cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Food Access, Food Insecurity, and Gun Violence: Examining a Complex Relationship.

Food insecurity and gun violence are timely and relevant public health issues impacting many regions within the USA with a potential association. Terminology surrounding food access and food security can be confusing, which is important to understand when examining the relationship between these issues and gun violence. Food insecurity is an individual level risk factor that appears to correlate with an increased rate of exposure and future involvement in violence. Food deserts represent geographic regions with limited access to food but do not necessarily represent regions with high prevalence of food insecurity. Although both food insecurity and food deserts in urban regions have been linked with increased incidence of gun violence, a high prevalence of food insecurity was found to be more predictive. A high prevalence of food insecurity in urban regions likely serves as a marker for socioeconomic disadvantage and intentional disinvestment. These regions are predictably associated with a higher incidence of interpersonal gun violence. Food deserts in rural areas have not, to date, been shown to correlate with interpersonal gun violence. Urban food insecurity and gun violence are both likely the byproduct of structural violence. Despite the significant overlap and similar contributors, the application of the public health framework in addressing these two issues has historically been quite different.
CHURCH'S RESPONSE AS NOSTRUM TO THE CHALLENGES OF STUDENT ACTIVISM MOVEMENT IN NIGERIAN HIGHER INSTITUTION OF LEARNING

Studentsâ€™ populace serves as a key stakeholder in education which cannot be disregarded in decision making. Also, education impacts students with knowledge, skills and empowerment to be active in developing the society, part of the educational structure in higher education is student activism movement. Students Activism movement in higher institution of learning performs these activities to the studentâ€™s populace and the society - Student Welfare, Academic development, Social Activities, Community Service, Infrastructural Development and others. Moreover, the benefits students derive in this movement are â€“ Confidence booster, enables the student to get involved in reformation, building new connections, discovery of hidden talents and developing ability to move out of comfort zone. However, the movement is faced with diverse challenges that combat its original intention. Such challenges are â€“ Cultism, Examination malpractice, Indiscipline, Insecurity, Frequent harassment and others. Furthermore, nostrum to the challenges of this movement is the intervention of the faith-based organization like the Church. The church is therefore, saddled with the responsibilities of constant enlightenment to the prospective students on the activity of the movement. The writer thus recommends the following to combat the challenges of student activism movement in the Nigerian higher Institution of learning - Student Activism movement should return to its original purpose of existence as enumerated by its founder, government should create enabling school climate for the students of higher institutions in Nigeria, the church should give proper enlightenment to the prospective students on the activities of student in the higher institution of learning.
Chromosomal structure in primary spermatocytes of the locust

During the early to middle diplotene stages of meiotic prophase, the chromosomes in locust spermatocytes contain a pair of dense fibrils, each about 250 A thick, running parallel to the long axis of the chromosome. These fibrils usually appear to run parallel to each other, 700 A apart (centre to centre); they have occasionally been observed twisted around each other in a very loose spiral. In some preparations there appears to be a third fibril running midway between the two fibrils just described above; this central fibril is thinner (about 100 A thick), and less well-defined than the outer pair. All these fibrils, considered together, form only a small part (of the order of 0.5 per cent by volume) of the chromosomal substance.
A Rule-Based Framework Using Role Patterns for Business Process Compliance

In view of recent business scandals that prompted the Sarbanes-Oxley legislation, there is a greater need for businesses to develop systematic approaches to designing business processes that comply with organizational policies. Moreover, it should be possible to express the policy and relate it to a given process in a descriptive or declarative manner. In this paper we propose role patterns , and show how they can be associated with generic task categories and processes in order to meet standard requirements of internal control principles in businesses. We also show how the patterns can be implemented using built-in constraints in a logic-based language like Prolog. While the role patterns are general, this approach is flexible and extensible because user-defined constraints can also be asserted in order to introduce additional requirements as dictated by business policy. The paper also discusses control requirements of business processes, and explores the interactions between role based access control (RBAC) mechanisms and workflows.
Third-harmonic generation in one-dimensional photonic crystal meta-materials

Stacks of dielectric optical films are tailored to generate the third harmonic of femtosecond laser pulses. The improvement of efficiency compared to bulk samples of the same material is a combination of periodic reset of the phase mismatch and field enhancements due to resonant substructures.
A Review of “Suburban Nation: The Rise of Sprawl and the Decline of the American Dream (10th Anniversary Edition)”

Ten years after its publication, Suburban Nation has earned the label “an important book.” Like most books meant to shake people up, Suburban Nation was less concerned about accuracy, from its hint...
First-principles evidence for stage ordering in Li{sub x}CoO{sub 2}

The authors have investigated phase stability in the layered Li{sub x}CoO{sub 2} intercalation compound for x < 0.4 from first principles. By combining a lattice model description of the Li-vacancy configurational degrees of freedom with first-principles pseudopotential calculations, the authors have calculated the free energy of the material as a function of Li concentration in three different host structures: (1) the rhombohedral form of Li{sub x}CoO{sub 2}, (2) the hexagonal form of CoO{sub 2}, and (3) a stage II compound of Li{sub x}CoO{sub 2} in which the host structure can be considered as a hybrid of the rhombohedral and hexagonal host structures. The first-principles free energies indicate that the stage II compound is the most stable of the three phases for Li concentrations ranging between 0.12 and 0.19. This result is consistent with the experimental observation by Ohzuku and Ueda and Amatucci et al. that the rhombohedral form of Li{sub x}CoO{sub 2} transforms to a new phase at Li concentrations around x = 0.15. The authors find that the calculated X-ray powder diffraction patterns of the stage II structure agree qualitatively with those observed experimentally at low Li concentration.
A thermal stress treadmill walk for clinic evaluation of candidates for hazardous materials (HazMat) duty.

