cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pride and Prejudice: The Homosexual Panic Defense

Gays experience a disturbing paradox in American society today: while the gay rights movement elljoys increased visibility, gaybashing is perhaps the most common and most rapidly increasing of hate-related crimes. The Homosexual Panic Defense (HPD) is based on the homosexual panic disorder, a scientific and medical explanation of, and justification fOl; the behavior of defendants who murder gay individuals. However, while used to justif)· some of the most frequent and heinous of hate crimes, the HPD has no uniform definition across cases and bears only a tenuous connection to the psychiatric disorder that legitimizes it. This Note explores the disassociation between the disorder and the defense, and argues that the HPD is not actually based on the psychiatric disorder, but rather on social and institutional prejudice against gays. This Note concludes that the HPD's use must, therefore, either be limited by the application of new evidentiary rules, using the rape-shield rules as a guide, or better yet, eliminated
Cold plasma ashing preparation of plant phytoliths and their examination with scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive analysis of X-rays

Abstract Radio frequency cold plasma ashing of plant material was evaluated for its effectiveness in reducing organic composition and producing a “spodogram” of phytoliths and other inorganic inclusions. This low temperature, dry procedure limits the alteration of the inorganic inclusion in contrast to the high temperature incineration and strong chemical oxidation methods currently in use. The calcareous and siliceous phytoliths uncovered by the cold plasma treatment of both dietary and fibrous plants were examined by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive analysis of X-rays.
Nasomaxillary hypoplasia and severe orofacial clefting in a child of a mother with phenylketonuria.

The offspring of mothers with untreated or poorly controlled phenylketonuria (PKU) (McKusick 261600) are at risk of having congenital anomalies including microcephaly, congenital heart defects and developmental delay (Rouse et al 1997). We report a child born to a mother with poorly controlled PKU and suggests that the facial abnormalities seen in this child could be part of the spectrum of maternal PKU embryopathy.
Methods for studying pro- and antiapoptotic genes in nonimmortal cells

Publisher Summary This chapter describes procedures used in studying gene function in early passage mouse embryo fibroblasts or other nonimmortalized cell types. The approach discussed in the chapter combines high-titer retroviral vectors with various null mutant cells to assess combinations of genes in a defined genetic background. A typical experiment involves four stages: (1) isolation of fibroblasts from normal and/or knockout mice; (2) generation of a retroviral vector; (3) infection of cells and selection for infected populations; and (4) analysis of cell death, transformation. This approach helps mix and match dominant and recessive activities to build model “tumor” cells from normal counterparts without clonal expansion in culture. As a result, one can have strict control over genetic background, thereby avoiding complications arising from unknown mutations that accumulate in immortal or tumor-derived lines. Although the power of this approach is in its well-defined genetic nature, it is important to recognize that these systems are necessarily artificial. Therefore, it is recommended that, having understood pro- or antiapoptotic gene function in normal cells, one tests prediction of these systems in animal models or by using patient material.
Productive Illusions: Kuhn's Structure as a Recruitment Tool

I do not know who the many readers of Structure are these days, but it is safe to assume that historians and philosophers of science or science studies practitioners are not many among them. I believe I am expressing an opinion common in our field by saying that Structure was history-making and, half a century later, has itself become history. In the terminology of Ludwik Fleck (an author whose work inspired the young Kuhn) Structure started as an esoteric book studied by few people but quickly became an exoteric one, read, cited, and appropriated by an extraordinarily wider set of audiences, reaching more people and languages than any history and philosophy of science book ever has. Structure no longer frames the research agenda of the field, and yet it is a field it helped create. It is credited for having brought (or having tried to bring) the history and the philosophy of science together, and for creating important openings for the sociology of scientific knowledge to join in the action. It also recruited new students into the field by making it look intellectually exciting — perhaps more so than it actually was. Having been one of those students, and having subsequently talked to incoming students from the other side of the generational fence, I want to look at this less-discussed dimension of Structure: its remarkably effective role as a device for intellectual recruitment.
Cellular events in tolerance. III. Carrier tolerance as a model for T cell unresponsiveness.

Lewis rats pretreated with 10 mg of the soluble supernatant of ultracentrifuged sheep γ-globulins (ShIgSo) and challenged with trinitrophenylated (TNP)-ShIg in adjuvant initially developed significantly fewer anti-TNP plaque-forming cells than untreated controls. The effect was specific because ShIgSo tolerant rats responded normally to TNP-rabbit γ-globulin. Carrier tolerance lasted at least 6 months and could be induced with as little as 100 µg ShIgSo. Adoptive transfer experiments to irradiated recipients demonstrated that thymocytes could reverse carrier unresponsiveness. “Suppressor” cells were not detectable in carrier tolerant spleen populations. The diminution of responsiveness to TNP on a tolerated carrier thus provides a model for the study of T cell unresponsiveness in vivo.
Chemistry of Thienopyridines. Part 29. The Reissert-Henze Reaction as a Route to Simple C-Substituents alpha to the Heteronitrogen Atom.

