cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nasal mucosa ulceration and septal perforation as initial presentation of a patient with probable Behcet's disease

Abstract Behcet's disease is a vasculitis that affects multiple systems in the body, classically oral and genital mucosa. Nasal mucosa involvement is a rare manifestation of the disease, reported in only a handful of patients. We present an HLA-B51 positive, suspected Behcet's patient with predominantly nasal manifestations including epistaxis, nasal mucosa ulceration and septal perforation. Her nasal symptoms have improved since being started on a daily regimen of colchicine. We believe this case supports the wide clinical heterogeneity of the disorder, and serves as a reminder to consider Behcet's disease when a patient presents with an atypical head and neck manifestation.
A note on returns to scale in DEA

Abstract This brief note adds computational convenience and efficiency to the article by Banker and Thrall on returns to scale in DEA by modifying one of their suggestions to avoid the need for examining all alternate optima in order to reach a decision.
Passive Rotation Joint Design Considerations for Lift and Thrust Generation for a Biomimetic Flapping Wing

Maximizing the available lift and thrust force is important for designing efficient flapping wing micro air vehicles. Research to date showed the passive rotation joint between the wing and four-bar linkage is an important design aspect. Two key hinge parameters are the angle of attack stop and passive rotation joint stiffness. In this work these design parameters were independently varied. Their impact on lift and thrust force generation, and the ratio of the first and second system resonance frequencies were measured and compared through experiments utilizing prototype hardware of varying design. The prototype hardware and flapping wing controller is based on previous work, focused on using biomimetic wings combined with a design that only requires two piezoelectric actuators, and will be briefly reviewed. The angle of attack stops tested were 30°, 40°, 45°, 50°, and 60°. Five different passive rotation joints were tested of varying stiffness. Optimal angle of attack stops and passive rotation joint des...
Accumulation of individual pA+ RNAs during oogenesis of Xenopus laevis

Abstract RNA metabolism during amphibian oogenesis has been investigated by the analysis of individual cDNA cloned sequences. Two cDNA clone libraries were constructed from the pA + RNA of Xenopus ovary and of tadpole. The accumulation of RNAs complementary to individual clones was examined during oogenesis by isolating RNA from oocytes of different stages. There are only two patterns of accumulation during oogenesis. Mitochondrial mRNA sequences accumulate throughout all the stages of oogenesis, whereas all other sequences detected cease accumulation early in oogenesis and remain at a constant steady state level for the remainder of oocyte development. In the earliest stages examined, the individual RNAs are already present at approximately 14 their final level, and the subsequent increase of all sequences appears to be coordinant. These basic observations were confirmed by colony screening approximately 500 clones. The pattern of RNA accumulation observed is significant, because it had been determined that the total steady state pA + RNA levels in the oocyte also ceased to increase at the same stage in oogenesis in which each individual sequenced reached a plateau level. In addition, lampbrush chromosomes, which have traditionally been thought to be the site of oocyte pA + RNA synthesis, are maximally active after the stage in which all pA + RNAs seem to have reached their final level of accumulation.
A Study of Academic Advising Satisfaction and its Relationship to Student Worldviews

The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the relationship between worldview and satisfaction with advising. More specifically, this study examines the relationship among level of a...
The activity of a single-agent 5-fluorouracil infusion in advanced and recurrent head and neck cancer.

Although chemotherapy regimens using cisplatin (CDDP) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) infusion have shown significant activity in advanced and recurrent head and neck cancer, their use requires normal renal function. The use of 5-FU infusion alone has not been evaluated in these tumors. Retrospective analysis revealed 11 patients who received 5-FU infusion alone because of poor renal function: 7 patients with recurrent disease who were previously treated with surgery and/or radiation therapy and 4 patients who received 5-FU as preoperative induction therapy for advanced disease were treated. The infusion dose consisted of 1000 mg/M2/24 hours for 96 hours for patients with previous radiation and 120-hour infusions for patients without previous radiation. The courses were repeated at 3-week intervals. Eight of 11 (72%) demonstrated a response (1 complete response [CR] and 7 partial responses [PRs]). Responses occurred in 4 of 4 (all PRs) patients with previously untreated epidermoid cancer, 1 patient with recurrent adenocystic cancer, and 3 of 6 patients with recurrent epidermoid cancer not previously treated with chemotherapy. Three patients, with no prior systemic or local therapy, who were clinical partial responders to 5-FU infusion went on to surgery and radiotherapy. Their responses were maintained for 18, 14, and 46+ months, respectively. The predominant toxicities were stomatitis (6/11, 55%) and leukopenia (2/11 patients). In this retrospective analysis, 5-FU infusion alone demonstrated good activity in head and neck cancer with tolerable toxicity. Since the number of patients is small and were selected on the basis of renal function, prospective evaluation is essential.
Determination of the Acidity of Long Chain Alcohols Using Infrared Multiple Photon Dissociation

