cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Result of HIV antibody detection in high-risk population in Huairou District of Beijing from 2005-2010

[Objective]To analyze the result of HIV antibody detection by HIV screening lab in Huairou CDC of Beijing from 2005-2010,provide a scientific basis for AIDS prevention.[Methods]The detection of HIV antibody in serum was conducted in high-risk population by the ELISA.[Results]During 2005-2010,10 807 people of high-risk population in Huairou District of Beijing were detected,and the positive rate of HIV antibody was 0.17%.The positive rate in men who have sex with men(MSM) was the highest(6.94%).The difference in positive rate among five high-risk groups(unlicensed prostitutes,prisoner,MSM,STDs clients and voluntary counseling) was significant(χ2=328.24,P0.01).83.33% of HIV-positive people were young people aged 20-39 years old.[Conclusion]Among high-risk population in Huairou District of Beijing,the positive detection rate of HIV antibody in MSM group is the highest.The young people have the high incidence of AIDS,which the key of AIDS prevention and control.
Dynamic Analysis of Water Quality in Changsha Part of Xiang River form 2000 to 2005

Objective To understand the water quality in Changsha part of Xiang River,and to provide scientific basis for controlling pollution,and constructing and developing the city.Methods Water samples were collected at three sections of clean,pollution and self-purification in wet and dry seasons to detect and evaluate water quality based on the environmental quality standards and testing requirements for surface water.Results Water quality of three sections in Changsha part of Xiang River was seriously polluted.The main pollutants were coliform,mercury,volatile phenol,cadmium,and ammonia nitrogen,etc.The pollution of ammonia nitrogen,volatile phenol,cadmium,and coliform in dry season was significantly higher than that of the wet period(P0.01～P0.05).Mercury pollution was serious in the two seasons,but the pollution in wet season was more serious than in dry season(P0.01).The exceed standard indexes of upstream monitoring points in 2000 and 2005 were higher than those of the middle and lower reaches,which suggested that pollution in the upstream cities was more serious.Conclusions Pollution of the water in Changsha part of Xiang River is serious,and a number of indicators exceed the standards of three types of surface water quality.The government and the relevant departments should pay more attention on the water quality.
Research progress on occupational hazards of vinyl chloride and its control

There are a variety of damages caused by vinyl chloride on the health exposed workers. Besides acute vinyl chloride poisoning,the epidemiological data shows the damages of vinyl chloride mainly appear in liver,nervous system,digestive and reproductive system,and vinyl chloride may induce the acroosteolysis. The exposure limits of vinyl chloride are different in different countries. At present,the time weighted average allowable concentration of vinyl chloride in workplace is 30 mg / m3in China. In 2002,the biological exposure limit of vinyl chloride was set as the concentration of trichloroacetic acid in urine at the last watch at the end of work week is lower than 0. 3 mmol / L( 50 mg / L).
Abstract IA24: Computational dissection of phenotypic and functional heterogeneity in cancer

Cells within a single tumor are known to display extensive phenotypic and functional heterogeneity. Many life-threatening features of cancer, including drug resistance, metastasis and relapse, are facets of intratumor heterogeneity. With emerging single-cell measurement technologies, the field is poised to make important strides in understanding and controlling this heterogeneity. However, these technologies require advances in analytical methods to interpret the complex data they produce. Using mass cytometry, which measures single cells in ~31 simultaneous proteomic features, we developed novel methods for analyzing phenotypic heterogeneity in cancer. We use AML as an example to demonstrate the power of our approach. The heart of our approach is Phenograph, a graph-based representation of single-cells which represents the phenotypic structure of the sample and can be partitioned into subsets of densely interconnected nodes, called communities. Using Phenograph, we deconstructed several AML samples into discrete phenotypes. Analyzing the resulting subpopulations provided insights into functional heterogeneity of AML. Phenograph can be applied to characterize heterogeneity and primitive subpopulations in additional cancers. Citation Format: Dana Pe9er. Computational dissection of phenotypic and functional heterogeneity in cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Computational and Systems Biology of Cancer; Feb 8-11 2015; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(22 Suppl 2):Abstract nr IA24.
CNS Meningiomas in Children and Adolescents

A clinicopathological analysis of 87 cases of meningioma in children and adolescents age 5 months to 20 years (mean 14 years) is reported from the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Children’s National Medical Center, George Washington University, Washington, DC; Uniformed University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD; and Catholic University of Korea, Seoul.
The roles of AtxA orthologs in virulence of anthrax-like Bacillus cereus G9241.

