cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Digital Diaries, Dreams and Drama: Southern African New Media Literatures and The Dream of a Kwanyama Girl

In a Facebook post concerning the end of their fictional narrative The Dream of a Kwanyama Girl, the anonymous author offered an explanation that encapsulates the precarious position of Namibian literature in the context of world literature. Their posting revealed to their public that they found a publisher eager to print their work as a book: “If I die today” they write, “this page will end…it will only be said [opuwo ngaho... Takutiwa ngo] ‘there was once a page called The Dream of a Kwanyama Girl.’” Despite the popularity of their Facebook narrative online, the author acknowledged that their true entry into the world republic of letters relies on the publication of their writing as a physical, tangible book. Their desire to be read beyond Facebook reveals both the transformative power of what Pascale Casanova calls “an international literary law” as well as the undemocratic and precarious nature of online spaces. The Dream of a Kwanyama Girl’s emergence and circulation both within the local and global context are characteristic of the problems that African literatures encounter as they are produced and circulate in the world. If African literary traditions are inherently transnational and multilingual, then African literature ought already to be understood as world literature, circulating readily across languages, territories and reading communities. And yet, from Casanova to Damrosch to Deleuze, African literature is only infrequently referenced in discussions of world literature. The Dream’s dependence on Facebook as a platform for its serialized production and eventual dissemination affirms a complex interplay between the local and regional in literary production and circulation. The novel grows out of local events specific to Namibia, and its genre echoes that of similar digital writing across Southern Africa. Furthermore, its interactive composition—in which Facebook allows the author to interact with the readers in the writing process—facilitates a broader “space of literary communication” with implications both for fictional characters and the overall direction of the story. With its entwined modes of composition, address and publication, The Dream of a Kwanyama Girl allows us to provincialize the Eurocentric print history that often structures the genres and circulation practices integral to discussions of world literature more generally.
Automated radiomic analysis of CT images to predict likelihood of spontaneous passage of symptomatic renal stones

To evaluate the ability of a semi-automated radiomic analysis software in predicting the likelihood of spontaneous passage of urinary stones compared with manual measurements. Symptomatic patients visiting the emergency department with suspected stones in either kidney or ureters who underwent a CT scan were included. Patients were followed for up to 6 months for the outcome of a trial of passage. Maximum stone diameters in axial and coronal images were measured manually. Stone length, width, height, max diameter, volume, the mean and standard deviation of the Hounsfield units, and morphologic features were also measured using automated radiomic analysis software. Multivariate models were developed using these data to predict subsequent spontaneous stone passage, with results expressed as the area under a receiver operating curve (AUC). One hundred eighty-four patients (69 females) with a median age of 56 years were included. Spontaneous stone passage occurred in 114 patients (62%). Univariate analysis demonstrated an AUC of 0.83 and 0.82 for the maximum stone diameter determined manually in the axial and coronal planes, respectively. Multivariate models demonstrated an AUC of 0.82 for a model including manual measurement of maximum stone diameter in axial and coronal planes. The same AUC was found for a model including automatic measurement of maximum height and diameter of the stone. Further addition of morphological parameters measured automatically did not increase AUC beyond 0.83. The semi-automated radiomic analysis of urinary stones shows similar accuracy compared with manual measurements for predicting urinary stone passage. Further studies are needed to predict clinical impacts of reporting the likelihood of urinary stone passage and improving inter-observer variation using automatic radiomic analysis software.
Understanding middle graders’ language borrowing: how lexical and demographic characteristics predict similarity

Language borrowing from sources is a phenomenon used by developing writers as they are learning academic language, though there is much to be learned about how younger students borrow from sources. This study explores student writing, from a sample of 166 diverse middle graders, across topics to determine patterns in borrowing from instructional source texts. Computational techniques were used to identify borrowing, defined as similarity in pairs of sentences from student texts and instructional texts. Qualitative analyses of the sentence pairs that included borrowing showed that position statements, borrowed in part or whole, represent the majority of borrowing. Students also made superficial edits to sentences from instructional text by substituting or deleting words, but rarely adding words. Quantitative analyses of the sentence pairs revealed that more difficult words (longer, less frequent) were more likely to be borrowed. We found no differences in amounts of borrowing among students with varying English fluency levels (as measured by grade, standardized English test scores, and English language designation). Lastly, we examined whether borrowing was related to writing quality and found no effect. Using a unique combination of methodological approaches, we provide information about patterns of borrowing and point toward considerations of how students integrate instructional text into writing.
Single Cell Genomics Identifies Unique Cardioprotective Phenotype of Stem Cells derived from Epicardial Adipose Tissue under Ischemia

