cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of thyroid hormones on neuronal death and differentiation in larval Rana pipiens.

The present experiments demonstrate that thyroid hormone mediates neuronal death as well as differentiation. Hypophysectomized Rana pipiens larvae exposed to high titres of hormone (50 μg/l) rapidly undergo metamorphosis. In the lateral motor column (LMC) approximately two-thirds of the motor neurons degenerate in response to hormonal treatment. At high hormone levels, degenerating cells exhibit little acid hydrolase activity, whereas at lower doses (≤10 μg/l) many secondary lysosomes are apparent in dying neurons. In both instances, phagocytic microglia apparently remove neuronal debris by heterophagocytosis. Although the majority of the cells die, others differentiate into biopolar neurons following the administration of hormone. These cells display vivid deposits of acetylcholinesterase reaction product in putative Nissl bodies. The role of thyroid hormone (or hormones) in simultaneously regulating neuronal death and differentiation is discussed in light of our current knowledge on the significance of hormones to neural maturation.
Facing Off: Comparing an In-Person Library Orientation Lecture with an Asynchronous Online Library Orientation

A study to compare the effectiveness of an in-person library orientation with an online asynchronous orientation was conducted with three sections of Social Work Research Methods, a required course in the University of Iowa's Master of Social Work program. Two sections of the course received an online orientation involving short videos, text and links to resources that they could complete at their convenience. One section of the class received a 50-minute live lecture covering the same information by the liaison librarian for Social Work. Each section also took part in a live question and answer session with the librarian in a computer lab. Each student was asked to take an anonymous pre-test before the orientation and an anonymous post-test after their lab session. Findings from this study will be used to tailor library instruction for future Social Work Research Methods classes.
The Kaspar wire-forming machine: an application of physical simulation to the disign and implementation of an automated process control system

Abstract This paper presents and discusses a direct application of physical simulation modeling to a joint development effort between Kaspar Wire Works, Inc. and the Industrial Automation Laboratory in the Industrial Engineering Department at Texas A&M University. Physical simulation is the study of complex automated manufacturing and material handling systems through the use of mini- and microcomputers using full-sized software. By modeling the mechanical portions of the wire forming machine designed by Kaspar, the Industrial Automation Laboratory was able to develop the process control system as a parallel effort, thus saving time and expense. Paralleling the mechanical and control development resulting in early identification and prompt resolution of problem areas and design deficiencies. User-friendliness of the operator/system software interface was greatly enhanced due to an extended test and evaluation period provided by the operational model. This paper encompasses a brief explanation of physical simulation, addresses the development of the process control system and physical model in detail, and summarizes the benefits of this technology to the implementation of automated industrial control systems.
Comparison of mortality risk associated with bacteremia due to methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus.

Objective. To quantify the clinical impact of methicillin‐resistance in Staphylococcus aureus causing infection complicated by bacteremia in adult patients, while controlling for the severity of patients’ underlying illnesses. Design. Retrospective cohort study from October 1, 1995, through December 31, 2003. Patients and Setting. A total of 438 patients with S. aureus infection complicated by bacteremia from a single Veterans Affairs healthcare system. Results. We found that 193 (44%) of the 438 patients had methicillin‐resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infection and 114 (26%) died of causes attributable to S. aureus infection within 90 days after the infection was identified. Patients with MRSA infection had a higher mortality risk, compared with patients with methicillin‐susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) infections (relative risk, 1.7 [95% confidence interval, 1.3‐2.4]; \documentclass{aastex} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{bm} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{pifont} \u...
Plant microRNAs: An insight into their gene structures and evolution

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are 21-23 nucleotide (nt) non-coding RNAs that play a key role in regulating the expression of protein-coding genes at post-transcriptional levels in plants and animals. MiRNA genes, which serve as genetic buffers and regulators, are primarily located in the intergenic regions of the plant genome. The similar structure of a miRNA promoter to that of a protein-coding gene signifies the likely origin of miRNA genes from the latter. Imperfect "inverted repeats", the hallmark of miRNA genes that defines the asymmetry of the "stem-loop" region of the miRNA precursors (pre-miRNAs), reflect the evolution of miRNA genes from the inverted duplication of their target genes over a long period of time. The deep conservation of most miRNAs and the presence of some of the non-conserved, species-specific miRNAs among various plant species demonstrate a continuous, but frequently an uneven evolutionary process of miRNA genes. Thus, duplication, inversion, mutation, amplification, and other types of genetic drift from protein-coding genes might be the primary events in the genesis and evolution of the miRNA genes. Subsequent co-evolution of the miRNA genes and their target genes ensures the maintenance and the fine-tuning nature of a dynamic gene regulatory network governed by miRNAs in plants.
Single-port laparoscopic abdominal sacral colpopexy: initial experience and comparative outcomes.