The acidities of the long chain normal alcohols, 1-pentanol to 1-nonanol, were determined using infrared multiple photon activation of alcohol-alkoxide complexes in an ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer. We evaluate the applicability of infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) as a kinetic method for thermochemical determinations by comparing our results to previous studies using different experimental methods.
Agglomerating and Dewatering of Latex Solids

Abstract The present study outlines a novel process for the agglomerating and dewatering of latex solids and the co-agglomerating of these solids with other desirable ingredients to suit a particular requirement. Agglomerates are formed by the vigorous agitation of the latex in the presence of a judiciously chosen conditioner and a bridging liquid. The conditioner must wet the polymer solids and change the balance of forces to produce a destabilizing effect on the latex. Salts, water-soluble polymers, and monomers concentrate in the aqueous phase. Co-agglomerated ingredients may include fire retardants, colorants, plasticizers, reinforcing agents, stabilizers, processing aids, and charge-controlling agents. Agglomerates can be fabricated for use in toner formulations and many other possible end uses. They can be adjusted for strength, size, porosity, electrical properties etc.
The Morphometric Synthesis for landmarks and edge- elements in images

Over the last decade, techniques from mathematical statistics, multivariate biometrics, non-Euclidean geometry, and computer graphics have been combined in a coherent new system of tools for the biometric analysis of landmarks, or labelled points, along with the biological images in which they are seen. Multivariate analyses of samples for all the usual scientific purposes - description of mean shapes, of shape variation, and of the covariation of shape with size, group, or other causes or effects - may be carried out very effectively in the tangent space to David Kendall's shape space at the Procrustes average shape. For biometric interpretation of such analyses, we need a basis for the tangent space that is Procrustes-orthonormal, and we need graphics for visualizing mean shape differences and other segments and vectors there; both of these needs are managed by the thin-plate spline. The spline also links the biometrics of landmarks to deformation analysis of curves in the images from which the landmarks originally arose. This article reviews the principal tools of this synthesis in a typical study design involving landmarks and edge information from a microfossil.
Infrared absorption characteristics of hydroxyl groups in coal tars

Abstract Tar evolution was observed over a temperature range of 150–600 °C for four coals: Pittsburgh bituminous, Illinois No. 6, Rawhide subbituminous, and Texas lignite. Isolation of the evolved tars in a nitrogen matrix at 15 °K produced better resolved infrared spectra than those in a coal matrix, thus enhancing structural characterization of the tar molecules. Two distinct hydroxyl functional groups in the tar molecules free of hydrogen bonding were identified for the first time without interference from H 2 O absorptions. These absorptions at 3626.5 and 3580.9 cm −1 have been assigned to phenolic hydroxyls. It is suggested that carboxylic and aliphatic hydroxyl groups do not survive the vaporization process. Tars from Illinois No. 6 were found to contain the largest amount of phenolic hydroxyl ; Pittsburgh No. 8 tar contains approximately half of that for Illinois No. 6 while Rawhide and Texas lignite contain much less phenolic than either of the other coals.
Analysis of numerical schemes of a mathematical model for sickle cell depolymerization

The purpose of this paper is to present and discuss numerical schemes for a mathematical model that describes carbon monoxide mediated sickle cell polymer melting. Two Runge-Kutta methods are analyzed and shown to be unstable by calculating the first failure value of step size and displaying the bifurcation diagram of RK4. Two nonstandard finite difference (NSFD) schemes are proposed and analyzed; one is shown to be stable subject to a predictable bound on step size, while the second one is unconditionally stable.
Factors that affect the sensitivity of the in vivo-in vitro hepatocyte DNA repair assay in the male rat

Measurement of chemically induced DNA repair as unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) in rat hepatocytes following in vivo exposure has been shown to be a useful indicator of the genotoxicity of chemicals in rat liver. We have examined some of the parameters of this assay in an attempt to increase its sensitivity and reduce cytoplasmic backgrounds. Fischer-344 rats were treated with a low dose of a known positive chemical, water, or corn oil. Livers were perfused with a collagenase solution and isolated hepatocytes were incubated with [3H]thymidine (3H-TdR) followed by overnight incubation in unlabeled TdR, then cell fixation and washing. UDS was measured by quantitative autoradiographic grain-counting as net grains/nucleus (NG). Incubation in 3H-TdR ranging in age from 1 week to more than 12 months gave highly variable background (BKG) and NG counts and a slight overall decrease in NG when the 3H-TdR used was more than 4 months old. Control BKG was 3 times higher after 19 h than after 4 h of incubation in 3H-TdR, with little change in NG. Incubation in unlabeled TdR also reduced BKG significantly. Reduction of autoradiogram exposure from two to one week cut BKG in half without significantly reducing NG. A half-hour wash in fixative (1:3 acetic acid:ethanol) followed by two water washes was as effective in reducing BKG as three 10-min washes in fixative followed by 6 water washes, and resulted in better overall cell attachment. An examination of the distribution of historical control data shows that vehicle control animals never exceed zero NG. This suggests that any NG response greater than zero should be viewed as a possible positive response.
Characterization of Covalent DNA Binding of Morpholino and Cyanomorpholino Derivatives of Doxorubicin

