocated to the nucleus where it attached to its binding motif on the myosin L chain kinase (MLCK) promoter region, leading to the activation of MLCK promoter activity and gene transcription. Small interfering RNA induced silencing of ATF-2, or mutation of the ATF-2 binding motif prevented the activation of MLCK promoter and MLCK mRNA transcription. Additionally, in vivo intestinal perfusion studies also indicated that the IL-1β increase in mouse intestinal permeability required p38 kinase–dependent activation of ATF-2. In conclusion, these studies show that the IL-1β–induced increase in intestinal TJ permeability in vitro and in vivo was regulated by p38 kinase activation of ATF-2 and by ATF-2 regulation of MLCK gene activity.
Effects of code growth and parsimony pressure on populations in genetic programming

Parsimony pressure, the explicit penalization of larger programs, has been increasingly used as a means of controlling code growth in genetic programming. However, in many cases parsimony pressure degrades the performance of the genetic program. In this paper we show that poor average results with parsimony pressure are a result of “failed” populations that overshadow the results of populations that incorporate parsimony pressure successfully. Additionally, we show that the effect of parsimony pressure can be measured by calculating the relationship between program size and performance within the population. This measure can be used as a partial indicator of success or failure for individual populations.
Accountability in Governance Networks: An Assessment of Public, Private, and Nonprofit Emergency Management Practices Following Hurricane Katrina

What is the most effective framework for analyzing complex accountability challenges within governing networks? Recognizing the multiscale and intersector (public, private, and nonprofit) characteristics of these networks, an accountability model is advanced organized around democratic (elected representatives, citizens, and the legal system), market (owners and consumers), as well as administrative (bureaucratic, professional and collaborative) relationships. This concept draws from 2005 events following Hurricane Katrina. Multiple failures of governing networks to plan for and respond to Katrina include a breakdown in democratic, market, and administrative accountability as well as a pervasive confusion over trade-offs between accountability types emerging from crises. This essay offers several useful recommendations for emergency management planners as well as for those who teach and research.
The Beck Anxiety Inventory: Reexamination of factor structure and psychometric properties

Several exploratory factor-analytic studies of the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI; Beck, Epstein, Brown, & Steer, 1988) have reported two, four, and five factors. This study evaluated the fit of four competing models to data provided by a sample of 350 undergraduates. Results of the initial confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) provided strong support for the fit of the four-factor oblique model. Next, we respecified the four-factor model as a single second-order BAI. Results showed that the second-order model also provided adequate fit to the data. Evidence also supported the psychometric indices of reliability and convergent validity. Finally, we examined the relation of the BAI to several demographic variables. Limitations of the study are discussed.
A Linear Rectangular Dielectric Resonator Antenna Array Fed by Dielectric Image Guide With Low Cross Polarization

Design of a linear array of rectangular dielectric resonator antennas (DRAs) fed by dielectric image guide (DIG) is presented. Coupling between the DIG and the DRAs is predicted using the effective dielectric constant method. In order to achieve a specific power distribution, the power coupled to each DRA is controlled by changing the spacing between the DRAs and the DIG. Cross polarization reduction is achieved by wrapping a conducting strip around the middle of the DRA without affecting the co-polarized radiation pattern. The antenna is fabricated and tested. Good agreement between the measured and computed results is obtained.
Electron beam angiography for the evaluation of percutaneous atrial septal defect closure

Electron beam angiography (EBA) provides excellent anatomic imaging in patients with congenital heart disease and may be useful in the assessment of atrial septal defects (ASDs). We present four patients with an ASD who were considered for percutaneous closure and underwent EBA for measurement of defect size and assessment of rim adequacy, adjacent cardiac structures, and associated congenital anomalies.
Global Transcriptional Repression in C. elegans Germline Precursors by Regulated Sequestration of TAF-4

