cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Formation of Zinc-Chlorophyll-Derivative Complexes in Thermally Processed Green Pears (Pyrus communis L.)

The formation of zinc-chlorophyll-derivative complexes was investigated in peels-on green D'Anjou pears when subjected to blanching in zinc ion solution (1300, 2600, and 0 ppm) at 94 degrees C for 6, 12, or 18 min and then canning at 94 degrees C for 20 min. The peels removed from the pears were freeze-dried and ground into powders in liquid nitrogen for pigment extraction using ethyl ether. The visual absorption of the extracts was measured using a spectrophotometer along with identification and quantification of chlorophyll derivatives using reverse-phase HPLC method. Furthermore, pears with or without the peels were blanched in 2600 ppm of zinc solution for 12 min following the canning process in 10 degree Brix syrup solution. Total antioxidant (TA) and total phenolic content (TPC) of the pear flesh and peels were evaluated using Folin-Ciocalteu's phenol and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assays. Thermal processing destroyed chlorophylls on pear peels, in which pheophytins were found to be the major degraded compounds while an insignificant amount of pyropheophytins was also formed. In zinc blanched peels, Zn pheophytins a was the dominant green compound, and its amount increased about 100% and 144.4% in peels blanched in 1300 ppm zinc solution for 6 and 12 min, respectively. When blanching peels in 2600 ppm zinc solution for 6 and 12 min, the pigment increased about 118% and 242%, respectively. Significant reductions in TA and TPC were found on the peels of zinc treated pears, but the overall TA and TPC of whole fruits were not significantly affected by the treatments.
EFFECTS OF CONSTITUENT SCALE ON STRESS TRANSFER AND MATRIX CRACKING

The fundamental aspect of composites is that of stress transfer from the matrix to the fibers, and a number of mechanisms derive from this basic consideration. A previous analysis, although relatively simple and elegant, has a basic flaw, in that it assumes that there is no adhesion between the fiber and the matrix at the fiber ends, leading to the sometimes erronous condition of no stress transfer through those points. In this paper a modified end condition that better describes stress transfer is investigated and applied in determining the development of fiber, matrix and interfacial shear stress distribution in the uncracked, singly cracked and multiple cracked matrix configurations, with emphasis on the effects due to constituent dimensions.
Recurrent stroke and thrombo‐occlusive events in the antiphospholipid syndrome

We prospectively studied 81 consecutively identified patients with antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) who developed focal cerebral ischemia over a 7-year period. The mean age of this cohort was approximately a decade younger than the average atherothromboembolic stroke victim and women were more commonly involved than men. The frequency of conventional stroke risk factors was lowest in the group of stroke patients with the highest levels of IgG cardiolipin immunoreactivity. Other serological abnormalities associated with aPL (false-positive Veneral Disease Research Laboratory test, thrombocytopenia, prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time [aPTT]) were more common in the group with over 100 GPL units (high positive). Patients with the highest IgG anticardiolipin titers had the shortest times to subsequent thrombo-occlusive events. The most common recurrent event was cerebral infarction, often occurring within the first year of follow-up during a mean prospective follow-up of 3 years. Over one-half of the cohort had at least one recurrent thrombo-occlusive event during follow-up. This distinct syndrome of cerebral ischemia should be recognized for its younger age at onset, predominance of women, high risk of recurrent thrombo-occlusive events, and the possible use of the IgG anticardiolipin antibody titer for prognosis.
Comparison of the structural properties of a-Si:H prepared from SiH4 and SiH4 + H2 plasmas, and correlation of the structure with the photoelectronic properties

Abstract The addition of hydrogen gas to silane gas during the deposition of high-quality a-Si: H has frequently been reported to improve the optical and electronic responses of the material. For our preparations of device-quality a-Si: H(: D) in an r.f. glow-discharge reactor from SiH4, SiH4 + H2, and SiH4 + D2, we find no significant differences between the optical and electronic properties of the as-deposited materials. However, structural examinations by gas evolution and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) reveal marked dissimilarities, the gas evolution being an especially discriminating tool. Moreover, annealing at several temperatures, followed by a full complement of optical, electronic and HRTEM measurements, demonstrates differences in the optoelectronic properties that can be reasonably correlated with the structural differences.
Reviewing Educational Reform and Teacher Education

(1997). Reviewing Educational Reform and Teacher Education. Action in Teacher Education: Vol. 19, Educational Reform and Teacher Education: A Status Report, pp. 84-87.
Patterns of vertebrate abundance in a tropical mosaic landscape

