cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
AFM Probing of Thermal Activation of Molecularly Linked Nanoparticle Assembly

The ability to control the size and the spatial properties of nanoparticle catalysts on the surface of a substrate or support material is critical in exploiting the unique activity of catalysts at the nanoscale. We report herein new findings of an atomic force microscopic investigation of the thermal activation of molecularly wired core−shell nanoparticle assemblies on flat surfaces toward the development of the ability of size and spatial control. Gold nanocrystals of ∼2-nm core size capped by alkanethiolate shells were assembled by covalent or hydrogen-bonding linkages onto mica and graphite substrates as a model system. The results show that the particle size and interparticle spatial properties are highly dependent on the chemical and physical nature of the linker molecule and the substrate. Such dependence is inherently linked to the surface mobility, surface tension, and adsorption energy of nanoparticles on the substrate, which are supported by the assessment based on the theoretical modeling of th...
Lethality for mice and chick embryos, pyrogenicity in rabbits and ability to gelate lysate from amoebocytes of Limulus polyphemus by lipopolysaccharides from Bacteroides, Fusobacterium and Veillonella

Phenol-water extracted lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from Veillonella, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Bacteroides fragilis and Bacteroides melaninogenicus were lethal for mice and 11-days-old chick embryos, pyrogenic in rabbits, and gelated Limulus amoebocyte lysate. Mouse lethality was considerably enhanced by actinomycin-D. In all test systems the endotoxin activity of Veillonella and Fusocbacterium LPS was comparable to that of LPS from Salmonella enteritidis, which was included as a reference endotoxin. The endotoxicity of the Bacteroides LPS was very low. While nanograms of the Veillonella and Fusobacterium LPS killed the chick embryos and gelated the Limulus lysates, microgram amounts of the Bacteroides LPS were needed to give positive reaction in the same test systems. As much as 74 microgram of the most active B. fragilis LPS were required to give a typical biphasic fever response in rabbits. A significant correlation was found between all test results (r = 0.90-0.98, p less than 0.001).
The properties of Na+-dependent and Na+-independent lysine uptake by isolated intestinal epithelial cells

Abstract 1. 1. The 5-min uptake of 1 mM leucine by epithelial cells isolated from rat intestine was reduced 75% in the absence of extracellular Na+ and leucine did not attain intracellular concentrations greater than unity. In contrast, the uptake of 1 mM lysine was reduced only 32% and lysine reached an intracellular concentration of 1.54 mM, showing that a large component of the concentrative uptake of lysine is Na+ independent. 2. 2. The Na+-independent component of lysine uptake attained levels significantly greater than unity after 5 min, but the total contribution of Na+-independent lysine uptake decreased from 82 to 62% as the incubation times was increased from 1 to 10 min. 3. 3. The Na+-independent component of lysine uptake was significantly inhibited by dinitrophenol after 5 and 10 min, but not after 2 min. Ouabain was non-inhibitory. 4. 4. At pH 9.0, Na+-dependent lysine uptake increased while Na+-independent lysine uptake decreased. At pH 3.5 lysine uptake in the presence and absence of Na+ was reduced to the same level. 5. 5. Dinitrophenol, anaerobiosis and ouabain specifically decreased the Na+-dependent component of lysine uptake after 2 min. Ethacrynic acid, N-ethylmaleimide ATP and arginine inhibited both the Na+-dependent and Na+-independent components of lysine uptake. 6. 6. The isotonic replacement of K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ by choline produced similar changes in the 2-min uptake of lysine in the presence or absence of Na+.
Quantitative analysis of free and bound fatty aldehydes: Optimum conditions for p-nitrophenylhydrazone formation

A method is described for the analysis of free and bound fatty aldehydes in lipid extracts. By radiolabeling techniques it was shown that the method for measuring free fatty aldehydes when used in the presence of bound fatty aldehydes measures less than 1% of the bound aldehydes. Parameters of time, temperature and optimum acid concentration are reported. A comparison has been made between the present method and other published methods of measuring p-nitrophenylhydrazones with emphasis on recoveries and reactivities. The present method is suitable for measuring as little as 0.02 μmoles of fatty aldehyde. The method has been applied to the analysis of free and bound aldehydes present in various mouse tissues.
A new etching technique for enhancement of morphological textures of poly(P-phenylene sulfide)

Two etching techniques were developed to enhance the morphological textures of semicrystalline poly(p-phenylene sulfide) (PPS). One technique is based on chromic acid solutions, whereas the other uses anhydrous aluminum chloride. The latter approach was shown to be more appropriate and successful in enhancing the spherulitic textures of PPS.
INTERACTIONS BETWEEN CORTISOL OR CORTICOSTERONE AND FRACTIONS OF RAT THYMUS, BRAIN AND HEART CELL,

