cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cities, slums, and child nutrition in Bangladesh.

This study uses novel household survey data that are representative of Bangladesh's large cities, and of slum and nonslum areas within the cities, to investigate the effects of demographic and socioeconomic factors on child nutrition status in 2013. The study also decomposes the difference in mean child nutrition status between slum and nonslum areas in 2013, and the increase in mean child nutrition status in slum and nonslum areas from 2006 to 2013. Mother's education attainment and household wealth largely explain the cross-sectional difference-and intertemporal change in mean child nutrition status. Although positive in some cases, the effects of maternal and child health services, and potential health-protective household amenities, on child nutrition status differ by the type of health facility, household amenity, and urban area (slum or nonslum). Focusing on nutrition-sensitive programs for slum residents and the urban poor is consistent with the results.
Molecular Simulations Shed Light on Potential Uses of Ultrasound in Nitrogen Adsorption Experiments.

Nitrogen adsorption is one of the main characterization techniques for nanoporous materials. The experimental adsorption isotherm provides information about the surface area and pore size distribution (PSD) for a sample. In this work we show that additional insight into PSD can be gained when the speed of sound propagation through a sample is measured during nitrogen adsorption experiment. We analyzed published experimental data on ultrasound propagation through a nanoporous Vycor glass sample during nitrogen adsorption experiment. Next, we calculated the change of the longitudinal and shear moduli of the sample as a function of relative vapor pressure. From this, we show that the shear modulus of the sample does not change upon filling the pores, evidencing that adsorbed nitrogen at 77 K has zero shear modulus, similarly to a bulk liquid. The longitudinal modulus of the sample behaves differently: it changes abruptly at the capillary condensation and keeps gradually increasing thereafter. We performed Mo...
Acute palliative care unit in a comprehensive cancer center (CCC): Financial and clinical outcomes

e20518 Background: Acute palliative care units (APCU) in CCCs improves symptom control for advanced cancer patients and supports their families. However, these services are not available in the maj...
Perceptual Compensation of Vowel Nasality in Brazilian Portuguese

This study explores the nature of the oral-nasal vowel contrast in Brazilian Portuguese (BP). While vowel nasality is a salient property in the language, scholars differ on whether this property forms the basis of a phonological contrast. The presence of a consonant-like nasal resonance at the right edge of the heavily nasalized vowels (i.e., nasal appendix) leads to an analysis that nasal vowels may be product of a contextual nasalization rule (e.g., Camara Jr 1970, 1971), thus coarticulatory in nature. While most of the literature explores the issue from the perspective of production, the present study analyzes how BP listeners perceive nasal vowels in comparison to oral counterparts. If vowel nasality is coarticulatory, speakers should perceive it as they would other coarticulation; namely, they would perceptually compensate for vowel nasality, attributing the nasality to the nasal consonant element and hearing the vowel as essentially oral (Beddor & Krakow 1999). If the nasality is phonemic, however, it should not induce compensation. A forced-choice comparison task was presented to a group of 43 BP listeners, who had to compare nasality in vowels of paired stimuli with and without the appendix. Results show that participants did not perceptually compensate for vowel nasality. The substance of the contrast lies in the combination of vowel quality changes associated with nasality and the presence of a nasal appendix.
Registration fee payment optimization for students received educational loan (the case of Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Bangkok, Thailand)

The study is devoted to the development of methods for determining the social acceptability of tuition fees in universities. The objectives are 1) to investigate how to increase the efficiency of student loan management in Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, and 2) to create guidelines for improvement and development of routine works for Student Loan Funds Department. This study is conducted via a survey research methodology. The sample 440 students who pay tuitions fees , includes ones with Students Loan . The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency, percentage, and average. The contribution for this study is to provide suggestion to improve and develop the channel to keep tracking the students having the outstanding fees, the difference in tuition fees, to pay for the outstanding tuition fees in order to reduce the number of outstanding fees in the system.
Unequal Latin American Democracies: The Influence of Interest Groups in Legislatures’ Policy Choices

Do members of congress specialize in policy areas in which they possess strong links with relevant interest groups? How responsive are they to these interests? My paper answers these relevant research questions filling a gap in the current literature determining the relevance of the relationship between interest groups and legislative parties for the Latin American context. To achieve this goal, I estimate the relative importance of the influence of interest groups on which policies are selected to be targeted vis-a-vis other competing explanations such of those based on the demands of members of congress' constituencies (Mayhew 1974, Schiller 2000, Wawro, 2000) or the demands of legislative parties' constituencies (Blais, Blake, and Dion 1993, Budge and Hofferbert 1990, Bawn 1999). I use a novel social network strategy to measure the network proximity between legislative parties and a large number of the most important economic actors (represented by their respective interest groups) in Argentina and Peru over the last fourteen years. My original dataset includes initiation bills and fourteen years of monthly affiliation matrices, reporting dyads of economic and political actors retrieved from over 180,000 articles in the major newspapers of Argentina and Peru. My results suggest a robust relationship between which social and economic policies are targeted through initiation bill data; and network proximity between legislative parties and interest groups.
Simultaneous FDG-PET/MRI detects hippocampal subfield metabolic differences in AD/MCI