In C. elegans, four asymmetric divisions, beginning with the zygote (P0), generate transcriptionally repressed germline blastomeres (P1-P4) and somatic sisters that become transcriptionally active. The protein PIE-1 represses transcription in the later germline blastomeres but not in the earlier germline blastomeres P0 and P1. We show here that OMA-1 and OMA-2, previously shown to regulate oocyte maturation, repress transcription in P0 and P1 by binding to and sequestering in the cytoplasm TAF-4, a component critical for assembly of TFIID and the pol II preinitiation complex. OMA-1/2 binding to TAF-4 is developmentally regulated, requiring phosphorylation by the DYRK kinase MBK-2, which is activated at meiosis II after fertilization. OMA-1/2 are normally degraded after the first mitosis, but ectopic expression of wild-type OMA-1 is sufficient to repress transcription in both somatic and later germline blastomeres. We propose that phosphorylation by MBK-2 serves as a developmental switch, converting OMA-1/2 from oocyte to embryo regulators.
Training Effectiveness and Trainee Performance in a Voluntary Training Program Are Trainees Really Motivated

Effective training programs are critical for successful employee performance. The same can be said for volunteer programs. Volunteers need to have the knowledge and skills necessary to fulfill the mission of the organization. In this study, we examine the impact of training methods and trainees’ demographic factors on the effectiveness of a training program for a voluntary program. Survey results (N = 5,727) indicate a very low percentage of participation (16.46%) in the voluntary program after training. Responses also indicate that content knowledge recall after training is affected by training year (the year receiving training), industrial sector, calling history, and training delivery method. Participants’ desires for retraining are also impacted by the type of training received, the industry sector, as well as past participation in the program. Recommendations for voluntary training programs based on study results and future research directions are presented.
Preoperative CA 15-3 levels predict the prognosis of nonmetastatic luminal A breast cancer

Abstract Background The prognostic value of serum tumor markers (STMs) in nonmetastatic breast cancer patients with different molecular subtypes (luminal A, luminal B, and nonluminal) remains unknown. It is our institutional policy to assess the STMs in nonmetastatic patients. This retrospective single-center study is to investigate the association between STMs and clinical outcomes in nonmetastatic patients and the impact of molecular subtypes. Methods A total of 368 patients with available clinical outcomes, tumor node metastasis stages, and STMs levels were included. The serum level of preoperative STMs (carcinoembryonic antigen [CEA], cancer antigen 125 [CA-125], and cancer antigen 15-3 [CA 15-3]) was analyzed and compared among distinct molecular subtypes. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to investigate the relationship among STMs concentrations and patient outcomes. Results The median levels of CA 15-3 were 10.2, 8.1 and 7.1 U/mL in patients with luminal A, luminal B, and nonluminal diseases, respectively ( P = 0.015). The levels of CEA and CA-125 were similar among the subtypes. Multivariate analysis showed that higher CA 15-3 was significantly associated with worse clinical outcomes exclusively in luminal A patients ( P = 0.033 for metastasis-free survival and P = 0.030 for relapse-free survival). In contrast, higher CEA was a significant prognostic factor for worse clinical outcomes ( P = 0.003 for metastasis-free survival and P = 0.015 for metastasis-free survival) in nonluminal groups. Conclusions The prognostic value of preoperative STMs may be different among molecular subtypes. Patients with luminal A diseases had higher levels of CA 15-3. Higher preoperative CA 15-3 was associated with worse clinical outcomes exclusively in patients with luminal A diseases.
Propagation of cool pions

For an exact chiral symmetry that is spontaneously broken at zero temperature, we show that, at nonzero temperature, generally pions travel at {ital less} than the speed of light. This effect first appears at next-to-leading order in an expansion around low temperature. When the chiral symmetry is approximate we obtain two formulas, like that of Gell-Mann, Oakes, and Renner, for the static and dynamic pion masses. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
Magnesium Fluctuations Modulate RNA Dynamics in the SAM-I Riboswitch