Multi‐faceted field sampling in a mosaic landscape in Venezuela generated insights on how topographical characteristics, forest composition, degree of habitat interspersion, and paleoecology influenced the abundance and distribution of vertebrates. Physical heterogeneity resulted in distinct vegetation types and a very uneven distribution of medium to large‐sized vertebrates. Variations in forest composition resulted in dramatic contrasts in primate densities. White‐tailed deer densities varied an order of magnitude between vegetation types. Yellow‐knobbed curassow densities peaked in moist forest. Similar chachalaca densities were encountered in dry forest. Although there was spatial overlap between jaguars and pumas, from a large‐scale perspective pumas made more use of drier habitats. In select habitats the abundance and biomass of red‐footed tortoises exceeded that of multiple species of large native mammals combined. This variation in animal abundance highlights the significance of scale in the inter...
CHEMOKINE RECEPTOR-LIGAND INTERACTIONS MEASURED USING TIME-RESOLVED FLUORESCENCE

Two G protein-coupled receptor subtypes (CXCR1 and CXCR2) mediate Interleukin-8 (IL8) action in cells. A nonradioactive lanthanide-chelate derivatized IL8 ligand was developed to measure the binding activity of the chemokine receptors, CXCR1 and CXCR2. Site-specific mutagenesis of the carboxyl-terminal serine of IL8 to cysteine resulted in a mutant IL8 (IL8-S72C) having a single free sulfhydryl. Using an iodoacetamide derivative of the Eu3+-chelate of N-(p-benzoic acid)diethylenetriamine-N,N',N"-tetraacetic acid (DTTA), incorporation of one Eu3+ per IL8 molecule ([Eu3+]IL8-S72C) was achieved. The dissociation constant for this conjugate was similar to that measured for [125I]IL8 ( approximately 2 nM) when measured by time-resolved fluorometry using CHO cell lines stably expressing CXCR1 or CXCR2 receptors. The sensitivity, stability, and high specific activity of europium-labeled IL8 demonstrate the usefulness of lanthanide-labeled proteins in the measurement of receptor-ligand interactions and may be extended to other peptide ligands.
Brine Soluble Protein of Cheddar and Gouda Cheese

Abstract Brine soluble proteins of Cheddar and Gouda cheese prepared from milks of different composition were characterized by origin, composition, and electrophoretic properties. The protein originated in the cheese curd, but its composition was not constant throughout aging. Initially, α s1 -casein and β -casein were the major electrophoretic components, but 5h after addition of rennet extract two hydrolytic components appeared. In both varieties, the α s1 -casein decreased with the production of additional components. Change was less in the β -casein component. Although the electrophoretic patterns of the cheeses were much less distinct than those of the corresponding brine soluble proteins, the number of components was the same in each case. Enrichment of milk with calcium and variety characteristics (i.e., Cheddar or Gouda) had a greater influence on the electrophoretic properties of brine soluble proteins than did the casein/fat ratio of the milk. α s1 -casein tended to be hydrolyzed more rapidly in Gouda than in Cheddar cheese.
THE INFLUENCE OF CORRUPTION ON CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STANDARDS: SHARED CHARACTERISTICS OF RAPIDLY DEVELOPING ECONOMIES

This article evaluates the relationship between the level of corruption in rapidly developing economies and corporate governance processes therein. Previous literature illustrates a strong relationship between corporate governance and corruption and suggests that in countries with high levels of corruption, firms lack efficient corporate governance practices. Similarly, countries with deficient corporate governance practices and low levels of compliance to these standards breed corruption leading to a wide range of transparency dilemmas. This study delves deeper through careful examination regarding the level of compliance with corporate governance standards and the pervasive effects of corruption on the governance processes of firms with specific regard to rapidly developing economies as well as offering comparisons and similarities of shared characteristics among these countries.
Solving the Search for Source Code

Programmers frequently search for source code to reuse using keyword searches. The search effectiveness in facilitating reuse, however, depends on the programmer's ability to specify a query that captures how the desired code may have been implemented. Further, the results often include many irrelevant matches that must be filtered manually. More semantic search approaches could address these limitations, yet existing approaches are either not flexible enough to find approximate matches or require the programmer to define complex specifications as queries. We propose a novel approach to semantic code search that addresses several of these limitations and is designed for queries that can be described using a concrete input/output example. In this approach, programmers write lightweight specifications as inputs and expected output examples. Unlike existing approaches to semantic search, we use an SMT solver to identify programs or program fragments in a repository, which have been automatically transformed into constraints using symbolic analysis, that match the programmer-provided specification. We instantiated and evaluated this approach in subsets of three languages, the Java String library, Yahooe Pipes mashup language, and SQL select statements, exploring its generality, utility, and trade-offs. The results indicate that this approach is effective at finding relevant code, can be used on its own or to filter results from keyword searches to increase search precision, and is adaptable to find approximate matches and then guide modifications to match the user specifications when exact matches do not already exist. These gains in precision and flexibility come at the cost of performance, for which underlying factors and mitigation strategies are identified.
Electron Emission from Hypervelocity C60 Impacts

Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) performed in the event-by-event bombardment detection mode when coupled to an electron emission microscope allows one to investigate individual nano-objects. Two groups of Au and Al oxide nano-objects were compared with their bulk counterparts based on their secondary ion and electron emission from individual C60 impacts at 15 and 30 keV total impact energy. Our results show that electron yields depend on the size and surroundings of the nano-object, and at higher impact energies, these differences in electron emission are more pronounced. A second key observation for systems of similar chemical makeup but different surface topography and size is that the emission of secondary ions and electrons is independent of each other.
An assessment of Stat Tek: A reagent-strip method for glucose determination

Stat Tek, a reagent — strip method for glucose determination, has been evaluated. Aqueous solution of glucose standard is not recommended. The linearity of serum glucose is between 630 to 3,450 mg/l. The within run precision is between 0.7% to 3.0%. The day-to-day precision is between 2.8% to 5.6%. The recovery of glucose added to serum is between 95 to 101%. The correlation of glucose by Stat-Tek and SMA 6/60 show small proportional and constant errors. Stat-Tek is simple and easy to use; however, proper quality control and training of the user are essential for the correct measurement of glucose.
Validation of a micro-CT technique for measuring volumetric wear in retrieved acetabular liners.

In this study, a novel micro-CT–based technique for evaluating wear in retrieved acetabular liners was introduced and validated. Six UHMWPE acetabular components ranging in implantation time from 2.7 to 14.4 years were collected and evaluated with the use of a high-resolution micro-CT scanner. The components were scanned with a uniform volumetric resolution of 74 microns (16-bit precision) with the use of a 1024 × 1024 in-plane image matrix. Manual rigid 3D image registration of the interior hemispherical portion of the acetabular cup with geometric primitives by trained observers allowed for isolation, visualization, and measurement of the wear volume. Results for these six components indicated an average wear rate of 65 mm3/year. Overall scanner error was quantified gravimetrically and associated with a maximum uncertainty of 0.6%. Intra- and interobserver uncertainty analysis showed the method to be both accurate and repeatable. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2005
Inactivation of SNF5 cooperates with p53 loss to accelerate tumor formation in Snf5(+/-);p53(+/-) mice.

Malignant rhabdoid tumors (MRTs) are poorly differentiated pediatric cancers that arise in various anatomical locations and have a very poor outcome. The large majority of these malignancies are caused by loss of function of the SNF5/INI1 component of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex. However, the mechanism of tumor development associated with SNF5 loss remains unclear. Multiple studies have demonstrated a role for SNF5 in the regulation of cyclin D1, p16INK4A and pRbf activities suggesting it functions through the SWI/SNF complex to affect transcription of genes involved in cell cycle control. Previous studies in genetically engineered mouse models (GEMM) have shown that loss of SNF5 on a p53 null background significantly accelerates tumor development. Here, we use established GEMM to further define the relationship between the SNF5 and p53 tumor suppressor pathways. Combined haploinsufficiency of p53 and Snf5 leads to decreased latency for MRTs arising in alternate anatomical locations but not for the standard facial MRTs. We also observed acceleration in the appearance of T-cell lymphomas in the p53+/-;Snf5+/- mice. Our studies suggest that loss of SNF5 activity does not bestow a selective advantage on the p53 spectrum of tumors in the p53+/-;Snf5+/- mice. However, reduced p53 expression specifically accelerated the growth of a subset of MRTs in these mice.
Hypothesis: Chlamydia trachomatis infection of the female genital tract is controlled by Type 2 immunity

Abstract Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate intracellular bacterium sexually transmitted to more than 90 million individuals each year. As this level of infectivity implies, C. trachomatis is a successful human parasite; a success facilitated by its ability to cause asymptomatic infection. Host defense against C. trachomatis in the female genital tract is not well defined, but current dogma suggests infection is controlled largely by T H 1 immunity. Conversely, it is well established that T H 2 immunity controls allergens, helminths, and other extracellular pathogens that cause repetitive or persistent T cell stimulation but do not induce the exuberant inflammation that drives T H 1 and T H 17 immunity. As C. trachomatis persists in female genital tract epithelial cells but does not elicit over tissue inflammation, we now posit that defense is maintained by Type 2 immune responses that control bacterial growth but minimize immunopathological damage to vital reproductive tract anatomy. Evaluation of this hypothesis may uncover novel mechanisms by which Type 2 immunity can control growth of C. trachomatis and other intracellular pathogens, while confirmation that T H 2 immunity was selected by evolution to control C. trachomatis infection in the female genital tract will transform current research, now focused on developing vaccines that elicit strong, and therefore potentially tissue destructive, Chlamydia -specific T H 1 immunity.
Adenoviral Constructs Encoding Phosphorylation-Competent Full-length and Truncated Forms of the Human Retinoblastoma Protein Inhibit Myocyte Proliferation and Neointima Formation