The medial temporal lobe is one of the most well-studied brain regions affected by Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although the spread of neurofibrillary pathology in the hippocampus throughout the progression of AD has been thoroughly characterized and staged using histology and other imaging techniques, it has not been precisely quantified in vivo at the subfield level using simultaneous positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Here, we investigate alterations in metabolism and volume using [18F]fluoro-deoxyglucose (FDG) and simultaneous time-of-flight (TOF) PET/MRI with hippocampal subfield analysis of AD, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and healthy subjects. We found significant structural and metabolic changes within the hippocampus that can be sensitively assessed at the subfield level in a small cohort. While no significant differences were found between groups for whole hippocampal SUVr values (p = 0.166), we found a clear delineation in SUVr between groups in the dentate gyrus (p = 0.009). Subfield analysis may be more sensitive for detecting pathological changes using PET-MRI in AD compared to global hippocampal assessment.
Relative abundance of coyotes (Canis latrans) influences gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) occupancy across the eastern United States

Gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus (Schreber, 1775)) populations in portions of the eastern United States have experienced declines whose trajectories differ from those of other mesocarnivore popul...
Reactivity-Based Probe of the Iron(II)-Dependent Interactome Identifies New Cellular Modulators of Ferroptosis

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of cell death resulting from loss or inhibition of cellular machinery that protects from the accumulation of lipid hydroperoxides. Ferroptosis likely serves a tumor suppressing function in normal cellular homeostasis, but certain cancers exploit and become highly dependent on specific nodes of the pathway, presumably to survive under conditions of increased oxidative stress and elevated labile ferrous iron levels. Here we introduce Ferroptosis Inducing Peroxide for Chemoproteomics-1 (FIPC-1), a reactivity-based probe that couples Fenton-type reaction with ferrous iron to subsequent protein labeling via concomitant carbon-centered radical generation. We show that FIPC-1 induces ferroptosis in susceptible cell types and labels cellular proteins in an iron-dependent fashion. Use of FIPC-1 in a quantitative chemoproteomics workflow reproducibly enriched protein targets in the thioredoxin, oxidoreductase, and protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) families, among others. In further interrogating the saturable targets of FIPC-1, we identified the PDI family member P4HB and the functionally uncharacterized protein NT5DC2, a member of the haloacid dehalogenase (HAD) superfamily, as previously unrecognized modulators of ferroptosis. Knockdown of these target genes sensitized cells to known ferroptosis inducers, while PACMA31, a previously reported inhibitor of P4HB, directly induced ferroptosis and was highly synergistic with erastin. Overall, this study introduces a new reactivity-based probe of the ferrous iron-dependent interactome and uncovers new targets for the therapeutic modulation of ferroptosis.
Network Intrusion Detection for TCP/IP Packets with Machine Learning Techniques

To address the evolving strategies and techniques employed by hackers, intrusion detection systems (IDS) is required to be applied across the network to detect and prevent against attacks. Appropriately, each TCP/IP network layers has specific type of network attacks that means each network layer needs a specific type of IDS. Now-a -days Machine Learning becomes most powerful tool to deal with network security challenges given that the network level data generated is huge in volume and decision related to attacks need to be decided with high speed and accuracy. Classification is one of the techniques to deal with new and unknown attacks with network intrusion using machine learning. In this chapter, we detect the normal and anomaly attacks of the TCP/IP packets from publicly available training dataset using Gaussian Naive Bayes, logistic regression, Decision Tree and artificial neural network on intrusion detection systems. Using CoLab environment, we provide some experimental results showing that Decision tree performed better than Gaussian Naive Bayes, Logistic regression and Neural Network with a publicly available dataset.
Quantitative Assessment of Life Cycle Sustainability (QUALICS): Application to Engineering Projects

Civil engineering development has advanced dramatically over the years. The unsustainable use of resources in various activities involved in the engineering projects releases undesirable amounts of emissions and other waste streams into the environment causing negative environmental impacts including global warming, resource depletion, eutrophication and acidification among many others. In the past decade or so, considerable efforts have been made to incorporate sustainable practices into the design and construction of infrastructure projects with an aim to minimize the net negative environmental, economic and social impacts of the project. Over the past few years, several researchers have developed project specific tools to aid the practitioners to assess and compare the sustainability of the potential design alternatives in a project. In most cases, these tools focused mainly on the environmental impacts with a minimal (often a qualitative approach) or even no regard to the broader economic and social impacts of the alternative design options in a project. For the true sustainability assessment, it is imperative that the assessment methodology incorporates a quantitative and life cycle approach for the decision-making on the most sustainable design alternative in a project. In this regard, a framework “Quantitative Assessment of Life Cycle Sustainability (QUALICS)” is developed to quantify the overall sustainability of a project/activity and facilitate the decision-making process. The QUALICS framework is not just limited to civil engineering projects but can be used in projects of any engineering domain. The main aim of this paper is to describe the QUALICS framework and demonstrate its application to assess the overall sustainability of design alternatives in a project.
Brainstem Dysfunction in Healthy Aging.

