cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Automated portable analyzer for lead(II) based on sequential flow injection and nanostructured electrochemical sensors.

Abstract A fully automated portable analyzer for toxic metal ion detection based on a combination of a nanostructured electrochemical sensor and a sequential flow injection system has been developed in this work. The sensor was fabricated from a carbon paste electrode modified with acetamide phosphonic acid self-assembled monolayer on mesoporous silica (Ac-Phos SAMMS) which was embedded in a very small wall-jet (flow-onto) electrochemical cell. The electrode is solid-state and mercury-free. Samples and reagents were injected into the system and flowed through the electrochemical cell by a user programmable sequential flow technique which required minimal volume of samples and reagents and allowed the automation of the analyzer operation. The portable analyzer was evaluated for lead (Pb) detection due to the excellent binding affinity between Pb and the functional groups of Ac-Phos SAMMS as well as the great concern for Pb toxicity. Linear calibration curve was obtained in a low concentration range (1–25 ppb of Pb(II)). The reproducibility was excellent; the percent relative standard deviation was 2.5 for seven consecutive measurements of 10 ppb of Pb(II) solution. Excess concentrations of Ca, Ni, Co, Zn, and Mn ions in the solutions did not interfere with detection of Pb, due to the specificity and the large number of the functional groups on the electrode surface. The electrode was reliable for at least 90 measurements over 5 days. This work is an important milestone in the development of the next-generation metal ion analyzers that are portable, fully automated, and remotely controllable.
From hybrid systems to universal plans via domain compilation

While universal plans tell a system how to reach a goal regardless of what state it is in, such plans can be too large to represent. Hybrid systems execute plans where each action is implemented to robustly produce effects if the world does not stray outside the action's control envelope. This paper presents a middle ground between these two extremes that uses plans, but also enables much larger control envelopes using a real-time planner that finds optimal n step plans to achieve a set of goals if one exists.
Robustness of RF MEMS capacitive switches in Harsh Environments

RF MEMS switches have evolved significantly since the early days of testing unpackaged devices in an uncontrolled environment with failure modes that could only be guessed at. Today, MEMS switch technology has effective, RF-friendly wafer-level packaging, demonstrated temperature robustness, and failure modes that can be characterized and modeled from accelerated testing. This presentation overviews the advances in packaging, reliability, and environmental robustness for RF MEMS switches made on DARPA's HERMIT program. It also includes more recent developments in novel nanostructured switch dielectrics, CMOS co-integration, intelligent CMOS control, and operation of RF MEMS in adverse thermal and radiation environments.
CAMP: A technique to estimate per-structure power at run-time using a few simple parameters

Microprocessor power has become a first-order constraint at run-time. Designers must employ aggressive power-management techniques at run-time to keep a processor's ballooning power requirements under control. Effective power management benefits from knowledge of run-time microprocessor power consumption in both the core and individual microarchitectural structures, such as caches, queues, and execution units. Increasingly feasible per-structure power-control techniques, such as fine-grain clock gating, power gating, and dynamic voltage/frequency scaling (DVFS), become more effective from run-time estimates of per-structure power. However, run-time computation of per-structure power estimates based on utilization requires daunting numbers of input statistics, which makes per-structure monitoring of run-time power a challenging problem. To address the challenges of estimating per-structure power in hardware, we propose a new technique, called Common Activity-based Model for Power (CAMP), to estimate activity factors and power for microarchitectural structures. Despite using a relatively few input parameters-specifically nine-based on general microprocessor utilization statistics (e.g., IPC and load rate), our linear-regression-based model estimates activity and dynamic power for over 100 structures in an out-of-order x86 pipeline and core power with an average error of 8%. Because the computations utilize few inputs, CAMP is simple enough to implement in hardware, providing run-time structure and core power estimates for dynamic power management. Because the input statistics are generic in nature and the model remains accurate across incremental microarchitectural refinements, CAMP provides simple intuitive equations relating global microarchitectural statistics to structure activity and power. These equations provide a simple technique that can equate changes in one structure's activity to power variations in other structures across the pipeline.
Role of diet therapy in management of hereditary metabolic diseases

Nutrition plays a vital role in maintaining physical growth and development throughout life. We bring into focus a group of rare hereditary metabolic disorders where the dietary modifications form the mainstay to disease stabilization and control. Phenylketonuria, Maple syrup urine disease, Galactosemia, Urea cycle disorders, and Glycogen storage disorders exemplify inborn errors of metabolism in which a modified diet is essential for the patient's survival and adequate mental development. In other metabolic disorders, the metabolic instability may exhibit vitamin dependency, e.g., Biotin responsive multiple carboxylase deficiency, and in such instances dietary supplements in high doses may be curative. In the last decade there has been tremendous progress in cloning of various genes, identification of their protein products, and detection of different mutations in many metabolic disorders. With improved understanding of the underlying metabolic pathways, dietary interventions may be more appropriately targeted.
Direct and Indirect Messages African American Women Receive From Their Familial Networks About Intimate Relationships and Sex: The Intersecting Influence of Race, Gender, and Class