Experiments demonstrate that Mg2+ is crucial for structure and function of RNA systems, yet the detailed molecular mechanism of Mg2+ action on RNA is not well understood. We investigate the interplay between RNA and Mg2+ at atomic resolution through ten 2-μs explicit solvent molecular dynamics simulations of the SAM-I riboswitch with varying ion concentrations. The structure, including three stemloops, is very stable on this time scale. Simulations reveal that outer-sphere coordinated Mg2+ ions fluctuate on the same time scale as the RNA, and that their dynamics couple. Locally, Mg2+ association affects RNA conformation through tertiary bridging interactions; globally, increasing Mg2+ concentration slows RNA fluctuations. Outer-sphere Mg2+ ions responsible for these effects account for 80% of Mg2+ in our simulations. These ions are transiently bound to the RNA, maintaining interactions, but shuttled from site to site. Outer-sphere Mg2+ are separated from the RNA by a single hydration shell, occupying a th...
A Formal-Semantics-Based Calculus of Trust

Building trust models based on a well-defined semantics of trust is important so that we can avoid misinterpretation, misuse, or inconsistent use of trust in Internet-based distributed computing. The authors present an approach to a formal-semantics-based calculus of trust, from conceptualization to logical formalization, from logic model to quantification of uncertainties, and from quantified trust to trust decision-making. They also explore how to apply a formal trust model to a PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) system to develop decentralized public-key certification and verification.
Mindfulness and Training Attention

Mindfulness meditation depends heavily on brain areas involved in executive attention. Imaging studies of executive attention reveal a brain network that includes the anterior cingulate, anterior insula, and striatum. This brain network is responsible for the resolution of conflict and is more generally critical to self-regulation. The efficiency of the executive network can be improved by two forms of training. One form involves sustained practice on the conflict tasks that activate this network. A second form involves changing one’s brain state through the use of mindfulness meditation, as captured in Integrative Body-Mind Training. In this chapter, we first briefly introduce the attentional networks and then discuss the two forms of training. In the latter case, we also discuss the downstream effects of training on improving attention, emotion and stress regulation, and reduction of some forms of psychopathology.
Filial Bereavement: Midlife Lesbian Daughters and Intersubjective Thoughts

Summary Loss of parents for midlife lesbians is discussed in the context of continued development in middle age. From an intersubjective point of view, comprehension of externality, the capacity for mutual recognition, the disruption and repair of recognition and affirmation of subjectivity and the agenic “I” color relationships with parents throughout life. In filial bereavement, there can be a resurgence of intersubjective development along with an easing of internalized homophobia. In recovery from loss, there are opportunities to make loving identifications that more fully acknowledge externality and difference.
Coloring Symmetrical Objects Symmetrically

Color symmetry-the symmetrical distribution of colors in regular patterns-is as old as ornamental art itself. Beautiful examples from many cultures can be found in the colored plates of Owen Jones' classic Grammar of Ornament [12] and, in our time, in the tessellations of M. C. Escher. Also striking are the patterns of "identity and difference" [2] that are found in nature, for example in the arrangements in crystals of different atoms, or of magnetic spins [8]. Colors are often used in structure models to represent such nongeometric characteristics. In this article, we give an introduction to the mathematical theory of color symmetry that has been developed in recent years. This theory complements and extends the usual characterization of the symmetry of an object by describing the ways of coloring it that are consistent with its symmetry. In addition to being of interest in its own right and for its applications, color symmetry provides a simple way of illustrating concepts in elementary group theory, such as subgroup, coset, normality, conjugacy, and so forth; we hope it will turn out to be a useful topic in introductory algebra courses. More advanced students will find that the theory of permutation groups provides a unified framework for examining various aspects of color symmetry; reformulating in more abstract terms the theory outlined here is an instructive exercise. As an example of the problem of coloring an object symmetrically, suppose we wish to color each face of an octahedron with one of two colors, say, black and white. Intuitively we expect that in a symmetrical distribution of colors, four faces should be black and four white. There are many
Study of the KKK̅ system in hyperspherical formalism

