cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Muscle quality and relative adiposity are the strongest predictors of lower-extremity physical function in older women.

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study was to examine the relative contributions of physical activity, adiposity, lean mass and muscle quality to lower-extremity physical function (LEPF) in older women. Study design Cross-sectional analysis at a university research laboratory. Main outcome measures : Community-dwelling older women (n = 96, 73.9 ± 5.6 years, BMI = 26.5 ± 4.7 kg/m2) were assessed for body composition via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, leg extension power using the Nottingham power rig, muscle quality (W/kg) as the ratio of leg extension power (W) to lower-body mineral free lean mass (kg) and moderate-intensity physical activity via questionnaire. A composite measure of LEPF was calculated by summing Z-scores of the 6-min walk, 8-foot up-and-go and 30-s chair stand tests. Results Muscle quality and physical activity were associated with all measures of LEPF (all p 0.05). Hierarchical linear regression analyses revealed that muscle quality (standardized β = 0.47, p Conclusions Muscle quality and relative adiposity are the strongest independent predictors of LEPF in older women. These findings suggest that maintaining muscle quality, especially relative to adiposity, may be a critical target for interventions to prevent declines in physical function in older women.
The Role of Nutrition Intervention in Wound Healing

This article reviews the role of nutrition in the healing of skin breakdown. The components of a nutritional assessment, which include social history, dietary intake, anthropometrics, and serum lab...
Centrifugation of developing oocytes leading to embryonic defects.

Abstract Drosophila melangaster females were centrifuged for 6 hr at 670g. Eggs collected from centrifuged flies frequently developed into abnormal embryos and larvae which were unable to hatch. A typical abnormality was the fusion of segments, identified by the cuticle hairs which mark larval segmental boundaries. Malformation of segments occurred most frequently in the middle region of the larva (segments 6–9 of the 12 larval segments). The induction of abnormalities is stage specific. They occurred in embryos developing from eggs laid up to 33 hr after centrifugation; eggs laid later than 33 hr (stage 7, King, 1970 ) showed no abnormalities.
Seasonal patterns of growth, tissue acid fluctuations, and 14CO2 uptake in the crassulacean acid metabolism epiphyte Tjllandsia usneoides L. (Spanish moss).

Seasonal patterns of growth, 14CO2 uptake, and fluctuations in tissue titratable acidity were studied over the course of a year at a study site in the coastal plain of North Carolina.Elongation rates of Spanish moss strands were maximal in the summer and minimal in the winter. Summer maximal biomass addition rates were calculated to be 3.4 mg·month-1. Mortality of the strands was greatest in the winter months. Rates of 14CO2 uptake and fluctuations in tissue acidity were greatest in the summer over a fairly broad spectrum of environmental conditions (day and night temperatures, irradiance, length of drought). Maximal 14CO2 uptake rates (1.2 mg CO2·mg Chl-1 ·h01) were measured in May 1978. Rates of 14CO2 uptake and fluctuations in titratable acidity were inhibited below 5°C and eliminated at 0°C air temperatures.Isothermal diurnal conditions resulted in low rates of 14CO2 uptake. Tissue water content did not appear to be a major factor controlling 14CO2 uptake rates. However, tissue wetting by rain severely reduced nighttime uptake yet stimulated low rates of daytime 14CO2 uptake. This was the only condition in which daytime 14CO2 uptake occurred, excluding the early morning and late afternoon 14CO2 uptake typical of many Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) plants.The results suggest that tissue water content is not the major factor controlling CO2 uptake as has been found in many other CAM species; and that low temperatures limit the growth of Spanish moss in North Carolina.
Stochastic evolution on a manifold of states

Abstract There are physical systems large enough so that a statistical description is needed but not necessarily so large that fluctuations may be ignored. We introduce a general framework for such systems based on assuming that the system's evolution defines a Markov process occurring in a manifold of physical states. A single system is described by its state-manifold M and three fields thereon: the entropy-scalar s , the diffusion tensor K ab , and the vector of non-diffusive evolution u a . The second law of thermodynamics holds if and only if u a is a symmetry of s . Detailed balance holds if and only if u a vanishes. In the macroscopic limit where fluctuations disappear one obtains a general framework for irreversible thermodynamics (of isolated systems); and in that limit the equations of motion are derived from a variational principle. The meaning of the concepts introduced is illustrated by means of an analysis in some detail of Brownian motion and the “Langevin process”. An application to black hole evolution is also discussed.
Human erythrocyte membrane sialoglycoproteins: A study of interconversion

Summary The sialoglycoproteins of human erythrocyte membranes can be separated into four molecular weight classes by gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. Two of these components participate in an aggregation/disaggregation equilibrium favoring the lower molecular weight form at higher temperature. The two other forms do not participate in this interconversion. Partially purified sialoglycoproteins contain high molecular weight aggregates which involve all species and dissociate at high temperature. Most important is the finding that interconversion does not take place in phosphate buffered gels but does occur on gels employing Tris buffer systems.
A flexible active needle for steering in soft tissues

