cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Moisture Damage under Crack-Sealed Asphalt Pavements in Louisiana:

Crack sealing prevents the ingress of water in the pavement structure, thus preventing the weakening of the pavement and delaying its deterioration. Earlier studies indicate that sealing pavements ...
Design of a radial collimator for the SEQUOIA direct geometry chopper spectrometer

Abstract The SEQUOIA direct geometry chopper spectrometer at the Spallation Neutron Source is considering acquisition of a radial collimator. We present here Monte-Carlo calculations examining the proposed collimator's performance. Through comparison of calculations with and without sample environments in place, one can determine appropriate parameters to use in the collimator design. The numerical results provide enough detail to determine the angular collimation for the radial collimator.
Estrogen-Dependent Functional Spine Dynamics in Neocortical Pyramidal Neurons of the Mouse

Surgical ovariectomy has been shown to reduce spine density in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells of rodents, and this reduction is reversed by 17β-estradiol (E2) treatment in a model of human estrogen replacement therapy. Here, we report reduction of spine density in apical dendrites of layer 5 pyramidal neurons of several neocortical regions that is reversed by subsequent E2 treatment in ovariectomized (OVX) female Thy1M-EGFP mice. We also found that OVX-associated reduction of spine density in somatosensory cortex was accompanied by a reduction in miniature EPSC (mEPSC) frequency (but not mIPSC frequency), indicating a change in functional synapses. OVX-associated spine loss in somatosensory cortex was also rescued by an agonist of the G-protein-linked estrogen receptor (GPER) but not by agonists of the classic estrogen receptors ERα/ERβ, whereas the opposite selectivity was found in area CA1. Acute treatment of neocortical slices with E2 also rescued the OVX-associated reduction in mEPSC frequency, which could be mimicked by a GPER agonist and abolished by a GPER antagonist. Time-lapse in vivo two-photon imaging showed that OVX-associated reduction in spine density is achieved by both an increase in spine loss rate and a decrease in spine gain rate and that subsequent rescue by E2 reversed both of these processes. Crucially, the spines added after E2 rescue were no more likely to reappear at or nearby the sites of pre-OVX spines than those in control mice treated with vehicle. Thus, a model of estrogen replacement therapy, although restoring spine density and dynamics, does not entirely restore functional connectivity.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Estrogen replacement therapy following menopause or surgical removal of the ovaries is a widespread medical practice, yet little is known about the consequences of such treatment for cells in the brain. Here, we show that estrogen replacement reverses some of the effects of surgical removal of the ovaries on the structure and function of brain cells in the mouse. Yet, importantly, the fine wiring of the brain is not returned to the presurgery state by estrogen treatment, suggesting lasting functional consequences.
Programming support for autonomizing software

Most traditional software systems are not built with the artificial intelligence support (AI) in mind. Among them, some may require human interventions to operate, e.g., the manual specification of the parameters in the data processing programs, or otherwise, would behave poorly. We propose a novel framework called Autonomizer to autonomize these systems by installing the AI into the traditional programs. Autonomizeris general so it can be applied to many real-world applications. We provide the primitives and the run-time support, where the primitives abstract common tasks of autonomization and the runtime support realizes them transparently. With the support of Autonomizer, the users can gain the AI support with little engineering efforts. Like many other AI applications, the challenge lies in the feature selection, which we address by proposing multiple automated strategies based on the program analysis. Our experiment results on nine real-world applications show that the autonomization only requires adding a few lines to the source code.Besides, for the data-processing programs, Autonomizer improves the output quality by 161% on average over the default settings. For the interactive programs such as game/driving,Autonomizer achieves higher success rate with lower training time than existing autonomized programs.
Opioid tolerance impacts compliance with enhanced recovery pathway after major abdominal surgery

Abstract Background Opioid tolerant patients have been shown to have poor postoperative outcomes. Enhanced recovery pathways are evidence-based interventions that focus on optimizing recovery, and their effectiveness depends on the degree of compliance with the pathway. We wish to determine pathway compliance and its impact on postoperative outcomes in opioid tolerant patients undergoing abdominal surgery on an enhanced recovery pathway. Methods From December 2014 to June 2017, 646 patients undergoing major abdominal surgery on an enhanced recovery pathway were included. Patients Results Overall, 114 (18%) patients were opioid tolerant and 532 (82%) were not opioid tolerant. Opioid tolerant patients were less likely to be highly compliant with enhanced recovery pathway standards than non-tolerant patients (35% vs 54%; P Conclusion The authors provide evidence that opioid tolerance is associated with less favorable outcomes in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery on an enhanced recovery pathway, and this is likely due to a lack of pathway compliance. Establishing strategies to improve compliance in this challenging patient cohort may serve to mitigate the negative impact of opioid tolerance.
Critical, calculated, neoliberal: differing conceptions of care in higher education