Objectives To determine the efficacy and safety of single-port laparoscopic abdominal sacral colpopexy (ASC) for the treatment of female pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Methods A retrospective cohort study was performed to assess perioperative outcomes among women who were treated for symptomatic POP with laparoscopic, robotic, or single-port laparoscopic ASC. All patients underwent preoperative history and physical examination including POP quantification (POP-Q) staging and urodynamics. ASC with or without anti-incontinence surgery was performed via the aforementioned approaches. Demographic and perioperative data were obtained. Patients were followed up postoperatively at 3 and 6 months with POP-Q evaluation. Statistical analysis was performed. Results From October 2005 to July 2008, 30 female patients with symptomatic Stage II (6 patients), Stage III (23 patients), or Stage IV (1 patient) POP were treated with laparoscopic (10), robotic (10), or single-port laparoscopic (10) ASC. Mean age of the entire cohort was 61.1 years. Mean body mass index was 26.7 kg/m2. Seventeen patients demonstrated stress urinary incontinence and underwent concomitant sling placement. No intraoperative complications were encountered. No significant difference was noted in the 3 cohorts with respect to operative time, blood loss, mean visual analog pain score at discharge, or duration of hospitalization. At 6 months following surgery, 27 patients underwent follow-up POP-Q, with all patients demonstrating excellent apical support and prolapse reduction. Conclusions Single-port laparoscopic ASC offers comparable efficacy and superior cosmesis compared to alternative approaches. Long-term follow-up is needed to confirm durability of repair.
Sleuthing Central American Identity and History in the New Latino South: Marcos McPeek Villatoro's Home Killings

Working within the parameters of the detective genre, Marcos McPeek Villatoro's Home Killlings provides a unique portrait of Latino immigration and integration in the US South. The representation of lead detective Romilia Chacon as a Latina southerner with Salvadoran roots coupled with the incorporation of Central American history calls attention to Central American immigration and identity construction in a “peripheral” region of the United States. Moreover, by engaging with the Central American experience, McPeek Villatoro's novel makes “visible” this segment of the population that has been marginalized within the broader US Latino imaginary.
Conceptual modeling from natural language functional specifications

Abstract In this paper we describe a structured method for developing a conceptual data model by starting from a functional model expressed in a natural language. We have used the Conceptual Dependency theory for mapping natural language descriptions to conceptual dependency diagrams. We have developed algorithms to convert these conceptual dependency diagrams into unit conceptual dependency tables, which are then merged to represent the whole context of the application. We also show how transactional requirements can be incorporated into the unit conceptual dependency table, and subsequently convert the unit conceptual dependency table into a corresponding conceptual model. We have developed an augmented transition network (ATN) parser to develop conceptual dependency diagrams from natural language descriptions. A prototype system has been implemented using Oracle8i and developer platforms.
Conduction block produced by acetylcholine in cetyltrimethylammonium-treated frog nerves.

Abstract After pretreatment with the synthetic cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethyl-ammonium bromide, frog sciatic nerves were found to be very susceptible to axonal conduction block by externally applied acetylcholine, as evidenced by depression of the amplitude of the A-potential; the block was completely reversible at 0.02 M; at 0.1 M, acetylcholine block was largely though not completely reversible. Comparison with glucose and sucrose controls demonstrated that the reduction of the A-potential was not a response that could be attributed to a deficiency of sodium in the external medium; conduction block was clearly due to acetylcholine. The massive concentration of acetylcholine required to effect conduction block—together with the observations that comparable block was achieved with choline, tri- and tetra-methylammonium, and dimethylaminoethyl acetate—suggest that the effect of acetylcholine may have been nonspecific. The possibility, however, of an acetylcholine specificity cannot be ruled out, for the surfactant pretreatment may have subtly altered the normal physicochemical properties of the axonal membranes, and any previously existing specificity was modified. Furthermore, it appeared that neostigmine and eserine potentiated the depression of the A-potential by acetylcholine, suggesting that lesser external concentrations might achieve conduction block if acetylcholine were not so rapidly hydrolyzed.
Brain Injury After Cardiopulmonary Arrest and Its Assessment With Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging

OBJECTIVE To characterize the frequency and pattern of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) abnormalities detected as part of brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and their association with short-term neurologic outcomes in patients successfully resuscitated after cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA). PATIENTS AND METHODS We retrospectively analyzed a case series of patients who experienced CPA between May 1, 2000, and April 29, 2004, at St Luke's Hospital in Jacksonville, Fla. Eligible patients required treatment by the Code Blue team and had 1 DWI study before discharge or death. Two neuroradiologists jointly classified DWI abnormalities by anatomic location. Outcome was measured by Cerebral Performance Category score. RESULTS Resuscitation was performed 628 times during the 48-month study period. Of 514 CPA survivors, 18 (3.5%) had MRI studies. The median age was 62 years (interquartile range [IQR], 49-73), and 10 were men. Median code duration was 16 minutes (IQR, 11-19 minutes), and median code-to-scan time was 72 hours (IQR, 28-229 hours). A DWI abnormality was noted in 9 (50%) of 18 patients. Cortical areas (global and regional) were the most common sites of restricted diffusion. Diffusion-weighted imaging abnormalities were present in 7 (70%) of 10 patients with a poor neurologic outcome at discharge. CONCLUSION Magnetic resonance imaging is performed rarely after survival of CPA. In this study with limited sample size, a greater proportion of patients with normal DWI findings had a good neurologic outcome at the time of hospital discharge vs those with abnormal findings. Prospective studies of early and serial MRI (with DWI) are needed to confirm this association and to clarify the prognostic usefulness of such studies.
Mitochondrial function and reactive oxygen species action in relation to boar motility.