Flexible needles that can be steered within soft tissues are a promising approach to reach target locations that are previously inaccessible and to improve the placement accuracy. Promising designs to increase flexibility include the bevel-tipped needles, kinked needles and the recently proposed flexure-based needles, where they attain a fixed curvature when inserted. We developed a flexible active needle, where needle curvature (or deflection) can be controlled by actuators attached to the needle body. Moreover, to further increase the flexibility a flexure element was used to join the needle tip to the rest of the needle body. A prototype of the flexure active needle was developed and demonstrated both in air and tissue-mimicking phantom.
The future of recycling

Abstract Recycling in general and metal recycling in particular, many believe, enjoy a very bright future. As resource depletion, environmental concerns, and other factors drive primary production costs up, the relative importance of recycling in supplying the material needs of society will grow. This optimistic view, however, may paint an overly rosy and misleading picture. A large portion of secondary metal production is based on the recycling of new scrap, which is constrained far more by the available supply of new scrap than by metal prices or recycling costs. Secondary production from old scrap is more sensitive to costs and prices, and so would benefit from a rise in metal prices. History, however, indicates that the cost-reducing effects of new technology have over the past century more than offset the cost-increasing effects of depletion, causing real metal prices to fall. In recent decades, this decline in prices has continued despite government policies that are increasingly forcing firms to cover their environmental costs. While this favorable trend may not continue forever, it does suggest that secondary producers will have to pursue aggressively new technologies and other innovations that reduce their costs as fast or faster than primary producers if they hope to expand their future share of total metal production.
Outcomes of Sexual Harassment Charges

The article presents information on a study which examined a reported case of sexual harassment charges against an employer. Details are presented regarding the nature of the reported sexual harass...
Evoked potential topography in unmedicated and medicated schizophrenics

The main purposes were to determine whether: (1) evoked potential (EP) topography differs from normal in schizophrenics; (2) EP topography is altered by psychotropic drugs. Unmedicated (n = 72) and medicated (n = 57) schizophrenics were compared with age- and sex-matched non-patients and with one another. EPs to left and right median nerve, visual pattern and auditory stimuli were recorded from 15 leads. EP data were reduced by principal component analysis (PCA) of EP waveforms, with separate PCAs for later and earlier poststimulus times; 32 factors were extracted. Factor scores, based on factor structure of 195 non-patients, were computed for all subjects. Topographic effects were evaluated by ANOVAs on Z-transformed factor scores. The results were: (1) topographies differed between groups in about one-third of the factors, but variables yielding effects differed between comparisons; (2) topographic differences from normal in unmedicated patients converged at left temporoparietal (higher in schizophrenics) and right fronto-central-temporal areas (lower in schizophrenics); (3) similar convergence was absent in medicated patients; (4) most medicated vs unmedicated patient topographic differences persisted in groups matched for psychopathology. Results appear consistent with "focal cortical arousal" of the left posterior quadrant in schizophrenics (Morihisa and Duffy, 1986) and suggest that medication alters EP topography.
New target against inflammatory diseases: transglutaminase 2

Transglutaminase (TGase)2 is an enzyme that is widely used in many biological systems for generic tissue stabilization or immediate defense for wounds. Many reports showed that TGase 2 is aberrantly activated in tissues and cells and contributes to a variety of diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases and autoimmune diseases. In most cases, TGase 2 appears to be a factor in the formation of inappropriate proteinaceous aggregates that may be cytotoxic. However, in other cases, such as celiac disease, arthritis, lupus, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, TGase 2 is involved in the generation of autoantibodies. This suggests the possibility that inappropriate expression and/or presentation of TGase 2 to T cells might contribute to these diseases in genetically predisposed individuals. We and others have found that TGase 2 expression is also increased in the inflammation process. Furthermore, we also demonstrated a reversal of inflammation by Tgase inhibition. This review will examine a possibility of TGase inhibitors as therapeutic agents in a variety of inflammatory diseases.
Politics, Process, Culture and Human Folly: Life among Arizonans and the Reality of a Transborder World

AbstractIn this article we explain the development of anti-Mexican nationalist ideology among Arizona's legislative body and the development of counterpoints of action and resistance and the role the School of Transborder Studies at Arizona State University is playing locally, regionally, nationally, and transnationally in countering this ideology. It considers that such measures as Arizona SB 1070 law passed by the Arizona legislature in 2010 has historical antecedents early in the development of the Arizona territory in the 19th century. Once Mexican-origin populations became demographically and politically subordinated in the region at that time, numerous measures ensued, which attempted to subordinate much of the cultural, linguistic, and spatial heritage of the population since then. However, in spite of these processes that Mexican-origin populations simultaneously created and became a part of, countervailing linguistic, cultural, and public developments and innovations emerged. Issues of culture, l...
An Unstructured Grid, Finite-Volume, Three-Dimensional, Primitive Equations Ocean Model: Application to Coastal Ocean and Estuaries