The three-body kaonic system KKK is studied in the framework of a single-channel potential nonrelativistic model using the method of hyperspherical harmonics in momentum representation. Calculations are performed with two sets of KK and KK potentials. A quasibound state for the KKK system with spin-parity 0− and isospin 1/2 is found below the three-kaon threshold.
Effect of varus and valgus alignment on implant loading after proximal femur fracture fixation

More than 10 % of proximal femur fractures repaired with either a sliding hip screw and side plate (SHS-P) or a sliding hip screw and intramedullary nail (SHS-IMN) demonstrate varus malreduction. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of varus or valgus loading on comminuted intertrochanteric fractures repaired with SHS-P or SHS-IMN constructs. Unstable intertrochanteric fractures with segmental comminution were generated in 12 cadaver proximal femurs, six of which were fixed with an SHS-P and six with an SHS-IMN. Both implants had a strain gauge at the lag screw-nail–plate interface to assess implant load bearing. The load on the implants was measured with the specimens in neutral position and at 5°, 10°, and 15° of varus and valgus. Loads on both SHS-IMN and SHS-P constructs were significantly increased when loading the implants in varus and significantly decreased when loading the implants in valgus. Unlike the SHS-IMN, the SHS-P trended toward increased load bearing at 15° varus (159.1 vs. 118.5 %, P = .065) and trended toward less load bearing at 15° valgus (42.3 vs. 59.8 %, P = .06). Conclusions: Regardless of implant choice, avoiding varus loading on the fixation construct reduces the load on the implant. SHS-P constructs may be more affected by varus or valgus malalignment than SHS-IMN constructs.
Rasch Analysis and Differential Item Functioning of a Social Support Measure in Jail Inmates With HIV Infection

The protective effects of social support on health have been documented in a variety of groups. For HIV-infected persons released from correctional settings, strong social support may be particularly important for obtaining effective postrelease medical treatment and supportive services. Researchers and program evaluators seeking to improve access and adherence to postrelease HIV medical care in this population need accurate measures for the level and type of social support, but current measures have not been fully validated for incarcerated individuals with HIV infection. We used the Rasch model to test the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) social support survey. Data for the analysis were collected as part of the EnhanceLink project in the five urban jails where the MOS was administered. Findings indicate that the MOS survey items may not capture the entire variability of person abilities. Respondents showed problems in discriminating among response options, indicating potential systematic bias. In addition, while there was no significant gender difference, overall levels of social support differed by gender. Further research is warranted to develop more effective social support measurement tools that can better guide interventions for persons transitioning from jail and prison to the community.
Assessment Model for Relay Protection System Cyber Security Based on Grey Fuzzy and Comprehensive Weights

Cyber security assessment is the basis of constructing the cyber defense system for relay protection system.In view of the complexity and diversity of security factors,the failure rate model is built for each factor,and a cyber security assessment method of relay protection system is proposed based on entropy,analytic hierarchy process( AHP) and grey fuzzy theory. Based on the main factors influencing the cyber security of system,the grey fuzzy evaluation matrix is established through the membership function and grey degree. Meanwhile,considering the subjectivity and casualness disadvantages about weight decision in traditional comprehensive evaluation,the weight coefficients are determined by combining entropy with AHP. Then the comprehensive evaluation is conducted and the security grade of system is derived. The actual case validates the effectiveness of the proposed method.
The Federalization of Racism and Nativist Hostility: Local Immigration Enforcement in North Carolina

In recent years, immigrants from Latin America in record numbers have chosen the South—and North Carolina, in particular—as a new and favored destination. Because race has been a decisive historical organizing category in the South, the legacy of racism remains an ongoing source of concern as Latina/os take their place in the state. Although some state institutions and entities adapted to accommodate the changing population, this chapter argues that nativist sentiment has been expressed through a number of practices, including a program known as 287(g) that authorizes the enforcement of immigration laws at the local level. The program has provided new-found authority upon which localities can disguise a local politics of resentments and racial hostilities toward immigrants through the use of the instrumentalities of immigration enforcement powers. However, one conceptualizes the larger framework of immigration issues, what remains clear is that the enforcement of immigration laws at the local level will inevitably involve historical legacies of race and tolerance.
Distributions of Tropical Precipitation Cluster Power and Their Changes under Global Warming. Part II: Long-Term Time Dependence in Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 Models

