cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Common-Sense Pragmatic Theory of Truth

Truth is a fundamental philosophical concept that, despite its common and everyday use, has resisted common-sense formulations. At this point, one may legitimately wonder if there even is a common-sense notion of truth or what it could look like. In response, I propose here a common-sense account of truth based on four “truisms” (to use J.L. Austin’s term) that set a baseline for how to go about building an account of truth. Drawing on both ordinary language philosophy and contemporary pragmatic approaches to truth, I defend a pragmatic, common-sense theory of truth. The result is a theory that focuses the use and function of truth while also emphasizing its “subject-independence.”
Digital anthropometry via three-dimensional optical scanning: evaluation of four commercially available systems

Digital anthropometry is increasingly accessible due to commercial availability of three-dimensional optical scanners (3DO). One hundred and seventy-nine participants were assessed by four 3DO systems (FIT3D®, Size Stream®, Styku®, and Naked Labs®) in duplicate, air displacement plethysmography (ADP), and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Test–retest precision was evaluated, and validity of total and regional volumes was established. All scanners produced precise estimates, with root mean square coefficient of variation (RMS-%CV) of 1.1–1.3% when averaged across circumferences and 1.9–2.3% when averaged across volumes. Precision for circumferences generally decreased in the order of: hip, waist and thigh, chest, neck, and arms. Precision for volumes generally decreased in the order of: total body volume (BV), torso, legs, and arms. Total BV was significantly underestimated by Styku® (constant error [CE]: −10.1 L; root mean square error [RMSE]: 10.5 L) and overestimated by Size Stream® (CE: 8.0 L; RMSE: 8.3 L). Total BV did not differ between ADP and FIT3D® (CE: −3.9 L; RMSE: 4.2 L) or DXA BV equations (CE: 0–1.4 L; RMSE: 0.7–1.5 L). Torso volume was overestimated and leg and arm volumes were underestimated by all 3DO. No total or regional 3DO volume estimates exhibited equivalence with reference methods using 5% equivalence regions, and proportional bias of varying magnitudes was observed. All 3DO produced precise anthropometric estimates, although variability in specific precision estimates was observed. 3DO BV estimates did not exhibit equivalence with reference methods. Conversely, DXA-derived total BV exhibited superior validity and equivalence with ADP.
Teacher Trouble: Performing Race in the Majority-White Shakespeare Classroom

The topic of race has long enriched Shakespeare scholarship. Race scholarship remains marginalized in the broader world of Shakespeare studies. The simultaneous “truth” of these statements reveals a deeply rooted professional ambivalence. And while recent attention has been paid to its manifestation at conferences and in journals, this essay explores its challenge to black teacher–scholars in the majority-white classroom. Rethinking The Merchant of Venice as an educational play, with Portia and Shylock performing as nontraditional teachers, I develop the concept of “teacher trouble” from Judith Butler's “gender trouble” to reflect personally on the perils and liberatory potential of antiracist performative strategies.
Modulation of transmembrane pressure in manufacturing scale tangential flow filtration N-1 perfusion seed culture.

Mammalian cells were grown to high density in a 3,000 L culture using perfusion with hollow fibers operated in a tangential flow filtration mode. The high-density culture was used to inoculate the production stage of a biomanufacturing process. At constant permeate flux operation, increased transmembrane pressures (TMPs) were observed on the final day of the manufacturing batches. Small scale studies suggested that the filters were not irreversibly fouled, but rather exposed to membrane concentration polarization that could be relieved by tangential sweeping of the hollow fibers. Studies were undertaken to analyze parameters that influence the hydrodynamic profile within hollow fibers; including filter area, cell density, recirculation flow rate, and permeate flow rate. Results indicated that permeate flow rate had the greatest influence on modulating TMP. Further evaluation showed a significant decrease in TMP when permeate flow was reduced, and this occurred without any negative effect on cell growth or viability. Hence, a 30% reduction of permeate flow rate was implemented at manufacturing scale. A stable operation was achieved as TMP was successfully reduced by 75% while preserving all critical factors for performance in the perfusion bioreactor.
Transforming Friendship: Thomas Aquinas on Charity as Friendship with God

This article argues that Thomas Aquinas’s definition of charity in the Summa Theologiae as ‘a kind of friendship’ represents a distinctive and theologically significant development of both the Aris...
Preparation of Papers for IEEE Sponsored Conferences & Symposia *

This electronic document is a live template. The various components of your paper [title, text, heads, etc.] are already defined on the style sheet, as illustrated by the portions given in this document.
Numerical Analysis of Two Phase Cross-Flow Heat Exchanger for High Power Density Equipment in Data Centers under Dynamic Conditions

