cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determinants of Function and Substrate Specificity in Human UDP-galactose 4′-Epimerase

UDP-galactose 4-epimerase (GALE) interconverts UDP-galactose and UDP-glucose in the final step of the Leloir pathway. Unlike the Escherichia coli enzyme, human GALE (hGALE) also efficiently interconverts a larger pair of substrates: UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine and UDP-N-acetylglucosamine. The basis of this differential substrate specificity has remained obscure. Recently, however, x-ray crystallographic data have both predicted essential active site residues and suggested that differential active site cleft volume may be a key factor in determining GALE substrate selectivity. We report here a direct test of this hypothesis. In brief, we have created four substituted alleles: S132A, Y157F, S132A/Y157F, and C307Y-hGALE. While the first three substitutions were predicted to disrupt catalytic activity, the fourth was predicted to reduce active site cleft volume, thereby limiting entry or rotation of the larger but not the smaller substrate. All four alleles were expressed in a null-background strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and characterized in terms of activity with regard to both UDP-galactose and UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine. The S132A/Y157F and C307Y-hGALE proteins were also overexpressed in Pichia pastoris and purified for analysis. In all forms tested, the Y157F, S132A, and Y157F/S132A-hGALE proteins each demonstrated a complete loss of activity with respect to both substrates. In contrast, the C307Y-hGALE demonstrated normal activity with respect to UDP-galactose but complete loss of activity with respect to UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine. Together, these results serve to validate the wild-type hGALE crystal structure and fully support the hypothesis that residue 307 acts as a gatekeeper mediating substrate access to the hGALE active site.
Stochastic inflation and superstring models

Stochastic processes are capable of producing an inflationary epoch using potentials which typically do not inflate (e.g., potentials with large positive-mass terms). We consider a simple model which in the context of no-scale supergravity inflates but in the context of superstring theory does not. Stochastic processes again allow for the possibility of inflation provided initial scalar-field fluctuations are large enough.
ON THE BIOLOGY AND ZOOGEOGRAPHY OF AUSTRALIAN LYGAEIDAE (HEMIPTERA: HETEROPTERA) WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE SOUTHWEST FAUNA*

Bassian, Eyrean, relict, and recent Oriental elements of the lygaeid fauna of southwest Western Australia are discussed. Host plant relationships of Lygaeidae of this area are summarised. An account is given of wing polymorphism in Australian lygaeids, and a classification of the major types of fore wings is proposed.
The Collective Household, Household Production and Efficiency of Marginal Reforms

Most research on the welfare properties of taxes employs the unitary model of the household, ignoring household production. A simple model provides expressions for the changes in individual utility given marginal reforms to government policy. It is shown that the burden of a higher tax on household goods falls on the household member that consumes more than they produce or purchase. Numerical calculations show that price substitution (complementarity) between home and market labor increases (decreases) aggregate efficiency costs of a marginal redistribution of income without impacting the intra-household distribution of utility changes. Modeling household goods as public versus private can alter the distributional consequences of marginal reforms.
Post-infarction myocardial remodelling: Why does it happen?

Myocardial remodelling is currently the subject of intense investigative interest. The question ‘Why does it happen?’ is not clearly answerable by today's methods; however, the work of many basic scientists and clinicians has allowed an improved understanding of the process. Multiple mechanisms are probably operative in the cardiac remodelling process, including cell drop-out, myocyte slippage, collagen replacement and growth, and myocyte hypertrophy. The concept of heart failure as primarily a structuraiproblem rather than the result of a specific biochemical ‘defect’ is advanced There is now direct evidence that cardiac myocytes are enlarged in both experimental and clinical left ventricular remodelling. Possible signal processing cascades are potential pathways to myocyte remodelling. Although not proven, the enlarged and elongated cardiac myocyte may be at a structural disadvantage, thus contributing functionally to the clinical syndrome of heart failure. Reversal of established cardiomegaly - regression of myocardial remodelling - is an unusual but occasional event in patients with cardiomyopathy that can be observed experimentally.
Performance optimization of the Gasdynamic mirror propulsion system

Nuclear fusion appears to be a most promising concept for producing extremely high specific impulse rocket engines. Engines such as these would effectively open up the solar system to human exploration and would virtually eliminate launch window restrictions. A preliminary vehicle sizing and mission study was performed based on the conceptual design of a Gasdynamic Mirror (GDM) fusion propulsion system. This study indicated that the potential specific impulse for this engine is approximately 142,000 sec. with about 22,100 N of thrust using a deuterium-tritium fuel cycle. The engine weight inclusive of the power conversion system was optimized around an allowable engine mass of 1500 Mg assuming advanced superconducting magnets and a Field Reversed Configuration (FRC) end plug at the mirrors. The vehicle habitat, lander, and structural weights are based on a NASA Mars mission study which assumes the use of nuclear thermal propulsion' Several manned missions to various planets were analyzed to determine fuel requirements and launch windows. For all fusion propulsion cases studied, the fuel weight remained a minor component of the total system weight regardless of when the missions commenced. In other words, the use of fusion propulsion virtually eliminates all mission window constraints and effectively allows unlimited manned exploration of the entire solar system. It also mitigates the need to have a large space infrastructure which would be required to support the transfer of massive amounts of fuel and supplies to lower a performing spacecraft.
Shear Properties of Human Brain Tissue