BACKGROUND The doxorubicin analogues cyanomorpholino doxorubicin (MRA-CN) and morpholino doxorubicin (MRA) were synthesized in an attempt to avoid the cardiotoxicity and drug resistance of doxorubicin therapy. MRA-CN forms interstrand DNA cross-links without requiring microsomal metabolic activation in the presence of reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) to form a product that alkylates DNA, but MRA requires metabolic activation. Alkylation produces DNA cross-links, which are associated with potentiation of the cytotoxicity of some drugs. PURPOSE Our purpose was to study the DNA binding of MRA-CN and MRA with and without metabolic activation in order to better understand the mechanisms for cross-linking DNA. METHODS We used [3H]MRA and [3H]MRA-CN, with the 3H labeled at C-2 and C-6 of the morpholino ring. MRA (10 nM) was incubated with human liver microsomes with or without NADPH to measure DNA binding. In addition, a filter elution assay was used to determine the nature and extent of drug binding to DNA in the human ovarian carcinoma cell line ES-2. We studied the appearance of interstrand cross-links versus total DNA adducts in pBR322 plasmid DNA incubated with 100 nM MRA-CN in cell-free medium and then subjected to denaturation and agarose gel electrophoresis. RESULTS Regardless of the extracellular concentration of the drug (1-100 nM), 85% of intracellular MRA-CN was covalently bound to DNA, and the total amount of drug bound to DNA was proportional to extracellular drug concentration. No covalent binding of MRA to DNA was found in cells exposed to 10 nM MRA alone for 2 hours. In contrast, 10% of the intracellular drug was bound to DNA if the cells were exposed to MRA preincubated with human liver microsomes and NADPH. The percentage of plasmids containing at least one interstrand cross-link rose from 35% at 15 minutes to 92% at 2 hours. We estimate that eight molecules of MRA-CN were adducted per molecule of pBR322 DNA (or one drug adduct per 545 base pairs), with a minimum of 12% of the adducts forming interstrand cross-links. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the carbons at positions 2 and 6 of the morpholino ring of both MRA-CN and the activated metabolite of MRA are retained in the drug-DNA adduct. They also indicate that the formation of interstrand DNA cross-links by MRA-CN is preceded by formation of drug adducts to a single strand of DNA.
Some negative results on the computational complexity of total variation and differentiation

The computational complexity of the following classical theorems in real analysis is examined. (1) A function f is of bounded variation if and only if it is a difference of two increasing functions. (2) An absolutely continuous function on a compact interval is of bounded variation. (3) A function of bounded variation has a derivative almost everywhere. All the results obtained here are negative in the sense that if we restrict our domain to polynomial time computable functions, the new versions of the above theorems are no longer true. For instance, the polynomial time computability of a function and its total variation function does not guarantee the polynomial time computability of its derivative.
Vector fecundity reduced by Western X-disease

Abstract Western X-disease (WX), previously thought to be caused by a virus, appears to be due to a mycoplasma-like organism transmitted by certain leafhoppers. In the vector Colladonus montanus, the WX agent produced lesions in a number of tissues, reduced fecundity, and caused premature death. The fecundity of C. montanus leafhoppers was impaired by the WX agent when infection was acquired either by injection with infectious leafhopper extracts or by feeding on diseased celery plants. The difference in fecundity between insects injected with the WX pathogen and those injected with noninfectious extracts remained approximately constant through time. In contrast, in experiments with insects that had acquired WX infectivity through feeding, the fecundity curve of infective insects declined rapidly during the last 4 weeks whereas that of the healthy controls rose and then remained almost constant throughout this portion of the test period. The effect on fecundity was more extreme in insects that fed on WX plants than it was in those leafhoppers that fed only on healthy plants and acquired WX infectivity by injection. These results suggest that feeding on diseased plants reduces the fecundity of C. montanus in some manner over and beyond that resulting from the action of WX per se on the reproductive system of this vector. The nutrition derived by leafhoppers from diseased plants is adequate for normal longevity, but may be partially deficient in some constituents essential to normal fecundity.
Surface composition of Pluto

Broadband (J, H, K and L) and narrowband (1.5- to 3.7-micron) infrared photometry of Pluto has been conducted in order to check previous ambiguous observations of methane frost on the planet's surface. In detail, the match between a laboratory spectrum of methane frost and the observed spectrum of Pluto is not good. Nevertheless, the photometric observations suggest the presence of methane in some form.
Notes on the collection of Mallophaga

Probably no groups of living things offer greater difficulties to the student of science than do the parasitic insects. The Mallophaga, or bird and mammal biting lice, stand as an example of this. At the present time there is no species of this order or suborder for which we have the complete life history. There is also a paucity of species descriptions, and host records. Much of the lack of knowledge concerning this group of insects is due, no doubt, to the difficulty of obtaining specimens and the greater difficulty of knowing exactly the host from which a given specimen is taken.
The Influence of Dietary Alterations on the Utilization of Soft Phosphate in Broiler Diets