Abstract The brainstem controls sub-cortical and cortical activity and influences the processing of incoming information. The goal of this study was to characterize age related alterations of brainstem-brain interactions during different brain states detected by dynamic analysis of task-free fMRI. 79 young (20-40 years) and 51 older adults (55-80 years) were studied. Internal brainstem structures were segmented using a new multi-contrast segmentation approach. Brain and brainstem gray matter segmentations were warped onto a population template. The ICV-corrected Jacobian determinants were converted into z-score maps and the means from 420 cortical/subcortical/brainstem rois extracted. The fMRI was preprocessed in SPM12/Conn18 and the BOLD signal from 420 cortical/subcortical/brainstem rois extracted. A dynamic task-free analysis approach based on hierarchical cluster analysis was used to identify 15 brain states that were characterized using graph analysis (strength, diversity, modularity). Kruskal-Wallis tests and Spearman correlations were used for statistical analysis. One brain state (cluster 21) occurred more often in older adults (p=0.008). It was characterized by a lower mean modular strength and brainstem-cortical strength in older adults compared to younger adults. Global age related gray matter differences were positively correlated with brain state 21’s modular strength. Furthermore, brain state 21 duration was negatively correlated with working memory (r = -0.28, p=0.002). The findings suggest an age related weakening of the within and between network synchronization at the brainstem level during brain state 21 in older adults that negatively affects cortical and subcortical synchronization and working memory performance.
Novel radiochemical isolation strategy for the production of radiopharmaceutical quality 86Y.

255 Objectives: Widespread utilization of 90Y as therapeutic isotope in targeted radionuclide therapy applications motivates the use of the positron emitter 86Y in theranostic paradigms. These paradigms are frequently limited by the radiochemical purity of produced 86Y. We report a novel radiochemical isolation strategy for 86Y from irradiated 86SrCO3 targets that improves the yield and molar reactivity of 86Y available for radiopharmaceutical studies and near quantitative recovery of 86SrCO3 between production runs. Methods: 86Y was produced using a 16 MeV GE PETtrace cyclotron via the transmutation reaction 86Sr(p,n)86Y from enriched 86SrCO3 targets of pressed powder. The separation of 86Y from the irradiated 86SrCO3 was carried out by single column extraction chromatography using an extraction resin functionalized with N,N,N’,N’-tetrakis-2-ethylhexyldiglycolamide (branched DGA, Eichrom). The recovery of the enriched target material was performed via a series of precipitation/decantation steps in saturated (NH4)2CO3 solutions. Nuclear reaction and radiochemical yields were verified by HPGe gamma spectrometry. The apparent molar reactivity was measured by complexation of the purified 86Y with titrated DOTA and DTPA chelators. Trace elemental analysis of the final eluate was performed by microwave-atomic emission spectroscopy (MP-AES). Results: A 86Y production yield of ~100 MBq/μAh was obtained after irradiating 100-150 mg/cm2 86SrCO3 thick-targets at proton flux intensities up to 5μA. The branched DGA resin was found to have a significantly different affinity for Sr2+ and Y3+ ions in varied hydrochloric acid concentrations, enabling selective loading of the Y3+ ions from high concentration HCl solutions used for strontium target dissolution. Column washing with a defined regimen of lower concentration HCl and HNO3 solutions eluted trace metal impurities of Fe, Zn, and Cu. The resin’s relatively lower affinity (Kd ~ 50) for 86Y in dilute HCl (0.1 M) was used to elute and concentrate 86Y in a small volume (≤ 600 µL) with a final recovery efficiency of ~ 95%. MP-AES measurements established 8.79 ± 4.27 pm (Sr), 2.15 ± 1.26 pm (Zn), 0.14 ± 0.02 ppm (Fe) and 0.05 ± 0.01 ppm (Cu) of the only detectable impurities in the final product. Apparent molar reactivity was 37 ± 7 GBq/μmol DOTA and 32 ± 5 Gbq/µmol DTPA. The isotopically-enriched target material was recycled with a run-to-run efficiency of >97%. Conclusions: To our knowledge, branched DGA resin and 86SrCO3 enable the highest radiochemical purity and apparent molar reactivity yet reported for 86Y productions using automatable column extraction chromatography. This result has led directly successful preparation of 86Y radiopharmaceuticals with total injected masses that are tolerable in envisioned theranost applications of 86Y with 90Y- and 177Lu-based cancer theranostic applications (see Hernandez et al. abstract at this meeting).
Model-based approach to investigate equipment-induced error in pressure-waveform derived hemodynamic measurements.