The conventional management strategies of myocardial infarction (MI) are effective to sustain life; however, myocardial regeneration has not been achieved owing to the inherently poor regenerative capacity of the native myocardium. Stem cell-based therapies are promising; however, lineage specificity and undesired differentiation profile are challenging. Herein, we focused on the epicardial fat (EF) as an ideal source for mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) owing to the proximity and same microvasculature with cardiac muscle. Unfortunately, the epicardial adipose tissue derived stem cells (EATDS) remain understudied regarding their phenotype heterogeneity and cardiac regeneration potential. As EF closely reflects the cardiac pathology during ischemia, the present study aims to determine the EATDS subpopulations under simulated ischemic and reperfused conditions employing single cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq). EATDS were isolated from three hyperlipidemic Yucatan microswine and were divided into Control, Ischemia (ISC), and Ischemia/reperfusion (ISC/R). The scRNAseq analysis was performed using 10 genomics platform which revealed 18 unique cell clusters suggesting the existence of heterogeneous phenotypes. The upregulated genes were taken into consideration and subsequent functional assessment revealed the cardioprotective phenotypes with diverse mechanisms including epigenetic regulation (Cluster 1), myocardial homeostasis (Cluster 1), cell integrity and cell cycle (Clusters 2 and 3), prevention of fibroblast differentiation (Cluster 4), differentiation to myocardial lineage (Cluster 6), anti-inflammatory responses (Clusters 5, 8, and 11), prevention of ER-stress (Cluster 9), and increasing the energy metabolism (Cluster 10). These unique phenotypes of heterogeneous EATDS population open significant translational opportunities for myocardial regeneration and cardiac management.
SU‐E‐T‐635: Process Mapping of Eye Plaque Brachytherapy

Purpose: To apply a risk-based assessment and analysis technique (AAPM TG 100) to eye plaque brachytherapy treatment of ocular melanoma. Methods: The role and responsibility of personnel involved in the eye plaque brachytherapy is defined for retinal specialist, radiation oncologist, nurse and medical physicist. The entire procedure was examined carefully. First, major processes were identified and then details for each major process were followed. Results: Seventy-one total potential modes were identified. Eight major processes (corresponding detailed number of modes) are patient consultation (2 modes), pretreatment tumor localization (11), treatment planning (13), seed ordering and calibration (10), eye plaque assembly (10), implantation (11), removal (11), and deconstruction (3), respectively. Half of the total modes (36 modes) are related to physicist while physicist is not involved in processes such as during the actual procedure of suturing and removing the plaque. Conclusion: Not only can failure modes arise from physicist-related procedures such as treatment planning and source activity calibration, but it can also exist in more clinical procedures by other medical staff. The improvement of the accurate communication for non-physicist-related clinical procedures could potentially be an approach to prevent human errors. More rigorous physics double check would reduce the error for physicist-related procedures. Eventually, based on this detailed process map, failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) will identify top tiers of modes by ranking all possible modes with risk priority number (RPN). For those high risk modes, fault tree analysis (FTA) will provide possible preventive action plans.
ATYPICAL MYCOBACTERIA AS A PROBABLE CAUSE OF CHRONIC BONE DISEASE: A REPORT OF TWO CASES.

Two cases of chronic and apparently inflammatory bone and lung disease are presented in which the offending organisms are thought to be atypical mycobacteria. Scotochromogens were found in smears and cultures of material obtained from the bone lesions and gastric washings. The patients had features which appear to be characteristic of infections due to atypical mycobacteria, i.e., paucity of symptoms, poor response to antituberculosis therapy, and chronicity. The two cases strongly suggest that these organisms have the ability to cause bone disease. It is felt that awareness of this possibility will probably uncover other cases in which the demonstration of “yellow” acid-fast bacilli would otherwise be attributed to accidental contamination.
Integrating neuroscience, psychology, and evolutionary biology through a teleological conception of function

The idea of integrating evolutionary biology and psychology has great promise, but one that will be compromised if psychological functions are conceived too abstractly and neuroscience is not allowed to play a contructive role. We argue that the proper integration of neuroscience, psychology, and evolutionary biology requires a telelogical as opposed to a merely componential analysis of function. A teleological analysis is required in neuroscience itself; we point to traditional and curent research methods in neuroscience, which make critical use of distinctly teleological functional considerations in brain cartography. Only by invoking teleological criteria can researchers distinguish the fruitful ways of identifying brain components from the myriad of possible ways. One likely reason for reluctance to turn to neuroscience is fear of reduction, but we argue that, in the context of a teleological perspective on function, this concern is misplaced. Adducing such theoretical considerations as top-down and bottom-up constraints on neuroscientific and psychological models, as well as existing cases of productive, multidisciplinary cooperation, we argue that integration of neuroscience into psychology and evolutionary biology is likely to be mutually beneficial. We also show how it can be accommodated methodologically within the framework of an interfield theory.
Bayesian comparison of econometric models