AbstractDistributions of precipitation cluster power (latent heat release rate integrated over contiguous precipitating pixels) are examined in 1°–2°-resolution members of phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) climate model ensemble. These approximately reproduce the power-law range and large event cutoff seen in observations and the High Resolution Atmospheric Model (HiRAM) at 0.25°–0.5° in Part I. Under the representative concentration pathway 8.5 (RCP8.5) global warming scenario, the change in the probability of the most intense storm clusters appears in all models and is consistent with HiRAM output, increasing by up to an order of magnitude relative to historical climate. For the three models in the ensemble with continuous time series of high-resolution output, there is substantial variability on when these probability increases for the most powerful storm clusters become detectable, ranging from detectable within the observational period to statistically significant trends em...
Immunodiffusion Assay of C1 Inhibitor Function in Serum: Prospective Analysis in Angioedema-Urticaria

An immunodiffusion assay for detecting C1 inhibitor function in human serum was described recently by Ziccardi and Cooper. In our present study, the applicability of this assay for C1 inhibitor deficiency or C1 inhibitor dysfunction was evaluated. Of the 39 patients evaluated, all eight patients with the common (C1 inhibitor deficiency) form of hereditary angioedema and all three patients with the variant (dysfunctional C1 inhibitor) form of hereditary angioedema were identified correctly. Treatment of patients with hereditary angioedema with stanozolol or danocrine increased their serum C1 inhibitor concentrations and normalized the immunodiffusion assay for C1 inhibitor function. In addition, the assay allowed the correct identification of three patients with the acquired form of C1 inhibitor deficiency, because the sera of these patients exhibited a distinctive pattern. The 25 samples from patients (chronic angioedema, chronic urticaria, or hypocomplementemic vasculitis) without C1 inhibitor deficiency had normal assays.
Evaluation and implementation of distance learning: technologies, tools and techniques

Part 1 Learning Variables in Distance Learning: Learning Objectives Interactivity Synchronicity Learner Centredness Course Mediation Reusable Learning Objectives. Part 2 Distance Learning Technologies: Computer-Based Training Computer-Aided Instruction Web-Based Training Teleconferencing Videotape Video Tele-Training. Part 3 Media Conversion Analysis and Instructional Design Considerations: Overview of the ADDIE Model and Process Understanding the Scope of Media Conversion Analysis Three Ways to Employ the Technologies Discussed in This Book Screening for Distance Learning Sustainability Variables to Consider Evaluating Instructional Units Estimating Compression Rates Estimated Development Hours. Part 4 Multimedia Content Development: Levels of Courseware Complexity Steps in the Development Process Features and Functions of Tools for Developing Multimedia Instructional Content and Computer Managed Instruction Selected Courseware Development and Course Management System Tools. Part 5 Distance Learning Implementation and Evaluation: Managing Your Distance Learning Initiative Emerging Trend - Hybrid Delivery Methods Transitioning to a Distance Learning Environment Upgrading Your Infrastructure to Support Distance Learning Evaluating Distance Learning.
MONEY, GROWTH, AND THE PROPENSITY TO SAVE: An Iconoclastic View

