cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multi-Tier Commercial Dispute Resolution Processes in the United States

This chapter examines the landscape of commercial dispute resolution in the United States. Commercial contracts often include tiered or stepped dispute resolution schemes that comprise multiple, varied mechanisms for resolving conflict through an interplay of processes. Contractual relationships are particularly suitable for tiered processes that accommodate the priorities of business. These processes involve increasingly robust intervention by third parties. However, critiques of contractual stepped dispute resolution provisions include concerns about necessity, utility, and enforceability. The treatment of tiered process in U.S. courts is far from uniform; where courts have found contractual negotiation or mediation provisions to be valid and enforceable, the manner in which they address non-compliance under such agreements is inconsistent across different jurisdictions. A growing body of federal and state court decisions addresses questions of enforceability of the arbitration agreement when a party to a multi-step process fails or refuses to participate in preliminary contractually-mandated processes. Despite being conventionally disfavored in the U.S., the circumstance where a single neutral plays the role of mediator and arbitrator in the course of resolving disputes does arise, adding an additional layer of complexity. Guidelines for the use of multi-tier processes take into account the uncertainties associated with judicial handling of stepped agreements as well as their inherent complexities, while recognizing potential benefits.
Across Circular Boundaries: Searching for a Confluence between Marital Agreements and Indian Land Transactions

The author, drawing on Socrates, examines the law school curriculum. She starts from the premise that the unexamined curriculum is not worth teaching. She launches an experiment in integration between her first-year Property course and her elective Family law course, comparing Indian land transactions to marital agreements. There is a surprising confluence that leads her to recommend a more integrated law school curriculum to yield more insights and enlighten students about how the law fits together into a seamless web despite curricular boxes.
Racial disparity in end-of-life hospitalizations among nursing home residents with dementia.

OBJECTIVE Explore within and across nursing home (NH) racial disparities in end-of-life (EOL) hospitalizations for residents with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia (ADRD), and examine whether severe cognitive impairment influences these relationships. DESIGN Observational study merging, at the individual level, C2014-2017 national-level Minimum Data Set (MDS), Medicare Beneficiary Summary Files (MBSF), and Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MedPAR). Nursing Home Compare (NHC) was also used. SETTING Long-stay residents who died in a NH or a hospital within 8 days of discharge. PARTICIPANTS Analytical sample included 665,033 decedent residents with ADRD in 14,595 facilities. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The outcome was hospitalization within 30 days of death. Key independent variables were race, severe cognitive impairment, and NH-level proportion of black residents. Other covariates included socio-demographics, dual eligibility, hospice enrollment, and chronic conditions. Facility-level characteristics were also included (e.g. profit status, staffing hours, etc.). We fit linear probability models with robust standard errors, fixed and random effects. RESULTS Compared to whites, black decedents had a significantly (p < 0.01) higher risk of EOL hospitalizations (7.88%). Among those with severe cognitive impairment, whites showed a lower risk of hospitalizations (6.04%). But EOL hospitalization risk among blacks with severe cognitive impairment was still significantly elevated (β = 0.0494; p < 0.01). A comparison of the base model with the fixed and random-effects models showed statistically significant hospitalization risk by decedent's race both within and across facilities. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE We found disparities between black and white residents with ADRD both within and across facilities. The within-facility disparities may be due to residents' preferences and/or NH practices that contribute to differential treatment. The across facility differences point to the overall quality of care disparities in homes with a higher prevalence of black residents. Persistence of such systemic disparities among the most vulnerable individuals is extremely troubling.
The Role of Electricity Tariff Design in Distributed Energy Resource Deployment

This paper simulates the effect of more advanced residential electricity tariffs on household adoption of distributed energy resources (DERs). We employ an end-user DER investment and operational engineering optimization model, and adapt it to include an economic utility function, calibrated to the observed hourly residential electricity consumption data from 2016 in the Commonwealth Edison service territory in Chicago, in order to represent household-level preferences for electricity consumption. We simulate the effect of a spectrum of electricity tariffs, from the status quo flat volumetric tariffs to more sophisticated tariffs that are reflective of electricity generation and distribution system costs. We find that tariffs that are more time variant lead to greater reductions in coincident peak demands than flat volumetric tariffs, both from load shifting as well as from adoption of DERs. Regarding the effect of electricity tariff design on DER investments, we find that at current DER purchase costs investments in rooftop photovoltaic (PV), batteries and natural gas distributed generators are not privately optimal under any of our tariff design scenarios based on current cost levels for electricity and gas in the Chicago study area. However, with continued reductions in PV technology costs, rooftop PV may see a greater adoption rate under some of the more cost-reflective tariffs. We also demonstrate a greater incentive to invest in electrification of household space heating in the form of heat pumps under cost-reflective tariffs. These findings provide insights on electricity tariff design and the role of DERs in the future decarbonized electricity system, and highlight the need to consider region-specific costs and conditions when analyzing the effects of electric tariff reform.
Encuentro: Latinx Performance for the New American Theater

The publication of Encuentro marks a concerted effort to historicize and document Encuentro 2014, the largest national Latinx theater festival and convening of Latinx theater artists and scholars i...
Antibody Response to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 Messenger RNA Vaccines in Liver Transplant Recipients.

