cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract P393: Completeness of Medicare Pharmacy Claims for Lipid-Lowering Medications: the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study.

BACKGROUND: Pharmacy data are increasingly being used to identify medication utilization in epidemiological studies and as a measure of quality of care. The objective of this analysis was to investigate the completeness of Medicare pharmacy claims for lipid-lowering medications (LLM) in a population-based cohort study. METHODS: We analyzed data from 891 REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study participants ≥ 65 years of age with Medicare-linked data. Our primary analyses were restricted to participants enrolled in 2006-2007 with Medicare Part D (pharmacy) coverage for 120 days prior to their REGARDS in-home examination at baseline. Secondary analyses were restricted to participants with 182 days of continuous Medicare Part D coverage prior to the in-home examination (n=852). During the baseline examination, bottles for prescription medications taken within the previous 2 weeks were inventoried and drug names were recorded. LLM included statins, ezetimibe, niacin, fibrates and bile acid sequestrants. RESULTS: Among the 370 (41.5%) participants with a bottle for a LLM at their REGARDS study examination, 70 (18.9%) participants did not have a Medicare claim for a LLM within the preceding 120 days. Overall agreement between medication inventory and Medicare claims for LLM was 86.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 84.4%-88.9%) and agreement above that expected by chance (kappa statistic) was 0.72 (95% CI: 0.68-0.77). Agreement was similar across sub-groups defined by age, self-reported income and education, cognitive status, depressive symptoms, year of enrollment or dual (Medicaid-Medicare) eligible status. The Kappa statistic was lower for black males (0.49; 95% CI: 0.70-0.84) compared with black females (0.74; 95% CI: 0.65-0.82), white males (0.73; 95% CI: 0.65-0.82) and white females (0.77; 95% CI: 0.70-0.84). Among participants with a statin identified in their REGARDS medication inventory, 17.8% did not have a Medicare claim for a statin within 120 days prior to their examination. Overall agreement and the kappa statistic for the comparison between medication inventory and Medicare claims for statins were 87.9% (95% CI: 85.5%-90.0%) and 0.74 (95% CI: 0.69 - 0.79), respectively. Among participants with continuous Medicare Part D coverage for 182 days prior to their REGARDS baseline examination, 14.4% of those with a bottle for LLM had no Medicare claims. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial percentage of participants with a LLM identified through the REGARDS medication inventory had no Medicare claims for LLM. Future studies should investigate reasons for the discordance between Medicare claims for LLM and medication inventory, particularly among black males.
Gilles Deleuze's Contributions to David Hume, sa vie, son œuvre

Immediately we face a philological problem with the text published in 1952, written by Andre Cresson and Gilles Deleuze, and entitled David Hume, sa vie, son œuvre, avec un expose de sa philosophie...
The Qing Empire (China), Imperialism, and the Modern World

China has become the subject of increasing attention in the study of world history. However, many world history texts still place the last Chinese dynasty, the Qing, in the category of the ‘losers’: victims of Western imperialism whose inability to adjust to the times led to their demise. A re-examination of the Qing Empire reveals a dynamic, expansionistic empire worthy of comparison with the largest empires of the West. The Qing Empire’s experiences in the nineteenth century shed light on the practice of informal imperialism or semi-colonialism. The treaty-port system established in China became the template for similar practices of informal imperialism in Japan and Korea; it also demonstrated similarities to imperialist practices across the world. Despite being a victim of Western (and later) Japanese imperialism, the Qing Empire was also an able practitioner of both informal imperialism (in Korea) and the extension and consolidation and its formal imperialism in places such as Turkestan (Xinjiang) and Tibet. Unlike many of the empires to which it is often compared (including the Ottoman, Hapsburg, Mughal Empires), China successfully made the transition from empire to nation-state in the early twentieth century. Chinese leaders, both Republican and Communist, successfully worked to dismantle Western informal imperialism in China and maintain the borders claimed by the Qing Empire. Looking back from the perspective of the twentieth century, the Qing Empire/China is easily among the ranks of the most successful and durable empires of the modern period.
Microwave synthesis of dirhenium paddlewheel complexes

Tetrakis(carboxylato)dihalidodirhenium (III,III) complexes were efficiently synthesized utilizing microwave irradiation. Re2(acetate)4X2, Re2(butyrate)4X2, and Re2(pivalate)4X2, where X = Cl or Br, were produced in under one hour in the microwave with comparable yields to traditional refluxes which take as long as four days. All reaction samples were prepared under inert gas and the septa caps of the microwave reaction vessels were sufficient to maintain this environment during the reaction. Re2(acetate)4X2 and Re2(butyrate)4X2 were synthesized from the (Bu4N)2[Re2X8] salt, the acid, the anhydride, and in some cases hexanes. Re2(pivalate)4X2, traditionally prepared via melt reactions, were synthesized from the (Bu4N)2[Re2X8] salt and pivalic acid combined in diglyme or diglyme and hexanes.
The Efficacy of T Cell-Mediated Immune Responses Is Reduced by the Envelope Protein of the Chimeric HIV-1/SIV-KB9 Virus In Vivo