Flow cytometric assays of viable boar sperm were developed to measure reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation (oxidization of hydroethidine to ethidium), membrane lipid peroxidation (oxidation of lipophilic probe C(11)-BODIPY(581/591)), and mitochondrial inner transmembrane potential (DeltaPsi(m); aggregation of mitochondrial probe JC-1) during hypothermic liquid storage and freeze-thawing of boar semen and to investigate relationships among ROS, motility, DeltaPsi(m), and ATP production. Basal ROS formation and membrane lipid peroxidation were low in viable sperm of both fresh and frozen-thawed semen, affecting 0.05) until 120min. In contrast, H(2)O(2) did not affect DeltaPsi(m) or ATP at any time. The formation of ROS was not associated with any change in viability (90%) for either menadione or H(2)O(2) through 120min. Overall, the inhibitory affects of ROS on motility point to a mitochondrial-independent mechanism. The reduction in motility may have been due to an ROS-induced lesion in ATP utilization or in the contractile apparatus of the flagellum.
Fibrin glue for anal fistulas: Sentovich SM, Fibrin glue for anal fistulas: long-term results, Dis Colon Rectum 2003;46:498–502☆

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term success and complication rate of fibrin-glue treatment of anal fistulas. Patients with an anal fistula presenting to a single surgeon over a 3-yr period were enrolled in this study. At their first operation, all 48 patients (26–72 yr old) underwent anoscopy, biopsy, destruction of the internal gland, and placement of a draining seton. Approximately 2 months later, after preoperative bowel preparation, the seton was removed, the internal opening closed with a single suture, and fibrin glue instilled by way of the external opening to seal the fistula tract. Patients were followed closely to document the results of treatment and any complications. Long-term follow-up was done by telephone interview. Cause of the anal fistula was cryptoglandular in 36 patients (75%), Crohn's disease in 5 (10%), and miscellaneous in 7 (15%). Median follow-up was 22 months (range, 6–46). After a single treatment with fibrin glue, 29 fistulas (60%) closed. Retreatment with fibrin glue brought the successful number of fistula tracts closed to 33 (69%). The 15 patients (29%) who failed either one or two treatments with fibrin glue were successfully treated with either fistulotomy or advancement flap. Bowel function and fecal incontinence were not altered by the fibrin-glue treatment. In one patient who failed fibrin glue, the fibrin-glue treatment might have created a more complicated fistula tract. Late recurrences (>6 months) occurred in three patients (6%), two of whom were successfully retreated with fibrin glue. Fibrin-glue treatment of anal fistulas is successful in up to 69% of patients if initial failures are retreated. This sphincter-saving technique is associated with minimal complications and no functional detriment. Late recurrences are unusual.
NMR characteristics of “visible” intracellular myocardial potassium in perfused rat hearts

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy provides a unique view of ions through its noninvasive character and relaxation time measurements. Several previous studies have demonstrated that only approximately 20% of cardiac intracellular potassium is visible with current NMR techniques. This study investigates the NMR visible intracellular potassium in a perfused rat heart preparation. When shift reagents were used to separate the intra- and extracellular signals, an intracellular T1 of 11.8 +/- 0.6 ms, and an intracellular T2 with two time constants of 1.3 +/- 0.6 ms (33 +/- 8%) and 10.1 +/- 1.9 ms (67 +/- 4%) were measured. Curve stripping techniques used to separate the intra- and extracellular components of a bulk relaxation decay yielded an intracellular T1 of 8.4 +/- 0.3 ms and an intracellular T2 with two time constants of 1.1 +/- 0.6 ms (38 +/- 10%) and 8.0 +/- 1.6 ms (62 +/- 12%). These results demonstrate that there are at least two distinct pools of potassium within the cardiac cell in slow exchange with each other on the NMR time scale. Studies with an enriched 41K perfusate demonstrated that the exchange rate for the visible intra- and extracellular potassium is on the order of 15 min.
From playful exhibits to LOM: lessons from building an exploratorium digital library

The Exploratorium, an interactive hand-on science museum, is developing an online collection of science learning and teaching resources to better serve educators' needs for pedagogically-rich instructional resources via the Web. Several challenges arise when designing a digital library for formal K12 education audiences using the Learning Object Metadata standard. These problems are multiplied when attempting to catalog the wide variety of informal learning digital resources from the Exploratorium's ever growing website and exhibit-based resource collections. This paper shares key challenges and early solutions for the creation of an educational metadata scheme, new vocabularies, and strategies for retrofitting existing informal learning science resources into learning objects.
Prediction of minimum fluidization velocity for binary mixtures of biomass and inert particles