Summary AtxA is a critical transcriptional regulator of plasmid-encoded virulence genes in Bacillus anthracis. Bacillus cereus G9241, which caused an anthrax-like infection, has two virulence plasmids, pBCXO1 and pBC210, that each harbor toxin genes and a capsule locus. G9241 also produces two orthologs of AtxA: AtxA1, encoded on pBCXO1, and AtxA2, encoded on pBC210. The amino acid sequence of AtxA1 is identical to that of AtxA from B. anthracis, while the sequences of AtxA1 and AtxA2 are 79% identical and 91% similar to one another. We found by qRT-PCR that AtxA1 and AtxA2 function as positive regulators of toxin (AtxA1) and capsule operon (both) transcription in G9241 and that a ΔatxA1 mutant produced lower levels of the anthrax toxins and no hyaluronic acid capsule. Deletion of atxA1 or atxA2 decreased the virulence of spores administered intranasally or subcutaneously to C57BL/6 mice but not to A/J mice, and deletion of both genes rendered spores avirulent in A/J mice. In addition, unlike AtxA1, AtxA2 did not form stable homomultimers in vitro, although AtxA1 and AtxA2 formed heterodimers. Our data show that AtxA1 is the primary regulator of G9241 virulence factor expression and that AtxA1 and AtxA2 are both required for full virulence.
Etiology of Sensorineural Deafness

Children with a bilateral sensorineural hearing impairment averaging 30 dBHL or or more were investigated for possible congenital or intrauterine infection as causes at the Centre for Audiology, Manchester University, UK.
Characterization of ultra-thin quarter-wavelength matching layers of high frequency ultrasonic transducers

The quarter-wavelength (/spl lambda//4) acoustic matching layer is a vital component in medical ultrasonic transducers, which can bridge the large acoustic impedance mismatch between the piezoelectric material and the human body. At high frequencies (>50MHz), the /spl lambda//4 matching layers become extremely thin and the characterization of its properties becomes very challenging. We report a novel method to measure the phase velocity and attenuation of ultra-thin layers using the /spl lambda//4 matching principle. The method has been successfully used to measure a 14.6 /spl mu/m Epo-Tek 301 epoxy film on glass substrate and a 9.5 /spl mu/m sol-gel silicon oxide colloidal/polymer composite film on Si substrate.
Simulation of melt spinning including flow-induced crystallization: Part II. Quantitative comparisons with industrial spinline data

The mathematical model for melt spinning of Doufas et al. [A.K. Doufas, A.J. McHugh, C. Miller, J. Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics, 1999] coupling fiber microstructure (molecular orientation and crystallinity) with the macroscopic velocity/stress and temperature fields, is tested extensively against industrial spinline data for several nylon melts. Model fits and predictions are shown to be in very good quantitative agreement with spinline data for the fiber velocity and temperature fields at both low and high-speed conditions, and, with birefringence data available for high speeds. The effects of processing parameters: quench air velocity, capillary diameter and mass throughput, as well as material characteristics: molecular weight (RV) and polymer type (i.e., homopolymers with or without additives, and copolymers), on the spinline dynamics are accurately predicted. Under high-speed conditions, strain softening occurs and the tensile stress at the freeze point is predicted to be essentially independent of the processing parameters investigated, in agreement with experimental observations. Birefringence data and model predictions show that crystallization occurs mostly after the freeze point, under the locked-in tensile stress. Under low-speed conditions, the velocity and crystallization profiles (experimental and predicted) are shown to evolve smoothly towards a plateau value and strain hardening behavior is predicted throughout the spinline. The ability to quantitatively describe spinline data over a wide range of conditions and material characteristics, renders the model a useful tool for optimization of melt spinning processes as well as a framework for simulation of other polymer processes involving flow-induced crystallization.
Postplant Application of Nitrogen Fertilizer to Pinus sylvestris at Different Stages of Establishment