Computational demand in the IT sector has increased dramatically and so rack level power densities from 10 to 50 kW/rack are increasingly common. Expanding the capabilities of the IT equipment requires thermal management systems able to handle time dependent thermal loads. Emerging system designs will almost certainly have to utilize close-coupled cooling subsystems to augment or replace traditional centralized perimeter air handlers. Distributed cooling technologies such as close-coupled rear-door heat exchangers, overhead heat exchangers, and in-row cooler heat exchangers have been developed to meet these high demands. To increase the thermal performance of the cross-flow heat exchangers, two phase flow is used with low-boiling-point refrigerants such as R134a, R407c, and R410a. In this study, a physics-based numerical model for cross-flow heat exchanger is developed in order to understand dynamic behavior. A system of partial differential equations for mass, momentum, and energy conservation has been solved using the finite difference method and implemented in MATLAB. Thermodynamic properties are obtained from COOLPROP. The dynamic model of cross-flow heat exchangers may be used to develop improved control strategies and increase energy efficiencies to meet the ever-increasing cooling demands of data centers.
Categorical Pediatric Residency Program Curriculum Needs: A Study of Graduating Residents and Residency Program Leadership.

Abstract Background Pediatric residency programs must adapt their curriculum to meet evolving patient needs yet face limited resources to implement changes resulting in gaps. We performed a categorical pediatric residency program curriculum needs assessment to inform curriculum development efforts. Methods We analyzed data from the 2017 American Academy of Pediatrics Annual Survey of Graduating Residents and pediatric program and associate program director polls conducted at a 2019 pediatric residency program director national meeting. We used conventional content analysis to code and categorize. Results Participants included 528 (53%) graduating residents representing 88% of programs, 89 program directors, and 177 associate program directors representing at minimum 45% of programs. Participants demonstrated concordance on the top 4 needs—additional clinical experiences, career development, business of medicine, and health systems. Program leaders also identified wellness and resiliency; disparities; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and communication. Conclusions This is the first categorical pediatric program general curriculum needs assessment conducted of pediatric leadership and graduating residents in over a decade. While program leadership and resident data were collected 2 years apart, we found concordance on the top 4 categories and consistency with prior national needs assessments with the exception of career development. New curriculum development efforts are underway.
Increased Social Interactions Reduce the Association Between Constricted Life-Space and Lower Daily Happiness in Older Adults With and Without HIV: A GPS and Ecological Momentary Assessment Study.

ABSTRACT Objective Older persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PWH) are particularly susceptible to life-space restrictions. The aims of this study included: 1) using global positioning system (GPS) derived indicators as an assessment of time spent at home among older adults with and without HIV; 2) using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to examine real-time relationships between life-space, mood (happiness, sadness, anxious), fatigue, and pain; and 3) determining if number of daily social interactions moderated the effect of life-space on mood. Methods Eighty-eight older adults (PWH n = 54, HIV-negative n = 34) completed smartphone-based EMA surveys assessing mood, fatigue, pain, and social interactions four times per day for two weeks. Participants’ smartphones were GPS enabled throughout the study. Mixed-effects regression models analyzed concurrent and lagged associations among life-space and behavioral indicators of health. Results PWH spent more of their time at home (79% versus 70%, z = −2.08; p = 0.04) and reported lower mean happiness (3.2 versus 3.7; z = 2.63; p = 0.007) compared to HIV-negative participants. Controlling for covariates, more daily social interactions were associated with higher ratings of real-time happiness (b = 0.12; t = 5.61; df = 1087.9; p Conclusion Accounting for engagement in social interactions reduced the significant effect of time spent at home and lower happiness. Interventions targeting social isolation within the context of constricted life-space may be beneficial for increasing positive mood in older adults, and especially relevant to older PWH.
The Hardcore Gamer Is Dead: Long Live Gamers

In this chapter, we argue that the ethos, identity, or and the “dwelling places” of the “hardcore gamer” were created and maintained by the computer game industry in order to sell mass quantities of games to a relatively affluent consumer base. The hardcore gamer was called into being (hailed or interpellated, as Althusser might say) by marketing campaigns, advertisements, and game retailers rather than by specific in-game content or representations. We interrogate several game advertisements that span time (1981–2013), medium (print, video, and an email campaign), and platform (arcade machines, Sega Genesis, Sony PlayStation, and Microsoft Xbox One) to demonstrate how the game industry’s insistent hailing to of the hardcore gamer built substantial ethos. This ethos gave the hardcore gamer power to mobilize behind #gamergate, which was, in their own words, primarily a “consumer revolt,” but in practice was a targeted harassment campaign.
Examination of Racial and Ethnic Differences in Deceased Organ Donation Ratio Over Time in the US.

