cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Essential role of polyamine metabolism in hepatic regeneration: Inhibition of deoxyribonucleic acid and protein synthesis and tissue regeneration by difluoromethylornithine in the rat

Abstract We studied liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy and the effects of inhibition of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and putrescine administration. The specific ODC inhibitor, α-difluoromethylornithine was given as a 3% oral solution (5.4 g/kg · day intake) to hepatectomized rats as well as sham-operated controls. α-Difluoromethylornithine had no effect other than inhibition of the low basal levels of ODC in sham-operated rats, but it markedly inhibited increases in ODC by 85% in hepatectomized rats. α-Difluoromethylornithine reduced hepatic deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis by 61%, protein synthesis by 46%, and liver weight increased by 83%, showing that α-difluoromethylornithine inhibition of ODC inhibits liver regeneration. Putrescine (2 mmol/kg · day) was then given intraperitoneally to hepatectomized rats and controls. Putrescine had no effect in rats not given α-difluoromethylornithine. In rats given α-difluoromethylornithine, putrescine markedly reversed the inhibitory effect of α-difluoromethylornithine on ODC (83%), deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis (94%), protein synthesis (95%), and liver regeneration (85%). These results document that the increases in ODC are important in hepatic regeneration and that polyamine metabolism plays an important role in the increased deoxyribonucleic acid and protein synthesis in this hepatic proliferative response.
Food Freezing Technology

Freezing of food products is one of the oldest methods of preservation of foods. Advances in mechanical refrigeration during the late nineteenth century led to commercial exploitation of freezing technology. Nowadays, the freezing preservation of foods has transformed into an important unit operation in food processing. In addition to serving the purpose of preservation, freezing is one of the essential process steps in the manufacture of certain foods such as ice cream, frozen yogurt, etc. In order to better utilize this unit operation it is essential to have firsthand knowledge of the process of freezing, phase change, heat loads, different equipment options, freezing time prediction, factors affecting the freezing process, and how the process of freezing impacts the frozen food. In this chapter, we review several of these critical topics.
Targeting Heparin to Collagen within Extracellular Matrix Significantly Reduces Thrombogenicity and Improves Endothelialization of Decellularized Tissues

Thrombosis within small-diameter vascular grafts limits the development of bioartificial, engineered vascular conduits, especially those derived from extracellular matrix (ECM). Here we describe an easy-to-implement strategy to chemically modify vascular ECM by covalently linking a collagen binding peptide (CBP) to heparin to form a heparin derivative (CBP–heparin) that selectively binds a subset of collagens. Modification of ECM with CBP–heparin leads to increased deposition of functional heparin (by ∼7.2-fold measured by glycosaminoglycan composition) and a corresponding reduction in platelet binding (>70%) and whole blood clotting (>80%) onto the ECM. Furthermore, addition of CBP–heparin to the ECM stabilizes long-term endothelial cell attachment to the lumen of ECM-derived vascular conduits, potentially through recruitment of heparin-binding growth factors that ultimately improve the durability of endothelialization in vitro. Overall, our findings provide a simple yet effective method to increase depo...
Multistream sensor fusion-based prognostics model for systems with single failure modes

Abstract Advances in sensor technology have facilitated the capability of monitoring the degradation of complex engineering systems through the analysis of multistream degradation signals. However, the varying levels of correlation with physical degradation process for different sensors, high-dimensionality of the degradation signals and cross-correlation among different signal streams pose significant challenges in monitoring and prognostics of such systems. To address the foregoing challenges, we develop a three-step multi-sensor prognostic methodology that utilizes multistream signals to predict residual useful lifetimes of partially degraded systems. We first identify the informative sensors via the penalized (log)-location-scale regression. Then, we fuse the degradation signals of the informative sensors using multivariate functional principal component analysis, which is capable of modeling the cross-correlation of signal streams. Finally, the third step focuses on utilizing the fused signal features for prognostics via adaptive penalized (log)-location-scale regression. We validate our multi-sensor prognostic methodology using simulation study as well as a case study of aircraft turbofan engines available from NASA repository.
Fermentation of model hemicelluloses by Prevotella strains and Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens in pure culture and in ruminal enrichment cultures