Abstract Ammonium nitrate and urea formaldehyde at 56, 112, and 224 kg N/ha (50, 100, and 200 lb N/A) were surface-applied to Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris) planted the same spring and 1 and 2 years previously. Survival and growth were measured and compared with untreated controls during the following two seasons. Survival of plants established the same year as treatment was significantly greater at the lowest fertilizer rate, regardless of material. Second season height growth of trees receiving 56 kg N/ha (50 lb/A) in the year of planting was significantly greater than those receiving 224 kg N/ha (200 lb/A). There were no significant growth responses by trees established for 1 or 2 years prior to treatment. Stem diameter and number of lateral buds at the apex were not affected by any of the treatments.
Role for the EWS domain of EWS/FLI in binding GGAA-microsatellites required for Ewing sarcoma anchorage independent growth.

Ewing sarcoma usually expresses the EWS/FLI fusion transcription factor oncoprotein. EWS/FLI regulates myriad genes required for Ewing sarcoma development. EWS/FLI binds GGAA-microsatellite sequences in vivo and in vitro. These sequences provide EWS/FLI-mediated activation to reporter constructs, suggesting that they function as EWS/FLI-response elements. We now demonstrate the critical role of an EWS/FLI-bound GGAA-microsatellite in regulation of the NR0B1 gene as well as for Ewing sarcoma proliferation and anchorage-independent growth. Clinically, genomic GGAA-microsatellites are highly variable and polymorphic. Current data suggest that there is an optimal “sweet-spot” GGAA-microsatellite length (of 18–26 GGAA repeats) that confers maximal EWS/FLI-responsiveness to target genes, but the mechanistic basis for this remains unknown. Our biochemical studies, using recombinant Δ22 (a version of EWS/FLI containing only the FLI portion), demonstrate a stoichiometry of one Δ22-monomer binding to every two consecutive GGAA-repeats on shorter microsatellite sequences. Surprisingly, the affinity for Δ22 binding to GGAA-microsatellites significantly decreased, and ultimately became unmeasureable, when the size of the microsatellite was increased to the sweet-spot length. In contrast, a fully functional EWS/FLI mutant (Mut9, which retains approximately half of the EWS portion of the fusion) showed low affinity for smaller GGAA-microsatellites but instead significantly increased its affinity at sweet-spot microsatellite lengths. Single-gene ChIP and genome-wide ChIP-sequencing (ChIP-seq) and RNA-seq studies extended these findings to the in vivo setting. Together, these data demonstrate the critical requirement of GGAA-microsatellites as EWS/FLI activating response elements in vivo and reveal an unexpected role for the EWS portion of the EWS/FLI fusion in binding to sweet-spot GGAA-microsatellites.
SHMEMGraph: efficient and balanced graph processing using one-sided communication

State-of-the-art synchronous graph processing frameworks face both inefficiency and imbalance issues that cause their performance to be suboptimal. These issues include the inefficiency of communication and the imbalanced graph computation/communication costs in an iteration. We propose to replace their conventional two-sided communication model with the one-sided counterpart. Accordingly, we design SHMEMGraph, an efficient and balanced graph processing framework that is formulated across a global memory space and takes advantage of the flexibility and efficiency of one-sided communication for graph processing. Through an efficient one-sided communication channel, SHMEMGraph utilizes the high-performance operations with RDMA while minimizing the resource contention within a computer node. In addition, SHMEMGraph synthesizes a number of optimizations to address both computation imbalance and communication imbalance. By using a graph of 1 billion edges, our evaluation shows that compared to the state-of-the-art Gemini framework, SHMEMGraph achieves an average improvement of 35.5% in terms of job completion time for five representative graph algorithms.
Analysis of the upstream sequences of the Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1 hemA gene: in vivo evidence for the presence of two promoters that are both regulated by fnrL.

