cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enzyme kinetics from circular dichroism of insulin reveals mechanistic insights into the regulation of insulin-degrading enzyme

Insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) is a zinc metalloprotease that selectively degrades biologically important substrates associated with type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). As such, IDE is an attractive target for therapeutic innovations. A major requirement is an understanding of how other molecules present in cells regulate the activity of the enzyme toward insulin, IDE’s most important physiologically relevant substrate. Previous kinetic studies of the IDE-dependent degradation of insulin in the presence of potential regulators have used iodinated insulin, a chemical modification that has been shown to alter the biological and biochemical properties of insulin. Here, we present a novel kinetic assay that takes advantage of the loss of helical circular dichroic signals of insulin with IDE-dependent degradation. As proof of concept, the resulting Michaelis–Menten kinetic constants accurately predict the known regulation of IDE by adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Intriguingly, we found that when Mg2+ is present with ATP, the regulation is abolished. The implication of this result for the development of preventative and therapeutic strategies for AD is discussed. We anticipate that the new assay presented here will lead to the identification of other small molecules that regulate the activity of IDE toward insulin.
PPE37 Is Essential for Mycobacterium tuberculosis Heme-Iron Acquisition (HIA), and a Defective PPE37 in Mycobacterium bovis BCG Prevents HIA.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, one of the world's leading causes of death, must acquire nutrients, such as iron, from the host to multiply and cause disease. Iron is an essential metal and M. tuberculosis possesses two different systems to acquire iron from its environment: siderophore-mediated iron acquisition (SMIA) and heme-iron acquisition (HIA), involving uptake and degradation of heme to release ferrous iron. We have discovered that Mycobacterium bovis BCG, the tuberculosis vaccine strain, is severely deficient in HIA, and we exploited this phenotypic difference between BCG and M. tuberculosis to identify genes involved in HIA by complementing BCG's defect with a fosmid library. We identified ppe37, an iron-regulated PPE family gene, as being essential for HIA. BCG complemented with M. tuberculosis ppe37 exhibits HIA as efficient as that of M. tuberculosis, achieving robust growth with <0.2 µM hemin. Conversely, deletion of ppe37 from M. tuberculosis results in a strain severely attenuated in HIA, with a phenotype nearly identical to that of BCG, requiring a 200-fold higher concentration of hemin to achieve growth equivalent to that of its parental strain. A nine-amino-acid deletion near the N terminus of BCG PPE37 (amino acids 31 to 39 of the M. tuberculosis PPE37 protein) underlies BCG's profound defect in HIA. Significant genetic variability exists in ppe37 genes across different M. tuberculosis strains, with more than 60% of sequences from completely sequenced M. tuberculosis genomes having mutations that result in altered PPE37 proteins; furthermore, these altered PPE37 proteins are nonfunctional in HIA. Our findings should allow delineation of the relative roles of HIA and SMIA in M. tuberculosis pathogenesis.
Fertility Preservation and Restoration in Pediatric Males

The fertility management of prepubertal males facing a gonadotoxic diagnosis or therapy is a challenging clinical objective. The testes of prepubertal patients, especially germ cells, are exquisitely sensitive to damage when exposed to chemotherapy or radiation; therefore, the full extent of their diagnosis and clinical management must be taken into consideration when assessing a patient’s risk for subsequent infertility. This also includes non-cancer patients, stem cell transplant patients, individuals with Klinefelter’s syndrome, and those with other differences in sexual development. All such patients should be consulted for fertility preservation, including sperm cryopreservation for those who can provide sperm, and testicular tissue cryopreservation for those who are unable to provide sperm. If a medical team is unprepared to manage the fertility preservation of a prepubertal patient, they should refer the patient to a team or outside group that is confident in doing so. Currently, there are no clinically proven mechanisms for the maturation or retrieval of sperm from cryopreserved immature testicular tissue; however, many groups worldwide are investigating methods to achieve these ends. Several engineering and biological mechanisms currently being explored as future assisted reproductive technologies for prepubertal patients form the focus of the latter half of this chapter.
Solution of the neutron survival probability equation using k-eigenmode expansion

Abstract A low order expansion in k-eigenmodes of a supercritical medium is shown to yield accurate results for the time dependent neutron chain survival probability as well as its steady state limit, the divergence probability. Numerical results for a 1D nonhomogeneous planar medium, when compared against an established nonlinear eigenvalue solution method, show the eigenmode expansion approach to be remarkably efficient under both weakly and strongly supercritical conditions. Specifically, two to three modes typically suffice to capture the temporal variation of the survival probability and one mode adequately describes the divergence probability for a weakly supercritical medium. Moreover, the dependence of the survival probability on the initiating neutron spatial and angular coordinates stabilizes within a fraction of a neutron lifetime of the chain starting, although the magnitude continues to change with time. Accuracy and numerical performance of the eigenmode expansion method are quantitatively assessed by comparison with the established technique, which itself is first benchmarked using the method of manufactured solutions.
Gothic Nationalism: Iurii Kuznetsov’s Poetic Ideology