Hemicelluloses are major components of plant biomass, but their fermentation in the rumens of cattle and other ruminants is poorly understood. We compared four species of the ruminally dominant genus Prevotella and the well-known hemicellulose utilizer, Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, with respect to degradation of several isolated hemicelluloses (xylans, glucomannan, and xyloglucan). We also performed Illumina sequencing of the V3/V4 region of 16S rRNA genes to determine the relative proportions of Prevotella and Butyrivibrio in hemicellulose-fed enrichment cultures inoculated from ruminal contents of dairy cattle fed a total mixed ration (TMR) rich in hemicelluloses. Results confirmed the xylan fermentation and butyrate production abilities of B. fibrisolvens. Despite their reputation as generalist fermenters, the Prevotella strains poorly fermented these hemicelluloses but exhibited dramatic differences in fermentation end products. Prevotella was much less abundant in mixed bacterial enrichment cultures fed the same TMR than in the ruminal inoculum, yet Prevotella was again the most abundant genus in enrichment cultures fed xylans. By contrast, glucomannan fermentations were dominated by Streptococcus sp. Genera known for hemicellulose degradation (Butyrivibrio, Ruminococcus, and Fibrobacter) were not significantly enriched on these hemicelluloses. Substantial differences in fermentation end product distribution from the different hemicelluloses were observed, which would likely affect nutrient partitioning in the host animal. Differences in community composition between in vitro hemicellulose enrichments and inoculum samples emerged at every phylogenetic level, suggesting that in vitro conditions provide unique selective pressures on the bacterial community and also that ruminal bacteria exhibit specialization with respect to hemicellulose utilization.
A New Paradigm

Science is characterized by discoveries. While the discovery of new facts is reportable, facts alone do not constitute the entirety of science. “Facts are the enemy of truth!” cried Don Quixote de la Mancha. Certainly, unprocessed facts, facts taken at face value, may limit our grasp of fundamental relationships. Understanding comes from making connections between many disparate facts. Such pattern recognition need not require immense data sets. In his insightful The Art of Scientific Investigation, W.I.B. Beveridge declares: “More discoveries have arisen from intense observations of a very limited material than from statistics applied to large groups, for only by being familiar with the usual can we notice something as being unusual or unexplained.
Expression of the C-SRC Proto-Oncogene Product in Neural Cells

Investigations of retroviral oncogenes has led to the identification of many cellular genes (termed proto-oncogenes) that appear to play crucial roles in regulating cellular responses to extracellular signals. Many of these genes are directly involved in the regulation of cellular growth control, either serving as growth factors themselves (such as the c-sis gene product which is one of the two chains of platelet-derived-growth-factor) or as growth factor receptors, (such as the c-erb-b or c- fms gene products which are the receptors for epidermal growth factor and colony stimulating factor I). However, the protein products of proto-oncogenes have also been implicated in the induction of other aspects of signal transduction in a variety of cell types. including neural cells [i.e.the induction of neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells (Bar-Sagi and Feramisco, 1985; Hagag et al., 1986; Alema et al., 1985) and the response to the convulsant drug Metrazole (Morgan et al., 1987)]. Studies of one such proto-oncogene, c-src, have provided strong evidence that the c-src gene product, which functions as a tyrosine-specifle protein kinase, may serve a specialized function in neurons.
Evidence of Oropharyngeal Dysfunction in Feeding in the Rat Rotenone Model of Parkinson's Disease.

Swallowing disorders in Parkinson’s disease are not responsive to dopamine depletion therapy and contribute to morbidity. They are poorly understood owing to a lack of adequate models. We present the first evidence of oropharyngeal changes in a rotenone toxicity model of Parkinson’s disease. Rats were recorded while feeding before and after daily rotenone injections at two different doses (2.75 mg/kg and 3 mg/kg). The higher dose had a much more severe parkinsonian phenotype than the low dose. Timing and amplitude of chewing changed, as did the coordination of chewing and swallowing. Dose-dependent effects were evident. These preliminary results indicate that future research in toxicological models of Parkinson’s disease should incorporate the study of oropharyngeal dysfunction. A better understanding of nongenetic models of Parkinson’s disease in feeding may open new avenues for research into the neurological and behavioral bases for swallowing dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease.
A Possible Canoeman’s Cache Feature from CA-SNI-240 on San Nicolas Island, Alta California

AbstractAn unusual feature was discovered during recent test excavations at CA-SNI-240 on San Nicolas Island, California. The feature was layered with the upper layer containing an inverted black a...
Patient arguments of causative verbs can be omitted:the role of information structure in argument distribution

This paper offers an examination of the distributional range of causative verbs. Contra many claims in the literature that these verbs have highly circumscribed distributions, we demonstrate that they readily appear in a wide variety of argument structure frames. The appearance of causative verbs with omitted patient arguments is analyzed in particular detail and an account is offered in which properties of information structure play a critical role. Constructional influences and lexical semantic factors are shown to be relevant as well, both in the case of omitted arguments and in licensing resultative and path phrases.
Use of exergy tools in renewable energy driven desalination systems