Abstract MODERN poultry diets often contain a minimal amount of animal by-product feeds and thus usually require supplemental phosphorus. Because of the demand for high energy diets and the desire to avoid problems associated with leg weakness, manufacturers usually prefer to use phosphate supplements of high potency and biological availability rather than supplements which are of lower potency or have a poor biological availability. Soft phosphate has been extensively investigated as a phosphorus source for broiler diets. Much of this research has been reviewed by Almquist (1962) and Motzok et al. (1956, 1965). It is generally accepted that this source of phosphorus is inferior to dicalcium and defluorinated rock phosphates. Several factors have tended to limit the use of soft phosphate in broiler diets, the primary one being the low availability of the phosphorus component. The degree of availability varies depending upon the literature cited, ranging from 36–38% (Nelson and…
Behavioral Interventions May Reduce Dental Anxiety and Increase Acceptance of Dental Treatment in Dentally Fearful Adults

Article title and bibliographic information Psychological treatment of dental anxiety among adults: a systematic review. Wide Bowman U, Carlsson V, Westin M, Hakeberg M. Eur J Oral Sci 2013; 121(3 Pt 2):225-34 . Reviewer Lisa J. Heaton, PhD Purpose/Question Are behavioral and cognitive-behavioral treatments for dental anxiety more effective in decreasing dental anxiety compared to receiving information about dental care, completing dental treatment under sedation or general anesthesia, or placebo/no treatment in dentally fearful adults? Source of funding Information not available Type of study/Design Systematic review with meta-analysis of data Level of evidence Level 2: Limited-quality, patient-oriented evidence Strength of recommendation grade Grade B: Inconsistent or limited-quality patient-oriented evidence
Frequency-weighted feedforward control for dynamic compensation in ionic polymer–metal composite actuators

Ionic polymer–metal composites (IPMCs) are innovative materials that offer combined sensing and actuating ability in lightweight and flexible package. IPMCs have been exploited in robotics and a wide variety of biomedical devices, for example, as sensors for teleoperation, as actuators for positioning in active endoscopy, as fins for propelling aquatic robots, and as an injector for drug delivery. In the actuation mode, one of the main challenges is precise position control. In particular, IPMC actuators exhibit relaxation behavior and nonlinearities; and at relatively high operating frequencies dynamic effects limit accuracy and positioning bandwidth. A frequency-weighted feedforward controller is designed to account for the IPMC's structural dynamics to enable fast positioning. The control method is applied to a custom-made Nafion-based IPMC actuator. The controller takes into account the magnitude of the control input to avoid generating excessively large voltages which can damage the IPMC actuator. To account for unmodeled effects not captured by the dynamics model, a feedback controller is integrated with the feedforward controller. Experimental results show a significant improvement in the tracking performance when feedforward control is used. For instance, the feedforward controller shows over 75% reduction in the tracking error compared to the case without feedforward compensation. Finally, the integrated feedforward and feedback control system reduces the tracking error to less than 10% for tracking an 18-Hz triangle-like trajectory. Some of the advantages of feedforward control as well as its limitations are also discussed.
Energy Poverty and Development in Papua New Guinea: Learning from the Teacher's Solar Lighting Project

Energy poverty – lack of access to electricity and dependence on traditional fuels for cooking and heating – afflicts billions of people globally. For these communities, the search for energy fuels and services is an arduous, daily grind. Small-scale, off-grid renewable energy technologies such as solar home lighting kits (SHLKs) offer the ability to generate electricity and provide reliable energy services. This study explores a national program in Papua New Guinea (PNG) intended to distribute SHLKs to rural schoolteachers known as the Teacher's Solar Lighting Project (TSLP). With support from international donors, the $3 million TSLP was hoped to distribute SHLKs to 2,500 teachers, catalyze the dissemination of 14,500 units, and jumpstart a self-sustaining local market for solar equipment. By the project's close, however, only one SHLK had actually been sold – less than one ten thousandth of the original target. This study explores why. It begins by justifying the selection of SHLKs and PNG before descr...
Chemoprevention for Bladder Cancer

Purpose: Bladder cancer is the most expensive cancer to treat and follow in the United States due to often extended courses of treatment coupled with the necessity for frequent surveillance examinations. Because direct exposure to carcinogens is implicated in bladder cancer development and many potentially protective compounds are concentrated in urine, bladder cancer is a logical target for chemoprevention.Materials and Methods: We performed a MEDLINE search of the English language literature to identify reports of chemoprevention of bladder cancer. Study outcomes were evaluated and mechanisms of action were identified when possible. In cases of multiple reports of the same compound critical comparisons were performed.Results: For most putative chemopreventive agents against bladder cancer the results of different studies are conflicting. Megadose vitamins, certain vitamin A analogues and pyridoxines have been associated with promising findings. For vitamins C and E and selenium, studies showing benefit ...
The interneuronal nature of GABAergic neurons in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the rhesus monkey: a combined HRP and GABA-immunocytochemical study