The presumed DNA target for the Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1 FnrL regulatory protein is the FNR consensus sequence, TTGAT-N4-ATCAA, based on (1) similarities between the helix-turn-helix motifs of FnrL and the Escherichia coli homologue, Fnr, and (2) the established FnrL dependence for anaerobic induction of six gene clusters all having upstream FNR consensus-like sequences. We are interested in understanding the regulation of one among these; namely, the hemA gene, which codes for one of two isozymes of 5-aminolevulinate (ALA) synthase in this organism. Here, we present in vivo evidence that the hemA gene is transcribed from two promoters. Both are under oxygen control, and disabling the fnrL gene abolishes induction of each promoter in response to lowering oxygen tension. Based on the 5′ position of the FNR consensus sequence relative to the downstream promoter, we had hypothesized that activation of that promoter is mediated by binding of FnrL to the FNR consensus sequence. Consistent with this hypothesis, we found here that transcription from the downstream promoter is no longer inducible when the FNR consensus sequence is deleted. With respect to the upstream promoter, based on the fact that the +1 site of transcription from that promoter is within the FNR consensus sequence, we propose an indirect role for FnrL. This possibility is discussed, together with other unresolved aspects of hemA expression.
CrII Reactivity of Taurine/α-Ketoglutarate Dioxygenase

The interaction of CrII with taurine/α-ketoglutarate (αKG) dioxygenase (TauD) was examined. CrII replaces FeII and binds stoichiometrically with αKG to the FeII/αKG binding site of the protein, with additional CrII used to generate a chromophore attributed to a CrIII−semiquinone in a small percentage of the sample. Formation of the latter oxygen-sensitive species requires the dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) quinone form of Tyr-73. This preformed side chain is generated by intracellular self-hydroxylation of Tyr-73 to form DOPA, which is subsequently oxidized to the quinone. No chromophore is generated when using NaBH4-treated sample, protein isolated from anaerobically grown cells, inactive TauD variants that are incapable of self-hydroxylation, or the Y73F active mutant of TauD. A CrIII−DOPA semiquinone also was observed in the herbicide hydroxylase SdpA.
Stiff Chains and Levy Flight: Two Self Avoiding Walk Models and the Uses of Their Statistical Mechanical Representations

Two self-avoiding walk models are described: In the stiff chain model, useful in the description of some polymers, the walk “prefers” to continue in the direction of the last step with probability 1-p. The limit of small p and a large number of steps N is of particular interest. We present numerical results indicating the nature of the crossover from “ballistic” to random walk behavior. In two dimensions, the walk is asymptotically behaving like a self avoiding walk but in three dimensions, the numerical results suggest a random (not self-avoiding) behavior for a wide range of N. We describe this walk in terms of a vector spin model in the limit that the number of components n -> 0 and use this formulation to account for the difference between two and three dimensions observed numerically. Secondly, we consider self-avoiding Levy flight: the step length distribution is of the form P(x) = C/x μ+1. We study a type of Levy flight with a self-avoiding constraint called node-avoiding Levy flight here. This node-avoiding case is shown to be obtained from the n -> 0 limit of the statistical mechanics of another kind of vector spin model. The critical properties of this model were previously studied by Fisher, Nickel and Saks using the e expansion. By comparing numerical simulations of node-avoiding Levy flight with their results, we can obtain information about the e expansion in statistical mechanics at very small values of e.
Multi-physics Modeling Characterization of Aerosol Jet Printed Transmission Lines