U.S. guidance for examining hazmat workers recommends stress testing be considered when heat stress is expected. However, the most common stress test—Bruce protocol treadmill electrocardiography (BPTE) wearing gym clothes—creates little thermal stress. Objective. Evaluate a novel thermal stress treadmill walk (TSTW). Methods. Body temperatures and heart rates during BPTE in 93 current and potential hazmat workers wearing gym clothes were compared with later values in 35 of these subjects while they were wearing thermally-restrictive “sauna suits” during a 45-min TSTW. Physiological strain index (PSI) was calculated from temperature and heart rate changes and compared with PSI values from hazmat simulations and climatic chamber exercises. Results. Tympanic temperature (TT) rose 0.5 °C (SD 0.5) during BPTE lasting 12.4 min (SD 2.9). PSI reached 6.0 (SD 1.3). TT rose 1.0 °C (SD 0.5) during TSTW, p < .01. PSI averaged 6.6 (SD 1.9) in 29 subjects who completed TSTW, versus 5.7 (SD 5.7) in the 6 subjects who did not. Ingested thermistor temperatures increased more than did TT during TSTW, yielding PSI of 7.0 (SD 1.5), equal to PSI values from climatic chamber exercises, i.e., 7.0 (SD 1.0). Conclusion. TSTW increased body temperature and PSI in 29 of the 35 subjects who completed it to levels matching those of operational simulations in climatic chambers and during hazmat exercises. This TSTW may be useful for evaluating candidates for hazmat duty. heat stress hazardous materials medical evaluation fitness for duty electrocardiography
Adaptive Sensor Data Compression in IoT systems: Sensor data analytics based approach

Sensor nodes are embodiment of IoT systems in microscopic level. As the volume of sensor data increases exponentially, data compression is essential for storage, transmission and in-network processing. The compression performance to realize significant gain in processing high volume sensor data cannot be attained by conventional lossy compression methods. In this paper, we propose ASDC (Adaptive Sensor Data Compression), an adaptive compression scheme that caters various sensor applications and achieve high performance gain. Our approach is to exhaustively analyze the sensor data and adapt the parameters of compression scheme to maximize compression gain while optimizing information loss. We apply robust statistics and information theoretic techniques to establish the adaptivity criteria. We experiment with large sets of heterogeneous sensor datasets to prove the efficacy. Nonlinear lossy compression (Chebyshev) is extensively considered as the standard technique as well as experimental result with frequency domain compression like Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) is shown as future scope of further improvement.
High‐resolution manometric characteristics help differentiate types of distal esophageal obstruction in patients with peristalsis

Background High-resolution manometry (HRM) can identify obstructive motor features at the esophagogastric junction and abnormalities in esophageal bolus transit. We sought to determine if HRM patterns can differentiate functional from organic mechanical lower esophageal sphincter (LES) obstruction. Methods Segmental characteristics of peristalsis were examined using HRM in symptomatic subjects with elevated postdeglutitive residual pressure gradients across the LES (≥5 mmHg). Sixteen consecutive patients with non-achalasic mechanical fixed obstruction were compared with 13 patients with elevated pressure gradients yet no mechanical obstruction and 14 asymptomatic controls. Pressure volumes were determined in mmHg cm s for peristaltic segments defined on HRM Clouse plots using an on-screen pressure volume measurement tool. Key Results Residual pressure gradients were similarly elevated in both patient groups. A visually conspicuous and distinctive shift in the proportionate pressure strengths of the second and third peristaltic segments was apparent across groups. Whereas the ratios of peak pressures and pressure volumes between second and third segments approached 1 in controls (0.92, 0.98), pressures shifted to the second segment in mechanical obstruction (peak pressure ratio: 1.2 ± 0.4; pressure volume ratio: 1.8 ± 0.9) and to the third segment in functional obstruction (peak ratio: 0.7 ± 0.2; volume ratio: 0.5 ± 0.2; P < 0.02 for any comparison of either group with controls). A threshold volume ratio of 1.0 correctly segregated 93% of obstruction (P < 0.0001); visual pattern inspection was equally effective. Conclusions & Inferences When elevated residual pressure gradients are present in non-achalasic patients, topographic characteristics of peristalsis can differentiate fixed mechanical obstruction from functional obstruction.
One dimensional simulations of transients in heavy ion injectors