Neurons immunoreactive to a GABA antibody, located in the retrogradely labeled segment of LGN of the rhesus monkey obtained after massive injections of HRP in a sector of the striate cortex, were examined for HRP label in plastic semithin (1 micron) sections of LGN. In a total of 691 GABA(+) neurons sampled from the 6 main geniculate layers none was seen to contain HRP grains. In contrast, the vast majority of GABA(-) neurons were densely labeled with HRP reaction product. It is concluded from these results that GABAergic cells in macaque LGN do not project to the striate cortex, as previous studies have shown for equivalent cells in cat LGN, and therefore reasons are given to consider these cells as interneurons in this nucleus. In addition, several GABA(-) neurons which were also unlabeled with HRP were observed isolated in the midst of populations of neurons homogeneously labeled with this enzyme. These cells were mostly located at or near the interlaminar zones and some of them were substantially larger than the neighboring geniculostriate relay cells in the parvocellular subdivision of LGN. For these characteristics, these unlabeled somata are considered to correspond to the geniculate neurons projecting to prestriate cortical visual areas in the macaque described in several studies and which, the present results suggest, do not branch collateral axons to the striate cortex.
Implementation of evidence-based humanitarian programs in military-led missions: part II. The impact assessment model.

The Department of Defense does not implement health-sector humanitarian assistance impact assessments to complement those of the international humanitarian aid community. This oversight fails to meet the recent Department of Defense Directive 3000.05 mandate calling for the application of measures of effectiveness. The decision by the Department of Defense to incorporate humanitarian assistance in stability operations should be supported by evidence-based impact assessments. This article proposes implementation of an impact assessment model in Department of Defense humanitarian assistance operations. The use of an impact assessment model will refocus previously identified information gaps from traditional military input-output management toward a greater emphasis on outcomes. This will help answer which humanitarian activities are successful, which are not, and why. Over time, the use of an impact assessment model will ensure that the Department of Defense and its operational units are learning as an organization while applying evidence-based lessons learned to future stability operations. Most important, the use of this model will both provide better understanding of the role that the Department of Defense has in humanitarian activities and help interpret and transfer these activities to the host nation and international aid community in a timely and efficient manner. Language: en
Calpain Inhibitors Protect Against Depolarization-induced Neurofilament Protein Loss of Septo-hippocampal Neurons in Culture

We examined the effect of a 6 min depolarization with 60 mM KCl and 1.8, 2.8 or 5.8 mM extracellular CaCl2 on neurofilament proteins of high (NF-H), medium (NF-M) and low (NF-L) molecular weight in primary septohippocampal cultures. One day after depolarization, Western blot analyses revealed losses of all three neurofilament proteins. Increasing the extracellular calcium concentration from 1.8 to 5.8 mM CaCl2 in the presence of 60 mM KCl produced increased losses of all three neurofilament proteins to approximately 80% of control values in the absence of cell death. Calcium-dependent losses of the neurofilament proteins correlated with calcium-dependent increases in calpain 1-mediated breakdown products of alpha-spectrin. Calpain inhibitors 1 and 2, applied immediately after depolarization and made available to cultures for 24 h, reduced losses of all three neurofilament proteins to approximately 14% of control values. The protective effects of calpain inhibitors 1 and 2 were influenced by different levels of extracellular calcium. Qualitative immunohistochemical evaluations confirmed semiquantitative Western blot data on neurofilament loss and protection by calpain inhibitors 1 and 2. We propose that brief depolarization causes loss of neurofilament proteins, possibly due to calpain activation. Thus, calpain inhibitors could represent a viable strategy for preserving the cytoskeletal structure of injured neurons.
Nutrition Management of the Hepatic Transplant Patient

Patients who are candidates for liver transplantation are predisposed to severe nutritional depletion because of their underlying hepatic dysfunction. Nutrition-associated complications, particularly infection and poor wound healing, are common causes of morbidity and mortality among adults with chronic liver disease and malignancy who are referred for liver transplantation. During the preoperative period, maintenance or repletive nutrition is provided to the patient with hepatic failure. The patient's postoperative period is characterized by the catabolic response to a major operation, the progressive improvement of hepatic graft function, and the persistent compensatory renal abnormalities that are associated with liver failure. The nutrition management of the patient with liver failure has been well described. Nutrition intervention during the intraoperative and postoperative periods remains enigmatic. The following case report describes the nutrition management of a liver transplant recipient in the intraoperative and postoperative periods.
Sequence of the immunoregulatory early region 3 and flanking sequences of adenovirus type 35.