This paper integrates and extends some recent computational advances in Bayesian inference with the objective of more fully realizing the Bayesian promise of coherent inference and model comparison in economics. It combines Markov chain Monte Carlo and independence Monte Carlo with importance sampling to provide an efficient and generic method for updating posterior distributions. It exploits the multiplicative decomposition of marginalized likelihood into predictive factors, to compute posterior odds ratios efficiently and with minimal further investment in software. It argues for the use of predictive odds ratios in model comparison in economics. Finally, it suggests procedures for public reporting that will enable remote clients to conveniently modify priors, form posterior expectations of their own functions of interest, and update the posterior distribution with new observations. A series of examples explores the practicality and efficiency of these methods. This paper was initially prepared as the inaugural Colin Clark Lecture, Australasian Meetings of the Econometric Society, July 1994. I wish to acknowledge helpful comments made at this meeting, in seminars at Cambridge University, Federal Reserve System Board of Governors, Harvard-M.I.T., University of Kansas, University of Minnesota, Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, and University of Virginia, and at the 1994 summer and 1995 winter North American meetings of the Econometric Society, the 1994 North American and world meetings of the International Society for Bayesian Analysis, and the 1995 Bath international workshop on model comparison. The paper has benefited from discussions with Jim Berger, Gary Chamberlain, Jon Faust, Bill Griffiths, Peter Phillips, Christopher Sims, Mark Steel and Arnold Zellner. Remaining errors and shortcomings are entirely the author’s. Zhenyu Wang provided research assistance. This work was supported in part by National Science Foundation Grant SES-9210070. The views expressed in this paper are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis or the Federal Reserve System.
Infrared Vibrational Predissociation Spectroscopy of Small Molecular Clusters

The structure and interaction of small molecular clusters have been the subject of extensive studies. Molecular beam electric resonance spectroscopy [1], Fourier-transform microwave spectroscopy [2] and pressure induced infrared absorption spectra [3] have provided information concerning the ground state structure and the intermolecular potential energy surface for a large number of binary systems. Recently, vibrational predissociation experiments using molecular beam techniques and tunable infrared lasers have measured the infrared absorption spectra and dynamical properties of many van der Waals and hydrogen bonded clusters.
The Feynman integral of quadratic potentials depending on $n$ time variables

Let C 1 [0, T ] denote (one-parameter) Wiener space; that is the space of continuous functions x on [0, T ] such that x(0 ) = 0. In a recent expository essay [21], Nelson calls attention to some functions on Wiener space which were discussed in the book of Feynman and Hibbs [13, section 3-10] and in Feynman’s original paper [12, section 13]. These functions have the form
Patients with Chiari malformation Type I presenting with acute neurological deficits: case series.

Object A subset of patients with Chiari malformation Type I (CM-I) presented with acute onset of a neurological deficit. In this study the authors summarize their experience with these patients' clinical presentation, imaging results, timing of surgery, and outcome following decompression. Methods The authors reviewed clinical records, imaging studies, and operative notes from all patients undergoing posterior fossa decompression for CM-I at St. Louis Children's Hospital from 1990 to 2008. Of the 189 patients who underwent surgery, 6 were identified with the acute onset of a neurological deficit at presentation. Results All 6 children (age range 3–14 years, 3 boys and 3 girls) had either syringomyelia (5 patients) or T2 signal changes in the spinal cord (1 patient) and CM-I on initial MR imaging. Three patients presented after minor trauma (1 with paraparesis, 2 with sensory deficits). Three patients presented without a clear history of trauma (1 with abrupt onset of spontaneous dysphagia and ataxia, 2 wi...
Activation of group I and group II metabotropic glutamate receptors causes LTD and LTP of electrical synapses in the rat thalamic reticular nucleus

Compared with the extensive characterization of chemical synaptic plasticity, electrical synaptic plasticity remains poorly understood. Electrical synapses are strong and prevalent among the GABAergic neurons of the rodent thalamic reticular nucleus. Using paired whole-cell recordings, we show that activation of Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) induces long-term depression of electrical synapses. Conversely, activation of the Group II mGluR, mGluR3, induces long-term potentiation of electrical synapses. By testing downstream targets, we show that modifications induced by both mGluR groups converge on the same signaling cascade—adenylyl cyclase to cAMP to protein kinase A—but with opposing effects. Furthermore, the magnitude of modification is inversely correlated to baseline coupling strength. Thus, electrical synapses, like their chemical counterparts, undergo both strengthening and weakening forms of plasticity, which should play a significant role in thalamocortical function.
Analysis of autosomal polygenic variation for the expression of Haldane's rule in flour beetles.

