cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification of explanatory variables pertaining to attack intensity on U.S. embassies in countries of the Middle East and North Africa

Abstract This project examines the incidence of attacks on American Embassies located in the Middle East and North Africa. An attack intensity scale is developed based on a recent Department of State publication's description of attack events. Locational characteristics associated with attack intensity level are examined with multiple regression analysis. Identification of significant relationships between attack intensity and several explanatory variables produced a passing multivariate model that possessed a modest adjusted R Squared and a good R Squared value. The result indicates attack intensity correlated positively with tribalism, total literacy rate, GDP per capita and the number of mosques within range of the US Embassy. Negative correlations limiting the intensity of attacks include political stability, total dependency rate, refined oil exports, and life expectancy. The model's coefficients appeared stable because of minimal levels of multicollinearity present in the model.
Easy on the SALT: A Qualified Defense of the Deduction for State and Local Taxes

Congressional Republicans and Trump administration officials have said that they plan to repeal the deduction for nonbusiness state and local taxes (SALT) as part of a comprehensive tax reform package. This essay critically examines the major arguments for repealing the SALT deduction. Repealing the deduction and using the resulting revenues to reduce federal rates across the board would likely lead to greater tax-induced deadweight loss overall. Repealing the deduction also would distort decisions about the financing of education and health care, which together account for more than half of all state and local government spending. Repeal would further encourage a shift from nonbusiness to business taxes at the state and local level, and potentially would result in more borrowing by subnational governments in the short and medium term. It would have ambiguous effects on the progressivity of the overall tax system, and it would exacerbate existing differences in federal tax burdens across states. The essay concludes that the case against the SALT deduction fails on its own terms, and that the status quo of partial deductibility offers a number of underappreciated advantages vis-a-vis the alternative of full repeal.
Design and optimization of high conversion ratio quasi square wave buck converters

With fast growth of data centers and automotive electronics, DC-DC converters are the crucial modules, which deliver power to these systems. High conversion ratio (HCR) step down DC-DC converters are gaining growing attention for usage in these high tech emerging applications. The main design challenge of these converters is maximizing conversion ratio, efficiency, and power density simultaneously. In this paper, we have advanced and expanded design procedure for Quasi Square Wave (QSW) buck converter, which is promising candidate to overcome aforementioned challenges. The procedure is essential for precise calculation of design parameters and components selection to avoid iterations after implementation. We also introduce development of an optimization approach based on detailed power loss analysis. We utilized this approach here to design optimum LS and HS FETs; and obtain power loss break down. The 1 MHz designed buck converter steps down voltage from 48 V to 1.8 V at 30 A of output current.
The Emergence, Convergence, and Resurgence of Intergroup Communication Theory in Computer-Mediated Communication

ABSTRACTThis article describes the emergence, application, development, and refinement of intergroup communication theory to explain the social effects of computer-mediated communication. It highlights the social identification-deindividuation model as a critique and alternative to models of computer-mediated communication based on interindividual and interpersonal perceptions. The article chronicles how tensions between interpersonal and intergroup approaches led to reevaluations of research methods, to measures, and to critical tests of the perspectives, and how these developments ultimately led to reformulations and the evolution of explanatory models from both the intergroup and interpersonal domains. Recent developments in social media and their challenges and opportunities for continuing and expanding applications of intergroup conceptualizations are discussed, concluding with recommendations for the resurgent vitality of intergroup approaches to help explain new social media practices and problems.
Presidential primary debates compared: timing of debate and size of candidate field as moderators of debate effects

This study examined the effects of presidential primary debates on vote preference and four normative political attitudes to test for the possibility of an early debate effect and/or a crowded-fiel...
Optical Metasurfaces: Progress and Applications

A metasurface is an artificial nanostructured interface that has subwavelength thickness and that manipulates light by spatially arranged meta-atoms—fundamental building blocks of the metasurface. ...
It Takes a Village… RN Diploma to BSN Program

Abstract Educational mobility is familiar to diploma and associate degree faculty and is emphasized in the Institute of Medicine Report, The Future of Nursing. Utilizing this premise, a team of nurse educators and administrators implemented the principles of organizational redesign, change process, and project planning to facilitate a transformation from a hospital-based diploma program to a university bachelor of science in nursing program. The process described truly exemplifies the fact that “it does take a village” to create success.
How adults change from facilitating youth participatory action research: Process and outcomes

Abstract Youth outcomes of positive youth development (PYD) programs have been widely studied. PYD theory asserts that bi-directional youth-adult relationships contribute to PYD. Empirical research on PYD, however, predominately supports a unidirectional benefit to youth. The aim of this grounded theory study was to develop a conceptual model that explains the personal and professional transformation of adults (N = 21) who facilitated youth participatory action research (YPAR). The conceptual model includes a four-part process that occurred for the adults: experiencing overwhelming feelings, using critical self-reflection, learning to let go, and forging a collective identity. Receiving external support reinforced this process. Adults reported an embodiment of new knowledge that spurred many to integrate youth voice into their professional practice. This grounded theory study provides some evidence to justify the future study of the bi-directional benefit of youth-adult partnerships that are created within the context of YPAR.
SQSTM1/p62 deficiency induces oxidative stress and senescence in vivo and in vitro in VSMCs