With the increased demand in wearable devices, the design of Flexible Hybrid Electronics (FHE) is becoming important. Emerging systems requiring FHE include wearables, energy harvesting devices, sensory networks, and ECG monitors to name a few. Designing these systems requires accounting for different flexible actions such as stretching, bending and twisting, etc. which requires models of different components that capture the behavior under these actions. This work focuses on characterizing the bending of microstrip transmission lines as it relates to printed electronics. In this work, both the mechanical and electrical aspects are captured specifically for aerosol jet printed transmission lines using finite element modeling and correlated with measurements. The challenges in such multiphysics modeling and measurements are discussed that includes the effect of bending on printed microstrip transmission lines.
Doppler-vibrometer landmine-detection system operated from a moving vehicle

Detection of landmines at modest distances from a moving vehicle is desired to help protect soldiers from explosive threats. The US Department of Defense developed a sensor system to observe seismic vibration patterns that lead to detection of buried objects in unpaved roads. The system is capable of exciting soil acoustically and observing seismic responses while advancing at 1m/s with a 30m standoff. The optical design and build created 960 simultaneous independent spatial observations that collect data over a 0.5m x 1m area. A gimbal then repositions the sensor to collect a new region. In this sequential manner the system can scan 2m x 1km in less than 30min. Active gimbal stabilization kept beam positions relatively stable on the ground while the vehicle was in motion. Inertial sensing reduced gross Doppler components common to all channels. Even with these corrections, channel dropouts remained a challenge, so filtering of erroneous samples in time and space was required to improve the data quality. Automated target recognition algorithms quickly process the spatial vibration data to warn operators of a threat. We present here an overview of the system and collected data. The system proved effective at finding buried threats that produced seismic anomalies at the surface, but additional challenges lie in differentiating target responses from clutter. The seismic response of naturally occurring environmental clutter in roads produces responses that appear similar to objects of interest, reducing the effectiveness of target detection algorithms.
SMEs and Information Technologies in the Broadband Economy

Today’s broadband-supported tools are enabling small and medium enterprises (SMEs) access to and easier management of information technologies (IT). These tools are offering new ways to communicate and reach customers. Although large corporations have resources and money to invest in emerging information technologies, they also have a major disadvantage: their size may cause complexities (and sometimes inertia) that may slow down new technology adoption. The size and dynamic nature of SMEs can enable such businesses to quickly take advantage of technological progress while minimizing risks. The key, however, is for SMEs not only to adopt, but also to effectively plan, implement, maintain, and manage the broadband-supported technological evolution.
Confused Terms in Ordinary Language

Confused terms appear to signify more than one entity. Carnap (Meaning and necessity, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1956) maintained that any putative name that is associated with more than one object in a relevant universe of discourse fails to be a genuine name. Although many philosophers have agreed with Carnap, they have not always agreed among themselves about the truth-values of atomic sentences containing such terms. Some hold that such atomic sentences are always false, and others claim they are always truth-valueless. Field (J Philos 70:462–481, 1973) maintained that confused terms can still refer, albeit partially, and offered a supervaluational account of their semantic properties on which some atomic sentences with confused terms can be true. After outlining many of the most important theoretical considerations for and against various semantic theories for such terms, we report the results of a study designed to investigate which of these accounts best accords with the truth-value judgments of ordinary language users about sentences containing these terms. We found that naive participants view confused names as capable of successfully referring to one or more objects. Thus, semantic theories that judge them to involve total reference failure do not comport well with patterns of ordinary usage.
Preliminary Report on Interleukin-22, GM-CSF, and IL-17F in the Pathogenesis of Acute Anterior Uveitis.

Purpose: Anterior uveitis is the most common anatomic subset of uveitis. We developed a novel multi-parametric flow cytometry panel to identify immune dysregulation signatures in HLA B27-associated...
Standardized Performance Analysis Integrating Production and Financial Performance

A producer led effort through the NCA-Integrated Resource Management (IRM) Coordinating Committee has developed standardized cow-calf enterprise production and financial performance analysis to meet information needs of cow-calf producers. Areas addressed include (1) standardization of terminology and calculation procedure, (2) selection of a minimal set of measures that describe performance and (3) standardization of methodology in enterprise cost accounting. Field testing of the analysis system in 12 states involving 55 herds prior to January 1992 has been extremely successful. This re-emphasizes the desire of producers to have sound production and financial information that they can understand and utilize in decision making. The implementation of NCA-IRM-Standardized Performance Analysis (SPA™) is now underway. This paper briefly summarizes the measures selected, key results of the herds evaluated and future direction of SPA.
Blood flow, oxygen consumption, carbon-dioxide production, and blood-calcium and pH changes in tibial fractures in dogs.