A fast-running time-dependent one-dimensional particle code has been developed to simulate transients in both electrostatic quadrupole and electrostatic column heavy-ion injectors. Two-dimensional effects are incorporated through the use of an approximation to the transverse part of the Laplacian operator. Longitudinal electric fields are solved on a mesh. An external circuit is coupled to the column, and the effect of the beam on the circuit is modeled. Transients such as initial current spikes, space-charge debunching, and beam loading of the circuit, are simulated. Future directions for the code include introduction of envelope and centroid equations to provide beam radius and displacement information and the modeling of secondary electron currents arising from beam-spill. >
Origins and collateralization of corticospinal corticopontine corticorubral and corticostriatal tracts a multiple retrograde fluorescent tracing study

Cerebral cells of origin for the corticospinal (CST), corticopontine (CP), corticorubral (CR) and corticostriatal (CS) fibers in the rat were identified following the simultaneous retrograde transport of propidium iodide (PI), fast blue (FB), fluorogold (FG) and diamidino yellow (DY). PI was injected into the contralateral C4 spinal cord segment while FB, FG and DY were injected into the ipsilateral medial pontine nuclei, red nucleus and striatum, respectively. Labeled pyramidal neurons projecting corticospinal axons were contralateral to injection in lamina V and ranged in size from small to large. These CST neurons occupied two distinct cortical areas. The cortical neurons of origin for the corticopontine, corticorubral and corticostriatal fibers were ipsilateral to injections. Labeled neurons were localized in cortical lamina V for the corticopontine and corticorubral fibers while corticostriate neurons were located in laminae III, V and VI. The CP, CR and CS labeled cells occupied one large cortical area which topographically included parts of the medial (AGm) and lateral (AGl) agranular cortices and the primary (SI) somatosensory cortex. Considerable overlapping of the cortical neurons of origin for the four motor fiber systems was apparent. More than 98% of the labeled cells were single labeled while less than 2% were double labeled. No triple or quadruple labeled neurons were observed. Hence, morphological evidence is presented that cortical motor neurons project mainly individual, rather than collateral, axons to each of the four motor associated nuclei investigated in this study. However, only a few cortical neurons projected axons simultaneously to a maximum of two nuclei involved in the motor pathways.
The HMG‐box mitochondrial transcription factor xl‐mtTFA binds DNA as a tetramer to activate bidirectional transcription

The mitochondrial HMG-box transcription factor xl-mtTFA activates bidirectional transcription by binding to a site separating two core promoters in Xenopus laevis mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Three independent approaches were used to study the higher order structure of xl-mtTFA binding to this site. First, co-immunoprecipitation of differentially tagged recombinant mtTFA derivatives established that the protein exists as a multimer. Second, in vitro chemical cross-linking experiments provided evidence of cross-linked dimers, trimers and tetramers of xl-mtTFA. Finally, high resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) established that xl-mtTFA binds to the specific promoter-proximal site predominantly as a tetramer. Computer analysis of several previously characterized binding sites for xl-mtTFA revealed a fine structure consisting of two half-sites in a symmetrical orientation. The predominant sequence of this dyad symmetry motif shows homology to binding sites of sequence-specific HMG-box-containing proteins such as Sry and Lef-1. We suggest that bidirectional activation of transcription results from the fact that binding of a tetramer of xl-mtTFA permits symmetrical interactions with other components of the transcription machinery at the adjacent core promoters.
Radiation-induced precipitation in single- and dual-ion irradiated Ti-6AI-4V

Abstract The crystallographic orientation, morphology, and formation mechanism of precipitates in single-ion (V + ) and dual-ion (V + and He + ) irradiated Ti-6A1–4V has been investigated. The precipitates have the β -phase (bcc) structure, and the orientation of the precipitate crystal lattice relative to the α -phase (hcp) matrix conforms to the Burgers relation, with possibly some small deviations. The precipitates were usually elongated platelets but the shapes of precipitates in dual-ion and single-ion irradiated samples differed somewhat. The platelets had distinct preferred orientations (habit planes), but the habit planes were irrational (i.e., high-index) in both the bcc and hcp crystal systems, and changed with irradiation temperature. Precipitates dissolve on post-irradiation annealing at the irradiation temperature, showing that they are radiation-induced (non-equilibrium) in nature. Available evidence indicates that the precipitation is likely to be due to radiation-induced segregation of vanadium toward defect sinks. This segregation is consistent with a solute size effect.
Design of test specimens for the determination of elastic through-thickness shear properties of thick composites from measured modal vibration frequencies