Treatment of a thienopyridine N-oxide with benzoyl chloride and cyanide ion (Reissert-Henze reaction) was shown to produce the corresponding cyanothienopyridine (43-84% yield in three parent systems), wherein the cyano substituent occurs alpha to the heteronitrogen atom. In further transformations (in two systems) the cyano group was converted successively to carbamoyl (66-89%),and thiocarbamoyl (3543%) functions. For 4-substituted thieno[2,3-6]pyridine 7-oxides, methyl and chloro substituents were retained on Reissert-Henze reaction, but the nitro group was replaced by CI or H. Some new TV-oxides and TV-oxide complexes are reported.
Glucagon stimulation of citrulline formation in isolated hepatic mitochondria.

Abstract Acute glucagon treatment of rats has been found to stimulate the formation of citrulline by isolated hepatic mitochondria incubated with ornithine, ammonium ion, bicarbonate, phosphate, and an energy source such as succinate. Citrulline formation was monitored by inclusion of [14C]bicarbonate in the incubation medium. Through the combined actions of the intramitochondrial enzymes, carbamyl phosphate synthase I and ornithine transcarbamylase, the radioactive label is incorporated into the ureido group of citrulline. The citrulline production was confirmed by chromatography of the products. Rates of citrulline formation in the isolated mitochondria were stimulated after the hormonal treatments when intramitochondrial ATP was generated via substrate oxidation. However, when exogenous ATP was utilized in the presence of oligomycin and an uncoupler, no hormonal stimulation of citrulline formation was noted. It is suggested that the stimulation of citrulline formation is a result of the stimulation of oxidative phosphorylation previously shown to be present in isolated hepatic mitochondria after glucagon treatment of the intact animal. Glucagon treatment stimulates the rate of ATP formation within the mitochondria, thereby stimulating the initial steps of ureogenesis. Pyruvate carboxylation within hepatic mitochondria is also stimulated under the same conditions. As a corollary, it is implied that the processes of citrulline formation and pyruvate carboxylation within the mitochondria are controlled to some extent by the rate of oxidative phosphorylation.
Distribution of crustacean diapause: micro- and macroevolutionary pattern and process

Theoretical predictions for the relationships between duration of dormancy, reproductive life span, and dispersal ability developed for plants in temporally varying environments are applied here to crustaceans. Mathematical models suggest that diapause duration should negatively covary with adult life span, and that both diapause and life span should negatively covary with dispersal ability. A survey of 167 crustacean species from 20 orders and three classes confirms that species with prolonged diapause have short adult life spans and those with long adult lives either have diapause lasting less than a year, or do not diapause at all. Prolonged diapause is more common among small or inland water crustaceans than it is among large or marine species, whereas large or marine species have significantly longer adult life spans on average than do those that are small or from inland waters. A greater fraction of species in the Branchiopoda exhibit prolonged diapause than do members of the Maxillopoda which, in turn, are more likely to exhibit prolonged diapause than are the Malacostraca. A greater fraction of malacostracan species have adult life spans exceeding one year than do species in either the Branchiopoda or the Maxillopoda. Cladistic analysis shows that phylogenetic constraint is likely to be at least in part responsible for the expression of diapause among the Crustacea. We conclude that both natural selection and macroevolutionary pattern have influenced the distribution of diapause among modern crustaceans.
Enhancement of microcavity lifetimes using highly dispersive materials.

We show analytically and numerically that highly dispersive media can be used to drastically increase lifetimes of high-$Q$ microresonators. In such a resonator, lifetime is limited either by undesired coupling to radiation, or by intrinsic absorption of the constituent materials. The presence of dispersion weakens coupling to the undesired radiation modes and also effectively reduces the material absorption.
Low temperature creep plasticity

a b s t r a c t The creep behavior of crystalline materials at low temperatures (T < 0.3Tm) is discussed. In particular, the phenomenological relationships that describe primary creep are reviewed and analyzed. A discussion of the activation energy for creep at T < 0.3Tm is discussed in terms of the context of higher temperature activation energy. The basic mechanism(s) of low temperature creep plasticity are discussed, as well. © 2014 Brazilian Metallurgical, Materials and Mining Association. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda.
X-ray diffraction analysis of myelin lipid/proteolipid protein multilayers.