Estimation, by ten-minute clearance of 85Sr, of the blood flow in dogs' tibiae with healing fractures showed an increase in flow the first day after fracture and, at approximately two weeks, a maximum of almost six times mean normal flow. This maximum was followed by a decrease to approximately three and one-half times that of normal at three weeks, maintenance of this level until eight to ten weeks, and then return to more normal values as healing and remodeling neared completion at twelve weeks. In a fracture with delayed union, blood flow at thirteen weeks was still approximately four times that of normal. In eight dogs, no significant difference was found in the 85Sr extraction by the fractured tibia and by the control, indicating that the avidity for 85Sr on the fractured side was not significantly increased. This was also true at twelve weeks in a delayed union. No consistent changes were observed its the arterial-venous differences in oxygen content, pO2, pCO2, or pH when blood from the fractured tibia was compared with that from the control side. Oxygen consumption and CO2 production, however, must have increase because blood flow was invariably increased.
Companions of Stars: From Other Stars to Brown Dwarfs to Planets and the Discovery of the First Methane Brown Dwarf

The discovery of the first methane brown dwarf provides a framework for describing the important advances in both fundamental physics and astrophysics that are due to the study of companions of stars. I present a few highlights of the history of this subject along with details of the discovery of the brown dwarf Gliese 229B. The nature of companions of stars is discussed with an attempt to avoid biases induced by anthropocentric nomenclature. With the newer types of remote reconnaissance of nearby stars and their systems of companions, an exciting and perhaps even more profound set of contributions to science is within reach in the near future. This includes an exploration of the diversity of planets in the universe and perhaps soon the first solid evidence for biological activity outside our Solar System.
¿Qué tipo de bien es John Finnis? Un estudio sobre el bien personal y común en «Natural Law and Natural Rights»

John Finnis’ Natural Law and Natural Rights has significantly impacted the field of general jurisprudence in important ways. Finnis’ thesis restored to some extent the place of natural law jurisprudence to more prominence than it had enjoyed for at least five decades. Yet, Finnis’ restoration was more than a resuscitation of the classical case for a natural law that was greater than and in fact included human positive law. In academic and popular discourse, the approach of Finnis and his collaborators and disciples is «new» natural law. This article focuses on the beginning and foundation of natural law (classical and «new»): the concept of «good» (both individual and common) in Natural Law and Natural Rights. The definition of this concept and its role in the primary precepts of natural law is fundamental to all future arguments over and elaborations of natural law. Part I highlights the greatest contribution of the book to the defense of natural law jurisprudence: the defense of the objectivity of the good. Part II explores Finnis’ understanding of the concept of good and, in particular, the ways in which it reinterprets or departs from Aquinas and Aristotle. Part III traces how these differences affect the work’s understanding of the common good.
Feasibility study of a gas cartridge loop for the versatile test reactor