An unstructured grid, finite-volume, three-dimensional (3D) primitive equation ocean model has been developed for the study of coastal oceanic and estuarine circulation. The model consists of momentum, continuity, temperature, salinity, and density equations and is closed physically and mathematically using the Mellor and Yamada level-2.5 turbulent closure submodel. The irregular bottom slope is represented using a s-coordinate transformation, and the horizontal grids comprise unstructured triangular cells. The finite-volume method (FVM) used in this model combines the advantages of a finite-element method (FEM) for geometric flexibility and a finite-difference method (FDM) for simple discrete computation. Currents, temperature, and salinity in the model are computed in the integral form of the equations, which provides a better representation of the conservative laws for mass, momentum, and heat in the coastal region with complex geometry. The model was applied to the Bohai Sea, a semienclosed coastal ocean, and the Satilla River, a Georgia estuary characterized by numerous tidal creeks and inlets. Compared with the results obtained from the finite-difference model (ECOM-si), the new model produces a better simulation of tidal elevations and residual currents, especially around islands and tidal creeks. Given the same initial distribution of temperature in the Bohai Sea, the FVCOM and ECOM-si models show similar distributions of temperature and stratified tidal rectified flow in the interior region away from the coast and islands, but FVCOM appears to provide a better simulation of temperature and currents around the islands, barriers, and inlets with complex topography.
Dual coenzyme specificity of Archaeoglobus fulgidus HMG‐CoA reductase

Comparison of the inferred amino acid sequence of orf AF1736 of Archaeoglobus fulgidus to that of Pseudomonas mevalonii HMG-CoA reductase suggested that AF1736 might encode a Class II HMG-CoA reductase. Following polymerase chain reaction-based cloning of AF1736 from A. fulgidus genomic DNA and expression in Escherichia coli, the encoded enzyme was purified to apparent homogeneity and its enzymic properties were determined. Activity was optimal at 85 degrees C, deltaHa was 54 kJ/mol, and the statin drug mevinolin inhibited competitively with HMG-CoA (Ki 180 microM). Protonated forms of His390 and Lys277, the apparent cognates of the active site histidine and lysine of the P. mevalonii enzyme, appear essential for activity. The mechanism proposed for catalysis of P. mevalonii HMG-CoA reductase thus appears valid for A. fulgidus HMG-CoA reductase. Unlike any other HMG-CoA reductase, the A. fulgidus enzyme exhibits dual coenzyme specificity. pH-activity profiles for all four reactions revealed that optimal activity using NADP(H) occurred at a pH from 1 to 3 units more acidic than that observed using NAD(H). Kinetic parameters were therefore determined for all substrates for all four catalyzed reactions using either NAD(H) or NADP(H). NADPH and NADH compete for occupancy of a common site. k(cat)[NAD(H)]/k(cat)[NADP(H)] varied from unity to under 70 for the four reactions, indicative of slight preference for NAD(H). The results indicate the importance of the protonated status of active site residues His390 and Lys277, shown by altered K(M) and k(cat) values, and indicate that NAD(H) and NADP(H) have comparable affinity for the same site.
Endoplasmic reticulum quality control and systemic amyloid disease: Impacting protein stability from the inside out.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is responsible for regulating proteome integrity throughout the secretory pathway. The ER protects downstream secretory environments such as the extracellular space by partitioning proteins between ER protein folding, trafficking, and degradation pathways in a process called ER quality control. In this process, ER quality control factors identify misfolded, aggregation-prone protein conformations and direct them toward ER protein folding or degradation, reducing their secretion to the extracellular space where they could further misfold or aggregate into proteotoxic conformations. Despite the general efficiency of ER quality control, many human diseases, such as the systemic amyloidoses, involve aggregation of destabilized, aggregation-prone proteins in the extracellular space. A common feature for all systemic amyloid diseases is the ability for amyloidogenic proteins to evade ER quality control and be efficiently secreted. The efficient secretion of these amyloidogenic proteins increases their serum concentrations available for the distal proteotoxic aggregation characteristic of these diseases. This indicates that ER quality control, and the regulation thereof, is a critical determinant in defining the onset and pathology of systemic amyloid diseases. Here, we discuss the pathologic and potential therapeutic relationship between ER quality control, protein secretion, and distal deposition of amyloidogenic proteins involved in systemic amyloid diseases. Furthermore, we present evidence that the unfolded protein response, the stress-responsive signaling pathway that regulates ER quality control, is involved in the pathogenesis of systemic amyloid diseases and represents a promising emerging therapeutic target to intervene in this class of human disease. © 2015 IUBMB Life, 67(6):404–413, 2015
Developing Comparative Criminology and the Case of China An Introduction

Although comparative criminology has made significant development during the past decade or so, systematic empirical research has only developed along a few topics. Comparative criminology has never occupied a central position in criminology. This article analyzes the major theoretical and methodological impediments in the development of comparative criminology. It stresses a need to shift methodology from a conventional primary approach that uses the nation as the unit of analysis to an in-depth case study method as a primary methodological approach. The article maintains that case study method can overcome the limitation of its descriptive tradition and become a promising methodological approach for comparative criminology.
Firm-wide integration and firm performance