Abstract Interactions between [4−14C]cortisol or [4−14C]cortisone and fractions of thymus, brain and heart cell of normal rats at different ages have been studied by multiple equilibrium dialysis. Binding between the steroid hormones and total homogenates of thymus, brain and heart of the rat have also been investigated. The combining affinity for the two steroids with cytoplasmic fractions is greater than with nuclear fractions, especially for thymus and heart cell. The binding of corticosterone with all the fractions and the total homogenates obtained from animals of different age is higher than that observed with cortisol. A characteristic pattern is observed for the binding affinity between the steroid hormones and some fractions for animals of different age. In general, no specific concentration of radioactive material was found in any particular fraction of the tissues investigated.
Input modelling for financial simulations using the bootstrap

Inputs are the fuel that powers simulations. If one is designing a new system or product, inputs are scenarios representing the conditions with which the new system must cope. The need for large numbers of realistic scenarios applies to every domain in which simulation is used as part of the system design process. To be useful, scenarios should mimic the underlying data generating process by reflecting the auto- and cross-correlations of the historical data. We describe a new scenario generation procedure based on the nearest-neighbour bootstrap. We also propose a new performance evaluation criterion for multivariate time-series scenario generators based on the distribution of a composite correlation discrepancy measure. We illustrate the new method and measure by generating simulated scenarios for the US Treasury yield curve.
The Zebrafish Galectin Drgal1-L2 Is Expressed by Proliferating Müller Glia and Photoreceptor Progenitors and Regulates the Regeneration of Rod Photoreceptors

PURPOSE. The purpose of this study was to identify secreted proteins in the retina of the adult zebrafish that are induced by the selective death of photoreceptors and to test experimentally the function of these proteins during the regeneration of photoreceptors. METHODS. Induced selective death of photoreceptors in the retina of the adult zebrafish was combined with in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry to identify the induced cellular expression of the secreted -galactoside binding protein Galectin 1‐like 2 (Drgal1-L2). Electroporation of morpholino oligonucleotides was used to knock down protein synthesis, and regenerated photoreceptors were counted in control and experimental retinas after labeling with cell type-specific RNA probes. RESULTS. Expression analysis and immunocytochemistry showed that Drgal1-L2 is induced de novo by photoreceptor
Painting, Law and Professions, I: Paris Visual Academie and English Law

One consensus in the sociology and history of professions is that law, not medicine, pioneered the first professionalism projects in Western history. English law is typically cited as the exemplar. We challenge this consensus by demonstrating that visual academies, led by the Academie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture of Paris, preceded along a professionalism project centuries in advance of English law.
On turbulent Reynolds stress closure and modern continuum mechanics

Abstract The consistency of the problem of Reynolds stress closure in turbulence with the fundamental principles of modern continuum mechanics is examined. It is shown that Reynolds stress closure is completely consistent with the principles of determinism and material frame-indifference of modern continuum mechanics. The consequences that this has on turbulence modeling are briefly discussed.
Maternal Depression and the Intergenerational Transmission of Relational Impairment

Previous research has demonstrated that the offspring of depressed mothers are at greater risk for negative psychopathological and psychosocial outcomes than children of nondepressed mothers. This study specifically examines offspring's romantic relationship quality during the transition to adulthood as a function of maternal depression and 3 putative mechanisms for this association: youth depression history, mother-child relationship discord, and maternal romantic relationship difficulties. The study further explores the role of these factors in the risk for depressive symptoms during the transition to adulthood. Hypotheses were examined longitudinally in a community sample of 182 Australian youth who were followed from birth to age 20 and were in committed romantic relationships at age 20 with romantic partners willing to provide data regarding romantic relationship satisfaction. Structural equation modeling analyses found support for a direct effect of maternal depression on youth romantic relationship quality with significant mediation by mother-child relationship discord, as well as an association between mother-child relationship discord and later depressive symptoms that is mediated by youth romantic relationship quality. Findings also lend support for an indirect effect of maternal depression on youth depressive symptoms via mother-child relationship discord and youth romantic relationship quality. This study provides further evidence for the negative psychosocial and psychopathological outcomes of children of depressed mothers and the intergenerational transmission of relational difficulties.
Size dependency of nanocrystalline TiO2 on its optical property and photocatalytic reactivity exemplified by 2-chlorophenol