OBJECTIVE Advanced hemodynamic monitoring systems have provided less invasive methods for estimating pressure-derived measurements such as pressure-derived cardiac output (CO) measurements. These devices apply algorithms to arterial pressure waveforms recorded via pressure recording components that transmit the pressure signal to a pressure monitor. While standards have been developed for pressure monitoring equipment, it's unclear how the equipment-induced error can affect secondary measurements from pressure waveforms. We propose an approach for modelling different components of a pressure monitoring system and use this model-based approach to investigate the effect of different pressure recording configurations on pressure-derived hemodynamic measurements. APPROACH The proposed model-based approach is a three step process. 1) modelling the response of pressure recording components using bench tests; 2) verifying the identified models through nonparametric equivalence tests; and 3) assessing the effects of pressure recording components on pressure-derived measurements. To delineate the application of this approach, we performed a series of model-based analyses to quantify the combined effect of a wide range of tubing configurations with various damping ratios and natural frequencies and monitors with different bandwidths on pressure waveforms and CO measurements by six pulse contour algorithms. RESULTS Model-based results show the error in pressure-derived CO measurements because of tubing configurations with different natural frequencies and damping ratios. Tubing configurations with low natural frequencies (<23 Hz) altered characteristics of pressure waveforms in a way that affected the CO measurement, some by as much as 20%. SIGNIFICANCE Our method can serve as a tool to quantify the performance of pressure recording systems with different dynamic properties. This approach can be applied to investigate the effects of physiologic signal recording configurations on various pressure-derived hemodynamic measurements.
Group-wise sufficient dimension reduction with principal fitted components

Sufficient dimension reduction methodologies in regressions of Y on a p-variate X aim at obtaining a reduction $$R(X) \in {\mathbb R}^{d}, d \le p$$R(X)źRd,d≤p, that retains all the regression information of Y in X. When the predictors fall naturally into a number of known groups or domains, it has been established that exploiting the grouping information often leads to more effective sufficient dimension reduction of the predictors. In this article, we consider group-wise sufficient dimension reduction based on principal fitted components, when the grouping information is unknown. Principal fitted components methodology is coupled with an agglomerative clustering procedure to identify a suitable grouping structure. Simulations and real data analysis demonstrate that the group-wise principal fitted components sufficient dimension reduction is superior to the standard principal fitted components and to general sufficient dimension reduction methods.
Significance of bacteria in carbon fluxes in the Arabian Sea

In the Arabian Sea, temporal contiguity of highly oligotrophic and eutrophic periods, along with high water temperatures, may result in unique features of bacteriaorganic matter coupling, nutrient cycling and sedimentation, which are unlike those in the classical oligotrophic and eutrophic waters. Bacteria-phytoplankton interactions are suggested to influence phytoplankton aggregation and its timing. It is also hypothesized that, within aggregates, hydrolytic ectoenzyme activity, together with condensation reactions between the hydrolysis products, produce molecular species which are not readily degraded by pelagic bacteria. Accumulation of a reservoir of such slow-to-degrade dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is proposed to be a carbon flux and energy buffer, which moderates the response of bacteria to the dramatic variations in primary production in the Arabian Sea. Use of the slow-to-degrade DOC pool during the intermonsoon could temporarily render the Arabian Sea net-heterotrophic and a source of CO2 to the atmosphere. Stored DOC is also suggested to balance the observed deficit between mesopelagic carbon demand and the sinking particulate organic carbon supply. Knowledge of the significance of bacteria in carbon storage and cycling in the Arabian Sea is needed to understand the response of the ocean’s biogeochemical state to strong physical forcing and climate change.
Exploring Environmental Data in a Highly Immersive Virtual Reality Environment

Geography inherently fills a 3D space and yet we struggle with displaying geography using, primarily, 2D display devices. Virtual environments offer a more realistically-dimensioned display space and this is being realized in the expanding area of research on 3D Geographic Information Systems (GISs). Traditionally, a GIS has only limited tools for statistical analysis, and 3D GIS research has concentrated on the visualization of the geographical terrain. Here we discuss linking multivariate statistical graphics to geography in the highly immersive C2 virtual reality environment at Iowa State University using mid-Atlantic streams data.
N-acetyl-l-cysteine Supplementation Improves Boar Spermatozoa Characteristics and Subsequent Fertilization and Embryonic Development

Abstract The effects of 1.0 mmN-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) supplementation during the incubation of frozen-thawed and preserved boar sperm were studied in addition to subsequent oocyte IVF. Frozen-thawed and preserved boar sperm were supplemented with 1.0 mm NAC and incubated for 60 min to allow capacitation to occur followed by the addition of calcium ionophore 23187 to induce the acrosome reaction. The number of sperm having undergone the acrosome reaction was determined using the Wells-Awa staining technique. DNA damage was detected using single-cell gel electrophoresis. Membrane lipid peroxidation was estimated by the end point generation of malondialdehyde (MDA). Frozen-thawed sperm was not different in the ability of sperm to undergo the acrosome reaction but did have significantly (p < 0.05) more DNA damage (59.8 ± 1.0) compared to preserved sperm (32.0 ± 1.0%). Supplementing 1.0 mm NAC did not have an effect on the ability of sperm to undergo the acrosome reaction but did have significantly (p < 0.05) less DNA (39.2 ± 1.0%) damage compared to no antioxidant supplementation (52.7 ± 1.0%). Frozen-thawed sperm produced a significantly higher (p < 0.05) concentration of MDA (2.08 ± 0.05 μm MDA/10(7) cells) compared to preserved sperm (1.82 ± 0.05 μm MDA/10(7) cells), and non-supplemented sperm produced a significantly higher (p < 0.05) concentration of MDA (3.62 ± 0.05 μm MDA/10(7) cells) compared to the 1.0 mm NAC-supplemented sperm (0.28 ± 0.05 μm MDA/10(7) cells. Supplementation or semen storage method had no effect on IVF or embryonic development. These results indicate that supplementation with 1.0 mm NAC improved the ability to use frozen-thawed boar sperm during IVF as it reduces the DNA fragmentation and lipid peroxidation of the sperm.
Reaction of bovine-liver copper-zinc superoxide dismutase with hydrogen peroxide: evidence for reaction with H2O2 and HO2− leading to loss of copper