Abstract A feasibility study of a Gas Cartridge Loop (GCL) for the Versatile Test Reactor (VTR) was carried out to determine the performance requirements of major components and evaluate the performance during normal operation and transient conditions. The major components consist of a circulator/motor, a heater, a test article, a flow guide and a pressure vessel. The pressure vessel incorporates a pressurized, flowing helium loop with capability to test heat-producing test articles up to a 200 mm length of Energy Multiplier Module (EM2) fuel rod at a linear heat rate of 55 kW/m. The heat is rejected to VTR primary coolant sodium flowing along the outside of the GCL pressure vessel. For the baseline design, the helium temperatures at the test article inlet and outlet are 650 °C and 850 °C, respectively, when the mass flow is ~0.01 kg/s. The circulator inlet temperature is 362 °C and the motor power is 11.9 W. An electric heater power is 15.8 kW which is required to maintain the inlet temperature of the test article. Under the normal operating condition, the estimated fuel and cladding temperatures are 1233–1610 °C and 917–1219 °C, respectively. The controllability of the GCL was evaluated for the operational transients during a single fuel cycle by maneuvering either the motor or heater power to keep the test article outlet temperature at 850 °C. For an estimated perturbation of the test article power by ±3.5%, the required motor or heater power variations are ± 4.1% or ± 2.4%, respectively. The safety feature of the GCL was evaluated for the postulated accidents initiated by the VTR and GCL itself under the assumption that the helium flow is pseudo-steady. For the reactivity-initiated accident (RIA) like transient overpower (TOP) of the VTR, the simulation predicted that the margin to fuel melting is 24% and 5% for the protected and unprotected TOP, respectively. For GCL-initiating accidents, the simulation predicted the fuel reaches its melting point when the system loses mass flow by 52% with the nominal heater power or when the system pressure drops by 56% with the nominal motor and heater power level. For both the loss-of-flow and loss-of-pressure cases, the system shall terminate the heater and fission reaction at pre-determined set points. For the loss-of-power case, the GCL requires coastdown capability of the motor for at least several seconds to avoid the test article failure due to fuel melting.
A Spatial Analysis of Alcohol Outlet Density Type, Abandoned Properties, and Police Calls on Aggravated Assault Rates in a Northeastern U.S. City.

Background: Community-based research and prevention scholarship has shown a growing interest in examining the impact of the ecological structure of neighborhoods on community violence. Ecological s...
Angiogenesic profile in sporadic and NF2-related schwannomas

4434 Vestibular schwannoma (VS) and meningiomas are benign tumors that comprise 35-40% of all brain tumors. Neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) is characterized by the presence of bilateral VS and multiple meningiomas for which alternative treatments are desperately needed. Currently there are no agents that produce disease stabilization or regression. This lack of active drugs is especially critical for NF2 patients where tumor progression is common. Previous groups have shown VEGF expression in small series of sporadic VS. In this study, we expand these findings to include a larger sample VS that include both sporadic and NF2 tumors. We broadened our study to include 5 parameters commonly used to characterize angiogenesis in tumors: microvascular density (MVD), and immunolabeling for VEGF, VEGFR2, PDGFRalpha and PDGFRbeta. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens were obtained from surgical resections of 22 patients with sporadic VS and from 21 patients with NF2 that underwent surgical resection at MGH. Sections were stained with polyclonal antibodies against VEGF (Santa Cruz Biotechnology), VEGFR2, PDGFRalpha and PDGFRbeta; (Cell Signaling), CD31, and Factor VIII (Dako). Intensity of immunostaining was scored in semi-quantitative fashion (0: no expression, +1: mild expression, +2: moderate expression, +3: strong expression) for VEGF, VEGFR2 and PDGF Receptors. MVD was calculated by averaging the number of CD31-positive vessels in 5-15 fields (10x). Intensity of each parameter was quantified for endothelial and tumor cells respectively. Expression of VEGF was detected in all sporadic and NF2-related VS. Strong (+3) expression of VEGF in tumor cells was more common in sporadic VS (45%) than in NF2-related VS (5%). In contrast, endothelial-bound VEGF was more common in NF2-related VS (75%) than in sporadic VS (45%). There was no difference in mean MVD between sporadic (13.5 vessels/mm2) and NF2-related tumors (12.5 vessels/mm2). The number of vessels expressing VEGFR2 was greater in sporadic (10.7 vessels/mm2) than in NF2 (7.4 vessels/mm2). Similarly the percentage of tumors expressing PDGFRbeta on vessels was greater in sporadic tumors (82%) than in NF2 tumors (55%). VEGF expression in tumor cells was universal in this series of sporadic and NF2-related VS. Although the intensity of VEGF expression appears greater in sporadic lesions, endothelial- bound VEGF is more common in NF2-related lesions and is positively associated with increased MVD. This finding indicates a potential activity of the VEGF angiogenic pathway in this patient population with subtle differences between NF2 and sporadic tumors with respect to the endothelial receptors. Therefore anti-VEGF therapy such as bevacizumab represents a rational approach to treating NF2 patients with VS in which surgery is not possible or has failed. A better understanding of the respective angiogenic mechanisms is necessary prior to using tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
Signaling for Phagocytosis