To examine the proposal that myelin proteolipid protein underlies the adhesion of neighboring membranes in central nervous system (CNS) myelin, we carried out X-ray diffraction studies on the structure and interactions of model bilayers composed of total myelin lipids plus proteolipid apoprotein (PLP). Total myelin lipids were used because their heterogeneity was expected to provide an appropriate environment for the integral membrane protein to achieve its native conformation and establish appropriate contacts with the apposed bilayer. We found that incorporation of PLP into myelin lipid bilayers, whether organized into multilamellar vesicles or oriented multilayers, did not appreciably affect the lamellar period, which ranged from 65–71 A. In oriented multilayers, the wide-angle spacing at ≈4.8 A, which arises from the lateral packing of lipid chains and is perpendicular to the lamellar diffraction, was less oriented and weaker in bilayers containing the protein. These results indicate that PLP was incorporated into the bilayers and had a disordering effect on the hydrocarbon chains but did not extend into the spaces between bilayers. Bilayer profiles calculated from the lamellar diffraction to about 15 A spacing did not show any major changes in the distribution of electron density, suggesting that to moderate resolution, the protein was distributed uniformly across the width of the lipid bilayer. Periodicities measured from osmotically stressed multilamellar vesicles did not depend on the presence of PLP, indicating that the protein did not form stabilizing contacts between bilayers. We suggest that the results of structural, biophysical, and functional studies on model bilayers containing proteolipid protein may not extrapolate to the in vivo interactions of myelin because it is unlikely that the protein is in its native conformation.
Gene expression in peripheral immune cells following cardioembolic stroke is sexually dimorphic.

Aims Epidemiological studies suggest that sex has a role in the pathogenesis of cardioembolic stroke. Since stroke is a vascular disease, identifying sexually dimorphic gene expression changes in blood leukocytes can inform on sex-specific risk factors, response and outcome biology. We aimed to examine the sexually dimorphic immune response following cardioembolic stroke by studying the differential gene expression in peripheral white blood cells.
Risk attitudes and premiums of U.S. corn and soybean producers: an empirical investigation

The 2000 Agricultural Risk Protection Act and 2002 Farm Security and Rural Investment Act reduced price and yield risks faced by many U.S. crop producers to low levels. We use a non-structural methodology extended for application to pseudo panels and national survey data to examine the risk attitudes of U.S. corn and soybean producers to test whether, and examine how, risk attitudes varied during the 1996–2001 and 2002–2008 periods by revenue category. We cannot reject the hypothesis of risk neutrality for the entire population, and for each revenue category, for the former period, but can reject risk neutrality, in favor of risk tolerance, for the entire population and for the larger revenue categories for the latter period. Estimated risk premiums for the latter period suggest that U.S. corn and soybean farmers who earn more require larger payments to remain indifferent between receiving their expected income with certainty and receiving an uncertain income from farming and government programs.
Nucleotide-dependent conformational changes in the N-Ethylmaleimide Sensitive Factor (NSF) and their potential role in SNARE complex disassembly.

Homohexameric, N-Ethylmaleimide Sensitive Factor (NSF) disassembles Soluble NSF Attachment Protein Receptor (SNARE) complexes after membrane fusion, an essential step in vesicular trafficking. NSF contains three domains (NSF-N, NSF-D1, and NSF-D2), each contributing to activity. We combined electron microscopic (EM) analysis, analytical ultracentrifugation (AU) and functional mutagenesis to visualize NSF’s ATPase cycle. 3D density maps show that NSF-D2 remains stable, whereas NSF-N undergoes large conformational changes. NSF-Ns splay out perpendicular to the ADP-bound hexamer and twist upwards upon ATP binding, producing a more compact structure. These conformations were confirmed by hydrodynamic, AU measurements: NSF-ATP sediments faster with a lower frictional ratio (f/f0). Hydrodynamic analyses of NSF mutants, with specific functional defects, define the structures underlying these conformational changes. Mapping mutations onto our 3D models allows interpretation of the domain movement and suggests a mechanism for NSF binding to and disassembly of SNARE complexes.
Sporadic adenocarcinoma of the colon in children: case series and review of the literature.

Background Adenocarcinoma of the colon is rare in pediatric patients and thus not much is known about its clinical and imaging characteristics. Observations We present 4 adolescents with an average age of 15 years who present with several month histories of significant weight loss and abdominal pain. All had an abdominal and pelvic computed tomography scan, which revealed an adenocarcinoma in the colon. One patient had metastatic disease at diagnosis. The main treatment was primary resection and chemotherapy. Two of the children had a family history of colon cancer. Our case series depicts similarities and differences in disease presentation, tumor location, pattern of metastasis, genetics, management between adults and children and conducts a review of the relevant literature concerning adenocarcinoma in the pediatric population. Conclusions In children, this disease has more aggressive histologies and presents more frequently in an advanced stage. This is because it is not a diagnosis often considered, leading to poorer outcomes. When patients present in the correct clinical context, the possibility of colonic adenocarcinoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis, which may in turn lead to better outcomes.
Electrochemical performances of LiMnPO4 synthesized from non-stoichiometric Li/Mn ratio.