Abstract The article examines a curious resurgence of the Gothic mode in late Soviet culture. As the author shows, in the 1970s and 1980s the Gothic served an important function in the fast-developing discourse of Russian nationalism. The article identifies this “nationalist Gothic” in the works of the understudied, yet influential late Soviet poet, Iurii Kuznetsov. Gothic discourse was unusual for mainstream Soviet literature and aesthetics, but this very exoticism also made it appealing for the articulation of a non-conformist historical consciousness. Close readings show how Kuznetsov deployed Gothic conceptions of the lingering presence of an irrational, primordial past as an alternative to the increasingly discredited Soviet ideology of modernity and futurity. In this, the poet articulated the crisis in Soviet society. Tracing Kuznetsov’s career and reputation forward into the post-Soviet years, the article demonstrates how, despite the fact that in a conservative context (such as late Soviet culture), the Gothic aesthetic can serve as a powerful form of cultural criticism, it nevertheless harbors dangerous potential for extreme nationalist and even fascist ideological formations.
Time-Efficient Adaptive Measurement of Change

The adaptive measurement of change (AMC) refers to the use of computerized adaptive testing (CAT) at multiple occasions to efficiently assess a respondent’s improvement, decline, or sameness from occasion to occasion. Whereas previous AMC research focused on administering the most informative item to a respondent at each stage of testing, the current research proposes the use of Fisher information per time unit as an item selection procedure for AMC. The latter procedure incorporates not only the amount of information provided by a given item but also the expected amount of time required to complete it. In a simulation study, the use of Fisher information per time unit item selection resulted in a lower false positive rate in the majority of conditions studied, and a higher true positive rate in all conditions studied, compared to item selection via Fisher information without accounting for the expected time taken. Future directions of research are suggested.
Design and Validation of A 250-kW All-Silicon Carbide High-Density Three-Level T-Type Inverter

This article presents a comprehensive design and validation of a compact all-silicon carbide (SiC) 250-kW T-type traction inverter with a power density of 25 kW/l and 98.5% peak efficiency. All the operation modes and switching transitions in a T-type phase leg are analyzed to model the semiconductor power losses over a fundamental cycle. Special attention has been paid to investigate the behavior and losses due to the reverse conduction of the SiC MOSFETs. Then a loss model is built based upon this analysis to calculate the device loss distribution and system efficiency, which is further used to determine the optimal switching frequency. In addition, detailed inverter system design and prototyping procedure, including the selection of SiC modules and dc-link capacitors, and the optimization of a four-layer laminated busbar, are presented. In this article, the T-type phase leg is formed by a normal half-bridge module and a common-source module. The switching performance and losses in this configuration are different from two-level topology that only uses one SiC module. Therefore, the switching performance and the associated switching energy in each switch position are characterized using a custom clamped inductive load (CIL) test setup designed for a T-type phase leg. The performance of the full power traction inverter prototype has been verified experimentally using pulse testing and continuous power testing.
Writing Group Increases Quality Improvement Writing Competency

Quality improvement (QI) is critically important in current medical practice. Although many QI courses teach improvement science and methods, formal education in writing QI manuscripts for academic journal publication is lacking. The authors developed a QI Writing program, consisting of educational sessions with both coach and peer mentors, to improve comfort and productivity in preparing QI manuscripts for publication. Program participants conducted pre- and post-course QI writing skills self-evaluations in 4 competency domains: SQUIRE guidelines, writing for peer-reviewed journals, QI publication submission steps, and critically examining QI results. Course success was measured by the number of manuscripts submitted for publication. QI writing competencies doubled in 3 of 4 domains and increased 70% in the fourth. Fifteen of 17 (88%) course participants submitted manuscripts to a peer-reviewed journal, and 12 have been accepted to date. A formal writing group with didactic content and committed mentors increases QI writing competencies and manuscript submissions to peer-reviewed journals.
Lewis Pair Polymerization of Renewable Indenone to Erythro-Ditactic High-Tg Polymers with an Upcycling Avenue

Preparation and storage of biorenewable, monomeric indenone, much less the polymerization to a well-defined, high-molecular-weight polymer, is challenging because of antiaromaticity-driven radical autopolymerization. Herein, we report the successful preparation and subsequent Lewis pair polymerization (LPP) of indenone without autopolymerization side reactions using Lewis pairs consisting of sterically encumbered Lewis acid (LA) catalysts, such as B(C6F5)3 and bis(2,6-tert-butyl-4-methylphenoxy)methylaluminum and Lewis base initiators such as silyl ketene acetal and N-heterocyclic olefin nucleophiles. Thus, for the first time, the LPP enabled the synthesis of polyindenone (Pin) with high number-average molecular weight (Mn = 1.72 × 105 g mol–1) and low dispersity (D = 1.13). Observed correlations between the steric bulk of the LA catalyst and diastereoselectivity (57–75%) created the opportunity to model and investigate the relationships between β-substituted monomer motifs, catalyst steric accessibility...
Heme-Sensing Pathway Modulates Susceptibility of Poor Prognosis B-Lineage Acute Leukemia to BH3-Mimetics