Abstract Anatase TiO2 nanocrystallines (17–29 nm) were successfully synthesized by the metal–organic chemical vapor deposition method (MOCVD). Moderate manipulation of system parameters of MOCVD can control the particle size. The electro-optical and photocatalytic properties of the synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles were studied along with several commercially available ultra-fine TiO2 particles (e.g., 3.8–5.7 nm). The band gap of the TiO2 crystallines was determined using the transformed diffuse reflectance technique according to the Kubelka–Munk theory. Results showed that the band gap of TiO2 monotonically decreased from 3.239 to 3.173 eV when the particle size decreased from 29 to 17 nm and then increased from 3.173 to 3.289 eV as the particle size decreased from 17 to 3.8 nm. The results of band gap change as a function of particle size agreed well with what was predicted by the Brus’ equation, i.e., the effective mass model (EMM). However, results of the photocatalytic oxidation of 2-chlorophenol (2-CP), showed that the smaller the particle size, the faster the degradation rate. This is attributed in part to the combined effect of band gap change relative to the spectrum of the light source and the specific surface area (or particle size) of the photocatalysts. The change of band gap due to particle size represents only a small optical absorption window with respect to the total spectrum of the light source, i.e., from 380 to 400 nm versus >280 nm. Consequently, the gain in optical property of the larger particles was severely compromised by their decrease in specific surface area. Our results clearly indicated the importance of specific surface area in controlling the photocatalytic reactivity of photocatalysts. Results also showed that the secondary particle size grew with time due mainly to particle aggregation. The photocatalytic rate constants decreased exponentially with increase in primary particle size. Primary particle size alone is able to predict the photocatalytic rate as it is closely related to the electro-optical properties of photocatalysts.
Integrating concepts of decision making and uncertainty into engineering design education

Engineering design represents a process of decision making under conditions of uncertainty and risk, but today's undergraduate engineering curricula rarely include any principles of decision theory. This paper describes a pilot program that was recently started with the objective to prompt a strategic initiative for the development, implementation and assessment of novel approaches in engineering design education at Stevens Institute of Technology. Starting with a thorough feasibility study in two mechanical engineering courses, the goal will be to demonstrate that the concepts of uncertainty in data, decision theory and optimization can be integrated effectively into undergraduate education. If proven successful, the propagation of the approach to the capstone design sequence in the mechanical engineering department and to the entire engineering curriculum at Stevens Institute of Technology will be considered.
A 2-MHZ, process and voltage compensated clock oscillator for biomedical implantable SoC in 0.18-μm CMOS

We present the design and performance of a power and area efficient, process and voltage compensated, 2-MHz clock oscillator for state-of-the art wireless biomedical implantable systems-on-chip. The design presented in this paper is based on a fully differential three-stage ring oscillator with replica feedback bias, a novel process detection circuit, and a novel differential comparator to save power and area. The design of the comparator ensures the rail-to-rail swing and further improves power-supply-rejection-ratio (PSRR). The process corner sensing scheme is based on the leakage current of the device which generates control voltage for the replica feedback bias circuit. A total of 66 chip samples were collected from various locations on multiple full wafers and average variation of ±2.81% with process corner was measured at room temperature. The variation in clock frequency with supply was 0.11% for the voltage range of 1.9V-3V. The design of oscillator is intended for the RF powering scheme and it occupies 0.018 μm2 in 0.18-μm CMOS. The clock oscillator consumes 12μW from a 1.8 V regulated supply.
Measurement of the 9S level lifetime in francium

We measure the lifetime of the 9S state in francium through its decay to the 7P3/2 state using two photon excitation and time-correlated single-photon counting techniques. We obtain a lifetime of 107.53/spl plusmn/0.94 ns.
Adaptive disk striping for parallel input/output

As disk capacities continue to rise more rapidly than transfer rates, adaptive, redundant striping smoothly trades capacity for higher performance. We developed a fuzzy logic rule base for adaptive, redundant striping of files across multiple disks. This rule base is based on a queuing model of disk contention that includes file request sixes and disk hardware parameters. At low loads, the rule base stripes aggressively to minimize response time. As loads rise, it stripes less aggressively to maximize aggregate throughput. This adaptive striping rule base is incorporated into our second generation Portable Parallel File System (PPFS II). Experimental results showed that the analytical models of disk striping are capable of accurately predicting file system behavior. Also, it is shown that; depending on the access pattern, adaptive striping can double the input/output performance compared to striping with fixed distribution parameters.
Control Densification by Analytic Photogrammetry

Numerical methods in photogrammetry began to receive wide-spread attention in the early fifties with the development of the large digital computers. The Worldwide Satellite Triangulation Program of the sixties proved that, with care and deliberate production controls, first-order geodetic accuracies could be obtained for precision photogrammetric cameras and numerical data reduction. Research is presently underway at the National Ocean Survey to develop equipment, flight configuration, and reduction techniques that will provide internal photogrammetric pointing precision of at least one part in 250,000 of the flight altitude for conventional mapping. The projected goals of the system are to produce ground coordinates with a standard deviation in position of —2.5 cm over an area of 48 km with peripheral horizontal geodetic control spaced at 16 km.
Direct observation of behavioral disturbances of dementia and their environmental context.