Abstract Fluidization of biomass particles is an important process in the gasification, pyrolysis and combustion of biomass for the extraction of energy. In this study, experiments were carried out in a 14.5 cm internal diameter cold flow fluidization bed to determine the minimum fluidization velocities with air as fluidizing medium. Studies on the fluidization of biomass particles (corn cobs and walnut shells), inert particles (sand, glass beads, and alumina), and biomass and sand mixtures were performed. Various weight percentages of biomass particles in the biomass and sand mixture were chosen in the range of 0–100%. On the of basis of experimental data from both present work and those found in the literature, new correlations were developed to predict the minimum fluidization velocity for inert particles, biomass particles, and biomass and sand mixtures in terms of biomass weight percentage. It was found that our results for the inert particles and biomass particles are in good agreements with those found in the literature. It was further found that the minimum fluidization velocity based Reynolds number for the mixture of biomass and inert particles depends on the weight percentage of biomass particles other than the Archimedes number. Based on our experiment results, we proposed a new correlation which includes the weight percentage as an additional variable for the mixture of biomass and sand particles. This new correlation can also be applied to inert particles or biomass particles by setting the weight percentage to be 0 or 100% accordingly.
Linear local data fusion for sequential test

This paper studies local data fusion for sequential detection. Let a sensor network monitor a Gaussian phenomenon in Gaussian background noise, and let the observation of each sensor be a vector r. In order to reduce the communication burden, each sensor reports a linearly fused scalar x=wT r instead of the raw data r to a processing center, which executes sequential detection. The aim of this paper is how to design the fusion vector w so as to minimize the average expected sample size (AESS) of the detector. Two typically hypothetical cases — equal variance and equal mean — are analyzed, and their optimal fusion vectors are derived.
Lessons learned from the ONTARGET and TRANSCEND trials.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounts for one of every three deaths in the United States. In recent years, a greater understanding of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system’s (RAAS) contribution to CVD, particularly in the area of blood pressure regulation, has emerged. Thus, interrupting or blocking the RAAS has become a key component in the treatment of hypertension and other cardiovascular conditions. The role of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers in reducing CVD in high-risk populations has been demonstrated by two recently completed major trials: the Ongoing Telmisartan Alone and in Combination with Ramipril Global endpoint Trial (ONTARGET) and the Telmisartan Randomized Assessment Study in ACE-Intolerant Subjects with Cardiovascular Disease (TRANSCEND). This article describes these key studies and their outcomes and identifies critical issues that they raise for clinical practice in terms of choosing the most effective therapy for patients with existing CVD.
Controls on tungsten concentrations in groundwater flow systems: The role of adsorption, aquifer sediment Fe(III) oxide/oxyhydroxide content, and thiotungstate formation

Abstract Groundwater samples were collected along flow paths within the Carrizo Sand aquifer (southeastern Texas) and the Aquia aquifer (coastal Maryland) for analysis of dissolved tungsten (W) concentrations, along with the major solutes, pH, and measures of in situ redox conditions [e.g., dissolved Fe(II), Fe(III), and S(-II) concentrations]. In addition, sediment samples were collected from both aquifers to evaluate the solid-phase speciation of W. Tungsten concentrations in the Carrizo Sand aquifer range from 3.64 to 1297 pmol kg− 1 (mean ± SD = 248 ± 440 pmol kg− 1), with the lowest concentrations reported from the recharge area. Tungsten concentrations progressively increase down gradient along the flow path within Carrizo Sand aquifer groundwaters, reaching the highest levels in sulfidic groundwater roughly 50–60 km from the recharge zone. Tungsten is strongly correlated with pH and dissolved sulfide [i.e., S(-II)] concentrations in Carrizo groundwaters (r = 0.78 and 0.95, respectively). In Aquia aquifer groundwaters W concentrations range between 14.3 and 184.4 pmol kg− 1 (mean ± SD = 63.9 ± 59 pmol kg− 1), and exhibit no, or at best, weak relationships with other geochemical parameters measured along the flow path (e.g., r = 0.4 and 0.08 for W vs. pH and S(-II), respectively). The data suggest that the increase in W concentrations in Carrizo groundwaters reflects, in part, pH-related adsorption/desorption, which has been shown to be substantial for groundwaters and lake waters with pH > 8. Owing to the similar chemical properties of W and Mo, which form thiomolybdates in sulfidic waters, the formation of thiotungstate complexes may also be important in the sulfidic waters of the Carrizo aquifer. The substantially lower W concentrations in Aquia aquifer groundwaters reflect the fact that the maximum groundwater pH never exceeds 8.4 (mean ± SD pH = 7.97 ± 0.23), dissolved low S(-II) concentrations remain low (mean ± SD S(-II) = 0.29 ± 0.16 μmol kg− 1), and that Aquia aquifer sediments have substantially higher Fe(III) oxide/oxyhydroxide contents compared to the Carrizo Sand aquifer. Our data indicate that pH-related adsorption/desorption reactions and the Fe(III) oxide/oxyhydroxide content of aquifer sediments are key controls affecting W concentrations in oxic, suboxic, and anoxic groundwaters, and, further, that the formation of thiotungstate species may also be important in some anoxic (i.e., sulfidic) waters.
Left ventricular or biventricular pacing improves cardiac function at diminished energy cost in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and left bundle-branch block