Aging is a major contributor to age-related diseases including cardiovascular disease (CVD). Vascular senescence, a hallmark of mammalian aging, has been linked to vascular disease like atherosclerosis. We previously showed that the NADPH oxidase Nox1 mediates senescence induced by angiotensin II, a major inducer of vascular aging and CVD. Disruption of other processes, like autophagy, also promotes senescence due to the accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria leading to upregulation of ROS levels. SQSTM1, known as p62, is an autophagy adaptor involved in the targeting of protein aggregates and dysfunctional organelles, including mitochondria, into the autophagy degradation pathway. The interaction between NADPH oxidases and autophagy in the senescence pathway is incompletely understood. Using vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) isolated from aortas of p62+/+ and p62-/- mice, we found that lack of p62 causes senescence by a ROS-dependent and Nox1-independent mechanism. Downregulation of p62 decreased cell proliferation, increased the expression of the senescence markers (senescence associated-β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) and p21) and increased superoxide, hydrogen peroxide and mitochondrial ROS levels. Treatment with the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and the mitochondrial ROS scavenger MitoTEMPO reduced SA-β-gal activity in p62-/- VSMCs, suggesting that cytosolic ROS, as well as mitochondrial ROS contribute to the development of senescence. These effects were not associated with upregulation of Nox1. Further, senescence was also upregulated in vivo in aortas of male and female p62-/-, compared with p62+/+ mice. Altogether, these data suggest lack of p62 induces oxidative stress by a Nox1-independent and mitochondrial-dependent mechanisms.
Kinetics of oxyapatite [Ca2Nd8(SiO4)6O2] and powellite [(Ca,Sr,Ba)MoO4] dissolution in glass-ceramic nuclear waste forms in acidic, neutral, and alkaline conditions

Abstract Immobilization of chemically complex aqueous waste streams from used nuclear fuel reprocessing is achievable at higher waste loadings with glass ceramics as compared to borosilicate glasses. Additionally, crystalline phases with similar chemistry are more durable than their amorphous counterparts. However, during glass ceramic fabrication, mechanical stresses at crystal-glass interfaces, which are caused by thermal expansion mismatching during cooling, create locales where water is capable of accessing and reacting with the various phases in the glass ceramic, thus releasing radionuclides into the aqueous phase. In the present work, we build on previous chemical durability investigations of a glass-ceramic containing crystalline oxyapatite [Ca2Nd8(SiO4)6O2] and powellite [(Ca,Sr,Ba)MoO4] secondary phases. The individual crystalline and bulk glass phases have been fabricated separately and the corrosion behavior has been investigated with single-pass flow-through (SPFT) testing at 90 °C in buffered pH(RT) 4, 7, 9 and pH 11 solutions and with the static product consistency test (PCT). The results demonstrate the varying dissolution kinetics of the individual phases in the range of pH studies. The consequence of the varying dissolution kinetics are described with a conceptual model of glass-ceramic dissolution mechanisms.
CHILDHOOD LEUKEMIA AND MATERNAL OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURES TO ORGANIC SOLVENTS IN COSTA RICA

Background and aims Parental occupational exposures to organic solvents are being suggested as risk factors for childhood leukemias, although evidence is inconsistence. We report results from a cas...
Co-Planar Nano-Resistor Devices

Co-planar structured nano-resistor devices made from co-planar MOS capacitors with the thin high-k gate dielectric have been fabricated and studied. The complete device was made of a 2-mask process with IC compatible materials. Nano-resistors were self-aligned to the gate electrode after a dielectric breakdown process. The broad band white light was emitted from the device upon the application of a gate voltage larger than the breakdown voltage due to the thermal excitation of nano-resistors. Optical characteristics of the co-planar structured device were compared with those of the non co-planar structured device. The main advantage of the co-planar structured device is that is can be driven without being interfered by adjacent devices. Therefore, a large number of device can be fabricated into an array for various electronic and optoelectronic applications.
¿Siete colinas o siete estrellas?: una reevaluación de las heterotopías septentrionales y meridionales en «Los trabajos de Persiles y Sigismunda»

Este articulo pretende indagar el papel peculiar que desempena el espacio en Los trabajos de Persiles y Sigismunda . Por medio de los conceptos de la heterotopia de Michel Foucault y la trialectica espacial de Henri Lefebvre, se llegara a la aseveracion de que Cervantes pone en tela de juicio la firmeza de los espacios utopicos y distopicos por hacer que sus personajes viajen por un plano geografico sumamente heterotopico. Para concluir, se usara esta idea para mostrar, al recurrir a la teoria de caos, la infinidad de posibilidades que Cervantes nos brinda en el espacio limitado y cerrado de la novela.
Phosphorylated Hexa-Acyl Disaccharides Augment Host Resistance Against Common Nosocomial Pathogens.