Abstract Desalination technologies can utilize various forms of energy to produce freshwater. The first law of thermodynamics (energy) analysis is used commonly to determine the process efficiency, which is not a true measure of the process performance because it does not account for all losses of energy. The second law of thermodynamics (exergy) is an efficient tool to evaluate the performance of desalination systems. This method accounts for all forms of available energy in the process streams and energy sources with a reference environment to identify the major losses of exergy destruction to aid in resource-efficient desalination system design. Due to changing climate concerns and dwindling conventional energy sources, renewable energy has been identified as a sustainable alternative to supply the energy demands for desalination processes. Desalination processes can be powered by solar, wind, geothermal, and tidal energy sources depending on the process type and configuration. This paper elaborates on use of exergy tools to evaluate renewable energy powered desalination processes to evaluate their thermodynamic efficiency. Illustrations are provided to identify the major components and process streams that contribute to major exergy destruction and to suggest suitable operating conditions that minimize exergy losses. Well-established MSF, MED, RO, Solar distillation and membrane distillation technologies were discussed with case studies to illustrate their exergy performances. Single (water only) and dual (water and power) purpose desalination plants were discussed. Cogeneration, trigeneration (water, power, and heating/cooling) and polygeneration schemes and their exergy performance were also included.
Ablation of a Single N-Glycosylation Site in Human FSTL 1 Induces Cardiomyocyte Proliferation and Cardiac Regeneration

Adult mammalian hearts have a very limited regeneration capacity, due largely to a lack of cardiomyocyte (CM) proliferation. It was recently reported that epicardial, but not myocardial, follistatin-like 1 (Fstl1) activates CM proliferation and cardiac regeneration after myocardial infarction (MI). Furthermore, bacterially synthesized human FSTL 1 (hFSTL1) was found to induce CM proliferation, whereas hFSTL1 synthesized in mammals did not, suggesting that post-translational modifications (e.g., glycosylation) of the hFSTL1 protein affect its regenerative activity. We used modified mRNA (modRNA) technology to investigate the possible role of specific hFSTL1 N-glycosylation sites in the induction, by hFSTL1, of CM proliferation and cardiac regeneration. We found that the mutation of a single site (N180Q) was sufficient and necessary to increase the proliferation of rat neonatal and mouse adult CMs in vitro and after MI in vivo, respectively. A single administration of the modRNA construct encoding the N180Q mutant significantly increased cardiac function, decreased scar size, and increased capillary density 28 days post-MI. Overall, our data suggest that the delivery of N180Q hFSTL1 modRNA to the myocardium can mimic the beneficial effect of epicardial hFSTL1, triggering marked CM proliferation and cardiac regeneration in a mouse MI model.
Leading Causes of Fatal and Nonfatal Unintentional Injury for Children and Teens and the Role of Lifestyle Clinicians: A Commentary.

Unintentional injury and death as a public health concern has not been established in the pediatric population. This is a commentary on a review of epidemiological data of unintentional deaths and ...
Correction to: A Fresh Look at Socio-Demographics in Work-Family Conflict: a Cluster Analysis Approach

Please note that the Acknowledgements to this paper were inadvertently omitted in the original version of the online publication.
Theoretical study on η′ → π+π−π+(0)π−(0)

Abstract The η ′ meson is associated with the U(1) anomaly. In this paper, a successful effective chiral theory of mesons has been applied to study the anomalous decays of η ′ → π + π − π + ( 0 ) π − ( 0 ) . Contribution of triangle and box diagrams is calculated, which indicates that the box anomaly has a significant contribution to the decay amplitudes. We predict branching ratios of B r ( η ′ → π + π − π + π − ) = 1 2 B r ( η ′ → π + π − π 0 π 0 ) = ( 8.3 ± 1.2 ) × 10 − 5 , which is in good agreement with BESIII measurement.
Parental Psychological Control and Adolescent Problematic Outcomes: A Multidimensional Approach

Parental psychological control is an emotionally manipulative parenting behavior that involves the use of tactics such as love withdrawal, guilt induction, and conditional approval and has been found to be particularly problematic for adolescent development. However, research has not yet examined whether psychological control is also best measured as a multidimensional construct during adolescence or whether various dimensions of psychological control are differentially predictive of adolescents’ problematic outcomes. Therefore, the current study examined the factor structure of a measure commonly used to assess psychological control, the Psychological Control Scale—Youth Self-Report. Additionally, the current study examined whether specific dimensions of psychological control are differentially associated with adolescents’ problematic outcomes, including over- and under-eating behaviors, risky cyber behaviors, substance use, and depressive symptoms. Participants included 161 adolescents (Mage = 14.42, SD = 1.73; 80.7% Caucasian; 59.6% female) living in a University city in a Mid-Atlantic state. Participants completed survey questionnaires about parental psychological control, problematic eating behaviors, risky cyber behaviors, substance use, and depressive symptoms. Results indicated that psychological control is comprised of three distinct factors, including personal attack, invalidating feelings, and love withdrawal, which were uniquely associated with adolescents’ problematic outcomes. The findings provide insights into more precise ways to examine the association between psychological control and problematic outcomes and highlight which aspects of psychological control are important for specific problematic outcomes among adolescents.
Millimeter-Wave Fixed Wireless Access Using IEEE 802.11ay

IEEE 802.11ay defines new PHY and MAC specifications that enable 100 Gb/s communications in the 60 GHz millimeter-wave (mmWave) band. Among the various use cases supported by IEEE 802.11ay, fixed wireless access, a cost-efficient high-performance alternative and/ or complement to conventional fixed access, differentiates itself due to its unique requirements and characteristics. In this article, our goal is to identify and describe key elements incorporated into IEEE 802.11ay, including scheduling, beamforming, and link maintenance, that efficiently support fixed wireless access. IEEE 802.11ay is thus a viable and strong candidate to form the basis of future generations of standards-compliant (i.e., non-proprietary) mmWave fixed wireless access networks.
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy of Adrenal Metastases: A Pooled Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review of 39 Studies with 1006 Patients.