In this paper, the influences of the lithium content in the starting materials on the final performances of as-prepared LixMnPO4 (x hereafter represents the starting Li content in the synthesis step which does not necessarily mean that LixMnPO4 is a single phase solid solution in this work.) are systematically investigated. It has been revealed that Mn2P2O7 is the main impurity when Li 1.0. The interactions between Mn2P2O7 or Li3PO4 impurities and LiMnPO4 are studied in terms of the structural, electrochemical, and magnetic properties. At a slow rate of C/50, the reversible capacity of both Li0.5MnPO4 and Li0.8MnPO4 increases with cycling. This indicates a gradual activation of more sites to accommodate a reversible diffusion of Li+ ions that may be related to the interaction between Mn2P2O7 and LiMnPO4 nanoparticles. Among all of the different compositions, Li1.1MnPO4 exhibits the most stable cycling ability probably because of the existence of a trace amount of Li3PO4 impurity that functions as a solid-state electrolyte on the surface. The magnetic properties and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) of the MnPO4·H2O precursor, pure and carbon-coated LixMnPO4 are also investigated to identify the key steps involved in preparing a high-performance LiMnPO4.
The damping of a group of sea waves

The signals from a wave probe, a buoy-mounted sensor at the water surface, and a three-component sonic anemometer were recorded during the passage of a discrete group of waves which were travelling against a light wind. Cross spectra between the wave signals and the pressure and sonic anemometer signals were obtained and are interpreted.
Treatment of the occult tethered spinal cord for neuropathic bladder: results of sectioning the filum terminale.

Purpose: Occult tethered cord syndrome applies to patients with signs and symptoms consistent with a caudal spinal cord malformation despite normal neuroimaging. Although several reports of successful surgical treatment exist, controversy remains with respect to patient selection and efficacy. We present a large series with excellent clinical followup, neuroimaging and urodynamic characterization.Materials and Methods: We present our experience with 36 patients at a single institution with preoperative clinical findings, neuroimaging and urodynamics available. Postoperative outcomes were assessed clinically and with urodynamics. We determined predictive parameters to improve patient selection.Results: Approximately 0.04% of pediatric urology clinic visits resulted in neurosurgical referral for the potential of an occult tethered cord. They occurred after failure of a mean of 2 years of aggressive medical management. Daytime urinary incontinence was present in 83% of patients and 47% had encopresis. Preope...
Heat probe treatment for antral vascular ectasia

Antral vascular ectasia ("watermelon stomach") has recently been defined and characterized. This condition may be a source of significant bleeding from the stomach. Although steroids have been useful in some patients, antrectomy has been advocated as definitive therapy. We have treated 12 patients who were bleeding from this lesion with the Olympus HeatProbe Unit ® and have eliminated further hemorrhage. All presented with gastrointestinal bleeding, iron-deficiency anemia, and compatible antral biopsies. Using the large probe, vascular streaks were treated until the endoscopic appearance returned to normal (average four treatment sessions). No further bleeding was evident from the antral vascular ectasia over an average follow-up period of 20.9 months. Eight of 10 patients who had required transfusion prior to therapy no longer needed transfusion, but two received blood for other conditions. We conclude that antral vascular ectasia can be successfully treated with the HeatProbe Unit ® and this should be the initial modality of therapy for this condition.
Postprocessing of point target detection sinusoidal filters

In previous conference, we described a powerful class of temporal filters with excellent signal to clutter gains in evolving cloud scenes of consecutive IR sequences. The generic temporal filter is a zero-mean damped sinusoid, implemented recursively. The full algorithm, a triple temporal filter (TTF), consists of a sequence of two zero-mean damped sinusoids followed by an exponential averaging filter. The outputs of the first two filters are weakened at strong local edges. Analysis of a real-world database led to two optimized filters: one dedicated to noise-dominated scenes, the other to cloud clutter-dominated scenes; a dual-channel fusion of the two filters has also been implemented in hardware. This paper describes the post-processing and thresholding of the outputs of the filter algorithms. Post-processing on each output frame is implemented by a simple spatial algorithm which searches for maximum linear or pseudo-linear streaks made up of three linked pixels. The output histogram after post-processing is more robust to histogram- based thresholding and in some cases has improved signal to clutter ratio. The threshold is based on a simple level-occupancy (binary) histogram in which the first gap of 4 empty levels is determined and a threshold established based on this gap value and the number of occupied levels in the histogram above the gap. The post-processing and thresholding of the filter outputs are now operating in real-time hardware. Preliminary flight tests on a small aircraft of the algorithms in real-time operation demonstrate the viability of the approach on a moving platform. Specific examples and a video of the real-time performance on a fixed and moving platform will be presented at the conference.
Modeling, simulation, and analysis of satellite communications in nuclear disturbed environments with OPNET