Purpose – This paper is intended to extend previous research by exploring the scope of integration and its impact on firm performance. In addition to, examining dyadic integrative relationships, the research also looks at firm-wide process-oriented integration. Design/methodology/approach – Literature on collaboration and integration was reviewed along with discussions with subject experts. The resulting survey was administered to supply chain executives. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the relationships between the constructs of marketing/logistics collaborative activities, firm-wide cross-functional integration, and firm performance. Findings – This research shows that marketing/logistics collaboration does not have a direct impact on firm performance when firm-wide integration is considered. The results indicate that marketing/logistics collaboration increases firm performance through the mediation of firm-wide cross-functional integration. Additionally, dyadic collaboration needs the support of broader firm-wide integration to achieve better firm performance. Research limitations/implications – The paper presents an initial quantitative study on the scope of integration. Future research should examine other influential factors and explore the relationship between internal integration and external integration. Further, studies should also investigate the order in which firm processes should be integrated. Practical implications – The primary implication is that firms can follow a path starting with focused dyadic collaborative behaviors involving as few as two functional areas and move towards firm-wide integration of processes over time. Originality/value – This paper shows that functional level collaboration (logistics and marketing) is a precursor for firm-wide integration leading to increased firm performance.
Leadership Microprocessors: Validation, debug and test

I will discuss the use of high level design and abstraction for modeling, simulation and validation of leadership microprocessors, the challenges we have faced in this domain, our learnings and our vision and strategy for the future.
Arginine aminopeptidase, an integral membrane protein of the Cryptosporidium parvum sporozoite

Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts were studied for the expression of aminopeptidase by using amino acids bound to the synthetic fluorescent substrate 7-amino-4-trifluoromethyl coumarin. After 1 h of incubation, intact oocysts showed no activity; however, homogenization and solubilization with Triton X-114 followed by phase separation yielded a 22-fold increase in aminopeptidase activity in the detergent fraction. With arginyl-6-amino-2-styrylquinoline as a substrate, aminopeptidase activity was observed in permeabilized oocysts and freshly excysted sporozoites but not on intact oocysts or empty oocyst membranes after excystation. These results suggest that C. parvum expresses an arginine aminopeptidase that is an integral protein of the sporozoite membrane.
Timescales, dynamics, and ecological understanding1

Explicit consideration of timescales and dynamics is required for an understanding of fundamental issues in ecology. Endogenous dynamics can lead to transient states where asymptotic behavior is very different from dynamics on short timescales. The causes of these kinds of transients can be placed in one of three classes: linear systems with different timescales embedded or exhibiting reactive behavior, the potentially long times to reach synchrony across space for oscillating systems, and the complex dynamics of systems with strong density-dependent (nonlinear) interactions. It is also important to include the potentially disparate timescales inherent in ecological systems when determining the endogenous dynamics. I argue that the dynamics of ecological systems can best be understood as the response, which may include transient dynamics, to exogenous influences leading to the observed dynamics on ecologically relevant timescales. This view of ecosystem behavior as responses of ecological systems governed by endogenous dynamics to exogenous influences provides a synthetic way to unify different approaches to population dynamics, to understand mechanisms that determine the distribution and abundance of species, and to manage ecosystems on appropriate timescales. There are implications for theoretical approaches, empirical approaches, and the statistical approaches that bridge theory and observation.
Toward culturally sensitive research in a multicultural society

Applying research methods and techniques developed in a dominant culture to other cultures can threaten the validity and generalizability of research conducted with other cultures. Guidelines are proposed for increasing the cultural sensitivity of research, and a case example is discussed.
Low Cost Parallel Adaptive Filter Structures

In this paper, we present two parallel LMS adaptive filtering algorithms with low hardware. The proposed parallel algorithm 1 doesn't alter the input-output behavior and saves large amount of hardware cost of previous designs, especially when the parallelism level is high. For example, it saves 68.4% of the multiplications and 4.7% of the additions, of those of prior fast parallel adaptive filtering algorithms when parallelism level is 72 and the filter length N is large. The proposed parallel algorithm 2, while maintaining the same performance, can further save 5.56% to 12.5% of the multipliers and 8.54% to 24.9% of the additions when the level of parallelism varies from 3 to 72
Some properties of hot nuclear matter and hot nuclei

We use the Thomas-Fermi model to study the properties of hot nuclear matter and hot nuclei. We focus attention on the study of the nuclear density, the compressibility, the nucleon binding energy and the effective mass all as a function of nuclear temperature. We also study the density profile of finite nuclei for various temperatures. We do not adjust any parameters in our calculation and obtain very reasonable results.
Neonatal and Infantile Epilepsy: Acquired and Genetic Models