Purpose To perform a systematic review and pooled meta-analysis of adrenal metastasis stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) outcomes, treatment characteristics, and toxicity to define the efficacy and propose guidelines for intervention. Methods and Materials We performed a comprehensive literature search of the Embase and PubMed databases of studies reporting outcome or toxicity data for photon-based SBRT of adrenal metastases in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We then conducted a meta-analysis to estimate pooled overall response, local control (LC), and overall survival and analyzed these outcomes in the context of dosimetric parameters and toxicity using metaregression. Results Thirty-nine studies published between 2009 and 2019 reporting outcomes on 1006 patients were included. The median follow-up was 12 months, and the median biological equivalent dose (BED10, alpha/beta = 10) was 67 Gy. The pooled overall response was 54.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 46.5%-62.5%). The pooled 1- and 2-year rates of LC were 82% (95% CI, 74%-88%) and 63% (95% CI, 50%-74%), respectively, and the pooled 1- and 2-year overall survival rates were 66% (95% CI, 57%-74%) and 42% (95% CI, 31%-53%), respectively. There was a strong positive association between SBRT dose and 1- and 2-year LC (P Conclusions SBRT of adrenal metastases provides good 1-year LC with an excellent safety profile, and dose escalation may be associated with improved LC. Prospective studies are needed to validate these findings and determine whether there are subsets of patients for whom adrenal metastasis–directed SBRT may confer a survival advantage.
The impact of an electronic medical record nudge on reducing testing for hospital-onset Clostridioides difficile infection.

OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of an electronic medical record (EMR) nudge at reducing total and inappropriate orders testing for hospital-onset Clostridioides difficile infection (HO-CDI). DESIGN An interrupted time series analysis of HO-CDI orders 2 years before and 2 years after the implementation of an EMR intervention designed to reduce inappropriate HO-CDI testing. Orders for C. difficile testing were considered inappropriate if the patient had received a laxative or stool softener in the previous 24 hours. SETTING Four hospitals in an academic healthcare network. PATIENTS All patients with a C. difficile order after hospital day 3. INTERVENTION Orders for C. difficile testing in patients administered a laxative or stool softener in <24 hours triggered an EMR alert defaulting to cancellation of the order ("nudge"). RESULTS Of the 17,694 HO-CDI orders, 7% were inappropriate (8% prentervention vs 6% postintervention; P < .001). Monthly HO-CDI orders decreased by 21% postintervention (level-change rate ratio [RR], 0.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.73-0.86), and the rate continued to decrease (postintervention trend change RR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.98-1.00). The intervention was not associated with a level change in inappropriate HO-CDI orders (RR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.61-1.05), but the postintervention inappropriate order rate decreased over time (RR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.93-0.97). CONCLUSION An EMR nudge to minimize inappropriate ordering for C. difficile was effective at reducing HO-CDI orders, and likely contributed to decreasing the inappropriate HO-CDI order rate after the intervention.
The administrative making of the recycler

The New York Department of Sanitation's recycling program is under threat by an “an organized, sophisticated mob of scavenger collectives.” How is this “mob” threatening the NYC Department of Sanit...
Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors.

Cell-cycle dysregulation is one of the cardinal characteristics of neoplastic cells. For this reason, small molecule inhibitors targeting cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), of which flavopiridol is a prototype, have been the focus of extensive interest in cancer therapy. In addition to inhibiting cell-cycle progression, these agents exhibit a variety of other activities, including the induction of cell death. Recently, several novel mechanisms of action have been ascribed to the CDK inhibitor flavopiridol, including interference with transcription, most likely through disruption of P-TEFb (i.e. the CDK9/cyclin T complex), and induction of apoptosis, possibly a consequence of downregulation of various anti-apoptotic proteins. It has also been observed that combining CDK inhibitors with either conventional cytotoxic drugs or novel signal transduction modulators dramatically promotes neoplastic cell death in a variety of preclinical models. Efforts are underway to uncover inhibitors that selectively target specific CDKs and to develop these as a new generation of antitumour drugs. For all of these reasons, it is likely that interest in CDK inhibitors as antineoplastic agents will continue for the foreseeable future.
Do behavioral measures of self-control assess construct-level variance?