The objective of this study was to determine a relationship between shear stress and strain for human brain tissue by performing transient, single-pulse, high-rate, shear displacement tests. A constant velocity, parallel plate shear test device was designed and fabricated. This equipment generated constant rate shear strains in cylindrical tissue samples mounted between the shear plates. The transverse reaction force at the upper end of the sample was measured during the event with a sensitive quartz piezoelectric force transducer, thus obtaining the force associated with the displacement versus time ramp. Shear tests were performed on 125 tissue samples taken from twelve fresh cadaver brain specimens. The average true shear stress and finite strain were calculated. A nonlinear, viscoelastic, standard solid model was fit to the constant rate test data and the material constants were determined.
State-Level Differences in Volunteerism in the United States: Research Based on Demographic, Institutional, and Cultural Macrolevel Theories

The volunteer rate in the United States varies from a high of 44% in Utah to a low of 18% in a bordering state, Nevada. Hierarchical nonlinear modeling techniques are used to test various theories ...
Otavaleños and Cotacacheños: Local Perceptions of Sacred Sites for Farmscape Conservation in Highland Ecuador

Indigenous communities around the world face pressures from ecotourism practices and conservation. Otavalo, Ecuador, is an example of how local spiritual values can add to the conservation efforts of ecotourism. The Imbakucha watershed includes mountain landscapes with natural and cultural values of numerous indigenous communities where most residents associate their livelihood with iconic, sacred, natural features. Because this region has been conserved with a vibrant artisan economy, it is a well-known cultural landscape in Latin America, and therefore, the increased pressure of globalization affects its preservation as it undergoes a shift from traditional towards contemporary ecotourism practices. We investigate the relationship between the indigenous people and their intangible spiritual environment by local understanding of identity and cultural values, using ethnographic and qualitative research to analyze the influence of spirituality on environmental actions and intersections that reify the native sacred translated into Christianity, to define synchronisms of modernity and the ancestral influence on the Andean culture in the Kichwa Otavalo living in the valley. This study concludes that there is an outlook among indigenous leaders, politicians, researchers, and scholars that a stronger influence of environmental ideals and ecofriendly lifestyles should and can be instilled into the livelihood that exists in indigenous communities to favor sacred sites conservation with development. We recommend the implementation of a sacred site conservation category for the Imbakucha watershed to help with the conservation efforts of local indigenous ecotourism practices.
Shape-invariant Object Detection With LargeScale Changes

This paper reports extensions to an innovative object detection and pose estimation method for non-analytic shapes, potentially useful to machine or robotic vision systems. Recently we demonstrated a shape-invariant recognition technique based upon the generalized Hough transform that is invariant to large planar changes in object position and rotation, as well as small changes in scale. The method works even for cases where objects are moderately occluded. It is of comparatively low complexity (O(n 2 )), where n is the edge length in pixels. The original technique has now been extended to detect and report large scale changes and multiple instances of the transformed prototype. Preliminary results have been obtained and are demonstrated. These improvements do not increase the original time complexity. Hallmarks of the original technique include the following. A two-stage process first hypothesizes target locations. The second stage (visual confirmation) reports estimated pose (position and orientation) with respect to a prototype model. The calculation of rotationally invariant R-table indices use “polar” edge pixel pairs—pair pixels found on a line normal to an object’s edge. To incorporate the detection of moderate scale changes, distances between all valid edgel polar pairs in the image are acquired. Each distance is compared to a corresponding distance in the prototype, and stored as evidence of a scale change. For each target instance, a modal aver-age is the reported scale. Multiple targets are found by adaptively setting a threshold in Hough parameter space. This threshold responds to an inference about object perimeter size, i.e., an edge pixel count.
Error on Appeal: Waiver of Right, Invited Error, Rebuttal, and 'Door Opening'

This article contains a thorough discussion of when an alleged error will not be considered on appeal because of conduct of the party asserting error at the trial level be it waiver, be it failure to assert, invited error, or door opening.
Investigational Agents for the Treatment of Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections: A Reality Check

Antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria are, arguably, the most difficult organisms to treat, with a limited number of new antibiotics in the development pipeline. Currently 24 new agents in phase 1, phase 2, or phase 3 clinical development were identified for the potential treatment of infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria. Of these agents, most are improved iterations of known antibiotic classes, including new aminoglycosides, β-lactams, β-lactamase inhibitors, quinolones, and tetracyclines with greater potency or a broader spectrum of activity. However, novel structures also appear, with host defense peptide mimetics, boronic acid, and bridged diazabicyclooctane β-lactamase inhibitors and unique bacterial topoisomerase inhibitors. Most of the new agents have received a Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) designation that may help to accelerate FDA drug approvals. Because resistance will inevitably arise to any antibacterial agent, it will be necessary to continue to identify additiona...
Treating Time with All Due Seriousness