Prior studies have demonstrated a decreased humoral response in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination (17% antibody response after dose 1, 54% after dose 2) as compared to the general population (100%). However, these studies were dominated by kidney transplant recipients, and included only a small percentage of liver transplant (LT) recipients (19.6%).(1-4) Since LT recipients often receive milder induction and maintenance immunosuppression, they may have a more robust humoral response. To investigate this, we studied SARS-CoV-2 antibody development in a cohort of LT recipients who completed a two-dose mRNA vaccine series of either mRNA-1273 (Moderna) or BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech).
Antioxidant System in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Oxygen radicals play an important role in the course of experimental and human carcinogenesis. Antioxidant enzymes have been shown to protect cells against oxidative damage and, thus, to inhibit both initiation and promotion of carcinogenesis. The antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase catalyses the dismutation of superoxide anion, a very toxic radical, into hydrogen peroxide and exists as two types: one containing manganese and found in the mitochondria matrix and one containing copper-zinc and found in the cytosol. The superoxide dismutase activity has been shown to be impaired in some human neoplasm and in rat hepatocarcinoma. We found, in a recent study, a progressive reduction of superoxide dismutase activity progressing from chronic liver diseases to hepatocellular carcinoma; this finding seems consistent with current knowledge on the natural history of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Failure of biomarkers in clinical trials of Alzheimer's disease: blaming the messenger?

Surrogate markers of disease activity have accelerated the development of treatments in diseases as diverse as HIV infection and multiple sclerosis, where viral load and brain MRI white matter lesion burden, respectively, have essentially replaced clinical outcomes for drug development. These are just two examples of the power of surrogate markers for testing therapeutic strategies for indolent diseases like Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Since a typical Phase III AD treatment trial based on conventional clinical outcome measures requires over 400 subjects followed for a minimum of 18 months at a cost of several million dollars, the possibility of conducting biomarker-based trials with a smaller number of subjects and shorter duration of treatment is highly attractive. The markers that have shown the most promise as trial outcome measures include MRI-derived brain atrophy rates [1], nuclear medicine studies of brain amyloid burden [2], and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of biochemical correlates of the classical AD lesions, namely amyloid-β42 (Aβ42) and tau [3]. Despite the modest
A Seismic Look Under the Continents

So-called continental keels extend 250 to 350 kilometers below continents. Recent seismic arrays studies have provided insights into the origin and evolution of these fast wave speed features. The studies have shown that the keels are much more diverse than previously thought on the basis of sparser data sets. Global generalizations regarding keel properties and processes should therefore be viewed with considerable caution.
Modeling the interaction between convection and nonthermal ion outflows

Initial demonstrations of an ionosphere/polar wind model including a phenomenological treatment of transverse heating by wave particle interactions (WPIs) are presented. Tests with fixed WPI parameters in a designated heating region on the dayside with time-varying convection show that the parameters of the resulting nonthermal ion outflow are strongly coupled to the convection. The hemispheric outflow rate is positively correlated with the convection speed with a time delay related to the travel time to the upper boundary. Increases in convection increase the thermal plasma access to the heating region, both by increasing the upflow associated with frictional heating and by increasing the horizontal transport. The average parallel velocities and energies of the escaping nonthermal ions are anticorrelated with the convection speed due to the finite dwell time in the heating region. The computationally efficient model can be readily coupled into global geospace modeling frameworks in the future.
Detection of Nitrogen Atoms in the 2 s ( 2 p ) 3 3 s S 5 2 6 Metastable Autoionizing State

Metastable nitrogen atoms, produced by electron-impact dissociation of ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$, have been detected in time-of-flight apparatuses located at Oregon State University and at University of California at Berkeley. Two different types of metastable atoms are detected; one type resembles Rydberg hydrogen atoms, while the other does not. The measured natural lifetime for the non-Rydberg atoms is 100 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 25 \ensuremath{\mu}sec. Additional information regarding the identity of both types of metastable atoms is obtained by observing their quenching in a static electric field. The field-dependent decay constant for the Rydberg atoms is essentially a step function, and these atoms are entirely quenched by a field of 1.5 kV/cm. Both results are consistent with theory if the Rydberg atoms are in levels with principal quantum number greater than 25. The field-dependent decay constant for the non-Rydberg atoms varies quadratically with the strength of the applied electric field. In a field of 4 kV/cm applied along a 6-cm length of flight path, the value of this decay constant is 0.3 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{6}$ ${\mathrm{sec}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. The quenching results, together with the lifetime measurement, are a strong indication that the non-Rydberg atoms detected in the time-of-flight spectra are nitrogen atoms in the $2s{(2p)}^{3}3s^{6}S_{\frac{5}{2}}$ metastable autoionizing state.
Rainbow, a new multivariable polynomial signature scheme