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses money, growth, and the propensity to save. In his famous paper, Wealth, Saving, and the Rate of Interest, Metzler followed the classical tradition of Pigou in assuming that the stock of privately held wealth—an important part of which was real cash balances—was negatively correlated with the aggregate propensity to save. However, Metzler's model was mainly in the static Keynesian mold where the rate of growth did not enter explicitly, and a generation of graduate students has come to associate an increase in the net wealth of the household sector with an upward shift in the aggregate consumption function. The proposition must be true in certain disequilibrium situations where wealth holdings are deemed to be too large relative to current income flows, and individuals increase their current consumption to reduce stocks of money, bonds, or commodities to desired levels. Once equilibrium growth is taken into account, however, there is an important sense in which this standard proposition drawn from static macroeconomic theory should be reversed. Instead, large holdings of private wealth, particularly in the form of real cash balances, can increase the propensity to save when income itself is growing rapidly.
Synthesis of Acid-Soluble, ABA-Inducible Proteins in Wheat Embryos from Dormant Grain

When dormant seeds are placed in water the seeds do not germinate even though environmental conditions are optimum for germination. What regulates dormancy in mature seeds is not yet known, but there is evidence that the plant hormone, ABA (abscisic acid) plays an important role, as illustrated in the following observations.
The role of industry-specific, occupation-specific, and location-specific knowledge in the growth and survival of new firms.

How do regions acquire the knowledge they need to diversify their economic activities? How does the migration of workers among firms and industries contribute to the diffusion of that knowledge? Here we measure the industry-, occupation-, and location-specific knowledge carried by workers from one establishment to the next, using a dataset summarizing the individual work history for an entire country. We study pioneer firms—firms operating in an industry that was not present in a region—because the success of pioneers is the basic unit of regional economic diversification. We find that the growth and survival of pioneers increase significantly when their first hires are workers with experience in a related industry and with work experience in the same location, but not with past experience in a related occupation. We compare these results with new firms that are not pioneers and find that industry-specific knowledge is significantly more important for pioneer than for nonpioneer firms. To address endogeneity we use Bartik instruments, which leverage national fluctuations in the demand for an activity as shocks for local labor supply. The instrumental variable estimates support the finding that industry-specific knowledge is a predictor of the survival and growth of pioneer firms. These findings expand our understanding of the micromechanisms underlying regional economic diversification.
Hanging Up the Gloves

Despite the availability of cancer treatments, the best decision may be to facilitate quality time at the end of life. Through the story of a boxer diagnosed with anaplastic thyroid cancer, this narrative considers the question of when to stop cancer treatment when the road is coming to an end.
Yogurt simbiótico con harina de maracuyá (Passiflora edulis) como apoyo nutricional en personas con hiperglicemia

The objective is that symbiotic yogurt can be elaborate with Passiflora edulis (passion fruit) flour as nutritional support in people with type 2 hyperglycemia. The methods were experimental design, longitudinal cut, because an evaluation process was developed against a phenomenon that was being carried out, not observing. The monitoring of hyperglycemia was measured at the beginning and monthly in two groups that were compared: Group of cases that were given a daily amount of symbiotic yogurt with passion fruit flour and diet, while the other group (control) received only diet, both for 3 months. The results were that the treatment with a dose of 500 ml per day produced positive effects in the reduction between 8 % and 9 % of the quantitative values of hyperglycemia, with significant variation (p 0.05). The product has good acceptance compared to natural yogurt (p = 0.194> 0.05). The conclusions are that there is interaction of diet and the reduction of type 2 hyperglycemia (0.000 <0.05), however, it is statistically shown that it is higher when it is associated with the consumption of symbiotic yogurt with passion fruit flour. Contributes to a healthy diet complementary to the diet as nutritional support in type 2 hyperglycemia.
Chapter 4 – Single phase electrokinetic flow in microchannels