In this article, we highlight three points. First, we counter Grant and Lebo's claim that the error correction model (ECM) cannot be applied to stationary data. We maintain that when data are properly stationary, the ECM is an entirely appropriate model. We clarify that for a model to be properly stationary, it must be balanced. Second, we contend that while fractional integration techniques can be useful, they also have important weaknesses, especially when applied to many time series typical in political science. We also highlight two related but often ignored complications in time series: low power and overfitting. We argue that the statistical tests used in time-series analyses have little power to detect differences in many of the sample sizes typical in political science. Moreover, given the small sample sizes, many analysts overfit their time-series models. Overfitting occurs when a statical model describes random error or noise instead of the underlying relationship. We argue that the results in the Grant and Lebo replications could easily be a function of overfitting.
Changes in the Income Distribution in Agriculture

THE purpose of this paper is to examine available information on the distribution of income in U.S. agriculture and changes in this distribution over time. Two important questions arise immediately: (1) Given the extreme heterogeneity of the population associated with agriculture, what are the relevant subgroups that should be studied? (2) What income concept should be employed? The answer to each of these questions for purposes of this study was dictated almost entirely by data availability. Current Population Survey (CPS) data published by the Bureau of the Census are used extensively to examine the distribution of income within the group designated farmer and farm-manager families. Comparisons are made with the group designated farm-laborer and foreman families and also with the residence group identified as rural farm families. The report on the matching of data in the 1960 Sample Survey of Agriculture and the 1960 Censuses of Population and Housing is a second source of information for which comparisons are made. These data relate to farm-operator families. In this paper, then, four subgroups of the population associated with agriculture are discussed. Two of these groups are mutually exclusive: the farmer and farm-manager group and the farm-laborer and foreman group. The third group, rural farm families, is composed of most members of the farmer-and-farm-manager group, a large part of the farm-laborer-andforeman group and in addition a group of part-time farmers whose primary occupation is something other than farming. The fourth group, farm-operator families, is substantially the same as rural farm families, particularly since 1959. However, there are important differences so that these groups cannot be regarded as identical. Throughout this paper the income concept used is total family money income. Total money income includes wages and salaries, net self-employment income, and income from rent, interest, social security payments, et cetera. Total family money income is simply the sum of total money income received by all members of a family.
Assessing Differences in the Availability of Opioid Addiction Therapy Options: Rural Versus Urban and American Indian Reservation Versus Nonreservation.

Background Opioid misuse is a large public health problem in the United States. Residents of rural areas and American Indian (AI) reservation/trust lands represent traditionally underserved populations with regard to substance-use disorder therapy. Purpose Assess differences in the number of opioid agonist therapy (OAT) facilities and physicians with Drug Addiction Treatment Act (DATA) waivers for rural versus urban, and AI reservation/trust land versus non-AI reservation/trust land areas in Washington State. Methods The unit of analysis was the ZIP code. The dependent variables were the number of OAT facilities and DATA-waivered physicians in a region per 10,000 residents aged 18-64 in a ZIP code. A region was defined as a ZIP code and its contiguous ZIP codes. The independent variables were binary measures of whether a ZIP code was classified as rural versus urban, or AI reservation/trust land versus non-AI reservation/trust land. Zero-inflated negative binomial regressions with robust standard errors were estimated. Results The number of OAT clinics in a region per 10,000 ZIP-code residents was significantly lower in rural versus urban areas (P = .002). This did not differ significantly between AI reservation/trust land and non-AI reservation/trust land areas (P = .79). DATA-waivered physicians in a region per 10,000 ZIP-code residents was not significantly different between rural and urban (P = .08), or AI reservation/trust land versus non-AI reservation/trust land areas (P = .21). Conclusions It appears that the potential for Washington State residents of rural and AI reservation areas to receive OAT is similar to that of residents outside of those areas; however, difficulties in accessing therapy may remain, highlighting the importance of expanding health care insurance and providing support for DATA-waivered physicians.
Kernel Approximation: From Regression to Interpolation

In this paper we introduce a new interpolation method, known as kernel interpolation (KI), for modeling the output from expensive deterministic computer experiments. We construct it by repeating a generalized version of the classic Nadaraya--Watson kernel regression an infinite number of times. Although this development is numerical, we are able to provide a statistical framework for KI using a nonstationary Gaussian process. This enables us to quantify the uncertainty in the predictions as well as estimate the unknown parameters in the model using the empirical Bayes method. Through some theoretical arguments and numerical examples, we show that KI has better prediction performance than the popular kriging method in certain situations.
Abstract LB-377: Regulation of expression of choline kinase by a conserved HIF1 binding hypoxia-responsive element