Balanced Oil and Vinegar signature schemes and the unbalanced Oil and Vinegar signature schemes are public key signature schemes based on multivariable polynomials. In this paper, we suggest a new signature scheme, which is a generalization of the Oil-Vinegar construction to improve the efficiency of the unbalanced Oil and Vinegar signature scheme. The basic idea can be described as a construction of multi-layer Oil-Vinegar construction and its generalization. We call our system a Rainbow signature scheme. We propose and implement a practical scheme, which works better than Sflash$^{v_2}$, in particular, in terms of signature generating time.
The Nonlinear Dynamics of Filaments

The Kirchhoff equations provide a well-established framework tostudy the statics and dynamics of thin elastic filaments. The study ofstatic solutions to these equations has a long history and provides thebasis for many investigations, both past and present, of theconfigurations taken by filaments subject to various external forces andboundary conditions. Here we review recently developed techniquesinvolving linear and nonlinear analyses that enable one to study, insome detail, the actual dynamics of filament instabilities and thelocalized structures that can ensue. By introducing a novel arc-lengthpreserving perturbation scheme a linear stability analysis can beperformed which, in turn, leads to dispersion relations that provide theselection mechanism for the shape of an unstable filament. Thesedispersion relations provide the starting point for nonlinear analysisand the derivation of new amplitude equations which describe thefilament dynamics above the instability threshold. Here we will mainlybe concerned with the analysis of rods of circular cross-sections andsurvey the behavior of rings, rods, helices and show how these resultslead to a complete dynamical description of filament buckling.
Environmental leadership development

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to provide a basis for comparing the interactions between the level of environmental support for leadership development and individual leadership characteristics in determining leadership selection and effectiveness within organizations.Design/methodology/approach – A contextual model of leader selection and effectiveness examining the interactions between the level of environmental support and individual leadership characteristics to predict specific research propositions based on organizational needs is presented. The paper first provides an overview of leadership selection and effectiveness research and then illustrates a contextual model of leadership selection and effectiveness. The model design is based on a four‐quadrant structure with two propositions being suggested for each quadrant. Findings – Describes the context and proposed outcome of each respective quadrant for identifying and selecting potential leadership talent within an organization. The model ...
Situated Knowledge: Feminist and Science and Technology Studies Perspectives

In this article, the feminist and science and technology studies roots of situated epistemology are discussed. The idea of combining a commitment to a real world, albeit a constructivist one, with attention to practice and embodiment is assessed. The controversial conferral of agency on nonhuman objects is similarly explicated. Finally, uptake and critique of the notion of situated knowledges is addressed.
Inmunización de los caprinos contra la brucelosis (sumario de los experimentos concernientes al aislamiento, las propiedades y el comportamiento de un tipo de vacuna)

The search for untipo of brucellosis melitensis could be used as immunizing agent began with studies Montpellier group, whose work led to the implementation of a living type combined with both the Bolvin type of antigen derived from a virulent type (Lisboa, Roman, Renoux, 1939), when anacultures with virulent type (Carrere and Quatrefages, 1951).
Appropriate Measuring Instruments for Health Education Investigations

(1982). Appropriate Measuring Instruments for Health Education Investigations. Health Education: Vol. 13, Tools for Health Education Research, pp. 23-26.
Teen Parents and Child Support

Teenaged childbearing is becoming increasingly important in both the growing numbers of female-headed families and the rise in numbers of children eligible for child support. In this paper, we use a new data set from Wisconsin to estimate the participation and experience of teen parents in the child support system. Our analysis mdicates that the current child support system is not very effective in alleviating the severe economic consequences of single parenthood experienced by teen mothers. Our analysis also suggests that for the child support system to have a positive impact on the economic well-being of these families we must concentrate on long-term payoffs rather than short-term costs.
Cultivation of Marine Symbiotic Microorganisms

This chapter describes the concept of symbiosis in a broad sense. It talks about criteria and methods to demonstrate that an organism is symbiotic, and presents general strategies for the cultivation of marine symbiotic microorganisms. Symbiotic microorganisms do not fit easily into Koch’s postulates because the resulting observable fitness of the host is usually less obvious than acute disease. Cultivation of symbiotic microbes that produce medically relevant secondary metabolites might also allow the production of these metabolites by sustainable and economical fermentative technologies as opposed to collection of marine organisms from the environment. Knowledge that soil contains large amounts of humic substrates leads to increased cultivation of soil microorganisms. Addition of cAMP and acyl-homoserine lactone signaling molecules known to be present in some cells growing as colonies, improves the cultivation of marine bacteria. A first approach for the cultivation of aerobic heterotrophic marine symbionts is to use one-half strength Marine Broth 2216 supplemented with one-half strength natural or artificial sea-water, with 1.5% agar added when required. The critical factors of this approach are (i) surface sterilization and aseptic dissection and handling of symbiotic tissue to remove transient and/or opportunistic symbionts, (ii) dilution and plating to extinction to eliminate competition and or antagonism among strains, and (iii) patience and close examination for colonies and microcolonies that grow on the plates. The ability to cultivate marine symbiotic microorganisms is a great advantage for the study of the symbiotic microorganism and the natural products it might produce.
Negative affectivity as a moderator of the form and magnitude of the relationship between felt accountability and job tension