The incidence of seizures and epilepsies is particularly high during the neonatal and infantile periods. We will review selected animal models of early-life epileptic encephalopathies that have addressed the dyscognitive features of frequent interictal spikes, the pathogenesis and treatments of infantile spasms (IS) or Dravet syndrome, disorders with mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) dysregulation, and selected early-life epilepsies with genetic defects. Potentially pathogenic mechanisms in these conditions include interneuronopathies in IS or Dravet syndrome and mTOR dysregulation in brain malformations, tuberous sclerosis, and related genetic disorders, or IS of acquired etiology. These models start to generate the first therapeutic drugs, which have been specifically developed in immature animals. However, there are challenges in translating preclinical discoveries into clinically relevant findings. The advances made so far hold promise that the new insights may potentially have curative or disease-modifying potential for many of these devastating conditions.
Mechanistic Approaches to the Investigation of Edge Effects on Avian Productivity

Faunal community composition, as well as densities and activity patterns of individual species, may change clinally with proximity of breeding habitat to ecotones. In this chapter the term edge effects refers generally to any such spatial gradients. (A glossary of terms and symbols is provided as an appendix. All terms included in the appendix were italicized on first mention in the text.) Edge effects may involve increases in avian breeding density near edges, as well as increases in the abundance and activity patterns of nest predators and brood parasites (Wilcove, 1985; Ambuel and Temple, 1983; Brittingham and Temple, 1983; Chasko and Gates, 1982; Whitcomb et al.,1981; Gates and Gysel, 1978). Over the past two decades ornithologists have conducted a great number of field studies to investigate edge effects on avian productivity, but there has been relatively little discussion of the mechanisms that may cause such effects.
Tree-grass dynamics in a Prosopis-thornscrub savanna parkland: Reconstructing the past and predicting the future

Although trends toward increased woody plant abundance in grasslands and savannas in recent history have been reported worldwide, our understanding of the processes involved is limited. Here I revi...
Applications of Fuzzy Logic and Soft Computing in Space

Fuzzy-logic systems have been successfully developed for many industrial applications. These systems seek to emulate the type of reasoning that humans perform when solving complex tasks.
Millions projected to be at risk from sea-level rise in the continental United States

Ongoing population growth could greatly exacerbate the human impact of sea-level rise in coastal areas of the continental US this century, with the potential to induce mass population movements unless protective measures are taken.
GROWTH VARIATION BETWEEN AND WITHIN SPECIES OF ECTOMYCORRHIZAL FUNGI IN RESPONSE TO pH IN VITRO

Ten species of ectomycorrhizal fungi were grown in liquid media over a pH range of 27. Species fell into five major groups: (1) growth significantly best only at the optimum pH, (2) growth increased with increase of pH, (3) significantly best growth spans three pH units, (4) spans four pH units, and (5) spans five pH units. A comparison of four isolates each of Cenococcum geophilum and Laccaria laccata revealed striking infraspecific differences in response to pH. Species also differed in their effect on pH of the medium over the duration of the experiment. Isolates that grew best in vitro at high pH levels did not originate from high pH soils. Other things being equal, isolates that grow well over a broad pH range would be preferred for inoculation in tree nurseries.
Adsorption of CO2 on a PdO(101) Thin Film

We investigated the adsorption of CO2 on PdO(101) using temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and dispersion-corrected density functional theory calculations (DFT-D3). We find that CO2 desorbs from PdO(101) in two main TPD peaks (e1 and e2) centered at ∼176 and 120 K and estimate that the average binding energies in the e1 and e2 states are 54 ± 8 and 37 ± 5 kJ/mol, respectively. The CO2 layer saturates on PdO(101) at a total coverage of ∼0.47 monolayer (ML), with the CO2 molecules distributed nearly evenly between the two adsorbed states. TPD experiments of CO2 adsorption onto preadsorbed layers of pure 18O2 and H2O provide evidence that the e1 and e2 states correspond to CO2 molecules adsorbed on the coordinatively unsaturated (cus) vs saturated (4f) Pd sites of the PdO(101) surface, respectively. DFT-D3 calculations predict CO2 saturation coverages and binding energies on PdO(101) that agree well with our experimental estimates. The calculations suggest that CO2 prefers to adsorb initially on a cus-P...
Legal Guarantee for Prevention and Control of Soil Contamination of Farmland in China

With the rapid industrialization and urbanization and the intensive use of fertilizer and pesticide in agricultural production, soil contamination has become more and more serious, adding to the deterioration of the fragile agricultural eco-system and making more uncertain the sustainable development of agricultural economy and the protection of agricultural eco-system.Although the current legislations have provided guarantee for the protection of agricultural environment,the limited and rough stipulations can not meet the actual demands for the prevention of soil contamination and protection of sustainable supply capacity of soil fertility.The paper, therefore,deems it necessary that,on the basis of the current legislations,special and systematic legal systems for the prevention and control of soil contamination of farmland should be formulated.
An exploration of the relationship between melodic originality and fame in early 20th-century American popular music:

The current study examined the relationship between fame and melodic originality among the refrains of over 500 early American popular songs. The main goals were to attempt to replicate results det...
Climate science: Cooling in the Antarctic