Objectives To determine whether synthetic phosphorylated hexa-acyl disaccharides provide antimicrobial protection in clinically relevant models of bacterial infection. Design Laboratory study. Setting University laboratory. Subjects BALB/c, C57BL/10J, and C57BL/10ScNJ mice. Interventions Mice were treated with lactated Ringer's (vehicle) solution, monophosphoryl lipid A, or phosphorylated hexa-acyl disaccharides at 48 and 24 hours prior to intraperitoneal Pseudomonas aeruginosa or IV Staphylococcus aureus infection. Leukocyte recruitment, cytokine production, and bacterial clearance were measured 6 hours after P. aeruginosa infection. In the systemic S. aureus infection model, one group of mice was monitored for 14-day survival and another for S. aureus tissue burden at 3 days postinfection. Duration of action for 3-deacyl 6-Acyl phosphorylated hexa-acyl disaccharide was determined at 3, 10, and 14 days using a model of intraperitoneal P. aeruginosa infection. Effect of 3-deacyl 6-Acyl phosphorylated hexa-acyl disaccharide on in vivo leukocyte phagocytosis and respiratory burst was examined. Leukocyte recruitment, cytokine production, and bacterial clearance were measured after P. aeruginosa infection in wild-type and toll-like receptor 4 knockout mice treated with 3-deacyl 6-Acyl phosphorylated hexa-acyl disaccharide or vehicle to assess receptor specificity. Measurements and main results During intraperitoneal P. aeruginosa infection, phosphorylated hexa-acyl disaccharides significantly attenuated infection-induced hypothermia, augmented leukocyte recruitment and bacterial clearance, and decreased cytokine production. At 3 days post S. aureus infection, bacterial burden in lungs, spleen, and kidneys was significantly decreased in mice treated with monophosphoryl lipid A or phosphorylated hexa-acyl disaccharides, which was associated with improved survival. Leukocyte phagocytosis and respiratory burst functions were enhanced after treatment with monophosphoryl lipid A or phosphorylated hexa-acyl disaccharides. A time course study showed that monophosphoryl lipid A- and 3-deacyl 6-Acyl phosphorylated hexa-acyl disaccharide-mediated protection against P. aeruginosa lasts for up to 10 days. Partial loss of augmented innate antimicrobial responses was observed in toll-like receptor 4 knockout mice treated with 3-deacyl 6-Acyl phosphorylated hexa-acyl disaccharide. Conclusions Phosphorylated hexa-acyl disaccharides significantly augment resistance against clinically relevant Gram-negative and Gram-positive infections via enhanced leukocyte recruitment, phagocytosis, and respiratory burst functions of innate leukocytes. Improved antimicrobial protection persists for up to 10 days and is partially mediated through toll-like receptor 4.
Symmetric Arginine Dimethylation Is Selectively Required for mRNA Splicing and the Initiation of Type I and Type III Interferon Signaling.

Summary Alternative splicing is well understood to enhance proteome diversity as cells respond to stimuli. However, mechanistic understanding for how the spliceosome processes precursor messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts to achieve template diversification is incomplete. We use recently developed enzymatic inhibitors of protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) and human naive T lymphocyte activation as a model system to uncover a precise set of mRNA transcripts that require symmetric arginine dimethylation. This methylation-dependent splicing selectivity is associated with a limited set of signaling pathways that are affected when PRMT5 is inhibited. Specifically, we identify a conserved role for symmetric arginine dimethylation in the induction of antiviral type I and type III interferon signaling following T cell receptor and pattern recognition receptor stimulation in human T lymphocytes and undifferentiated human THP-1 monocytes. Altogether, these findings reveal a mechanism by which cells may be enabled to precisely modulate transcript heterogeneity to orchestrate specific functional outcomes.
Effectiveness of the Wii for pediatric rehabilitation in individuals with cerebral palsy: a systematic review

Background: The Nintendo Wii is a virtual reality system that has become increasingly popular in neurorehabilitation and research because it provides an innovative method for training lower extremi...
Freshwater Neurotoxins and Concerns for Human, Animal, and Ecosystem Health: A Review of Anatoxin-A and Saxitoxin