The cognitive domain has long been the focus of clinical and scientific efforts in dementia research. Only recently has behavior, and more specifically behavioral problems, been recognized as a legitimate focus of research. In its summary statement of September 1991, the Alzheimer's Association Task Force on Behavior Management noted the following with regarding behavioral disturbances: “(a) the study of assessment and treatment of behavioral problems must develop in its own right as well as complement studies on improving cognition; (b) controlled clinical trials of behavioral treatments of behavioral disturbances are desperately needed; and (c) both standardized rating scales and direct behavioral observations should be used to assess problems and determine treatment efficacy.” [Emphasis added by author.]
Characterization of the Carboxysomal Carbonic Anhydrase CsoSCA from Halothiobacillus neapolitanus

In cyanobacteria and many chemolithotrophic bacteria, the CO 2 -fixing enzyme ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO) is sequestered into polyhedral protein bodies called carboxysomes. The carboxysome is believed to function as a microcompartment that enhances the catalytic efficacy of RubisCO by providing the enzyme with its substrate, CO 2 , through the action of the shell protein CsoSCA, which is a novel carbonic anhydrase. In the work reported here, the biochemical properties of purified, recombinant CsoSCA were studied, and the catalytic characteristics of the carbonic anhydrase for the CO 2 hydration and bicarbonate dehydration reactions were compared with those of intact and ruptured carboxysomes. The low apparent catalytic rates measured for CsoSCA in intact carboxysomes suggest that the protein shell acts as a barrier for the CO 2 that has been produced by CsoSCA through directional dehydration of cytoplasmic bicarbonate. This CO 2 trap provides the sequestered RubisCO with ample substrate for efficient fixation and constitutes a means by which microcompartmentalization enhances the catalytic efficiency of this enzyme.
HOW HEALTH INSURANCE AFFECTS HEALTH CARE DEMAND—A STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF BEHAVIORAL MORAL HAZARD AND ADVERSE SELECTION

Individuals with health insurance use more health care. One reason is that health care is cheaper for the insured. Additionally, having insurance can encourage unhealthy behavior via moral hazard. Previous work studying the efiect of health insurance on medical utilization has mostly ignored behavioral changes due to having health insurance, and how that in turn afiects medical utilization. This paper investigates the structural causal relationships among health insurance status, health behavior, and medical utilization theoretically and empirically, and separates price efiects from behavioral moral hazard efiects. Also distinguished are the extensive vs. intensive margins of insurance efiects on behavior
Inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate (InsP3)-gated Ca channels from cerebellum: conduction properties for divalent cations and regulation by intraluminal calcium

The conduction properties of inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate (InsP3)-gated calcium (Ca) channels (InsP3R) from canine cerebellum for divalent cations and the regulation of the channels by intraluminal Ca were studied using channels reconstituted into planar lipid bilayers. Analysis of single-channel recordings performed with different divalent cations present at 55 mM on the trans (intraluminal) side of the membrane revealed that the current amplitude at 0 mV and the single-channel slope conductance fell in the sequence: Ba (2.2 pA, 85 pS) > Sr (2.0 pA, 77 pS) > Ca (1.4 pA, 53 pS) > Mg (1.1 pA, 42 pS). The mean open time of the InsP3R recorded with Ca (2.9 ms) was significantly shorter than with other divalent cations (approximately 5.5 ms). The "anomalous mole fraction effect" was not observed in mixtures of divalent cations (Mg and Ba), suggesting that these channels are single-ion pores. Measurements of InsP3R activity at different intraluminal Ca levels demonstrated that Ca in the submillimolar range did not potentiate channel activity, and that very high levels of intraluminal Ca (> or = 10 mM) decreased channel open probability 5-10-fold. When InsP3R were measured with Ba as a current carrier in the presence of 110 mM cis potassium, a PBa/PK of 6.3 was estimated from the extrapolated value for the reversal potential. When the unitary current through the InsP3R at 0 mV was measured as a function of the permeant ion (Ba) concentration, the half-maximal current occurred at 10 mM trans Ba. The following conclusions are drawn from these data: (a) the conduction properties of InsP3R are similar to the properties of the ryanodine receptor, another intracellular Ca channel, and differ dramatically from the properties of voltage-gated Ca channels of the plasma membrane. (b) The estimated size of the Ca current through the InsP3R under physiological conditions is 0.5 pA, approximately four times less than the Ca current through the ryanodine receptor. (c) The potentiation of InsP3R by intraluminal Ca in the submillimolar range remains controversial. (d) A quantitative model that explains the inhibitory effects of high trans Ca on InsP3R activity was developed and the kinetic parameters of InsP3R gating were determined.
Quantitative analysis of total mitochondrial DNA: competitive polymerase chain reaction versus real-time polymerase chain reaction.