Anti-apoptotic MCL1 is one of the most frequently amplified genes in human cancers and elevated expression confers resistance to many therapeutics including the BH3-mimetic agents ABT-199 and ABT-263. The anti-malarial, dihydroartemisinin (DHA) translationally represses MCL-1 and synergizes with BH3-mimetics. To explore how DHA represses MCL-1, a genome-wide CRISPR screen identified that loss of genes in the heme synthesis pathway renders mouse BCR-ABL+ B-ALL cells resistant to DHA-induced death. Mechanistically, DHA disrupts the interaction between heme and the eIF2α kinase heme regulated inhibitor (HRI) triggering the integrated stress response. Genetic ablation of Eif2ak1 , which encodes HRI, blocks MCL-1 repression in response to DHA treatment and represses the synergistic killing of DHA and BH3-mimetics compared to wild-type leukemia. Furthermore, BTdCPU, a small-molecule activator of HRI, similarly triggers MCL-1 repression and synergizes with BH3-mimetics in mouse and human leukemia including both Ph+ and Ph-like B-ALL. Lastly, combinatorial treatment of leukemia bearing mice with both BTdCPU and a BH3-mimetic extended survival and repressed MCL-1 in vivo. These findings reveal for the first time that the HRI-dependent cellular heme-sensing pathway can modulate apoptosis in leukemic cells by repressing MCL-1 and increasing their responsiveness to BH3-mimetics. This signaling pathway could represent a generalizable mechanism for repressing MCL-1 expression in malignant cells and sensitizing them to available therapeutics.
Molecular characterization analysis of one H5N6 subtype influenza virus

Objective One H5N6 subtype avian influenza virus, A/environment/ Zhenjiang/C13/2013, was isolated from environment in Zhenjiang in 2013 during epidemiological surveillance and was identified by HA/HI test and specific RT-PCR test. H5N6 AIV was subjected to genome sequencing to investigate the genomic composition. Methods The next-generation sequencing (NGS) Illumina MiSeq Platform was used to obtain complete genome sequence information from influenza virus isolates. MEGA6.0 software was used to align the eight fragments of the virus. The phylogenetic and molecular characteristics of the isolate were analyzed by Neighbor-Joining method. Results Blast searches demonstrated that the NA gene belonged to the same clade with H6N6 viruses currently circulating in China, whereas the other seven genes were found to be more similar to those of eastern Asian H5N1 AIV strains gene. The amino acid motif of cleavage site between HA1 and HA2 was PLREKRRKR↓GLF, which was the typical characteristics of the HPAIVs. The receptor binding site in the viral HA gene possesses the residues Gln 226 and Gly 228 (H3 numbering), indicating an avian-like receptor binding specificity. Conclusion One H5N6 subtype avian influenza virus was isolated from environment, phylogenetic analysis showed that the NA gene belonged to the same clade with H6N6 viruses. The other seven genes belonged to H5N1 subtype. It suggests that strengthen the continuous surveillance of avian influenza A viruses is necessary. Key words: Avian influenza virus; H5N6 subtype; gene reassortment
Marine Protection as Polycentric Governance: The PEMSEA Network of Local Governments

This study observes environmental city diplomacy in the Global South through the example of the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia Network of Local Governments (PNLG). It offers several theoretical lessons: First, an environmental transnational city network can successfully expand membership into a politically restrictive state when the entry point is highly embedded in global capital flows and houses a strong specialized policy knowledge base. Such is the case of the Chinese city of Xiamen, which translated foreign trade management experience into international governance cooperation competence, leveraged its substantial local knowledge base in coastal management and thus came to be chosen as the home of the PNLG Secretariat. This preceded the expansion of Chinese city membership into PNLG thereafter. Second, the policy performance of member cities over time, including the frequency of implementation of new marine protection policies, is shown to be linked both to PNLG membership activities and frequency policy learning exchanges with other cities, independently of PNLG activities, domestically and internationally. Last, Global South cities, at least through the example of China, would appear to not be as dependent on Global North actors for policy knowledge as posited in existing literature.
Carcinogenesis and lung cancer: 70 years of progress and more to come

This commentary celebrates the 40th year of Carcinogenesis, spanning 1980-2020 with a focus on lung cancer. For lung cancer, these 40 years come toward the end of a century of scientific inquiry that began with descriptions of this highly fatal malignancy and that closes with emphasis on molecular processes and genomics. This commentary gives a historical perspective of lung cancer research as well as a look into the questions that remain to be addressed. Over the 20th century and into the first two decades of the 21st, a series of issues have more or less sequentially been the focus of epidemiological investigation of lung cancer, as questions have been answered and methodologies have evolved. These questions began with whether an epidemic was occurring and continue now with exploration of causal mechanisms and molecular risk predictors. With tobacco smoking firmly established decades ago as a cause of lung cancer, the evidence has long been sufficient to motivate tobacco prevention and control. There is unfinished business as tobacco smoking remains widespread and the industry continues to market new, addicting, products.
Phosphorylation of the selective autophagy receptor TAX1BP1 by canonical and noncanonical IκB kinases promotes its lysosomal localization and clearance of MAVS aggregates