Toxic cyanobacteria are a concern worldwide because they can adversely affect humans, animals, and ecosystems. However, neurotoxins produced by freshwater cyanobacteria are understudied relative to microcystin. Thus, the objective of this critical review was to provide a comprehensive examination of the modes of action, production, fate, and occurrence of the freshwater neurotoxins anatoxin-a and saxitoxin as they relate to human, animal, and ecosystem health. Literature on freshwater anatoxin-a and saxitoxin was obtained and reviewed for both laboratory and field studies. Current (2020) research identifies as many as 41 anatoxin-a producing species and 15 saxitoxin-producing species of freshwater cyanobacteria. Field studies indicate that anatoxin-a and saxitoxin have widespread distribution, and examples are given from every continent except Antarctica. Human and animal health concerns can range from acute to chronic. However, few researchers studied chronic or sublethal effects of freshwater exposures to anatoxin-a or saxitoxin. Ecosystem health also is a concern, as the effects of toxicity may be far reaching and include consequences throughout the food web. Several gaps in knowledge were identified for anatoxin-a and saxitoxin, including triggers of production and release, environmental fate and degradation, primary and secondary exposure routes, diel variation, food web effects, effects of cyanotoxin mixtures, and sublethal health effects on individual organisms and populations. Despite the gaps, this critical review facilitates our current understanding of freshwater neurotoxins and thus can serve to `` guide future research on anatoxin-a, saxitoxin, and other cyanotoxins.
“By the Aid of His Indians”: Native Negotiations of Settler Colonialism in Marin County, California, 1840–70

As archaeology turns to the study of sustained colonialism, researchers are reassessing sites occupied by Native people from the mid-nineteenth century onward. In California, this was a particularly crucial time, with many Indigenous people creating social and economic ties with newcomers in order to maintain connections to their ancestral homelands. One such locale was Toms Point, a landform on Tomales Bay, where Coast Miwok people worked at a trading post run by an American entrepreneur. This article explores the material evidence for their engagement with a broad array of social and economic connections, including the California coastal trade, the salvage of a local shipwreck, and persistent Indigenous exchange networks.
Acute inflammatory Demodex-induced pustulosis in an immunocompetent patient related to topical steroid use

Demodex spp. mites are a common colonizer of sebaceous adult skin. Though usually clinically insignificant, demodicosis may be associated with a wide spectrum of skin diseases in immunocompetent hosts, such as erythematotelangiectatic and papulopustular rosacea, Demodex folliculorum, and blepharitis. We present a case of a healthy 9-year-old boy with an exuberant, inflammatory, Demodex-associated pustular eruption of the face, induced by the use of a high-potency topical steroid and successfully treated with oral ivermectin.
Cutaneous Manifestations of COVID-19 in the Inpatient Setting

Adults and children hospitalized with COVID-19 display a range of mucocutaneous eruptions, the diversity of which is likely due to the varying immune response generated in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. In the hospitalized patient, livedo racemosa and retiform purpura were associated with more severe disease course, poorer prognosis, prolonged hospitalization, and higher mortality. In contrast, most viral exanthem and inflammatory lesions, such as urticarial and vesicular eruptions, were associated with a less severe COVID-19 disease course, although were nevertheless reported more frequently in the inpatient setting. One exception, however, is the presence of an inflammatory rash associated with MIS-C in the inpatient pediatric population, which has been associated with more severe COVID-19 disease and disease sequelae. Prompt recognition of the mucocutaneous manifestations presented in this article is paramount to facilitate timely diagnosis, proper treatment, and accurate prognostication of clinical course.
Postural Balance of Kneeling Gaits on Inclined and Elevated Surface for Construction Workers

We present a human postural balance study on quiet stance and kneeling gaits on inclined and high elevated surfaces for construction workers. To simulate the high elevation, an immersive mixed reality environment is built with an actual inclined roof surface to create somatosensory haptic feedback. We quantify the postural balance during quiet kneeling and stance through measurements of the center of pressure and sway motion of the upper-body under various inclined angles and heights. The results of center of pressure and trunk acceleration measurements show smaller postural sway during kneeling compared to standing. A mathematical model is also presented to help understand the experimental results and potentially provide design guidance for further intervention to prevent and mitigate the fall risk for construction workers. The model and controller parameters are optimized to precisely capture and explain the experimental results.
Neurologic Complications of Cancer Therapies.

Purpose of review To review the neurologic complications of systemic anti-cancer therapies and radiation therapy. Recent findings Although many of the newer systemic therapies have more favorable side effect profiles than traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy, neurotoxicity has been seen with some of newer targeted therapies, immunotherapy, and T cell engaging therapies, including CAR-T therapy. The most recent advances in radiation-induced neurotoxicity have focused on the prevention and the management of cognitive dysfunction, a known long-term complication of brain irradiation. Cancer therapies can damage both the central and the peripheral nervous systems, and the damage may not always be reversible. Neurologists and oncologists must be aware of the neurotoxicities associated with newer treatments, particularly CAR-T therapy and immunotherapy. Early recognition and appropriate management can help minimize neurologic injury.
The structural roles of amino acid residues near the carboxyl terminus of bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A.