Recommendations are developed and presented regarding the most desirable test plate aspect ratio (length-to-thickness ratio) to use during the non-destructive measurement of elastic constants of thick composite plates by modal vibration testing. The effects of transverse shear were studied over the range of practical plate aspect ratios (length to thickness ratios) and mode numbers for three specific types of composite materials ranging from planar isotropic (E-glass/polyester sheet molding compound) to moderately orthotropic (unidirectional graphite/epoxy) to highly orthotropic (unidirectional pitch/epoxy). Frequency predictions from previously developed Rayleigh-type two-dimensional (2-D) analytical models with and without through-thickness (transverse) shear effects were compared with those from 2-D and 3-D finite-element analyses. Reasonable agreement between the models was observed, and results were used to determine the aspect ratios at which transverse shear effects become important enough to be taken into consideration during vibration tests. It was also found that the avoidance of undesirable in-plane modes must be factored into the process of selecting the proper plate aspect ratio.
The First Example of a μ2-Imido Functionality Bound to a Lanthanide Metal Center: X-ray Crystal Structure and DFT Study of [(μ-ArN)Sm(μ-NHAr)(μ-Me)AlMe2]2 (Ar = 2,6-iPr2C6H3)1

Reaction of 3 equiv of 2,6-diisopropylaniline with Sm[N(SiMe3)2]3 affords the dimeric species [Sm(NHAr)3]2 (1). X-ray crystallography illustrates that each metal center in 1 engages in an η6-arene interaction with the aryl ring of an amide ligand attached to an adjacent samarium. IR spectroscopy indicates that the π-arene interactions are maintained in solution. Reaction of 1 with 4 equiv of trimethylaluminum leads to formation of the bis(μ2-imido) complex [(μ-ArN)Sm(μ-NHAr)(μ-Me)AlMe2]2 (2). The molecular structure of 2 contains a unique central Sm2N2 core which displays extremely short bridging Sm−N distances of 2.152(8) and 2.271(7) A, characteristic of an imido complex. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been carried out in order to gain a better understanding of the nature of the bonding interactions within complex 2 and indicate that the 5d metal acceptor orbitals play a significant role in stabilizing π-donation from the imido groups to the samarium centers within the Sm2N2 core.
Signal processing techniques for partial discharge site location in shielded cables

An instrumentation package capable of locating partial discharge sites in cables has been developed. The digitized partial discharge (PD) signals recorded from one cable end consist of a sequence of pulses whose separations contain information on the relative location of the PD site. The signals are often contaminated by noise and undergo substantial attenuation and phase change as they travel though the cable and the detection system. Moreover, overlap of two successive pulses is possible if the PD site is close to a cable end. The authors describe and illustrate two techniques-maximum likelihood (ML) estimation and deconvolution-for extracting pulse separation from such a time series of noisy and ambiguous signals. Both real and simulated measurements are used to demonstrate the potential of these methods. A procedure whereby knowledge of the combined cable-instrumentation transfer function can be incorporated into the maximum likelihood technique is also discussed. The ML method appears to be much more effective in the presence of cable noise. The main disadvantage of the ML method is that the approximate width of the wavelet or basic PD pulse should be known to give the best compromise between noise smoothing and peak resolution. This width can be determined by an impulse response test or by knowledge of cable length and parameters. >
ION-SELECTIVE POLYMER-SUPPORTED REAGENTS

ABSTRACT The design and synthesis of polymer-supported reagents that can selectively complex targeted metal ions from multi-component solutions will continue to be an important area of research into the 21st century. Environmental remediation and sensor technology are only two of a number of areas in which such polymers can be applied. This paper reviews the recent literature with an emphasis on the key ligands that have been immobilized in order to better understand where this research is heading in the near future.
Design Work-Stations

The requirements of a family of design work-stations for IC/CAD are presented and areas in which they will find major application are described.
Transport properties of hybrid nanoparticle-nanowire systems and their application to gas sensing.

Experimental data and theoretical modelling of the I?V characteristics of a gas sensor constructed from a mat of Au nanoparticle-coated GaN nanowires are presented. The principal mechanism for the response of the gas sensor to methane is explained in terms of the formation of a depletion layer within the nanowires due to the presence of the gold nanoparticles. The depth of the depletion layer is modulated by the potential induced by the physisorption of gas molecules onto the Au nanoparticles. A statistical model of the temperature-dependent I?V characteristics of bare and Au nanoparticle-decorated mats of GaN nanowires based on Poisson's equation has been used to determine the depth of the depletion layers of the nanowires. The room-temperature carrier concentration for the GaN nanowires was determined to be approximately 2.2 ? 1017?cm?3. The induced potential due to methane physisorption onto the Au nanoparticles that decorate the GaN nanowires was determined to be approximately ?37?mV.
Early Otitis Media, Auditory Abilities, and Educational Risk

Fourteen children whose first-year otitis media (OM) histories were well documented by prospective pneumatic otoscopy were given formal measures of their academic abilities at 6 years of age using ...
Signaling pathways regulating the expression of Prx1 and Prx2 in the Chick Mandibular Mesenchyme