Background The retinoblastoma (Rb) protein is a key cell-cycle regulator that controls entry into the S phase by modulating the activity of the E2F transcription factor. We analyzed the effects of full-length phosphorylation-competent and a mutant truncated form of human Rb for their effects on vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and neointima formation. Methods and Results A number of mutant forms, both phosphorylation competent and incompetent, of human Rb protein were evaluated for their ability to inhibit E2F activity. The results of these assays indicated that a phosphorylation competent, amino-terminal–truncated Rb protein (Rb56) was a particularly potent inhibitor of E2F-mediated transcription relative to the full-length Rb construct (Rb110). Adenoviral constructs containing Rb56 or Rb110 expressed their respective Rb forms in VSMCs, as determined by Western immunoblot analysis, and were similar in their abilities to arrest the cell cycle, as determined by assays of 3H-thymidine incorp...
Differentiating psychosis and faith: the role of social norms and religious fundamentalism

Although delusion is a central characteristic of psychosis, problems with the DSM definition make identification difficult, especially when religious content is involved. This study, involving 255 participants, sought to (1) determine if untrained participants’ assessment of religious beliefs would be similar to that of trained clinicians in a previous study and (2) determine whether participants’ Religious Fundamentalism (RF) influenced assessment. Three sets of religious beliefs, with varying levels of conventionality, were assessed. Results indicate that untrained participants rated religious beliefs in much the same way as did clinicians in a previous study, suggesting that social norms play an important role in the assessment of religious ideation. It was also found that High RF participants rated beliefs similar to their own as less pathological than did Low RF participants. Furthermore, High RF participants did not lower pathology ratings for beliefs from the least conventional religion, even when ...
GENERATION OF NITRO AND SUPEROXIDE RADICAL ANIONS FROM 2,4,6-TRINITROBENZENESULFONIC ACID BY RAT GASTROINTESTINAL CELLS

Abstract Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species have been implicated in the inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The objective of this study was to investigate mechanisms of free radical formation from the colitis inducer 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). We showed that TNBS was rapidly metabolized to TNBS nitro radical anion via metabolic reduction by flavinmononucleotide/NADPH, xanthine/xanthine oxidase as well as the rat small intestine and colon. TNBS nitro radical anion was directly detected with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. EPR spectra of TNBS nitro radical anion showed hyperfine coupling constants from the proximal nitrogen, two hydrogens and the two distal nitrogens with respective magnitudes of a N (4)=9.7 G; a H (3,5)=3.2 G (2); and a N (2,6)=0.25 G. EPR spin trapping using 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N -oxide in aerobic incubations of isolated enterocytes (or colonocytes, or red blood cells) and TNBS, in the presence or absence of NADPH, produced radical adducts characteristic of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals. Our EPR data showing generation of TNBS nitro and superoxide radical anions demonstrate that one-electron reduction of TNBS may be an initial step in the cascade of the in vivo inflammatory events in TNBS-induced colitis.
Vibrational Spectroscopic Observation of Acrylic Acid Coadsorbed in Dissociated and Molecular Forms on Oxidized Aluminum

Vibrational spectra from monolayer films of acrylic acid (CH2CHCOOH) on oxidized aluminum are obtained by inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy and multiple reflection−absorption infrared spectroscopy. Analysis of these spectra shows that acrylic acid does not adsorb exclusively by a dissociative mechanism as do most carboxylic acids. Instead, at least two coadsorbed forms are observed: physisorbed molecular acid and chemisorbed acrylate ion. Rinsing the dosed surface with ethanol removes the physisorbed form while leaving undisturbed the chemisorbed form.
New Calculation of Prompt Fission Neutron Spectra and Average Prompt Neutron Multiplicities

On the basis of standard nuclear evaporation theory, we calculate the prompt fission neutron spectrum N(E) as a function of both the fissioning nucleus and its excitation energy. To simulate the in...
Cyanide intoxication: protection with chlorpromazine.

Abstract Protection against cyanide intoxication in mice can be enhanced by the administration of chlorpromazine, providing it is given with sodium thiosulfate, or the sodium thiosulfate-sodium nitrite antidotal combination. Protency ratios which were derived from the LD50 values were compared in groups of mice premedicated with chlorpromazine (10 mg/kg) and/or sodium thiosulfate (1 g/kg) and/or sodium nitrite (100 mg/kg). These results indicate that the administration of chlorpromazine alone provides no protection against the lethal effects of cyanide. Chlorpromazine also does not enhance the protective effect of sodium nitrite; however, it strikingly potentiates the effectiveness of sodium thiosulfate either alone or in combination with sodium nitrite.
Textbook mediation of teaching: an example from tertiary mathematics instructors

Drawing on data from interviews with mathematics faculty in three different types of undergraduate institutions and using Rabardel’s model of instrument use (Verillon & Rabardel 1995), we describe three ways textbooks mediate college faculty work regarding instruction. The model anticipates epistemic and pragmatic mediations between the instructor and teaching, others, and self, with the textbook playing a significant role. We provide illustrations of each of these mediations as described by the participants. Pragmatic rather than epistemic mediations were more common. In addition, we found that the mediations seem largely dependent on instructors’ categorical perceptions of their students, either as “math students” or as “undergraduate students”. These alternate perceptions resulted in different descriptions of schemas for using the textbook with each type of student. The analysis generates further questions for research regarding either a developmental component or a curricular component that could explain this categorization of students.
Building Democratic Institutions: Party Systems in Latin America