Abstract The sequence at the COOH terminus of bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A is known to be -Pro-Val-His-Phe-Asp-Ala-Ser-Val. When the last 4 residues are removed by peptic hydrolysis, the resulting des-(121-124)-RNase, which was earlier thought to be inactive, is now shown to possess about 0.5% of the activity of the native enzyme toward cyclic 2',3'-cytidylic acid. Several types of experiments show that this activity is intrinsic. The highly purified derivative binds the inhibitor 2'-cytidylic acid at pH 5.5 with a dissociation constant of 40 µm compared with 3 µm for native RNase. When the activity of the derivative is measured toward cyclic cytidylic acid, Km is 0.5 mm and the turnover number is 2 x 10-3 sec-1; these values represent a Km that is twice that of RNase but an activity that is 0.005 that of the initial enzyme. These findings are consistent with results on the alkylation of residues that are considered part of the active site of RNase; in the des-(121-124)-derivative the alkylation of histidine-12 and lysine-41 is still strongly facilitated but the susceptibility of histidine-119 is diminished. An increase in the pK of histidine-119 which could account for the alkylation results could also contribute to the diminution of the catalytic activity. The relatively strong binding of inhibitor by des-(121-124)-RNase suggests that serine-123 can have only a minor role in binding substrate. However, when phenylalanine-120 is removed from the des-(121-124)-derivative by controlled hydrolysis with carboxypeptidase A at pH 5 and 45°, the activity, the ability to bind inhibitor, and the susceptibilities of the histidine residues to alkylation are lost. The transition temperature of the des-(120-124)-derivative is lowered to 34° from 61° for RNase A. The phenylalanine residue, which in the three-dimensional structure fits into a hydrophobic pocket in the molecule, thus has an important role in maintenance of the native conformation of the enzyme. Histidine-119 as well as phenylalanine-120 can be removed by hydrolysis of the des-(121-124)-derivative by carboxypeptidase A at pH 7.6. The molecule with the 6 residues removed has a transition temperature of 32° and a structure highly susceptible to proteolysis by trypsin.
Comment: The Problems with PPT

"Political Institutions: The Neglected Side of the Story" is a typical Terry Moe article-serious, thoughtful, and lengthy. 1 The article presents a difficult target, inasmuch as no reasonable person could fail to sympathize with many of the points it makes. Nevertheless, I take a considerably more sanguine view of the state of positive political theory (PPT) than Moe does. This difference between us reflects different judgments about features of PPT that are not themselves in dispute.
Differential associations between ovarian hormones and disordered eating symptoms across the menstrual cycle in women.

Objective: We examined changes in drive for thinness, body dissatisfaction, and dietary restraint across the menstrual cycle and associations between these symptoms and ovarian hormones in two independent samples of women (N = 10 and 8 women, respectively) drawn from the community. Method: Daily self-report measures of disordered eating and negative affect were completed for 35-65 days. Daily saliva samples were assayed for estradiol and progesterone in Study 2 only. Results: Levels of body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness were highest during the mid-luteal/pre-menstrual phases in both studies and were negatively associated with estradiol, and positively associated with progesterone. By contrast, dietary restraint showed less variation across the menstrual cycle and weaker associations with ovarian hormones. Discussion: Differential associations between ovarian hormones and specific disordered eating symptoms point to distinct etiological processes within the broader construct of disordered eating. © 2011 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2012)
Do Shareholders Have Obligations to Stakeholders

The question of whether, and to what extent, business managers have obligations to stakeholders has been the principal theme in much of recent business ethics literature. The question of whether shareholders have obligations to stakeholders, however, has not been addressed sufficiently. I provide some needed attention to this matter by examining the positions of shareholders in the contemporary world of investing. Their positions are considerably different than that often envisioned by business ethicists and economists where shareholders determine the directions of corporate activities through their voting decisions. Typical contemporary investors rarely control corporate activities. If they own corporate securities directly, generally they own too small an interest to exercise control. And, in most cases, they do not even own corporate securities directly, but, rather, own shares in funds. Because of the positions of shareholders today, it is highly questionable whether most have obligations to stakeholders. This has a significant implication for business managers. Whether or not shareholders have obligations to stakeholders, business managers have a greater obligation to educate shareholders about how corporate activities affect stakeholders. I provide a justification for that obligation and comment on how business managers might begin to fulfill it.
RESPONSES OF BACILLUS SUBTILIS SPORES TO IONIC ENVIRONMENTS DURING SPORULATION AND GERMINATION

Fleming, H. P. (University of Illinois, Urbana), and Z. John Ordal. Responses of Bacillus subtilis spores to ionic environments during sporulation and germination. J. Bacteriol. 88:1529-1537. 1964.-The ionic environments of germination and sporulation menstrua had a prominent influence on characteristics of Bacillus subtilis spores. There was a synergistic effect for l-alanine and inorganic ions on spore germination. The maximal rate of germination in solutions of l-alanine was dependent on ionic concentration and species. Germination was negligible in l-alanine at low ionic strength but increased as the ionic strength was increased up to about 10(-1)m with a variety of salts. Phosphate was the most active ion tested, and divalent cations were the least active in supporting germination in l-alanine. Germination progressed slowly at 45 C in sodium chloride or sodium phosphate alone but not in CaCl(2) alone. Germination rates in l-alanine were retarded at high ionic strengths (mu in the range of 0.1 to 1.0). Inhibitory effects of high concentrations of certain divalent cations on germination were related to the binding abilities of these metals. High concentrations of NaCl (10(-1) to 1.0 m) in the sporulation medium resulted in lowered heat resistance and germination rate of the resulting spores. The addition of calcium (5 x 10(-2)m CaCl(2)) to the sporulation medium relieved the repression of NaCl on germination and caused the spores to have a greater heat resistance. Calcium and dipicolinic acid (DPA) contents of the spores were unaffected by NaCl in the sporulation medium. The calcium, but not the DPA, content of spores increased as a result of supplementing the sporulation medium with calcium. Possible roles of ions in the germination of spores are discussed.
Influence of electrical field stimulation on antigen-induced contraction and mediator release in the guinea pig isolated superfused trachea and bronchus