Background—Left ventricular or biventricular pacing/stimulation can acutely improve systolic function in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and intraventricular conduction delay by resynchronizing contraction. Most heart failure therapies directly enhancing systolic function do so while concomitantly increasing myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2). We hypothesized that pacing/stimulation, in contrast, incurs systolic benefits without raising energy demand. Methods and Results—Ten DCM patients with left bundle-branch block (ejection fraction 20±3%, QRS duration179±3 ms, mean±SEM) underwent cardiac catheterization to measure ventricular and aortic pressure, coronary blood flow, arterial–coronary sinus oxygen difference (ΔAVO2), and MVO2. Data were measured under sinus rhythm or with left ventricular or biventricular pacing/stimulation at the same heart rate. These results were then contrasted to intravenous dobutamine (n=7) titrated to match systolic changes during LV pacing. Systolic function rose...
Casarett & Doull’s Toxicology: The Basic Science of Poisons, 6th ed.

Several good books exist in many fields. However, there is in each case only one book that becomes the seminal volume that represents all the key issues. Casarett & Doull’s Toxicology has become th...
Post-9/11 U.S. Foreign Aid, the Millennium Challenge Account, and Africa: How Many Birds Can One Stone Kill?

President George Bush presented one of his major post-9/11 foreign-aid initiatives—the Millennium Challenge Account—as a tool for counteracting global poverty and international terrorism. The policy is based on the view that poverty and terrorism are linked, and therefore alleviating poverty will help combat terrorism. The design and the implementation of the program, however, suggest that the U.S. government may have other intentions for the MCA, including overhauling the foreign-aid regime. This paper discusses the MCA's effectiveness in addressing poverty and terrorism by highlighting the relationships between them. It discusses the other roles of the MCA and explores the implications of the policy for alleviating poverty in Africa.
A quadratically-convergent fixed-point algorithm for economic equilibria and linearly constrained optimization

Fixed-point algorithms for computing equilibria in economies with production or stationary points in constrained optimization generally use point-to-set mappings and therefore converge slowly. An alternative implementation uses continuous functions with a higher dimensionality corresponding to the inclusion of activity levels or dual variables. Here we develop algorithms that only increase the dimensionality implicitly. The solution path is piecewise-linear as in other algorithms. However, when viewed in the low-dimensional space, the path within each simplex can be piecewise-linear rather than linear. Asymptotically, these paths are linear and quadratic convergence is attained.
The Structure of Vertebrate Myosin-I Reveals New Insights into Mechanochemical Tuning of Myosins

Myosins are actin based motors that are mechanically and kinetically tuned to function in a myriad of cellular processes. The myosin-I family member Myosin-IB (Myo1b) has very slow kinetics and a force sensitivity that is greater than any other characterized myosin, enabling it to function as a tension-sensing anchor. Because there have been no high-resolution structures of myosins that act as tension-sensitive anchors, we determined the 2.3-A resolution structure of the motor domain and first IQ-motif of Myo1b with bound calmodulin in the absence of nucleotide. The structure reveals several striking features not yet seen in other myosins, including a unique positioning of the light chain binding domain (LCBD) and converter region. This unique conformation results in a cavity that sandwiches the N-terminal region (NTR) of the heavy-chain between the motor domain and LCBD. Single molecule and ensemble biochemical analyses show that the NTR plays an important role in stabilizing the post-power stroke conformation of Myo1b and in tuning the rate of the force-sensitive transitions that limit actin detachment. The sequence of the NTR is highly variable within the myosin-I family, so we propose that together with unique LCBD and converter conformations, the NTR plays a role in tuning the mechanochemical properties of the motor.
A model of quality changes in higher education

Abstract A model of quality changes in higher education is constructed. Quality is an increasing function of resources and resources an increasing function of quality. The first relation is non-linear having the typical production function S -shape with marginal quality first increasing then falling as resources increase. Stable equilibria may exist at either high or low quality levels. Changes in the amount of resources available at any quality level may cause an equilibrium to become unstable. The unit may then move quite speedily to a markedly higher or lower quality level.
Re-covered: Wangechi Mutu, Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle, and the postcolonial potentiality of black women in colonial(ist) photographs

By pasting on, cutting into and drawing over images of bodies, artists Wangechi Mutu and Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle re-cover colonialist photographs to recover postcolonial black female subjectivities. In her project, The Uninvited, ongoing since 2009, Hinkle has literally and conceptually drawn upon colonial-era postcards that feature photographs of nude West African girls and women, while Mutu has strategically combined images of black African and black American women from ethnographic and pornographic magazines to create her Ark Collection (2006). In the artists’ hands, the black female body is no longer shot, captured, framed or otherwise subjected to the camera. The narrative force and assumed veracity of photography is denied by ambiguous re-presentations of the multifaceted, processual nature of both art and the self. Moreover, rather than merely suggest the subjugation and fragmentation of black women, the works represent the postcolonial potentiality of transformation and agency.
An ode to the atomic weights.