The present research examined the influence of negative affectivity (NA) on the form of the felt accountability–job tension relationship. It was hypothesized that the nonlinear relationship between felt accountability and job tension would surface only for individuals low in NA, whereas the association between these constructs would be positive and linear for individuals high in NA. Data from two studies (N = 198; N = 118) provided support for the hypothesis. These results have important implications for science and practice. Conceptually, this study contributes to the stress, accountability, and personality literatures by demonstrating that accountability can positively or negatively predict tension, and that this association is dependent upon affective disposition. Practically, managers need to be cognizant of the fact that increases in accountability are not always associated with favorable attitudes when managing employees. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Changes in regional brain acetylcholine content in rats following unilateral and bilateral brainstem lesions.

ABSTRACT Previous research (Adametz, 1959) has shown that two-step bilateral lesions of the reticular formation in cats produce minimal behavioral disruption compared to one-step bilateral lesions, which produce profound behavioral suppression. We systematically examined alterations in forebrain acetylcholine (ACh) content and neurologic tolerance to one-step and two-step bilateral and unilateral lesions of the pontomesencephalic reticular formation (PMRF) in rats. One-step and two-step bilateral lesions separated by 1 or 5 days produced irreversible bilateral motor dysfunction. Survival after lesioning was 10%, 20%, and 0%, respectively. Unilateral lesion or two-step bilateral lesions separated by 15 or 30 days produced transient (less than 3 days) contralateral motor dysfunction. Survival after lesioning was 90%, 90%, and 100%, respectively. Within 24 h after one-step bilateral lesions, ACh content was significantly decreased bilaterally in thalamus, frontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, and basal fore...
John Herschel on Faraday and on Science

SIR JOHN F. W. HERSCHEL ranks high among British men of science.His remains lie in Westminster Abbey next to those of Newton and Darwin, and near Maxwell’s memorial. His scientific achievements are outclassed by those of his neighbours, but if nobility of character and generosity of soul are to be considered he ranks with them all. The scion of a celebrated family, Herschel displayed throughout his long career an openness in sharing ideas, great or small, on many topics, with sundry applicants, making no attempt to reserve to himself any priority rights, and even heedless of whether credit accrued to his name. For example, as a pioneer in the development of photography, he freely disclosed all his discoveries to Fox Talbot, whose own behaviour on that occasion compared meanly with that of Herschel. Enthusiasm for science was his passion: personal questions were of little moment.
Ethical theory and epidemiology.

Abstract The stream of ethics questions that arise in science seems endless. These questions concern how one determines responsibilities, rights, obligations, policies, and the like. But neither a “code of ethics” nor customary practice-standards may adequately justify a moral belief. An ethical theory is sometimes necessary to make progress on our moral problems. This form of theory consists of a diverse set of ways of developing moral concepts and giving philosophical reasons that explain, augment, and criticize the rules of social morality. Moral theory provides a basis for moral reasoning about problems; this reasoning is analogous to legal reasoning, where one appears before a court with a well reasoned case in defense of one's conduct. Moral theory is no panacea for our contemporary moral concerns, but it is valuable ally in the attempt to resolve them.
Modal frequencies of vertical-cavity lasers determined by an effective-index model

Previously, an effective index optical model was introduced for the analysis of lateral waveguiding effects in vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers. The authors show that the resultant transverse equation is almost identical to the one typically obtained in the analysis of dielectric waveguide problems, such as a step-index optical fiber. The solution to the transverse equation yields the lateral dependence of the optical field and, as is recognized in this paper, the discrete frequencies of the microcavity modes. As an example, they apply this technique to the analysis of vertical-cavity lasers that contain thin-oxide apertures. The model intuitively explains the experimental data and makes quantitative predictions in good agreement with a highly accurate numerical model.
Arrhythmias in structural heart disease

The presence of structural heart disease is often associated with the development of electrical abnormalities of the heart, manifesting as atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. These can occur in those with ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathies, congenital heart disease, and various acquired and intrinsic structural abnormalities of the myocardium. Treatment of these arrhythmias generally involves treatment of the underlying disorder first, if possible, such as with surgical or catheter-based intervention. Other therapies, including medical therapy with beta-blockers and anti-arrhythmic agents, pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), and ablation may be offered both as prophylactic therapy or if arrhythmias have developed. In some instances, therapy is undertaken regardless of whether there are symptoms. ICDs provide support for those patients at risk for malignant, life-threatening arrhythmias, but appropriate patient and device selection are vital to improve mortality and to limit adverse events.
The role of internal H-bonding in the conformational preferences of some molecules of the formula CH3CHYCH2X