Prx1 and Prx2 are members of the aristaless-related homeobox genes shown to play redundant but essential roles in morphogenesis of the mandibular processes. To gain insight into the signaling pathways that regulate expression of Prx genes in the mandibular mesenchyme, we used the chick as a model system. We examined the patterns of gene expression in the face and the roles of signals derived from the epithelium on the expression of Prx genes in the mandibular mesenchyme. Our results demonstrated stage-dependent roles of mandibular epithelium on the expression of Prx in the mandibular mesenchyme and provide evidence for positive roles of members of the fibroblast and hedgehog families derived from mandibular epithelium on the expression of Prx genes in the mandibular mesenchyme. Our studies suggest that endothelin-1 signaling derived from the mesenchyme is involved in restricting the expression of Prx2 to the medial mandibular mesenchyme.
Polymyxin B and Rifampin: New Regimen for Multiresistant Serratia marcescens Infections

Polymyxin B and rifampin were given to 12 patients with multi-drug-resistant nosocomial Serratia marcescens infections. Eight cures were achieved; drug hepatotoxicity occurred once; one fatal suprainfection was encountered; and two patients died during therapy of causes related to severe underlying illnesses. Polymyxin B and rifampin were uniformly synergistic in vitro against the infecting strains and against 40 additional clinical isolates of S. marcescens.
The TW Hydrae Association: Discovery of T Tauri Star Members Near HR 4796

We have identified six T Tauri stars, at least three of which are double, that are members of the nearest region of recent star formation, the TW Hydrae association. The newly discovered systems are mostly located south and east of and farther from Earth than most previously known members; thus, the full extent of the association is not yet established. Including secondaries in multiple star systems, the association is now known to include more than 30 T Tauri stars and a brown dwarf. We compare the TW Hydrae association to four other young nearby associations.
Frustrated FRET for high-contrast high-resolution two-photon imaging

Two-photon fluorescence microscopy has become increasingly popular in biomedical research as it allows high-resolution imaging of thick biological specimen with superior contrast and penetration than confocal microscopy. However, two-photon microscopy still faces two fundamental limitations: 1) image-contrast deterioration with imaging depth due to out-of-focus background and 2) diffraction-limited spatial resolution. Herein we propose to create and detect high-order (more than quadratic) nonlinear signals by harnessing the frustrated fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) effect within a specially designed donor-acceptor probe pair. Two distinct techniques are described. In the first method, donor fluorescence generated by a two-photon laser at the focus is preferentially switched on and off by a modulated and focused one-photon laser beam that is able to block FRET via direct acceptor excitation. The resulting image, constructed from the enhanced donor fluorescence signal, turns out to be an overall three-photon process. In the second method, a two-photon laser at a proper wavelength is capable of simultaneously exciting both the donor and the acceptor. By sinusoidally modulating the two-photon excitation laser at a fundamental frequency ω, an overall four-photon signal can be isolated by demodulating the donor fluorescence at the third harmonic frequency 3ω. We show that both the image contrast and the spatial resolution of the standard two-photon fluorescence microscopy can be substantially improved by virtue of the high-order nonlinearity. This frustrated FRET approach represents a strategy that is based on extracting the inherent nonlinear photophysical response of the specially designed imaging probes.
Using Cohort Scheduling to Enhance Server Performance (Extended Abstract)

Reference EPFL-CONF-192935 URL: http://doi.acm.org/10.1145/384197.384222 Record created on 2013-12-23, modified on 2017-05-12
The effect of crystallization and a phase transformation on the grain growth of nanocrystalline titania

Abstract Nanocrystalline titania powder was produced by the hydrolysis of titanium alkoxide. The precipitation procedure can be controlled so as to produce either crystalline (anatase) or amorphous powder. A comparison of the crystalline size in these two powders after calcination reveals the impact of the crystallization reaction. This reaction, which occurs during calcination of the amorphous powder, increases the resulting crystallite size from 10 to 16 nm. During subsequent sintering, the presence of interagglomerate pores serves to prevent an individual anatase grain from growing beyond the perimeter of the host agglomerate. As sintering continues, the anatase begins to transform to rutile. Evidently, the low number of rutile nucleation events causes the post transformation rutile grain size (185 nm) to be significantly larger than the pre-transformation anatase grain size (50 nm). The use of pressure-assisted sintering, however, helps to increase the number of nucleation events such that a post transformation rutile grain size less than 100 nm can be produced.
2,2′,4,4′-Tetrachlorobiphenyl upregulates cyclooxygenase-2 in HL-60 cells via p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and NF-κB

