cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Examining health-related quality of life patterns in women with breast cancer.

We aimed to identify subgroups of women with breast cancer who experience different health-related quality of life (HRQOL) patterns during active treatment and survivorship and determine characteristics associated with subgroup membership. We used data from the third phase of the population-based Carolina Breast Cancer Study and included 2142 women diagnosed with breast cancer from 2008 to 2013. HRQOL was measured, on average, 5 and 25 months post diagnosis. Latent profile analysis was used to identify HRQOL latent profiles (LPs) at each time point. Latent transition analysis was used to determine probabilities of women transitioning profiles from 5 to 25 months. Multinomial logit models estimated adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals for associations between patient characteristics and LP membership at each time point. We identified four HRQOL LPs at 5 and 25 months. LP1 had the poorest HRQOL and LP4 the best. Membership in the poorest profile at 5 months was associated with younger age aOR 0.95; 0.93–0.96, White race aOR 1.48; 1.25–1.65, being unmarried aOR 1.50; 1.28–1.65 and having public aOR 3.09; 1.96–4.83 or no insurance aOR 6.51; 2.12–20.10. At 25 months, Black race aOR 1.75; 1.18–1.82 was associated with the poorest profile membership. Black race and smoking were predictors of deteriorating to a worse profile from 5 to 25 months. Our results suggest patient-level characteristics including age at diagnosis and race may identify women at risk for experiencing poor HRQOL patterns. If women are identified and offered targeted HRQOL support, we may see improvements in long-term HRQOL and better breast cancer outcomes.
Synthesis of 5,5-Bicyclic Amidines as Ligands for Thermally Stable Vapor Deposition Precursors

We describe the syntheses of three fully aliphatic 5,5-bicyclic amidines. The syntheses are facile and scalable and can be easily modified to produce other 5,5-bicyclic amidine ligands with other substitution patterns. Treatment of one of the ligands with KHMDS and subsequent transmetalation with CuCl resulted in a dimeric copper(I) bicyclic amidinate complex in 55% yield after recrystallization. This modestly air stable complex exhibits good volatility and thermal decomposition rates 1 order of magnitude lower than those of a similar, but acyclic, copper(I) amidinate. Together, the ligands enable a general method for producing a library of thermally stable metal amidinate precursors with a wide variety of metals for use in vapor deposition.
Human Control of Interactions with Objects – Variability, Stability and Predictability

How do humans control their actions and interactions with the physical world? How do we learn to throw a ball or drink a glass of wine without spilling? Compared to robots human dexterity remains astonishing, especially as slow neural transmission and high levels of noise seem to plague the biological system. What are human control strategies that skillfully navigate, overcome, and even exploit these disadvantages? To gain insight we propose an approach that centers on how task dynamics constrain and enable (inter-)actions. Agnostic about details of the controller, we start with a physical model of the task that permits full understanding of the solution space. Rendering the task in a virtual environment, we examine how humans learn solutions that meet complex task demands. Central to numerous skills is redundancy that allows exploration and exploitation of subsets of solutions. We hypothesize that humans seek solutions that are stable to perturbations to make their intrinsic noise matter less. With fewer corrections necessary, the system is less afflicted by long delays in the feedback loop. Three experimental paradigms exemplify our approach: throwing a ball to a target, rhythmic bouncing of a ball, and carrying a complex object. For the throwing task, results show that actors are sensitive to the error-tolerance afforded by the task. In rhythmic ball bouncing, subjects exploit the dynamic stability of the paddle-ball system. When manipulating a “glass of wine”, subjects learn strategies that make the hand-object interactions more predictable. These findings set the stage for developing propositions about the controller: We posit that complex actions are generated with dynamic primitives, modules with attractor stability that are less sensitive to delays and noise in the neuro-mechanical system.
Characterization of atomic spin polarization lifetime of cesium vapor cells with neon buffer gas

The dephasing time of spin-polarized atoms in an atomic vapor cell plays an important role in determining the stability of vapor-cell clocks as well as the sensitivity of optically-pumped magnetometers. The presence of a buffer gas can extend the lifetime of these atoms. Many vapor cell systems operate at a fixed (often elevated) temperature. For ambient temperature operation with no temperature control, it is necessary to characterize the temperature dependence as well. We present a spin-polarization lifetime study of Cesium vapor cells with different buffer gas pressures, and find good agreement with expectations based on the combined effects of wall collisions, spin exchange, and spin destruction. For our (7.5 mm diameter) vapor cells, the lifetime can be increased by two orders of magnitude by introducing Ne buffer gas up to 100 Torr. Additionally, the dependence of the lifetime on temperature is measured (25 - 47 oC) and simulated for the first time to our knowledge with reasonable agreement.
The Business of Surgery: How to Lead as Financial Manager

Leading surgical units in today’s business environment requires a grasp of financial reporting tools and budgetary processes. While most units and departments will have nonphysician business managers to aid the departmental leadership, being able to understand the subtle nuances of financial reports is critical. This is akin to understanding the data when writing a scientific manuscript. This chapter serves to provide the background for understanding basic finance as it applies to surgical units. Business plan development will also be discussed.
Evaluation of the secretion of antimicrobial peptides and antimicrobial effect of skin wash in atopic and healthy dogs: a preliminary study.