Abstract The conformational energies of 1-amino-2-propanol, 2-amino-1-propanol and 1,2-diaminopropane are studied using ab initio molecular orbital theory employing minimal (STO-3G) and extended (4-31G) basis sets. Calculations at both levels of theory generally favor conformations stabilized by internal H-bonding for all molecules considered. Results are first presented for conformations employing assumed geometries. Since the conformational energy differences as found by the initial set of calculations are in some cases rather small it then becomes necessary to introduce geometry optimizations into the study at the minimal STO-3G level. In addition, to get a better estimate of the energy differences of the various conformations 4-31G calculations are performed on the STO-3G optimized structures. These latter results indicate the following, (a) For 1-amino-2-propanol only one conformation that is stabilized by intramolecular H-bonding is low in energy; this has the methyl and amino groups anti . The other H-bonded conformer, where the methyl and amino groups are gauche , is predicted to be ca. 1.2 kcal mol −1 less stable. Similar findings for this molecule have recently been provided by micro-wave spectroscopy. (b) For 2-amino-1-propanol the two H-bonded conformers are only separated by about 0.5 kcal mol −1 , with the anti conformer being more stable. Micro-wave spectroscopy again supports these calculations. (c) For 1,2-diaminopropane the gauche conformer is predicted to be of rather high energy (ca. 2.5 kcal mol −1 ) compared to the corresponding anti H-bonded conformer. The value of 2.5 kcal mol −1 should be taken as an upper limit, since the geometry optimization of the gauche conformer of 1,2-diaminopropane is incomplete compared to the optimization carried out for the anti conformer.
Task constraints on preschool children's grip configurations during drawing

Traditional accounts of motor development have described the development of grip configurations in terms of a global maturational change from immature to mature grips. We present data that demonstrate that the grip configurations of preschool-aged children are greatly influenced by task demands and are more variable than previous research has suggested. Grip configurations were most variable during free drawing. Three- to 4-year-olds with highly variable grips produced poorer quality drawings in a shape copying task than children with relatively stable grips. It is argued that the study of the development of drawing skills may best be captured by an approach which emphasizes the role of task requirements and various external and internal constraints which shape variability in grip configurations. ©2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 49: 216–225, 2007.
Probing zeolites with organic molecules: supercages of X and Y zeolites are superpolar

Supercages of Li+- and Na+-exchanged X and Y zeolites are much more polar than even water. The extent of polarity depends on the nature and the number of cations present within a supercage. The polarity of Li+- and Na+-exchanged X and Y zeolites decreases in the presence of water. In presence of water the contribution of cations toward polarity is much smaller than water itself. In this study polarity has been monitored with organic probe molecules, Nile red, pyrene 1-carboxaldehyde and coumarin-500. A connection between “polarity” and “electric field” within a cage has also been established. Since the supercages are much more polar than all organic solvents, they can be characterized as “superpolar”. Because of this one may be able to achieve excited-state switching of carbonyl compounds within a zeolite while such may not be possible in organic solvents. The nπ*−ππ* state switching of acetophenones is easily achieved within a zeolite while such does not occur in polar solvent methanol−ethanol mixture.
Selective separation of tin from a chloride leach solution

Abstract The extraction of tin from a given chloride leaching solution containing silver, copper, antimony, arsenic, tin, iron and lead has been investigated using TBP as extractant. The optimum extraction conditions for the separation of tin are as follows: 25% TBP-10% 1-decanol-65% kerosene by volume. Utilizing four stages of stripping with HCl as stripping agent, more than 80% recovery of tin can be achieved.
Outside Academia: Bernal's Critique of Black Champions of Ancient Egypt

Some of my bretheren do not know who Pharaoh and the Egyptians were I know it to be a fact, that some of them take the Egyptians to have been a gang of devils, not knowing any better, and that they (Egyptians) having got possession of the Lord's people treated them nearly as cruel as ChristianAmericans do us, at the present day. For the information of such, I would only mention that the Egyptians were Africans or coloured people, such as we are some of them yellow and others dark a mixture of Ethiopians and the natives of Egypt about the same as you see the coloured people of the United States at the present day. (Walker, 1972, p. 47)
Neuromuscular synaptic transmission in Limulus polyphemus—I. Actions of aspartate, glutamate and the natural transmitter