Importance Historically, deceased organ donation was lower among Black compared with White populations, motivating efforts to reduce racial disparities. The overarching effect of these efforts in Black and other racial/ethnic groups remains unclear. Objective To examine changes in deceased organ donation over time. Design, Setting, and Participants This population-based cohort study used data from January 1, 1999, through December 31, 2017, from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients to quantify the number of actual deceased organ donors, and from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research Detailed Mortality File to quantify the number of potential donors (individuals who died under conditions consistent with organ donation). Data were analyzed from December 2, 2019, to May 14, 2020. Exposures Race and ethnicity of deceased and potential donors. Main Outcomes and Measures For each racial/ethnic group and year, a donation ratio was calculated as the number of actual deceased donors divided by the number of potential donors. Direct age and sex standardization was used to allow for group comparisons, and Poisson regression was used to quantify changes in donation ratio over time. Results A total of 141 534 deceased donors and 5 268 200 potential donors were included in the analysis. Among Black individuals, the donation ratio increased 2.58-fold from 1999 to 2017 (yearly change in adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR], 1.05; 95% CI, 1.05-1.05;P Conclusions and Relevance The findings of this cohort study suggest that differences in deceased organ donation between White and some racial minority populations have attenuated over time. The greatest gains were observed among Black individuals, who have been the primary targets of study and intervention. Despite improvements, substantial differences remain, suggesting that novel approaches are needed to understand and address relatively lower rates of deceased organ donation among all racial minorities.
A generalized ordinal finite mixture regression model for market segmentation

Abstract Model-based market segmentation analyses often involve an ordinal dependent variable as ordinal responses are frequently collected in marketing research. In the Bayesian segmentation literature, there are models for an interval- or ratio-scaled dependent variable but there is not any general model for an ordinal dependent variable. In this manuscript, the authors propose a new Bayesian procedure to simultaneously perform segmentation and ordinal regression with variable selection within each derived segment. The procedure is robust to outliers and it also provides an option to include concomitant variables that allows the simultaneous profiling of the derived segments. The authors demonstrate that the practice of treating ordinal responses as interval- or ratio-scales to apply existing Bayesian segmentation procedures can lead to very misleading results and conclusions. Through simulation studies, the authors show that the proposed procedure outperforms several benchmark Bayesian segmentation models in parameter recovery, segment retention, and segment membership prediction for such data. Finally, they provide a commercial business customer satisfaction empirical application to illustrate the usefulness of the proposed model.
Don't Be Evil: Should We Use Google in Schools?

Google is a multinational technology company whose massive advertising profits have allowed them to expand into many areas, including education. While the company has increasingly faced public scrutiny, the use of Google software and hardware in schools has often resulted in little debate. In this paper, we conduct a technoethical audit of Google to address ethical, legal, democratic, economic, technological, and pedagogical concerns educators, students, and community members might consider. We describe how Google extracts personal data from students, skirts laws intended to protect them, targets them for profits, obfuscates the company's intent in their Terms of Service, recommends harmful information, and distorts students’ knowledge. We propose that educators and scholars more closely interrogate the tools of Google and other technology companies to move toward more democratic and just uses of technology in schools.
The Fluoroquinolones: An Update for the Clinical Microbiologist

Abstract The fluoroquinolones are a commonly prescribed class of antibiotics with broad activity across a variety of bacteria. As an antimicrobial class, the fluoroquinolones exert antimicrobial activity by direct inhibition of DNA synthesis due to interaction between the fluoroquinolone and two enzymes essential for DNA replication: DNA gyrase and DNA topoisomerase IV. Adverse events and widespread antimicrobial resistance remain two of the major concerns regarding fluoroquinolone use. Resistance can emerge following target site mutations, reduced influx, efflux, target protection, and enzymatic modification of the fluoroquinolones. Recent developments for the fluoroquinolones include revision of susceptibility test breakpoints for Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as well as approval of a novel fluoroquinolone, delafloxacin. This review provides an overview of the fluoroquinolones and resistance mechanisms and describes recent developments in susceptibility testing.
Examining the practice of elementary mathematics specialists through narratives: implications for professional learning and development

This study analysed elementary mathematics specialists’ stories of work to examine how these disciplinary-specific teacher leaders engage in their practice. This paper examines the ways in which el...
Fallingwater: A Celebrated Case of DAV Analysis

Frank Llyod Wright’s Fallingwater House designed and built for Edgar Kaugmann, Jr. is one of the most celebrated examples of design excellence, innovation, and creativity. The building is located on Bear Run in the Mill Run section of Stewart Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, located in the Laurel Highlands of the Allegheny Mountains, near Pittsburgh, PA. The house is partly built on a waterfall, which at the time of its construction became a source of several construction challenges including moisture damage and structural problems. How these challenges were negotiated and resolved over time and how the Fallingwater stood the test of time exemplify a unique opportunity to introduce the decision-making process of value-based design. This chapter presents a retrospective design added value analysis of Fallingwater, including key historical events that contributed to its design, construction, and emergence and resolution of its several construction challenges.
Higher Author Fees in Gastroenterology Journals Are Not Associated with Faster Processing Times or Higher Impact.