This volume fills the need for a comprehensive, up-to-date portrait of parties and party systems in Latin America. It includes chapters on all the large and medium-sized countries, as well as those smaller countries with older democratic traditions: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. The book is framed by an introduction that provides a theoretical and comparative conceptual map for charting Latin American party systems and a conclusion that looks ahead to the challenges and trends for party building in the 1990's. The twelve country case studies address five analytical themes. Finally, and most important, the authors characterise the nature of the party system in each country - how institutionalised it is and how it can be classified.
Topologies of the Conditional Ancestral Trees and Full-Likelihood-Based Inference in the General Coalescent Tree Framework

The general coalescent tree framework is a family of models for determining ancestries among random samples of DNA sequences at a nonrecombining locus. The ancestral models included in this framework can be derived under various evolutionary scenarios. Here, a computationally tractable full-likelihood-based inference method for neutral polymorphisms is presented, using the general coalescent tree framework and the infinite-sites model for mutations in DNA sequences. First, an exact sampling scheme is developed to determine the topologies of conditional ancestral trees. However, this scheme has some computational limitations and to overcome these limitations a second scheme based on importance sampling is provided. Next, these schemes are combined with Monte Carlo integrations to estimate the likelihood of full polymorphism data, the ages of mutations in the sample, and the time of the most recent common ancestor. In addition, this article shows how to apply this method for estimating the likelihood of neutral polymorphism data in a sample of DNA sequences completely linked to a mutant allele of interest. This method is illustrated using the data in a sample of DNA sequences at the APOE gene locus.
Role of Chromatin Structure in the Regulation of Transcription by RNA Polymerase II

Recent studies on chromatin have concentrated on the relationship between its structure and gene activity. This topic, which addresses the fundamental mechanisms by which genes are expressed, has become a controversial issue, and the present data support the hypothesis that the structure of chromatin is an important component of transcriptional regulation. Notwithstanding, the complexity of this problem suggests that the current models are probably only a rough approximation of the truth.
Texture classification using spectral histograms

Based on a local spatial/frequency representation,we employ a spectral histogram as a feature statistic for texture classification. The spectral histogram consists of marginal distributions of responses of a bank of filters and encodes implicitly the local structure of images through the filtering stage and the global appearance through the histogram stage. The distance between two spectral histograms is measured using /spl chi//sup 2/-statistic. The spectral histogram with the associated distance measure exhibits several properties that are necessary for texture classification. A filter selection algorithm is proposed to maximize classification performance of a given dataset. Our classification experiments using natural texture images reveal that the spectral histogram representation provides a robust feature statistic for textures and generalizes well. Comparisons show that our method produces a marked improvement in classification performance. Finally we point out the relationships between existing texture features and the spectral histogram, suggesting that the latter may provide a unified texture feature.
A finite deformation stress-dependent chemical potential and its applications to lithium ion batteries

This paper reports the development of a new stress-dependent chemical potential for solid state diffusion under multiple driving forces including mechanical stresses. The new stress-dependent chemical potential accounts for nonlinear, inelastic, and finite deformation. By using this stress-dependent chemical potential, insertion and extraction of lithium ions into a silicon particle is investigated. The distribution and evolution of diffusion-induced stress during the insertion/extraction processes are numerically calculated. Critical particle size is obtained as a function of the charging/discharging rates. It is also found that when plastic deformation occurs, the hoop stresses on the particle surface, contrary to intuition, can become positive even during the charging process, which may explain some of the recent experimental observations.
Properties of optimal hop-by-hop allocation policies in networks with multiple transmitters and linear equal holding costs

Flow control between one receiving node and its adjacent transmitting nodes in a computer network is modeled as a Markov decision problem. By deriving several qualitative properties of an optimal allocation policy, it is shown that finding dynamic optimal allocations for only T states suffices to completely describe an optimal allocation policy. When the number of transmitters M=2, for all but one of the T states there are only two allocations that are candidates for optimality. It is desirable to extend this property to M>2. However, it appears that the technique used for M=2 does not generalize to M>2. >
αE-catenin regulates actin dynamics independently of cadherin-mediated cell–cell adhesion

αE-catenin binds the cell–cell adhesion complex of E-cadherin and β-catenin (β-cat) and regulates filamentous actin (F-actin) dynamics. In vitro, binding of αE-catenin to the E-cadherin–β-cat complex lowers αE-catenin affinity for F-actin, and αE-catenin alone can bind F-actin and inhibit Arp2/3 complex–mediated actin polymerization. In cells, to test whether αE-catenin regulates actin dynamics independently of the cadherin complex, the cytosolic αE-catenin pool was sequestered to mitochondria without affecting overall levels of αE-catenin or the cadherin–catenin complex. Sequestering cytosolic αE-catenin to mitochondria alters lamellipodia architecture and increases membrane dynamics and cell migration without affecting cell–cell adhesion. In contrast, sequestration of cytosolic αE-catenin to the plasma membrane reduces membrane dynamics. These results demonstrate that the cytosolic pool of αE-catenin regulates actin dynamics independently of cell–cell adhesion.
An Appraisal of Pharmacoeconomic Evidence of Maintenance Therapy for COPD