Experiences modeling, simulating, and evaluating satellite and ground support systems using the OPNET tool are presented. The specific instance presented concerns work performed as part of a Nuclear Detonation Detection System (NDS) trade study. Models to be presented include a UHF satellite, mobile and fixed ground systems, and airborne systems. Model presentations start and proceed through scenario, node, component(s), detailed component attributes, and code variations providing a look at engineering level modeling of complex SATCOM systems. Traffic used in the scenarios is continuous transmission of message traffic used to evaluate the ability of UHF systems to perform in a "worst case" high altitude nuclear burst environment. Nuclear effects on RF signal propagation are identified and defined. Models and their simulation results provide a look at the capability of the OPNET tool in evaluating the capability of current as well as proposed future space and terrestrial communications systems from both the operational and acquisition perspectives when the systems are subjected to nuclear disturbed environments.
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome associated with multiple pulmonary artery stenoses and tortuous systemic arteries

A young girl with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome had evidence of multiple severe peripheral pulmonary artery stenoses and of tortuosity of the aorta and its major thoracic divisions, including the coronary arteries. It appears likely that the basic defect of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome may involve many arteries and may cause important vasular obstruction.
Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptides, PACAP-38 and PACAP-27, Regulation of Sympathetic Neuron Catecholamine, and Neuropeptide Y Expression Through Activation of Type I PACAP/VIP Receptor Isoformsa

The current studies have implicated a prominent role for PACAP peptides in modulating the physiological function of cells derived from the sympathoadrenal lineage. Compared to VIP, both PACAP-27 and PACAP-38 demonstrated potent, efficacious, and sustained stimulatory effects on sympathetic neuronal NPY and catecholamine production. The differential effects of PACAP peptides on SCG NPY and catecholamine content and secretion coincided with previous studies that activated directly the sympathetic intracellular cyclic AMP-protein kinase A signaling pathway. These effects appear to be mediated primarily by PACAP1 receptor splice variants coupled to both adenylyl cyclase and phospholipase C in SCG neurons. The actions of PACAP peptides in the SCG shared many parallels with adrenal medullary chromaffin cells, suggesting diverse roles for the PACAP peptidergic system in sympathoadrenal cell development and function. Rather than solutions, these results pose additional questions for the future. What are the endogenous sources of PACAP that regulate sympathetic and adrenal function? Do PACAP peptides, like VIP, have dual roles and also act as sympathetic postganglionic neuromodulators? Are VIP/PACAP receptors expressed during SCG development? What regulates sympathetic PACAP1 receptor isoform expression and how are they differentially coupled to neuronal intracellular signaling cascades? What defines the tissue-specific responses to PACAP-27 and PACAP-38? While many of these questions are not easily approached, future studies of these issues will certainly illuminate the function of PACAP and PACAP receptors in the nervous and endocrine systems.
Political Culture and Cultural Politics: The Reconstruction of French Radio after the Second World War:

Complaining in May 1946 that the French airwaves were polluted with 'this vile froth from the cafe-concert, these endless songs sung by floozies and hoodlums', the writer Jean Schlumberger asked, 'Why must our entertainment broadcasts be of such a humiliating vulgarity?" To radio critic Jean Thevenot, however, French radio in 1946 suffered from 'numerous "artistic" broadcasts based on a snobisme of the obscure, the exclusive, the pretentious', and he called the national network 'a "heavy" network crushing all of France with boredom'.2 Although arguments such as these have appeared in debates over culture and the mass media throughout the twentieth century in France, the debate over radio in 1945 and 1946 featured a particular urgency and intensity. With most of the country's radio system having been destroyed by the departing German army, and with the new Resistance-led government seeking to distance itself from the pre-war and Vichy approaches to broadcasting, many French leaders saw a rare opportunity to redesign the structure of the country's mass media, creating a centralized state radio system that would unify, enlighten, and entertain the entire nation. As with many other aspects of reconstruction in France, however, the reconstruction of radio had to proceed with severely limited financial and material resources. Even after requisitioning all remaining privately-owned broadcasting equipment in November 1944, the French government had only enough equipment and money for one national network and one smaller Parisian network, both of which it placed under the control of the Radiodiffusion francaise (RDF), a largely autonomous branch of the Ministry of Information.3 Gathering all of the
Patterns of Ensemble Variation of the Optical Properties of ZnO Nanowires Grown with Copper and Gold Catalysts

Understanding the source of variation of the optical properties within an ensemble of nanowires (NWs) is an important step toward fabrication of NWs with more uniform and better-controlled properties. This in turn will facilitate the development of complex architectures for device applications. Analysis of gold- and copper-catalyzed zinc oxide (ZnO) NWs grown in a high temperature tube furnace on a sapphire substrate shows that the structural and optical properties vary with NW growth sites on the substrate. Results show that there are systematic changes in the optical properties of the ZnO NWs from the center to the edge of the substrate, and also from “upstream” to “downstream” along the gas flow direction, implying changes in the availability of the source material and catalyst over the substrate surface during the growth. Photoluminescence microscopy has been used to map out these changes and unravel the growth patterns. We observe two distinct trends that are labeled the “edge” trend and the “gas flo...
Identification of a Lipopolysaccharide Binding Domain in CD14 between Amino Acids 57 and 64