Publications are an important component of academic careers. We investigated the financial costs to authors for submitting and publishing manuscripts in gastroenterology (GI) journals in the United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), and elsewhere. This was a cross-sectional study carried out from 11/1/2020 to 12/31/2020. We used the SCImago Journal and Country Rankings site to compile a list of gastroenterology and hepatology journals to analyze. We gathered information on the journals’ Hirsch indices (h indices), SCImago Journal Rank (SJR), Impact Factor (IF), and base countries as of 2019, processing and publication fees, open access fees, time to first decision, and time from acceptance to publication. We used t-testing and linear regression modeling to evaluate the effect of geography and journal quality metrics on processing fees and times. We analyzed 97 GI journals, of which 51/97 (52.6%) were based in the US/UK while the other 46/97 (47.4%) were based elsewhere. The mean IF (5.67 vs 3.53, p = 0.08), h index (90.5 vs 41.8, p < 0.001), and SJR (1.82 vs 0.83, p < 0.001) for the US/UK journals were higher than those for non-US/UK journals. We also found that 11/51 (21.6%) of US/UK journals and 15/46 (32.6%) of non-US/UK journals had mandatory processing and publication fees. These tended to be significantly larger in the US/UK group than in the non-US/UK group (USD 2380 vs USD 1470, p = 0.04). Publication-related fees may preclude authors from smaller or socioeconomically disadvantaged institutions and countries from publishing and disseminating their work.
Neuronal Loss of NCLX-Dependent Mitochondrial Calcium Efflux Contributes to Age-Associated Cognitive Decline

Mitochondrial and metabolic impairments contribute to neurodegenerative disease development. We recently reported that mitochondrial calcium (mCa2+) overload due to remodeling of the mitochondrial calcium exchange machinery is a causal determinant of cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease models. However, whether disrupted mCa2+ signaling contributes to neuronal pathology and cognitive decline independent of precedent amyloidosis or tau pathology remains unknown. Here, we generated mice with neuronal-specific deletion of the mitochondrial sodium/calcium exchanger (NCLX), the primary mechanism of mCa2+ efflux, and evaluated age-associated changes in cognitive function and neuropathology. Neuronal- loss of NCLX resulted in an age-dependent decline in spatial and cued recall memory, moderate amyloid deposition, mild tau hyperphosphorylation, and synaptic remodeling. These results demonstrate that loss of NCLX-dependent mCa2+ efflux alone is sufficient to induce an Alzheimer’s disease-like pathology and highlights the promise of therapies targeting mCa2+ exchange.
Pedagogical Practices in Science Teaching

Different pedagogical practices will naturally result in different responses from students. Therefore, first understanding the goals and motivation for the teaching any subject is an important first step to choosing the most appropriate pedagogical practice.
Current issues in the regulation and approval of antiviral drugs for hepatitis

Publisher Summary The complex and variable natural history of chronic disease caused by hepatitis viruses and the ongoing development of diagnostic and prognostic approaches contribute to the distinctive challenges to research sponsors and the regulatory personnel in this area of drug development. This chapter provides a brief overview of the general features of drug development in the United States, emphasizing regulatory issues applicable to hepatitis. Consultation and dialogue at all stages can be valuable in expediting processes and in contributing to the shared understanding of potential obstacles. Recent and ongoing advances in this area contribute to the evolution of development plans utilizing focused and updated information to guide the assessment of activity, effectiveness, and safety of new therapeutic agents. The chapter discusses the current status of the U.S. drug approvals for hepatitis and outlines the ongoing issues in its regulation.
Adapting graphical user interfaces for use by visually handicapped computer users: current results and continuing research

The use of modern computers and software by the visually handicapped has become more difficult over the past few years. In earlier systems the user interface was a simple character based environment. In those systems, simple devices like screen readers, braille output and speech synthesizers were effective. Current systems now run Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) which have rendered these simple aids almost useless. In no area has this problem become more important than in technologies for the handicapped. What has become enabling technology for the sighted has become disabling technology for the visually impaired. In the current work we discuss new and innovative approaches to permit non-sighted users to interface with GUIs, having the salutary effect of gaining needed access to the most modern computing equipment for a subset of our population that is otherwise excluded from such access.
UICE: a low-power high-speed cryptographic module for RFID and embedded systems

Since Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) systems have become commonplace in access control and security applications, the usage and importance of cryptographic co-processors in RFID transponder devices has grown significantly. Improved vehicle security systems, also known as immobilizers, are required due to increased vehicle theft worldwide. Such devices, and embedded systems in general, must provide high security at low cost and low power. In order to overcome proprietary algorithms with respect to the system manufacturers, a new Universal Immobilizer Crypto Engine (UICE) is proposed. This UICE algorithm is tailored to 8-bit microprocessor architectures and is therefore very fast in software and hardware. The dedicated hardware implementation leads to a small gate count, because the registers for input (challenge) and output (response) are shared. The important non-linear function, in this case an 8 /spl times/ 8 S-Box, may be built as a gate array or small ROM, which has the advantage of flexibility. Several tests - statistical and random-number - have been performed in order to analyze the strength of the algorithm. So far no weakness was found after ten rounds of encryption.
Protein Metabolism in Health and Diabetes