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are ubiquitous, persistent environmental contaminants that affect a number of cellular systems, including neutrophils. Among the effects caused by the noncoplanar PCB 2,2',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (2244-TCB) in granulocytic HL-60 cells are increases in superoxide anion production, activation of phospholipase A{sub 2} with subsequent release of arachidonic acid (AA) and upregulation of the inflammatory gene cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). The objective of this study was to determine the signal transduction pathways involved in the upregulation of COX-2 by 2244-TCB. Treatment of HL-60 cells with 2244-TCB led to increased expression of COX-2 mRNA. This increase was prevented by the transcriptional inhibitor actinomycin D in cells pretreated with 2244-TCB for 10 min. The increase in COX-2 mRNA was associated with release of {sup 3}H-AA, phosphorylation of p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, increased levels of nuclear NF-{kappa}B and increased superoxide anion production. Bromoenol lactone, an inhibitor of the calcium-independent phospholipase A{sub 2}, reduced {sup 3}H-AA release but had no effect on COX-2 mRNA, protein or activity. Pretreatment with SB-202190 or SB-203580, inhibitors of the p38 MAP kinase pathway, prevented the 2244-TCB-mediated induction of COX-2 and phosphorylation of p38 and ERK MAP kinases. These inhibitors did not alter {sup 3}H-AA release.more » Treatment with PD 98059 or U 0126, inhibitors of the MAP/ERK (MEK) pathway, prevented the 2244-TCB-mediated activation of ERK but had no effect on COX-2 induction or p38 phosphorylation. 2244-TCB treatment did not affect c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation. 2244-TCB exposure increased the amount of nuclear NF-{kappa}B. This increase was prevented by pretreatment with p38 MAP kinase inhibitors, but not by pretreatment with MEK inhibitors. Pretreatment with inhibitors of NF-{kappa}B prevented the 2244-TCB-mediated induction of COX-2 mRNA. 2244-TCB-mediated increases in superoxide anion were prevented by the NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin or the free radical scavenger 4-hydroxy TEMPO, but neither of these inhibitors affected the 2244-TCB-induced changes in COX-2 mRNA levels or {sup 3}H-AA release. Taken together these data suggest that p38 MAP kinase-dependent activation of NF-{kappa}B is critical for the 2244-TCB-mediated upregulation of COX-2 mRNA.« less
And lo the footprint . . . selected literature in rhetoric and science

MATHEMATICS: THE LOSS OF CERTAINTY. By Morris Kline. New York: Oxford University Press, 1982; pp. 382. $22.50; paper $8.95. RADICAL KNOWLEDGE: A PHILOSOPHICAL INQUIRY INTO THE NATURE AND LIMITS OF SCIENCE. By Gonzalo Munevar. Indianapolis, Indiana: Hackett Publishing Company, 1981; pp. x + 125. $15.00; paper $6.95. NOTES ON THE METHODOLOGY OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. By Walter B. Weimer. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1979; pp. xiii + 257. $19.95.
MR volumetric analysis of the human basal ganglia: Normative data

Rationale and Objectives . The authors undertook this study to identify a precise, semiautomated, reproducible magnetic resonance (MR) imaging technique for measuring the basal ganglia, to establish normative volumetric data, and to verify the presence of previously reported asymmetries. Materials and Methods . Twenty-eight healthy adults underwent cranial MR examination. The volumes of the various components of the basal ganglia were measured by means of a combination of thresholding and manual tracing techniques performed with specialized software. The validity of these measurements was assessed by fashioning, imaging, and measuring a practical basal ganglia phantom. Measurement accuracy was also established by means of inter- and intrarater reliability indexes. Normalized volumes were statistically analyzed with analysis of variance and paired t tests. Results . The absolute values of the various components of the basal ganglia varied widely even though the volumes were normalized to differences in intracranial volume. The right caudate nucleus volume was significantly ( P Conclusion . The authors have defined a precise, reproducible technique for measuring various components of the basal ganglia and have established normative data. The basal ganglia, similar to other brain structures, exhibit hemispheric lateralization.
Coexpression of Human α- and Circularly Permuted β-Globins Yields a Hemoglobin with Normal R State but Modified T State Properties

For the first time, a circularly permuted human β-globin (cpβ) has been coexpressed with human α-globin in bacterial cells and shown to associate to form α-cpβ hemoglobin in solution. Flash photolysis studies of α-cpβ show markedly biphasic CO and O2 kinetics with the amplitudes for the fast association phases being dominant due the presence of large amounts of high-affinity liganded hemoglobin dimers. Extensive dimerization of liganded but not deoxygenated α-cpβ was observed by gel chromatography. The rate constants for O2 and CO binding to the R state forms of α-cpβ are almost identical to those of native HbA (k′R(CO) ≈ 5.0 μM−1 s−1; k′R(O2) ≈ 50 μM−1 s−1), and the rate of O2 dissociation from fully oxygenated α-cpβ is also very similar to that observed for HbA (kR(O2) ≈ 21−28 s−1). When the equilibrium deoxyHb form of α-cpβ is reacted with CO in rapid mixing experiments, the observed time courses are monophasic and the observed bimolecular association rate constant is ∼1.0 μM−1 s−1, which is intermedia...
THINKING OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY: HOW TO DEVELOP, IMPLEMENT AND PROMOTE LIBRARY SERVICES FOR DISTANCE LEARNERS

Summary Supporting distance learners requires a shift in the traditional “library” mindset. Librarians who serve distance learners must come up with new and innovative ways to meet the needs of their unique users. Librarians must attempt to define and identify who their distance users are and what their needs are, and in turn, develop and implement a set of library resources and services in support of these needs. Promotion of the resources and services available is necessary in order to successfully provide library support; students and faculty must know what services are available and how to access them.
Analyzing Free Energy Relationships for Proton Translocations in Enzymes: Carbonic Anhydrase Revisited