Haldane's rule states that, in interspecific crosses, when hybrid viability or fertility is diminished more in one sex of the hybrids than in the other, the heterogametic sex is more adversely affected. We used quantitative genetic methods to investigate the genetic basis of variation for the expression of the viability aspect of Haldane's rule when Tribolium castaneum males are crossed to Tribolium freemani females. Using a half-sib design, we found significant genetic variance for the expression of Haldane's rule, i.e., variation among T. castaneum sires in the hybrid sex ratios produced by their sons. We also derived 23 independent lineages from the same base population by 8 generations of brother-sister mating. From the same experiments, we also found heritable variation among surviving hybrid males in the incidence of antennal deformities. Upon inbreeding, the variance of both traits (hybrid sex ratio and proportion deformities) increased substantially but the means changed little. Because fitness within T. castaneum lineages declined substantially with inbreeding, we infer that hybrid male viability may have a different genetic basis than viability fitness within species. Deleterious recessive alleles held within species by mutation/selection balance appear not to be a major contributor to hybrid incompatibility.
Sulfur and carbon cycling in a flue gas desulfurization sludge disposal site.

Abstract Products of a power plant flue gas desulfurization scrubber are discharged into a pond as sludge consisting of calcite (initial δ13C 3.2–3.8‰), gypsum (initial δ34S 7.6–8.6‰), and aqueous solution. Reducing conditions exist below a boundary that appears to move vertically as a function of changes in pond water level. Under reducing conditions, bacteria partially reduce aqueous sulfate to low-δ34S sulfide, consuming organic carbon and generating low-δ13C bicarbonate. Under oxidizing conditions, sulfide is converted to sulfate, leading to calcite dissolution, gypsum precipitation, and isotopic re-equilibration of remaining calcite with dissolved bicarbonate near the pond surface. The gypsum has δ34S near 6‰, and calcite has δ13C as low as -1.7‰; the changes from initial values correspond to predictions based on isotopic balance and reaction stoichiometry. The pond largely contains the products of bacterial reduction. After the pond is abandoned, these products may adversely affect attempts to reveg...
Peer victimization in youth with Tourette syndrome and other chronic tic disorders.

Chronic tic disorders including Tourette syndrome have negative impact across multiple functional domains. We explored associations between peer victimization status and tic subtypes, premonitory urges, internalizing symptoms, explosive outbursts, and quality of life among youth with chronic tic disorders, as part of the internet-based omnibus Tourette Syndrome Impact Survey. A mixed methods design combined child self-report and parental proxy-report (i.e., parent reporting on the child) demographic and quantitative data for affected youth ages 10–17 years addressing gender, mean age, ethnicity and other socioeconomic features, and presence of tic disorders and co-occurring psychiatric disorders. Peer “Victim” versus “Non-victim” status was determined using a subset of four questions about being bullied. “Victim” status was identified for those youth who endorsed the frequency of the occurrence of being bullied in one or more of the four questions as “most of the time” or “all of the time”. Data from 211 eligible youth respondents and their parents/guardians showed 26% reporting peer victimization. Victim status was associated with greater tic frequency, complexity and severity; explosive outbursts; internalizing symptoms; and lower quality of life. Peer victimization among youth with chronic tic disorders is common and appears associated with tic morbidity, anxiety, depression, explosive outbursts, and poorer psychosocial functioning. Anticipatory guidance, specific bullying screening and prevention, and further studies are indicated in this population.
Subtilin-An Antibiotic Produced by Bacillus subtilis. I. Action on Various Organisms.∗:

SummaryThe antibacterial product, subtilin, obtained from Bacillus subtills was found to be active chiefly against Gram-positive bacteria. Two notable exceptions to the rule were Neisseria catarrhalis and N. gonorrhoeae, both Gram-negative, but also antagonized by subtilin. Acid-fast organisms, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, were also found to be susceptible to the antibiotic. The agent produced a bacteriostatic action in high dilution and a germicidal effect in greater concentration. A number of pathogenic higher fungi were also found to be susceptible to subtilin.
‘We had lighter tongues’: Making and mediating Gullah/Geechee personhood in the South Carolina Lowcountry

Abstract Two historic institutions in the South Carolina Lowcountry, the Avery Institute/Avery Research Center and Penn School/Penn Center, played a central role in cultivating a complex Gullah community through the construction of construable and consumable Gullah identities. This ethnography explores how the ideological transitions undergone by these two institutions over the past 80 years have helped to shape conceptualizations of selfhood and belonging in local communities. These ideological transitions, initially mediated via formal schooling, and ‘translated’ in later years into cultural preservation and revitalization efforts, have engendered new and robust forms of Gullah selfhood and Gullah belonging in which Gullah ways of speaking, but not a bounded Gullah language—together with an idea of Gullah sincerity—have become key components in local community- and nation-building efforts.
A review of global stratospheric aerosol: Measurements, importance, life cycle, and local stratospheric aerosol