Abstract A wide range of measures have been used to assess self-control including executive function tasks, delay of gratification tasks, and persistence and willpower tasks. The current study sought to examine the convergent and predictive validity of these measures, provide theoretical backing for why we might or might not expect high correlations between different indicators of the construct, and question whether such measures are assessing construct-level variance. The results largely replicated prior research, with the majority of correlations being small in magnitude and non-significant. Possible interpretations include indicators assessing distinct and unrelated subdomains of self-control, the inappropriate use of measures that maximize within person variance, indicators being plagued by large sources of error variance, or some combination of these.
The Beatles’ “Happiness is a Warm Gun” as Postmodern Protest

The Beatles’ song “Happiness is a Warm Gun” is the sprawling centerpiece of their iconic 1968 release “The White Album.” This article explores the postmodern dimensions of the song through a musico...
Union Co-Ops and the Revival of Labor Law

Union worker-owned cooperatives (union co-ops) offer a means to combat growing income and wealth inequality, create jobs, and recirculate money in the communities in which they are located. This article contributes to the academic literature about cooperative economics, worker ownership, and labor relations in two distinct ways. First, it relies on original author-collected data from interviews of those involved in establishing Our Harvest, an urban farm in Cincinnati, to discuss the issues involved in establishing a union co-op. Our Harvest was the first union co-op created because of a 2009 partnership to foster union co-ops in the United States. Second, the article addresses the labor law issues involved in establishing a union co-op. The issues include whether worker-owners are covered by the National Labor Relations Act, whether a co-op is required to bargain about worker ownership with the union representing its employees, whether a union co-op can require its employees to join a union, and how union co-ops can use interest-based collective bargaining. The article suggests ways that unions can legally support and finance union co-ops, provides an appendix of legal services, and includes tables to simply complex legal issues. At its best, the article will contribute to the scaling up of union co-ops and a concurrent revival of labor law that enables a more equitable economy for all.
Capital Inflows in the Baltic Countries, Russia, and Other Countries of the Former Soviet Union : Monetary and Prudential Issues

Significant capital inflows were observed during the first half of 1995 in a number of FSU countries. This paper reviews the recent experience of those countries with significant inflows, examines policy responses in view of the current macroeconomic and institutional environment, discusses the use of monetary and prudential instruments to sterilize or discourage inflows, and reviews operational considerations for conducting sterilization operations.
Measures Derived from Panoramic Ultrasonography and Animal-Based Protein Intake Are Related to Muscular Performance in Middle-Aged Adults

Ultrasonography advantageously measures skeletal muscle size and quality, but some muscles may be too large to capture with standardized brightness mode (B-mode) imaging. Panoramic ultrasonography can capture more complete images and may more accurately measure muscle size. We investigated measurements made using panoramic compared to B-mode ultrasonography images of the rectus femoris with muscular performance. Concurrently, protein intake plays an important role in preventing sarcopenia; therefore, we also sought to investigate the association between animal-based protein intake (ABPI) and muscular performance. Ninety-one middle-aged adults were recruited. Muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and thickness were obtained using B-mode and panoramic ultrasound and analyzed with Image J software. Muscular performance was assessed using isokinetic dynamometry, a 30-s chair test, and handgrip strength. Three-day food diaries estimated dietary intakes. Linear regression models determined relationships between measures from ultrasonography and muscular performance. Mixed linear models were used to evaluate the association between ABPI and muscular performance. Muscle CSA from panoramic ultrasonography and ABPI were positively associated with lower-body strength (β ± S.E.; CSA, 42.622 ± 20.024, p = 0.005; ABPI, 65.874 ± 19.855, p = 0.001), lower-body endurance (β ± S.E.; CSA, 595 ± 200.221, p = 0.001; ABPI, 549.944 ± 232.478, p = 0.020), and handgrip strength (β ± S.E.; CSA, 6.966 ± 3.328, p = 0.004; ABPI, 0.349 ± 0.171, p = 0.045). Panoramic ultrasound shows promise as a method for assessing sarcopenia. ABPI is related to better muscular performance.
Social Choice and Resources Allocation: A Topological Perspective

Topological social choice is an area which has evolved rapidly in recent years. It involves the use of continuous or topological techniques to study what have come to be known as "Chichilnisky rules." The field has quickly moved from a separate and distinct area of social choice to one which is integrated into the mainstreams of both social choice theory and general equilibrium theory, and which has come to be a bridge between these previously disparate areas. One of the most striking results to emerge is Chichilnisky's result on the equivalence between Arrow's paradox, Chichilnisky's paradox, the existence of a competitive equilibrium in a general equilibrium model and the non-emptiness of the core: Arrow paradox Chichilnisky paradox Competitive equilibrium Core. This shows that social choice is an integral part of the problem in economics and that at a deep level all forms of resource allocation are equivalent. The topological approach to social choice also leads to a set of results on incentive compatibility and manipulability. There is a result equivalent to the Gibbard-Satterthwaite result on manipulability: this result states that any social choice rule which is continuous and respects unanimity must admit a "strategic dictator", someone who has the ability to force whichever outcome he or she most wants, generally be misrepresentation (Chichilnisky, Chichilnisky and Heal, Koshevoy). There is also a very simple characterization of the conditions necessary and sufficient for non-constant manipulability of a continuous social choice rule as those which are locally constant or dictatorial (Chichilnisky and Heal). Finally, one can apply these techniques to the analysis of social choice with infinite populations and show that the rules which are possible in this case are limits of the preferences along sequences of voters which form ultrafilter (Chichilnisky and Heal).
Racist History and the Second Amendment: A Critical Commentary