This study describes how three highly regarded instructors enact care in and out of the classroom. We first outline multiple theories of care in education-related literature. Then, using a multiple...
An optimization model to determine an appropriate budget for improving work zone safety

Abstract In order to keep up with demand, government agencies must maintain and rehabilitate roadways so the supply to the public is met. However, while maintaining and rehabilitating roadways, work zones are a major threat to both the safety of the drivers, as well as the workers. In the U.S., 799 people were killed in work zone crashes in 2017 which comprises 2.1% of total fatalities in motor vehicle crashes. It is therefore crucial to maximize the safety within the work zone while maintaining under a limited budget. The purpose of this study is to improve work zone safety within a limited budget most efficiently. This study will develop an optimization model to determine appropriate budget for improving work zone safety. The appropriate budget can be defined as the budget below which the rate of safety improvement per dollar spending is higher than the spending above the budget. The primary factors in the model included a wide range of safety countermeasures and the implementation costs. The model identified a best mix of safety countermeasures minimizing expected number of crashes based on the crash modification factors of the safety countermeasures within an appropriate budget. The appropriate budget was determined by conducting a sensitivity analysis. The developed methodology utilized a linear integer programming to identify the best mix of safety countermeasures. The methodology was implemented on a work zone project as a case study. The developed methodology will help engineers in making funding decisions to improve safety on work zones.
Natural history of insomnia symptoms in the transition from childhood to adolescence: population rates, health disparities, and risk factors

Study objectives To determine the sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical risk factors associated with the persistence, remission, and incidence of insomnia symptoms in the transition from childhood to adolescence. Methods The Penn State Child Cohort is a random, population-based sample of 700 children (5-12 years at baseline), of whom 421 were followed up as adolescents (12-23 years at follow-up). Subjects underwent polysomnography, clinical history, physical exam, and parent- and self-reported scales at baseline and follow-up. Insomnia symptoms were defined as a parent- or self-report of difficulty falling and/or staying asleep. Results The 421 subjects with baseline (Mage=8.8y) and follow-up (Mage=17y) data were 53.9% male and 21.9% racial/ethnic minorities. The persistence of childhood insomnia symptoms was 56% (95%CI=46.5-65.4), with only 30.3% (95%CI=21.5-39.0) fully remitting. The incidence of adolescent insomnia symptoms was 31.1% (95%CI=25.9-36.3). Female sex, racial/ethnic minority and low socioeconomic status as well as psychiatric/behavioral or neurological disorders, obesity, smoking, and evening chronotype were associated with a higher persistence or incidence of insomnia symptoms. Conclusions Childhood insomnia symptoms are highly persistent, with full remission occurring in only a third of children in the transition to adolescence. Sex-, racial/ethnic- and socioeconomic-related disparities in insomnia occur as early as childhood, while different mental/physical health and lifestyle/circadian risk factors play a key role in the chronicity of childhood insomnia symptoms vs. their incidence in adolescence. Childhood insomnia symptoms should not be expected to developmentally remit and should become a focus of integrated pediatric/behavioral health strategies.
Non-surgical correction of cryptotia.

Summary Introduction Cryptotia is characterized by an absence of the upper part of the temporoauricular sulcus with the superior third of the auricle buried under the temporal skin. The principle of correction of cryptotia is to achieve both a functional and aesthetic ear. Methodology A 4-year prospective study was carried out in a single centre on infants with cryptotia. We introduce a two-staged approach for non-surgical correction of cryptotia and a treatment algorithm based on the age of the patient. In the first stage, we unbury the auricle over 2 weeks. The second stage involves 2 additional weeks of helical moulding to correct the underlying or residual deformation. In our algorithm, patients more than 6 weeks of age undergo only the first stage of cryptotia correction, whereas those less than 6 weeks of age progress to the second stage of treatment. Results A total of 5 patients (7 ears) were treated with ages ranging from 1 day to 7 months. Two patients underwent 2-stage treatment and 3 underwent 1-stage treatment. At 1 year, all buried helices remained retracted. Four out of 7 ears treated had “Excellent” outcomes and 3 out of 7 ears had “Good” outcomes. All caregivers were extremely satisfied with the outcomes. Conclusion This simple and efficacious two-stage technique and algorithm is effective in the correction of cryptotia, even if the treatment is initiated beyond the traditional moulding window in the first six weeks of life. Using this approach, patients with cryptotia benefit by avoiding or simplifying surgical reconstruction in the future.
Comment on ‘Evidence of the gravitomagnetic field of Mars’

In a recent analysis of orbital data from the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft, Iorio (2006 Class. Quantum Grav. 23 5451) found compelling evidence of general relativity's gravitomagnetic frame dragging effect. (A subsequent paper (Iorio L 2007 Preprint gr-qc/0701042v5) using the same data and equations claims agreement within 0.5% accuracy, exceeding that expected from NASA's Gravity Probe B.) However, this confirmation of general relativity was obtained by misinterpreting the MGS data and then altering a key time period.
Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the gastrointestinal tract among patients with negative nasopharyngeal COVID-19 testing prior to endoscopy.