Abstract Stratospheric aerosol, noted after large volcanic eruptions since at least the late 1800s, were first measured in the late 1950s, with the modern continuous record beginning in the 1970s. Stratospheric aerosol, both volcanic and non-volcanic are sulfuric acid droplets with radii (concentrations) on the order of 0.1–0.5 µm (0.5–0.005 cm − 3 ), increasing by factors of 2–4 (10–10 3 ) after large volcanic eruptions. The source of the sulfur for the aerosol is either through direct injection from sulfur-rich volcanic eruptions, or from tropical injection of tropospheric air containing OCS, SO 2 , and sulfate particles. The life cycle of non-volcanic stratospheric aerosol, consisting of photo-dissociation and oxidation of sulfur source gases, nucleation/condensation in the tropics, transport pole-ward and downward in the global planetary wave driven tropical pump, leads to a quasi steady state relative maximum in particle number concentration at around 20 km in the mid latitudes. Stratospheric aerosol have significant impacts on the Earth's radiation balance for several years following volcanic eruptions. Away from large eruptions, the direct radiation impact is small and well characterized; however, these particles also may play a role in the nucleation of near tropopause cirrus, and thus indirectly affect radiation. Stratospheric aerosol play a larger role in the chemical, particularly ozone, balance of the stratosphere. In the mid latitudes they interact with both nitrous oxides and chlorine reservoirs, thus indirectly affecting ozone. In the polar regions they provide condensation sites for polar stratospheric clouds which then provide the surfaces necessary to convert inactive to active chlorine leading to polar ozone loss. Until the mid 1990s the modern record has been dominated by three large sulfur-rich eruptions: Fuego (1974), El Chichon (1982) and Pinatubo (1991), thus definitive conclusions concerning the trend of non-volcanic stratospheric aerosol could only recently be made. Although anthropogenic emissions of SO 2 have changed somewhat over the past 30 years, the measurements during volcanically quiescent periods indicate no long term trend in non-volcanic stratospheric aerosol.
Methylmercury toxicity and functional programming

Abstract Purpose Adverse health effects of developmental toxicants may induce abnormal functional programming that leads to lasting functional deficits. This notion is considered from epidemiological evidence using developmental methylmercury neurotoxicity as an example. Most important findings Accumulating evidence indicates that adverse effects may occur even at low-level methylmercury exposures from seafood and freshwater fish. Neurobehavioral outcomes are usually non-specific, and imprecise exposure assessment results in a bias toward the null. Essential nutrients may promote the development of certain brain functions, thereby causing confounding bias. The functional deficits caused by prenatal methylmercury exposure appear to be permanent, and their extent may depend on the joint effect of toxicants and nutrients. Principal conclusions The lasting functional changes caused by neurodevelopmental methylmercury toxicity fit into the pattern of functional programming, with effects opposite to those linked to beneficial stimuli.
Does neighborhood violence lead to depression among caregivers of children with asthma

Prior studies have related community violence to depression among children, but few studies have examined this relationship among adults. We hypothesized that victimization, awareness, and fear of neighborhood violence would increase the odds of depression among adult caregivers of children with asthma. We surveyed caregivers in the Baltimore Indoor Environment Study of Asthma in Kids (BIESAK), USA. The primary outcome was screening positive for depression on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression index. We assessed victimization, awareness, and fear of neighborhood violence, and conducted spatial analysis identifying subject homes within 500 ft of a homicide to validate survey measures of neighborhood violence. A multilevel logistic model with clustering by neighborhood estimated odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Survey responses about fear of neighborhood violence were strongly predicted by having a home within 500 ft of a homicide. Of 150 caregivers of children with asthma, 49% were aware of a neighborhood violent event, 36% were fearful of neighborhood violence, 22% reported victimization, and 27% had a homicide within 500 ft of the home. In our multilevel model, fear of violence increased the odds of depression by 6.7. Victimization was associated with a possible trend towards depression, and awareness of neighborhood violence did not increase the odds of depression. Based on our findings, personal experience with neighborhood violence may be more important than simple awareness. Health care workers should consider screening for depression among patients exposed to community violence.
Bulk metallic glasses — a new engineering material

Abstract The development of new metallic alloys which form bulk glasses at low cooling rates has led to significant advances in the study of undercooled liquid metals and the glass transition in metallic systems. For the first time it has become possible to carry out measurements of thermophysical properties such as specific heat, viscosity, atomic diffusion, and crystal nucleation rates for liquid alloys over the full temperature range of the undercooled melt. These new materials exhibit a rich variety of phenomena, such as liquid crystal phase separation and nanocrystalline phase formation, and have interesting potential as engineering materials.
Parvovirus-B19 Infection Preceding Acute Myeloid Leukemia with Orbital Granulocytic Sarcoma

We report here an unusual presentation of acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia with ocular granulocytic sarcoma who was firstly diagnosed iron deficiency anemia and acute parvovirus infection induced erythroid hypoplasia. To our knowledge this is the first paper of acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) with granulocytic sarcoma, preceded by acute Parvovirus B19 infection.
Damage induced constitutive response of a thermoplastic related to composites and adhesive bonding

This paper addresses the volume averaged constitutive behavior of a polymer sustaining void growth under dilational deformation. Polyvinylacetate is deformed between two aluminum beams in a double cantilever geometry and the deformations, recorded with the aid of optical interferometry, are used to deduce the stress-strain behavior of the material as it passes from small strain behavior through the voiding process to near-failure under exclusion of rate-sensitivity considerations. Observations regarding failure in composites where high spatial constraint limits the development of volume controlled failure processes are included, as well as remarks relevant to computational efforts delineating the effect of void development in plastically deforming solids.
Role of the omega-loop in the activity, substrate specificity, and structure of class A beta-lactamase.