This qualitative study examined the sexual socialization experienced by emerging adult, African American women, ages 18 to 26 years, who received services at a sexually transmitted infection clinic. Data obtained from in-depth interviews revealed that women received information about sex and relationships from three primary sources: women of the previous generation, who emphasized relationship quality, contraception and the consequences of sex; partner qualities, and role responsibilities; same-generation women, whose messages addressed relationship quality and the consequences of sex and male family members, who emphasized men’s treatment of women and sexual issues. Women described both direct and indirect (observed) messages, as well as differences and similarities in messages. The analysis focused on the content of these messages, and the influence of race, class, gender, and age in the socialization experience.
Comparison of acute and chronic secretagogue regulation of proadrenocorticotropin/endorphin synthesis, secretion, and messenger ribonucleic acid production in primary cultures of rat anterior pituitary

The acute and chronic effects of secretagogues activating cAMP-dependent pathways (CRH and cAMP) and activating cAMP-independent pathways [phenylephrine and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)] on anterior pituitary function were examined in serum-free cultures. Applied acutely, PMA produced a greater stimulation of ACTH/endorphin secretion than CRH or cAMP. However, the effects of CRH and cAMP on secretion were maintained for up to 12 days, while those of PMA and phenylephrine diminished rapidly. Secretagogue effects on pro-ACTH/endorphin biosynthesis were determined by immunoprecipitation of biosynthetically labeled β-endorphin-related peptides. Cultures exposed to CRH or cAMP and [3H]tyrosine for 12 h produced 1.7 ± 0.2- and 1.6 ± 0.1-fold more newly synthesized β-endorphin-related material than control cells. Cultures exposed to phenylephrine or PMA synthesized 1.3 ± 0.1- and 1.4 ± 0.1-fold more peptide than control cells. Exposure of cells to CRH or cAMP for 12 days increased pro-ACTH/endorphin bio...
Molecular Structure and Binding Sites of Cobalt(II) Surface Complexes on Kaolinite from X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy

X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) was used to determine the local molecular environment of Co(II) surface complexes sorbed on three different kaolinites at ambient temperature and pressure in contact with an aqueous solution. Interatomic distances and types and numbers of backscattering atoms have been derived from analysis of the extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). These data show that, at the lowest amounts of Co uptake on kaolinite (0.20--0.32 ~mol m-2), Co is surrounded by ~60 atoms at 2.04-2.08 A and a small number orAl or Si atoms (N = 0.6-1.5) at two distinct distances, 2.67-2.72 A and 3.38-3.43/~. These results indicate that Co bonds to the kaolinite surface as octahedrally coordinated, bidentate inner-sphere mononuclear complexes at low surface coverages, confirming indirect evidence from solution studies that a fraction of sorbed Co forms strongly bound complexes on kaolinite. In addition to inner-sphere complexes identified by EXAFS spectroscopy, solution studies provide evi- dence for the presence of weakly bound, outer-sphere Co complexes that cannot be detected directly by EXAFS. One orientation for inner-sphere complexes indicated by XAS is bidentate bonding of Co to oxygen atoms at two A1-O-Si edge sites or an A1-O-Si and AI-OH (inner hydroxyl) edge site, i.e., comer- sharing between Co octahedra and AI and Si potyhedra. At slightly higher surface sorption densities (0.51- 0.57/~mol m-2), the presence of a small number of second-neighbor Co atoms (average Nco < 1) at 3.10- 3.13/~ indicates the formation of oxy- or hydroxy-bridged, multinuclear surface complexes in addition to mononuclear complexes. At these surface coverages, Co-Co and Co-AI/Si distances derived from EXAFS are consistent with edge-sharing between Co and AI octahedra on either edges or (001) faces of the aluminol sheet in kaolinite. Multinuclear complexes form on kaolinite at low surface sorption densities equivalent to < 5% coverage by a monolayer of oxygen-ligated Co octahedra over the N2-BET surface area. These spectroscopic results have several implications for macroscopic modeling of metal ion uptake on kaolinite: 1) Primary binding sites on the kaolinite surface at low uptake are edge, non-bridging AI- OH inner hydroxyl sites and edge AI-O-Si bridging oxygen sites, not Si-OH sites typically assumed in sorption models; 2) specific adsorption of Co is via bidentate, inner-sphere complexation; and 3) at slightly higher uptake but still a small fraction of monolayer coverage, formation of Co multinuclear complexes, primarily edge-sharing with A1-OH octahedra, begins to dominate sorption.
Evolution in Bayesian games I: Theory

Abstract We introduce best response dynamics for settings where agents' preferences are diverse. Under these dynamics, which are defined on the space of Bayesian strategies, rest points and Bayesian equilibria are identical. We prove the existence and uniqueness of solution trajectories to these dynamics, and provide methods of analyzing the dynamics based on aggregation.
The evolutionary psychology of men's coercive sexuality