CD14 is a 55-kDa glycoprotein which binds lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and enables LPS-dependent responses in a variety of cells. Recent limited proteolysis studies have implicated a region in CD14 between amino acids 57 and 64 as being involved in LPS interaction. To specifically assess the importance of this region with respect to LPS binding, we constructed a mutant sCD14 (sCD14Δ56-64) lacking amino acids 57-64. sCD14Δ56-64 was isolated from the serum-free conditioned medium of this cell line, and, in all assays, the purified protein failed to recognize LPS or enable LPS-dependent responses in cells. We also demonstrated that the region between amino acids 57 and 64 is required for binding of a neutralizing CD14 mAb, MEM-18. Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis assays were used to demonstrate that MEM-18 and LPS compete for the same binding site on CD14. These data strongly suggest that the region spanning amino acids 57-64 binds LPS and that formation of sCD14•LPS complex is required in order for sCD14-mediated responses to occur.
Use of Logic Relationships to Decipher Protein Network Organization

A major focus of genome research is to decipher the networks of molecular interactions that underlie cellular function. We describe a computational approach for identifying detailed relationships between proteins on the basis of genomic data. Logic analysis of phylogenetic profiles identifies triplets of proteins whose presence or absence obey certain logic relationships. For example, protein C may be present in a genome only if proteins A and B are both present. The method reveals many previously unidentified higher order relationships. These relationships illustrate the complexities that arise in cellular networks because of branching and alternate pathways, and they also facilitate assignment of cellular functions to uncharacterized proteins.
Role of Surface Energy Exchange for Simulating Wind Turbine Inflow: A Case Study in the Southern Great Plains, USA

The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model is used to investigate choice of land surface model (LSM) on the near surface wind profile, including heights reached by multi-megawatt (MW) wind turbines. Simulations of wind profiles and surface energy fluxes were made using five LSMs of varying degrees of sophistication in dealing with soil-plant-atmosphere feedbacks for the Department of Energy (DOE) Southern Great Plains (SGP) Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program (ARM) Central Facility in Oklahoma, USA. Surface flux and wind profile measurements were available for validation. WRF was run for three, two-week periods covering varying canopy and meteorological conditions. The LSMs predicted a wide range of energy flux and wind shear magnitudes even during the cool autumn period when we expected less variability. Simulations of energy fluxes varied in accuracy by model sophistication, whereby LSMs with very simple or no soil-plant-atmosphere feedbacks were the least accurate; however, the most complex models did not consistently produce more accurate results. Errors in wind shear were also sensitive to LSM choice and were partially related to energy flux accuracy. The variability of LSM performance was relatively high suggesting that LSM
The Role of Patient Satisfaction in Online Health Information Seeking

Studies of online health information seeking are beginning to address a basic question: why do people turn to the Internet? This study draws upon the Uses and Gratifications (U&G) and Media System Dependency (MSD) perspectives to examine in this process the role played by satisfaction with care. The sample comprised 178 cancer listserv users, of whom 35% chose the Internet as their preferred source of health information compared with 19% who named their oncologist. Dissatisfied patients were significantly more likely to rate the Internet as a better source of information than the provider (p = .001). The level of empathy shown by the provider and the quality of time spent with the patient had a significant negative association with choosing the Internet as a preferred source of information, and a significant positive association with choosing the oncologist as an information source. The results from this study emphasize the significance of the patient–provider interaction. Dissatisfied patients' tendency ...
Life Stress, Maternal Optimism, and Adolescent Competence in Single Mother, African American Families

Although research demonstrates many negative family outcomes associated with single-parent households, little is known about processes that lead to positive outcomes for these families. Using 3 waves of longitudinal data, we examined how maternal dispositional optimism and life stressors are associated with parenting and child outcomes in 394 single mother African American families. Confirming prior research, we found that mothers' childhood adversities, current economic pressure, and internalizing problems were associated with lower levels of maternal warmth and child management and with lower child school competence. Extending previous studies, we found that maternal optimism was a positive resource, predicting lower levels of maternal internalizing symptoms and higher levels of effective child management and moderating the impact of economic stress on maternal internalizing problems. These findings highlight the need for further investigation of processes and resources that promote positive outcomes for African American mother-headed families and single mother families in general.
Osteoarthritis management: the role of cyclooxygenase-2-selective inhibitors.