TAX1BP1 is a selective autophagy receptor which inhibits NF-{kappa}B and RIG-I-like receptor (RLR) signaling to prevent excessive inflammation and maintain homeostasis. Selective autophagy receptors such as p62/SQSTM1 and OPTN are phosphorylated by the noncanonical I{kappa}B kinase TBK1 to stimulate their selective autophagy function. However, it is unknown if TAX1BP1 is regulated by TBK1 or other kinases under basal conditions or during RNA virus infection. Here, we found that the noncanonical I{kappa}B kinases TBK1 and IKKi phosphorylate TAX1BP1 to regulate its basal turnover, whereas the canonical I{kappa}B kinase IKK and the core autophagy factor ATG9 play essential roles in RNA virus-mediated TAX1BP1 autophagosomal degradation. TAX1BP1 phosphorylation by canonical and noncanonical I{kappa}B kinases promotes its localization to lysosomes resulting in its degradation. Furthermore, TAX1BP1 plays a critical role in the clearance of MAVS aggregates, and phosphorylation of TAX1BP1 augments its MAVS aggrephagy function. Together, our data support a model whereby I{kappa}B kinases license TAX1BP1 selective autophagy function to inhibit MAVS and RLR signaling. Author SummaryThe RIG-I-like receptor (RLR) pathway induces type I interferon (IFN) and proinflammatory cytokines in response to RNA virus infection. MAVS is a mitochondrial adaptor protein in the RLR pathway that forms prion-like aggregates upon activation; however, how MAVS aggregates are cleared to restore homeostasis is unclear. Autophagy is a lysosomal degradation pathway important for the clearance of potentially cytotoxic protein aggregates that could induce inflammation and/or cell death. TAX1BP1 is a selective autophagy receptor that inhibits RLR signaling, but the precise mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we found that TAX1BP1 is a substrate for multi-site phosphorylation by canonical and noncanonical I{kappa}B kinases which triggered its lysosomal localization and degradation. We also found that TAX1BP1 was critical for the clearance of MAVS aggregates in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. Overall, our data suggest that phosphorylation serves a key regulatory function for TAX1BP1 to inhibit RLR signaling.
TPR1, a novel rifampicin derivative, demonstrates efficacy alone and in combination with doxycycline against the NIAID Category A priority pathogen Francisella tularensis.

Background Francisella tularensis is a highly virulent and contagious Gram-negative intracellular bacterium that causes the disease tularaemia in mammals and is classified as a Category A priority pathogen. Methods We utilized a systematic analysis of antibacterial potency, extent of dissemination by analysis of bacterial burden in a secondary vital organ, and survival rates to assess the efficacy of a novel rifampicin derivative, TPR1. The efficacy of TPR1 was evaluated alone and in combination with the standard of care drug, doxycycline, against type A F. tularensis Schu S4 using a lethal pulmonary model of infection in mice. Results TPR1 has an MIC value range of 0.125-4 mg/L against reference laboratory strain Schu S4 and a panel of clinical strains. TPR1 alone reduced the bacterial burden in the lungs and spleen at 40 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg, and no antagonism was observed when co-administered with doxycycline. Dosing at 40 mg/kg doxycycline reduced the bacterial burden by 1 log10 cfu in the lungs and 4 log10 cfu in the spleen in comparison to untreated controls. Co-administration of TPR1 and doxycycline demonstrated efficacy upon treatment withdrawal after 4 days of treatment, and 100% survival. Conclusions Significantly, TPR1 demonstrated efficacy when delivered alone and in combination with doxycycline, which provides compelling evidence of a superior treatment strategy that would normally rely on a single chemotherapeutic for efficacy. In addition, this work substantiates the use of rifampicin derivatives as a platform for the development of novel treatments to other bacterial agents in addition to tularaemia.
A Decade Review of Two Potential Analysis Altering Variables in Graph Construction

In single-case research designs (SCDs) to determine a functional relation a time-series graph is constructed. Preliminary evidence suggest the approach used to scale the vertical axis and the data points per x- to y-axis ratio (DPPXYR) impact visual analysts' decisions. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate time-series graphs published in the last decade in four premier journals in the field of autism. We included 348 articles including 2675 graphs. We identified large variation across and within types of SCDs when evaluating the lengths of the vertical and horizontal axis using the y:x ratio and the DPPXYR, with few adhering to current recommendations. A majority of graphs used an appropriate method to scale the vertical axis that would not increase Type I error rates.
Beyond Incomplete Spanning: Convenience Yields and Exchange Rate Disconnect

We introduce convenience yields on dollar bonds into an incomplete-market equilibrium model of exchange rates and interest rates. The convenience yield enters as a stochastic wedge in the Euler equation for exchange rate determination. The model identifies a novel safe-asset convenience yield channel by which quantitative easing impacts the dollar exchange rate. Our model addresses three exchange rate puzzles. (1) The model can rationalize the low pass-through of SDF shocks to exchange rates and hence low exchange rate volatility. (2) It helps address but does not fully resolve the exchange rate disconnect puzzle. (3) The model generates an unconditional log currency expected return on the dollar that is in line with the data.
Surface Coordination/Organometallic Chemistry of Monometal and Bimetallic Electrocatalysts