Psychological adaptation underlies all human behavior. Thus, sexual coercion by men could either arise from a rape-specific psychological adaptation or it could be a side-effect of a more general psychological adaptation not directly related to rape. Determining the specific environmental cues that men's brains have been designed by selection to process may help us decide which these rival explanations is correct. We examine six testable predictions against existing data: (1) Both coercive and noncoercive will be associated with high levels of sexual arousal and performance in men. (2) Achieving physical control of a sexually unwilling woman will be sexually arousing to men. (3) Young men will be more sexually coercive than older men. (4) Men of low socioeconomic status will likewise be more sexually coercive. (5) A man's motivation to use sexual coercion will be influenced by its effects on social image. (6) Even in long-term relationships men will be motivated to use coercion when their mates show a lack of interest in resistance to sex because these are interpreted as signs of sexual infidelity. Current data support all six predictions and are hence consistent with the rape-specific hypothesis, but this does not eliminate the side-effect hypothesis, which is likewise compatible with the findings, as well as with the further evidence that forced matings increased the fitness of ancestral males during human evolution. We suggest some research that may help decide between the two hypotheses.
Atg7 deficiency impairs host defense against Klebsiella pneumoniae by impacting bacterial clearance, survival and inflammatory responses in mice

Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp) is a Gram-negative bacterium that can cause serious infections in humans. Autophagy-related gene 7 (Atg7) has been implicated in certain bacterial infections; however, the role of Atg7 in macrophage-mediated immunity against Kp infection has not been elucidated. Here we showed that Atg7 expression was significantly increased in murine alveolar macrophages (MH-S) upon Kp infection, indicating that Atg7 participated in host defense. Knocking down Atg7 with small-interfering RNA increased bacterial burdens in MH-S cells. Using cell biology assays and whole animal imaging analysis, we found that compared with wild-type mice atg7 knockout (KO) mice exhibited increased susceptibility to Kp infection, with decreased survival rates, decreased bacterial clearance, and intensified lung injury. Moreover, Kp infection induced excessive proinflammatory cytokines and superoxide in the lung of atg7 KO mice. Similarly, silencing Atg7 in MH-S cells markedly increased expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines. Collectively, these findings reveal that Atg7 offers critical resistance to Kp infection by modulating both systemic and local production of proinflammatory cytokines.
Pre-gestational vs gestational exposure to maternal obesity differentially programs the offspring in mice

Aims/hypothesis Maternal obesity is associated with an increased risk of obesity and impaired glucose homeostasis in offspring. However, it is not known whether a gestational or pre-gestational exposure confers similar risks, and if so, what the underlying mechanisms are.
In-Situ Shrinkage Sensor for Injection Molding

Dimensional consistency is a critical attribute for injection molded part quality and is highly dependent on the polymer morphology, the thermal expansion, and various processing parameters. The dimensional shrinkage can be estimated by knowing the pressure-volume-temperature behavior of the polymer but with limited accuracy. There are various process monitoring systems available in the market; none of which has the capability of directly monitoring and controlling the real time shrinkage and part dimensions online. With a view to measuring in-mold shrinkage, a button cell type in-mold shrinkage sensor was developed, validated, and compared against the traditional shrinkage prediction and estimation methods. The shrinkage sensor consists of an elastic diaphragm instrumented with strain gages connected in a full bridge circuit. The sensor is placed beneath the movable pin that is protruded into the mold cavity and remains in contact with the sensor diaphragm. The sensor diaphragm is deflected due to the melt pressure acting on the pin into the mold cavity and is retracted back toward its original position as the melt solidifies and shrinks away from the mold cavity wall. The sensor signals acquired during each molding cycle were analyzed to validate the sensor performance in a design of experiments as a function of packing pressure, melt temperature, cooling time, and coolant temperature. The regression results indicate that the shrinkage sensor outpeforms cavity pressure transducers and other methods of predicting the in-mold shrinkage. For polypropylene, the shrinkage sensor is able to measure the shrinkage to an average accuracy of 0.01 mm for a molded part with a nominal thickness of 2.5 mm. The coefficient of correlation, R 2 , between the sensor's final positions to the final part thickness was 0.921 for the in-mold shrinkage sensor. Other dimension prediction methods had lower correlation coefficients.
Silurian Sponges and Some Associated Fossils from the Heceta Limestone, Prince of Wales Island, Southeastern Alaska

A small faunule of hypercalcified agelasiid demosponges has been recovered from outcrops of the Silurian Heceta Formation on Prince of Wales Island in southeastern Alaska. Included are abundant Girtyocoeliana epiporata (Rigby and Potter, 1986), of the Girtyocoeliidae Finks and Rigby, 2004; fragments of Alaskaspongiella laminosa n. gen. and sp., Polyplacospongia nodosa n. gen. and sp., and Monolaminospongia gigantia n. gen. and sp., of the Auriculospongiidae Termier and Termier, 1977, and Cladospongia alaskensis n. gen. and sp., Virgulaspongia uniforma n. gen. and sp., and Stipespongia laminata n. gen. and sp. of the Preperonidellidae Finks and Rigby, 2004. Also included are a few fossils of uncertain taxonomic placement, including Turbospongia biperforata n. gen. and sp., along with a small, chambered, tubular fragment and several porous tubular stems that may be additional poriferans. Some isolated octactine-based heteractinid spicules were also recovered from the etched residues.
Serum biomarkers predictive of pre-eclampsia