Gp120 is a critical component of the envelope of HIV-1. Its role in viral entry is well described. In view of its position on the viral envelope, gp120 is a part of the retrovirus that immune cells encounter first and has the potential to influence antiretroviral immune responses. We propose that high levels of gp120 are present in tissues and may contribute to the failure of the immune system to fully control and ultimately clear the virus. Herein, we show for the first time that lymphoid tissues from acutely HIV-1/SIV (SHIV)-KB9-infected macaques contain deposits of gp120 at concentrations that are high enough to induce suppressive effects on T cells, thus negatively regulating the antiviral CTL response and contributing to virus survival and persistence. We also demonstrate that SHIV-KB9 gp120 influences functional T cell responses during SHIV infection in a manner that suppresses degranulation and cytokine secretion by CTLs. Finally, we show that regulatory T cells accumulate in lymphoid tissues during acute infection and that they respond to gp120 by producing TGFβ, a known suppressant of cytotoxic T cell activity. These findings have significant implications for our understanding of the contribution of non-entry-related functions of HIV-1 gp120 to the pathogenesis of HIV/AIDS.
Possible Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim-Induced Pancreatitis in a Complicated Adolescent Patient Posttraumatic Injury

Introduction:Multiple medications have been associated with pancreatitis, however, data in the pediatric population are scarce secondary to the nonspecific presentation and infrequent diagnosis. Th...
International Council for Harmonization Stability Guidelines: Food and Drug Administration Regulatory Perspective

The International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) was organized to provide an opportunity for tripartite harmonization initiatives to be developed with input from both regulatory and industry representatives. ICH is concerned with harmonization of technical requirements for the registration of pharmaceutical products among three regions: the European Community, Japan, and the United States. The six ICH sponsors are the European Commission, the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industry Associations, the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Japanese Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the United States Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association. In addition, the ICH secretariat, which coordinates the preparation of documentation, is provided by the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (IFPMA).
Importance of Mitochondria in Survival of Cryptococcus neoformans Under Low Oxygen Conditions and Tolerance to Cobalt Chloride

Cryptococcus neoformans is an environmental fungal pathogen that requires atmospheric levels of oxygen for optimal growth. For the fungus to be able to establish an infection, it must adapt to the low oxygen concentrations in the host environment compared to its natural habitat. In order to investigate the oxygen sensing mechanism in C. neoformans, we screened T-DNA insertional mutants for hypoxia-mimetic cobalt chloride (CoCl2)-sensitive mutants. All the CoCl2-sensitive mutants had a growth defect under low oxygen conditions at 37°C. The majority of mutants are compromised in their mitochondrial function, which is reflected by their reduced rate of respiration. Some of the mutants are also defective in mitochondrial membrane permeability, suggesting the importance of an intact respiratory system for survival under both high concentrations of CoCl2 as well as low oxygen conditions. In addition, the mutants tend to accumulate intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and all mutants show sensitivity to various ROS generating chemicals. Gene expression analysis revealed the involvement of several pathways in response to cobalt chloride. Our findings indicate cobalt chloride sensitivity and/or sensitivity to low oxygen conditions are linked to mitochondrial function, sterol and iron homeostasis, ubiquitination, and the ability of cells to respond to ROS. These findings imply that multiple pathways are involved in oxygen sensing in C. neoformans.
The Supervisor and the Teacher: An Effective Model of Communication

(1980). The Supervisor and the Teacher: An Effective Model of Communication. The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas: Vol. 53, No. 9, pp. 433-437.
Host Plant Resistance Genes for Fusarium Head Blight: Sources, Mechanisms, and Utility in Conventional Breeding Systems

Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused by Fusarium graminearum Schwabe [teleomorph Gibberella zeae (Schwein.)], also known as scab, is a destructive disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum L; T. turgidum L. var durum) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Host resistance has long been considered the most practical and effective means of control, but breeding has been hindered by a lack of effective resistance genes and by the complexity of the resistance in identified sources. This paper will provide an overview of progress in developing host plant resistance for FHB, primarily in the USA, by review of the sources of resistance in wheat and barley, and their utilization in breeding programs. Although there are no reported sources of immunity, considerable genetic variability exists for resistance in both wheat and barley. Sources of resistance in durum, however, are limited. The strategy of breeding programs is to recombine different types and sources of resistance steadily through traditional breeding strategies. To facilitate selection, artificial inoculation techniques are used in both the field and greenhouse. This enables breeders to select simultaneously for resistance and desirable agronomic characteristics. Incremental increases in resistance are being reported in hexaploid wheat and to a lesser extent in barley and durum wheat. It is anticipated that the development of molecular markers will improve the efficiency of developing FHB wheat and barley cultivars.
A TEST OF VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES ON THE INTERGENERATIONAL TRANSMISSION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Past research indicates that adults who were subject to severe physical discipline as children are often violent toward their spouse and children as adults. This association is usually attributed to modeling or the learning of attitudes that legitimate hitting family members. Using four waves of data from a sample of midwestern families, this study found only limited support for these explanations. Analysis showed that the relationship between childhood exposure to harsh parenting and recurrent adult violence toward children or a spouse was mediated by the extent to which parents displayed an antisocial orientation. This pattern of findings is consistent with criminological theories that view criminal and deviant behavior of all sorts as rooted in a general antisocial orientation acquired in childhood largely as a result of ineffective parenting.
Ernst Jünger's Literature of Pain, or the Troubles Of Detaching Mind from Feeling