The interaction of selected organic and inorganic functional groups, which are reversibly electroactive and strongly surface-active, with monometal (Rh, Pd, Ir, Pt, Au) and mixed-metal (Au-Pt, Ag-Pt) electrocatalysts has been studied to help establish the interfacial organometallic/coordination chemistry of these metals in aqueous solutions. Experimental measurements were based upon thin-layer electrochemical and ultra-high vacuum surface spectroscopic methods; the latter included low-energy electron diffraction, Auger electron spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and thermal desorption mass spectrometry. The results to date indicate the following trends: (i) Electrode surface phenomena can be modeled in terms of monometal and cluster coordination/organometallic chemistry. (ii) Chemisorption is analogous to oxidative addition; desorption is similar to reductive elimination. (iii) Chemisorption of an electroactive center favors its oxidized state over the reduced form. (iv) Chemisorption of electroinactive anionic reagents forms polyprotic surface acids. (v) Substrate-mediated interactions between pendant electroactive centers may arise if the redox group itself is surface-active. (vi) Substrate-mediated adsorbate-adsorbate interactions can be viewed similarly to mixed-valence complexes.
Must We Mean What We Say?: The Avoidance of Love

A common way to remember the history of writing about Shakespeare is to say that until Bradley's Shakespearean Tragedy appeared in 1904, and culminating there, its main tradition had concentrated on Shakespeare's characters, whereas in recent generations emphasis has fallen on general patterns of meaning, systems of image or metaphor or symbol now taking the brunt of significance. Like most intellectual maps, this one is not only crude but fails worst in locating the figures one would like best to reach: Can Coleridge or Bradley really be understood as interested in characters rather than in the words of the play; or are the writings of Empson or G. Wilson Knight well used in saying that they are interested in what is happening in the words rather than what is happening in the speakers of the words? It is, however, equally easy and unhelpful to say that both ends of the tradition have been interested both in characters and in their words, first because this suggests that there are two things each end is interested in, whereas both would or should insist that they are interested only in one thing, the plays themselves; second, because there is clearly a shift in emphasis within that tradition, and a way of remarking that shift is to say that it moves away from studies of character into studies of words, and because such a shift raises problems of history and of criticism that ought not to be muffled in handy accommodations.
Government and Military Assessment

The chapter explores government and military language testing with its purposes, perspectives, and challenges. It focuses on the US context, but includes information about government and military language testing elsewhere as well. The chapter includes a history of government and military language testing, its context and purposes, and explores different types of testing, including aptitude, proficiency, and performance testing, with particular attention paid to the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) and Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Challenges for government language testing are discussed, and the chapter concludes with a section on intergovernmental cooperation. Keywords: Government; politics; and law; Language for specific purposes; Translation
Biology of SV40 transplantation antigen (TrAg). I. Demonstration of SV40 TrAg on glutaraldehyde-fixed SV40-infected African green monkey kidney cells.

Abstract The synthesis of papovavirus SV40 transplantation antigen (TrAg) in SV40-infected permissive African green monkey kidney cells (TC7) was demonstrated by using the in vivo transplantation-rejection test. Adult BALB c mice immunized with SV40-infected cells, which had been fixed with 0.25% glutaraldehyde for 5 min at room temperature, rejected a challenge of syngeneic virus-free SV40-transformed mouse cells (VLM). Fixed uninfected TC-7 cells failed to induce transplantation immunity against VLM cells in mice. The induction of SV40 tumor immunity in mice after immunization with glutaraldehyde-fixed infected TC-7 cells was mediated by the TrAg synthesized in permissive monkey cells as a result of virus infection, rather than by the residual infectious virus in the glutaraldehyde-fixed infected cells. The treatment of infectious SV40 with 0.25% glutaraldehyde drastically reduced both viral infectivity and tumor immunity-inducing ability of the virus. Glutaraldehyde-inactivated virus also failed to induce SV40 T antigen in monkey cells, thus ruling out any possibility that the inactivated cell-associated virus was responsible for the induction of tumor immunity in vivo. The amount of infectious SV40 required to induce detectable tumor immunity was found to be 2 × 105 PFU of virus administered to adult mice, and is far greater than the amount of virus (1 × 104 PFU) which remained associated with SV40-infected monkey cells after fixation of cells with glutaraldehyde. The synthesis of SV40 TrAg in SV40-infected TC-7 cells was inhibited by 5 μg/ml of actinomycin D, but not by 15 μg/ml of cytosine arabinoside, indicating that transcription in the infected cells, but not viral-DNA synthesis, is required for the expression of TrAg. By using 0.25% glutaraldehyde to fix infected cells, it should be possible to test available temperature-sensitive mutants of SV40 for their ability to synthesize TrAg at the nonpermissive temperature, as the glutaraldehyde fixation reduces infectivity of intracellular and extracellular virus, stops the infectious cycle at a particular stage, and preserves immunogenicity of TrAg.
Where Have You Been? Secure Location Provenance for Mobile Devices