Aim: We sought serum biomarkers predictive of pre-eclampsia (PE). Materials & methods: Sera obtained at 12–14 weeks of pregnancy from 24 cases who later developed PE and 24 controls with uncomplicated pregnancies were processed and analyzed using a serum proteomic approach. Results: Many statistically significant serum PE biomarker candidates (n > 60) were found comparing cases and controls. In addition, logistic regression analysis modeled biomarker data resulted in 14 different multimarker combinations having high detection sensitivity and specificity (AUC >0.9). Conclusions: Developed panels of serum biomarkers appeared effective in identifying pregnant women at 12–14 weeks gestation at risk of PE later in their pregnancy.
Agrobacterium-Mediated Genetic Transformation of Cotton

Cotton is the most important fibre crop of the world with an annual production of about 20 million metric tones from about 33.5 million hectares in 2002 (1). Cotton seed is also an important oilseed crop and is the world’s third largest in terms of global crushings from an annual production of about 33 million metric tonnes in 2002 and a source of high quality protein meal (2). The genus Gossypium, a member of the Malvaceae, contains 49 species distributed throughout most tropical and subtropical regions of the world (3). The most common commercially grown cotton varieties belong to four species of Gossypium — G. arboreum L., G. barbadense L., G. herbaceum L. and G. hirsutum L. Over 90% of the annual cotton crop in the world is produced from the upland cotton varieties of G. hirsutum. This species is generally thought to have a natural origin that involved the combining of genomes from plants related to extant diploid species from the Old World (A genome) and the New World (D genome). Diploid (2n = 2x = 26) species — G. arboreum and G. herbaceum (AA) are still being grown in the African and Asian continents whereas the allotetraploid (4n = 4x = 52) species — G. hirsutum and G. barbadense (AADD) are being grown worldwide. The largest cotton producers are China, USA and India.
How do Developers Document Database Usages in Source Code? (N)

Database-centric applications (DCAs) usually contain a large number of tables, attributes, and constraints describing the underlying data model. Understanding how database tables and attributes are used in the source code along with the constraints related to these usages is an important component of DCA maintenance. However, documenting database-related operations and their constraints in the source code is neither easy nor common in practice. In this paper, we present a two-fold empirical study aimed at identifying how developers document database usages at source code method level. In particular, (i) we surveyed open source developers to understand their practices on documenting database usages in source code, and (ii) we mined a large set of open source projects to measure to what extent database-related methods are commented and if these comments are updated during evolution. Although 58% of the developers claimed to find value in method comments describing database usages, our findings suggest that 77% of 33K+ methods in 3.1K+ open-source Java projects with database accesses were completely undocumented.
Variation in Strepsirhine Infant Isolation Calls and Its Evolutionary Implications

Infant cries (isolation calls) are ubiquitous among mammals. Their contribution to infant survival suggests a strong role for natural selection, making it appropriate to consider the cries of strepsirhine infants in an evolutionary context. Infants provide an opportunity to study vocal mechanisms without the complications of hormonal factors or complex vocal repertoires. The isolation calls of strepsirhine infants exhibit a diverse array of acoustic features, and infants of some species produce short-duration “click” vocalizations indicative of vocal tract specializations unique among primates. We report on several subtypes of vocalizations produced by infant strepsirhines when separated. The clade-specific nature of some of these subtypes leads us to propose that the isolation calls of infant prosimians constitute a particularly useful behavioral category for comparative studies.
The ruptured intervertebral disc problem in the veteran.

T HE experience of the military surgeon with the results of ruptured disc operations during World War II was so poor that surgery was at one t,ime forbidden except under very stringent conditions. Usually the opcrat,ion was performed only on officers or certain other key military personnel. ln the Navy, \\‘hite and Peterson’ did explorations on forty-six patients and found a ruptured disc in thirty-nine. They noted that all the officers who were operated upon ret,urned to some sort, of duty. Walker2 found that all the officers, l)ut less than two-thirds of the enlisted men, operated upon at the Pearl Harbor Naval Hospital were returned t,o duty after surgery. There are few papers dealing with the experience in the veteran. Woolsey and Coldwater:~ reported on a series of thirty-three patients operated upon at a Veterans Administration Hospital. Their immediate operative results showed that all but two had (‘xcellcnt recovery, There was no long-term follow-up. In order lo observe further the veteran’s attitude toward surgery of the ruptured disc, it, was l’cblt appropriate to report on the experience of the ruptured disc operation in a \‘etc~rans Administration Hospital, together with a follow-up study of’ the‘ paticants. On the basis of military experience, the efficacy of surgery in a group of such patients, many of whom were reccivin g some sort of compensation for :! service-connected back disability, would not he espec’ted to equal the results reported by neurosurgeons in civilian personnel. ,I fair average of results in civilians was summarized hy White and Peterson.’ In their c~ollection of 0~~~1’ 900 cases from the literat,nre, 617.58 per cent of the patients showed good to excellent results, 17.08 t)rr cent were improvrtl, while 15.Xl l)(lr cent were unimproved.
Direct Nanoscale Patterning by Atomic Manipulation