Ernst Junger’s treatment of pain, emotion, and the body in the 1930s (“On Pain”) mark a shift from his earlier treatment. Whereas the early works ( Waldchen 125, Feuer und Blut ) featured more complex models of emotion, body, and mind in terms of unity and extension, the later work reveals a model of neat separation so as to allow for sacrifice and greater control of pain, affect, and technology. The early work explored the material world as an extension of the body, while “On Pain” imagines the body as a vessel. This puts it starkly at odds with embodied descriptions to be found in work of the philosophical anthropologist Helmuth Plessner as well as contemporary views in the sciences. Junger’s attempt in “On Pain” to disembody consciousness and negate feeling is contradicted not only by the mind’s reliance on the body but also on his reliance on tropes of emotion. (DH)
Cardiac resynchronization for heart failure.

In this issue, McAlister and associates summarize the evidence on cardiac resynchronization therapy for heart failure, and Nichol and coworkers analyze the cost-effectiveness of this therapy. Cardi...
Application of Unidimensional Item Response Models to Tests With Items Sensitive to Secondary Dimensions

In this research, the author addresses whether the application of unidimensional item response models provides valid interpretation of test results when administering items sensitive to multiple latent dimensions. Overall, the present study found that unidimensional models are quite robust to the violation of the unidimensionality assumption due to secondary dimensions from sensitive items. When secondary dimensions are highly correlated with main construct, unidimensional models generally fit and the accuracy of ability estimation is comparable to that of strictly unidimensional tests. In addition, longer tests are more robust to the violation of the essential unidimensionality assumption than shorter ones. The author also shows that unidimensional item response theory models estimate item difficulty parameter better than item discrimination parameter in tests with secondary dimensions.
Adsorptive behavior of butyltin compounds under simulated estuarine conditions

Abstract A 2 3 + 1 factorial design was used to study adsorption of BuSnCl 3 , Bu 2 SnCl 2 , and Bu 3 SnCl under simulated estuarine conditions. The variables included artificial seawater and its dilutions (salinity 5–35 g kg −1 ), pH (6.2–8.2), and hydrous iron oxide concentration (10–1000 mg l −1 ). Fulvic acid concentration was constant at 10 mg l −1 , and initial concentration of butyltin compounds was 10 ng ml −1 (asSn). Adsorption of butyltin compounds varied from 72 to 100% for BuSnCl 3 , 0 to 56% for Bu 2 SnCl 2 , and 57 to 95% for Bu 3 SnCl. At the 95% confidence level all three variables were significant for BuSnCl 3 adsorption. pH was significant for Bu 2 SnCl 2 adsorption, and pH and salinity were significant for Bu 3 SnCl adsorption. Discussion includes the importance of, and reasons for, differing adsorptive behavior of the three butyltin compounds.
Investigations of Cylindrical Reaction Cavities from Ordered Phases of Alkyl Alkanoates and Their Influence on Some Norrish-Yang and Photo-Fries Reactions*

The Norrish-Yang photochemistry of three isomeric p-alkyl alkanophenones (p-propyl nonadecanophenone, p-pentyl heptadecanophenone and p-octyl tetradecano-phenone) and the photo-Fries reactions of 2-naphthyl myristate have been investigated in the ordered (layered) phases of three isomeric alkyl alkanoates. Comparisons of photoproduct selectivity for irradiation of one substrate in the isotropic and ordered phases of one host ester provide information concerning the influence of the cylindrically shaped reaction cavities on the relative motions and conformational changes necessary to convert the reactants to products. Comparisons of photoproduct distributions from one substrate in comparable phases of two or more esters provide details concerning the “wall stiffness” and importance of functional group interactions of the reaction cavities. Finally, comparisons using one substrate and two ordered phases of the same ester indicate the role of wall stiffness on photoproduct selectivity. The results show that the course of the photochemical reactions can be controlled effectively within the ordered media and provide an indication of how to design and select ordered media to effect other photochemical transformations selectively.
Has Teacher Education Missed Out on the “Ethics Boom”? A Comparative Study of Ethics Requirements and Courses in Professional Majors of Christian Colleges and Universities