They might not be fundamental constants of nature, but atomic weights are one of the foundations on which modern chemistry is built, explains Juris Meija.
A group contribution equation of state for polymer solutions

Abstract A new group contribution lattice-fluid (GCLF) equation of state has been developed for polymers and polymer solutions. The lattice fluid theory of Panayiotou and Vera has been revised to include group contributions for solvent and polymer molecules. A lattice model containing holes is a convenient means of representing a polymer solution. The holes in the lattice serve as a means of varying the density of the fluid and are analogous to the free volume in generalized van der Waals models. An external degree of freedom parameter, the “C” parameter is not required. The GCLF equation of state reduces to forms similar to well established models for polymer solutions such as the Flory-Huggins equation. The group contributions for the model were calculated from the saturated liquid density and vapor pressures of small molecules. These group contributions are able to predict liquid densities, vapor pressures and VLE of small molecular systems with reasonable accuracy. The extension of the GCLF model to polymer solutions requires no pure component data and only one binary parameter.
Wealth and Social Responsibility: Philanthropy and Social Service Giving in Southern Maine and Southern New Hampshire

This article examines the social service giving and voluntary participation of a sample of wealthy philanthropists in southern Maine and southern New Hampshire. It reports on the findings of a qualitative study that suggests that, in this understudied population, there is a group of wealthy philanthropists who donate their largest gifts to social service organizations and are engaged in hands-on volunteer activities. They seek to interact collaboratively with these organizations in attempts to participate in their communities and give back to society. Although the findings are not necessarily generalizable to the national population of wealthy philanthropists, they suggest a trend that may be important to the funding and service delivery of social service organizations in the current political and economic climate.
The Forgotten Hysteria Over Malpractice

This article explores the origins of the medical “malpractice crisis,” and describes the basic social, economic, and political transformations that led to its emergence and the reasons for its rise. An understanding of these dynamics explains the gap in awareness about what the doctor/patient relationship is and what it should be, and its correlation to the upsurge in medical malpractice lawsuits and patient safety programs. The author recommends managing for and conserving the doctor/patient relationship as the key priority to be tackled in order to put an end to the “crisis” and prevent circumstances that further encourage it.
Studies on migration inhibitory factor (MIF): Recovery of MIF activity after purification by gel filtration and disc electrophoresis☆

Abstract Migration inhibitory factor (MIF) obtained from sensitized guinea pig lymph node lymphocytes stimulated by specific antigen ( o -chlorobenzoylbovine gamma globulin) in the absence of serum was characterized by Sephadex G-100 gel filtration, sucrose gradient centrifugation, and disc electrophoresis. Peak MIF activity was found after Sephadex gel filtration or sucrose gradient centrifugation in fractions containing molecules slightly smaller than albumin, indicating a molecular weight range of 35–55,000. No MIF activity was found in fractions containing molecules the size of immunoglobulins or in the fractions containing small molecular substances, such as lysozyme. A method was developed for preparing acrylamide gels from which material could be eluted which is nontoxic to cells in culture. When MIF-rich Sephadex fractions were further fractionated by disc electrophoresis at pH 9.1, peak MIF activity was consistently eluted from the fraction containing molecules migrating anodally to albumin. The three procedures employed demonstrated that MIF activity could be separated from albumin on the basis of size and charge.
A survey of trigonelline concentrations in dry seeds of the dicotyledoneae

Abstract Ungerminated seeds of representatives of 21 of 24 superorders of the Dicotyledoneae were examined by high-pressure liquid chromatography for amounts of trigonelline (TRG), to determine if phylogenetic relationships are reflected in the relative amounts of TRG. With the exception of the Fabiflorae, the levels of TRG were quite variable within several superorders, whereas other superorders such as the Violiflorae, Primuliflorae, Rosiflorae, Rutiflorae, Araliiflorae and Gentianiflorae showed values that were consistently low. Overall, the amount of TRG present was relatively low in all of the superorders when compared with the relatively high TRG values of the Fabiflorae, the legumes. Many legumes have been shown to respond to TRG by predominant cell arrest in G2 and these possessed high concentrations of TRG. However, there are many non-legume nitrogen fixors, as well as several legumes that do not have significant TRG concentrations. From the above it appears that the concentrations of TRG in dry seeds are not well correlated with nitrogen fixation.
Evaluation of Al(Nd)-alloy films for application to thin-film-transistor liquid crystal displays

Higher-resolution, larger-diagonal active-matrix liquid crystal displays (AMLCDs) will require the use of low-resistivity gate metal such as aluminum transition-metal alloys. Al(Nd ≥ 3 wt.%) alloy films are adequate for AMLCD fabrication because of their low resistivity and their tendency not to form hillocks during thermal processing. The use of both optical light scattering and nanoindentation for the rapid evaluation of hillock formation has been demonstrated, along with the use of ramped resistance measurements for observing the process of discontinuous precipitation (the combination of Al grain growth and Al-Nd compound precipitation). Al(Nd) films were further characterized by TEM and AFM to confirm the effect of their finely dispersed Al-Nd compound precipitates on decreased grain size and decreased hillock formation.
Can expanded exploration lower oil prices