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews electrokinetic-based microfluidic processes for lab-on-a-chip applications. While designing and controlling lab-on-a-chip devices, the electrokinetic-driven liquid flows in microchannels are to be considered. A rearrangement of the charges on the solid surface and the balancing charges in the liquid is called the electrical double layer. In most lab-on-a-chip applications, an electro-osmotic flow is preferred to the pressure driven flow. One of the reasons is the plug-like velocity profile of an electro-osmotic flow. Most channels in modern micro-fluidic devices and micro-electro-mechanical systems are made using micromachining technologies. In most electro-osmotic flows in microchannels, the flow rates and the size of the micro-channels are very small. Many micro-channels do not have uniform surface properties. The surface heterogeneity may be caused by the impurities of the materials, by the adhesion of the solutes of the solution, and by the desired chemical surface modifications. An electro-osmotic flow induced by an unsteady applied electric field or electro-osmotic flow under an alternating electrical field has unique features and applications.
Symbolic power in the US Government Counterinsurgency Guide: US security, (non-) combatant civilians, and the refugee-in-place:

Framed by symbolic power as a theory of performance, this essay takes as its subject the state’s use of performance transience for oppressive ends. For Pierre Bourdieu, the symbolic field is about ...
Dystopian Diary of a Medical Resident

This essay describes the author's adaptations to dystopian changes in hospital procedures and the reverberations throughout her life brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic
Informality in Postdisaster Reconstruction: The Role of Social Capital in Reconstruction Management in Post–Hurricane Maria Puerto Rico

AbstractOn September 20, 2017, Puerto Rico was devastated by Hurricane Maria. To continue on their path to recovery, many households have, when other resources became scarce, relied on informal hou...
Spectrometric measurements of atmospheric propane (C 3 H 8 )

Abstract. We report measurements of atmospheric C 3 H 8 from analysis of ground-based solar absorption spectra from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) MkIV interferometer. Using the strong Q -branch absorption feature at 2967 cm −1 , we can measure C 3 H 8 in locations where its abundance is enhanced by proximity to sources (e.g., large natural gas fields, megacities). A case study of MkIV C 3 H 8 measurements from Fort Sumner, New Mexico, shows that amounts are strongly correlated with ethane (C 2 H 6 ) and with back-trajectories from SE New Mexico and western Texas, where the Permian Basin oil and natural gas field is located. Measurements from JPL, California, also show large C 3 H 8 enhancements on certain days but more correlated with CO than C 2 H 6 . From high-altitude balloon-borne MkIV solar occultation measurements, C 3 H 8 was not detected at any altitude (5–40 km) in any of the 25 flights.
A Simple Approach to Pricing American Options Under the Heston Stochastic Volatility Model

Lattice models are workhorses of practical option pricing, especially for American options, but an important design criterion is that they need to be set up so that the interior branches recombine, otherwise, they become computationally intractable; the underlying state variable becomes path-dependent, the tree “splinters,” and the number of distinct nodes goes up exponentially rather than arithmetically as the number of time steps grows. Unfortunately, we have accumulated a great deal of evidence that volatility is time varying, which is a factor that splinters the tree. In this article, Beliaeva and Nawalkha show how to get around the problem by transforming the returns process to create two uncorrelated path-independent trees for returns and variance that can be put together into a single recombining two-dimensional lattice. The procedure is general; here they illustrate its use with the popular Heston model.
Regulation of Glutamine Synthetase IX. REACTIVITY OF THE SULFHYDRYL GROUPS OF THE ENZYME FROM ESCHERICHIA COLI