These studies examined the ability of electrical field stimulation (EFS) to influence antigen-induced responses in the guinea pig isolated trachea and main-stem bronchi. Airways isolated from guinea pigs actively sensitized to ovalbumin were superfused and stimulated transmurally with square pulses of 1 msec duration at a frequency of 16 pulses per sec. In the trachea, EFS caused an atropine-sensitive contraction followed by a maintained relaxation. The relaxation consisted of adrenergic and nonadrenergic components. In the bronchus, EFS caused a maintained contraction. This contraction was due to a combination of cholinergic (atropine-sensitive) and noncholinergic (capsaicin-sensitive) mechanisms. Histamine could not be detected in superfusate samples during electrical stimulation alone of either the trachea or bronchus. EFS significantly inhibited ovalbumin-induced tracheal contractions by about 30% without altering ovalbumin-induced histamine or immunoreactive peptido-leukotriene release from the tissues. EFS had a similar inhibitory effect on the contraction induced by application of exogenous histamine (10(-5) M). The electrical stimulus-induced inhibition of the antigen-induced contraction was abolished by tetrodotoxin and propranolol and reduced by a combination of atropine, propranolol and phentolamine. Norepinephrine (5 x 10(-6) M) inhibited ovalbumin-induced histamine release by about 30% without altering the contraction. Carbamylcholine had no effect on ovalbumin-induced histamine release. In the guinea pig bronchus, EFS stimulation had no effect on either histamine release or contraction induced by ovalbumin. These results demonstrate that in the guinea pig trachea nerve stimulation can significantly antagonize antigen-induced contractions and suggest that this is due to a functional antagonism by adrenergic and nonadrenergic relaxant neurotransmitters at the level of the airway smooth muscle.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Nonnutritive Sucking During Gavage Feeding Enhances Growth and Maturation in Premature Infants

The effects of nonnutritive sucking (NNS) by means of a pacifier during gavage feeding were studied in 30 premature infants whose birth weight was less than 1,500 g. The addition of NNS accelerated the maturation of the sucking reflex, facilitating a more rapid transition from gavage to oral feedings. Additionally, NNS decreased intestinal transit time and caused a more rapid weight gain despite comparable caloric intake resulting in a shortened hospital stay. Although the physiologic mechanisms resulting from this form of oral stimulation remain to be investigated, our data suggest that NNS may be an important factor to consider in the feeding of premature infants.
Relationship between creativity, sex, and rule-orientation behavior.

The present study investigated how levels of rule-orientation behavior and sex relate to creative functioning. Thirty male and 30 female undergraduates were given the Arrow-Dot task in order to derive high and low levels of three rule-orientations: rule-governed, rule-violation, and rule-overconformity. Ss were also administered the Circles task in order to obtain indexes of originality and elaboration. Six 2 × 2 factorial analyses of variance, with originality and elaboration as dependent variables, sex and level of rule-orientation behavior as independent variables provided tests of three hypotheses: (1) females high in rule-governed behavior will be more creative than males high in rule-governed behavior, (2) females high in rule-violation behavior will manifest less creative ability than males high in rule-violation behavior, and (3) females showing high rule-overconformity behavior will be more creative than males high in rule-oversubscription. Statistically, the first hypothesis was partially confir...
Delayed Cardiac Arrhythmias Following Non-Cardiac Thoracic Surgery

SUMMARY The frequency of delayed cardiac arrhythmias following non-cardiac thoracic surgery is greater than is generally recognized. The average incidence in our series, consisting of 92 patients was 16.3 per cent It was greatest after pneumonectomy (32.5 per cent) and after mediastinal exploration and biopsy for neoplastic disease (30 per cent). The incidence was higher in those over 50 years of age. All of the common atrial arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, paroxysmal atrial tachycardia and multiple atrial premature contractions were observed. The majority of the arrhythmias occurred within two weeks postoperatively and responded to conventional therapy. The probable cause of delayed cardiac arrhythmias is chronic vagal stimulation and anoxia in an age group where coronary sclerosis is prevalent. Infection or tumor implants in the pericardium and mediastinal tissues appear to be contributing factors in many cases.
Effects of discriminability and choice-figure rotation on visual perception of form.