Abstract Background: Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2—selective inhibitors are a new type of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for the management of pain caused by osteoarthritis (OA). The most recent OA guidelines from the American College of Rheumatology were published in 2000 because new therapies such as the COX-2—selective inhibitors had been introduced for the management of OA. Objective: Because more data are now available on efficacy and safety issues with COX-2—selective inhibitors, NSAIDs, and acetaminophen, this review focuses on how COX-2—selective inhibitors may change the pharmacologic management of patients with OA. Methods: References were obtained from MEDLINE®, BIOSIS®, EMBASE®, and Internet searches of the literature. Conclusions: The safety and efficacy of two COX-2—selective inhibitors, rofecoxib and celecoxib, have been examined in a number of clinical trials, and these agents have been shown to offer efficacy similar to that of NSAIDs. Acetaminophen continues to be the initial drug of choice for the management of OA because of its efficacy, safety, cost, and availability. COX-2—selective inhibitors should be considered in patients with OA who do not respond to or cannot tolerate therapy with acetaminophen. COX-2—selective inhibitors have an improved gastrointestinal (GI) safety profile compared with traditional NSAIDs and should be chosen over NSAIDs if prescription plan access and/or expense is not a concern. COX-2—selective inhibitors are clinically indicated for patients at increased risk of developing NSAID-induced GI complications, a population in whom the use of COX-2—selective inhibitors may be cost-effective because the incidence and mortality associated with serious GI adverse events and use of expensive GI comedications would be reduced.
Impact Experiments Into Borosilicate Glass at Three Scale Sizes

Abstract : Glass impact experiments were designed at three different scales--0.22-cal, 0.375-cal, and 0.50-cal--named after the diameter of the bullets. Four experimental series were conducted at the three scale sizes: 1) Lexan-only experiments; 2) monoblock glass experiments; 3) single impact bonded glass experiments, and 4) multi-hit experiments. The experiments were conducted to obtain residual velocity as a function of impact (striking) velocity, including sufficient partial penetrations to calculate a V50. The Vs - Vr data were fit to the Lambert equation, Eqn. (5), to obtain another estimate of V50. Eroded lengths of the bullets were also measured. The objective of the experiments was to investigate whether a time dependency exists in glass damage/failure for ballistic experiments, and if so, try to quantify this dependency. No scale effect was observed in experimental results for the Lexan-only experiments. But a variety of scale effects were observed in the glass impact experiments, suggesting that there exists a time dependency to failure that is important within the timeframe of ballistic events.
Biomimetic membranes: A review

Abstract Biomimetic approaches to developing membranes for separations have seen a renewed interest in recent years. Biomimetic membranes incorporate biological elements or borrow concepts, ideas or inspiration from biological systems. Such membranes can take advantage of the strategies evolved by nature over billions of years for improving transport efficiency and specificity. This review covers biological paradigms that are relevant to membranes for separations and then presents an overview of strategies that are inspired by these paradigms. It also presents both fundamental and practical challenges to implementation of these strategies at application relevant scales.
Xenopus Bicaudal-C Is Required for the Differentiation of the Amphibian Pronephros

The RNA-binding molecule Bicaudal-C regulates embryonic development in Drosophila and Xenopus. Interestingly, mouse mutants of Bicaudal-C do not show early patterning defects, but instead develop polycystic kidney disease (PKD). To further investigate the molecular mechanism of Bicaudal-C in kidney development, we analyzed its function in the developing amphibian pronephros. Bicaudal-C mRNA was present in the epithelial structures of the Xenopus pronephros, the tubules and the duct, but not the glomus. Inhibition of the translation of endogenous Bicaudal-C with antisense morpholino oligomers (xBic-C-MO) led to a PKD-like phenotype in Xenopus. Embryos lacking Bicaudal-C developed generalized edemas and dilated pronephric tubules and ducts. This phenotype was caused by impaired differentiation of the pronephros. Molecular markers specifically expressed in the late distal tubule were absent in xBic-C-MO-injected embryos. Furthermore, Bicaudal-C was not required for primary cilia formation, an important organelle affected in PKD. These data support the idea that Bicaudal-C functions downstream or parallel of a cilia-regulated signaling pathway. This pathway is required for terminal differentiation of the late distal tubule of the Xenopus pronephros and regulates renal epithelial cell differentiation, which - when disrupted - results in PKD.
Internal Consistency of Echocardiographic Estimates of the Severity of Left Ventricular Outflow Obstruction

To determine their internal consistency, M-mode and Doppler echocardiography were used to estimate the gradient across the left ventricular outflow tract during 74 evaluations of 50 infants, children, and young adults with congenital valvular (n = 43), subvalvular (n = 6), and supravalvular (n = 1) aortic stenosis. By M-mode the gradient was estimated from the wall-stress formula (left ventricular pressure=225 x wall thickness lend-systolic diameter) minus systolic blood pressure determined by sphygmomanometry. Doppler (pulsed or continuous wave) methods utilized the Bernoulli formula (gradient = 4 x V 2 ). There was good agreement between the M-mode and Doppler estimates of outflow gradient in most patients (r = 0.69, standard error of the estimate=26.9). In 46 of 74 comparisons (62%) the two estimates differed by
Numerical crosswind smear in the streamline diffusion method

Abstract The streamline diffusion method is a popular element method for approximating convection dominated transport equations. The solution to such equations may develop boundary or internal layers in the crosswind direction (orthogonal to the flow direction), and this results in numerical crosswind layers. It is known that the size of these layers is O (h 1 2 ) or perhaps O (h 3 4 ) (h being the size of the mesh used in the numerical computation), but in practice O(h) is observed if the gridlines of the method are aligned with the streamlines of the problem. This connection is studied and an explanation is given.
Paraplegia following intrathecal methotrexate: report of a case and review of the literature.