Background and study aims The clinical significance of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the stool remains unclear. We aimed to determine whether SARS-CoV-2 is detected via real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) in the gastrointestinal tracts of patients scheduled for endoscopy and if the virus obtained from these clinical specimens could be isolated in culture. Patients and methods All patients underwent symptom screening and had negative nasopharyngeal testing for SARS-CoV-2 within 72 hours of their scheduled procedure. Study samples were collected via nasopharyngeal swab, rectal swab, and fluid from the upper gastrointestinal tract and/or colon based on their endoscopic procedure(s). Samples were tested for SARS-CoV-2 via rRT-PCR. SARS-CoV-2 positive specimens were isolated and cultured in Vero-E6 cells. Results 243 patients (mean age 63.1 years;54.3 % men) were enrolled from July 15, 2020 to September 2, 2020. SARS-CoV-2 testing was performed from 242 (99.6 %) nasopharyngeal, 243 (100 %) rectal, 183 (75.3 %) upper gastrointestinal tract and 73 (30 %) colon samples. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in the nasopharynx and gastrointestinal specimens in one patient (0.4 %). After a 14-day incubation period, there was no evidence of virus growth in cells incubated with any of these specimens. Conclusions SARS-CoV-2 was rarely detected in the gastrointestinal tract of patients with negative nasopharyngeal testing prior to endoscopy. No live virus was detected by culture, further highlighting that presence of viral genome on its own is not sufficient proof of infectivity. PCR-based screening provides limited insight into virus infectivity and its results should be interpreted carefully as to avoid unnecessary delays in clinical care or inadvertent risk exposure.
Federal Trial Courts: The Changing Scene

There are three related concerns about U.S. federal trial courts. The first is the bureaucratic tendencies of federal courts in general and in trial courts particularly. The second is related to and derived from bureaucracy: the changing trial scene itself. The third is the continuing attractiveness of federal courts as problem solvers. There now seems to be not only a greater toleration but a virtual expectation that Article III judges will delegate, and delegate as much as possible. However, the task of judging is personal and can only be done with hands-on effort. Further, changes to trial procedures, like reducing jury sizes and selection process, in the name of cost and time efficiency, have the potential to compromise the ability of the courts to produce equitable results. Finally, the response to the increasing caseloads of the federal courts inevitably triggers a demand for more judges, but the numbers of the federal judges should be the last, not the first, response to problems of workload. Increased numbers dilute the currency of federal judgeships and significantly reduce their attractiveness, inexorably limiting the applicant pool. It is difficult to quarrel with the assumption that an efficient model is more likely to produce just results than a relatively inefficient one—at least until one begins to probe its translation in our trial courts. Our push for greater efficiency, and its premise of a higher quality of justice, can produce perverse consequences, and it is important that trial lawyers understand what is on the table and open for change.
El imperativo del Desarrollo

En marzo de 1946, a iniciativa de la Compania de Jesus, nacio Fomento Social: Revista de Sociologia y de Moral Economica. Desconocemos si el subtitulo era un guino a Adam Smith, filosofo moral antes que economista segun se definio a si mismo, pero el sabio escoces habria compartido con seguridad el objetivo que anunciaba la publicacion en su primer numero: “moralizar las relaciones economico–sociales de la Humanidad”. En cierto modo ese era tambien el proposito de quienes por aquel entonces habian disenado un nuevo orden internacional tras concluir la Segunda Guerra Mundial.
Fertility Options and Female Labor Market Outcomes: Evidence from Universal Two-Child Policy in China

This paper examines the effect of fertility policy relaxations on female labor market outcomes, using evidence from the Universal Two-Child Policy in China and data from China Family Panel Studies (CFPS). We use event study and difference-in-differences methods to quantify the causal relationship between the Universal Two-Child Policy and women’s employment status and income. As previous fertility policy relaxations already allowed couples where at least one partner is a single-child to have two children, we identify single-child women who are of reproductive ages 20 to 50 as the control group and women of the same ages who have siblings as the treatment group. We find that the Universal Two-Child Policy had statistically insignificant effect on the employment status of women who have siblings. However, compared with the control group, the average wages of the treatment group were lower, as the income of women who have siblings increased at a much slower rate than the income of single-child women.
The ‘Olympic Hurdles’ of Obtaining Federal Benefits for Inmates with Disabilities: A Study of Two Massachusetts County Jails:

Sixty-four percent of US jail inmates are reported to suffer from mental health issues, compared to just 18.9% of the general population. This disparity becomes greater when considering a broader d...
Chromatic dispersion monitoring