Scholars of higher education have noted an increased attention to ethics within professional disciplines such as business and journalism. This paper explores the hypothesis that the field of education has not followed that pattern. To test this hypothesis, we review our findings from a study of curricula for professional majors in 156 Christian colleges and universities associated with the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities and the Lilly Fellows Network. Overall, we found that a majority of business, nursing, and social work majors were either offered or required to take an ethics course in their respective fields. In addition, ethics courses were required for a significant number of communication, engineering, and computer science majors. Of all the professional majors surveyed, however, education majors were the least likely to have optional or required ethics courses.
Analysis of an arbitrarily misaligned self-acting gas film journal bearing of finite length

Abstract To date, there has been no comprehensive study of the pressure distribution and related features of the operation and design of gas film journal bearings of finite length undergoing arbitrary misalignment. In this paper the afore-named study is presented. Direct application of the finite difference method to the non-linear partial differential equation of Reynolds, governing the phenomenon of lubrication, proved to be very effective in handling the geometry of “double-planed” misalignment. The results of the study reveal a very smooth asymmetric pressure distribution, strongly affected by the misalignment parameters. The load capacity, attitude angle and misaligning moment vs . the operational and design variables are presented in dimensionless form. This investigation reveals that the load capacity increases with the misalignment severity ratio — an unexpected feature of gas-lubricated journal bearings — providing that the rupture of the gas film at the ends is effectively prevented. The effect of the misalignment orientation angle is almost insignificant, except for the minimum film thickness at the ends.
Multiple-option master's degree in optical science and engineering

The optics facility at the University of New Mexico (UNM) are proposing to create a Master's degree program in Optical Science and Engineering. A natural complement to the highly successful Ph.D. program in optics over the past 15 years at UNM, the Master's program, unlike the Ph.D. program, will be a multiple-option program that will serve the educational, research, and training needs of an entire spectrum of students, professionals, and institutions. Currently only in the stages of a well developed proposal, it has garnered wide support from industry, academia, and government laboratories in the State of New Mexico, and is on track for an expected implementation in Fall 2000.
Biopsy technique: the pathological considerations

Early diagnosis and disease prevention are rewards of wellconsidered and properly executed biopsy techniques. As the dental profession moves toward additional emphasis in detection of disease and sophistication in diagnosis, biopsy is being used with increasing frequency as a diagnostic tool. This article states and elucidates simple ground rules that govern the rationale of surgical sampling of pathologic tissue. The three most common deficiencies that hamper interpretation (tissue artifact, inadequate clinical information, and inappropriate tissue sampling) are discussed, and the biopsy approach to various types of clinical lesions is reviewed.
Local spatial transformations and local observables

Traditionally spatial transformations such as translations and rotations are formulated in terms of transformations of the entire spatial space. In other words, transformations are taken automatically to be of a global nature. This paper investigates a local approach to spatial transformations; local transformations lead naturally to local observables in quantum mechanics.
Zirconium-catalyzed allylalumination and benzylalumination of alkynes

Abstract Allylalanes or benzylalanes react with either terminal or internal alkynes in the presence of a catalytic amount of Cl 2 ZrCp 2 to produce in high yields cis-carboalumination products.
Treatment of uraemic pericarditis by anterior pericardiectomy.

Abstract Mortality, morbidity, and length of hospital stay have been evaluated in 16 dialysis patients who developed pericarditis and were treated with anterior pericardiectomy followed by 24-48 hours of chest-tube drainage. There was no mortality and only minor morbidity. All patients had clinical improvement, with resolution of fever, pain, leucocytosis, and pericardial rub within four days. Average postoperative hospital stay was 13 days. No patient developed recurrent or constrictive pericarditis (maximum follow-up 60 months). In dialysis patients who develop pericarditis with progressive effusion, anterior pericardiectomy reduces mortality, morbidity, and stay in hospital, prevents recurrence of the disease, and may improve healing of the inflamed pericardium.
Incidence and outcomes of rearrest following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

Introduction Rearrest occurs when a patient experiences cardiac arrest after successful resuscitation. The incidence and outcomes of rearrest following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest have been estimated in limited local studies. We sought provide a large-scale estimate of rearrest incidence and its effect on survival.
Load Balancing Hashing in Geographic Hash Tables

In this paper, we address the problem of balancing the network traffic load when the data generated in a wireless sensor network is stored on the sensor node themselves, and accessed through querying a geographic hash table. Existing approaches allow balancing network load by changing the georouting protocol used to forward queries in the geographic hash table. However, this comes at the expense of considerably complicating the routing process, which no longer occurs along (near) straight-line trajectories, but requires computing complex geometric transformations. In this paper, we demonstrate that it is possible to balance network traffic load in a geographic hash table without changing the underlying georouting protocol. Instead of changing the (near) straight-line georouting protocol used to send a query from the node issuing the query (the source) to the node managing the queried key (the destination), we propose to “reverse engineer” the hash function used to store data in the network, implementing a sort of “load-aware” assignment of key ranges to wireless sensor nodes. This innovative methodology is instantiated into two specific approaches: an analytical one, in which the destination density function yielding quasiperfect load balancing is analytically characterized under uniformity assumptions for what concerns location of nodes and query sources; and an iterative, heuristic approach that can be used whenever these uniformity assumptions are not fulfilled. In order to prove practicality of our load balancing methodology, we have performed extensive simulations resembling realistic wireless sensor network deployments showing the effectiveness of the two proposed approaches in considerably improving load balancing and extending network lifetime. Simulation results also show that our proposed technique achieves better load balancing than an existing approach based on modifying georouting.
Differential expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 in vitro corresponds to tissue morphogenesis and quality assurance of cultured skin substitutes.