The ability to create atomic-scale structures with the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) plays an important role in the development of a future nanoscale technology. I briefly review the various modes of STM-based fabrication and atomic manipulation. I focus on using a UHV-STM to directly pattern the Si(001) surface by atomic manipulation at room temperature. By carefully adjusting the tip morphology and pulse voltage, a single atomic layer can be removed from the sample surface to define features one atom deep. Segments of individual dimer rows can be removed to create structures with atomically straight edges and with lateral features as small as one dimer wide. Trenches ∼3 nm wide and 2–3 atomic layers deep can be created with less stringent control of patterning parameters. Direct patterning provides a straightforward route to the fabrication of nanoscale test structures under UHV conditions of cleanliness.
The Effects of a Relative Value Reimbursement Scheme on the Medical Market: Lessons from Medicaid*

One question which has been the subject of debate, without resolution, in the health economics literature is whether physicians face distorted incentives. This paper examines the possible effects of an attempt to “correct” the incentives facing physician firms: namely the use of a relative valued fee schedule. Though a type of relative value scale is currently under implementation for the Medicare system, little is known about the effects of such mechanisms. This paper attempts to glean information from natural experiments by several state Medicaid programs that have used relative value scales in the past.
An Insulating Overlayer for GaAs

We predict, on the basis of ab-initio total energy calculations, that epitaxial growth of I-VII compounds on III-V substrates can be accomplished (see Fig. 1). We suggest specific combinations of I-VII materials and III-V substrates that minimize lattice mismatch and structural energy cost and show that the interface dipole can be minimal (see Table I). This makes zinc-blende I-VII materials potential candidates for passivating layers, solid state laser applications, III-V window material and hole traps. The work is published in Reference [1].
Early Behavior of Embryos of the Turtle, Terrapene Carolina (L):

Male and female specimens of Terrapene Carolina (L) were collected early in the breeding season and kept in pens. The times of egg-laying were observed, and the eggs were removed from the nest within a few hours after they were laid. Each clutch of eggs was planted separately and records kept of the time of laying. From these eggs 40 living embryos were procured, upon the basis of which this report is made.It was found that the age of the embryo as calculated from the time of egg-laying could not be depended on as an index of the degree of development. Embryos of the same clutch in some cases differed considerably in this respect; and great difference appeared between clutches of the same age. Obviously eggs develop in the oviduct of this species for various periods. It was largely a matter of chance, therefore, in selecting eggs for study with reference to particular phases of development; although an embryoscope improvised upon a 6-volt, 108-watt, ribbon filament Mazda lamp was of considerable assistanc...
Tracing the Development of Argumentive Writing in a Discourse-Rich Context

In most assessments of students’ argumentive writing and in most research on the topic, students write on topics for which they have no specific prior preparation. We examined development in the ar...
Surveillance of Unintentional Injuries among Primary and Secondary School Students

[Objective]To understand the occurrence and distribution features of unintentional injuries among primary and secondary school students,and provide evidence for developing interventions.[Methods]The secondary surveillance network of school and community was applied,the information about students' unintentional injuries registration was analyzed in Fengxian District of Shanghai City in 2006.[Results]The incidence of unintentional injuries was 3.74‰,among which 3.12‰ were primary school students,5.11‰ were secondary school students,2.20‰ were high school students;5.51‰ were boys and 1.79‰ were girls.Most cases occurred in campus(33.12%),during playtime(35.67%),conducting recreation(45.22%).The main reason for injuries was fall(58.6%);major injury was fracture(59.87%);hand and wrist were the most probably injure parts(29.3%).[Conclusion]The school should carry out safety education among students to reduce the incidence of unintentional injure and improve students' health.
SOME BALANCE THOUGHT ON RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT

The'eleventh five-year plan' states 'to implement the basic state policy of conserving resources and protecting the environment,to construct low-input,high-yield,low-emission,recyclable,sustainable national economic system and resource-saving,environment-friendly society'.With the application of the balance theory on environmental resources,the authors analyze the problems in the environmental legislation and suggest that policy and law should be the most important means to tackle environmental problems.
RESEARCH ON PORTFOLIO TURNPIKE

In this paper,a new optimal control model of portfolio is established,portfolio turnpike is analyzed,simulated annealing of implicit programming is proposed,simulation of turnpike is progressed.Thiswork has practice significance for the long term motion and investment of portfolio market.
Emergency department management of puncture wounds and needlestick exposure.

SUMMARY Puncture wounds are common and challenging problems facing the physician. In general, puncture wounds can be classified into two distinct types. In one type, a child usually sustains a puncture wound of the foot. The other type of puncture wounds occur among hospital employees. These seemingly innocuous injuries may have serious sequelae that can be averted by prompt appropriate care of the wound. The fundamental trends of treatment of puncture wounds include cleansing the wound, debridement of any necrotic or devitalized tissue, and appropriate immunoprophylaxis.
Aspirin inhibits a murine viral infection.