To say that the moral stain of racism pervades American history would be an understatement. One does not have to look hard to find examples where people of color were treated disparagingly or disparately. Thus, it should come as no surprise that throughout much of American history there are examples where race played a role in lawmakers deciding who may and may not acquire, own, and use firearms for lawful purposes, or where race was the principal factor in orchestrating state and non-state sponsored armed violence against people of color. The painful and often tragic historical intersection between race and firearms is indeed a complex and multi-faceted narrative worthy of examination and reflection, including in the area of history-in-law —that is the study of how the law has evolved in a particular area, what events and factors caused the law to evolve, and how, if at all, this history is important when adjudicating legal questions. Yet in the ongoing discourse over the purpose, meaning, and protective scope of the Second Amendment, the historical narrative of race and firearms is becoming increasingly misappropriated and hyperbolized. There are indeed numerous examples, but two are particularly concerning and exist at the extreme opposites of the Second Amendment political spectrum. The first—often stated by gun rights proponents—is history shows that gun control is inherently racist. The second—sometimes stated by gun control proponents—is that the Second Amendment itself is inherently racist, with some going so far to claim the right to “keep and bear arms” is on historically on par with the Constitution’s morally “indefensible” three-fifths clause—the clause that provided slaves would account for three-fifths a person for the purpose of congressional apportionment. This article seeks to examine and unpack these extreme historical opposites and explain why their ‘racist’ claims ultimately do more societal harm than good. This article is broken into three parts. Part I critically examines how and why the ‘gun control is racist’ narrative came to be. Part II then critically examines how (and the elusive why) the ‘Second Amendment is racist’ narrative came to be. Lastly, Part III outlines why accepting either of these ‘racist’ narratives do more harm than good, particularly in the confines of history-in-law.
Ultrasound in Systemic Sclerosis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus are multisystem diseases with a significant burden of musculoskeletal involvement. Ultrasound is increasingly being utilized in these conditions for clinical diagnosis, decision-making, and disease monitoring and to better understand the pathologic mechanisms that underlie peripheral disease manifestations. We review the use of ultrasound in these two conditions, including vast applications that extend beyond typical joint and soft tissue evaluations, particularly in systemic sclerosis. These include pulmonary, skin, and peripheral vascular ultrasound. There is great promise for sonography in both research endeavors and clinical management.
Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy for Benign Disease

MIE can provide patients with reduced morbidity and a rapid recovery in the treatment of benign conditions. There is few data examining the long-term outcomes of MIE specifically in the context of benign disease. At present, MIE should be performed in centers with experience in advanced minimally invasive esophageal surgery, and it requires a team approach. Multicenter, prospective randomized controlled trials will be required to determine the superiority of MIE compared with open esophagectomy. Further investigation will be required to determine the effect of MIE on quality of life and long-term outcomes in the treatment of benign conditions.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Child Today: Progress or Problems?

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (“UDHR”) has provided inspiration for declarations and treaties throughout Africa, which have improved the quality of living for many. The special attention in UDHR given to the rights of children has yet to significantly benefit children in Africa. Under UDHR’s influence, agreements like The African Charter on Human and People’s Rights and several African state constitutions promoted children as bearers of rights, but such agreements are inhibited by the four tyrannies: culture, poverty, corruption, and globalization. UDHR does little to prevent harmful cultural and religious practices directed towards children, especially girls, because certain customs and injustices are too entrenched in societies. The culture-clash between the Western ideas UDHR promotes and African social norms is evident in the conflicting images of childhood. The UDHR treats childhood as a time of play, which isn’t applicable to the African children who must work to survive. Poverty and corruption have slowed changes for children that UDHR hoped to bring about. Globalization has led to intensified child trafficking, sexual exploitation, and forced labor. But the success of the Human Rights movement leaves room for optimism for African children over the next sixty years. The promise of technological advances, new institutional partnerships, and new leadership may bring with them a promise of a better future for Africa’s children.
Spoken Language Pragmatics: An Analysis of Form–Function Relations edited by WEINERT, REGINA

The article reviews the book "Spoken Language Pragmatics: An Analysis of Form–Function Relations," edited by Regina Weinert.
A Review of Intended for Pleasure: Sex Technique and Sexual Fulfillment in Christian Marriage