The nature of proton transfer (PT) in proteins is explored by considering the catalytic cycle of carbonic anhydrase III. Special attention is paid to the free energy relationship established by Silverman and co-workers (Silverman, D. N.; Tu, C.; Chen, X.; Tanhauser, S. M.; Kresge, A. J.; Laipis, P. J. Biochemistry 1993, 34, 10757−10762). The free energy surfaces for the PT process is analyzed in the framework of the modified Marcus theory of Warshel and co-workers (Warshel, A.; Hwang, J. K.; Aqvist, J. Faraday Discuss. 1992, 93, 22), using realistic values of the relevant reorganization energy and the off-diagonal mixing term. It is found that the free energy relationship reflects a much more complex situation than that deduced from an empirical fit to the standard two-state Marcus formula. Apparently, the PT process involves three or more parabolic free energy surfaces rather than the two assumed in the Marcus treatment. Furthermore, PT processes involve large off-diagonal mixing terms that lead to appar...
Factors influencing obstetric and gynecologic patients' decisions toward medical student involvement in the outpatient setting

Abstract Objective: We sought to determine the reasons for obstetric and gynecologic patients' acceptance or refusal of medical student participation in their outpatient care. Study Design: A descriptive and analytic cross-sectional study of 180 patients at the University of California, San Francisco, was done to identify factors involved in patient acceptance or refusal of medical student participation in their outpatient obstetric-gynecologic visit. Responses were analyzed by Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel tests for rank order tests of factors involved in the decision to accept or decline medical student participation and χ 2 or Fisher exact tests for comparison of data among different groups. Results: Reasons for accepting medical student involvement included the desire to contribute to the training of future physicians and the desire for the highest standard of care. Reasons for refusing medical student involvement included the protection of patient privacy and the low comfort level with the examination. The acceptance rate for medical students during the obstetric visits was 89.1%, and that during the gynecologic visits was 81.4%. Conclusion: Private faculty patients, as well as Medicaid patients, have a high acceptance of both male and female medical students in the obstetric-gynecologic outpatient setting. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2000;182:1429-32.)
Bayesian Estimation of Stochastic Frontier Models with Multivariate Skew t Error Terms

In this article, we apply the new multivariate skew t distribution introduced by Sahu et al. (2003) to stochastic frontier models, thereby allowing for dependence of the composed errors and heavy tails in their distribution. Bayesian analysis of the model is provided. The model is applied to a cross-section of data from the U.S. primary metal industry previously analyzed by Aigner et al. (1977) using exponential and half-normal models. Results indicate that the multivariate skew t model yields significantly higher estimated variance of the one-sided error compared to exponential and half-normal models.
A scarless technique of umbilical hernia repair in the adult population

Background Umbilical hernias are common in adults during their 30s–60s. Most umbilical hernias result in increased intraabdominal pressure and prompt repair is advised. The technique described here involves dissection of the hernia sac from the subcutaneous tissue with a horizontal fascial closure in a tension-free procedure.
268: Managing diabetes in pregnancy using cell phone/internet technology

The prevalence of hyperglycemia during pregnancy and subsequent type 2 diabetes is increasing along with that of obesity (1,2). Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) improves glycemic control (3,4). Treatment of hyperglycemia during pregnancy improves outcomes for both mothers and infants (5–7). Effectively performing and reviewing SMBG is time-consuming for patients and care providers. Twentytwo percent of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) falsify or invent glucose values (8). Internet technology–based interventions improve health care utilization, self-efficacy, and glycemic control in nonpregnant populations (9–12). The use of Internet technology particularly featuring cell phone connectivity eliminates the potential inaccuracy of patient reporting of results. Such technologies may also improve patient satisfaction by increasing ease of use and decreasing the time needed to report results. Little is known about the potential benefits of employing this technology for the treatment of pregnant women with diabetes. Monitoring via cell phone–Internet technology (CIT) involves collecting and sending daily readings from a patient’s glucose meter, scale, or blood pressure monitor directly to a cell phone using a wireless device (e.g., Bluetooth). Information may be viewed by patients and health care providers via a secured Web site with electronic communication back and forth. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved Confidant CIT system (Confidant, Inc., Durham, NC) has been used in pilot studies of nonpregnant people with diabetes and congestive heart failure. Improvements in A1C and disease awareness were found (13,14).
The effect on language development of the special characteristics of speech addressed to children.