Summary The feeding of a laboratory chow containing 325 mg of aspirin per kg diet to CBA mice inoculated with a murine sarcoma virus (Moloney) resulted in a decrease in tumor incidence and severity of disease. The mode of action of aspirin in this system is not known but it probably does not act by a mechanism involving the release of ACTH as has been suggested for some of the actions of aspirin, since administration of ACTH to virus-inoculated mice had an opposite effect, i.e., it increased the severity of disease.
Red Blood Cell Membrane-Facilitated Release of Nitrite-Derived Nitric Oxide Bioactivity

The reduction of nitrite by deoxyhemoglobin to nitric oxide (NO) has been proposed as a mechanism for the transfer of NO bioactivity from the red blood cell (RBC) to the vasculature. This transfer can increase vascular dilatation. The major challenge to this hypothesis is the very efficient scavenging of NO by hemoglobin, which prevents the release of NO from RBCs. Previous studies indicate that the reaction of nitrite with deoxyhemoglobin produces two metastable intermediates involving nitrite bound to deoxyhemoglobin and a hybrid intermediate [Hb(II)NO+ ↔ Hb(III)NO] where the nitrite is reduced, but unavailable to react with hemoglobin. We have now shown how unique properties of these intermediates provide a pathway for the release of NO bioactivity from RBCs. The high membrane affinity of these intermediates (>100-fold greater than that of deoxyhemoglobin) places these intermediates on the membrane. Furthermore, membrane-induced conformational changes of the nitrite-reacted intermediates facilitate the...
Religious Attendance Serves as a Protective Variable Against Suicidal Ideation During Treatment

Several studies have proposed potential mediators of the association between religion and mental health, including social support (SS), locus of control (LOC), and substance abuse (SA), but have been limited by their use of non-clinical samples. The current study, therefore, drew from a clinical sample at risk of violence to self to test associations among these variables, specifically examining the effect of these variables on the relation between religious attendance (RA) and suicidal ideation (SI). A total of 144 adult outpatient psychotherapy clients evidencing SI during treatment were assessed pre-treatment for diagnostic presentation and frequency of RA. Subsequently, before each therapy session, SI, SS, SA, and external LOC (eLOC) during the preceding week were assessed via self-report. RA exerted a significant direct effect on SI within this clinical sample, with increased attendance associated with decreased SI. In contrast to prior reports based on non-clinical samples, SS, SA, or eLOC did not mediate the association of RA to SI. However, these variables did work in tandem, independent of RA, to affect SI. Findings support prior research suggesting that focusing on SS, SA, and LOC may be beneficial to clients experiencing SI. Additionally, for those clients who hold religious practices as a personal value, incorporating discussion of RA may help thwart SI.
Waste into Weapons: Recycling in Britain during the Second World War

During the Second World War, the United Kingdom faced severe shortages of essential raw materials. To keep its armaments factories running, the British government enlisted millions of people in efforts to recycle a wide range of materials for use in munitions production. Recycling not only supplied British munitions factories with much-needed raw materials - it also played a key role in the efforts of the British government to maintain the morale of its citizens, to secure billions of dollars in Lend-Lease aid from the United States, and to uncover foreign intelligence. However, Britain's wartime recycling campaign came at a cost: it consumed items that would never have been destroyed under normal circumstances, including significant parts of the nation's cultural heritage. Based on extensive archival research, Peter Thorsheim examines the relationship between armaments production, civil liberties, cultural preservation, and diplomacy, making Waste into Weapons the first in-depth history of twentieth-century recycling in Britain.
Comprehensive analysis of microRNA signature of mouse pancreatic acini: overexpression of miR-21-3p in acute pancreatitis

In the current study, we have characterized the global miRNA expression profile in mouse pancreatic acinar cells and during acute pancreatitis using next-generation RNA sequencing. We identified 324 known and six novel miRNAs that are expressed in mouse pancreatic acinar cells. In the basal state, miR-148a-3p, miR-375-3p, miR-217-5p, and miR-200a-3p were among the most abundantly expressed, whereas miR-24-5p and miR-421-3p were the least abundant. Treatment of acinar cells with caerulein (100 nM) and taurolithocholic acid 3-sulfate [TLC-S (250 μM)] induced numerous changes in miRNA expression profile. In particular, we found significant overexpression of miR-21-3p in acini treated with caerulein and TLC-S. We further looked at the expression of miR-21-3p in caerulein, l-arginine, and caerulein + LPS-induced acute pancreatitis mouse models and found 12-, 21-, and 50-fold increased expression in the pancreas, respectively. In summary, this is the first comprehensive analysis of global miRNA expression profile of mouse pancreatic acinar cells in normal and disease conditions. Our analysis shows that miR-21-3p expression level correlates with the severity of the disease.
Optical clock pulse generation using thermal nonlinearity in microring resonators