Chromatic dispersion (CD) is a major degrading effect and limits system performance such as transmission distance and data rate in fiber communication networks. Its effect increases as the square of the bit rate increases for intensity modulation with direct detection (IM/DD) systems. For high-speed and intelligent optical fiber networks, CD needs to be monitored and controlled precisely. The value of monitoring increases with increasing intelligence and bit rates. CD is one of the most basic characteristics of fiber and can cause noncatastrophic problems. More importantly, its effect increases as the square of the bit rate increases for IM/DD systems. This makes CD significantly more important for ≥40-Gb/s systems than for lower rate systems. Any slight inaccuracies in dispersion management will result in severe power penalties. Several scenarios may require monitoring of accumulated dispersion on a fiber channel, including; due to repair and maintenance, the link length or fiber type itself may change; CD has a temperature dependence that causes a change in net link dispersion; future intelligent networks may perform restoration and protection in the optical domain, and then CD should be monitored and compensated after each reconfiguration; any wavelength drifts of the transmitters could result in chirp of a signal through an optical filter, such that the chirp will interact with the fiber dispersion; and since tunable electrical or optical modules might be used for managing accumulated CD for ≥40-Gb/s telecommunication networks, it might be valuable to implement some method of dynamic monitoring to drive an optical or electrical compensator.
THE FUTURE OF SIPP FOR ANALYZING INTERACTIONS OF FAMILY COMPOSITION AND INCOME CHANGE

This paper evaluates SIPP as a resource for studying the interrelationship between family change and economic resources and proposes several modifications, in both design and content. The changes in design include: (I) lengthening the time frame (doubling the span of any single panel and spacing successive waves and panels further apart); (2) redesigning the way interviewers ask and record marital change; and (3) tracking children when they move into non-SIPP households. Proposed additions to content include: (1) identifying spending units who pools resources with whom; (2) collecting more complete information on time use; (3) gathering comprehensive data on the structure, needs, and resources of the extended family and transfers with non-resident, extended-family members; and (4) identifying the options people consider in their decisions about work and family. These modifications are discussed in the context of important aspects of measurement, major findings from SIPP thus far, and anticipated future research interests.
The Depth Distribution of Soil Organic Carbon in Relation to Land Use and Management and the Potential of Carbon Sequestration in Subsoil Horizons

Routine soil surveys for estimating the soil organic carbon (SOC) pool account for a soil depth of about 1 m. Deeper soil horizons, however, may have a high capacity to sequester significant amounts of SOC as the turnover time and chemical recalcitrance of soil organic matter (SOM) increases with depth. The subsoil carbon (C) sequestration may be achieved by higher inputs of fairly stable organic matter to deeper soil horizons. This can be achieved directly by selecting plants/cultivars with deeper and thicker root systems that are high in chemical recalcitrant compounds like suberin. Furthermore, recalcitrant compounds could be a target for plant breeding/biotechnology to promote C sequestration. A high surface input of organic matter favors the production of dissolved organic carbon that can be transported to deeper soil horizons and thus contribute to the subsoil C storage. By promoting the activity of the soil fauna, organic matter can be transferred to deeper soil layers and stabilized (e.g., in earthworm casts). Manipulating the subsoil microorganisms may result in higher amounts of fairly stable aliphatic compounds. The subsoil below 1‐m depth may have the potential to sequester between 760 and 1520 Pg C. These estimates are, however, highly uncertain and more studies on C storage in subsoil horizons and the assessment of the chemical nature of subsoil organic C are needed.
Factors influencing the choice of urinary diversion in patients undergoing radical cystectomy

OBJECTIVE To examine the rate at which patients undergo various types of urinary diversion (UD) and the reasons why they had the given reconstruction, analysed in the context of a standardized preoperative protocol for patients undergoing radical cystectomy (RC) at our institution, as there is wide variation in the distribution of patients undergoing continent (CUD) vs incontinent (ICUD) after RC. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between September 2004 and December 2008, 200 patients had RC with UD by one surgeon. Each patient was given standardized preoperative counselling; the charts were reviewed retrospectively to determine the relative frequencies of the various types of UD, and the reasons why patients had an ICUD assessed, including medical contraindications and personal choice. RESULTS During preoperative counselling, 149 patients (75%) were assessed as being eligible for a CUD, while 51 (25%) had one or more contraindication; 140 (70%) ultimately had a CUD, and the remaining 60 (30%) a ICUD. Of the 149 patients eligible for a CUD, only nine (6%) chose to undergo ICUD for personal reasons. CONCLUSION Few patients choose to have an ICUD in the absence of an absolute medical contraindication. Proper patient selection and thorough, standardized preoperative counselling result in a higher rate of CUD than ICUD after RC.
On the Costs of Excise Taxes and Income Taxes in the UK

This paper develops an analytical framework for estimating the marginal excess burden (MEB) of taxes on gasoline, alcohol, tobacco, and labor in the UK, accounting for externalities and interactions among the taxes. Under most scenarios the MEB of the gasoline tax exceeds that for the labor tax, the MEB of the alcohol tax is roughly the same, while the MEB of the tobacco tax is lower than for the labor tax. These preliminary findings suggest that the gasoline tax may be too high, the alcohol tax might be about right, and the tobacco tax might be too low.
Centros de Trabajadores Inmigrantes en el Este de Massachusetts, EUA: Fomentando Servicios, Apoyo, Defensa, y Organización Comunitaria