The Antarctic Peninsula has been warming for many decades, but an analysis now reveals that it has cooled since the late 1990s. Inspection of the factors involved suggests that this is consistent with natural variability. See Letter p.411
Quality Control for RNA Preparations

Publisher Summary Every laboratory application involving purified RNA requires a quality assessment of the sample, particularly the mRNA fraction. Checking a purified sample of RNA for integrity and overall quality may be accomplished in a variety of ways, some of which are also very good positive-control techniques for a number of transcription-based assays. These methods are: UV spectrophotometry and absorption ratios, electrophoretic profile of the RNA, UV shadowing, sample capacity to support RT-PCR, Northern analysis, and sample capacity to support in vitrotranslation. Spectrophotometric analysis and examination of the electrophoretic profile of each sample should always be performed shortly after purification and, if the RNA has been stored for a while, a second aliquot should be tested just prior to use. Nucleic acid concentration can be determined with minimal fanfare by spectrophotometric analysis. The absorbance of ultraviolet (UV) light provides a direct means of determining both nucleic acid concentration and purity, as well as an indirect means of calculating the total yield from the biological source and even an estimation of the mass of RNA per cell, assuming that the approximate cell number is known at the onset of the isolation. Northern analysis is a most useful experimental tool to obtain both a qualitative and a semi-quantitative profile of any RNA sample. The common problem associated with the isolation of RNA is the incomplete removal of protein from the cell lysate.
p38-MAP Kinase Activation Followed by BIM Induction Is Critical for Glucocorticoid-Induced Apoptosis in Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells.

Glucocorticoids (GC) are common components in chemotherapeutic protocols for lymphoid malignancies. GC-induced apoptosis requires the BCL-2 family-regulated pathway, but it remains largely undefined how the signaling pathways and their downstream target molecules, including the BCL-2 family members, participate in GC-induced cell death. BIM (BCL-2-interacting mediator of cell death) identified as a BH3-only protein induces apoptosis and its activity can be modulated at the transcriptional and post-translational levels. BIM is required for apoptosis induced by Taxol, dexamethasone, Gleevec, and HDAC inhibitors, indicating that this protein has a role in anticancer therapy against human malignancies. However, the molecular mechanisms how BIM is regulated and how BIM regulates downstream cell death machinery are not entirely clear. In this study, we used a T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cell line, CCRF-CEM to examine the molecular mechanisms of Dexamethasone (Dex)-induced cell death. Dex treatment induces the mRNA and protein of BIM in CCRF-CEM cells before the onset of apoptosis. Bim mRNA induction is completely inhibited by a transcription inhibitor, actinomycin D. However, a protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide treatment augments Dex-induced Bim mRNA accumulation (super-induction), suggesting that de novo protein synthesis is not required for the induction of Bim mRNA. BIM protein induction is inhibited by actinomycin D or cycloheximide, thus new BIM protein synthesis is required for its accumulation. These data indicate that Dex treatment increases BIM levels mainly by new mRNA synthesis (transcription). In contrast, the overall expression of the multi-domain pro-apoptotic effectors, BAX and BAK, are constant. The anti-apoptotic members, BCL-2, MCL-1 and BCL-XL, also show constant expression. Down-regulation of BIM by shRNA strongly inhibits Dex-induced apoptosis. Thus, BIM is an essential molecule in Dex-induced apoptosis in CCRF-CEM cells. We then investigated the upstream signaling pathways to induce BIM. p38-mitogen activated protein kinase (p38-MAPK) is activated by Dex treatment prior to BIM induction. Treatment with a p38-MAPK inhibitor, SB203580, dramatically reduces Dex-induced apoptosis as well as BIM induction. These findings indicate that BIM induction through p38-MAPK activation is a critical pathway in GC-induced cell death.
Pilot-scale testing of renewable biocatalyst for swine manure treatment and mitigation of odorous VOCs, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide emissions

Abstract Comprehensive control of odors, hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), ammonia (NH 3 ), and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with swine production is a critical need. A pilot-scale experiment was conducted to evaluate surface-applied soybean peroxidase (SBP) and calcium peroxide (CaO 2 ) as a manure additive to mitigate emissions of odorous volatile organic compounds (VOC) including dimethyl disulfide/methanethiol (DMDS/MT), dimethyl trisulfide, n -butyric acid, valeric acid, isovaleric acid, p -cresol, indole, and skatole. The secondary impact on emissions of NH 3 , H 2 S, and GHG was also measured. The SBP was tested at four treatments (2.28–45.7 kg/m 2 manure) with CaO 2 (4.2% by weight of SBP) over 137 days. Significant reductions in VOC emissions were observed: DMDS/MT (36.2%–84.7%), p -cresol (53.1%–89.5%), and skatole (63.2%–92.5%). There was a corresponding significant reduction in NH 3 (14.6%–67.6%), and significant increases in the greenhouse gases CH 4 (32.7%–232%) and CO 2 (20.8%–124%). The remaining emissions (including N 2 O) were not statistically different. At a cost relative to 0.8% of a marketed hog it appears that SBP/CaO 2 treatment could be a promising option at the lowest (2.28 kg/m 2 ) treatment rate for reducing odorous gas and NH 3 emissions at swine operations, and field-scale testing is warranted.
The Failed Probability of Love Over Labor in THX 1138 (1971)