The reaction of hydrogen peroxide with the copper-zinc bovine-liver superoxide dismutase at low molar ratios (0.2–20.0) of H2O2/active site between pH 7.3–10.0 leads to the loss of native enzyme as a distinct form monitored by electrophoresis. The pH dependence of the loss of native enzyme between 7.3 and 9.0 indicates the involvement of a conjugate base on the enzyme of pka of 8.7 ± 0.1. The rate of loss of the native enzyme is first order with respect to the concentration of both enzyme and hydrogen peroxide between pH 7.3 and 9.0 with no evidence for binding of peroxide. A second-order rate constant of 3.0 ± 1.0 M−1 s−1 is obtained from these data. At pH 10.0 the reaction is first order with respect to enzyme concentration but saturable in H2O2. All data are consistent with the interpretation that H2O2 reacts with the enzyme at the lower pH where the reaction is dependent upon the conjugate base of a functional group on the enzyme. At the higher pH, the data are consistent with the reaction of HO2− and H2O2 with the dismutase. The dissociation constant for HO2− calculated from the kinetic data at pH 10.0 is between 25–50 μM and the rate constant for the breakdown of the HO2−· dismutase complex is 1.10 ± 0.05 × 10−2 s−1. The change in the electrophoretic pattern at all pH values is accompanied by the loss of the ability of the enzyme to bind copper. Weakly bound or free copper can be detected using bathocuproine disulfonate. Furthermore copper-defficient forms of the enzyme can be detected by staining gels of the peroxide-treated dismutase with diethyldithiocarbamate.
An unusual complication of convulsive therapy

1. A case of Otto pelvis (intrapelvic protrusion of the acetabulum), with bilateral acetabular fracture following electric shock therapy, is presented, and the condition discussed. 2. A few representative studies on the problem of traumatic complications in convulsive therapy are included, and the newer methods of prevention are discussed.
Who Moves the Market? A Study of Stock Prices and Investment Cashflows

In this paper, we explore the relation between stock market returns and cash flows to the stock market from seven major investment sectors in the economy: mutual funds, households, pension funds, foreign investors, insurance companies, closed-end funds, and other institutional investors. Our goal is to address the following questions: 1) Does the return-cashflow relation differ across sectors? 2) Are the differences caused by distinct trading behaviors, such as positive feedback trading, or the fact that trades of specific sectors systematically impact the overall level of the market? Using the Flow of Funds Accounts, we find that the quarterly contemporaneous return-flow relation is positive and significant for mutual funds, foreigners, and pension funds, but not for the other sectors. For example, over the entire sample we find that a one standard deviation change in mutual fund flow corresponds with a 1.46 percent increase in the quarterly stock market return. Applying a covariance decomposition method developed in Sias, Starks and Titman (2001), we find that the positive contemporaneous quarterly covariance for mutual funds and foreigners is driven mainly by a strong contemporaneous monthly relation, suggesting that these sectors may exert price pressure on the market through their demand for stocks. The price impact appears to be temporary and is reversed in the subsequent months.
Integrated Microfluidic Nucleic Acid Isolation, Isothermal Amplification, and Amplicon Quantification.

Microfluidic components and systems for rapid (<60 min), low-cost, convenient, field-deployable sequence-specific nucleic acid-based amplification tests (NAATs) are described. A microfluidic point-of-care (POC) diagnostics test to quantify HIV viral load from blood samples serves as a representative and instructive example to discuss the technical issues and capabilities of “lab on a chip” NAAT devices. A portable, miniaturized POC NAAT with performance comparable to conventional PCR (polymerase-chain reaction)-based tests in clinical laboratories can be realized with a disposable, palm-sized, plastic microfluidic chip in which: (1) nucleic acids (NAs) are extracted from relatively large (~mL) volume sample lysates using an embedded porous silica glass fiber or cellulose binding phase (“membrane”) to capture sample NAs in a flow-through, filtration mode; (2) NAs captured on the membrane are isothermally (~65 °C) amplified; (3) amplicon production is monitored by real-time fluorescence detection, such as with a smartphone CCD camera serving as a low-cost detector; and (4) paraffin-encapsulated, lyophilized reagents for temperature-activated release are pre-stored in the chip. Limits of Detection (LOD) better than 103 virons/sample can be achieved. A modified chip with conduits hosting a diffusion-mode amplification process provides a simple visual indicator to readily quantify sample NA template. In addition, a companion microfluidic device for extracting plasma from whole blood without a centrifuge, generating cell-free plasma for chip-based molecular diagnostics, is described. Extensions to a myriad of related applications including, for example, food testing, cancer screening, and insect genotyping are briefly surveyed.
A Novel mRNA Level Subtraction Method for Quick Identification of Target-Orientated Uniquely Expressed Genes Between Peanut Immature Pod and Leaf