Abstract We suggest that the oil-exporting nations can be divided into two main groups: “profit maximizers” who require their oil revenues for domestic development and “optional producers” who can forego export revenues for considerable periods. A substantial part of the cartel's market power derives from the ability of the optional producers to withstand loss of income. The consuming nations have no equivalent ability to withstand supply cuts. If all oil exports were supplied by profit maximizers, it is likely that supply security would be greater and prices lower. Profit maximizers do not have as much market power because their need for revenues is symmetrical with the consuming nations' need for oil. Consequently, it appears to be in the consuming nations' interests to restructure the oil trade so that profit maximizers account for a larger share and optional producers a lesser share. To accomplish this, additional supplies of oil must be found. Recent experience suggests that the best oil targets are not in the consuming countries, but, rather, in Third World countries. There is some question about whether or not these resources will be developed. Oil companies, the traditional explorers, may be reluctant to accept the financial risks. If after careful examination it is concluded that exploration will remain underfunded, it may be in the consuming nations' interests to sponsor exploration abroad. Greater supply security will follow from diversification of supplies; lower prices will follow from augmented production confronting inelastic demand.
The Interaction of Multiple Time Scales in the Tropical Climate System

Abstract The spatial distribution and evolution of variability of near-global SST and SLP data in the quasi-biennial (QB) and 3–7 year low-frequency (LF) period bands are investigated and described. The largest signals in both bands are in the tropics. The near-equatorial characteristics of the QB in the SLP field are those of a quasi-progressive wave while the LF variation in the same field is closer to the standing wave. Both bands show the traditional Southern Oscillation pattern. The SST variability in both bands is essentially that of El Nino. It is shown that ENSO is partially due to a nonlinear interaction between the two frequency bands. Both bands appear important to the ENSO cycle. The current work could not establish conclusively that if either was the fundamental mode, although there is weak evidence favoring the QB mode. The QB signal described here is essentially the ENSO signal and does not seem to be simply related to the stratospheric QBO. Calculations suggest the tropospheric QB describe...
Initial swim bladder inflation in the larvae of Tilapia mossambica (Peters) and Morone saxatilis (Walbaum)

Abstract Tilapia and striped bass larvae inflate their swim bladders on the 7th–9th and 5th–7th days after hatching, respectively. The primordial bladder of Tilapia has no pneumatic duct and larvae do not gulp atmospheric gas for the initial swim bladder inflation. Prominent columnar epithelium is characteristics of the bladder of Tilapia prior to inflation. Hypoxic conditions inhibit inflation and result in degeneration of the columnar epithelium and the irreversible malfunction of the swim bladder. The swim bladder of the striped bass has a glandular epithelium and a pneumatic duct prior to inflation. The mode of the initial inflation and functional role of the pneumatic duct remain unclear, although strong aeration and turbulent water in the rearing containers were observed to be main factors enhancing normal inflation of the larval swim bladder.
Academic library assessment: new duties and dilemmas

Two studies sponsored by the Digital Library Federation (DLF) aimed to discover the assessment practices, priorities, and concerns of academic libraries, and to propose next steps for addressing significant unresolved issues. One study surveyed and convened selected library directors to discern their priority assessment needs and design research to meet the most critical unmet need. The outcome of this study was a survey of how students and faculty perceive and use the entire information landscape. The second study examined the assessment practices and concerns of leading digital libraries. The problems identified indicate that current assessment efforts are often inefficient and ineffective because of inadequate skills, poor planning, cumbersome governance, and a fundamental frame of reference ill‐suited to assessment. Libraries urgently need to synthesize and disseminate what they have learned from experience, organize assessment as a core activity, and audit and modify the beliefs, behaviours, and assumptions operating within their organization.
A simple, alternative synthesis of L-erythrose

Abstract A new route for the synthesis of 2,3- O -isopropylidene- L -erythrofuranose and L -erythrose starting from D -gulono-1,4-lactone is presented. The intermediate, 2,3- O -isopropylidene- D -gulono-1,4-lactone, was prepared in a very high yield from 2,3:5,6-di- O -isopropylidene- D -gulono-1,4-lactone. In addition, 1- O -benzoyl-2,3- O -isopropylidene-β- L -erythrofuranose and 2,3- O -isopropylidene-β- L -erythrofuranosyl chloride were prepared.
RNA unwinding in U4/U6 snRNPs requires ATP hydrolysis and the DEIH-box splicing factor Brr2