Intended for Pleasure presents information regarding sex and sexuality oriented towards Christian couples. Written by a medical doctor with his wife, the book is particularly strong in describing common sexual problems with an additional strength of focusing not only sexual intercourse but also on the whole relationship as being important to sexuality. Unfortunately, there are limitations in that their interpretation of the Bible is sometimes idiosyncratic, they seem to have unstated expectations about acceptable sexual practice, and abusive relationships are not sufficiently discussed. Overall the book may be a good fit for Christian couples looking to improve their sexual satisfaction.
Recurrent disease after liver transplantation

Most liver diseases for which liver transplantation is performed recur after liver transplantation. The clinical impact of recurrence varies. For autoimmune liver diseases, such as primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and autoimmune hepatitis, clinically significant recurrence appears to be relatively rare. Whether these diseases recur in any meaningful way after liver transplantation is still controversial. For the chronic viral diseases, hepatitis B and C, the issue is not whether they recur--they clearly do--but whether the recurrence affects prognosis and how best to manage recurrent disease. For hepatitis B virus (HBV), reinfection can lead to accelerated liver injury, graft loss, and dramatically worse patient and graft survival rates, whereas the prognosis of recurrent hepatitis C virus (HCV), at least in the short-term, appears to be more benign. Major advances have been made in preventing liver allograft reinfection with HBV. Before these advances, chronic hepatitis B was considered a relative contraindication to liver transplantation because the allografts almost always became reinfected. With the current strategies for preventing HBV reinfection, however, the graft and patient survival rates after transplantation for chronic hepatitis B approach those for nonviral diseases. The development of resistance to antiviral therapy is likely to represent the major problem in the future and mandate the use of combination therapy. There is currently no effective therapy available for recurrent hepatitis C. Until such therapy is developed, recurrent hepatitis C remains the most challenging problem facing liver transplant physicians and surgeons.
A Simple Procedure That Allows Software to Determine if a GC/MS Blank Injection Is Contaminated

One problem commonly encountered by operators of GC/MS systems is the injection of solvent blanks which are contaminated. The sources of this contamination are many and are often of an undertermined origin. The contaminated blank is an especially troublesome problem when the operator is running a sequence of samples using an autoinjector. The injection of a contaminated blank during a sequence of samples could jeopardize the data collected for any ensuing samples. A simple macro program, described here, will allow the Hewlett-Packard MS ChemStation software to decide if a blank is contaminated. If contamination is present then the software will direct the autoinjector to make the necessary reinjections.
Effects of seed vigor on crop characters in uniform and reduced populations of corn (Zea mays L.).

The relationship between seed corn vigor and some crop characters in uniform and reduced plant populations is poorly defined. This study, was designed to define the crop characters through which seed vigor is expressed in reduced and uniform populations of corn and to clarify which experimental technique should be used in seed vigor studies. Seeds of two corn hybrids, A632 x (H99 x H95) and B73 x (H99 x H95), were dried at two temperatures, 35 °C and 50 oC, and planted near Ames, Iowa, in 1983. The two drying temperatures created differential vigor levels between the seed lots. There were 21 crop characters measured in two populations, reduced populations due to lack of seed vigor and uniform population (thinning to stand). Early vegetative growth was influenced by seed vigor, but as the plant aged, the influence of seed vigor decreased. Increased early plant height, up to 6 weeks old, small stem diameter, low shoot dry-matter content, delay in days from sowing to 50 % tasseling and to 50 % silking, narrow penultimate and ear leaf, and reduction in the number of ears and tiller production were observed in the uniform population. The differences in population density due to seed vigor did not have a significant effect on final grain yield inasmuch as plants in the reduced populations were able to compensate completely for missing stands.
Evidence for the placental transfer of 3 H-acetyl-melatonin.

DEVELOPMENTAL studies on the enzymes which form melatonin, the putative pineal hormone, indicate that it probably is not formed in rats before the tenth day of life1–3. Melatonin could nevertheless arise in animals younger than 10 days of age by transfer from the mother and we now describe how we have investigated this possibility by determining whether 3H-acetyl-melatonin injected into a pregnant rat could be detected in its foetuses.
HAX VS. HEQ MIGRATIONS IN TETRAHYDROPYRANYLIDENES GENERATED BY BAMFORD-STEVENS REACTIONS. TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE AND NON-STEREOSELECTIVE ACTIVATION BY RING OXYGEN