Abstract 1. Aspartate and glutamate were examined as excitatory transmitter candidates for the tibia flexor muscle of the chelicerate arthropod, Limulus polyphemus . 2. Bath application of aspartate or glutamate caused dose-dependent depolarizations of Limulus muscle fibers and contractions of the whole muscle. Glutamate was about 10 times more potent than aspartate. Aspartate and glutamate depolarizations were associated with a conductance increase in muscle fibers, although aspartate depolarizations were dependent on external sodium, while glutamate depolarizations persisted in the absence of sodium. 3. Although the Limulus excitatory postsynaptic potential (epsp) was associated with a conductance increase the ionic basis of the epsp could not be determined. If, however, the Limulus epsp, like other arthropod epsps, is sodium-dependent then the sodium-dependence of the aspartate depolarization is consistent with the action of the natural excitatory transmitter. The sodium-independence of glutamate action, however, is not consistent with generally accepted models of arthropod neuromuscular transmitter action. 4. The rank order of potency for amino acid agonists indicates that the Limulus neuromuscular junction is pharmacologically very similar to other arthropod junctions which are well-accepted to be glutamatergic. Pentobarbital reversibly attenuated the amplitudes of the epsp and aspartate and glutamate depolarizations, and it was found to be the only useful antagonist in Limulus .
Relationship of Uric Acid With Progression of Kidney Disease

Background Uric acid levels are increased in patients with kidney dysfunction. We tested the hypothesis that uric acid may be associated with kidney disease progression. Study Design Cohort study. Setting & Participants 5,808 participants of the Cardiovascular Health Study. Predictor Uric acid levels. Outcomes & Measurements Kidney disease progression was defined as a decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 3 mL/min/1.73 m 2 per year or greater (≥0.05 mL/s) and as incident chronic kidney disease (CKD). Measures of kidney function were estimated GFR using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study equation. Results Higher quintiles of uric acid levels were associated with greater prevalences of estimated GFR less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ( 6.90 mg/dL [>410 μmol/L]), respectively. In comparison, there was only a modest, but significant, association between quintiles of uric acid levels and progression of kidney function decrease, with adjusted odds ratios of 1.0, 0.88 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.64 to 1.21), 1.23 (95% CI, 0.87 to 1.75), 1.47 (95% CI, 1.04 to 2.07), and 1.49 (95% CI, 1.00 to 2.22) for quintiles 1 through 5, respectively. No significant association was found between uric acid level and incident CKD (adjusted odds ratio, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.89 to 1.14). Limitations Measurements of albuminuria were not available. Conclusions Uric acid levels are associated strongly with prevalent CKD. In comparison, greater uric acid levels had a significant, but much weaker, association with progression of kidney disease.
e-Neuroscience: challenges and triumphs in integrating distributed data from molecules to brains

Imaging, from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to localization of specific macromolecules by microscopies, has been one of the driving forces behind neuroinformatics efforts of the past decade. Many web-accessible resources have been created, ranging from simple data collections to highly structured databases. Although many challenges remain in adapting neuroscience to the new electronic forum envisioned by neuroinformatics proponents, these efforts have succeeded in formalizing the requirements for effective data sharing and data integration across multiple sources. In this perspective, we discuss the importance of spatial systems and ontologies for proper modeling of neuroscience data and their use in a large-scale data integration effort, the Biomedical Informatics Research Network (BIRN).
An Overabundance of Long Oligopurine Tracts Occurs in the Genome of Simple and Complex Eukaryotes

A search of sequence information in the GenBank files shows that tracts of 15-30 contiguous purines are greatly overrepresented in all eukaryotic species examined, ranging from yeast to human. Such an overabundance does not occur in prokaryotic sequences. The large increase in the number of oligopurine tracts cannot be explained as a simple consequence of base composition, nearest-neighbor frequencies, or the occurrence of an overabundance of oligoadenosine tracts. Oligopurine sequences have previously been shown to be versatile structural elements in DNA, capable of occuring in several alternate conformations. Thus the bias toward long oligopurine tracts in eukaryotic DNA may reflect the usefulness of these structurally versatile sequences in cell function.
Analysis of tissue factor expression in various cell model systems: cryptic vs. active.

Summary Background Tissue factor (TF) encryption plays an important role in regulating TF coagulant activity. Potential differences in experimental cell model systems and strategies hampered our understanding of the TF encryption mechanisms. Objective To characterize the procoagulant activity status of TF in different cell types, and to determine whether increased TF procoagulant activity following the activation stems from transformation of the cryptic TF to the active form. Methods Simultaneous kinetic analyses of TF-FVIIa activation of FX and FVIIa binding to cell surface TF were performed under identical experimental conditions in fibroblast (WI-38), cancer cell (MDA-231), endothelial cell (HUVEC) and monocytic cell (THP-1) model systems. These data were then utilized to estimate TF coagulant-specific activity and percentages of active and cryptic TF present in these cell types. Results MDA-231 and WI-38 cells express 10 to 100 times more TF on their cell surfaces compared with perturbed HUVEC and THP-1 cells. TF-specific activity on cell surfaces of MDA-231, WI-38 and THP-1 cells was very similar. Nearly 80–90% of the TF in MDA-231, WI-38 and THP-1 cells was cryptic. A plasma concentration of FVII would be sufficient to bind both active and cryptic TF on cell surfaces. Increased TF activity following cell activation stems from decryption of cryptic TF rather than increasing the coagulant activity of the active TF. Conclusions Our data demonstrate that TF encryption is not limited to a specific cell type, and unlike previously thought, the majority of the TF expressed in cancer cells is not constitutively procoagulant.
The Structured Interview for Renal Transplantation—SIRT