Hypoxic microenvironment and overexpression of choline kinase alpha (ChKa) have been associated with tumor malignancy, but the regulation of ChKa expression in hypoxic conditions is poorly understood. In this study, the effects of chronic hypoxia on choline metabolism and ChKa expression were examined in prostate cancer cell line, PC-3. Chronic hypoxia (1% O2, 24h) decreased proliferation rate and intracellular levels of phosphocholine, while intracellular levels of free choline were increased. Choline tracer uptake and washout studies confirmed the decreased rate of choline phosphorylation in hypoxic cells. Overexpression of HIF1a or DMOG exposure in normoxic PC-3 cells decreased both choline uptake and choline kinase activity. RT-PCR analysis showed decreased transcription of ChKa gene in hypoxic PC-3 correlating with decreased enzymatic activity of choline kinase in hypoxic cell extracts. Alignment of nucleotide sequence of the putative promoter region of ChKa from rat, mouse, chimpanzee and human revealed a highly conserved hypoxia responsive element upstream to transcription start site of ChKa. Electrophoretic mobility shift competition/supershift assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative PCR assay confirmed binding of native HIF-1α protein to the conserved HRE. To understand the transcription control of ChKa under hypoxia, a putative promoter of ChKa was isolated from PC-3 genomic DNA and cloned into a luciferase (Luc) based reporter vector system. In PC-3, hypoxia decreased the expression of Luc under the control of the ChKa promoter. Mutation of the conserved HRE and subsequent Luc reporter assays demonstrated that this HRE is involved in hypoxia/HIF1α mediated regulation of ChKa. The results suggest that the decreased choline phosphorylation in PC-3 cells in response to hypoxia is mediated in part by the newly-identified conserved HIF1α binding HRE. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-377.
Autoignition of Jet Fuels under High Pressure and Low-to-intermediate Temperatures

Autoignition characteristics of an alternative (non-petroleum) and two conventional jet fuels are investigated and compared using a heated rapid compression machine. The alternative jet fuel studied is known as “S-8”, which is produced by Syntroleum via the Fischer-Tropsch process from synthesis gas derived from natural gas. Specifically, ignition delay times for Jet-Fuel/oxidizer mixtures are measured at compressed charge pressures corresponding to 7, 15, and 30 bar, in the low-to intermediate temperature region ranging from 615 to 1100 K, and for equivalence ratios varying from 0.42 to 1.57. Further, the dependence of both the first-stage and the overall ignition delays on parameters such as pressure, temperature, and mixture composition is reported. A comparison between the autoignition responses obtained using S-8 and two petroleum-derived jet fuels, Jet-A and JP8, is also conducted, to establish an understanding of the relative reactivity of the three jet fuels. It is found that under the same operating conditions, while the three jet fuels share the common features of two-stage ignition and a NTC type trend for ignition delay over a similar temperature range, S-8 has the shortest ignition delay times, followed by Jet-A and JP-8.
Research and Applications in Operations Management: Discussion of a Paradox

The purpose of this article is to identify apparent inconsistencies between research and application in the field of Production/Operations Management. The authors focus on three key areas: Assembly...
Forecasting Emergence and Flight of the Lilac Borer (Lepidoptera: Sessiidae) Based on Pheromone Trapping and Degree-Day Accumulations

Seasonal flight of the lilac borer, Podosesia syringae (Harris), was monitored with pheromone traps during 1980–1982, and cumulative emergence was related to physiological time (i.e., degree-days [DD]). A base temperature of 10°C yielded the lowest coefficient of variation for DD summations to first catch, and was therefore selected for use in the linear heat unit system. First capture of lilac borer males in Kentucky ranged from 13 April to 6 May, and corresponded to a mean DD accumulation from 1 January of 168.9 in Lexington and 189.9 in Louisville. Flight in both cities peaked from late May to early June and ended by mid-July. Of three forecasting methods, average DD summations or projected DD requirements from a regression model were more reliable than average calendar dates for predicting optimum treatment dates in Louisville.
Research on Interoperability in Spatial Catalogue Service between CS/W and THREDDS

The interoperablility and information sharing of GIS(geographic information system) information by means of organization and communities have become more important due to the growing demands of GIS information research and application. In the past several years,interoperability gaps have generated an obstruction of cross-protocol and cross-community data access within the Earth science community. One such gap is between two protocol families developed within the geospatial and Earth science communities. Although it is need to use data from both geoscience community and OGC(open geospatial consortium) community,there is no interoperability product between OGC CS/W(catalog service for web) and THREDDS(thematic realtime environmental distributed data services) catalog system. The first problem we face is the information models heterogeneity between these two catalogue systems. This paper will focus on the effort of information model transformation. ISO profile in CS/W and their interoperability with THREDDS catalogue schema are discussed in this paper. After that,it describes the detail strategy during the process of element mapping and illustrates the resolution of the semantic structural heterogeneity and syntax heterogeneity,and it also gives the method to advance the CS/W server flexibility during the connection with many different profile CS/W clients.
Observation of effect of two clysis methods on community senile patients with obstipation