Abstract Adenovirus type 35 (Ad35) is an important pathogen in immunosuppressed individuals such as AIDS patients and bone marrow transplant recipients. Ad35, a member of Ad subgroup B, differs with respect to pathogenic properties from the more fully characterized subgroup C Ad, such as Ad2 and Ad5. One region of human Ad which varies between subgroups and which may influence Ad pathogenesis is early region 3 (E3), a region which appears to modulate the immune response to Ad infection. In order to begin to characterize the differences between the Ad35 E3 and the E3 of other Ad, the complete DNA sequence of the Ad35 E3 promoter and coding sequence along with two flanking structural proteins, pVIII and fiber, has been determined. Ad35 contains open reading frames which are unique to the subgroup B Ad in addition to the four characterized immunoregulatory proteins encoded by the subgroup C Ad. Further evaluation of the sequence of one of these proteins, 18.5K, which is the class-I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) binding protein of 18.5 kDa, demonstrates that the amino acid sequence of this Ad2 gp19K homologue fits a proposed model of gp19K-MHC interaction. Analysis of promoter sequences demonstrates that an NF-κB site found in the subgroup C E3 promoter is absent from the Ad35 E3 promoter. In addition, the fiber genes of Ad35 and other subgroup B Ad have been shown to diverge in an unexpected way, yielding three clusters of fiber homology.
The characterization of spherical surfaces

Abstract The surface geometry of a spherical object is often incompletely evaluated because of limitations inherent in the techniques used to measure it. If several techniques measuring different aspects of the surface are combined, a more complete description can be obtained.
Tissue electroporation. Observation of reversible electrical breakdown in viable frog skin.

Experiments by others have used isolated cell or bilayer membrane preparations to study the dramatic phenomena associated with electroporation. The present study observes electroporation behavior in an intact tissue. Viable samples of frog skin (Rana pipiens) were exposed to short electrical pulses of varying width and magnitude under "charge injection" conditions. After a pulse, the transtissue potential decayed with two distinct time constants, one short (tau approximately 0.3 ms) and the other longer (tau L approximately 2 ms). Above thresholds for the pulse magnitude and for the pulse width tau L decreased significantly, with progressively smaller tau L as the pulse magnitude and width increased. The postpulse potential, delta Utissue (t), and resistance, Rtissue, also decreased progressively. The tissue subsequently recovered to its original resistance and open circuit potential, delta U tissue,oc, within 2–3 min after a pulse. At that time another pulse experiment could be carried out, demonstrating repeatability and reversibility. No significant permanent changes in Rtissue and delta Utissue,oc were found. This is interpreted as avoidance of significant tissue damage. Taken together, these dramatic phenomena are characteristic of the reversible electrical breakdown previously observed in charge injection experiments with artificial planar bilayer membranes and with isolated cell membranes by similar very short pulses. The present experiments therefore demonstrate that electroporation can be repeatedly caused and observed in a viable tissue without apparent damage.
XML Querying Using Data Logic Structures and Primitives

There have been several proposals for transforming and querying XML structures, but very few of them offer a data logic approach. This article describes data structures and some primitives as a framework to efficiently manipulate XML well-formed documents. The implementation of the querying system, based on the proposed framework, is performed in the Prolog programming language. Results indicate that this approach allows the solution of both deductive and recursive queries from XML documents.
Free flap monitoring: A review of current practice

Individual techniques for the postoperative monitoring of free flaps vary considerably. In order to establish the currently preferred protocols, a survey was conducted among micro-surgeons in North America using a mailed questionnaire. Data were received from 95 centers for the monitoring of 2,825 free flaps performed during 1994. Results indicate that rates for flap salvage and overall success with free tissue transfer are closely related to surgical experience (number of cases performed per month). Ninety percent of microsurgeons routinely use monitoring devices, with external and laser doppler having achieved greatest popularity. An account is given of the preferred postoperative regimens for flap surveillance, and the overall results are discussed. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Stigma Associated With AIDS: A Meta-Analysis1

Results of 21 studies determined the degree of stigma associated with AIDS compared to the degree of stigma associated with other comparable conditions. Focused contrast analyses indicate a greater degree of stigma expressed toward individuals with AIDS than toward individuals with other comparable illnesses (r= .22), with college students (r= .23) expressing a slightly higher degree of stigma than health professionals (r= .10). A greater degree of stigma was obtained with scales measuring intended social interaction (r= .26) than was obtained with scales containing items measuring attitudes and values (r= .16). Effect sizes did not differ significantly as a function of the type of control condition used.
The road to iron leads through 56Ni

Abstract A brief review is presented of the observational and theoretical evidence for the production of iron peak nuclei in explosive nucleosynthesis, for which, under proton-rich conditions, nuclei of mass A = 56 are synthesized predominantly as 56Ni. Guided by the pioneering hydrodynamic studies of Stirling Colgate and his collaborators, it has now been firmly established that the timescale on which nuclear burning proceeds in the wake of a supernova shock wave is too short to permit any significant change (increase) in the total ratio of neutrons to protons. This guarantees dominance of the isotope 56Ni in the iron peak nuclei emerging from explosive/supernova environments, and holds important implications for the light curves of both Type I and Type II supernovae. Current models of nucleosynthesis in supernovae predict interesting and distinguishing abundance patterns that are found to be consistent with the stellar abundance determinations of halo and disk stars in our Galaxy.
Birth seasonality in a Rural U.S. county, 1911-1979.