With the advent of mobile computing, location-based services have recently gained popularity. Many applications use the location provenance of users, i.e., the chronological history of the users' location for purposes ranging from access control, authentication, information sharing, and evaluation of policies. However, location provenance is subject to tampering and collusion attacks by malicious users. In this paper, we examine the secure location provenance problem. We introduce a witness-endorsed scheme for generating collusion-resistant location proofs. We also describe two efficient and privacy-preserving schemes for protecting the integrity of the chronological order of location proofs. These schemes, based on hash chains and Bloom filters respectively, allow users to prove the order of any arbitrary subsequence of their location history to auditors. Finally, we present experimental results from our proof-of-concept implementation on the Android platform and show that our schemes are practical in today's mobile devices.
Recommendations for improvements in the design and operation of future solar central receiver power plants based on experience gained from the Solar One Pilot Plant

The Solar One Pilot Plant successfully demonstrated the feasibility of solar central receiver power plants. During its operating years many data were collected regarding the efficiency and availability of the various plant systems. The author summarizes these statistics and compares them with goals developed by the Department of Energy. On the basis of this comparison, design and operation improvements are recommended. >
Clinical outcomes in telepsychiatry

A retrospective review of patient records comparing clinical outcomes of patients seen by interactive television (IATV) and those seen in person was carried out to determine whether IATV reduced the quality of psychiatric care. A Global Assessment of Functioning(GAF) score was determined for each patient in both the study and control groups at the initial visit, and at subsequent visits. Forty-nine patients with either major depression or schizoaffective disorder were studied. No significant difference was found in the percentage change in GAF scores between the two groups, which suggests that clinical outcomes were not affected by the use of IATV. Patients seen by IATV had a greater attendance rate and follow-up visits took less than half the time compared with in-person visits, indicating that IATV was an acceptable and efficient method of providing psychiatric services.
Pupillary response to methadone challenge in heroin users

The relationship between self-reported illicit heroin use and pupillary response to a low-dose methadone challenge was examined in 28 men beginning methadone therapy for opiate dependence. Pupil diameter was assessed before and 60, 90, and 120 minutes after a 20 mg methadone dose on day 1 of treatment. Self-reports of opiate drug effects were also taken at these times. There was a significant negative correlation (r = -0.53) between pupillary constriction 120 minutes after drug dosing and the average dollar value of subjects' reported heroin use per week. In other words, those who showed the least pupillary constriction generally reported the highest amount of illicit heroin use. Total years since first opiate use was also a significant predictor of pupillary response (r = -0.46). Self-reported amount of heroin use and years since first opiate use together accounted for 60% of the total variance in pupillary response to the challenge (Mult r = 0.77). Pupillary response to a low-dose methadone challenge appears to be a clinically practical and objective method for determining opiate tolerance levels in applicants for methadone therapy.
Bioinspired, uncooled chitin photomechanical sensor for thermal infrared sensing

We have designed and fabricated a novel, polymer-ceramic bimorph infrared (IR) sensing element for uncooled operations. The developed sensors utilize biopolymer chitin on ceramic beams, which deflect with changing temperature due to the mismatch in thermal expansion coefficients of the two materials. This is the first known instance of a polysaccharide-based material used in the development of IR sensors. To maximize the bi-material bending effect, a thin layer of chitin is deposited onto a stiff layer of polysilicon. As in nature, chitin makes an ideal absorbing layer for the sensors because of its high thermal expansion coefficient and natural vibrational resonances in the IR range. Experiments using finite element analysis (FEA) simulation showed that the sensitivity of the polymer-ceramic bimorph sensor was 50 times of the sensitivity of the commonly-used metal-ceramic bimorph sensor. The proposed device offers high sensitivity and significant cost savings compared to existing competitive technologies.
The Development of a String Sight-Reading Pitch Skill Hierarchy

This study was designed to determine a pitch skill hierarchy for string sight-reading, to determine the effects of key on string sight-reading achievement, and to determine the validity of a tonal ...
A conformational epitope on the dimer of the fusion protein of respiratory syncytial virus detected in natural infections

A murine monoclonal antibody (MAb), 2D8, was used in immunofluorescence reactions to detect respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) antigen in clinical specimens. Nasopharyngeal epithelial cells from 63 of 66 children with RSV infections reacted with this MAb. The MAb was further characterized and was demonstrated to recognize a conformational epitope on the dimer of the fusion protein of RSV. No reaction was detected with the MAb, 2D8, on Western blots of antigen prepared from RSV-infected HEp-2 cells under reducing conditions. Under non-reducing conditions, 2D8 reacted with a 145-170 K protein; this reactivity was lost when the antigen preparation was heated to 100 degrees C. 2D8 reacted with purified F glycoprotein of RSV Long in an ELISA, neutralized infectivity of RSV by >50% at a dilution of 1:500, and was able to inhibit cell-to-cell fusion of RSV-infected cells. In a competitive ELISA, the epitope detected by 2D8 was localized to antigenic site A. The conformational epitope detected by 2D8 required protein dimerization and glycosylation for full reactivity. This report extends previous characterizations of the F protein in its native state in that the MAb defines a conformational epitope on the fusion protein dimer that is expressed in natural infections and elicits antibody that can neutralize virus infectivity and inhibit cell-to-cell fusion. In addition to its application as a diagnostic reagent, this MAb can be of use in testing preparations of RSV or purified F protein in which the purification or extraction processes could have destroyed conformational epitopes.
Engineering software-'abstract' math made practical