Background Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are an important component of cutaneous innate immunity. The amount of AMPs secreted in healthy and atopic patients is controversial. Hypotheses/objectives To evaluate the antimicrobial effect of skin wash harvested from healthy and atopic dogs, the amount of AMPs (cBD3-like/cBD122, cCath, S100A8/9/12) present in the skin washes, and the correlation between AMP levels and severity of the clinical signs. Animals Fifteen healthy and 15 mildly atopic, privately owned dogs. Methods and materials Skin washes were performed on a 15 cm2 area of nonlesional abdominal skin. The area was rinsed with 2.7 mL of saline using a sterile tube. Commercially available (S100A8/9/12) or in-house (cBD3-like and cCath) canine-specific ELISAs were performed. Skin washes were incubated with different concentrations (5 × 105 to 4 × 103 cfu/mL) of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and the bacterial density measured after 24 h of incubation. Severity of clinical signs was assessed by the Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index, 4th version (CADESI-04). Data were analysed statistically and significance level was set as P ≤ 0.05. Results There was no significant difference in any of the tested AMPs between healthy and atopic dogs. Strong/moderate positive correlations were seen between total and inguinal CADESI-04 (r = 0.69; P = 0.0061) and between AMPs [cBD3-like/cCath (r = 0.69; P = 0.011), S100A8/S100A9 (r = 0.8; P = 0.0016) and S100A9/S100A12 (r = 0.57; P = 0.047)]. Significantly less antimicrobial activity was seen in skin washes from atopic versus healthy dogs (P Conclusions and clinical importance This study found no difference in AMP secretion levels between healthy and nonlesional atopic canine skin. However, a significantly lower antimicrobial activity was present in the skin washes from atopic compared to healthy skin.
SOME ASPECTS OF THE STRUCTURE OF HEAT DENATURED AND ULTRAVIOLET IRRADIATED DNA

DNA, denatured by heat and rapidly cooled, possesses a structure in which bending occurs at random. The hydrogen bonds between the amine groups of the purine and pyrimidine bases impose a specific secondary structure. The peculiarities of the secondary structure of DNA denatured by heat were studied by means of the reaction with formaldehyde followed by spectrophotometric, immunologic, and enzymologic methods. The utilization of these techniques, together with CsCl density gradient analysis, showed that the uv irradiation of DNA in solution produces an irreversible lesion of the hydrogen bonding, most probably in the internal regions of the DNA molecule, and the formation of formamidic bonds and of thermostable bonds between the two complementary chains of DNA. The separation of this last lesion is catalyzed by the photoreactivator enzyme of baker's yeast. (tr-auth)
Endovascular Treatment of Infrarenal Aortic Aneurysms

The first open infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair was performed in l951. Dubost replaced the AAA with a thoracic aortic homograft harvested from a recently deceased 20 year old. He performed a proximal end-to-end anastomosis, and a distal right Common Iliac Artery (CIA) end-to-end anastomosis, and then an end-to-side anastomosis after an endarterectomy on an occluded L CIA in a patient who went on to live for another 8 years. The first use of synthetic material for repair of aneurysms was by Blakemore and Voorhees in l954. They repaired 17 aortic aneurysms with Vinyon “N” cloth grafts. Open technique remained standard until the development of Endovascular Abdominal Aneurysm Repair (EVAR). In 1991, Parodi et al. performed the first EVAR in Argentina and in 1992 Parodi and Marin et al. performed the first EVAR in the USA (Fig. 22.1). Since then there has been tremendous development in stent-grafts, endovascular techniques, and management of complications which has allowed for EVAR to become the most common approach for AAA repair. Open repair is presently used mostly in patients who, for any of a variety of factors, are not candidates for endovascular repair. As technology advances the percentage of patients who undergo open repair is likely to become increasingly smaller.
Protein sensing using ultra-high refractive index hyperbolic metamaterials

Plasmonic structures for biomedical sensing are in use for a long time. However, there is a fundamental limitation of their sensitivity due to low effective refractive index of layered plasmonic structures. We are proposing a hyperbolic metamaterial (HMM) structure which is a combination of surface plasmon Polaritons (SPPs) and long-range surface plasmon Polaritons (LRSPPs) modes. The result of the interaction between these modes leads to plasmonic modes with ultra-high effective refractive index. We calculated and optimized plasmonic HMM structure with effective refractive index equal to 8.1, i.e. twice as much as that of germanium, a natural material with the highest refractive index. We simulated these structures for gold, silver, copper and aluminum. The best way to use these structures for protein sensing is to use diffraction gratings – there is no natural material which can be used as a prism. By optimizing layer parameters and diffraction grating we were able to build a model of the structure with sensitivity as 10-9 for refractive index. We are hoping to achieve sensitivity up to 10-11, so this structure can be used for different protein sensing application including detection of metastatic cells spreading the human body.
Reasons for Secondary School Students’ Absenteeismin Kuwait: A Qualitative Study