Immigrant Workers Centers (IWCs) are community-based organizations that have been developed in the United States to promote and protect workers’ rights through support, services, advocacy, and organizing initiatives. The purpose of this research study was to examine how IWCs in the Eastern part of the state of Massachusetts are structured along twelve dimensions of organizational development and community organizing. Qualitative research methods were used to identify shared themes within the six IWCs and three immigrant support organizations, as well as their organizational responses to the current anti-immigrant environment. IWCs constituted a convenience sample which enabled the researchers to gather data utilizing a case study methodology. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted between the months of July and September of 2009 to answer the following research questions: 1)What are the shared themes for the development of Immigrant Workers Centers?, and 2) How do Immigrant Workers Centers respond to current anti-immigrant sentiment, intolerant immigration policies, and increased exploitation in this troubled economy? Shared themes among the IWCs include prioritizing community organizing for workers’ rights and collective empowerment. Sub-modalities such as education, training and leadership development area common feature. While some individual support is provided, and in some cases, programming, it always is offered within a context that emphasizes the need for collective action to overcome injustice. Issues addressed include health/safety, sexual harassment, discrimination, and various problems associated with wages (underpayment, missed payments, collecting back wages, and lack of overtime pay). IWCs respond to antiimmigrant policies and practices by supporting larger efforts for immigration reformat the municipal, state, and federal levels. Coalitions of IWCS and their allies attempt to make state wide and federal policy changes by using a variety of organizing tactics, including legislative lobbying, media events, rallies, marches, vigils and a variety of direct actions. The community organizing principles and methods employed by IWC s are consistent with the theoretical tenets of social pedagogy, and given the increasing number of immigrant workers experiencing growing hostility and deteriorating working conditions in Europe, the applicability of this new model should be considered by both scholars and practitioners.
Effect of Escherichia coli DNA binding protein on the transcription of single-stranded phage M13 DNA by Escherichia coli RNA polymerase

Abstract E. coli DNA binding protein strongly inhibits the transcription of single-stranded rather than double-stranded phage M13 DNA by E. coli RNA polymerase. This inhibition cannot be significantly overcome by increasing the concentration of RNA polymerase. Nor does the order of addition of binding protein affect its inhibitory property: inhibition is evident whether binding protein is added before or after the formation of the RNA polymerase-DNA complex. Inhibition is also observed if binding protein is added at various times after initiation of RNA synthesis. Maximal inhibition occurs at a binding protein-to-DNA ratio (W/W) of about 8:1. This corresponds to one binding protein molecule covering about 30 nucleotides, in good agreement with values obtained by physical measurements.
Oh Canada!: Antitrust Geographic Market Definition and the Reimportation of Prescription Drugs

In recent years, public attention has focused on the need for affordable prescription drugs. Although Congress has recently enacted a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, many private citizens and state and local governments continue to reimport prescription drugs from Canada to take advantage of the lower drug prices available in Canada. Many pharmaceutical companies have responded to this phenomenon by cutting off supplies of their drugs to Canadian pharmacies engaging in reituportation. As a result, some state and local governments have initiated litigation alleging state antitrust violations. This Note addresses one of the first questions raised in U.S. antitrust litigation under the Rule of Reason—the definition of the geographic market. First, this Note surveys the current caselaw standard and the academic approaches to geographic market definition. This Note then applies these approaches, concluding that Canada may be included in any geographic market when addressing the legality of reimportation in an antitrust context.
Are there nucleic acids in the centrosome

Publisher Summary Centrioles and centrosomes do not contain any DNA. Although centrosomes clearly contain RNA, it is not required for centrosome function as judged by microtubule nucleation activity. This chapter reviews evidence that centrosomes contain RNA and then considers evidence regarding the three possible functions. The first possibility is that RNA might be required for microtubule nucleation by centrosomes, by acting as a scaffold to organize microtubule nucleating proteins. The second possibility is that RNA might be required to assemble a functional centrosome or centriole, in which case RNase might have no effect on intact centrosomes but might block centrosome assembly around centrioles. The third possibility is that RNA is localized to centrosomes in order to position it within the cell or to accumulate it at a discrete site as part of a more general intracellular trafficking pathway. However, there is no evidence to support DNA in centrosomes, sperm centrioles, ciliate basal bodies, or Chlamydomonas basal bodies. Centrioles and centrosomes do not contain DNA. Instead of RNA playing a role in centrosome function or assembly, it is possible that centrosomes bind specific mRNA molecules as a step in the intracellular trafficking of the mRNAs or the proteins they encode.
Expression of human UNC5 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 47, 2006 4480 Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. Recent studies have shown that DCC (Deleted in Colorectal Cancer) and UNC5 family members (UNC5A, UNC5B, UNC5C, and UNC5D in human) act as dependence receptors of Netrin-1, which induce apoptosis when unbound to their ligands. Binding of Netrin-1 to its receptors DCC and UNC5 activate p53 pathways that either upregulates (induction) or downregulates (suppression) apoptosis. The potential suppressor function of the Netrin pathway in tumorigenesis prompted us to study the expression of human UNC5 orthologues involved in the apoptosis pathway. Various cell lines (normal human oral keratinocytes OKF6 TERT1 and head and neck cancer cell lines JHU011, JHU012, JHU013, and JHU019) and two normal and eight HNSCC tissues were studied. UNC5A, UNC5B, and UNC5C were downregulated (75%, 75%, and 50% respectively) in tumor samples. These results suggest that the signaling functions of the netrin/DCC/UNC5 pathway is disrupted in HNSCC. UNC5A, UNC5B, and UNC5C receptors may represent tumor suppressor genes whose protein products inhibit tumorigenesis by inducing apoptosis.
Monetary Policy and Politics in Mid-Eighteenth-Century Sweden: A Reply