As for carbohydrate and fat, insulin exerts a major role in regulating the metabolism of proteins and amino acids. This is manifestly apparent from the protein wasting that accompanies uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. However, extensive studies have demonstrated that protein homeostasis is maintained by complex interactions between hormones (including insulin, insulin-like growth factor 1, growth hormone, glucocorticoids, and gonadal steroids) and amino acids (which themselves play a regulatory role). Our understanding of the regulation of protein metabolism has evolved considerably over the past 30–40 years, influenced considerably by evolving understanding of the regulation of gene expression, messenger RNA translation, and of the activity of lysosomal and proteasomal protein degradation pathways. With the use of tracer turnover techniques and tissue biopsy methods our understanding has progressed from experimental manipulations in isolated cells through to clinical investigations. Based upon this an emerging picture of the regulation of body protein metabolism and the impact of diabetes on protein metabolism is now apparent. Keywords: translation initiation factors; ribosome; protein synthesis; proteolysis; lysozyme; proteasome; general transcription factors; protein turnover
The Influence of Foliar Ethephon Application on Economic Returns of Red LaSoda Potatoes

The successful marketing of fresh potatoes is heavily reliant upon tuber appearance. Past attempts to improve the color and appearance of fresh potatoes have included the adoption of new cultivars, application of waxes during packing, control of skin damaging diseases, and foliar application of growth regulators. An analysis of the potential economic impact of the use of the plant growth regulator ethephon(2-chloroethylphosphonic acid) was conducted. Data on the influence of ethephon application rate on tuber size distribution and yield was collected from field trials on the red-skinned cultivar Red LaSoda during 2011 and 2012. These data were then used in conjunction with records of red potato prices for the most recently available five crop years to calculate gross returns. Production costs, chemical and application costs, and packing costs were then subtracted to calculate net economic returns. No adjustment in market value was made to account for the improved skin color measured due to ethephon application, as there are no data to support this assumption. Ethephon rate did not significantly affect total yield in either year, but did influence the distribution of various market classes (A, B and Creamers) in 2012. There was some influence in net value by size class, but total net return was not significantly affected in either year. While ethephon is not a very expensive addition to the total cost of production, it does not appear to provide a significant economic benefit based on the change in tuber size distribution alone.
A complete ray-trace analysis of the Mirage toy

The ‘Mirage’ (Opti-Gone International) is a well-known optics demonstration (PIRA index number 6A20.35) that uses two opposed concave mirrors to project a real image of a small object into space. We studied image formation in the Mirage by standard 2x2 matrix methods and by exact ray tracing, with particular attention to additional real images that can be observed when the mirror separation is increased beyond one focal length. We find that the three readily observed secondary images correspond to 4, 6, or 8 reflections, respectively, contrary to previous reports.
Synthesis and Structure of the Solvent-Free Sodium Aryl (NaC6H3-2,6-Mes2)2

The synthesis and first structural characterization of a solvent-free sodium aryl derivative, (NaC6H3-2,6-Mes2)2, are described. Molecules of (NaC6H3-2,6-Mes2)2 are metal-bridged dimers in which the Na+ cations are primarily coordinated to ipso phenyl and ipso mesityl carbons.
Particle deposition in fibrous media with dendrite-like pattern: A preliminary model

Abstract A preliminary model of the formation of chain-like particle agglomerates on fibers during filtration of aerosols in fibrous media is proposed. Such dendrite-like growth has been observed experimentally and occurred beyond the initial period of filtration. Unlike most of the previous studies which are confined to clear filters, the present work is intended for the description of filtration performance (both filtration efficiency and pressure drop) over the entire loading period.
Making offline analyses continuous

Developers use analysis tools to help write, debug, and understand software systems under development. A developer's change to the system source code may affect analysis results. Typically, to learn those effects, the developer must explicitly initiate the analysis. This may interrupt the developer's workflow and/or the delay until the developer learns the implications of the change. The situation is even worse for impure analyses — ones that modify the code on which it runs — because such analyses block the developer from working on the code. This paper presents Codebase Replication, a novel approach to easily convert an offline analysis — even an impure one — into a continuous analysis that informs the developer of the implications of recent changes as quickly as possible after the change is made. Codebase Replication copies the developer's codebase, incrementally keeps this copy codebase in sync with the developer's codebase, makes that copy codebase available for offline analyses to run without disturbing the developer and without the developer's changes disturbing the analyses, and makes analysis results available to be presented to the developer. We have implemented Codebase Replication in Solstice, an open-source, publicly-available Eclipse plug-in. We have used Solstice to convert three offline analyses — FindBugs, PMD, and unit testing — into continuous ones. Each conversion required on average 436 NCSL and took, on average, 18 hours. Solstice-based analyses experience no more than 2.5 milliseconds of runtime overhead per developer action.
The effects of information and exposure on self-other agreement

Abstract The primary aims of this study were to examine the effects of exposure and information on self-other agreement among strangers. To test the effect of exposure, we observed the difference between perceptions of individuals who viewed a still photo of a target person versus individuals who watched a short video segment of the target. To test the effect of information, we provided trait-implying sentences to participants and compared the resulting perceptions to those derived from only a still photo. We found that self-other agreement fluctuates predictably with additional information and exposure. Also, we found that providing specific trait information can increase self-other agreement for both the specific trait about which information has been received and other linked trait judgments.
Protein–PCNA interactions: a DNA-scanning mechanism?