Objective To determine if matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) was involved in the premature degradation of the dermal component in cultured skin substitutes (CSS) prepared with cells from burn patients. Methods and results CSS 645 and 647 were prepared from clinical human fibroblasts (HF) and keratinocytes (HK) that demonstrated premature degradation of collagen-glycosaminoglycan sponges in vitro. The control CSS were prepared from clinical HF and HK, CSS 648, and a pre-clinical cell strain, CSS 644 that did not degrade the sponges. Surface electrical capacitance measures surface hydration and was significantly higher for CSS 647 from days 9 through 14. MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]- diphenyltetrazolium bromide) conversion, an indicator of cellular viability was significantly lower for the 6-mm punch biopsies from CSS 645 and 647 at day 15 as compared to control CSS. MMP-1 protein levels measured by ELISA were significantly higher in medium from HF 645 and 647 than controls on the day of CSS inoculation. At day 14 of incubation, the mean MMP-1 concentration was significantly elevated in the medium from CSS 645 and 647 versus the controls, CSS 644 and 648. Western blots, and casein zymography demonstrated the presence of the latent and active forms of MMP-1 in the HF and CSS media, respectively. Conclusion MMP-1 was significantly higher in the media from two of the four HF strains and CSS after a 24 h incubation period. Elevated MMP-1 coincided with premature degradation of the dermal substitute in vitro , and reduced numbers of CSS that met quality assurance standards for clinical transplantation.
Attitudes Toward Suicide: Past, Present and Future

This article maintains that it is important to understand how any given society views the act of suicide. It traces the forces that have shaped attitudes toward suicide in the Western world, documenting the change from viewing suicide as a sin to viewing it as a mental health problem. It also discusses recent methods of assessing attitudes toward suicide, including both normed and non-normed approaches. Finally, it calls for new types of research in the area of attitudes toward suicide that will permit finer-grained analyses of this most complex human behavior.
Cyclooxygenase-2-mediated DNA Damage

Rat intestinal epithelial cells that express the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene permanently (RIES cells) were used as a model of in vivo oxidative stress. A targeted lipidomics approach showed that 15(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15(S)-HETE) was the major hydroxylated non-esterified lipid formed in unstimulated intact cells. The corresponding hydroperoxide, 15(S)-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15(S)-HPETE) undergoes homolytic decomposition to the DNA-reactive bifunctional electrophile 4-oxo-2(E)-nonenal, a precursor of heptanone-etheno-2'-deoxyguanosine. This etheno adduct was identified in the DNA of RIES cells. A dose-dependent increase in adduct levels was observed in the presence of vitamin C. This suggested that vitamin C increased lipid hydroperoxide-mediated 4-oxo-2(E)-nonenal formation in the cells. The selective COX-2 inhibitor NS-398 was protective against cellular DNA damage but was less effective if vitamin C was present. Prostaglandin E(2) and 15(S)-HETE biosynthesis were completely inhibited by 110 mum NS-398 in the intact RIES cells. No inhibition of COX-1 was detected in the wild-type RIE cells at this concentration of NS-398. Arachidonic acid treatment of RIES cell lysates and ionophore stimulation of intact RIES cells produced significantly more 15(R)-HETE than the untreated intact cells. These preparations also both produced 11(R)-HETE, which was not detected in the intact cells. Aspirin treatment of the intact unstimulated RIES cells resulted in the exclusive formation of 15(R)-HETE in amounts that were slightly higher than the original 15(S)-HETE observed in the absence of aspirin, implying that significant amounts of 15(R)-HPETE had also been formed. 15(R)-HPETE should give exactly the same amount of heptanone-etheno-2'-deoxyguanosine as its 15(S)-enantiomer. However, no increase in heptanone-etheno adduct formation occurred in the aspirin-treated cells. The present study suggests a potential mechanism of tumorigenesis that involves DNA adduct formation from COX-2-mediated lipid peroxidation rather than prostaglandin formation. Therefore, inhibition of COX-2-mediated lipid hydroperoxide formation offers a potential therapeutic alternative to COX-2 inhibitors in chemoprevention strategies.
Regulation of the NADPH-oxidase complex of phagocytic leukocytes. Recent insights from structural biology, molecular genetics, and microscopy