An efficient and effective method for quantification of small amounts of nucleic acids contained within a sample specimen would be an important diagnostic tool for determining the content of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in situations where the depletion thereof may be a contributing factor to the exhibited pathology phenotype. This study compares two quantification assays for calculating the total mtDNA molecule number per nanogram of total genomic DNA isolated from human blood, through the amplification of a 613-bp region on the mtDNA molecule. In one case, the mtDNA copy number was calculated by standard competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique that involves co-amplification of target DNA with various dilutions of a nonhomologous internal competitor that has the same primer binding sites as the target sequence, and subsequent determination of an equivalence point of target and competitor concentrations. In the second method, the calculation of copy number involved extrapolation from the fluorescence versus copy number standard curve generated by real-time PCR using various dilutions of the target amplicon sequence. While the mtDNA copy number was comparable using the two methods (4.92 ± 1.01 × 104 molecules/ng total genomic DNA using competitive PCR vs 4.90 ± 0.84 × 104 molecules/ng total genomic DNA using real-time PCR), both inter- and intraexperimental variance were significantly lower using the real-time PCR analysis. On the basis of reproducibility, assay complexity, and overall efficiency, including the time requirement and number of PCR reactions necessary for the analysis of a single sample, we recommend the real-time PCR quantification method described here, as its versatility and effectiveness will undoubtedly be of great use in various kinds of research related to mitochondrial DNA damage- and depletion-associated disorders. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 18:180–186, 2004 Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/jbt.20024
Performance Characteristics of the New Definition of Diabetes: The Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study

OBJECTIVE A1C ≥6.5% has been recently proposed as the defining criterion for diabetes. However, performance characteristics of this definition have not been described. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study, we compared new to previous definitions of diabetes: 1999 World Health Organization (DM 1999WHO ) and 2003 American Diabetes Association based on fasting glucose alone (DM FPG126 ). RESULTS Participants with A1C ≥6.5%, DM 1999WHO , and DM FPG126 were 44 (5.2%), 132 (15.4%), and 61 (7.1%), respectively. In individuals with DM 1999WHO , mean, median, and interquartile range of A1C were 6.3, 5.9, and 5.5–6.6%, respectively; in individuals with DM FPG126 , mean, median, and interquartile range of A1C were 7.0, 6.6, and 6.0–7.1%. CONCLUSIONS A1C ≥6.5% identifies fewer individuals than DM 1999WHO or DM FPG126 . Studies are needed to determine that A1C ≥6.5% compromises neither blood pressure and lipid management in early diabetes nor the implementation of lifestyle interventions for diabetes prevention.
Nanolayered siRNA Dressing for Sustained Localized Knockdown

The success of RNA interference (RNAi) in medicine relies on the development of technology capable of successfully delivering it to tissues of interest. Significant research has focused on the difficult task of systemic delivery of RNAi; however its local delivery could be a more easily realized approach. Localized delivery is of particular interest for many medical applications, including the treatment of localized diseases, the modulation of cellular response to implants or tissue engineering constructs, and the management of wound healing and regenerative medicine. In this work we present an ultrathin electrostatically assembled coating for localized and sustained delivery of short interfering RNA (siRNA). This film was applied to a commercially available woven nylon dressing commonly used for surgical applications and was demonstrated to sustain significant knockdown of protein expression in multiple cell types for more than one week in vitro. Significantly, this coating can be easily applied to a med...
Meltwater and tidal currents : controls on circulation in a small glacial Fjord

McBride Inlet is a small glacial fjord that receives freshwater from a submarine tunnel at the base of a tidewater glacier at its head. The upwelling buoyant plume mixes with basin water, lowering the salinity throughout the ice-proximal basin. Freshwater also upwells from the melting ice face but the effects are only important in winter when discharge is low. Deep water renewal occurs in summer because the water mass crossing the sill inward is denser than the deep basin water. The thick, low velocity surface layer is affected by tides and wind, producing a slow moving gyre near the glacier. Meltwater discharge from a submarine position and the resultant circulation in McBride Inlet result in extremely high ice-proximal sedimentation rates.
World knowledge affects prediction as quickly as selectional restrictions: evidence from the visual world paradigm

There has been considerable debate regarding the question of whether linguistic knowledge and world knowledge are separable and used differently during processing or not (Hagoort, Hald, Bastiaansen, & Petersson, 2004; Matsuki et al., 2011; Paczynski & Kuperberg, 2012; Warren & McConnell, 2007; Warren, McConnell, & Rayner, 2008). Previous investigations into this question have provided mixed evidence as to whether violations of selectional restrictions are detected earlier than violations of world knowledge. We report a visual-world eye-tracking study comparing the timing of facilitation contributed by selectional restrictions versus world knowledge. College-aged adults (n=36) viewed photographs of natural scenes while listening to sentences. Participants anticipated upcoming direct objects similarly regardless of whether facilitation was provided by only world knowledge or a combination of selectional restrictions and world knowledge. These results suggest that selectional restrictions are not available earlier in comprehension than world knowledge.
Purification of Boll Weevil Phenoloxidase by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

Phenoloxidase in the hemolymph of the boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman, was partially purified and characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography and was determined to be a dimer with a native molecular weight of about 150,000. The pH optimum was 7.0. The approximate Km at pH 7.0, with L-dihydroxyphenylalanine as the substrate, was 1 mM.
The regulation of tryptophan hydroxylase activity