Scholarship on panopticism and film rarely considers aesthetic attributes of the medium. Thematic elements associated with panopticism are often examined instead. George Lucas’ directorial debut, THX 1138 (1971), uses aesthetic values in filmmaking to screen a narrative grounded in panopticism. By drawing on the Foucaultian principle of panopticism, this article illustrates the ideological confliction between labor and love that is central to the protagonist THX. On the surface, THX 1138 situates the sexual ideologies of the early Seventies in a socialist contention. The sexual ideology that favors love and freedom of expression is placed in direct conflict with a socialist ideology that labor and obedience. This ideological strife erupts on screen in a dystopian future that is visualized in panoptic cinematography techniques. The result is an analysis of the nuanced visual mastery on Lucas’s part that serves as an explicit commentary grounded in the political and cultural contention never quite resolved in American history.
Hybrid VC-MTJ/CMOS non-volatile stochastic logic for efficient computing

In this paper, we propose a non-volatile stochastic computing (SC) scheme using voltage-controlled magnetic tunnel junction (VC-MTJ) and negative differential resistance (NDR). The proposed design includes a VC-MTJ based true stochastic bit stream generator and VC-MTJ and NDR based stochastic adder, multiplier, register, which are experimentally demonstrated using 60nm VC-MTJ and CMOS NDR connected on die. These components are then used to realize FIR filter and AdaBoost (machine-learning algorithm). 3X–37X energy advantage is shown for the proposed SC compared with CMOS binary arithmetic ASIC and SC designs.
Thrower's Fracture of the Humerus: An Investigation of Risk Factors Following an Unlikely Scenario: A Case Report.

Case: A 26-year-old amateur baseball player without prodromal arm pain sustained a thrower’s fracture of the humerus on a warm-up throw performed with submaximal effort. The fracture occurred during the first throwing session following a 6-week layoff. The patient was treated nonoperatively and made a full recovery, but he elected to not return to throwing sports. Conclusion: Because of the lack of risk factors in this case, we suggest that time off or irregularity in throwing may play a greater role in a thrower’s fracture than previously established. Recreational throwers should undergo appropriate preseason training before returning to throwing.
Biomechanical Modeling of Spine Flexibility and Its Relationship to Spinal Range of Motion and Idiopathic Scoliosis.

Abstract Study design Cross-sectional. Objective To examine the relationships between spine morphology, spine flexibility, and idiopathic scoliosis. Background Girls have a higher incidence of clinically significant scoliosis than boys, along with smaller vertebrae and greater flexibility. Based on biomechanical modeling, we hypothesized that smaller vertebral width relative to intervertebral disc (IVD) height would be associated with both greater lateral flexibility of the spine and with idiopathic scoliosis. Methods Magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure IVD height, vertebral width, and paraspinous musculature in 22 girls with mild and moderate idiopathic scoliosis and 29 girls without scoliosis ages 9–13 years. Clinical measurement of maximum lateral bending was also performed in the girls without scoliosis. A simple biomechanical model was used to estimate bending angle from the ratio of IVD height to vertebral half-width for L1–L4. The average ratio (Ravg) and calculated total bending angle (αtot) for L1–L4 were compared to the clinical measurements of lateral bending flexibility in the control group. These measures were also compared between the scoliosis and control groups. Results There was a significant positive relationship between clinical flexibility and both Ravg (p = .041) and αtot (p = .042) adjusting for skeletal age, height, body mass index, and paraspinous muscle area as covariates. The ratio was significantly higher (Ravg = 0.45 vs. 0.38, p Conclusion These results suggest that differences in spine morphology and corresponding changes in spine flexibility may be related to idiopathic scoliosis. If these relationships can be corroborated in larger prospective studies, these easily measured morphologic traits may contribute to a better understanding of the etiology of idiopathic scoliosis and an improved ability to predict scoliosis progression. Level of Evidence Level III.
Introduction: Intersecting Traditions in the Philosophy of Computing

This volume consists of selected papers from the 2015 joint international conference—the first-ever meeting of the Computer Ethics-Philosophical Enquiry conference series of the International Society for Ethics and Information Technology, and the International Association for Computing and Philosophy—held at the University of Delaware from June 22–25 of 2015. The organizing themes of the conference are well represented in the volume. They include theoretical topics at the intersection of computing and philosophy, including essays that explore current issues in epistemology, philosophy of mind, logic, and philosophy of science, and also normative topics on matters of ethical, social, economic, and political import. All of the essays provide views of their subject matter through the lens of computation.
Autonomous Multicycle Tests With Low Storage and Test Application Time Overheads