A reflective microring resonator is used as a wavelength selective nonlinear feedback element in a fiber ring laser to generate optical clock pulses. All components are driven by DC current.
Never Die Alone: Death and Birth in Pure Land Buddhism

This is a review of a collection of six essays. These essays, with the exception of one, are written by the followers of Shin Buddhism (Pure Land Buddhism). The last essay in this collection is written from the perspective of Theravada Buddhism rather than Mahayana Buddhism. This collection is a result of the initiative by Rev. Yoshiharu Tomatsu who, as a Buddhist priest, has acquired hands-on experience in dealing with grieving Temple members and became acutely aware of the discrepancy between a medical system and a ritualistic Buddhist system. While a medical system overlooks the spiritual needs of the dying, a Buddhist temple system neglects the spiritual needs of the living. This book ensued from a project that was initiated in 2006 and focused on the above-mentioned missing links, aiming to bring into conversation medical and religious practitioners.
Breast cancer incidence according to age, race, and hormone receptor subtype: A SEER database analysis.

e13059Background: While incidence rates of breast cancer have been shown to vary based on age and race, hormone receptor (HR) subtype is an important prognostic indicator and it is unclear to what ...
Crypto Transaction Dispute Resolution

The rapid evolution of anonymous, autonomous, and distributed blockchain-based smart contracting creates friction and enforceability issues with existing legal and jurisdictional principles, calling the future governance of blockchain technology into question. The effective governance of blockchain technology and smart contracting is essential to ensuring its continuing evolution. Based on the mathematical principles underlying the disposition of blockchains, we propose and evaluate an alternative approach to the existing legal exercise of jurisdiction that is inherent in blockchain technology itself. We call this distributed jurisdiction. This contribution is not merely theoretical. Several Ethereum smart contracting crypto startups demonstrate that anonymity can be perpetuated in blockchain technology, despite blockchains’ eternal storage of information and its growing size working against anonymity. Startup applications highlight that the technology itself offers means of internal controls that help ensure effective governance in the continuing evolution of the technology. Based on the concept of distributed jurisdiction, we suggest an open source platform ecosystem for smart contracting dispute resolution that allows users to opt into a conflict resolution mechanism that enables more nuanced crypto solutions and produces greater certainty in the process. Anonymized arbiter expertise via rankings in combination with a representation option for crypto disputes provide a resolution mechanism for legacy businesses that desire to participate in the growth of crypto business opportunities, hope to avoid legacy system intermediation and the associated transaction costs, but require legal legacy system assurances and crypto dispute resolution equivalence.
An extracting method of movie genre similarity using aspect-based approach in social media

In the movie industry, a movie recommendation is a manner of advertisement or promotion. To recommend movies, we used movie reviews and YouTube comments because user-generated data containing people's opinions. To analyze the data, we used MSP model, which is one of aspect-based approaches and it guarantees relatively higher accuracy than existing approaches. To discover a genre similarity, we proposed two methods, which are "TDF-IDF" and "Genre Score". The "TDF-IDF" is designed to extract genre specific keywords and the "Genre Score" indicates a degree of correlation between a movie and genres. Then, the system recommends movies based on results of K-means and K-NN.
Transcriptomics of nine-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase 6 induction in imbibed seeds reveals feedback mechanisms and long non-coding RNAs

Induction of nine-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase 6 (NCED6), an abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis gene, alone is sufficient to suspend germination in testa-ruptured seeds, which are at the final step of germination. Molecular consequences of NCED6 induction in imbibed seeds were investigated by RNA sequencing. The analysis identified many unknown and uncharacterized genes that were up-regulated by NCED6 induction, in addition to the major regulators of ABA signalling. Interestingly, other NCEDs were up-regulated by NCED6 induction, suggesting that the major rate-limiting enzymes in the ABA biosynthesis pathway are subject to positive-feedback regulation. ZEAXANTHIN EPOXIDASE and ABSCISIC ALDEHYDE OXIDASE3, which function upstream and downstream of NCED, were also up-regulated in seeds by NCED6 induction, which suggests that the distinct layers of positive feedback loops are coordinately operating in the NCED6-induced seeds. SOMNUS (SOM), which was also up-regulated by NCED6 induction, was the major mediator of enhanced ABA signalling in NCED6-induced seeds. SOM exerted negative effects on GA biosynthesis, which also contributes to a high ABA–GA ratio and reinforces the suppressive state of germination. Besides these coding genes, long intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs) were also up-regulated upon NCED6 induction (termed N6LINCRs). Conditional expression of N6LINCR1 altered gene expression profiles in seeds. Twenty-six genes were up-regulated and 66 genes were down-regulated by the induction of N6LINCR1. These results suggest that some of N6LINCRs have a regulatory role in gene expression in seeds, which potentially contributes to the regulation of germination by ABA.
Circular dichroism in the interband transitions of achiral metal nanoparticles: TiN and noble metals

A longitudinal field component parallel to the wave vector is generally considered in nonlocal optical response. Longitudinal volume plasmons accompanied by inhomogeneous internal field optically break symmetry for isotropic metal nanoparticles. Here, natural circular dichroism in the interband transitions of TiN nanocubes, Au nanospheres, and Cu nanospheres in solution is presented. A field gradient or volume plasmons exert an electric force and consequently Lorentz force on bound valence-band electrons inside the nanoparticles. It is generalized that interband transitions in nanoparticles intrinsically produce a positive rotational strength and optical right-handedness. Electromechanical chir-alty is introduced to explain the optical activity of achiral nanoparticles.
Divorce Already?! Should Israelis Read the Tanakh (Bible) in Translation?