Objective To explore two clysis methods' effect on community senile patients with obstipation. Methods Sixty-one patients who were numbered registrating according to leaving hospital and registrating in community were divided into two groups. Thirty-one patients with odd numbers who were given glycerin and glucose solution at first and 30% glycerin warm water afterwards by silica gel ureter of NO.16 size were modified group. Thirty patients with even numbers who were treated with clysis of 0.1%~0.3% soap water by common anus canal were control group. Results There was significant differences in the success rate of defecation on first time (tested by χ2,P0.05) and the modified group was better than control group. Conclusion The modified clysis method involves the advantage of having enough time to let liquid soak into the hardened dejection,has an obvious effect in softening dejection,reduce the defaecation failure caused by liquid's stimulation and can be accepted by senile patients with obstipation easily.
Research of Application of Internet of Things Technology in Communication Management System

Internet of things technology as the new application form of internet technology has penetrated into various fields.This paper introduces the internet of things technology,and takes full advantage of the perceived advantages of internet of things in the network peripheral links to achieve the seamless connection between the sensor network,the terminal communication access network and the backbone network.It comprehensively improves the depth and breadth of power communication network information perception,and provides high availability supports for the intelligent power system and the integration of information flow,business flow and power flow.Based on the study of internet of things technology,this paper explores its application scenarios in the communication management system,proposes the design and implementation scheme of communication management system using the internet of things technology.
The Relationships Between PTC Injury and Renal Tubular Cell Apoptosis Induced by Complete Ureteral Obstruction

Objective To study the relationships between PTC injury and renal tubular cell apoptosis induced by complete ureteral obstruction.Methods Complete unilateral ureteral obstruction was induced in SD rats by ligation of the left ureter.PTC density and Flk-1 were immunohistochemically detected,and morphologic changes in PTC endothelial cells and renal tubular epithetial cells were examined by using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling(TUNEL) technique and electron-microscopic studies.Results In the first week of renal obstruction,deformation and dilation of adjacent Flk-1-positive PTC lumina,mild renal tubular cell apoptosis were observed.On the second week,the Flk-1 labeled PTC numbers were reduced.By the 4th week,the number of Flk-1-positive PTC lumina was significantly decreased in the areas of marked renal tubular atrophy.Conclusion Our study demonstrates that PTC injury is characterized by PTC apoptosis,and it might contribute to renal tubular cell apoptosis.
Epidemiology and pathogen distribution of hand-foot-mouth disease in Guangxi,2008-2014

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and pathogen distribution of hand-foot-mouth diseases(HFMD) in Guangxi Province from 2008 to 2014,and provide evidence for prevention and control. Methods The monitoring data of HFMD from 2008 to 2014 was analyzed with descriptive epidemiology, and the virus nucleic acid was detected by real-time fluorescence RT-PCR method. Results A total of 1 158 419 HFMD cases including 9 619 severe and 494 deaths were reported from 2008 to 2014, the incidence rate was 400.56/100 000 and the fatality rate was 0.04%.The peak of incidence rate was from April to July in each year. A majority of the cases was scattered children and preschool children aged from 0 to 3 years. The positive rates of EV71 in the mild,severe/death cases were 21.66% and 60.45% respectively, and the differences between the two groups were significant(χ~2=4 605.26,P0.001). The types of predominant viruses changed year by year, which were the other species of intestinal viruses, Cox A16, EV71, CoxA16, EV71, other species of intestinal viruses, and EV71 respectively in 2008 to 2014. There was highly correlation between severe/death cases and EV71(r=0.992,P0.001). Conclusion The epidemic situation of HFMD in Guangxi province is quite serious, scattered children and preschool children under 3 years old were at high-risk. The types of predominant virus changed year by year. The majority of severe and death cases was caused by EV71.
CHAPTER 48 – Magnesium Deficiency in Parathyroid Function

This chapter focuses on effect of magnesium (Mg) deficiency in parathyroid function. Though acute changes in the extracellular Mg concentrations influence parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion qualitatively similar to that of calcium, it is clear that Mg deficiency perturbs mineral homeostasis. Hypocalcemia is a prominent manifestation of Mg deficiency in humans. Mg deficiency must become moderate to severe before symptomatic hypocalcemia develops. A positive correlation is found between the serum Mg and calcium concentrations in hypocalcemic hypomagnesemic patients. Mg therapy alone can restore serum calcium concentrations to normal in such patients within days. Calcium and/or vitamin D therapy cannot correct the hypocalcemia. Even mild degrees of Mg depletion, however, may result in a significant decrease in the serum calcium concentration, as demonstrated in experimental human Mg depletion. It is conceivable that either PTH synthesis and/or PTH secretion may be affected, given the wide requirement of Mg for energy generation and protein synthesis. The immediate increase in PTH following the administration of intravenous magnesium to Mg deficient patients strongly suggests that the defect is in secretion, because biosynthesis of PTH is estimated to take approximately 45 minutes in vitro.
Phospholipids and Choline Deficiency