Despite the fact that the demand for psychiatric evaluations of organ transplant recipients is increasing, there is not a commonly agreed upon protocol that can guide clinicians. A standard psychiatric interview, although necessary, is not sufficient when interviewing transplant candidates. In addition, it is important to acquire information specific to the medical regimen associated with renal disease and renal transplantation. The purpose of this paper is to present the Structured Interview for Renal Transplantation (SIRT). The SIRT was developed as a tool to guide clinicians through the interview process by providing a comprehensive structure while still allowing for flexibility. There are many advantages of using the SIRT—it is a tool that facilitates a clinician's ability to conduct a thorough evaluation in a time-efficient manner. It is also an excellent instrument for training clinicians, and the structure of the interview is appropriate for use in research.
Divergent Effects of Obesity on Bone Health

Historically, obesity was thought to be advantageous for maintaining healthy bones due to the greater bone mineral density observed in overweight individuals. However, recent observations of increased fracture in some obese individuals have led to concern that common metabolic complications of obesity, such as type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, and inflammation may be associated with poor bone health. In support of this hypothesis, greater visceral fat, a hallmark of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, is associated with lower bone mineral density. Research is needed to determine if and how visceral fat and/or poor metabolic health are causally associated with bone health. Clinicians should consider adding a marker metabolic health, such as waist circumference or fasting plasma glucose concentration, to other known risk factors for osteoporosis and fracture.
Long-Term Behaviors of Oxide Layer in Liquid Lead–Bismuth Eutectic (LBE), Part I: Model Development and Validation

For all LBE-cooled systems, the oxygen control technology must be applied for inhibiting corrosion by the liquid metal through formation of protective oxide layers on the structural material surface. The present study focuses on the stability of the protective layer in long-term operations subjected to LBE corrosion. This article, focusing on the modeling development and validation, is the first part of the systematic study. A chemical corrosion model, taking into account the oxide layer removal mechanisms by LBE, is developed. The model is partially validated by available long-term and short-term experimental measurements.
Sulfate in modern playa settings and in ash beds in hyperarid deserts: implication for the origin of 17O-anomalous sulfate in an Oligocene ash bed

Abstract A large amount of calcite pseudomorphs after gypsum were discovered in a volcanic ash bed and its underlying sand/siltstone in the Gering Formation (late Oligocene), northwestern NE, USA. The highly positive 17O anomalies in the residual sulfate indicate that the sulfate could only have come from the oxidation of sulfur gases by ozone in the atmosphere. We previously proposed that it was most likely the result of an extreme tropospheric sulfate haze (dry fog) event that was associated with volcanic eruptions in the west. To test the dry fog hypothesis, we examine here two alternative scenarios that also involve atmospheric sulfate deposition but do not imply a dramatic volcanic and dry fog source: (1) is it possible that some playas in arid or semiarid regions accumulate the type of atmospheric sulfate deposits as we see in the mid-Gering bed by the inflow of surface water or groundwater? (2) Could a period of hyperaridity and stability during the late Oligocene have caused a significant accumulation of atmospheric background sulfate onto the mid-Gering ash bed surface? Sulfates from a variety of playa settings were collected and measured for their 17O anomalies. The sulfate isotope (both O and S) and concentration profiles of two volcanic ash beds that are currently exposed in the central Atacama Desert (Chile) and in Taylor Valley of the Antarctica Dry Valleys were studied along with their sedimentary features. These two ash beds were chosen for comparison because of their significant levels of atmospheric sulfate accumulated during prolonged and hyperarid climatic conditions. Results showed no or minimal 17O anomalies in any of the playa sulfate samples from around the world, and none of the parameters in the mid-Gering ash profile matches those in either of the two volcanic ash profiles in modern hyperarid settings. Conclusion The observed 17O-anomalous gypsum deposit in the mid-Gering ash bed is most likely the result of a series of extreme dry fogs that resulted in an intense pulse of atmospheric sulfate deposition to a semiarid playa setting.
Project salt vault: Design of equipment

Abstract Handling, transfer and storage techniques applicable to high-level solid waste disposal operations have been successfully demonstrated with short-cooled ETR fuel assemblies. The design of equipment for the encapsulation of the fuel assemblies, cross-country shipment, transfer from the surface to the mine level, movement within the mine, and transfer into storage are described. The operations are unique in that high-level radioactive materials are transferred from a shipping cask on the surface to the mine level 1000 ft below without the use of hot cells.
Abstract A30: ERG protein expression and genomic rearrangement status in primary and metastatic prostate cancer a comparative study of two monoclonal antibodies.