A patient who developed paraplegia following the intrathecal instillation of methotrexate is described. The ten previously reported cases of this unusual complication are reviewed. The following factors appear to predispose to the development of this complication: abnormal cerebrospinal dynamics related to the presence of central nervous system leukemia, and epidural cerebrospinal leakage; elevated cerebrospinal fluid methothexate concentration related to abnormal cerebrospinal fluid dynamics and to inappropriately high methotrexate doses based on body surface area calculations in older children and adults; the presence of neurotoxic preservatives in commercially available methotrexate preparations and diluents; and the use of methotrexate diluents of unphysiologic pH, ionic content and osmolarity. The role of methotrexate contaminants, local folate deficiency, and cranial irradiation in the pathogenesis of intrathecal methotrexate toxicity is unclear. The incidence of neurotoxicity may be reduced by employing lower doses of methotrexate in the presence of central nervous system leukemia, in older children and adults, and in the presence of epidural leakage. Only preservative-free methotrexate in Elliott's B Solution at a concentration of not more than 1 mg/ml should be used for intrathecal administration. Periodic monitoring of cerebrospinal fluid methotrexate levels may be predictive of the development of serious neurotoxicity.
Nutrition and school achievement

Abstract Investments in education have traditionally ignored the productive role of nutrition. This study of the relationships between nutritional status and learning among urban and rural Filipino children shows the possible complementarity of nutrition with other social investments aimed at improving school achievement. A traditional production function of learning approach is used to show the significant association between school achievement and two dimensions of nutritional status. Some of the possible pathways by which nutrition can affect learning are also explored.
Lumping and Splitting the Neural Circuitry of Visual Attention

Shifts of gaze and of covert attention rely on tightly linked yet divergent neural mechanisms. In this issue of Neuron, Gregoriou et al. (2012) provide interesting evidence that different functional classes of neurons within the frontal eye field contribute uniquely to these two functions.
Processing multiple physical features in facial recognition.

Subjects made decisions about a series of faces, then had a recognition test. The study tasks required a decision about self-reference (does it look like you), an abstract trait (e.g., friendliness), a single physical feature (e.g., thickness of lips), or multiple physical features (which is the person’s most distinctive feature). As in past research, single physical feature decisions led to poorer performance than abstract trait decisions. Of greater interest here, the multiple physical feature condition was significantly better than the single physical feature condition, though still slightly worse than the abstract trait condition. These results indicate that the number of features processed is as important to facial recognition as feature “depth,” and that under some circumstances encoding “shallow” attributes can produce durable memory traces.
Oxygen in Respiratory Care: A Personal Perspective from 40 Years in the Field

Oxygen is necessary for all aerobic life, and nothing is more important in respiratory care than its proper understanding, assessment, and administration. By the early 1970s P(aO(2)) had become the gold standard for clinically assessing oxygenation in the body. Since the 1980s the measurement of arterial oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry has also been increasingly used as an adjunct to (but not a replacement for) P(aO(2)). Despite the desirability of measuring tissue oxygenation directly, no reliable and clinically relevant such measure has emerged. The 2 areas in which oxygen has proven most important in respiratory care are long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) and the management of potentially life-threatening hypoxemia in acute respiratory failure. That LTOT improves survival in appropriately selected patients with COPD was demonstrated by multicenter studies published more than 30 years ago, and their original selection criteria have so far not been improved upon. Severe hypoxemia in acute lung injury and ARDS can be improved by ventilation with PEEP, and also in many patients by various adjunctive techniques and alternative support strategies. However, the latter measures have not brought clear improvements in survival or other patient-relevant outcomes. In addition, the original goals of "normalizing" arterial oxygenation with high tidal volumes and lung-distending pressures have required modification as appreciation for ventilator-related lung injury has emerged. High concentrations of inspired oxygen may play a role in such injury, but aggressive measures to reduce them in order to avoid oxygen toxicity-which dominated ventilator management in previous decades-have been tempered in the present era of lung-protective ventilation. Although some additions and modifications have emerged, much of what we understand today about oxygen in respiratory care is owed to the pioneering work of Thomas L Petty more than 40 years ago.