هدفت هذه الدراسة إلى التعرف على أسباب غياب طلبة المرحلة الثانوية بدولة الکويت. لهذا الغرض، تم تصميم أداة مقابلة وطبقت على عينة ملائمة تکونت من عشرون طالبا وعشرة معلمين وخمسة أولياء أمور. أشارت نتائج البحث إلى أن أسباب غياب طلبة المرحلة الثانوية بدولة الکويت تعزى إلى عوامل متصلة بالطالب والمدرسة والأسرة. تمت مناقشة هذه العوامل وتقديم توصيات عليها. Abstract This study aimed to explore the reasons for high rates of secondary school students’ absenteeism in Kuwait. An interview was conducted on a convenience sample, which consisted of 20 students, 10 teachers and 5 parents. The findings indicated that students’ high rate of absenteeism in Kuwait is related to a number of factors, among which student, school and family. Such factors are discussed and a number of recommendations were given based on the findings of the study.
Trading with the Embargoed: State Decisions to Violate United Nations Arms Embargoes

Nearly every international arms embargo has been systemically violated by arms exporting states. Although much work has been done exploring why states transfer arms, little has been done to answer the question of why states choose to violate arms embargoes. Earlier studies have found that states transfer arms to one another for a variety of economic and strategic reasons. This study constructs a time-series-cross-section data set in order to test if the same interests that drive dyadic arms transfers also influence the likelihood and size of arms embargo violations. Using logit and Heckman models of dyadic arms transfers this study finds that measures for import dependence and alliance portfolio similarity best predict the likelihood and size of arms embargo violations. These results provide evidence that state decisions to violate embargoes are driven by strategic interests more than economic interests.
Economic Nationalism of the Committee of Union and Progress Revisited: The Case of the Society for the Ottoman Navy

The Ottoman-Turkish historiography has been largely concerned with the economic nationalism of the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP), which consisted of four doctrines: elimination of foreign dominance on the Ottoman economy, removal of non-Muslims from the economic sphere, creation of a Turkish/Muslim bourgeoisie, and rapid industrialization. Through its focus on the economic activities of the Society for the Ottoman Navy, a CUP-affiliated charitable organization with enormous economic power, the present study investigates how the economic policies of the period can be regarded as a practice of economic nationalism. Based on archival material and in dialogue with secondary sources, this article argues that although the Unionist leadership and intelligentsia employed the language of economic nationalism, the operation of the economy in practice was considerably different from its rhetoric. War conditions, the lack of indigenous capital accumulation, and relations of the Ottoman Empire with foreign powers heavily shaped the implementation of the economic nationalism of the CUP.
CRT-600.29 Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Operator Radiation Exposure (TAVORE)

There has been a widespread adoption of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) across the globe. However, amount of radiation exposure (RE) to the operators doing TAVR remains unknown. The aim of this study is to measure the amount of RE to operators performing TAVR procedure. Total RE to
Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Lost Earnings From Cancer Deaths in the United States.

Background Little is known about disparities in economic burden due to premature cancer deaths by race or ethnicity in the United States. This study aimed to compare person-years of life lost (PYLLs) and lost earnings due to premature cancer deaths by race/ethnicity. Methods PYLLs were calculated using recent national cancer death and life expectancy data. PYLLs were combined with annual median earnings to generate lost earnings. We compared PYLLs and lost earnings among individuals who died at age 16-84 years due to cancer by racial/ethnic groups (non-Hispanic [NH] White, NH Black, NH Asian or Pacific Islander, and Hispanic). Results In 2015, PYLLs due to all premature cancer deaths were 6 512 810 for NH Whites, 1 196 709 for NH Blacks, 279 721 for NH Asian or Pacific Islanders, and 665 968 for Hispanics, translating to age-standardized lost earning rates (per 100 000 person-years) of $34.9 million, $43.5 million, $22.2 million, and $24.5 million, respectively. NH Blacks had higher age-standardized PYLL and lost earning rates than NH Whites for 13 of 19 selected cancer sites. If age-specific PYLL and lost earning rates for NH Blacks were the same as those of NH Whites, 241 334 PYLLs and $3.2 billion lost earnings (22.6% of the total lost earnings among NH Blacks) would have been avoided. Disparities were also observed for average PYLLs and lost earnings per cancer death for all cancers combined and 18 of 19 cancer sites. Conclusions Improving equal access to effective cancer prevention, screening, and treatment will be important in reducing the disproportional economic burden associated with racial/ethnic disparities.
Marine fishes (Elasmobranchii, Teleostei) from the Glendon Limestone Member of the Byram Formation (Oligocene, Rupelian) at site AWa-9, Washington County, Alabama, USA, including a new species of gobiid (Gobiiformes: Gobiidae)