The NADPH-oxidase complex is a multisubunit enzyme complex that catalyzes the formation of superoxide (O2−) by phagocytic leukocytes. This paper reviews some of the major advances in understanding the assembly and regulation of this enzyme system that have occurred during the past decade. For example, novel domains/motifs have been identified in p47-phox (PX and super SH3 domains) and p67-phox (tetratricopeptide repeat motifs). X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy have provided detailed structural data on these domains and how p47-phox and p67-phox interact with p22-phox and activated Rac, respectively. Site-directed mutagenesis and knockout experiments have identified the critical phosphorylation sites in p47-phox, revealed an “activation domain” in p67-phox, and demonstrated that a specific pathway exists for activating Rac to participate in oxidase assembly/activation. Cytochemistry and immunofluorescence microscopy have provided new insights into the assembly of the oxidase and reveal a level of complexity not previously appreciated.
Ambient energy harvesting and self-sustainability for transportation infrastructure monitoring wireless sensor networks

Due to the fact that a significant cost of any bridge monitoring system lies in the cost of cabling and its installation, the application of wireless sensor networks is of great importance to the widespread use of bridge monitoring. However, limited power storage, which requires battery replacement, remains a major technical challenge that hinders the deployment of wireless sensor networks, despite the many advantages of using them for structure monitoring. Thus it is very attractive for wireless sensor nodes to be able to harvest energy from the ambient environment to provide power for the sensing, processing, and communications operations. In the paper, we studied the ambient energy harvesting problem of wireless sensors for bridge monitoring and how to achieve complete self-sustainability. The available energy resources were investigated for the bridge monitoring application. A wireless sensor system was implemented and test results on its energy consumption profiles were provided. With careful budgeting it is feasible to achieve complete self-sustainability for some applications with ambient energy harvesting.
Anomalous rectification of mammalian sympathetic ganglion cells.

Abstract The relationship of EPSP amplitude to membrane potential, and current to voltage, of cell membranes in the isolated superior cervical ganglion of the rabbit were determined with intracellular microelectrode techniques. When the ganglion cell membrane was hyperpolarized beyond −90 mv, the EPSP amplitude did not increase linearly with membrane potential. The current to voltage relationship of the membrane also deviated from linearity. There was a decrease in the slope resistance during a hyperpolarizing current (anomalous rectification). The anomalous rectification was unchanged by removal of extracellular sodium ions or removal of extracellular or intracelluar choride ions. It was abolished by barium or strontium ions (10 m m ). Calcium ions (10 m m ) decreased the anomalous rectification, but magnesium ions (10 m m ) were without effect. Tetraethylammonium blocked the delayed rectification, but had no effect on the anomalous rectification, even at isotonic concentrations. It was concluded that the anomalous rectification is due to an increase in the potassium conductance of the ganglion cell membrane. This increase in membrane conductance will explain the non-linearity between membrane potential and amplitude of EPSP.
Latency minimized probabilistic CSMA/CA

In this paper, we investigate and propose a latency minimized CSMA variation to enhance the performance of event-driven wireless ad hoc network applications. By first analyzing latency performance based on p-Persistence CSMA, we show that the optimal transmission probability for latency minimized p-Persistent CSMA (LMPP) in an event-driven scenario equals to the optimal transmission probability for throughput maximization in a saturated wireless local area network when the number of competing nodes is much larger than the number of messages a node intends to receive and the packet length is a lot longer than the slot time. The proposed Latency Minimized Probabilistic CSMA/CA (LaMP) is a multiple access scheme with constant contention window size built atop standard 802.11 CSMA/CA, to approach the performance of LMPP. To deal with the critical contender estimation problem in LaMP, we also propose an Exponentially Decreased Matching (EDeM) strategy to approximate the number of contenders. Simulation results show that the proposed method consistently outperforms existing methods in latency performance.
Molecular Glass Resists as High‐Resolution Patterning Materials

The success of the semiconductor industry is based on the ability to fabricate hundreds of millions of devices on a single chip. In order to fulfill the ever-shrinking feature sizes, the industry requires new patternable materials in order to operate in the sub-50nm regime. Molecular glass (MG) resists are a new type of patterning material that has gained considerable attention over the past few years. This Research News article describes the chemical and structural aspects of MGs as well as important concepts of MG resist design. We also highlight some of the recent advances in high-resolution patterning capabilities with next-generation imaging tools.
Optimization of disturbance rejection in systems with saturating actuators

An extension of the LQR/LQG methodology to systems with saturating actuators, referred to as SLQR/SLQG, is obtained. The development is based on the method of stochastic linearization. Using this method and the Lagrange multiplier technique, a solution to the SLQR/SLQG problem is derived. This solution is given by the standard Riccati equations coupled with two transcendental equations, which define the variance of the signal at the input of the saturation and the Lagrange multiplier associated with the quadratic performance index. It is shown that, under the standard stabilizability and detectability conditions, these equations have a unique solution, which can be found by a simple bisection algorithm. When the saturation is removed, these equations reduce to the standard LQR/LQG solution.
A Typology of Evolutionary Theories