Summary.-The effects on form perception of two conditions of rotation (provided by rotated and nonrotated choice figures) were measured at different levels of discrimination difficulty. The stimuli were 6-by-6 constrained or "Redundancy-I" metric histoforms. Five levels of discriminability were provided by use of different degrees of similarity between target and choice figures. In each of the 5 difficulty conditions, 24 Ss responded in a paper-and-pencil figure-cancellation task in both conditions of choice-figure rotation, or, 120 Ss in all. Separate analyses of errors and response times indicated that perceptual performance with nonrotated choice figures was better than with rotated and that perfotmance decreased as discrimination difficulty increased. In terms of the number of correct identifications per minute, performance was proportional to discrimination difficulty and the detrimental effect of choice-figure rotation was constant over the levels of difficulty employed. Numerous studies have employed rotated figures to provide a basis for the discrimination of form, i.e., the rotation or relative orientation of the figures served as a cue to the judgments of sameness or difference. The results of these studies indicate that perceptual performance is improved under such conditions: the identification of a "different" figure from among a group of "same" figures is both quicker and more accurate when that figure is rotated into a different orientation relative to the "same" figures in the group (Arnoult, 1954; Michels, et al., 1962). In other sntdies, however, rotation has been used not as a helpful cue to performance, but as an additional source of uncertainty that S must ignore in making judgments of sameness or difference. For example, in some studies choice figures have been identified as being identical to target figures regardless of orientation. Under these conditions, it has been found that rotation is detrimental to both the speed and accuracy of identification (Woodring & Alluisi, 1966). This effect occurred at both levels of discrimination difficulty provided by the use of a transphenomenal parameter (cf. Alluisi & Hall, 1965), namely, the use of random as well as constrained metric histoforms. In the present study, constrained metric histoforms alone have been employed to measure the effects of choice-figure rotation at five different levels of 'Supported in part by the U. S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, DeDartment of the Armv. under Contract No. DA-49-193-MD-2567. "Behavioral Effects of
Auditory cortical projections to the cochlear nucleus in guinea pigs

We used anterograde tracing techniques to examine projections from auditory cortex to the cochlear nucleus in guinea pigs. Following injection of dextrans into the temporal cortex, labeled axons were present bilaterally in the cochlear nucleus. The distribution of boutons within the cochlear nucleus was similar on the two sides. The majority of boutons was usually located on the ipsilateral side. Most of the boutons were located in the granule cell areas, where many small boutons and a few larger, mossy-type endings were labeled. Additional small, labeled boutons were found in all layers of the dorsal cochlear nucleus, with the majority located in the fusiform cell layer. Labeled boutons were also present in the ventral cochlear nucleus, where they were located in the small cell cap as well as magnocellular parts of both posteroventral and anteroventral cochlear nucleus. Similar results were obtained with injections restricted to primary auditory cortex or to the dorsocaudal auditory field. The results illustrate direct cortical projections to the cochlear nucleus that are likely to modulate the activity in a number of ascending auditory pathways.
Biogenesis of 50 s particles in exponentially growing Escherichia coli.

Abstract Synthesis and assembly of structural proteins into 50 s ribosomal subunits were investigated in exponentially growing Escherichia coli with a doubling time of 120 minutes. The study was designed to determine the rate at which pulse-labeled ribosomal proteins appeared on the 50 s subunit. Examination of the total ribosomal fraction for label following a one-minute pulse with [14C]leucine and subsequent chase with unlabeled leucine revealed that all of the labeled ribosomal protein appeared in the ribosomal fraction only after a chase period of approximately 30 minutes. A study of individual 50 s ribosomal proteins fractionated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that the rate of appearance of labeled proteins varied. The average half-life time of labeled ribosomal proteins prior to their appearance on 50 s subunits was found to be approximately five to six minutes. The half-life times of individual 50 s ribosomal proteins varied between two and eleven minutes. From the rate of appearance of labeled protein on the 50 s subunit, the amount of 50 s ribosomal protein not yet associated with mature 50 s subunits was estimated to be about 5% of the total cellular 50 s ribosomal protein. The amount of individual 50 s ribosomal proteins not associated with mature subunits varied from approximately 2 to 9%. Examination of the labeled proteins on the 50 s subunit after a 15-second pulse with [14C]leucine and no further incubation suggests that there exist at least three groups of 50 s ribosomal proteins added at different rates, consistent with the contention that proteins are added during the maturation of ribosomal subunits forming precursor particles and finally the mature 50 s subunit.
Adherence to a Fall Prevention Program Among Community Dwelling Older Adults

The purposes were to determine if older adults participating in a fall prevention program make recommended environmental and personal changes to reduce falls, and to identify factors affecting adherence to the program. Thirty of 84 community dwelling older adults completed the program. Session 1 included administration of the Health Habits Survey (HHS) and a fall-risk talk. Session 2 consisted of fall risk and balance screening and a talk on personal and home safety. The HHS was administered during Session 3. Pre-survey results indicated the majority of participants were in the maintenance stage of change (Transtheoretical Model). Post-program survey results indicated change from pre-contemplative and action stages to the maintenance stage. Knowing participants' stage of change can guide selection of more effective fall prevention programs. Recommendations to design community-based fall prevention program are presented.
Design of a newfashioned high precision electronic current transducer