Abstract For 1,2-shifts in singlet carbenes, a tetrahydropyranyl oxygen strongly activates its adjacent H's. To determine whether this activation is stereoselective for Hax or Heq, we studied d-labeled analogs of 17a-oxa-D-homosteroidal C- 16 ketones (6a). A putative carbene center was generated at C-16 by thermal and photic Bamford-Stevens reactions, and the relative proportions of H and D shift from C-17 were assayed. After correction for primary H/D isotope effects, the Hax/Heq migration ratios in thermolysis were 2.2 at 170°C, 3.3 at 120°C, and 4.1 at 95°C; and in photolysis it was 4.4 at −70°C. The ratio at 170°C is virtually the same as for ordinary cyclohexylidenes under comparable thermal conditions, so the ring oxygen activates Hax and Heq non-stereoselectively. Graphical analysis of the temperature dependence in thermolysis gave ΔEa (or Δ(ΔH‡)) = 2.7 k cal/mol (in favor of Hax) and Δ(ΔS‡) 4.5 e.u. (in favor of Heq). Extrapolation indicates the Hax/Heq ratio would be ca. 10 at room temperature, corresponding to Δ(ΔG ‡ ) = ca. 1.35 kcal/mol.
Ultra Small Angle X-Ray Scattering Characterization of Temperature-Sensitive Ferrogels Prepared Using Magnetic Nanoparticles

Temperature-sensitive ferrogel prepared using Fe3O4 nanoparticles are characterized under varying temperature conditions. The nanoparticles were distributed in Nisopropylacrylamide (NIPAm) during their polymerization to form hydrogel. Particle distribution and agglomeration characteristics of the prepared ferrogels were investigated using ultra small angle x-ray scattering (USAXS) at various temperatures through the Lower Critical Solution Temperature (LCST). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to estimate the particle size distribution. The magnetic property was investigated using direct current superconducting quantum interference device (DC-SQUID) under hydrated conditions. The USAXS analysis showed an increase in the volume of particles without changing the agglomeration characteristics as the temperature is increased during the measurements. The ferrogel did not show any sedimentation or particle detachment from the gel under thermal cycling. Details of our results and analysis are presented.
Interactive effects of catastrophizing and suppression on responses to acute pain: a test of an appraisal × emotion regulation model

We examined whether people who tend to catastrophize about pain and who also attempt to regulate negative thoughts and feelings through suppression may represent a distinct subgroup of individuals highly susceptible to pain and distress. Ninety-seven healthy normal participants underwent a 4-min ischemic pain task followed by a 2-min recovery period. Self-reported pain and distress was recorded during the task and every 20 s during recovery. Participants completed the Pain Catastrophizing Scale and the White Bear Suppression Inventory. Repeated measures multiple regression analysis (using General Linear Model procedures) revealed significant 3-way interactions such that participants scoring high on the rumination and/or helplessness subscales of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale and who scored high on the predisposition to suppress unwanted thoughts and feelings reported the greatest pain and distress during recovery. Results suggest that pain catastrophizers who attempt to regulate their substantial pain intensity and distress with maladaptive emotion regulation strategies, such as suppression, may be especially prone to experience prolonged recovery from episodes of acute pain. Thus, emotion regulation factors may represent critical variables needed to understand the full impact of catastrophic appraisals on long-term adjustment to pain.
Shaping Democracy through Organizational Practice The NGOs of the Tribal Joint Action Committee in Karnataka, India

NGOs are legitimized by their role in creating empowered citizens who will demand state accountability and good governance, build a strong and vibrant civil society, and deepen democracy. By charting the chronological evolution of the tribal struggle in southern Karnataka and by applying an analytical framework that accounts for positional as well as conditional changes within communities, this article explores the ways in which organizational strategies and practices produce uneven empowerment and varied ‘thickening’ of civil society. Further, it highlights the role of local NGOs in enabling tribal communities to take advantage of openings created by the state for articulating demands for self-rule. The article draws on the experiences of four local NGOs, their informal but longstanding network, the Tribal Joint Action Committee, and associated peoples' organizations to emphasize the impact of everyday organizational practice in shaping democracy.
Connecting University Science Experiences to Middle School Science Teaching.

Science teachers naturally rely on their university science experiences as a foundation for teaching middle school science. This foundation consists of knowledge far too complex for the middle level students to comprehend. In order for middle school science teachers to utilize their university science training they must search for ways to adapt their college experiences into appropriate middle school learning experience.
Bilateral subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation in a patient with cervical dystonia and essential tremor

The role of subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) is well established in Parkinson's disease, but experience with STN DBS in other movement disorders is limited. We report on a patient with medically refractory cervical dystonia and essential tremor resulting in dystonic head tremor and action tremor of the hands who obtained complete tremor suppression and near resolution of her cervical dystonia with bilateral STN stimulation. The results in this case demonstrate that STN DBS can dramatically improve dystonia and tremor in nonparkinsonian movement disorders.
Evidence for a Pituitary Site of Action for the Acute Inhibition of LH Release by Estrogen in the Rat

Intravenous administration of estradiol in doses of 20 ng or more was capable of inhibiting LH release in ovariectomized rats as indicated by a decrease in plasma LH determined by radioimmunoassay. The inhibition came on within 1 hr and could persist for up to 4 hr after a single injection. The decrease in plasma LH which followed the injection of estradiol was at least in part caused by a decreased sensitivity of the pituitary gland to LRF since the increment in plasma LH in response to injection of the synthetic decapeptide was significantly decreased in estradiol—treated animals. Endocrinology 92: 1680, 1973)