A wide variety of mathematics programs that carry out exploratory analysis data, develop new algorithms for signal analysis, and analyze a whole host of engineering applications are discussed. As a group, math programs are diverse, but large subgroups are identified, based on how they are principally used. The subgroups are: exploratory math analysis, number crunching, and general math. Current offerings on the commercial mathematical software market are described. A listing of many of the programs currently available, which includes an outline of platform availability, requirements, and enhancements, is presented. >
The heart beats to reward: the effect of monetary incentive on heart rate.

Two experiments are reported which test the hypothesis that heart rate increases will be seen in response to monetary incentives during performance on a continuous motor task. In the first study, heart rate was significantly higher when subjects were paid 2o for each success feedback compared to subjects who received feedback only. In contrast, there was no effect of varying the probability of success (10% versus 90% success). Study 2 replicated the monetary incentive effect on heart rate, this time employing 100% success feedback. In neither study were subjects' response rates significantly affected by monetary incentive. In addition, control groups responding much faster on the task as a result of making it more predictable did not show increased heart rate. Consequently, these incentive effects are difficult to explain with a cardiac-somatic coupling interpretation. It was concluded that cardiac acceleration does occur in response to monetary incentives, even in the absence of failure feedback, and it was proposed that this incentive effect reflects the activation of an appetitive motivational system. Possible applications of the assessment of appetitive responses are suggested.
Characterization and Investigation of Deformation During Microextrusion Using X-Ray Texture Analyses

In microforming scaling down the size of the process while the grain size is kept relatively constant usually results in inhomogeneous deformation. In most works, the inhomogeneous deformation of miniaturized samples is presented and evaluated by microstructure analyses of the deformed grains. However, in certain microforming processes, such as microextrusion, where the final texture of the conventional macro size samples is well known, texture analyses can provide useful information about the deformation. In our past research, extrusion experiments were performed to produce sub-millimeter sized pins having a base diameter of 0.76 mm and an extruded diameter of 0.57 mm. Curvature of differing degrees and directions was observed in workpieces with a coarse grain size of 211 μm. However, a similar effect did not occur in workpieces with a fine grain size of 32 μm. Microstructure analyses showed that when the sample size approaches the grain size, the deformation becomes inhomogeneous and the properties of individual grains can dominate the overall deformation of their cross-sections. Moreover, microhardness measurements revealed that deformation size effects are present and as a result the coarse grained pins strain hardened more than the fine grained pins during microextrusion. This result along with microstructure analyses suggested that the coarse grains in the central region possibly undergo more shear deformation. In this paper, X-ray texture analyses of the pins were performed to validate that there is penetration of shear deformation into the central regions of the coarse grained pins. Also, the texture analyses point to the possibility that the deformation in the curved region of the coarse grained pins is not axially symmetric which causes the curvature observed.© 2007 ASME
Arsenic trioxide as first-line treatment for acute promyelocytic leukemia

Purpose. The history, clinical pharmacology and toxicities, and role of arsenic trioxide as a first-line agent for treating acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) are described. Summary. APL is most often characterized by the hallmark reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 15 and 17, leading to the fusion of the promyelocytic gene and retinoic acid receptor α. Arsenic’s therapeutic utility as an antileukemic agent was first described in the late 18th century. Arsenic trioxide demonstrates a dual, dose-dependent mechanism of action and can induce both partial myeloid differentiation and apoptosis. Arsenic trioxide is generally well tolerated, with reversible toxicities rarely requiring discontinuation of therapy. Toxicities associated with arsenic trioxide include leukocytosis, Q-T interval prolongation, APL differentiation syndrome, and hepatotoxicity. Since 2000, arsenic trioxide has been used as the standard of care for relapsed APL, with remission rates greater than 80% as a single agent. In an attempt to maximize disease-free survival and minimize relapse rates in patients with APL, arsenic trioxide is now being investigated as first-line therapy in the management of APL, with several studies showing promising outcomes. When used alone or in combination with tretinoin, the rates of complete remission have exceeded 85%, with high rates of molecular remission. Conclusion. Arsenic trioxide, alone or in combination with tretinoin, as first-line therapy in newly diagnosed APL has resulted in high rates of complete remission and molecular remission. Arsenic trioxide combined with tretinoin has shortened the time to achieve complete remission and lengthened disease-free survival, findings that suggest the usefulness of the regimen as first-line treatment for APL.
High-field magnetic susceptibility (χHF) as a proxy of biogenic sedimentation along the Antarctic Peninsula