The Oligocene (Rupelian) Byram Formation (Vicksburg Group) in Alabama, USA, is divided into three members, including (in ascending order) the Glendon Limestone, unnamed marl, and the Bucatunna Clay. The Oligocene marine units in Alabama have been historically under-investigated, but bulk samples recently obtained from Glendon Limestone Member exposures at site AWa-9 in Washington County yielded 20 unequivocal elasmobranch and teleost taxa. This surprisingly diverse paleofauna, based on isolated teeth, bones and otoliths, includes the new taxon, Gobiosoma ? axsmithi sp. nov., as well as “ Aetomylaeus ” sp., Albula sp., Aplodinotus gemma Koken, 1888, Ariosoma nonsector Nolf and Stringer, 2003, Balistidae indet., Citharichthys sp., Myliobatoidei indet., Diretmus ? sp., Hemipristis sp., Negaprion aff. N. gilmorei (Leriche, 1942), Pachyscyllium sp., Paralbula sp., Physogaleus sp., Preophidion meyeri (Koken, 1888), Sciaena pseudoradians (Dante and Frizzell in Frizzell and Dante, 1965), Sciaenops ? sp., Sparus ? elegantulus Koken, 1888, Sphyraena sp., and Syacium sp. Additional remains were recovered but could not be identified beyond undetermined Elasmobranchii or Teleostei. All these taxa represent first occurrences within the Glendon Limestone Member in Alabama, and the “ Aetomylaeus ” sp., Pachyscyllium sp., Paralbula sp., and Sciaenops ? sp. specimens represent the first occurrences of each in the Oligocene of the Gulf Coastal Plain of the USA. We also report the first record of Oligocene Paralbula Blake, 1940 teeth, and the first occurrence of an Oligocene member of the Balistidae in the Western Hemisphere. This marine vertebrate assemblage indicates that the Glendon Limestone Member at site AWa-9 represented a subtropical to temperate, middle shelf paleoenvironment with a paleowater depth interpreted as 30–100 m.
Disability in Speech and Hearing Sciences: Reflections on Representation

Purpose This article reflects on a diversity and equity view of disability and offers a perspective on the representation of disability within speech and hearing sciences in terms of membership, re...
Coupling chemical biology and vibrational spectroscopy for studies of amyloids in vitro and in cells.

Amyloid diseases are characterized by the aggregation of various proteins to form insoluble β-sheet-rich fibrils leading to cell death. Vibrational spectroscopies have emerged as attractive methods to study this process because of the rich structural information that can be extracted without large, perturbative probes. Importantly, specific vibrations such as the amide-I band directly report on secondary structure changes, which are key features of amyloid formation. Beyond intrinsic vibrations, the incorporation of unnatural vibrational probes can improve sensitivity for secondary structure determination (e.g. isotopic labeling), can provide residue-specific information of the surrounding polarity (e.g. unnatural amino acid), and are translatable into cellular studies. Here, we review the latest studies that have leveraged tools from chemical biology for the incorporation of novel vibrational probes into amyloidogenic proteins for both mechanistic and cellular studies.
Teaching Data Journalism in a World of Tool and Tech Overload

The field of journalism is undergoing systemic disruption, with the subarea of data journalism transforming rapidly due to the introduction of new tools and techniques as well as the changes in reporting practices as journalists and newsrooms experiment and innovate. This paper explores the challenges for data journalism educators to teach in such a rapidly shifting landscape. Drawing from our experiences teaching journalism students in higher education, we assert that the goal of data journalism education amidst this complexity is not to teach tech, nor even to teach technical skills, but rather to model for students strategies of dealing with transformation and complexity. These include peer learning, hands-on learning activities, modeling learning and information seeking, and establishing a culture of critique. We introduce a number of activities that put those approaches into practice, drawing on learning literature to support our fellow educators shifting from the ”banking model” of education[10] to a learner-centered model[23]. Working with students to co-create knowledge, acting as a ”Guide on the Side”[15] can help better prepare students for the constantly evolving ecosystem of technologies and tools that support data journalism.
Star Identification and Attitude Determination With Projective Cameras

Images of starfields collected by a projective camera are useful for a variety of scientific and engineering purposes. This utility is exemplified by star trackers, which are amongst the most commonly used sensors for determining the attitude of modern spacecraft. While the literature on star identification and star-based attitude determination is extensive, most algorithms are developed in an ad hoc manner. This work provides a comprehensive and systematic framework for invariant-based star identification and shows most past star identification algorithms to be special cases within this framework. The new star identification framework is found to motivate new problems in attitude determination and sensor self-calibration. Specifically, new algorithms are presented for simultaneous attitude determination and camera calibration for a generic wide field-of-view sensor using a single starfield image. In the special case where camera focal length is the only unknown calibration parameter, attitude determination performance of the new algorithm is indiscernible from a perfectly calibrated camera.
Contrastive Multiview Coding for Enzyme-Substrate Interaction Prediction