Given the great complexity of Swedish political life in the mideighteenth century, perhaps any one-sentence summary would likely elicit some criticism. While Professor Sandberg agrees on the essential issue that the mercantile class "was no doubt very influential" in Swedish politics, he raises a most relevant question concerning the institutions or organizations through which the bourgeoisie exerted their political influence. It is perhaps well to note at the outset that during the 1750's and 1760's Swedish politics was a struggle between the Crown, on the one hand, and the independent Riksdag, on the other. Fundamental constitutional questions over who would wield power were the underlying issues of the period. The antipathy of the Crown toward the political hegemony of an independent Riksdag was pointedly expressed by the Royal Edict of August 24, 1772 (following Gustav III's successful coup d'etat) that forbade even the mentioning, either in print or in public addresses, of the names of the political parties which had controlled Swedish political machinery during the Age of Freedom. Conflict between the Four Estates, though definitely not absent, was successfully constrained by political party organization that constituted the main locus of decision making within the parliamentary process. Take, for example, the case of the Hat party. As Sweden's dominant political party in the mid-eighteenth century, the Hats organized an amalgam of interest groups in each of the Four Estates. Of key importance were the burghers and the nobles. C. G. Malmstrom, still a leading authority on the history of the period,' considers the power in the Hat party to have been shared by these two interest groups.2 (A similar situation existed to some extent in the Cap party-though the role of the monarchists within the Cap membership during the years after 1750 complicates the picture and prevents drawing a simple parallel.) The influence of the mercantile class may be seen as having been mediated by or transferred
Dose-escalation study of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of rivaroxaban in healthy elderly subjects

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of rivaroxaban – a novel, oral, direct Factor Xa (FXa) inhibitor – in healthy elderly subjects.Research...
Characterization of the protein expressed in Escherichia coli by a recombinant plasmid containing the Bacillus megaterium cytochrome P-450BM-3 gene.

In two previous reports (Narhi LO, Fulco AJ, J. Biol. Chem. 261: 7160–7169, 1986; Ibid., 262: 6683–6690, 1987) we described the characterization of a catalytically self-sufficient 119000-dalton P-450 cytochrome that was induced by barbiturates in Bacillus megaterium. In the presence of NADPH and O2, this polypeptide (cytochrome P-450BM-3) catalyzed the hydroxylation of long-chain fatty acids without the aid of any other protein. The gene encoding this unique monooxygenase was cloned into Escherichia coli and the clone harboring the recombinant plasmid produced a protein that behaved electrophoretically and immunochemically like the B. megaterium enzyme (Wen LP, Fulco AJ, J. Biol. Chem. 262: 6676–6682, 1987). We have now compared authentic P-450BM-3 from B. megaterium and putative P-450BM-3 isolated from transformed E. coli and have found them to be indistinguishable with respect to chromatographic and electrophoretic behavior, reaction with specific antibody, prosthetic group (heme, FAD and FMN) analyses, spectra, enzymology, limited trypsin proteolysis and partial amino acid sequencing. We thus conclude that the P-450 cytochrome expressed by the transformed E. coli is essentially identical to native P-450BM-3 induced by barbiturates in B. megaterium. The evidence furthermore suggests that the primary amino acid sequence of this complex protein is alone sufficient to direct the proper integration of the three prosthetic groups and to specify folding of the polypeptide into the correct tertiary structure.
Motion of sporadic-E patches determined from high frequency backscatter records