The structure of class A β-lactamases contains an Ω-loop associated with the active site, which carries a key catalytic residue, Glu166. A 16-residue Ω-loop deletion mutant of β-lactamase from Staphylococcus aureus PC1, encompassing residues 163−178, was produced in order to examine the functional and structural role of the loop. The crystal structure was determined and refined at 2.3 A, and the kinetics of the mutant enzyme was characterized with a variety of β-lactam antibiotics. In general, the wild-type β-lactamase hydrolyzes penicillin compounds better than cephalosporins. In contrast, the deletion of the Ω-loop led to a variant enzyme that acts only on cephalosporins, including third generation compounds. Kinetic measurements and electrospray mass spectrometry revealed that the first and third generation cephalosporins form stable acyl-enzyme complexes, except for the chromogenic cephalosporin, nitrocefin, which after acylating the enzyme undergoes hydrolysis at a 1000-fold slower rate than that wit...
Protective effect of diazepam pretreatment on soman-induced brain lesion formation

Histopathological analyses of brains of rats receiving a single 0.9 LD50 injection of soman, a potent anticholinesterase neurotoxin, revealed massive widespread lesions in the cerebral cortex and thalamus 4 weeks post-injection. Such lesions were not evidenced in rats receiving diazepam (2.2 mg/kg, i.m.) 10 min prior to soman treatment. Thus, anticonvulsant antidotes may aid in preventing extensive or permanent brain damage in rats surviving near-lethal soman dosages.
Comparison of collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis in attaching control and diabetic human skin fibroblasts.

Cultured fibroblasts derived from normal subjects and juvenile diabetics attach in the absence of serum to plastic culture dishes and secrete macromolecules, including collagenous components, hyaluronic acid, and proteoglycans into the medium and onto the plastic surface where they form a microexudate carpet. Most diabetic fibroblasts examined did not spread as well as normal cells during a 4-hr interval after the initial attachment. There were no significant differences between normal and diabetic cells with respect to proline and lysine incorporation and lysine hydroxylation. The percentage glycosylation of hydroxylysine was marginally higher in the media proteins of diabetic cells, but glycosylation in both normal and diabetic cells was elevated over that typically observed in human skin collagen.
Pell equation and randomness

Finding the integer solutions of a Pell equation is equivalent to finding the integer lattice points in a long and narrow tilted hyperbolic region, located along a straight line passing through the origin with a quadratic irrational slope. The case of inhomogeneous Pell inequalities it is equivalent to finding the integer lattice points in translated copies of a long and narrow tilted hyperbolic region with a quadratic irrational slope. We prove randomness in these natural lattice point counting problems. We have two main results: a central limit theorem (Theorem 2.1) and a law of the iterated logarithm (Theorem 2.2). The classical Circle Problem (counting lattice points in large circles) is a notoriously difficult open problem. What our results show is that the hyperbolic analog of the Circle Problem is solvable with striking precision.
Constructing time-varying contact graphs for heterogeneous delay tolerant networks

Human mobility, hence the movement pattern of mobile devices, often confines to relatively local geographic areas. Such a movement pattern reduces the opportunities for a message to be disseminated to a more global geographical region using the encounter-based “store-carry-forward” routing approach. On the other hand, different local areas often overlap to cover the entire region. A feasible communication architecture to help message dissemination is to deploy static storage-and-communication devices at those overlapping areas to serve as relays between the local areas. In this paper, we introduce the method to derive the simulation model for this heterogeneous network from contact trace and GPS trace of buses. Our main focus is to model communication properties between the static nodes and the mobile nodes. Typically, they are time-varying link delays formed by a collection of multiple mobile nodes. We further use a Markovian model to describe the time dependency among link delays at each static nodes and use the states to develop a network model for simulation. In the paper, we present simulation results to validate the reproduction of the mobility with the original traces by comparing routing performance. We show that the proposed network model can be used for performance evaluations with inherited realistic. The contributions of this work reside in the reproducibility to the real world traces and its flexibility in configurations. Further, it is the first simulator that enables to produce contact graph for a heterogeneous network with time-varying link properties. Its ability goes beyond simply calculating encounter events, but is well suitable for protocol evaluation in opportunistic networks, mobile social networks and delay tolerant networks.
Evidence for a hydrogen-bonded complex between water and formic acid coadsorbed on Pt(111)