Characterizing Enzyme function is an important requirement for predicting Enzyme-Substrate interactions. In this paper, we present a novel approach of applying Contrastive Multiview Coding to this problem to improve the performance of prediction. We present a method to leverage auxiliary data from an Enzymatic database like KEGG to learn the mutual information present in multiple views of enzyme-substrate reactions. We show that congruency in the multiple views of the reaction data can be used to improve prediction performance.
Chapter 5 Steps in the assembly of a cytoplasmic membrane protein: the MalF component of the maltose transport complex

Abstract We discuss the utility of MalF as a model system for the study of protein assembly into the cytoplasmic membrane of Escherichia coli . Our studies have demonstrated the importance of various sequences within MalF for membrane insertion and topology. The sequences that play the preeminent role in determining topology are the positively charged hydrophilic cytoplasmic domains. The position of these domains relative to hydrophobic membrane spanning segments (MSS) determines which MSS act as protein export signals and which act as stop-transfer sequences. Using alkaline phosphatase fusions, we have shown that both the cytoplasmic domains and the membrane spanning segments vary in the strength with which they promote proper topology. The process of membrane insertion of the MalF protein is independent of the normal secretion apparatus for protein export in E. coli . Finally, the influence of the other membrane components of the maltose transport complex, MalG and MalK, on MalF assembly is examined. While these proteins have no detectable effect on either the membrane insertion or topology of MalF, they do influence the final structure that MalF assumes in the membrane.
Affect, Medievalism and Temporal Drag: Oberammergau’s Passion Play Event

Every 10 years, thousands of people from across the globe take a pilgrimage to Oberammergau. The reason for journeying to this small Bavarian town is a Passion Play, one the villagers have performed nearly every 10 years since 1634. With its cast of 2,400 actors, drawn entirely from the village’s 5,200 residents, the five-and-a-half hour play is a unique example of Christian community theatre, a tradition with roots in the Middle Ages. Although not a medieval tradition itself, Oberammergau’s Passion Play has always been marked by medievalism, which constitutes the way the Middle Ages have been used, recycled, and remade in order to serve the purposes of later periods. Medievalism operating in Oberammergau does not function solely through cultural references; crucially, it creates meaning by supplying affective encounters with an idealized medieval past. Considering medievalism as an affective force reveals that the Play event “works” for many contemporary spectators, including those who travel to the village from the U.S., by satisfying certain cross-temporal and cross-geographic cultural longings. This essay traces the force of Oberammergau’s performance tradition across centuries and continents and demonstrates how other theatre events draw upon Oberammergau’s affective medievalism in order to situate themselves within a “felt” legacy of authentic, devotional community. The discussion concludes by suggesting that engaging the affective trajectory supplied by certain medievalist events can also serve as a mode of historical inquiry into the “real” Middle Ages.
After Scholarship: Making Information Actionable

Abstract: Discussions about scholarly communication and digital library implementations often assume academic contexts of use. However, the information technologies that comprise such systems will also be available to corporate consumers, government organizations, and individuals. In order to make scholarly communication actionable by these non-academics, we need to know how they use current publications in their daily work. This study examines that use, and its findings raise two related issues: that researchers in academia, industry, and government place very different, yet equally legitimate, requirements on a scholarly communication system, and that technological choices about scholarly communication systems may be narrowing around particular forms and formats. Resume: En discutant de la communication savante et de la creation de bibliotheques digitales, on sous-entend souvent que l'usage qu'on en fera sera principalement academique. Cependant, les technologies d'information que de tels systemes utilisent seront egalement disponibles aux hommes et femmes d'affaires, aux employes dans la fonction publique et a d'autres interesses. Afin que ces non-academiques puissent recourir aisement aux communications savantes, il nous faut savoir comment ils utilisent les publications courantes dans leur travail quotidien. Cette etude examine leur utilisation, et conclut en faisant deux observations reliees : d'une part, les chercheurs en milieux academiques, en affaires et dans la fonction publique ont des exigences tres differentes, et pourtant egalement legitimes, vis-a-vis un systeme de communication savante; d'autre part, les choix technologiques de systemes de communication savante sont peut-etre en train de se centrer autour de formes et de formats particuliers.
BAX Contributes to Apoptotic-Like Death Following Neonatal Hypoxia-Ischemia: Evidence for Distinct Apoptosis Pathways

Hypoxic-ischemic (H-I) injury to the neonatal brain has been shown to result in rapid cell death with features of acute excitotoxicity/necrosis as well as prominent delayed cell death with features of apoptosis such as marked caspase-3 activation. BAX, a pro-apoptotic molecule, has been shown to be required for apoptotic neuronal cell death during normal development but the contribution of endogenous BAX in cell death pathways following H-I injury to the developing or adult brain has not been studied. Bax +/+, +/−, and −/− mice at post-natal day 7 were subjected to unilateral carotid ligation followed by exposure to 45 minutes of 8% oxygen. At different timepoints following H-I, brain tissue was studied by conventional histology, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, Western blotting, and enzymatic assay to determine the extent and type of cell injury as well as the amount of caspase activation. We found that bax −/− mice had significantly less (38%) hippocampal tissue loss than mice expressing bax. Some of the remaining cell death in bax −/− mice, however, still had features of apoptosis including evidence of nuclear shrinkage and caspase-3 activation. Though bax −/− mice had significantly decreased caspase-3 activation as compared to bax expressing mice following H-I, the density of cells with activated caspase-8 in the CA3 region of the hippocampus did not differ between bax +/− and bax −/− mice. These findings demonstrate that endogenous BAX plays a role in regulating cell death in the central nervous system (CNS) following neonatal H-I, a model of cerebral palsy. In addition, while BAX appears to modulate the caspase-3 activation following neonatal H-I, caspase-8 which is linked to death receptor activation, may contribute to apoptotic-like neuronal death in a BAX-independent manner.
The King is Dead, Long Live the King!: Sovereign Immunity and the Curious Case of Nonappropriated Fund Instrumentalities