NEW evidence of the motion of ‘sporadic-E’ ionization has been obtained at Stanford University from records of ionospheric sounding equipment which displays ground (or sea) backscatter as mirrored in ionospheric layers or reflecting clouds. Sporadic-E patches of relatively limited geographical extent (order of 10,000 sq. km.) often appear on the records of this apparatus, and their growth and motion can in some cases be followed. Whether this motion is due to physical translation of the ionized material (as by winds) or to some other cause such as motion of an ionizing agency is not known; however, it is of interest to compare observations made by this relatively new technique with earlier ones made by other means.
THE FORMATION OF GENTIOBIOSE AND OTHER SACCHARIDES DURING PRESSURE‐STEAM STERILIZATION OF A GLUCOSE‐SALTS SOLUTION OF pH 6.8

SUMMARY: Two samples of glucose of high quality were examined chromatographically for impurities in the form of saccharides other than glucose. One contained gentiobiose and at least three other sugars amounting to 35 mg/100 g of glucose; the other contained gentiobiose and at least four other sugars, the total quantity being 25 mg/100 g of glucose. Glucose from which these small quantities of impurities had been removed was employed, together with inorganic salts, to make up a medium suitable for the cultivation of moulds and the pH value was adjusted to 6·8. This medium was sterilized at 10 lb pressure for 15 min and it was afterwards found that a mixture of saccharides amounting to 125 mg/100 g of glucose had been formed, the principal constituent being gentiobiose; the remainder consisted of a monosaccharide and two oligosaccharides not yet identified. These sugars were not detected in similar glucose salts media which had not been heated but which had been sterilized by Seitz fitration.
End-of-life issues in genetic disorders: literature and research directions

Part I of this report summarizes findings from a literature search on end of life in people with genetic disorders. There is a paucity of research on this topic; thus this article includes descriptive studies, clinical reviews, and case presentations. Part II describes the proceedings of a workshop to discuss end-of-life issues in people with genetic disorders. The workshop brought together clinicians, researchers, and people living with genetic disorders to discuss this topic. The purpose of this article is to summarize the literature and workshop proceedings to provide directions for future investigation in this important area.
Evaluation of seismic site factors in the Mississippi Embayment. II. Probabilistic seismic hazard analysis with nonlinear site effects

Abstract An integrated probabilistic seismic hazard analysis procedure that incorporates nonlinear site effects, PSHA-NL, is developed and used to characterize the influence of thick deposits of the upper Mississippi Embayment (ME) on seismic site coefficients. PSHA-NL follows the methodology of the 2002 USGS hazard maps and generates a compatible set of ground motion records. The motions are propagated using nonlinear and equivalent linear site response analyses and ME properties developed in a companion paper and used to derive surface uniform hazard response spectra. A set of generic site coefficients are derived and summarized in a format similar to NEHRP site coefficients, with an added dimension of ME deposits thickness to the Paleozoic rock, a physically meaningful impedance boundary. These coefficients compare well with NEHRP site coefficients for 30 m profiles. For thicker soil profiles, developed site coefficients are lower at short periods and higher at long periods than NEHRP site coefficients.
Large deformations of a protoelastic sheet

Abstract We consider the deformation of a plane sheet of variable thickness composed of a protoelastic, simple, isotropic and homogeneous material. The deformations examined here are symmetric with respect to the middle plane of the sheet. With the assumption that the thickness of the sheet is small compared to its other dimensions we derive two-dimensional equations of motion and stress-strain relations. The equations obtained are considerably simpler than the exact equations of the general, three-dimensional, theory of protoelasticity.
Three Issues in Legal Ethics

A court – which is the name given the institution charged with resolving legal disputes at retail – is comprised of three elements: an umpire (judge or jury), disputants, and advocates. The court's structural purpose is legitimate (which is not the same thing as just) dispute resolution. No part of the court can stand in for the whole; each is only a part. In order for the court to achieve legitimacy, each of its components must pursue partial aims: the umpire must seek truth and justice, the parties must be free to seek advantage, and lawyers must pursue partisan loyalty. Lawyerly partisanship thus stands against truth and justice – the court's legitimacy requires this. Although rules of legal ethics might constrain hyper-zeal, the legitimacy of the court requires that lawyers' ethics avoid imposing general duties to truth and justice as this would conflate advocate and umpire. This requirement of legitimation is a direct consequence of the familiar fact of moral pluralism. There simply exist no regulati...
Effects of amino acid transport limitations on cultured hepatocytes

Amino acid supplementation has been shown to enhance the liver-specific functions of cultured hepatocytes during plasma exposure. However, their transport through the cell membrane may restrict their availability for hepatic metabolism. Here, we focus on transport constraints related to uptake of the neutral amino acids and their impact on hepatic metabolism and liver-specific functions. Under varying combinations of their medium concentrations, we found that transport competition exists among the three amino acids alanine, serine and glutamine and that the resulting capacity constraints affect the urea and albumin production of cultured hepatocytes. Regression equations were developed to quantify these constraints and were incorporated with other constraints (mass balance, measured flux data and reaction directionality) within a multi-objective flux balance framework to understand how amino acid transport constraints propagate through central hepatic metabolism and to predict refined amino acid supplementations for specific hepatocyte design objectives.
Thermoelectricity of Double Doped Strontium Titanate