COPD is projected to be the third-leading cause of death by the year 2020. Pharmacotherapy for COPD is palliative at best, having no impact on slowing the progression of the disease. The introduction of newer therapies such as long-acting forms of bronchodilator and anticholinergic agents, together with the inclusion of inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) in the recent Global Initiative for COPD therapeutic algorithm, have expanded the pharmacotherapy options for the treatment of COPD. This article provides a methodologic critique of the available pharmacoeconomic evidence on drug therapy for stable COPD in an effort to complement treatment guidelines and to identify any need for future pharmacoeconomic research. Relevant search strategies revealed a total of 28 economic evaluations of which 7 satisfied the study inclusion criteria. The Drummond 10-point checklist was used for the methodological critique of the economic evaluations. Five of seven pharmacoeconomic studies were conducted alongside a randomized controlled trial, and six of seven were cost-effectiveness analyses. Of the bronchodilators, the long-acting anticholinergic agent tiotropium is considered to be cost-effective relative to ipratropium. No conclusive information could be reached for the cost-effectiveness of long-acting β-agonists. A Markov analysis showed ICSs to be cost-effective for patients with moderate-to-severe COPD relative to standard care. However, assumptions of the model may bias this conclusion, and additional studies are warranted, especially compared to other treatments. The authors suggest that additional pharmacoeconomic studies be conducted to assess the cost-effectiveness of long-acting β-agonists and ICSs, between classes of bronchodilators, and between various combination therapies.
Possible ecosystems and the search for life on Europa

No broadly accepted definition of life exists. Most proposed definitions (1–5) face severe objections (3, 6, 7). Nevertheless, one working definition of life has become influential in the origins-of-life community: “life is a self-sustained chemical system capable of undergoing Darwinian evolution” (8). The notion that “the origin of life is the same as the origin of evolution” is a popular corollary. But however valuable this Darwinian definition may be for guiding laboratory experiments, it is unlikely to prove useful to a remote in situ search for life (3, 6). In a search for extraterrestrial life in our solar system, we instead fall back on a less ambitious notion of “life as we know it,” meaning life based on a liquid water solvent, a suite of “biogenic” elements (most famously carbon, but others as well), and a source of free energy (7). The availability of these on a given world would suggest life to be possible, so that further exploration may be warranted.
Computer enumeration of walks on directed graphs

A vectorized computer code is developed for the enumeration of walks through the matrix power method for directed graphs. Application of this code to several graphs is considered. It is shown that the coefficients in the generating functions for signed graphs are much smaller in magnitude. It is shown that self-avoiding walks on some graphs can be enumerated as a linear combination of walk GFs of directed paths and rooted-directed paths.
Altered phosphate metabolism in the intact rabbit lens under high glucose conditions and its prevention by an aldose reductase inhibitor.

Abstract Intact paired rabbit lenses were incubated in media containing 5·5 m m and 35·5 m m glucose (both at 290 ± 3 mOsm) and examined by phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Lenses in 35·5 m m glucose exhibited an altered metabolic steady-state characterized by elevated alpha-glycerophosphate and depressed adenosine triphosphate concentrations. Time course studies revealed that these metabolic changes occurred chiefly during the initial 48 hr of incubation under high glucose conditions. The inclusion of an aldose reductase inhibitor in the medium prevented these changes in lenticular metabolism.
“By the Skaters, for the Skaters” The DIY Ethos of the Roller Derby Revival:

The growth of women’s roller derby has been driven by the do-it-yourself (DIY) ethic. This means the majority of roller derby leagues are owned and operated by the participants. Drawing on an ethno...
RUBIDIUM VAPOR FILTER SPECTRALLY FILTERED THOMSON SCATTERING

Improvements have been made to a spectrally filtered Thomson scattering apparatus which consists of an external cavity diode laser injection-locked titanium:sapphire laser and an optically thick rubidium vapor filter at 780 nm. In a detailed set of measurements the spectral punty, P, of the laser, defined as the ratio of the narrow band component of the laser output to the total output, has been studied as a function of circulating seed power. Incorporation of a feed back loop to “lock” the titaniwn:sapphire laser cavity to the cw seed frequency and addition of a Stimulated Brillouin Scattering Phase Conjugate mirror results in a measured spectral punty in excess 0.99999. These improvements have enabled Thomson scattering measurements to be performed with the vapor filter temperature reduced from 320 “C to 270 “C, corresponding to a decreased filter linewidth by a factor of approximately three. The utility of the improved system for measurement of electron density and temperature by Thomson scattering was demonstrated in an argon dc constricted glow discharge. At 100 mamps current and 30 torr of argon an electron density of 6.75 x 1013 cm-3 was measured on the discharge center line with a 20 value of statistical uncertainty equal to 0.4 x lo’* cms3. The corresponding electron temperature was measured to be 0.27 _+ 0.036 eV .
Influence of Concentric Left Ventricular Remodeling on Early Mortality After Aortic Valve Replacement