Lecithin (phosphatidylcholine; PtdCho) is the major phospholipid constituent of most membranes, and it is vital to the normal function of every cell and organ. PtdCho is synthesized from choline in all organs29,30. Much of this choline comes from the diet. PtdCho, in foods such as liver, eggs, soybeans and peanuts, is the most important source of choline in the human diet29. This dietary choline interacts with methionine and folate metabolism so that changes in the availability of choline alter biological methylation reactions. Choline is also used by tissues to make acetylcholine. This chapter will focus on PtdCho as a source of choline in the diet, and upon the biological consequences of diminished availability of choline.
William Grieder—One World, Ready or Not: The Manic Logic of Global Capitalism

(2000). William Grieder—One World, Ready or Not: The Manic Logic of Global Capitalism. Administrative Theory & Praxis: Vol. 22, No. 2, pp. 453-456.
Stem Cells and Neurogenesis for Brain Development, Degeneration and Therapy

Neural stem cells and neurogenesis are a constitutive part of brain development and homeostasis. Importantly, function of neural stem cells and neurogenesis is how a healthy brain is defined. Decline number of neural stem cells and impaired neurogenesis are observed during aging and neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, research in the past decades has generated great interest in the understanding of neural stem cells and neurogenesis. Many immunological and pharmacological therapeutic approaches are developed based on this research. In the current chapter, we introduce different types of stem cells relevant to the health and diseases of the nervous system. We discuss critical molecules and cell types involved in adult neurogenesis and how this research can be used to promote neural regeneration and repair during diseases. Additionally, we introduce an exciting new avenue of stem cell therapy based on somatic cell reprogramming strategy and discuss its potential applications in various neurological diseases.
Tarsal Navicular Fracture

Various common injuries in the foot and ankle are investigated in this section. Significant attention is paid not only to proper diagnostic examination and imaging, but also to optimal non-operative and operative treatment options to manage these conditions.
Digital LDO modeling for early design space exploration

Digital low dropout (LDO) voltage regulators have been widely used in the latest low-power circuits that involve fine-grain power management. Due to the mixture of discrete- and continuous-time operation as well as the nonlinear comparator gain, it is difficult to derive the closed-loop transfer function for a digital LDO. The use of its open-loop transfer function is also limited due to the non-constant feedback factor. Thus, it is not easy to predict digital LDO performance in the early design stage, which limits designer's capability to effectively explore the design space. This paper presents closed-form expressions for estimating critical performance parameters of digital LDO circuits, such as settling time and peak control error. The accuracy of the predictions is validated by comparing with circuit simulation results. The derived formulas can be used by designers or integrated into design automation tools.
DIRECTED BROKERAGE, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AND TRANSACTION COST ECONOMICS

This paper relies on the economics of transaction costs to assess the likely effect on investor welfare of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC's) prohibition on an innovative business practice known as directed brokerage. Its key insight is that the quality of a broker's execution of portfolio trades is difficult for a mutual fund adviser to assess until it is too late - that is, execution quality is an experience good. In the meantime, low-quality brokerage can substantially reduce investor returns. To have the incentive to provide high-quality execution, a broker must expect to receive a stream of premium portfolio commissions in excess of his execution costs, much along the lines of a Klein-Leffler quality-assuring price premium. Competition between brokers for premium commissions leads them to post a performance bond with advisers equal to the present value of the expected premium stream. With directed brokerage, the bond takes the form of up-front broker effort devoted to marketing the fund's retail shares. Once having posted the bond, any broker that provides low-quality execution will eventually be terminated by the adviser and lose the premium stream that provides a normal return on the up-front bond. Low-quality brokerage is thus screened out. Contrary to its intended effect, the SEC's prohibition on directed brokerage likely reduces investor welfare by failing to recognize the problems inherent in transacting experience goods.
Electrocatalysis of Formic Acid Oxidation

Direct liquid fuel cells for portable electronic devices are plagued by poor efficiency due to high overpotentials and accumulation of intermediates on the electrocatalyst surface. Direct formic acid fuel cells have a potential to maintain low overpotentials if the electrocatalyst is tailored to promote the direct electrooxidation pathway. Through the understanding of the structural and environmental impacts on preferential selection of the more active formic acid electrooxidation pathway, a higher performing and more stable electrocatalyst is sought. This chapter overviews the formic acid electrooxidation pathways, enhancement mechanisms, and fundamental electrochemical mechanistic studies.
Application of equal channel angular extrusion on strengthening of ferritic stainless steel