Lanthanum (La) doped Strontium Titanate (SrTiO3 ) is amongst the most promising n-type thermoelectric materials for power generation. We report a double doping method for thin films of SrTiO3 (STO), grown by Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD), where doping of STO in the Sr-site by Lanthanum is accompanied by doping with oxygen vacancies. In the past theoretical predictions have shown that introducing oxygen vacancies in STO produces a high-effective mass defect band just below the conduction band edge, explaining the high seebeck coefficient observed in oxygen deficient STO. Based on careful transport measurements, we show that it is possible to obtain enhanced thermoelectric power factor by double doping, using La and oxygen vacancies in these thin films. With the aid of optical spectroscopic measurements, we establish the presence of the impurity band created by the vacancies and validate their role in the enhanced thermoelectric performance with structural and transport measurements. The presence of oxygen vacancies also serves to decrease the thermal conductivity due to effective phonon scattering.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Optimal conditions for the assay of lipoamide dehydrogenase in homogenized human platelets

Abstract Widely different methods have been used to assay lipoamide dehydrogenase in tissues from patients with neurological diseases. We have re-examined conditions of assay in homogenized human platelets in the light of results of optimal and inhibitory conditions others have found for the purified pig and rat liver enzymes. Optimal conditions in homogenized platelets for the forward, physiological direction were pH 8.0, 2–4 mmol/1 dihydrolipoamide and 1.6–2 mmol/1 NAD + and for the reverse reaction, pH 7.3, 1.2–2 mmol/1 lipoamide and 0.125–0.2 mmol/1 NADH. K m values by the Lineweaver-Burke method were approximately 420 μmol/1 dihydrolipoamide, 180 μmol/1 NAD + 600 μmol/1 lipoamide and 27 μmol/1 NADH. The optimal conditions and K m values are similar to those reported for the purified pig and rat enzymes. Assays by the present methods should therefore reflect the activity of lipoamide dehydrogenase and not the effects of substrate or cofactor inhibition nor the effects of other, interfering enzyme activities.
The ties that bind: The effect of clustering on dyadic relationships

Abstract This study explores the extent to which one can explain the dynamics of a given relationship or set of relationships by mapping the social network in which they exist. Specifically, it focuses on the effect of cluster membership on the evolution and intensity of dyadic relationships. The results suggest that relationships are as much a product of the social networks of the two individuals involved as of their personal needs, histories or desires.
Hepatic hydrothorax: Pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management

Hepatic hydrothorax is defined as a pleural effusion in a patient with cirrhosis of the liver and no cardiopulmonary disease. The estimated prevalence of this often debilitating complication in patients with liver cirrhosis is 4% to 10%. Its pathophysiology involves movement of ascitic fluid from the peritoneal cavity into the pleural space through diaphragmatic defects. As a result patients are at increased risk of respiratory infection. Initial management consists of sodium restriction, diuretics, and thoracentesis. A transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt may be required. Because most patients with hepatic hydrothorax have end-stage liver disease, a liver transplant should be considered if these options fail.
Mineral Mysteries: Skunks: A Mystery Solved?

In his Mineral Mysteries column in the July/August 2013 issue of Rocks & Minerals (pages 368–372), John White discussed “skunks,” calcite crystals with stripes of other minerals (usually) aligned a...
Quantifying the vitamin D economy

Vitamin D enters the body through multiple routes and in a variety of chemical forms. Utilization varies with input, demand, and genetics. Vitamin D and its metabolites are carried in the blood on a Gc protein that has three principal alleles with differing binding affinities and ethnic prevalences. Three major metabolites are produced, which act via two routes, endocrine and autocrine/paracrine, and in two compartments, extracellular and intracellular. Metabolic consumption is influenced by physiological controls, noxious stimuli, and tissue demand. When administered as a supplement, varying dosing schedules produce major differences in serum metabolite profiles. To understand vitamin D's role in human physiology, it is necessary both to identify the foregoing entities, mechanisms, and pathways and, specifically, to quantify them. This review was performed to delineate the principal entities and transitions involved in the vitamin D economy, summarize the status of present knowledge of the applicable rates and masses, draw inferences about functions that are implicit in these quantifications, and point out implications for the determination of adequacy.
Denationalization and the Very Idea of Democratic Constitutionalism: The Case of the European Community

Within the current debates about Euro-constitutionalism, the conventional options are either to defend a vision of the European Union (EU) which separates global economic law from national sovereignty, and thus relies on the legitimizing powers of free markets, or to regard the legitimation problem (at least under current conditions) as beyond solution: This view argues that any further progress towards an ever closer Union would inevitably increase the legitimation deficit and that therefore the capacity for political action of the nation state should be protected or restored. This paper seeks to break the stranglehold of the, as is argued, false dichotomy (global markets vs. national democracy), and it argues that an extension of democracy beyond the nation state is possible.