Proliferating-cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) plays an essential role in nucleic-acid metabolism in all eukaryotes. The PCNA protein interacts with a large number of proteins. These proteins can be divided into two groups: the first contains proteins that have a known enzymatic activity; the second contains regulatory proteins that are involved in cell-cycle progression, checkpoint control and cellular differentiation. Interestingly, all of the enzymes known to interact with PCNA either recognize specific structures on DNA or have limited DNA-sequence specificity. Proteins that have low sequence specificities could utilize PCNA as an adapter in order to interact with their DNA substrates.
Reduced triphosphopyridine-linked aldehyde reductase II. Species and tissue distribution☆

Abstract A 30,000 MW, barbiturate sensitive TPNH-linked aldehyde reductase which reduces aromatic aldehydes (3-pyridinecarboxaldehyde, 4-nitrobenzaldehyde, 4-cyanobenzaldehyde), d -glyceraldehyde, d -glucuronate and (+)-camphorquinone was found in liver, kidney, brain and heart tissue from a variety of animals. In livers, rabbit kidney, rabbit heart, and bovine brain a high molecular weight reductase was also found, which was less sensitive to barbiturate inhibition and had higher reactivity for cyclohexanone and d -ribose. The low molecular weight, TPNH-linked aldehyde reductases are probably homologous and should be classified under the systematic name alcohol:NADP oxidoreductase (EC 1.1.1.2). Since the substrate specificity of aldehyde reductase overlaps several previously described TPNH-linked reductases from the same tissues, reexamination of the properties of these enzymes for reclassification as EC 1.1.1.2 is necessary.
Refractometry in the Ultraviolet with the NIST FT700 UV Fourier Transform Spectrometer

For the past two years our group at NIST has been carrying out measurements of absolute refractive indices of optical materials that will be used in future generations of semiconductor photo lithography at 193nm and 157nm, the emission wavelengths of ArF and F2 excimer lasers.
A Power Transformation for Generalized Logistic Response Function with Application to Quantal Bioassay

It is known that when the logistic response function is generalized by introducing shape parameters, the usual computational simplicity afforded by statistical softwares such as GLIM and S-Plus may be lost. This fact is illustrated by Prentice (1976), Brown (1982), Stukel (1985, 1988), and El-Saidi (1986). In this paper, we consider a power transformation of the generalized logistic model and show how the use of such transformation simplifies the computational difficulties associated with generalized logistic models. Furthermore, applying this technique to some data sets previously analyzed by D'Angio et al. (1981) and Brown (1982) shows an improvement in the fit in comparison to other models such as the logistic, the unstratified multiplicative model GMU and the additive model GA described by Storer et al. (1983).
In vivo imaging of cell nuclei by photoacoustic microscopy without staining

Ultraviolet photoacoustic microscopy (UVPAM) can image cell nuclei in vivo with high contrast and resolution noninvasively without staining. Here, we used UV light at wavelengths of 210-310 nm for excitation of DNA and RNA to produce photoacoustic waves. We applied the UVPAM to in vivo imaging of cell nuclei in mouse skin, and obtained UVPAM images of the unstained cell nuclei at wavelengths of 245-282 nm as ultrasound gel was used for acoustic coupling. The largest ratio of contrast to noise was found for the images of cell nuclei at a 250 nm wavelength.
Does primary indication for tonsillectomy influence post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage rates in children?

Abstract Introduction A significant risk in tonsillectomy that causes concern to surgeon and patient is post-tonsillectomy bleed. Secondary haemorrhage is mainly post-operative bleed presenting at or 24 h after surgery. Classical teaching indicates infection as the cause. There are not enough published data to evaluate the post-tonsillectomy bleed rates in patients operated for obstructive sleep apnoea versus recurrent tonsillitis. We suspected secondary bleed rates to be higher in patients with recurrent tonsillitis. Methods A retrospective review of case-notes of patients presenting to Accident & Emergency department within 4 weeks of tonsillectomy or adeno-tonsillectomy was performed. 568 patients presented with post-operative complications over the 5-year period 2008–2013. Of these, 222 presented with post-operative secondary bleed. Electronic case records were used to identify indication of operation and matched with coding data. These coded data were also used to identify number of operations and primary indications over the 5-year period. Results The proportion of OSA patients receiving tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy surgery increased over the 5-year period. Secondary haemorrhage rate for recurrent tonsillitis surgery was around 4.9% and for OSA surgery was around 15.6%. Comparison of recurrent tonsillitis against OSA for post-operative bleed showed a relative risk of 0.31 (CI 0.24–0.41). The incidence of bleeding mirrored primary indication for each year. Conclusion The bleed rate for OSA was unexpectedly higher than for recurrent tonsillitis. The primary indication for tonsillectomy affects secondary bleeding rate.
Effect of pH on the water and electrolyte content of renal cells.