Tryptophan hydroxylase is the initial and rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT). Knowledge about how the activity of this important brain enzyme is regulated has emerged at a slow rate, primarily as a result of the extreme instability of tryptophan hydroxylase to storage and purification. The present chapter will present some of our past and recent research on tryptophan hydroxylase which has concentrated roughly on two different aspects of the control or determination of its level of activity. First, we have attempted to delineate which factor(s) contribute to the in vitro lability of tryptophan hydroxylase and second, the activation of tryptophan hydroxylase by a calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation reaction has been described.
A Shift Toward Gender Equality in Prosecutions: Realizing Legitimate Enforcement of Crimes Committed Against Women in Municipal and International Criminal Law

A new era of law enforcement has emerged recognizing the importance of punishing gender-specific violence. This first wave of "gender-sensitive prosecutors" has changed the way crimes against women are handled in the criminal justice system. The enactment of gender neutralizing laws and policies has dramatically improved the enforcement of crimes against women and attempts to end the era of impunity. This Article addresses the changes in prosecutions and further considers international human rights treaties that require gender equality in law enforcement. In criminal law, it is the willingness of a prosecutor to exercise his or her discretionary authority to file a case that has the most profound impact upon actual realized justice. Thus, this shift toward gender equality in enforcement directly impacts the exercise of prosecutorial discretion. This Article discusses the voluntary and involuntary changes to prosecutors' exercise of discretion to pursue justice in crimes that impact women. Recently prosecutors are giving priority to and extending specialized resources for the prosecution of gender-specific crimes, such as: domestic violence and various forms of sexual violence. Although there is still much work to be done, the modern era of enforcement of the human rights of women has begun.
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) promotes phosphorylation and an increase in the activity of cytosolic phospholipase A2 in human neutrophils

Incubation of human neutrophils with 500 pM granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) results in a rapid and time-dependent increase in the phosphorylation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), which was reflected in a slower electrophoretic mobility of the enzyme. The GM-CSF-induced phosphorylation of cPLA2 was accompanied by a parallel and time-dependent increase in the enzyme activity. Preincubation of neutrophils with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein caused inhibition of the GM-CSF-stimulated phosphorylation and activity of cPLA2. Immunoprecipitation of the enzyme following incubation of neutrophils with [32P]Pi shows that cPLA2 is phosphorylated by GM-CSF. Potato acid phosphatase caused dephosphorylation of the enzyme, indicating that cPLA2 is indeed phosphorylated by GM-CSF. The subcellular distribution of cPLA2 in GM-CSF-stimulated neutrophils revealed that the enzyme resides almost completely in the cytosolic fraction. Addition of Ca2+ to the lysis buffer before homogenization results in the translocation of the phosphorylated and the dephosphorylated forms of the enzyme to the membranes. Translocation of cPLA2 was also achieved after incubation with 0.1 microM N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenyl-alanine (fMLP) after GM-CSF stimulation and when neutrophils were challenged with the Ca2+ ionophore A23187. EDTA and EGTA were unable to solubilize the translocated enzyme from the neutrophil membranes, indicating that cPLA2 is attached to the membranes by strong bonds and not merely due to ionic forces exerted by Ca2+. The inability of GM-CSF to promote arachidonic acid mobilization is probably due to the fact that GM-CSF does not cause an increase in intracellular Ca2+, which is necessary for the translocation of the enzyme to the membranes where its substrate(s) reside.
Cefepime-Related Encephalopathy and Associated EEG Activity (P6.369)

Objective: To present a series of patients with cefepime-related EEG abnormalities and encephalopathy. Background: Cefepime is an antibiotic frequently used for nosocomial infections, now known to cause a severe but reversible encephalopathy. Methods: We reviewed the records of patients undergoing continuous EEG monitoring at our center from 1/2015 to 10/2015 for patients with encephalopathy in whom cefepime was listed as a relevant medication. We recorded the EEG pattern, response to cefepime discontinuation, presence or absence of renal failure, and underlying disease as well as demographic information. Results: We identified 10 patients undergoing monitoring for encephalopathy in whom cefepime was recorded. Of these, 8 patients showed abnormal periodic or rhythmic activity on EEG; in 7 cases this pattern was stimulus induced and qualified as SIRPIDs (stimulation-induced rhythmic, periodic, or ictal discharges). The EEG of the remaining patients showed diffuse slowing. Seven of 8 patients had renal failure at the time of cefepime-related encephalopathy, while one had normal renal function. Four of 8 patients (including the patient with normal renal function) had acute central nervous system injury (3 infectious, 1 ischemic etiology). In patients where SIRPIDs or another rhythmic/periodic pattern were seen, the EEG pattern resolved after cefepime discontinuation in 6 of 8 patients. One patient in this group died of comorbid conditions before resolution of EEG pattern. In the patients with diffuse slowing, the discontinuation of cefepime had no impact on the EEG. Conclusions: Cefepime should be considered as a cause of encephalopathy in patients with an abnormal rhythmic or periodic activity on EEG, especially when there is a stimulus-induced component. Abnormal renal function need not be present, while acute CNS pathology may be a risk factor. Neurologists must be aware of drug-related EEG patterns and encephalopathy as the treatment is removing a medication, rather than adding an anti-seizure drug. Disclosure: Dr. Johnson has nothing to disclose. Dr. Carballido Martinez has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ritzl has nothing to disclose.
Stochastic model of nanomechanical electron shuttles and symmetry breaking