Abstract All of the cysteic acid residues (4.6 per subunit) found by amino acid analysis of performic acid-oxidized Escherichia coli glutamine synthetase are present as cysteine in the native enzyme but are buried in the interior of the molecule. They become exposed and accessible to titration by sulfhydryl reagents only when the enzyme is disaggregated into subunits or when divalent cation is removed with ethylenediaminetetraacetate. From the total number of peptides and the number of arginine-containing and 14C-carboxymethylated peptides that are produced upon tryptic digestion of 14C-carboxymethylated glutamine synthetase, it is suggested that the enzyme is composed of identical subunits. However, until an explanation is found for the wide variation in the observed specific radioactivity of the 14C-carboxymethylated peptides thus obtained, this conclusion is still uncertain. Glutamine synthetase can be inactivated by organic mercurials, and the extent of inactivation depends upon the amount of divalent cation in association with the enzyme. Two states of the enzyme are thus defined: "relaxed enzyme," without metal, which is susceptible to inactivation and disaggregation by p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonate, and "taut enzyme," which has bound manganese and is resistant to such treatment. The metabolic effectors of glutamine synthetase may cause alterations in the rate and extent of inactivation of the enzyme by mercurials. Of the inhibitors that are partially competitive with respect to glutamate, tryptophan diminishes the inactivation by mercurials, cytidine triphosphate enhances this inactivation, and glycine has little effect. Of the compounds that are partially competitive inhibitors with respect to ammonia, histidine is protective against inactivation and glucosamine-6-P has no effect. Similarly, with the noncompetitive inhibitors, AMP decreases the rate of inactivation while carbamyl phosphate and alanine have no influence. These results provide additional support for the occurrence in glutamine synthetase of separate binding sites for each inhibitor, as would be expected from the independent nature of the cumulative feedback inhibition phenomenon.
Production of Glucose Isomerase by Streptomyces flavogriseus

A microorganism that produces glucose isomerase was isolated from soil and identified as a strain of Streptomyces flavogriseus. The organism produced a large quantity of glucose isomerase when grown on straw hemicellulose, xylan, xylose, and H(2)SO(4) hydrolysate of ryegrass straw. The organism produced glucose isomerase both intra- and extra-cellularly. The highest level of intracellular glucose isomerase (3.5 U/ml) was obtained in about 36 h by a culture grown on straw hemicellulose; the extracellular enzyme (1.5 U/ml) appeared in cultures grown for about 72 h. About equal levels of enzyme were produced in cultures grown on straw hemicellulose, xylan, xylose, and H(2)SO(4) hydrolysate of straw, but production of the enzyme was drastically reduced when the organism was grown on other carbon sources. As a nitrogen source, corn steep liquor produced the best results. Soy flour extract, yeast extract, and various peptones also were adequate substrates for glucose isomerase production. Addition of Mg, Mn, or Fe to the growth medium significantly enhanced enzyme production. The organism, however, did not require Co, which is commonly required by microorganisms used in the production of glucose isomerase.
The “Big Four” of the Golden Age of pictorial star maps

The Golden Age of pictorial celestial cartography took place in Europe, roughly from 1600 to 1800. During this period, grand sky atlases were produced that attempted to accurately place the stars and planets in the heavens in coordinate systems that paralleled those on Earth. These were influenced from increasingly more accurate placement that resulted from new star catalogs that built on that of Ptolemy. Using bigger and better instruments, Tycho Brahe and Johannes Hevelius determined the locations of the stars using naked eye observations. Exemplified by Astronomer Royal John Flamsteed, telescopes and micrometers were added to these instruments, which made their positioning even more accurate.
Use of a Medication Quantification Scale for Comparison of Pain Medication Usage in Patients with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)

Objective To correlate the amount and types of pain medications prescribed to CRPS patients, using the Medication Quantification Scale, and patients' subjective pain levels. Design An international, multisite, retrospective review. Setting University medical centers in the United States, Israel, Germany, and the Netherlands. Subjects/Methods A total of 89 subjects were enrolled from four different countries: 27 from the United States, 20 Germany, 18 Netherlands, and 24 Israel. The main outcome measures used were the Medication Quantification Scale III and numerical analog pain scale. Results There was no statistically significant correlation noted between the medication quantification scale and the visual analog scale for any site except for a moderate positive correlation at German sites. The medication quantification scale mean differences between the United States and Germany, the Netherlands, and Israel were 9.793 ( P < 0.002), 10.389 ( P < 0.001), and 4.984 ( P = 0.303), respectively. Conclusions There appears to be only a weak correlation between amount of pain medication prescribed and patients' reported subjective pain intensity within this limited patient population. The Medication Quantification Scale is a viable tool for the analysis of pharmaceutical treatment of CRPS patients and would be useful in further prospective studies of pain medication prescription practices in the CRPS population worldwide.