Subtraction technique has been broadly applied for target gene discovery. However, most current protocols apply relative differential subtraction and result in great amount clone mixtures of unique and differentially expressed genes. This makes it more difficult to identify unique or target-orientated expressed genes. In this study, we developed a novel method for subtraction at mRNA level by integrating magnetic particle technology into driver preparation and tester–driver hybridization to facilitate uniquely expressed gene discovery between peanut immature pod and leaf through a single round subtraction. The resulting target clones were further validated through polymerase chain reaction screening using peanut immature pod and leaf cDNA libraries as templates. This study has resulted in identifying several genes expressed uniquely in immature peanut pod. These target genes can be used for future peanut functional genome and genetic engineering research.
A collaborative study of differences in the survival rates of black patients and white patients with cancer

In 1983, the National Cancer Institute began a social-epidemiologic study of possible behavioral and biologic determinants of black/white racial disparities in cancer survival. The design, methodology, underlying hypotheses, and patient accrual of this study are discussed. Survival differences in four organ sites are investigated: cancers of the uterine corpus, breast, bladder, and colon. The first three sites were chosen because of significant observed black/white differentials in survival. Although racial disparities in survival from colon cancer are less prominent, this site was included because it is a leading cause of deaths attributable to cancer, because regional variations have been observed in black/white survival disparities, and because colon data permit cross-gender comparisons. Data collection centers for the study included the Georgia Center for Cancer Statistics, the Louisiana Tumor Registry, and the California Tumor Registry. Probability samples of patients newly diagnosed with these cancers were drawn from the areas served by these registries. Diagnostic years of eligibility were 1985 to 1986 for breast and colon cancer, and 1985 to 1987 for bladder and uterine corpus cancer. Data were collected by personal interview, medical records abstract, physician records, and pathology review. Analyses focus on seven main explanatory hypotheses.
Color spreading algorithm for the retail industry

Abstract One of the problems which many companies face is the distribution of inventory from one or more centrally located distribution centers. The retail, industry, and in particular the women's clothing industry, faces the additional problem that not only does the merchandise have to be distributed but it must be distributed in such a way that every store gets a reasonable spread of colors and sizes. This research attempts to optimize the multi-criteria allocation objective by developing a computer algorithm. In order to be implemented any algorithm developed must be computationally efficient due to the size of the industry and other system related programming constraints. The algorithm which was developed not only provided a solution which was a marked improvement regarding the color spread of the merchandise but was also efficient enough to be immediately implemented on a national basis.
Zinc mediates assembly of the T1 domain of the voltage-gated K channel 4.2.

An intermolecular Zn2+-binding site was identified in the structure of the T1 domain of the Shaw-type potassium channels (aKv3.1). T1 is a BTB/POZ-type domain responsible for the ordered assembly of voltage-gated potassium channels and interactions with other macromolecules. In this structure, a Zn2+ ion was found to be coordinated between each of the four assembly interfaces of the T1 tetramer by three Cys and one His encoded in the sequence motif (HX 5CX 20CC) of the T1 domain. This sequence motif is conserved among all non-Shaker-type voltage-dependent potassium (Kv) channels, but not in Shaker-type channels. The presence of this conserved Zn2+-binding site is a primary molecular determinant that distinguishes the tetrameric assembly of non-Shaker Kv channel subunits from that of Shaker channels. We report here that tetramerization of the Shal (rKv4.2) T1 in solution requires the presence of Zn2+, and the addition/removal of Zn2+reversibly switches the protein between a stable tetrameric or monomeric state. We further show that the conversion from tetramers to monomers is profoundly pH-dependent: as the solution pH gets lower, the dissociation rate increases significantly. The unfolding energy of the T1 tetramer as a measure of the conformational stability of the structure is also pH-dependent. Surprisingly, at a lower pH we observe a distinctly altered conformational state of the T1 tetramer trapped during the process of unfolding of the T1 tetramer in the presence of Zn2+. The conformational alteration may be responsible for increased rate of dissociation at lower pH by allowing Zn2+ to be removed more effectively by EDTA. The ability of the T1 domain to adopt stable alternative conformations may be essential to its function as a protein-protein interaction/signaling domain to modulate the ion conduction properties of intact full-length Kv channels.
The genetic basis of cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathies are the primary disorders of cardiac myocytes, and their cause is usually genetic. The three common forms are hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). Mutations in sarcomeric proteins typically cause HCM and, less commonly, DCM. Mutations in cytoskeletal proteins cause DCM, and those in desmosomal proteins cause ARVC. The pathways from mutations to the clinical phenotype could be categorized into three stages of initial functional defects leading to expression and activation of molecular events that mediate development of morphologic and structural phenotypes. Advances in understanding the molecular genetics and pathogenesis of cardiomyopathies could provide the opportunity for preclinical diagnosis and interventions to prevent, attenuate, or reverse the evolving phenotypes.
Understanding cytokine and growth factor receptor activation mechanisms.