The electric current transducer plays a significant role in electric power system. In order to measure small current accurately, a newfashioned high precision electronic current transducer was designed. A novel high mutual inductance, high precision Rogowski coil was adopted as sensor head, and a novel analog signal process system, including magnifying, filtering, phase compensating was designed to improve precision and reduce power dissipation. Besides, the application of CPLD technique harmonized the system. High precision components improved the precision of transducer. By experimentation we drew a conclusion that this system worked steadily at the range of −40∼70°C, and it's precision could meet 0.2 level of international criterion.
Controlled Release of IGF-1 and HGF from a Biodegradable Polyurethane Scaffold

Purpose Biodegradable elastomers, which can possess favorable mechanical properties and degradation rates for soft tissue engineering applications, are more recently being explored as depots for biomolecule delivery. The objective of this study was to synthesize and process biodegradable, elastomeric poly(ester urethane)urea (PEUU) scaffolds and to characterize their ability to incorporate and release bioactive insulin-like growth factor–1 (IGF-1) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF).
The Carbon underabundance of the secondary of V356 Sagittarii

We report observations of visual and near-infrared C I, N I, and O I lines in the A2 II secondary of V356 Sgr made during a total eclipse of the primary. We confirm the weakness of the secondary's C I lines first seen in ultraviolet observations. Based on a marginal detection of the 9100A C I lines we estimate that relative to a standard star (HR 7145; A0 II) of similar spectral type the [C/Fe] abundance ratio of the secondary is -1.7 ± 0.3 dex. The secondary is not significantly underabundant in N or O. We interpret the C poorness of the secondary as a result of mass transfer, which has removed its outer layers and exposed its CN-processed interior.
Nonthermal Irreversible Electroporation: Fundamentals, Applications, and Challenges

Tissue ablation is an essential procedure for the treatment of many diseases. In the last decade, a nonthermal tissue ablation using intensive pulsed electric fields, called nonthermal irreversible electroporation (NTIRE), has rapidly emerged. The exact mechanisms responsible for cell death by NTIRE, however, are currently unknown. Nevertheless, the technique's remarkable ability to ablate tissue in the proximity of larger blood vessels, to preserve tissue architecture, short procedure duration, and shortened postoperative recovery period rapidly moved NTIRE from bench to bed side. This work provides an overview on the development of NTIRE, its current state-of-the-art, challenges, and future needs.
Effects of unilateral spinal cordotomy and outer ear occlusion on audiogenic seizures in mice.

Abstract The influence of bodily movements upon audiogenic seizures was investigated by performing a series of unilateral hemicordotomies on DBA 2J mice. Subjects were given either left, right, or sham midthoracic hemisection of the spinal cord and were subsequently tested with the contralateral, ipsilateral, or neither ear occluded with glycerol. Occlusion of one ear decreased the severity of seizures. More interestingly, among the unilaterally occluded subjects, hemisection ipsilateral to the open ear reduced the severity of seizures compared to controls, while hemisection contralateral to the open ear had a nonsignificant effect. These findings suggest that specific neural pathways in the spinal cord normally contribute to audiogenic seizures and that interruption of these pathways interferes with seizure processes in the brain.
Large-scale auroral motions and polar magnetic disturbances—II The changing distribution of the aurora during large magnetic storms

Abstract A striking feature of magnetic storms with a large main phase is that auroras appear in lower latitudes than usual. This study shows that during a considerable part of the two great storms of 23 September 1957 and 11 February 1958, the usual region of most frequent aurora was deserted, representing a temporary equatorward shift of the northern border of auroral activity. It is also shown that the range of latitude in which auroras appear overhead, intermittently expands and contracts; these changes are discussed in relation to the polar magnetic sub-storms. Red glows, which are seen occasionally in low and middle latitudes during large magnetic storms, are intensified in parallel with the activity of polar magnetic sub-storms.
Pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase in soybean nodules : isolation/partial primary structure/evidence for isozymes

Abstract Electrophoretic evidence was obtained for two forms of pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase (P5CR) in soybean nodules. One form was purified over 2300-fold. The apparent sizes of the polypeptides comprising the pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductases from soybean cytosol (29,700) and Escherichia coli (28,000) were consistent with those predicted from the sequences of the genes encoding them ( Deutch et al. , 1982 Nucleic Acid Res. 10, 7701–7714 ; Delauney and Verma, 1990 Mol. Gen. Genet. 221, 299–305 ). Primary structural analysis of the intact soybean P5CR subunit indicated that the amino-terminal residue is blocked. Analyses of a 12-mer and a 21-mer isolated from a cyanogen bromide digest were consistent with the proposition that the soybean P5CR isolated in these studies is very similar, although perhaps not identical, to the polypeptide predicted for the recently cloned soybean reductase ( Delauney and Verma, 1990 Mol. Gen. Genet. 221, 299–305 ).