Since the beginning of Zionism, argues Abend-David, Modern Hebrew speakers have felt a sense of ownership of (if not copyright in) the Hebrew Bible. A strong argument to the contrary is presented by Ghil’ad Zuckermann and Gitit Holzman who claim that Modern Hebrew speakers only think that they understand the language of the Hebrew Bible, and that they should read it in Modern Hebrew adaptation. What does a translation of the Bible from Hebrew to Hebrew look like? Does it, as Zuckermann and Holzman claim, make an important contribution to the popular understanding of the Bible? Or is the significance of such a “translation” in the political statement that it makes? Does it, as some might feel, undermine the justification of Zionism?
Forty Years of Growth and Achievement: A History of Iowa's Community Colleges

Review of: "Forty Years of Growth and Achievement: A History of Iowa's Community Colleges," by Jeremy Varner, edited by Janice Nahra Friedel.
Functionalization via Reactive Polyolefins Containing Borane Groups

This chapter focuses on the reactive polyolefin containing borane groups, and discusses its advantages. The borane approach provides a very effective method for the functionalization of polyolefin with well-controlled polymer structure. This general method can be applied to all polyolefins and to most functional groups. This process is particularly suitable in the preparation of hydroxylated polymers because of the quantitative conversion under mild reaction conditions. In direct polymerization, the borane containing α-olefins behaves like α-olefins and can be effectively incorporated into polyolefin structures. This facile chemistry is because of a unique combination of the stability of borane moiety to transition metal catalysts, the solubility of borane compounds in the hydrocarbon solvents used in transition metal polymerizations, and advances in metallocene catalysis that allow the effective incorporation of high monomers. In post-polymerization, the hydroboration reactions are very effective because of the excellent reactivity of boron hydride to olefinic units in the unsaturated polyolefin, and the good solubility of borane compounds in the hydrocarbon solvents used in the reactions.
Drug Addiction: Cellular Mechanisms

Every addictive behavior is dependent upon a very complex interplay between activation and inhibition of ion channels and receptors. Although a wealth of studies has been devoted to elucidating the principles and mechanisms that guide the learning and memory of reward-related information, be it finalized to the processes of obtaining a physiological reward, or devoted to procurement of an illicit drug, the exact role of receptors and ion channels in modulating these behaviors is still under intense investigation. In humans, when seeking out a drug dealer, or in laboratory animals, when pressing a lever directly results in a drug reward, the association between the action and the reward is strengthened. Learning of drug-associated actions and drug-associated cues represents a central phenomenon that drives the progression from drug use to the compulsive craving, and seeking. One question of interest is whether drug-associated learning can be viewed as purely abnormal, and what are the cellular substrates that trigger and sustain this form of abnormal learning. The first part of this article provides a brief review of the evidence that long-term potentiation and long-term depression of excitatory synapses, which are cellular substrates of normal learning processes, occur in neural reward circuits as well, and can be induced by natural rewards, but most importantly by drugs of abuse. The second part addresses central cellular mechanisms through which neuronal firing is regulated, including excitation through glutamatergic receptors, inhibition through GABAergic receptors, and properties of ion channels that mediate firing activity.
The Regulation of Retinal Angiogenesis by Cyclooxygenase and the Prostanoids

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) inhibit cyclooxygenase and the formation of cyclooxygenase products, the prostanoids. Chronic use of NSAIDs has been associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer, which may be in part a consequence of reduced tumor-associated angiogenesis. These findings suggest that cyclooxygenase and the prostanoids may regulate angiogenesis. Several potentially blinding retinopathies have angiogenic components, and the putative roles of cyclooxgenase and the prostanoids in this context have been, and are currently, under investigation.
Genetic Polymorphism of Complement Components as a Probe of Structure and Function

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the genetic polymorphism of complement components as a probe of structure and function. It describes findings concerning genetic aspects of a serum protein related to the complement system, that is, glycine-rich β-glycoprotein (GBG). The relationship of GBG to the complement system and to the role of complement in resistance to infection has been strongly suggested by studies of a patient with congenital hypercatabolism of C3 and abnormalities affecting GBG. Therefore, these studies were discussed in some detail in the chapter. Genetically controlled polymorphism in GBG was examined and observations derived solely from the nature of this polymorphism were used to develop a possible model for the GBG molecule. To place these observations in proper perspective, a brief summary of the genetics of the complement system and some other proteins is given. Illustrations of the use of inherited deficiency states and polymorphisms as probes of function and molecular structure are also provided.