Studies of adults' speech to children indicate that adults make a number of modifications in their speech when interacting with a young child and that some of these modifications may facilitate the child's language acquisition. Modified repetitions of the child's utterances, along with certain syntactic, semantic, and cognitive simplifications, appear to be potentially effective language-teaching devices. However, the special lexicon, phonological simplification, and higher pitch that also characterize this “baby-talk” style are much less likely to play important roles in the child's language learning. The child's role in affecting these modifications in adult speech is briefly discussed, and an optimal pattern of adult-child language interaction is suggested.
The HC value: A method for estimating the flammability of mixtures of combustible gases

The authors discuss the use of the ratio of gas concentration to its lower flammable limit in estimating the flammability of combustible gas mixtures.
On the necessity of using the master equation to describe the chemical reaction X + A ⇌ B + X

Abstract The derivation of an exact “generalized kinetic equation” for the pseudo-unimolecular reaction X + A ⇌ B + X is presented. When the limits of long time and low X-particle density are taken, this equation reduces to the usual form of a chemical rate equation. The correlation function type expressions which this gives for the kinetic constants are shown to disagree with the results of the “master equation” approach and arguments are presented indicating that the use of the master equation cannot be avoided in studying this reaction.
Chaoborus americanus predation on various zooplankters; Functional response and behavioral observations

Predation rates for Chaoborus americanus on different types of noncyclomorphic zooplankton prey were determined in the laboratory as a function of both prey species and density. The sequence of events leading to consumption of prey was also observed, and probabilities determined for the various components.
TCR ZETA CHAIN IN T CELL DEVELOPMENT AND SELECTION

Current data suggest that an important function of the multimeric structure of the TCR is to enable the assembly of structurally and functionally different forms of the TCR, the pre-TCR and alphabetaTCR complexes, at different stages in development. Four distinct TCR subunits (the CD3gamma, delta, and epsilon chains and the zeta chain) contain signal transducing motifs; however, the zeta chain is notable for containing three of these elements. These motifs, especially those within the zeta chain, function to amplify signals generated by the TCR, and this property is especially critical during thymocyte selection. The results of several recent experiments argue that positive and negative selection of thymocytes may involve activation of distinct downstream signaling pathways. The outcome of thymocyte selection can also be influenced, however, by quantitative effects such as changes in ligand concentration or direct alteration of the TCR signaling potential. Recent studies pertaining to the kinetics of TCR-ligand interactions may provide insight into how signaling through the TCR can be regulated either quantitatively or qualitatively.
Exchange rate sensitivity of Singapore’s inpayments and outpayments at bilateral level

Early studies on the impact of currency devaluation or depreciation on the trade balance focused on using aggregate trade data between one country and rest of the world and estimated the well-known Marshall-Lerner (ML) condition. Due to aggregation bias, a second set of studies have relied upon disaggregated trade data at bilateral level. However, due to lack of import and export price levels at bilateral level, these studies have directly linked nominal exports and imports to the exchange rate. In this paper, we expand the literature of the second group by examining the sensitivity of inpayments and outpayments of Singapore with each of her 13 largest trading partners. Evidence shows that real depreciation or devaluation of Singapore dollar has significant effect on her inpayments and outpayments in the short run. In the long run it increases Singapore’s export earnings from three of its partners and reduces her outpayments to only two countries.
Worldwide Unconformities in Marine Sediments related to Eustatic Changes of Sea Level

THE Deep Sea Drilling Project has discovered hiatuses of up to tens of millions of years in the stratigraphic record of every principal ocean basin. A hiatus is recognized by a discontinuity in palaeontologic ages and/or by an abrupt decrease in average sediment accumulation rates below that typical for the sediment type present within a cored interval. The physical expression of a hiatus may be a surface(s) of unconformity within the stratigraphic column resulting from an interval(s) of non-deposition and/or erosion.
Using the zebrafish model to study GATA transcription factors

The zebrafish is an established animal model system that profits from the availability of strong experimental approaches in both genetics and embryology. As a vertebrate, zebrafish can be used to model many aspects of human development and disease. GATA transcription factors play important roles in the development of many organ systems, including those for hematopoietic, cardiovascular, reproductive, and gut-endoderm derived tissues. The six vertebrate GATA factors are highly conserved in zebrafish at the level of sequence, expression pattern, and function. The identification of mutants, establishment of transgenic GFP reporter fish, and the ease of performing loss- and gain-of-function experiments have all contributed new insight into our understanding of the regulation and function of GATA factors. We review recent advances toward this goal using the zebrafish system with a focus on hematopoiesis and cardiogenesis, and suggest how comparative genetics using the zebrafish genes might reveal core conserved properties, as well as changes in gene function that reflect different morphogenetic programs utilized by various vertebrate embryos.
Mathematical induction is a recursive technique

Many students find that proof by induction is one of the most difficult topics in discrete mathematics. Even students who are able to write inductive proofs in a Discrete Mathematics course often find it difficult to write inductive proofs in Data Structures, Algorithms, Theory of Computation, and other computer science courses. Part of the reason for this is that discrete mathematics courses tend to emphasize weak induction over the natural numbers, but strong induction over recursively defined structures is much more useful in computer science.This paper argues that learning and using proof by induction is easier if the recursive nature of proof by induction is made explicit, especially for students familiar with recursion. It can be useful to view an inductive proof as a template for a recursive program that takes a specific instance as a parameter and generates a complete direct proof for that instance. The abstract idea of assuming and invoking an inductive hypothesis is replaced by the concrete idea of making a recursive call to prove a lemma. Viewing induction as a recursive process allows us to give a rule for determining what base cases need to be proved in strong induction and simplifies creating correct inductive proofs.