Abstract Introduction and Objective: Overexpression of the ERG protein is highly prevalent in prostate cancer (PCa) and most commonly results from gene fusions involving the ERG gene. Recently, an N-terminal epitope targeted mouse and a C-terminal epitope targeted rabbit monoclonal anti-ERG antibody have been introduced for the detection of the ERG protein. Independent studies reported that immunohistochemical (IHC) stains with both monoclonal anti-ERG antibodies (ERG-MAbs) highly correlate with the underlying ERG gene rearrangement status. However, a comparative study of both antibodies has not been provided so far. Here, we are the first to compare the mouse ERG-MAb to the rabbit ERG-MAb for their concordance on the same PCa cohort. Furthermore, we assessed if the ERG protein expression is conserved in lymph node and distant PCa metastases, of which a subset underwent decalcification. Methods: We evaluated tissue microarrays of 278 specimens containing 265 localized PCa, 29 lymph node, 30 distant metastases, and 13 normal prostatic tissues. We correlated the ERG protein expression with the ERG rearrangement status using an ERG break-apart fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) assay and IHC of both ERG antibodies. Results: ERG protein expression and ERG rearrangement status were highly concordant regardless of whether the mouse or rabbit ERG-MAb was used (97.8% versus 98.6%, respectively). Of interest, both ERG antibodies reliably detected the ERG expression in lymph node and distant PCa metastases, of which a subset underwent decalcification. If an ERG protein expression was present in localized PCa, we observed the same pattern in the corresponding lymph node metastases. Conclusions: This is the first study to comprehensively compare the two available ERG-MAbs. By demonstrating a broad applicability of IHC to study ERG protein expression using either antibody, this study adds an important step towards a facilitated routine clinical application. Further, we demonstrate that the clonal nature of the ERG rearrangement is not restricted to the genomic level, but proceeds in the proteome. Together, our results simplify future efforts to further elucidate the biological role of ERG in PCa. Citation Format: Taduru Sreenath, Falko Fend, Nicolas Wernert, Glen Kristiansen, Sven Perner, Shyh-Han Tan, Sr., Martin Braun, Diane Goltz, Zaki Shaikibrahim, Wenzel Vogel, Diana Boehm, Veit Scheble, Albert Dobi. ERG protein expression and genomic rearrangement status in primary and metastatic prostate cancer a comparative study of two monoclonal antibodies [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Prostate Cancer Research; 2012 Feb 6-9; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(4 Suppl):Abstract nr A30.
A comparison of signaled vs. unsignaled free-operant avoidance in Mongolian gerbils and domesticated rats

The performance of gerbils, hooded rats, and albino rats was compared under signaled and unsignaled free-operant leverpress avoidance. Within-groups comparisons revealed that asymptotic shock rates did not differ for either domestic rat strain between signaled and unsignaled conditions; gerbils received significantly fewer shocks when the signal was present. Between-groups comparisons showed that gerbils received fewer shocks than either rat strain under the signaled condition and fewer shocks than the hooded rats under the unsignaled condition. All groups had substantially lower response rates when the signal was present. In addition, all groups made many more responses, proportionally, during the period preceding shock when the signal was present than when it was absent. An explanation of these findings is proposed that emphasizes differences in selective processes that operate upon wild stocks in comparison to domesticated species.
Assessing the potential of luminescence dating for fault slip rate studies on the Garlock fault, Mojave Desert, California, USA

Abstract Although there has been significant advancement of OSL (optically stimulated luminescence) dating of quartz and feldspar over the past decade, the luminescence characteristics of quartz grains in many tectonically active areas are not suitable for accurate age determinations using this technique. This study investigates the reasons for this unsuitability and tests a new measurement protocol (ITL), which appears more promising. At two sites along the central Garlock fault in the Mojave Desert, California, USA, samples collected for OSL dating for this study have proven problematic. At the El Paso Peaks (EPP) trench site, a sequence of OSL samples was collected from sandy units with a well-established radiocarbon chronology, providing the opportunity to assess different approaches and optimize our luminescence dating procedures. At Christmas Canyon West (CCW), where future Garlock fault slip rate studies will be conducted using luminescence dating, samples were collected to assess the luminescence characteristics of both quartz and feldspar in this environment. At both sites, signals from quartz and K-feldspar grains are consistently dim. At EPP, quartz results provide age underestimates, while K-feldspar IRSL yields erratic values; the causes of this problematic behavior are unclear. Preliminary minimum isothermal thermoluminescence (ITL) signals of K-feldspar measured during preheating appear to be consistent with the radiocarbon age estimates, demonstrating potential for accurate age determination in this kind of environment using this protocol.