Abstract Background: The dynamic rearrangements of RNA structure which occur during pre-mRNA splicing are thought to be mediated by members of the DExD/H-box family of RNA-dependent ATPases. Although three DExD/H-box splicing factors have recently been shown to unwind synthetic RNA duplexes in purified systems, in no case has the natural biological substrate been identified. A duplex RNA target of particular interest is the extensive base-pairing interaction between U4 and U6 small nuclear RNAs. Because these helices must be disrupted to activate the spliceosome for catalysis, this rearrangement is believed to be tightly regulated in vivo . Results: We have immunopurified Brr2, a DEIH-box ATPase, in a native complex containing U1, U2, U5 and duplex U4/U6 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles (snRNPs). Addition of hydrolyzable ATP to this complex results in the disruption of U4/U6 base-pairing, and the release of free U4 and U6 snRNPs. A mutation in the helicase-like domain of Brr2 ( brr2-1 ) prevents these RNA rearrangements. Notably, U4/U6 dissociation and release occur in the absence of exogenously added pre-mRNA. Conclusions: Disruption of U4/U6 base-pairing in native snRNPs requires ATP hydrolysis and Brr2. This is the first assignment of a DExD/H-box splicing factor to a specific biological unwinding event. The unwinding function of Brr2 can be antagonized by the annealing activity of Prp24. We propose the existence of a dynamic cycle, uncoupled from splicing, that interconverts free and base-paired U4/U6 snRNPs.
Ascorbic Acid in Gastric Juice.

Conclusions1. Gastric juice of dog contains vitamin C in variable amounts. In our series it varied from 0.33 mg. to 1.51 mg. per 100 cc. 2. Rated in descending order according to the amount of vitamin C contained within their mucosae, parts of the gastro-intestinal tract showed the duodenum to have the most, then the ileum, colon, fundus, and finally the pylorus. 3. Human gastric juice also contains variable amounts of vitamin C according to our study ranging from .046 to 1.04 mg. per 100 cc.
Ten-Year outcome in adolescent onset anorexia nervosa

The purpose of the present study was to characterize the psychopathology measured ten years posttreatment in 51 women who had an adolescent onset of anorexia nervosa. Outcome status was determined using the modified categories of Ratnasuriya et al.[1991]. “Anorexia Nervosa: Outcome and Prognostic Factors After 20 Years,” British Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 158, pp. 495–502). Psychopathology was assessed using a number of self-report questionnaires: Beck Depression Inventory, Hamilton Depression Inventory, Leyton Obsessionality Inventory, Social Adjustment Scale, and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. Within this adolescent age of onset sample of anorexia nervosa, age of onset was not, in and of itself, associated with increased psychopathology at follow-up. Rather, severity of eating disorder outcome was associated with general psychopathology, with patients in the poor outcome group displaying elevations on several of the measures of psychopathology.
Systemic Induction of Allelochemicals in Glanded and Glandless Isogenic Cotton by Spodoptera exigua Feeding

Induction of systemic resistance to feeding of beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua, was investigated in two isogenic lines of Stoneville 213 cotton, Gossypium hirsutum, that differed in the presence of pigment glands. In laboratory bioassays, larvae strongly preferred to feed on glandless cotton plants when presented a choice between undamaged terminal leaves of undamaged glanded and glandless plants. Feeding damage inflicted by S. exigua larvae on the two oldest leaves of glanded plants seven days prior to feeding bioassays caused larvae to prefer by 33-fold the undamaged terminal foliage from undamaged plants compared to that from damaged plants. Feeding damage on glandless plants caused only a 2.6-fold greater preference for terminal foliage from undamaged plants over foliage from previously damaged plants. Extracts of terminal foliage from glanded cotton damaged seven days earlier had significantly greater quantities of terpenoid aldehydes (hemigossypolone, gossypol, and heliocides) than did foliage from undamaged glanded plants. Terpenoid aldehydes were undetectable in extracts of both undamaged and previously damaged glandless plants. The profile of volatile compounds collected from the headspace of mechanically damaged terminal leaves of undamaged glanded and glandless plants differed. Both cotton isolines released large quantities of lipoxygenase products (hexenyl alcohols, acetates, and butyrates), but glandless plants released only small amounts of mono- and sesquiterpenes compared to glanded plants. Glandless plants damaged seven days prior to volatile collection released significantly greater quantities of lipoxygenase products, β-ocimene, and α- and β-farnesene than did undamaged glandless plants. Previously damaged glanded plants released significantly greater quantities of all mono- and sesquiterpenes and hexenyl acetates and butyrates, but not alcohols. The relative importance of volatile compounds versus terpenoid aldehydes in induced feeding deterrence in cotton to S. exigua larvae is still unclear.
Spatial separation of Golgi and ER during mitosis protects SREBP from unregulated activation

Sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) are membrane-bound transcription factors that reside as inactive precursors in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane. After sterol depletion, the proteins are transported to the Golgi apparatus, where they are cleaved by site-1 protease (S1P). Cleavage releases the active transcription factors, which then enter the nucleus to induce genes that regulate cellular levels of cholesterol and phospholipids. This regulation depends on the spatial separation of the Golgi and the ER, as mixing of the compartments induces unregulated activation of SREBPs. Here, we show that S1P is localized to the Golgi, but cycles continuously through the ER and becomes trapped when ER exit is inhibited. During mitosis, S1P is associated with mitotic Golgi clusters, which remain distinct from the ER. In mitotic cells, S1P is active, but SREBP is not cleaved as S1P and SREBP reside in different compartments. Together, these results indicate that the spatial separation of the Golgi and the ER is maintained during mitosis, which is essential to protect the S1P substrate SREBP from unregulated activation during mitosis.