A typology of evolutionary theories, derived from Steward's (1955) uni lincar, universal, and multilinear evolution, and from Sahlins' (1960) spe cific and general evolution, is developed in this article. Two attributes, the unit of analysis and the number of sequences, are found to be common to all five theories. The attributes are used to construct the typology. It is shown that unilinear and general evolution are the same theory, while universal, multilinear, and specific evolution are distinct theories.
Object localization using RFID

Object localization is a key primitive in pervasive computing environments, where numerous applications depend on the rapid and accurate position estimation of objects. We present a general RFID-based localization framework that reliably determines the positions of objects with unprecedented accuracy and speed. This is achieved by varying the power levels of the RFID readers, calibrated against reference tags of known sensitivity. Our implementation and experiments are able to localize objects to an accuracy of 15 cm within a few seconds, and this compares favorably with previous techniques. We also suggest several practical optimizations for further enhancing the speed and accuracy of the method.
Sources of Unity and Disunity in Sociology

In this essay I will present some ideas on the themes of unity and disunity in our field. It will be a sociological analysis of our own house, a kind of sociology of knowledge about sociology. I will not only consider internal features of the discipline but also will move out of doors and consider our institutional embeddedness in the academy, as well as in larger societal, political, and cultural environments. It is rare that sociologists use their own tools to analyze themselves, but it important and profitable to do so. I use the terms “unity” and “disunity” in the title. Neither term is very clear in its meaning. My subject is sufficiently complex, however, that a single term with a single referent will not do. By “unity” I mean commitment to a common culture and mission, a sense of solidarity, lack of conflict, and a generally positive attitude toward others in one’s social category (in this case, other sociologists). By “disunity” I mean the opposite of each of the factors making for unity.
The problem of evil and the Satan hypothesis

L'A. apporte la preuve de l'existence du mal. Il detaille le pouvoir de ce qu'il appelle l'hypothese de Satan. Il repond aux questions de Swinburne, d'Abraham. L'hypothese de Satan est une explication plausible de l'existence de nombreux maux, moral et naturel par exemple. La reponse de l'A. au probleme du mal est specifiquement chretienne et non pas neutre. Pour l'A., les non chretiens n'apportent pas de reponse satisfaisante au probleme du mal. A partir du moment ou le chretien fait l'experience d'un etre mauvais, il semble etre justifie dans sa croyance en l'existence d'une telle creature
InGaP/AlInGaP quantum well waveguide modulators for visible wavelengths

Recent advances in visible wavelength semiconductor lasers (<700 nm) [1] have spurred interest in modulators operating at these wavelengths. This wavelength range is of enormous interest in the areas of plastic fiber communications, displays and optical storage. Although multiple quantum well (MQW) waveguide modulators have been successfully demonstrated in the IR wavelength range [2], development of visible MQW modulators has been severely limited by material constraints [3]. II-VI materials, such as CdZnTe/ZnTe MQWs [4] and ZnSe/ZnSSe bulk layers [5] have been used to fabricate waveguide modulators at operating at 640 nm and 488 nm, respectively. In this letter, we report a first MQW GaInP/AlGaInP waveguide modulator. Use of this material system automatically assures compatibility and integrability with the most promising visible semiconductor lasers, which also consist of GaInP/AlGaInP layers. Integration of such modulators with compatible lasers could result in much faster switching than direct modulation of the active devices, as well as chirp free operation. Switching speeds of modulators are RC limited, because they rely on field effects for operation. These switching speed can be reduced by lowering device capacitance, which depends on the device size and can be made as small as technologically viable. In contrast, lasers rely on carrier injection and therefore their switching speeds are limited by carrier lifetimes. Furthermore, modulator switching requires far less power, since no current is drawn. These two considerations make integration attractive for plastic fiber communications and displays.
The Enhancer Landscape during Early Neocortical Development Reveals Patterns of Dense Regulation and Co-option

Genetic studies have identified a core set of transcription factors and target genes that control the development of the neocortex, the region of the human brain responsible for higher cognition. The specific regulatory interactions between these factors, many key upstream and downstream genes, and the enhancers that mediate all these interactions remain mostly uncharacterized. We perform p300 ChIP-seq to identify over 6,600 candidate enhancers active in the dorsal cerebral wall of embryonic day 14.5 (E14.5) mice. Over 95% of the peaks we measure are conserved to human. Eight of ten (80%) candidates tested using mouse transgenesis drive activity in restricted laminar patterns within the neocortex. GREAT based computational analysis reveals highly significant correlation with genes expressed at E14.5 in key areas for neocortex development, and allows the grouping of enhancers by known biological functions and pathways for further studies. We find that multiple genes are flanked by dozens of candidate enhancers each, including well-known key neocortical genes as well as suspected and novel genes. Nearly a quarter of our candidate enhancers are conserved well beyond mammals. Human and zebrafish regions orthologous to our candidate enhancers are shown to most often function in other aspects of central nervous system development. Finally, we find strong evidence that specific interspersed repeat families have contributed potentially key developmental enhancers via co-option. Our analysis expands the methodologies available for extracting the richness of information found in genome-wide functional maps.
Degradation of rat liver cytochromes P450 3A after their inactivation by 3,5-dicarbethoxy-2,6-dimethyl-4-ethyl-1,4-dihydropyridine: Characterization of the proteolytic system