SUS430 ferritic stainless steel was subjected to equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE) at room temperature to a total strain of 2.3. It was shown that the sample processed by ECAE showed higher room temperature strength than the as-quenched sample. This is probably due to the heavily worked structure. On the other hand, annealing at 673 K and 773 K increased both strength and elongation of the ECAE processed sample. It is likely that higher strength is attributed to both the worked structure and fine substructures. It is also likely that higher elongation is attributed to the fine substractures. It is concluded that a combination of ECAE with annealing is available for improving the room temperature tensile properties of SUS430.
Study of Hα Jets on the Quiet Sun

High-speed jets of solar quiet regions have been observed at Big Bear Solar Observatory in Hα−1.0 U, and compared with high-resolution magnetograms. Over the whole Sun, the birthrate of the Hα−1.0 U jets is about 19±3 events s−1, which is much lower than the birthrate of spicules. The average lifetime of these jets is 2±1 min. Hα−1.0 U jets are very different from spicules, in the sense of birthrate, lifetime, and shape. Jets tend to recur in the same sites, always located in boundaries of supergranules. Under the best observing conditions, we found that 80% of the major jet sites are associated with converging magnetic dipoles – mainly the sites where intranetwork elements are canceling with opposite polarity network elements. In order to establish a possible relationship between the disk Hα jets and limb macrospicules, we have also obtained time sequences of Hα center-line images at the limb. These images are enhanced by median filtering so that jet structures over the limb are easily studied. We found that these limb Hα jets (above the spicule forest) repeatedly occur in the same sites, which is the property shared by the disk Hα−1.0 U jets. However, their mean lifetime is 10 min, substantially longer than that of disk jets. Comparison with simultaneous SOHO/EIT Heii 304 U images shows that every Heii 304 U jet over the limb coincides with an Hα jet, although Heii 304 U jets extend much farther out. Some Hα jets do not have associated He jets, probably due to the difference in image resolutions. Hα spectra of selected jets are analyzed, and we found that jets are not simply blue-shifted; instead, the line profiles are broadened with significantly larger broadening on the blue side. Two-component fitting finds that the velocity of the blue-shifted component (an optically-thin component) is around 20 to 40 km s−1.
Partial zona dissection or subzonal sperm insertion: microsurgical fertilization alternatives based on evaluation of sperm and embryo morphology

Objective To establish guidelines for application of partial zona dissection, subzonal sperm insertion, and regular in vitro fertilization (IVF) in severe male factor patients. Design Two studies were performed: partial zona dissection and IVF was applied in 57 couples during the first period, and subzonal sperm insertion was also applied in a second group of 47 couples. Setting Procedures were performed in an academic research environment. Patients, Participants Couples who failed fertilization previously, others not acceptable for IVF, and a third group in whom IVF was expected to fail. Interventions Oocytes were micromanipulated with either partial zona dissection or subzonal sperm insertion, or the zona pellucida was left intact. Embryos were replaced in patients prophylactically treated with methylprednisolone and antibiotics. Main Outcome Measures Because several microsurgical fertilization techniques are now available, this study was performed to compare sperm parameters, embryo morphology, fertilization, and implantation rates after application of two successful micromanipulation procedures. Results Twenty-one pregnancies were established in 104 patients, 5 definitely from subzonal sperm insertion and 4 from partial zona dissection. Patients who failed IVF before had a similar chance of pregnancy after the use of micromanipulation, as first time patients (9/53 versus 12/51). In a subgroup of 15 patients who failed IVF with insufficient numbers of motile sperm, fertilization was significantly higher after subzonal sperm insertion. Partially zona-dissected embryos from couples with severe teratozoospermia (≤5% normal forms; strict criteria) had significantly more morphological abnormalities than those from patients with moderate teratozoospermia (6% to 10% normal forms). In severely teratozoospermic patients, significantly fewer partially zona-dissected than subzonally inserted embryos implanted. Conclusions The decision of which micromanipulation method to perform can possibly be based on careful analysis of sperm morphology.
The Puzzle of Non-participatory Membership: Discussions and Conclusions

This concluding chapter explores some of the highlights of the cases, especially those that did not proceed as the formal model predicted. It contrasts, for example, Guatemala’s decision to defend itself against Mexico’s litigation threat with China’s decision to not retaliate against Jamaica’s anti-dumping duties. Both cases have power differentials, but the weaker state acts differently in both instances. The chapter also explores the role of third parties in disputes, showing how the type of country that joins the litigation can affect the outcome. It ends with a discussion on the unique contributions that the study makes to the extant literature, as well as some of its limitations. Recommendations for the dispute settlement process are also provided, as well as some ideas for future research.
Rent Control and Public Housing

Rent control is a snare and a delusion for those who think it will actually help the poor. It reduces the supply of rental housing from the level that would otherwise have obtained, and the poor get the short end of the stick whenever there is a shortage of anything. Housing is no exception to this general rule. Nor is public housing a solution to the needs of the poor. Instead, it boomerangs on this sector of the population. The free enterprise system, with neither of these policies, is the last best option for the poverty stricken.
Activity Indicator Correlations