Abstract The effect of external pH (varying from 6.2–8.2) on the water and electrolyte contents of preparations of rabbit kidney cortex (slices and isolated tubules) was studied: 1. 1. In sodium saline, increasing external pH produced primarily a decrease in cell K + . High pH increased both the passive membrane permeability for 42 K + , and also the compartmentation of K + within the cells. 2. 2. Inhibition of the Na + pump by ouabain (0.5 mM) or absence of external Na + (lithium, Tris, and choline salines) did not abolish the control of cell volume at pH 6.2 and 7.2, whereas a marked cellular swelling at pH higher than 7.5 was found. The ouabain-insensitive (and Na + -independent) volume control at pH 6.2 was dependent on metabolism, since it was inhibited by 0.1 mM dinitrophenol and anaerobiosis. 3. 3. Involvement of Ca 2+ in the ouabain-insensitive volume control was demonstrated by showing that the absence of Ca 2+ , ouabain, or absence of Na + , produced a marked swelling at pH 7.2. This phenomenon was accompanied by increased extra-cellular space, due to a swelling of the basal tubular membrane. 4. 4. A correlation between cellular swelling and a decrease in cell ATP was presented. 5. 5. The results are compatible with the mechanochemical hypothesis for the ouabain-insensitive (and Na + -independent) control of cell volume. It is suggested that in this mechanism, cell (membrane) ATP and Ca 2+ are determinants of the physical properties of the membrane.
The genetics of phenotypic plasticity. VII. Evolution in a spatially-structured environment

Previous models of the evolution of phenotypic plasticity have, for the most part, not considered the effects of genetic architecture and spatial structure. I examine those factors with an individual-based simulation model. With regard to genetic architecture, I considered how the presence of different types of loci would affect medium-term evolutionary outcomes. The types of loci differed in how the environment determined phenotypic expression and included loci that were insensitive to the environment (non-plastic loci), sensitive in a linear fashion, and sensitive in a quadratic fashion (both plastic loci). With regard to spatial structure, I investigated the affects of migration patterns. These simulations demonstrated that two general conditions are necessary for phenotypic plasticity to be selected. (1) The environment must have a strong influence on genotypic expression. (2) The between-generation changes in the environment must be large and predictable, in the current instance because of migration in a spatially-structured (clinal) environment. Responses to selection were not simple, however. Rarely were pure strategies ‐ genetic specialization or phenotypic plasticity ‐ selected for. Instead, the existence of multiple types of loci led to mixed genetic outcomes. The result of this mixed outcome were individuals with reaction norms that were less steep than the optimal reaction norm (when non-plastic and linear-plastic loci were present) or individuals with curved reaction norms when the optimal reaction norm was linear (when all three types of loci were present). A pure plasticity strategy had the highest global fitness because plastic individuals would match the optimal phenotype everywhere. The reason that the metapopulation did not achieve this global fitness optimum is that local selection is stronger than global selection. Each deme is driven to a local fitness peak based on the combined, locally additive effects of the non-plastic and plastic loci. Plasticity is only selected globally, so plasticity becomes more highly favored with high 303
Retinoic acid rapidly reduces cartilage matrix synthesis by altering gene transcription in chondrocytes.

Abstract Retinoic acid can alter the differentiation of a variety of cell types, including chondrocytes. This action may explain the high incidence of craniofacial and limb defects resulting from exposure to retinoic acid during development, and may be the basis for the compound's inhibition of a chondrosarcoma tumor in vivo . In order to understand the mechanism of action of retinoic acid, we studied the expression of chondrocyte-specific proteins as well as other proteins that indicate a shift in the differentiated phenotype of the cell following exposure to retinoic acid. After 48 hr of exposure to retinoic acid chondrocytes stopped synthesizing the chondrocyte-specific pro α1 (II) chain of collagen II and a 370-kDa precursor protein of a cartilage-specific proteoglycan. Instead, the cells synthesized increased amounts of fibronectin and the pro α1 chain of collagen III. These changes could be detected as early as 12 hr after treatment. In addition, the steady-state levels of specific mRNA transcripts coding for these differentiation markers correlated with their protein synthesis levels. Also, nuclear runoff experiments indicated that retinoic acid down regulated transcription of the collagen II gene, while stimulating collagen III gene transcription. These observations suggest that retinoic acid may alter the expression of the chondrocyte phenotype by selectively changing the normal pattern of gene expression.
The Future of CdTe Photovoltaics

The prospects for widespread commercial success of CdTe-based photovoltaics are discussed and the key technical issues to be resolved are identified. Device efficiencies achieved using thin CdS on small-area cells must he adapted to manufacturing, potential consumers must he convinced of module stability and environmental concerns must he dealt with effectively. All these issues are being actively addressed and there do not appear to be any insurmountable obstacles to the commercialization of CdTe photovoltaic technology.
Research on Goat Milk Products: A Review