Abstract We have studied the interaction of water and formic acid coadsorbed on Pt(111) using thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS) and high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS). TDS experiments where the exposure of one adsorbate is constant and the other is varied indicate that water and formic acid undergo mutual displacement from surface sites; upon completion, this displacement leaves reproducible amounts of both adsorbates in a “mixed” overlayer suggesting the formation of a complex with water: acid stoichiometry between 2:1 and 3:1. TDS experiments in which D 2 O is substituted for H 2 O show the existence of hydrogen bonding between formic acid and D 2 O. Water does not affect the conversion of molecular acid to formate, and formate may be involved in the complex in a manner similar to formic acid. We discuss models for overlayer complexes of water and formic acid based on hydrogen bonding between the two adspecies.
Probing the molecular mechanism of action of the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitor 4'-ethynyl-2-fluoro-2'-deoxyadenosine (EFdA) using pre-steady-state kinetics.

The novel antiretroviral 4′-ethynyl-2-fluoro-2′-deoxyadenosine (EFdA) is a potent nucleoside HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitor (NRTI). Unlike other FDA-approved NRTIs, EFdA contains a 3′-hydroxyl. Pre-steady-state kinetics showed RT preferred incorporating EFdA-TP over native dATP. Moreover, RT slowly inserted nucleotides past an EFdA-terminated primer, resulting in delayed chain termination with unaffected fidelity. This is distinct from KP1212, another 3′-hydroxyl-containing RT inhibitor considered to promote viral lethal mutagenesis. New mechanistic features of RT inhibition by EFdA are revealed.
Determination of the Conformation of Trimethoprim in the Binding Pocket of Bovine Dihydrofolate Reductase from a STD-NMR Intensity-Restrained CORCEMA-ST Optimization

Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is a pharmacologically important intracellular target enzyme for folate antagonists, including the antibacterial agent trimethoprim (TMP). The structures of DHFR from various sources with and without the bound ligands have been determined by X-ray crystallography and solution NMR spectroscopy. However, there is no crystal or solution NMR structure for the bovine DHFR/TMP complex. Here we report the solution structure of TMP within the binding pocket of bovine DHFR using a novel method developed in our laboratory, viz., STD-NMR intensity-restrained CORCEMA-ST optimization (SICO) utilizing experimental STD data on this complex, and demonstrate that its solution structure is essentially identical to the one in the crystal structure of the homologous chicken liver DHFR/TMP complex. The excellent agreement we obtain between the experimental and predicted STDs also serves as a validation of the CORCEMA-ST methodology.
Improving general medical care for persons with mental and addictive disorders: systematic review

Abstract Objective To conduct a systematic review of studies of interventions designed to improve general medical care in persons with mental and addictive disorders. Methods Following Cochrane Collaboration guidelines, a comprehensive search through October 2005 was conducted in multiple bibliometric indexes using search terms related to primary medical care and mental health/addictive disorders. Two assessors independently extracted information on linkage, quality, outcomes and costs of care. Results Six randomized trials met the preestablished search criteria. The interventions spanned a continuum of approaches for improving treatment, ranging from on-site medical consultation, through team-based approaches, to models involving facilitated referrals to primary care. The studies demonstrated a substantial positive impact on linkage to and quality of medical care; there was evidence of health improvement and improved abstinence rates in patients with greater medical comorbidity. The three studies that assessed expenditures found the programs to be cost-neutral from a health-plan perspective. Conclusion A small but growing body of research suggests that a range of models may hold potential for improving these patients' health and health care, at a relatively modest cost. Future work should continue to develop and test approaches to this problem that can be tailored to local system needs and capacities.
A cytochrome P450 immunochemically related to P450c,d (P450I) localized to the smooth microsomes and inner zone of the guinea pig adrenal.

In addition to their capacity for steroid synthesis, guinea pig adrenal microsomes have a well documented ability to metabolize foreign compounds. The capacity for metabolism of foreign compounds is localized to the smooth endoplasmic reticulum-filled cells of the inner zone. However, it has not been clear whether they possess cytochrome P450(s) specific for this function, distinct from the two known steroid hydroxylases, P45021 and P45017α. Multiple prominent protein bands in the mol wt range of known cytochrome P450s are seen on sodium dodecyl sulfate gels of guinea pig adrenal microsomes. Most are more intense in smooth microsomes, where the concentration of cytochrome P450 is highest. However, one band (52K) appears unique to the smooth microsomes. This band is also characteristic of microsomes obtained from the inner zone. This protein and two others (54K and 50K) are concentrated in the membrane pellet after carbonate treatment of the microsomes, indicating that they are integral membrane proteins. ...
Abstract 5257: Expression and functional role of CXCR5 and CXCL13 in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC)