Background Severe left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy increases risk for adverse outcome after aortic valve replacement. Whether LV geometry influences mortality risk after aortic valve replacement is unclear. And, whether LV mass or relative wall thickness (RWT) better predicts risk for adverse postoperative outcomes is unknown. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the influence of LV geometry and LV hypertrophy on morbidity and in-hospital mortality after aortic valve replacement, and to determine whether LV mass or RWT had better prognostic ability. Methods Between January 1996 and June 2004, 5,083 patients underwent aortic valve replacement. Preoperative echocardiographic data was used to calculate LV mass and RWT. Left ventricular geometry was classified into one of four categories on the basis of LV mass indexed to body height and RWT: (1) concentric hypertrophy, (2) eccentric hypertrophy, (3) concentric remodeling, and (4) normal. Postoperative mortality and multisystem morbidities of patients with concentric geometries were compared to patients with nonconcentric geometries by propensity and logistic regression modeling. Also, prognostic ability of RWT and LV mass was compared. Results Nine hundred sixty-four patients with concentric geometry were propensity-matched to 964 patients with nonconcentric geometry. In-hospital mortality (38 [3.9%] versus 18 [1.9%]; p = 0.007), cardiac morbidity (33 [3.4%] versus 17 [1.8%]; p = 0.022), and prolonged intubation (85 [8.8%] versus 58 [6.0%]; p = 0.019) were higher in patients with concentric versus nonconcentric geometry. Increasing RWT, not LV mass, was associated with adverse outcomes. Conclusions Concentric geometries are associated with increased risk for in-hospital mortality after aortic valve replacement. Increased RWT is associated with adverse outcomes. Preoperative risk stratification should include assessments of LV hypertrophy and LV geometry.
The use of continuous positive airway pressure during an awake craniotomy in a patient with obstructive sleep apnea

We describe the anesthetic management of a morbidly obese patient with obstructive sleep apnea who underwent awake craniotomy. The patient's personal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine was used to support ventilation intraoperatively. Dexmedetomidine was used as the primary sedative. During cortical mapping, the CPAP was discontinued. The patient was comfortable and able to cooperate with language testing.
A Polish Rabbi Meets the Berlin Haskalah: The Case of R. Barukh Schick

The name of Rabbi Barukh Schick of Shklov (1744–1808) does not figure in the pantheon of great eighteenth-century Jewish personalities, alongside those of R. Israel Ba′al Shem Tov, Moses Mendelssohn, and R. Elijah, the Vilna Gaon. Unlike the latter, his teachings were not distinguished by great originality or profundity, and they exerted rather limited influence. Indeed, Schick's name might well have fallen into total oblivion were it not for a few lines in the introduction to one of his books (a Hebrew translation of Euclid's Elements), in which he related certain remarks made to him by the Vilna Gaon in support of the study of science.
Optimization-based drift prevention for learning control of underdetermined linear and weakly nonlinear time-varying systems

In this paper an optimization-based method of drift prevention is presented for learning control of underdetermined linear and weakly nonlinear time-varying dynamic systems. By defining a fictitious cost function and the associated model-based sub-optimality conditions, a new set of equations results, whose solution is unique, thus preventing large drifts from the initial input. Moreover, in the limiting case where the modeling error approaches zero, the input that the proposed method converges to is the unique feasible (zero error) input that minimizes the fictitious cost function, in the linear case, and locally minimizes it in the (weakly) nonlinear case. Otherwise, under mild restrictions on the modeling error, the method converges to a feasible sub-optimal input.
Active Verification and Vigilance: A Method to Avoid Civil and Criminal Liability When Prescribing Controlled Substances

On June 25, 2009, tragic news broke that the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, had died. Jackson had suffered a sudden and fatal cardiac arrest due to a prescription-drug overdose. Jackson’s personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, had prescribed the fatal medication dosage in an attempt to relieve Jackson from an insomnia-ridden state. Subsequently, a jury found Murray guilty of involuntary manslaughter, and he received the maximum sentence of four years in prison. Following Murray’s sentencing on November 29, 2011, Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley signaled that, going forward, he would continue to be aggressive in holding physicians criminally liable for their roles in patient deaths resulting from prescribed controlled substances.
Making the term ‘validity’ useful

Although the papers in this issue range over a wide canvas, what I found most striking was the reminder that we are still afflicted with the ‘standoff’ (Newton & Shaw, 2015) between those who argue...
Multi-scale Characterization of Improved Algae Strains