Abstract This is a review of 136 publications pertaining to preparation of consumer products from goat milk. In many instances these publications do not report data from research but are descriptions of processes and practices in the manufacture of such products. A supplementary bibliography listing 183 publications is provided also. Most of these articles, or abstracts thereof, were scanned also, but their contents were not cited in the review. This study of the literature shows that cheese is the only product made from goat milk which has been researched extensively. Few data are available on the manufacture of fluid milk products (low fat, fortified, or flavored), cultured products such as buttermilk or yogurt, frozen products such as ice cream or frozen yogurt, or butter, condensed milks, or dried milk products. While it can be claimed that data on the manufacture of these products from cow milk can be transposed to goat milk, experience has proven that such is not always possible. There is need for additional research on these products.
Explaining Executive Success in the U.S. Supreme Court

The solicitor general is widely believed to occupy a special status among the parties appearing in the U.S. Supreme Court. A broad array of theo retical advantages are thought to contribute to the federal government's influence, but scholars have no direct evidence of their impact. More importantly, virtually all existing research has failed to measure directly the influence of those advantages across other parties, as well. Estimating a series of probit models of executive success in the Court under both Democratic and Republican administrations, I test the impact of one such advantage, litigation experience, measured for all parties across all cases. The results suggest that, notwithstanding the conventional wisdom, there is nothing distinctive about the solicitor general's influence. Thus, exist ing explanations regarding the solicitor general's institutional prestige appear to overstate the importance of the executive's role in the Court.
PeerStreaming: An On-Demand Peer-to-Peer Media Streaming Solution Based On A Receiver-Driven Streaming Protocol

We have developed PeerStreaming, an on-demand peer-to-peer (P2P) media streaming solution based on a receiver-driven streaming protocol. Unlike existing client-server based media streaming solution, where all clients go to a single server to retrieve the streaming media, in the PeerStreaming system, the media may be streamed from multiple peers. We use a receiver-driven protocol so that the peers need no collaboration (thus no network traffic) among themselves. Only the receiver (the media playing client) coordinates the streaming among the peers, performs load balancing, handles the online/offline of the peers, and decodes and renders the media
Immunogold staining of microtubules in resting and activated platelets

A circumferential microtubule is known to support the discoid form of resting platelets, but its fate following exposure of the cells to aggregating agents is uncertain. The present study has employed an immunocytochemical approach to follow the fate of the circumferential microtubule in activated platelets. Monoclonal antibodies to tubulin and to vinculin and a polyclonal antibody to actin were incubated with isolated microtubule coils and stained with staphylococcal protein A coupled to immunogold in order to test their specificity. Thin sections of glycolmethacrylate embedded platelets before and after exposure to thrombin for 15, 30 and 60 s were stained with antibodies to tubulin and actin. Immunogold particles showed a high specificity for isolated MT coils stained for tubulin, modest intensity for actin, and none for vinculin. Gold particles were randomly distributed in thin sections of resting and activated platelets stained for actin. Immunogold was limited to the circumferential microtubule in resting platelets and constricted coils in thrombin-activated cells. The number of gold particles in areas of cytoplasm away from microtubules in platelets stained with antitubulin antibody increased slightly following thrombin activation, but the change was not significant. Results support the concept that microtubule coils supporting the discoid form of resting platelets do not dissolve following exposure of the cells to potent agonists.
Complexation between α-alkenylaluminum compounds and diisobutylaluminum hydride: The nature of organoaluminum intermediates responsible for the inhibited hydralumination of alkynes☆

Abstract In order to understand the nature of organoaluminum intermediates encountered in the hydralumination of alkynes, NMR spectral and kinetic studies have been carried out on the alkenyl(dialkyl)aluminum systems (I) resulting from the addition of diisobutylaluminum hydride to 4-octyne and to di-t-butylacetylene. A kinetic study of the reaction of a 1/1 mixture of I and diisobutylaluminum hydride with 5-decyne at 50° followed the rate expression v = k (5-decyne) 1.0 (AlH) 0.5 . The E X (apparent) was 23.0 kcal/mole. The aluminum adducts of 4-octyne with one or two equivalents of diisobutylaluminum hydride did not show any temperature-dependence in their NMR spectra. However, those derived from di-t-butylacetylene did reveal the existence of several components, both for the alkenyl(dialkyl)aluminum itself, as well as for the 1/1 admixture of the alkenyl(dialkyl)aluminum with diisobutylaluminum hydride. However, in the temperature range of hydralumination, namely 50°, the diisobutyl( E -4-octenyl)aluminum was shown to be in equilibrium, with triisobutylaluminum. A proposed rationale for the NMR spectral data, formulated with the aid of data from model systems such as bis( E -4-octenyl)aluminum hydride, also offers an insight into the nature and kinetic behavior of organoaluminum intermediates in the hydralumination reaction.