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer related deaths worldwide. Chemokines and their corresponding receptor have been shown to play important role in cancer progression including lung cancer. In this regard, chemokine receptor CXCR5 has been implicated in metastatic dissemination in different models of melanoma, breast and prostate cancer. In this study we have shown that CXCR5 is highly expressed by the lung cancer cell lines and non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC) tissue. CXCL13, which is the only natural ligand for CXCR5 is also expressed within the tumor. Retrospective analysis of CXCR5 expression in 45 patients specimens showed significantly higher expression of CXCR5 in Squamous cell carcinoma and Adenocarcinoma. Interestingly, nuclei of tumor cells were also positive for CXCR5 in more than 50% cases. Furthermore, serum analysis showed significantly higher serum levels of soluble CXCL13 in patients with Adenocarcinoma and Squamous cell carcinoma (n=31) compared to normal controls (n=9). The mechanism underlying these clinically and biologically important finding need to be further explored. Increased serum CXCL13 in lung cancer patients with metastatic disease required further validation as a potential therapeutic target and/or diagnostic marker for lung cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5257. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-5257
Quantitative determination of transfer RNA base composition using high-pressure liquid chromatography

Abstract An analytical method is presented for the quantitative determination of certain major and modified bases in unfractionated rat liver transfer RNA (tRNA), tRNA was hydrolyzed with perchloric acid, and the liberated bases were separated by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Bases were selectively detected in tRNA hydrolysates at wavelengths near their uv-absorption maxima. Recovery values for individual bases generally were in the 80–100% range. The composition of rat liver tRNA with respect to 10 bases was determined, and the levels of these bases were in agreement with published values determined by other methods.
Use of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Following Exercise-Induced Muscle Injury

The objective of this article is to examine the use of NSAIDs for attenuating exercise-induced muscle injuries (EIMI), with an emphasis on their safety and usefulness for improving muscle function and reducing soreness. NSAIDs are some of the most widely consumed medications in the world, and NSAID use as therapy for EIMI has increased dramatically over the last 20 years. However, there is a lack of agreement concerning NSAID effectiveness for this purpose. The lack of consensus about the efficacy of NSAID use in relation to EIMI has spawned a recent interest in sports medicine research regarding NSAIDs. The application of a variety of methods used to induce, assess and quantify muscle injury has contributed to the inconsistency among the findings regarding the efficacy of NSAIDs for EIMI. Therefore, future studies should focus on the evaluation of muscle injury and function, with the use of better functional measurement tools and more uniformity in the assessment tools used. However, from review of the current literature, it is concluded that NSAID use for brief periods of time is beneficial for short-term recovery of muscle function and is an important laboratory tool for the study of EIMI.
Using cost of ownership (COO) modeling to optimize productivity and wafer output of sputtering tools

The SEMATECH COO model has been used as a design tool to optimize the hardware and application-dependent configurations of the Endura PVD system. The model helped identify and quantify the effects of improved equipment hardware, configurations, and processes. Sensitivity analyses were performed to determine the effect of throughput, chamber and system maintenance down time, reliability, equipment cost, consumables life and cost, and system configuration on cost per wafer (CPW) and wafer starts per week (WSPW). The results indicate that throughput and preventive maintenance down time have the greatest impact on COO. Equipment components were selected or designed and processes and procedures were developed to minimize the CPW and maximize the WSPW per tool. Increases in WSPW of 40 to 60% have been achieved by increasing overall throughput, decreasing PM time, and optimizing PM scheduling. These improvements can yield up to 25% reduction in cost per wafer.
In vitro induction of T cells that are resistant to A2 adenosine receptor-mediated immunosuppression

Background and purpose: The increased levels of extracellular adenosine in inflamed tissues down-regulate activated immune cells via the A2A adenosine receptor. This A2A adenosine receptor-mediated immunosuppression is a disqualifying obstacle in cancer immunotherapy as it protects cancerous tissues from adoptively transferred anti-tumour T cells. The aim of this study was to test whether the negative selection of T cells will produce T cells that are resistant to inhibition by extracellular adenosine. Experimental approach: Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) were developed by mixed lymphocyte culture in the presence or absence of the adenosine receptor agonist 5′-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA). The sensitivity of CTL to adenosine analogues was characterized by cAMP induction, interferon-γ production and cytotoxicity. Key results: CTL that could proliferate even in the presence of NECA were less susceptible to inhibition by A2A adenosine receptor agonists, as shown by a much smaller accumulation of cAMP and less inhibition of interferon-γ production compared with control CTL. The successful protocol to produce CTL that are both resistant to adenosine-mediated immunosuppression and maintain strong cytotoxicity and interferon-γ secretion required NECA to be added only during the expansion stage after the establishment of CTL. In contrast, the priming of resting T cells in the presence of NECA resulted in T cells with impaired effector functions. Conclusions and implications: Adenosine-resistant effector T cells were successfully obtained by exposure of activated T cells to NECA. These in vitro studies form the basis for future attempts to produce anti-tumour T cells that are more effective in adoptive immunotherapy.