Our understanding of the detailed mechanism of action of cytokine and growth factor receptors – and particularly our quantitative understanding of the link between structure, mechanism and function – lags significantly behind our knowledge of comparable functional protein classes such as enzymes, G protein-coupled receptors, and ion channels. In particular, it remains controversial whether such receptors are activated by a mechanism of ligand-induced oligomerization, versus a mechanism in which the ligand binds to a pre-associated receptor dimer or oligomer that becomes activated through subsequent conformational rearrangement. A major limitation to progress has been the relative paucity of methods for performing quantitative mechanistic experiments on unmodified receptors expressed at endogenous levels on live cells. In this article, we review the current state of knowledge on the activation mechanisms of cytokine and growth factor receptors, critically evaluate the evidence for and against the different...
Fascism and Communism

Though there has been a great deal of discussion of Communism and Fascism, much less attention has been devoted to their mutual relations. Early relations of the two movements and the possible influence of Communism on Fascism are discussed, together with their early polemics against, and interpretations of, each other. After an examination of the relations between Fascist Italy and the Soviet Union, the differences between Communism's ‘first’ and ‘second’ anti‐Fascisms are analysed. The Nazi‐Soviet Pact of 1939 produced major temporary changes, but the Nazi‐Soviet war of 1941–45 proved decisive for both movements. Maintenance of the anti‐Fascist banner remained a major feature of Soviet policy and propaganda throughout the post‐World War II era, but the eventual Sino‐Soviet split produced recurrent mutual charges of ‘Fascism’ by each of the two major Communist powers against each other. The article concludes with discussion of the dialectic between Fascism and Communism and of the extent of their common ...
The terminal transformation of immune complement: comparison of human and guinea pig C'3.

Mit Meerschweinchen-Komplement sensibilisierte Schaferythrocyten (EAC′1,4,2) wurden einerseits mit Meerschweinchen-, andererseits mit menschlichem C′3 in Intermediarform (E*) gebracht. Sie wurden im ersten Fall rascher lysiert, als im zweiten Fall. Es wird vermutet, dass hauptsachlich die EAC′1,4,2 + C′3-Reaktion fur die unterschiedliche Wirkung von Meerschweinchen- und menschlichem Komplement in der Terminalphase der Hamolyse verantwortlich ist.
The effect of topical beta-adrenoceptor blocking agents on pulsatile ocular blood flow

Thirty-three ocular hypertensive patients (21 with primary open angle glaucoma and 12 glaucoma suspects) were randomly assigned to receive either timolol, levobunolol or betaxolol in one eye. Pulsatile ocular blood flow (POBF) was measured before treatment (baseline) and 2 hours after drop administration. After 1 week of regular twice-daily dosage, POBF was measured again both immediately before and 2 hours after drop instillation. All measurements were made by an investigator masked to treatment. POBF increased by 11% (p = 0.09) at week 0 after levobunolol administration, and by 22% (p = 0.20) at week 1 before drop administration compared with baseline. It dropped by 23% and 25% (p = 0.04 and 0.06, respectively) before and after betaxolol administration at week 1. Although POBF was reduced in the timolol group, this change was not significant. These results can not be explained uniformly by changes in intraocular pressure or blood pressure. The relevance of these measurements to visual function in glaucoma is not known.
Thermographic Observation Of Pyrotechnic Fuse Failure

Certain metal combinations alloy, with release of large amounts of energy. Palladium/Aluminum is available commercially in the form of wire, braid and foil of various diameters and thicknesses. These products are useful as heat sources and as fuses to ignite other pyrotechnic compositions. We have found that when used in small devices, where the fuse wire may be required to go through narrow channels and sharp bends, the alloying reaction may not propagate reliably. We have used infrared thermography to monitor heat flow in the fuse wire and in materials surrounding it, to observe the thermal dynamics involved in fuse wire propagation. Fuse wire can be ignited by passing an electrical current through it from end to end or it can be lit from one end to carry ignition to other locations in a device or system. Two effects have been observed thermographically: Conductive cooling of the wire where effective thermal contact occurs and hot zone formation at stress points produced by sharp bends. Thermographic measurements have demonstrated that when electrical current is used to ignite palladium/aluminum wire or braid, reaction begins farthest from a heat sink region, or at a sharp bend.The problem with high thermal contact is easily understood since heat sinking can cool the fuse wire and retard reaction, even to the point of failure. Hot zone formation at high stress regions may, on the other hand, not appear detrimental. However, if one recognizes that these hot zones result from high electrical resistance, probably due to microscopic cracks formed in the palladium sheath of the fuse wire, it is easy to see that a corresponding thermal resistance will also be present. Such a high thermal resistance point, when coupled with adjacent conductive cooling paths can contribute to fuse failure.By using infrared scanning, one can not only observe the importance of such effects in fuse wire ignition and propagation but also see where they may be occurring in a particular configuration. Possible failure points can thus be avoided in device designs.© (1987) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Literacy Education in New Times: In These Times