This paper examines birth seasonality in a rural U.S. county over the period 1911-1979. Data were taken from the complete series of birth certificates for the county population during this period....No birth seasonality was found for any decade during this century. The absence of a seasonal fertility pattern remained when all births were examined and when such factors as ethnicity (only births to white mothers) occupation (only births to women married to farmers) and stillbirths were controlled singly and in combination. (EXCERPT)
Noise reduction in multichannel neural recordings using a new array wavelet denoising algorithm

Abstract We investigate a new technique for noise reduction in multichannel neural recordings based on the discrete wavelet transform. Starting with the denoising technique proposed by Donoho et al. (IEEE Trans. Inform. Theory 41 (1995) 613–627), we suggest a new thresholding method for the multiresolution decomposition of the multichannel data. The potential of this technique lies in the fact that thresholds at different resolution levels of the wavelet transform are estimated spatially to account for significant correlation of the wavelet coefficients across channels. The method is applied to a simulated multichannel data as well as real silicon microprobe recordings obtained in our laboratory. Preliminary results show the ability of the technique to reduce both spatially correlated and uncorrelated noise components in the neural recordings. Results are compared to existing techniques and the overall performance is evaluated.
Sedimentation behavior of bovine plasma albumin as a function of urea concentration and pH.

Abstract 1. 1. Treatment of BPA with 3–5 M urea at pH 4.5 resulted in the appearance of three ultracentrifugal components. Only one component was seen below 3 M and above 6 M urea. 2. 2. Three peaks, with S 20, w values of approximately 4, 6, and 10 Svedberg units, were observed in 4 M urea over the pH range 3.4–5.3. Only one component, with a normal S 20, w of about 4, appeared at pH values of 5.5 and higher. 3. 3. A considerable increase in the intrinsic viscosity of BPA occurred at urea concentrations above 4 M , particularly in the interval between 4 and 5 M . The reduction in S 20, w at 5 M from that seen in 4 M urea was interpreted as being due to a marked increase in swelling of the albumin molecule. 4. 4. Possible mechanisms have been discussed for the aggregation of BPA in urea observed by sedimentation techniques, and conditions under which either partial or complete reversal occurred have been presented.
Exploring Connections Between Moderators and Mediators: Commentary on Subgroup Analyses in Intervention Research

Although subgroup analyses, and moderator analyses more generally, in intervention research are fraught with analytic and conceptual challenges, they provide invaluable insights into the effectiveness of intervention strategies and the theoretical models upon which they rest. The papers in this Special Issue engage these challenges and offer investigators a set of strategies that will enhance how they think about, measure, test, and report evidence of moderated intervention effects. In this commentary, I echo the call for more thoughtful work on moderated intervention effects and, in particular, urge investigators to pursue opportunities to integrate questions regarding mediation as they work to specify how intervention strategies operate across populations, settings, and behavioral domains.
Joint effects of citrus peel use and black tea intake on the risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin

Differences in tea drinking habits and/or citrus peel use are likely to vary by populations and could contribute to the inconsistencies found between studies comparing their consumption and cancer risk. A population-based case-control study was used to evaluate the relationships between citrus peel use and black tea intake and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin. Moreover, we assessed the independent and interactive effects of citrus peel and black tea in the development of SCC. Hot and iced teas were consumed by 30.7% and 51.8% of the subjects, respectively. Peel consumption was reported by 34.5% of subjects. Controls were more likely than were cases to report citrus peel use (odds ratio (OR) = 0.67) and hot tea intake (OR = 0.79). After adjustment for hot and iced tea intake, the ORs associated with citrus peel use were 0.55 and 0.69, respectively, whereas the corresponding adjusted ORs for hot and iced tea intake after adjustment for citrus peel use were 0.87 and 1.22 respectively. Compared with those who did not consume hot black tea or citrus peel, the adjusted ORs associated with sole consumption of hot black tea or citrus peel were 0.60 and 0.30, respectively. Subjects who reported consumption of both hot black tea and citrus peel had a significant marked decrease (OR= 0.22; 95% CI = 0.10 – 0.51) risk of skin SCC. These results indicate that both citrus peel use and strong (hot) black tea have independent potential protective effects in relation to skin SCC.
Frequency domain conditions for parameter convergence of a multivariable adaptive identifier

A multivariate adaptive identifier is designed on the basis of a canonical form leading to a unique set of parameters to identify. Frequency-domain conditions for parameter convergence are derived. The sufficient condition to guarantee convergence in all cases is that p+v distinct frequency components be present in each input of the plant, where v is the maximum of the observability indexes and p the order of the plant. On the other hand, a necessary condition requires p+2v distinct frequency components distributed over the inputs and at least v frequency components in each separate input. Through examples, it can be shown that convergence may or may not occur for an intermediate number of frequency components, depending on their location and on the plant parameters. >
Improvement in regression of corn yield with plant height using relative data