Measurements of activity indicators including stellar X-ray and UV emission and wind flux are essential for calculating the photochemistry and hydrodynamical outflow rate in exoplanet atmospheres at the present time, and it is also important to estimate what the stellar fluxes were at earlier times and will likely become in the future. Assessing the habitability of an exoplanet requires knowledge of the host star’s emission back to the protoplanetary stage.
Solid-Liquid Interface Reconstructions Using Laser Ultrasonic Fan-Beam Projection Data

Many single crystal semiconductors are grown by variants of the Bridgman technique in which a cylindrical ampoule containing a molten semiconductor is translated through a thermal gradient, resulting in directional solidification and the growth of a single crystal. During crystal growth, the shape and location of the solid-liquid interface together with the local temperature gradient control the mechanism of solidification (i.e. planar, cellular or dendritic), the likelihood of secondary grain nucleation/twin formation (i.e. loss of single crystallinity), solute (dopant) segregation, dislocation generation, etc. and thus determine the crystals’ quality [1]. For crystals grown by the vertical Bridgman (VB) technique, optimum properties are obtained with a low (∼1–5mm/hr) constant solidification velocity and a planar or near planar (slightly convex towards liquid) interface shape maintained throughout growth [2,3]. The solidification rate and the interface shape are both sensitive functions of the internal temperature gradient (both axial and radial) during solidification, which is governed by the heat flux distribution incident upon the ampoule, the latent heat release at the interface, and heat transport (by a combination of conduction, buoyancy surface tension driven convection and radiation) within the ampoule [4,5]. The solid-liquid interface’s instantaneous location, velocity and shape during crystal growth are therefore difficult to predict and to control, especially for those semiconductor materials with low thermal conductivity (i.e. CdZnTe alloys) [6]. Thus the development of ultrasonic technologies to non-invasively sense the interface location and shape throughout VB crystal growth processes has become a key step in developing a better understanding of the growth process and for enabling eventual sensor-based manufacturing.
Influence of Sodium Salts on the Swelling and Rheology of Hydrophobically Cross-linked Hydrogels Determined by QCM-D.

Hydrophobically modified copolymers provide a versatile platform of hydrogel materials for diverse applications, but the influence of salts on the swelling and material properties of this class of ...
Lorca's “Cielo vivo,” the Other Lake Eden Poem

Section IV, “Poemas del Lago Eden Mills,” of Federico Garcia Lorca's Poeta en Nueva York contains just two poems: “Poema doble del Lago Eden” and “Cielo vivo.” This article offers a close reading o...
Microelectrode Recording in Neurosurgical Patients

Microelectrode recording (MER) is used to localize and map deep brain structures during neurosurgical procedures and has been a fruitful technique in human neuroscience research. In this chapter, we briefly review the biophysical principles of MER, discuss the use of the technique for targeting as it relates to movement disorders, and conclude with a comparison of the accuracy obtained with MER and with direct targeting with imaging.
Proceedings of the 2018 Laboratory Safety Workshop: Hazard and Risk Management in the Laboratory

Identifying hazards and assessing associated risks can be a considerable challenge for researchers in universities and colleges. Neglecting risk management is generally one of the factors leading t...
Quantitation by liquid chromatography-nanoelectrospray ionization-high resolution tandem mass spectrometry of DNA adducts derived from methyl glyoxal and carboxyethylating agents in leukocytes of smokers and non-smokers.

Abstract A liquid chromatograpy-nanoelectrospray ionization-high resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC–NSI–HRMS/MS) method was developed for quantitation of the DNA adducts 7-(2′-carboxyethyl)guanine (7-2′-CEG) and N2-(1′-carboxyethyl)guanine (N2-1′-CEG), as their methyl esters, in human leukocyte DNA from smokers and non-smokers. 7-2′-CEG has been previously identified in all human liver samples analyzed and is formed from an unknown carboxyethylating agent while N2-1′-CEG is formed from the advanced glycation endproduct methyl glyoxal. The method was applied for the analysis of these two DNA adducts in leukocyte DNA from 20 smokers and 20 non-smokers, in part to test the hypothesis that 7-2′-CEG could be formed by endogenous nitrosation, as previously observed in rats treated with nitrosodihydrouracil and nitrite. Levels of 7-2′-CEG (mean ± S.D.) were 0.6 ± 0.2 pmol/μmol dG in smokers and 0.5 ± 0.2 pmol/μmol dG in non-smokers, while those of N2-1′-CEG were 4.5 ± 1.9 pmol/μmol dG in smokers and 4.6 ± 2 pmol/μmol dG in non-smokers. These results did not support our hypothesis that endogenous nitrosation of dihydrouracil in smokers leads to higher levels of 7-2′-CEG in leukocyte DNA than in non-smokers. However the study provides the first data on levels of these DNA adducts in human leukocyte DNA, and the LC–NSI–HRMS/MS method developed for their quantitation could be important for future studies of DNA damage by methyl glyoxal.