Ten years ago, Allan Luke and John Elkins began their tenure as editors of the Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy (JAAL), forecasting great changes in the already changing nature of texts and literacy practices in what they named "New Times." They posed the question, "What will it mean to be a reader and writer in the 21st century?" (Luke & Elkins, 1998, p. 4). Four years later, Todd Goodson began his tenure as editor, shifting the focus somewhat to ask, "How will we teach reading and writing in the 21st century?" (Goodson, 2002, p. 4). These are good questions. Indeed, many of the manuscripts we are now adjudicating provide a picture of what it means to be a reader and writer in the 21st century and, more often, what the teaching of reading and writing looks like or might look like in light of changing times and changing notions of literacy in New Times. As we near the end of the first decade of the 21st century, there is much yet to explore in the questions posed by Luke, Elkins, and Goodson. However, as educators and researchers become increasingly comfortable with new literacies and the teaching of 21st-century textual practices, we may want to focus on broader questions of meaning and significance in these times-in our times; some might say, hard times. We begin our editorship by asking, What does the teaching of reading and writing mean in these times for adolescent and adult learners, their teachers, and the larger society? What are the implications of these literacies? These are practical questions of context and condition and effect. They are also ethical questions, ultimately ones of value and significance. We suggest that these questions have much to do with what the new literacies and their pedagogies can and might do for us and those with whom we share the planet. Like many of you, we believe that literacy education is about something more than improving test scores, intensifying capitalism, or in the case of digital literacies the mixing of image and print. We suspect that the ongoing issues of peace and conflict and of violence, poverty, and oppression; the interest in sustainable futures; and the growing concern surrounding the 4
Modification of survival pathway gene expression in human breast cancer cells by tetraiodothyroacetic acid (tetrac)

Tetraiodothyroacetic acid (tetrac) inhibits the cellular actions of thyroid hormone initiated at the hormone receptor on plasma membrane integrin alphavbeta3. Via interaction with the integrin, tetrac is also capable of inhibiting the angiogenic effects of vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor. MDA-MB-231 cells are estrogen receptor-negative human breast cancer cells shown to be responsive to tetrac in terms of decreased cell proliferation. Here we describe actions initiated at the cell surface receptor by unmodified tetrac and nanoparticulate tetrac on a panel of survival pathway genes in estrogen receptor-negative human breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) cells. Nanoparticulate tetrac is excluded from the cell interior. Expression of apoptosis inhibitors XIAP (X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis) and MCL1 (myeloid cell leukemia sequence 1) was downregulated by nanoparticulate tetrac in these breast cancer cells whereas apoptosis-promoting CASP2 and BCL2L14 were upregulated by the nanoparticulate formulation. Unmodified tetrac affected only XIAP expression. Expression of the angiogenesis inhibitor thrombospondin 1 (THBS1) gene was increased by both formulations of tetrac, as was the expression of CBY1, a nuclear inhibitor of catenin activity. The majority of differentially regulated Ras-oncogene family members were downregulated by nanoparticulate tetrac. The latter downregulated expression of epidermal growth factor receptor gene and unmodified tetrac did not. Nanoparticulate tetrac has coherent anti-cancer actions on expression of differentially-regulated genes important to survival of MDA-MB-231 cells.
The Differences in the Vapor Pressures, Heats of Vaporization, and Triple Points of Nitrogen (14) and Nitrogen (15) and of Ammonia and Trideuteroammonia

The differences in the vapor pressures of natural nitrogen and samples containing 34.6 percent nitrogen‐15 were measured by a differential method and were found to be given by log P1/P2=(0.2474/T)−0.001994 where 1 refers to the natural nitrogen and 2 refers to the heavy sample. The difference in the heats of vaporization of the two samples was calculated to be 1.14 calories, that of the heavy sample being higher. The triple point pressures were measured and found to be 9.386 cm of Hg and 9.378 cm of Hg, respectively. From this the difference in the triple points was calculated to be 0.020°K. Assuming that Raoult's law may be used, the ratio of the vapor pressures and the difference in the heats of vaporization of the two pure isotopes, nitrogen‐14 and nitrogen‐15, were found to be log(P14/P15)=(0.7230/T)−0.005822ΔHvap 15−ΔHvap 14=3.33 calories. The triple point of the pure nitrogen‐15 was found to be 0.058° higher than that of nitrogen‐14 and the boiling point 0.052° higher. The differences in the vapor p...