BACKGROUND: The traditional approach of analyzing absolute variable data across multiple locations and/or years has drawbacks in precision agriculture. This study was conducted to evaluate the impacts of using relative yield and plant height data of corn (Zea mays L.) on the regression of yield with plant height using linear and exponential models in a nitrogen (N) rate field trial under four cropping systems. RESULTS: The use of relative yield to replace absolute yield frequently increased the determination coefficient (R2) values in the regression of yield with plant height on datasets combined across cropping systems or/and years. Relative yield and relative plant height sometimes further enhanced the R2 values compared with relative yield and absolute plant height. All these improvements mostly occurred when the fit of the model was not strong with absolute yield and absolute plant height or relative yield and absolute plant height. The advantages of using relative data of yield or/and plant height were similar for the two regression models. CONCLUSION: The use of relative yield or relative data of both yield and plant height may be effective in improving the regression of corn yield with plant height across multiple cropping systems/locations and years in precision agriculture. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
X-band transmit/receive module overview

This paper will discuss pertinent issues and trends in X-band transmit/receive (T/R) modules. The performance of gallium arsenide (GaAs) T/R module components and wide bandgap semiconductors will be presented along with future challenges. T/R module cost will also be addressed with an emphasis on semiconductor cost factors and issues. Finally, a brief discussion of packaging and assembly issues will be provided.
The mechanism of compressive unloading failure in single crystal quartz and other brittle solids

Abstract The phenomenon called unloading failure, in which the initiation and growth of cracks occurs during the removal of compressive stresses, has been observed in both uniaxial compression testing and Hertzian indentation testing of brittle materials. We have conducted finite element simulations of uniaxial compression experiments on single crystal quartz (specimens in which unloading failure was observed) to determine: (1) the mechanism responsible for unloading failure in brittle materials, (2) the dependence of this mechanism on friction between the specimen and loading platens, (3) the cause for the selection of specific fracture planes on which the unloading cracks propagate. The simulation results indicate that a slip-stick mechanism which is highly dependent on interface friction is responsible for the generation of tensile stress states leading to failure during unloading. The results also show that elastic anisotropy of a single crystal specimen leads to the self-selection of preferential failure planes during unloading.
Paired-Associate Learning of Phonemic CCVCS as a Function of Phonological Permissibility:

Koutstaal and Smith's (1972) linguistic theory for the differential rates of learning of alphabetic CVCs was tested on the paired-associate learning of phonemic CCVCs. These were selected from Greenberg and Jenkins' (1964) lists to represent 0, 1, 2, or 3 violations of phonological rules. A monotonic function was predicted and obtained for the paired-associate learning of the phonemic CCVCs of the four categories.
Genome-wide mapping of cytosine methylation revealed dynamic DNA methylation patterns associated with genes and centromeres in rice

We conducted genome-wide mapping of cytosine methylation using methylcytosine immunoprecipitation combined with Illumina sequencing. The chromosomal distribution pattern of methylated DNA is similar to the heterochromatin distribution pattern on rice chromosomes. The DNA methylation patterns of rice genes are similar to those in Arabidopsis thaliana, including distinct methylation patterns asssociated with gene bodies and promoters. The DNA sequences in the core domains of rice Cen4, Cen5 and Cen8 showed elevated methylation levels compared with sequences in the pericentromeric regions. In addition, elevated methylation levels were associated with the DNA sequences in the CENH3-binding subdomains, compared with the sequences in the flanking H3 subdomains. In contrast, the centromeric domain of Cen11, which is composed exclusively of centromeric satellite DNA, is hypomethylated compared with the pericentromeric domains. Thus, the DNA sequences associated with functional centromeres can be either hypomethylated or hypermethylated. The methylation patterns of centromeric DNA appear to be correlated with the composition of the associated DNA sequences. We propose that both hypomethylation and hypermethylation of CENH3-associated DNA sequences can serve as epigenetic marks to distinguish where CENH3 deposition will occur within the surrounding H3 chromatin.
Comparison of designed and randomly generated catalysts for simple chemical reactions

There has been recent success in designing enzymes for simple chemical reactions using a two-step protocol. In the first step, a geometric matching algorithm is used to identify naturally occurring protein scaffolds at which predefined idealized active sites can be realized. In the second step, the residues surrounding the transition state model are optimized to increase transition state binding affinity and to bolster the primary catalytic side chains. To improve the design methodology, we investigated how the set of solutions identified by the design calculations relate to the overall set of solutions for two different chemical reactions. Using a TIM barrel scaffold in which catalytically active Kemp eliminase and retroaldolase designs were obtained previously, we carried out activity screens of random libraries made to be compositionally similar to active designs. A small number of active catalysts were found in screens of 103 variants for each of the two reactions, which differ from the computational designs in that they reuse charged residues already present in the native scaffold. The results suggest that computational design considerably increases the frequency of catalyst generation for active sites involving newly introduced catalytic residues, highlighting the importance of interaction cooperativity in enzyme active sites.