Nanomechanical electron shuttles can work as ratchets for radio-frequency rectification. We develop a full stochastic model of coupled shuttles, where the mechanical motion of nanopillars and the incoherent electronic tunneling are modeled by a Markov chain. In particular, the interaction of their randomness is taken into account, so that a linear master equation is constructed. Numerical solutions from our fast approximate method and analytical derivation reveal the symmetry breaking, which results in the direct current observed in earlier measurements [Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 067204 (2010)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.105.067204]. Additionally, the method can facilitate device simulation of more complex designs such as shuttle arrays.
On the Roots of Media Ecology: A Micro-History and Philosophical Clarification

This paper provides a brief review of media ecology. It is partly a micro-history of the tradition, and partly a philosophical clarification of how and why “systems-theory orientations,” literacy studies, and the rapid spread of new media were all essential to its germination, growth, and proliferation. Finally, the paper offers concluding remarks regarding social constructionist thought and how it relates to the media ecology tradition.
Muddy Waters and Perception of Representative Issue Positions: Constituent Ignorance, Delusion or Rationality

There is some evidence of the impact of public opinion on policy-making, however little research examines how the public’s perspective develops. Although some scholars have cast doubt on the public’s ability to make a credible impact on policy because of a lack of knowledge, recent research reveals some surprising evidence of public attention despite the actions of ambiguous politicians. While policy perceptions of constituents are not fully accurate, there are a number of factors at work—the use of heuristic cues, some actual knowledge of stances, projection and false consensus. Individuals who are less well informed are more likely to be guided by personal opinion than objective reality. The results reveal constituents with some savvy, but who are also subject to the influence of rhetoric and misinformation.
Isolation and General Characterization of Chlorophyll B Deficient Mutants and their Developmental Phenotypes from the Green Alga, Scenedesmus Obliquus

A well recognized characteristic of higher plants, green algae, Euglenaceae and Prochlorophyta is the presence of chrorophyll b (chl b) in the light harvesting systems of photosystem I (LHC-I) and photosystem II (LHC-II)1. The original evidence demonstrating the localization of chl b in a specific membrane protein arose from detergent-gel electroph-oresis studies on chloroplast membrane proteins derived from a chl b deficient mutant of barley2,3. This seminal observation, plus the equally important finding that loss of PS-I in the PS-8 mutant of Schenedesmus resulted in loss of a distinct chlorophyll-protein complex3, provided the first clear experimental evidence for separate photosynthetic reaction centers and light harvesting complexes. Concentrated research efforts by numerous laboratories have extended this fundamental theme such that it is now recognized that each photosystem has elaborated its immediate antennae system plus an additional light harvesting network to assure energy gathering potential adequate for a variable light intensity environment1.
Semi-supervised classification of static canine postures using the Microsoft Kinect

3D sensing hardware, such as the Microsoft Kinect, allows new interaction paradigms that would be difficult to accomplish with traditional RGB cameras alone. One basic step in realizing these new methods of animal-computer interaction is posture and behavior detection and classification. In this paper, we present a system capable of identifying static postures for canines that does not rely on hand-labeled data at any point during the process. We create a model of the canine based on measurements automatically obtained in from the first few captured frames, reducing the burden on users. We also present a preliminary evaluation of the system with five dogs, which shows that the system can identify the "standing," "sitting," and "lying" postures with approximately 70%, 69%, and 94% accuracy, respectively.
A Large-Scale Study of the Reliabilities of Checklist Scores and Ratings of Components of Interpersonal and Communication Skills Evaluated on a SP Examination

Checklists and rating scales are both used for assessing examinees in standardized patient (SP) examinations. The common presumption, though, is that checklists are more objective than and hence superior to rating scales with respect to such psychometric properties as reliability. Two related articles, however, have warned that “objectified methods do not inherently provide more reliable scores,” and our recent study of interpersonal and communication skills supports this claim with checklist and rating-scale reliabilities of. 65 and. 76, respectively, and an intercorrelation of. 82. The present study extended this research to different aspects or components of interpersonal and communication skills, using a 26-item checklist consisting of five sections of 3 to 7 items each, with each section representing a different component of interpersonal and communication skills. At the end of each section, the SP was asked to provide a global rating of the component indicated by the items in that section. Analyses were performed on data for 1,048 fourth-year medical students at the eight-school New York City Consortium, tested on the 7-case SP examination administered by The Morchand Center at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. The intercase reliabilities for the checklist scores and ratings, respectively, were:. 33 and. 39 for eliciting information,. 33 and. 39 for nonverbal behaviour,. 55 and. 52 for patient education,. 48 and. 45 for professional manner, and. 49 and. 52 for patient satisfaction. The correlations between the checklist scores and ratings for the five components were. 66,. 60,. 80,. 69, and. 75, respectively. The pattern of these results provides further support for the claim that “objectified” measures, like check lists, “do not inherently provide more reliable scores.”
Noninvasive radiomics signature based on quantitative analysis of computed tomography images as a surrogate for microvascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma: a pilot study.