This report relays the important role biofuels such as algae could have in the energy market. The report cites that problem of crude oil becoming less abundant while the demand for energy continues to rise. There are many benefits of producing energy with biofuels such as fewer carbon emissions as well as less land area to produce the same amount of energy compared to other sources of renewable fuels. One challenge that faces biofuels right now is the cost to produce it is high.
Accounting for goodwill: An academic literature review and analysis to inform the debate

Abstract Goodwill in the accounting context represents amounts paid in excess of the fair value of the identifiable net assets for a business acquisition. The accounting for goodwill has long been a subject of debate and remains so today. Indeed, the guidance for goodwill accounting has been significantly revised by regulators twice since 2001 (2001 and 2011). Despite these recent and significant revisions, the topic is back on the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) agenda as the FASB added a project to once again discuss the optimal treatment for goodwill ( Financial Accounting Standards Board, 2015 ). In this paper, we seek to inform this effort by describing the evolution of accounting standards for goodwill and then synthesizing and analyzing the academic literature on goodwill accounting and reporting. Based on this historical perspective and analysis of the literature, we then assess the strengths and weaknesses of different accounting approaches for goodwill, highlight the factors affecting the process of standard-setting on goodwill, and make recommendations. Our recommendations include recommendations for the FASB about optimal guidance and recommendations for academics concerning future academic research projects that would advance the goodwill accounting debate. Hence, this paper should be of interest to regulators and standard setters, academic researchers interested in mergers and acquisitions and goodwill, and financial statement preparers and users.
Nonlinear Focusing of Ultrashort Laser Pulses in Atmospheric Turbulence

We model propagation of laser pulses with powers larger than the critical power of air through turbulence and determine the probability of producing filamentation at long range. We discuss laboratory experiments to validate the model.
Informational Masking in Normal-Hearing and Hearing-Impaired Listeners Measured in a Nonspeech Pattern Identification Task:

Individuals with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) often experience more difficulty with listening in multisource environments than do normal-hearing (NH) listeners. While the peripheral effects of...
Influence of Low Intensity DC Stray Current on Corrosion Behavior of Q235 Steel in Atmosphere Containing SO_2

Different intensities of DC stray current were applied to Q235 steel,and the corrosion behavior was investigated by means of exposure test,wet-dry cyclic accelerated corrosion test and dripping corrosive solution test. Weight loss,electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of the corroded samples and X-ray diffraction of the corrosion products were carried out. Results showed that corrosion behavior of Q235 steel changed slightly when the samples were applied by at least 30 mA DC stray current and exposed in high SO2 concentration. Under this condition,more metastable phases were formed in virtue of electrolytic chemical corrosion at the initial stage. But later,the compactness of the rusts was enhanced and the corrosion rate became slower with the metastable phases converting to stable phases.
Peptides in body fluids in pain.

Publisher Summary The development of regulatory peptides acting as neurotransmitters and neuromodulators has a profound influence on pain research because of the large amount of evidence implicating them in the experience of pain. Opiates have been a powerful tool in the treatment of pain and the discovery of the opioid peptides [Met]- enkephalin (MET-ENK), [Leu]enkephalin (LEU-ENK), the endorphins, the dynorphins. Their various precursors have been one of the major advances in pain work because of the obvious relevance of their potential analgesic properties. The role of peptides as a modulation of pain at various loci, are described. SP, SRIF, CCK and VIP have been identified in nociceptive primary afferent fibres; enkephalins, neurotensin and SP have been identified in the spinal interneurones. Concentrations of several regulatory peptides are high in some brain areas thought to be involved in pain perception and control, such as the periaqueductal grey (PAG) and the nucleus raphe magnus (NRM), and descending fibres containing enkephalin, SP and SP-serotonin (5-HT) fibres have been found.
Radiation tolerance of a Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode imaging array

Radiation testing results for a Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode (GM-APD) array-based imager are reviewed. Radiation testing is a crucial step in technology development that assesses the readiness of a specific device or instrument for space-based missions or other missions in high-radiation environments. Pre- and postradiation values for breakdown voltage, dark count rate (DCR), after pulsing probability, photon detection efficiency (PDE), crosstalk probability, and intrapixel sensitivity are presented. Details of the radiation testing setup and experiment are provided. The devices were exposed to a total dose of 50 krad(Si) at the Massachusetts General Hospital’s Francis H. Burr Proton Therapy Center, using monoenergetic 60 MeV protons as the radiation source. This radiation dose is equivalent to radiation absorbed over 10 solar cycles at an L2 orbit with 1-cm aluminum shielding. The DCR increased by 2.3 e−/s/pix/krad(Si) at 160 K, the afterpulsing probability increased at all temperatures and settings by a factor of ∼2, and the effective breakdown voltage shifted by +1.5 V. PDE, crosstalk probability, and intrapixel sensitivity were unchanged by radiation damage. The performance of the GM-APD imaging array is compared to the performance of the CCD on board the ASCA satellite with a similar radiation shield and radiation environment.