Abstract The suicide substrate 3,5-dicarbethoxy-2,6-dimethyl-4-ethyl-1,4-dihydropyridine (DDEP) inactivates rat liver cytochrome P450 (P450) 3A isozymes through prosthetic heme alkylation of the apoprotein in a mechanism-based fashion, which marks them for rapid proteolysis. In this article, through the use of epitope-specific monoclonal antibodies, we show that both 3A1 and 3A2 isozymes are targeted for proteolysis. Furthermore, using intact rats, isolated rat hepatocytes, and rat liver subcellular fractions supplemented with ATP and MgCl 2 , as well as various proteolytic inhibitors as probes, we now report that the hepatic cytosolic ubiquitin-dependent proteolytic system rather than hepatic lysosomes is involved in the rapid degradation of DDEP-induced heme alkylated P450s 3A.
A proof of topological completeness for S4 in (0, 1)

Abstract The completeness of the modal logic S 4 for all topological spaces as well as for the real line R , the n -dimensional Euclidean space R n and the segment (0, 1) etc. (with □ interpreted as interior) was proved by McKinsey and Tarski in 1944. Several simplified proofs contain gaps. A new proof presented here combines the ideas published later by G. Mints and M. Aiello, J. van Benthem, G. Bezhanishvili with a further simplification. The proof strategy is to embed a finite rooted Kripke structure K for S 4 into a subspace of the Cantor space which in turn encodes (0, 1). This provides an open and continuous map from (0, 1) onto the topological space corresponding to K . The completeness follows as S4 is complete with respect to the class of all finite rooted Kripke structures.
Efforts to Address Bullying in U.S. Schools

Abstract Bullying among children and youth has received considerable recent attention by educators, policy makers, health and mental health professionals, the media, and the general public. Recent legislation pertaining to bullying is reviewed, and current school-based bullying prevention and intervention strategies are described and critiqued. A number of common misdirections in efforts to address bullying are presented. Research to date suggests that comprehensive bullying prevention efforts, which involve the entire school community, hold the most promise for changing the norms for behavior and ultimately the prevalence of bullying in schools.
Closed-Form Solutions for Perpetual American Put Options with Regime Switching

This paper studies an optimal stopping time problem for pricing perpetual American put options in a regime switching model. An explicit optimal stopping rule and the corresponding value function in a closed form are obtained using the ``modified smooth fit' technique. The solution is then compared with the numerical results obtained via a dynamic programming approach and also with a two-point boundary-value differential equation (TPBVDE) method.
Patient and doctor attitudes and beliefs concerning perioperative do not resuscitate orders: anesthesiologists’ growing compliance with patient autonomy and self determination guidelines

Background: In 1993, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) published guidelines stating that automatic perioperative suspension of Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders conflicts with patients’ rights to self-determination. Almost 20 years later, we aimed to explore both patient and doctor views concerning perioperative DNR status. Methods: Five-hundred consecutive patients visiting our preoperative evaluation clinic were surveyed and asked whether they had made decisions regarding resuscitation and to rate their agreement with several statements concerning perioperative resuscitation. Anesthesiologists, surgeons and internists at our tertiary referral institution were also surveyed. They were asked to assess their likelihood of following a hypothetical patient’s DNR status and to rate their level of agreement with a series of non-scenario related statements concerning ethical and practical aspects of perioperative resuscitation. Results: Over half of patients (57%) agreed that pre-existing DNR requests should be suspended while undergoing a surgical procedure under anesthesia, but 92% believed a discussion between the doctor and patient regarding perioperative resuscitation plans should still occur. Thirty percent of doctors completing the survey believed that DNR orders should automatically be suspended intraoperatively. Anesthesiologists (18%) were significantly less likely to suspend DNR orders than surgeons (38%) or internists (34%) (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Although many patients agree that their DNR orders should be suspended for their operation, they expect a discussion regarding the performance and nature of perioperative resuscitation. In contrast to previous studies, anesthesiologists were least likely to automatically suspend a DNR order.
Synthesis and reactions of organometallic complexes of 2,3-dihydrothiophene and dithiocarbenes

Reaction of HPtfacetonejfPEtgjg* with 2,3-DHT results in the formation of the sulfur-coordinated 2,3-DHT compound I. Subsequent rearrangement by slow insertion of the 2,3-DHT olefin into the Pt-H bond gives II, which was characterized by an X-ray diffraction study. Compound