We explore noninvasive biomarkers of microvascular invasion (mVI) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using quantitative and semantic image features extracted from contrast-enhanced, triphasic computed tomography (CT). Under institutional review board approval, we selected 28 treatment-naive HCC patients who underwent surgical resection. Four radiologists independently selected and delineated tumor margins on three axial CT images and extracted computational features capturing tumor shape, image intensities, and texture. We also computed two types of “delta features,” defined as the absolute difference and the ratio computed from all pairs of imaging phases for each feature. 717 arterial, portal-venous, delayed single-phase, and delta-phase features were robust against interreader variability (concordance correlation≥0.8). An enhanced cross-validation analysis showed that combining robust single-phase and delta features in the arterial and venous phases identified mVI (AUC 0.76±0.18). Compared to a previously reported semantic feature signature (AUC 0.47 to 0.58), these features in our cohort showed only slight to moderate agreement (Cohen’s kappa range: 0.03 to 0.59). Though preliminary, quantitative analysis of image features in arterial and venous phases may be potential surrogate biomarkers for mVI in HCC. Further study in a larger cohort is warranted.
Hydrogen Bonding Chemosensors for Metabolites and Nucleotides

A system of molecular architecture that consists of fused 6-membered carbocyclic and heterocyclic rings and orients heteratom binding sites toward a molecular cavity or cleft has been developed in our laboratories at SUNY Stony Brook and the University of Nevada. This approach was initially used to produce torands (e.g., 1, Figure 1) that form exceptionally strong complexes with metal cations.1–11 Butyl substituents, arising from the 9-n-butyloctahydroacridine building block,12 were incorporated into the design of these metal complexing agents in order to enhance their solubilities in organic solvents.
Characteristics and comorbidities of inpatients without celiac disease on a gluten-free diet.

ObjectivesDespite the increasing popularity of gluten-free diet (GFD), the demographic characteristics and medical features of patients without celiac disease on this diet have not been extensively investigated.We aimed to characterize the medical conditions and demographic backgrounds of hospitaliz
Computational study of gate-induced drain leakage in 2D-semiconductor field-effect transistors

Gate-induced drain leakage (GIDL) is one of the main leakage mechanisms in field-effect transistors (FETs), especially access transistors that are widely employed in a variety of memory technologies. In this work, GIDL in emerging two-dimensional (2D) FETs is evaluated for the first time, by employing a novel dissipative quantum transport methodology based on Buttiker probes with band-to-band tunneling capability. It is shown that 2D semiconductors with relatively large bandgaps and favorable effective masses compared to that of silicon can greatly reduce GIDL, which is a compelling reason for using such materials in future memory technologies. Materials and device design considerations are discussed for minimizing the GIDL current. This work also provides guidelines for performance/scalability analysis of low-leakage applications of 2D FETs.
On the role of internal friction in low-and high-cycle fatigue

Abstract A thermographic methodology is used to determine the fatigue fracture entropy for predicting low- and high-cycle metal fatigue. The associated analysis includes consideration of energy dissipation via microplastic deformation and internal friction. Internal friction is shown to play an important role in high-cycle fatigue. The results of extensive low- and high-cycle bending fatigue experiments on stainless steel 304 and carbon steel 1018 are presented to demonstrate the utility of the proposed approach. It is shown that the proposed approach can successfully capture the material failure during cyclic loadings.
Cultural Tourism in a Replicated Old Town: Tourists’ Views

The proliferation of replicated old towns for tourism purposes is widespread throughout China. Employing surveys, informal interviews, observations and secondary sources, this study explores touris...
Meaningful changes in end-of-life care among patients with myeloma.

Patients with advanced myeloma experience a high symptom burden particularly near the end of life, making timely hospice use crucial. Little is known about the quality and determinants of end-of-life care for this population, including whether potential increases in hospice use are also accompanied by “late” enrollment (≤ 3 days before death). Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End-Results-Medicare database, we identified patients ≥ 65 years diagnosed with myeloma between 2000 and 2013 who died by December 31, 2013. We assessed prevalence and trends in hospice use, including late enrollment. We also examined six established measures of potentially aggressive medical care at the end of life. Independent predictors of late hospice enrollment and aggressive end-of-life care were assessed using multivariable logistic regression analyses. Of 12,686 myeloma decedents, 48.2% enrolled in hospice. Among the 6111 who enrolled, 17.2% spent ≤ 3 days there. There was a significant trend in increasing hospice use, from 28.5% in 2000 to 56.5% by 2013 (Ptrend