Nonappropriated fund instrumentalities, or NAFIs, are neither wholly governmental nor wholly private; rather they incorporate characteristics of both private and governmental organizations. The primary benefit of this dual characterization attaches to the NAFIs themselves. Once an entity is determined by a court to be a NAFI it cannot be sued. In state and district court, NAFIs are held to be immune from suit because, as quasi-governmental entities, they partake of the sovereign immunity of the United States. However, the Court of Federal Claims, which normally has exclusive jurisdiction to hear suits against the United States for money damages, refuses to entertain suits against NAFIs as well. This anomaly, that a suitor has no redress for a NAFI’s breach of contract, has drawn much criticism as a matter of policy. Policy considerations aside, however, the purpose of this article is to determine whether the NAFI doctrine has a basis in law. The article first traces the history of the NAFI doctrine from its origins to the present day, describing the changes that have taken place in NAFI doctrine jurisprudence during the sixty years of its existence. Looking at the NAFI doctrine through a historical lens will reveal the different legal bases that have been used to support the doctrine through the decades. Next, the article takes up each of these potential bases for the NAFI doctrine in turn, examining each to see if any of these bases stands up to legal scrutiny. After determining that the NAFI doctrine is compelled neither by statute nor Supreme Court precedent, the article proposes several ways of correcting this long-standing error. Quoted in Slattery v. United States, 635 F.3d 1298, 1316 (Fed. Cir. 2011) (en banc).
An Overview of this Manual

This book is designed to be a practical progression of experimental techniques an investigator may follow when embarking on a protein purification or protein analysis project. The protocols may be performed in the order laid out or may be used independently. The aim of the book is to assist a wide range of researchers, from the novice to the frustrated veteran, in the choice and design of experiments that are to be performed to provide answers to specific questions. The manual describes standard techniques that have been shown to work, as well as some newer ones that are beginning to prove important. By following the prominently numbered steps, one can work through any protocol, whether it’s a new technique or a task that has been previously performed for which a quick review or updated methodology is needed.
Job-related stress, social support, and work–family conflict among Mexican workers in a multinational company: A case study of a Korean-owned, US-branded former “sweatshop” in Mexico

Due to globalization and outsourcing of commodity production, an estimated 60 million workers are employed in the garment industry by multinational corporations, yet relatively little is known about the work–family tensions experienced by these workers. Building on role stress and job demands–resources theories, this study employed mixed methods to examine job stressors, support, and work–family conflict (WFC) in a sample of 168 Mexican workers in a multinational factory, a rarely studied and underserved population. As hypothesized, results of hierarchical regression analyses indicated that workers experienced high job stress and WFC. Social support from spouses, family, and friends increased the positive association between job stress and WFC, suggesting that culturally relevant obligations increased WFC. This study highlights the need for multinational corporations to implement culturally adaptive, family-friendly policies. Implications for social workers in multinational work organizations and for future research are discussed.
CONTROL OF AUTOMOTIVE SULFATE EMISSIONS

A study has been made of potential methods for controlling sulfate emission from oxidation catalyst-equipped vehicles. The methods considered included operating condition and catalyst changes, as well as the use of a vehicle trap for sulfate. Emissions of sulfate from non-catalyst cars were also measured. The only engine operating variable we found to significantly lower sulfate emission was exhaust gas 02 level. Pelleted catalysts emitted lower amounts of sulfate during low speed operation than did monoliths. Catalyst age was found to be an important factor. Pt catalysts gave somewhat higher sulfate emissions than Pt-Pd catalysts. Vehicle sulfate traps containing CaO-based pellets achieved almost complete sulfate removal from the exhaust for 40,000 km, but pressure drop through the trap became excessive as the sorbent swelled with age. /GMRL/
Venous System: Physiology of the Capacitance Vessels