Abstract High-field mass-normalized magnetic susceptibility (χHF) is presented as a proxy for biogenic sedimentation in glacimarine sediment from the western Antarctic Peninsula. χHF is measured at field strengths that exceed the saturation field of ferrimagnetic minerals. These measurement conditions exclude the contributions of ferrimagnetic iron oxides that dominate low-field volume-normalized susceptibility (k) measurements. Therefore, χHF allows for closer examination of paramagnetic and diamagnetic minerals, the latter of which includes biogenic silica and biogenic calcite. In sedimentary sequences from the western Antarctic Peninsula, the main processes affecting the abundance of diamagnetic material in sediment is biological productivity and the subsequent flux of biogenic silica to the seafloor. χHF profiles were measured on two biosiliceous sediment cores from the western Antarctic Peninsula. Comparisons with quantitative biogenic silica measurements indicate that χHF tracks % opaline silica very well, and reveals the presence of century-scale cycles in sediment composition in intervals where k appears featureless. χHF is limited as a quantitative measure of biogenic sediment flux, since terrigenous paramagnetic and diamagnetic minerals also contribute to the measurement. The interpretation of χHF can also be complicated by the presence of unsaturated high-coercivity minerals such as hematite and goethite, or by the presence of ultra-fine superparamagnetic (SP) particles. However, in sediment sequences where the condition of saturation is met, χHF is very well suited for the rapid identification of temporal trends in biogenic sedimentation.
Research on job-shop scheduling optimization method with limited resources

Job-shop scheduling is an important subject in the fields of production management and combinatorial optimization. It is also an urgent problem to be solved in actual production. It is usually difficult to achieve the optimal solution with classical methods, due to a high computational complexity (NP-Hard). According to the nature of job-shop scheduling, a solution based on a particle swarm optimiser (PSO) is presented in this paper. In addition to establishing a job-shop scheduling model based on PSO, we have researched the coding and optimized operation of PSO. We have also considered more suitable methods of coding and operation for job-shop scheduling as well as the target function and calculation of the proper figure. The software system of job-shop scheduling is developed according to the PSO algorithm. Test simulations illustrate that the PSO algorithm is a suitable and effective approach for solving the job-shop scheduling problem.
The structure of the chicken glutamine synthetase-encoding gene

Complementary DNA (cDNA) and genomic clones encoding chicken glutamine synthetase (Glns) have been isolated. The nucleotide (nt) sequence of the 2728-bp cDNA specifies a 91-nt 5' untranslated sequence, a 1119-nt open reading frame, and a 1518-nt 3' untranslated sequence that contains several A + T-rich regions but lacks a canonical endonucleolytic-cleavage/polyadenylation signal. Based on sequence analysis of the cloned gene, the Glns transcription unit spans 7.0 kb and contains seven exons.
Updating the Akira Iriye Synthesis

Akira Iriye's Across the Pacific first appeared in 1967, two years after publication of his dissertation, five years after he received his Ph.D. from Harvard, and ten years after he began graduate work: two books and a doctorate in ten years. Since then the pace has quickened. Across the Pacific is a deceptively simple book. It leads the student into the complexities of American-East Asian relations by way of familiar popular assumptions and stereotypes. Footnote-free, non technical, the narrative moves the interplay of perception and policy deftly around the American-Chinese-Japanese triangle. Its thesis is compelling that ignorance and misperception on all sides fostered imaginary friendship, misunderstanding, and enmity. The book is a brilliant synthesis. It has been a requisite introduction to American-East Asian rela tions, greatly admired as such by students, but it is not superficial. It is sound as well as innovative: its policy side presenting the latest scholarship at the time from each national perspective and its percep tion side penetrating virtually new terrain. For the period it covers, the scholarship and interpretation of the 1967 edition remain largely valid today. Now we have an updated version, available in paperbound and clothbound copies. In Across the Pacific: An Inner History of American East Asian Relations, revised edition (Chicago: Imprint Publications, 1992; xxii + 424 pp.), the original has not been changed. Iriye has added two chapters to bring the story to the present and a short bibliography of recent works. The new edition makes this classic available again. One expects a synthesis to appear later in a career, after years of crafting the parts in monographs and articles. With Akira Iriye it came almost first and seems to have had the opposite function of laying out the field in which he planned to work—essentially twenti eth century American-East Asian relations—and the sort of interna tional history he wanted to write. He set out, first, to write truly multinational and multicultural history. With his extraordinary command of the relevant languages,
On the Steady Motions of a Rotating Elastic Rod

Bunding 45 2130 Eighth Street, Suite 1, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7765 In this paper, a model for the deformation of a rotating prismatic rod-like body is developed and analyzed. The novel feature of the model is its incorporation of the Poisson effect. As a result, it provides realistic solutions for the deformed states of steadily rotating rods. The model presented in this paper is also simplified to a nonlinear version of a classical model for rotating rods, Numerical continuation is used to solve the boundary value problems associated with these models.