This paper defines a new type of multicycle tests called autonomous multicycle tests. Similar to multicycle scan-based tests, autonomous multicycle tests include several consecutive functional capture cycles to enhance defect detection and achieve test compaction. Unlike multicycle scan-based tests, an autonomous multicycle test set uses the same initial state for all the tests. During the functional capture cycles of a test, the primary inputs are driven by primary outputs, and the circuit operates autonomously. A test uses a scan-in operation only for the initial primary input vector, and to determine the connection between the primary inputs and outputs. It uses a scan-out operation only for the final primary output vector. This results in reduced overheads related to storage requirements and test application time compared with scan-based tests, and several unique properties that are discussed in this paper. This paper describes a test generation procedure for autonomous multicycle tests that avoids sequential test generation, and presents experimental results to demonstrate the ability of the tests to detect target faults.
Becoming an instructor in advanced life support

Being an approved instructor for the Resuscitation Council UK can be rewarding, fun, and a good way to learn teaching skills and keep your knowledge of resuscitation up to date. Whether you're interested in advanced life support (ALS) or advanced paediatric life support (APLS), here are some tips The first step is to be put forward by the relevant course faculty …
The value of crowdsourced street-level imagery: examining the shifting property regimes of OpenStreetCam and Mapillary

OpenStreetCam and Mapillary are two increasingly popular online services centered on providing street-level imagery through close association with the OpenStreetMap platform and crowdmapping community. While both services provide crowdsourced street-level imagery, the differences in their aims and operations present an opportunity to discuss the various ways in which commercialization dynamics and crowdmapping practices are reshaping each other in the geoweb. This is significant because crowdmapping relies on massive distributed pools of unpaid labor, and is often characterized by a discourse and identity of community-centered sharing that eschews profit-seeking as a central motive. While the use of OpenStreetMap by commercial products is not new, the emergence of crowdsourced street-level imagery is an innovation with significant consequences. Projects like Mapillary and OpenStreetCam have the potential to both change the collaborative dynamics that drive OpenStreetMap, and simultaneously disrupt the state of street-level imagery ecosystem, which has been dominated by a single private provider: Google Street View. In light of this, crowdourced street-level imagery should be assessed, not only in technical terms, but through the full range of its political-economic ramifications. To this end, in this article we examine the role of commercialization in crowdmapped street-level imagery through a property regimes framework. Using this approach, we identify, analyze, and critique the allocation of rights, roles, and economic value within these services, thus shedding light on the emergence of crowdsourced street-level imagery in the context of the geoweb, and the digital and ‘sharing’ economies.
The effect of encoding duration on implicit and explicit eyewitness memory

Abstract The present study investigated the effect of encoding duration on implicit and explicit eyewitness memory. Participants (N = 227) viewed a mock crime (brief, 15-s vs. long, 30-s vs. irrelevant/control) and were then tested with both implicit and explicit memory prompts or with explicit memory prompts only. Brief-encoding participants revealed more critical details implicitly than long-encoding or control participants. Further, the number and percentage of accurate details recalled explicitly were higher for long-encoding than for brief-encoding participants. Implicit testing prior to explicit recall—as compared to completing a filler task—was detrimental to free recall performance. Interestingly, brief-encoding participants were significantly more likely to remember critical details implicitly but not explicitly than long-encoding participants. This is the first study to investigate implicit eyewitness memory for a multimodal mock crime. Findings are theoretically consistent with prior research on cognition while expanding upon the extant eyewitness memory and investigative interviewing literature.
Chemical Methods for Isolating and Identifying Phytochemicals Biologically Active in Insects

In contrast with the other contributions to this volume, we will be concerned primarily with the new chemical methods for isolating and identifying phytochemicals biologically active in insects.
Structure and Function of Membranes and the Role of the Plasma Membrane in Metabolic Regulations

Membranes are essential for life as we know it. It is very likely that the origin of life is associated with the formation of vesicular membranes. It is difficult to imagine that the most improbable of events, the creation of life, could have taken place without such a device of organization and concentration. Membranes are structures that envelop cells and intracellular organelles, thereby creating compartments. It was not Caesar, but a membrane who first said: divide and conquer. By protecting the delicate components of living protoplasm against a hostile environment, membranes have made the survival of a genetic apparatus possible and have made life liveable.
Localism and Political Freedom

Ann Strong appears to be contending that excessive privatism in the land ethic and a shortage of regulation at an adequate scale are at the heart of land use problems. Local government actions, she suggests, are self-regarding in the same sense as private ones and they create spillovers that, from the standpoint of the nation, must be controlled. The American ideology of rights in land, however, is more complex than she implies, since the free market ideal has coexisted with a receptiveness to local political control of land use. Community self-determination is a valued process in its own right, embodying an important dimension of freedom. Simply to say that land is a divine entrustment is not to say that the United States government should be the trustee. The localist claim to control of land use is parallel to the private property or free market claim in that both appeal to notions of expediency and freedom. That freedom cannot be served by leaving only the subcritical choices to local political units.