The sections in this article are: 1 Synopsis 2 Perspectives 3 Definitions and Basic Concepts 3.1 Definitions 3.2 Active Contraction of Veins 3.3 Effect of Flow on Vascular Volume 3.4 Central Venous Pressure 3.5 Mean Circulatory Filling Pressure 3.6 Venous Hemodynamics 3.7 Venous Resistance 4 Structural Characteristics of Veins 4.1 Anatomy 4.2 Volume of Blood 4.3 Vascular Compliance 4.4 Linearity of Pressure-Volume Relationship 5 Venous Return and Potential Role of Veins in Cardiovascular Homeostasis 5.1 Guytonian Relationship Between Venous Return and Cardiac Output 5.2 De Jager-Krogh Phenomenon 5.3 Venous Pooling on Standing 6 Reflex Control of Capacitance System 6.1 Effect of Neural and Hormonal Stimulation 6.2 Baroreceptors 6.3 Chemoreceptors 6.4 Atrial, Ventricular, and Pulmonary Receptors 6.5 Receptor Interaction 6.6 Venous Myogenic Activity 6.7 Venoarteriolar Reflex 6.8 Effect of Temperature 6.9 Time Course of Reflex Response 6.10 Capacitance-Vessel Tone 7 Veins in Health and Disease 7.1 Exercise 7.2 Vasovagal Syncope 7.3 Orthostatic Hypotension 7.4 Shock 7.5 Hypertension 8 Methods of Measurement of Vascular Capacitance 8.1 Transmural Pressure of Capacitance Vessels 8.2 Volume of Capacitance Vessels 8.3 Measures of Total-Body Vascular Compliance and Capacitance 8.4 General Problems 9 Pharmacology of Veins 9.1 Anesthetics 9.2 Angiotensin 9.3 Catecholamines 9.4 Histamine 9.5 Morphine 9.6 Nitroprusside 9.7 Serotonin 9.8 Vasopressin 10 Future Research
Perceived Effectiveness Of Personalization

The internet, while still in infancy, has established itself as a channel for commerce and communication. The interactive nature of its network, along with size and speed is leading to a paradigm shift in the way companies approach the marketing mix, similar to the shift in thinking from a production/sales orientation to a customer orientation to a future defined by personalization. There are currently very few empirical studies focusing on the construct and practice of personalization in the academic literature. This study empirically tests the perceived effectiveness of personalization based on an online survey of approximately 200 marketing executives on a business panel. As predicted, personalization was perceived as having a positive impact on both profit and customer responsiveness for the company.
Special Report: Global Tax Audit and Controversy Risk Management

Managing tax risk is one of the greatest challenges for tax departments around the world (creating the opportunities to build relationships with revenue services), starting with the verification audit through to the resolution of tax controversies. A recent survey supports this contention. Key aspects that emerged can be summarized as follows:Tax risk is everywhere. Companies continue to face increased pressure on the tax function. As a result, tax functions are focused on addressing risks in every major area of the tax life-cycle: planning, provision, compliance, and controversy. Improving the tax function is clearly more important than ever, with more than 90% of companies indicating this will be an important area for them over the next two years.People are a tax risk: 87% of respondents identified people as an important challenge facing the tax department. Companies are struggling to get enough people to staff their tax department. They are also challenged to train the people they have, with 77% of companies indicating that the lack of skilled resources is a contributing factor to tax risk.The trend (proactive versus reactive): Today, companies report a significant increase in the time they spend identifying, managing, tracking, and responding on tax risk. The number of companies who spend at least 20% of their time on tax risk increased over the last two years from 16% to 25%. Leading tax functions are responding by becoming more efficient and broadening their response to risk. Building linkages to other parts of the organization is becoming increasingly important.Communication is key: Companies that have regular communications with their board about tax risk are also more likely to report having specific measures in place to address those risks. The difference seems to be that they take a broad approach to tax risk assessment and work to efficiently leverage their people, processes and technology.
Two sequence-specific endonucleases from Moraxella bovis

Abstract Two new sequence-specific endodeoxyribonucleases have been partially purified from Moraxella bovis. These restriction-like enzymes, MboI and MboII, each cleave bacteriophage lambda DNA and adenovirus-2 DNA at more than 50 sites. MboI recognizes the sequence 5′ ↓ G-A-T-C 3′ 3′ C-T-A-G ↑ 5′ and cleaves at the sites indicated by the arrows. A specific endonuclease, MosI, has also been purified from Moraxella osloenis and recognizes the same sequence as MboI.
A Laboratory for Handling Chemical Toxicants Safely

The Centers for Disease Control has a special Chemical Toxicant Laboratory (CTL) for handling very hazardous chemicals. It is designed to protect the workers, prevent the release of the chemical toxicant into the surrounding environment, and provide for the scientific integrity of the experiments conducted. A discussion of laboratory ventilation and special containment devices is presented. The design of the CTL, coupled with a realistic set of safety guidelines, provides for the safe conduct of research involving highly toxic chemicals.
γ-Ray-source geometry corrections for use in gaseous radioactivity measurements

Abstract A new technique has been developed to determine geometric corrections for γ-ray counting for gaseous radioactivity measurements. A known amount of standardized non-volatile radioactivity, homogeneously mixed with vermiculite or any granular material with a bulk density of ⪅0.15 g cm −3 , is used as a mock standard for the gaseous activity contained in a sample container. An empirical equation is obtained to calculate correction factors for the gaseous radioactivities contained in a 14.1-ml boiling water reactor (BWR) off-gas sample-vial and counted on Ge(Li) detectors. Experimental data are also reported for the corrections for gaseous radioactivities relative to the liquid standard contained in the 14.1-ml glass vial.
SMART: utilizing distributed social map for lightweight routing in delay-tolerant networks

Previous delay-tolerant network (DTN) routing algorithms exploit either past encounter records or social network properties to derive a node's probability of delivering packets to their destinations. However, they only have a local view of the network, which limits the routing efficiency. Also, when two nodes meet, they have to exchange the delivery abilities to the destinations of all packets in the two nodes, which incurs high resource consumption. In this paper, we propose SMART, which utilizes a distributed social map for lightweight routing in delay-tolerant networks. In SMART, each node builds its own social map consisting of nodes it has met and their frequently encountered nodes in a distributed manner. Based on both encountering frequency and social closeness of the two linked nodes in the social map, we decide the weight of each link to reflect the packet delivery ability between the two nodes. The social map enables more accurate forwarder selection through a broader view. Moreover, nodes exchange much less information for social map update, which reduces resource consumption. Trace-driven experiments and tests on the GENI ORBIT testbed demonstrate the high efficiency of SMART in comparison to previous algorithms.
Porokeratosis of Mibelli following bone marrow transplantation.

Background Porokeratosis is a rare disorder of keratinization with both autosomal dominant and acquired forms. Immunosuppression has been associated with the development of porokeratosis in numerous case reports and series. To our knowledge, however, only five cases of porokeratosis have been reported following bone marrow transplantation. Results We report five cases of porokeratosis of Mibelli following bone marrow transplantation. The diagnosis of porokeratosis was made between 1 and 13 years post-transplantation. The underlying malignancy in four of the five cases was leukemia, while the fifth patient had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Porokeratosis developed during remission in the four leukemia patients, whereas, in the fifth patient, it occurred during a relapse of lymphoma. Conclusions Porokeratosis may develop following bone marrow transplantation. Our five cases double the number reported in the medical literature, and the incidence of porokeratosis following bone marrow transplantation may be significantly higher than previously recognized. As cutaneous carcinomas have been reported in association with porokeratosis, careful surveillance for porokeratosis in bone marrow transplant recipients is warranted.
The vacancy chain process: a new mechanism of resource distribution in animals with application to hermit crabs

Abstract A number of resources important to humans such as jobs in bureaucracies, houses and apartments are allocated through a mechanism known as a vacancy chain. In a vacancy chain process an initial, vacant resource unit entering a population of users is taken by a first individual who leaves his/her previous resource unit behind, which is taken by a second individual, and so on. In this process an initial resource unit works both directly and indirectly to provide opportunities for several individuals to gain new and better resources. Vacancy chains are hypothesized to be important in resource distribution for a variety of non-human animals, and it is documented, in particular, that the hermit crab Pagurus longicarpus gets the gastropod shells in which it lives through this mechanism. The direct and indirect effects of vacancy chains on hermit crabs and the systematic ways in which chains flow through groups of crabs and their resources are indicated. In systems where they occur, it is further hypothesized that vacancy chains have unique implications for the ecology of resource users. Several of these hypotheses are explored using the example of hermit crabs.
The international coral reef initiative: A strategy for the sustainable management of coral reefs and related ecosystems

The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) is a new and innovative strategy developed by countries and nongovernmental partners as a means to implement the recommendations on coral reefs and related ecosystems found in Agenda 21 and other international agreements. The ICRI uses a multilevel (international, national, regional, and local), participatory (both top‐down and bottom‐up) approach based on partnerships formed among many different sectors and stakeholders to promote capacity building, research and monitoring, and sustainable use and management of coral reefs and related ecosystems (mangroves and sea grass beds). The ICRI builds on the principles related to coastal zone management and sustainable development— partnership, integration, coordination, and participation. The ICRI has been effective in creating political will and momentum among many different sectors and facilitating the development of an international agenda with priorities for coral reefs. An analysis of ICRI's effectiveness to da...
Regulation of hematopoietic cell function by inhibitory immunoglobulin G receptors and their inositol lipid phosphatase effectors

Numerous autoimmune and inflammatory disorders stem from the dysregulation of hematopoietic cell activation. The activity of inositol lipid and protein tyrosine phosphatases, and the receptors that recruit them, is critical for prevention of these disorders. Balanced signaling by inhibitory and activating receptors is now recognized to be an important factor in tuning cell function and inflammatory potential. In this review, we provide an overview of current knowledge of membrane proximal events in signaling by inhibitory/regulatory receptors focusing on structural and functional characteristics of receptors and their effectors Src homology 2 (SH2) domain-containing tyrosine phosphatase 1 and SH2 domain-containing inositol 5-phosphatase-1. We review use of new strategies to identify novel regulatory receptors and effectors. Finally, we discuss complementary actions of paired inhibitory and activating receptors, using Fc gammaRIIA and Fc gammaRIIB regulation human basophil activation as a prototype.