Phagocytes ingest a variety of particles, cells, and microbes by use of actin-rich, contractile extensions of plasma membrane that close into intracellular membranous organelles called phagosomes. Signaling for phagocytosis begins when cell surface receptors engage particle-bound molecular ligands. The distinct component activities localize to subregions of forming phagosomes and may be coordinated by membrane-associated proteins and phospholipids that diffuse in the plane of the membrane bilayer. Different receptors use distinct mechanisms for regulating the actin cytoskeleton and the movements of membrane, producing a variety of morphologies for forming phagosomes. Some elements of phagocytic signaling are both constructive and interpretive. This chapter emphasizes the constructive signals. The cytosolic signaling proteins bind to the receptors or associated proteins, and a complex aggregate assembles around the receptor by diffusion and trapping. Secondary signals include the enzymatic modification of phospholipids and other membrane-associated proteins that in turn organize the cytoplasmic movements of phagocytosis. The underlying mechanism of phagocytosis appears to depend less on localized extension of the plasma membrane and more on controlled invagination of the cell surface by actin-myosin contractile activities. The morphogenesis of phagosomes suggests that actinmyosin-like contractility is essential to phagocytosis. The chapter reviews the signals for various different receptor-mediated phagocytic processes. The patterns of GTPase activities and the corresponding patterns of movement for actin, myosin, and membranes may be coordinated by patterns of membrane lipids in the inner leaflet of the inner membrane of the phagocytic cup that appear and disappear through the course of phagocytosis.
DIGITAL DESIGNS IN CIVIC DISCOURSE: - A Theoretical Design Perspective

To improve quality of life, all communities must engage in civic discourse about issues of common concern, which may elicit divergent opinions particularly in liberal democracies. Appropriate forums with properly articulated and understood rules of engagement help organize discussions and discourses and enable them to remain civil even when contending parties hold strong and disparate opinions. Over the past decade, digital technology has allowed citizenship engagement to substantially evolve, leading to a need to reevaluate the commonly understood rules of engagement in civic discourse. In addition, no clear set of guidelines exists on how to transfer the extant rules of civic discourse into the digital world. This paper provides a theory driven framework for the design of information system to conduct civic discourse. The paper draws on earlier works in the theory of communication action and the theory of structuration. It combines these two theories and outlines how they can be translated into an information system. Testable hypotheses are drawn. The paper concludes by outlining the contributions of this paper to the literature on digital civil discourse and proposes future areas of study.
Multiple Hemoglobins of Catostomid Fish II. THE AMINO ACID SEQUENCE OF THE MAJOR α CHAIN FROM CATOSTOMUS CLARKII HEMOGLOBINS

Abstract The amino acid sequence of the principal α chain in the multiple hemoglobins of the fish, Catostomus clarkii, was determined by examination of peptides released by tryptic hydrolysis and cleavage with cyanogen bromide. The sequence differed from that of the carp α chain in only 10% of the residues, but varied from mammalian α chains by 40 to 50%. However, isopolar substitution was maintained in the internal hydrophobic sites considered important for the structural integrity of mammalian globins. Residues homologous with the heme and interchain contacts of the mammalian globins were strongly conserved in the C. clarkii α chain.
Soy, isoflavones and atherosclerosis.

Consumption of soy protein is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease in man, and reduced atherosclerosis in a variety of experimental animals. Although a portion of the cardiovascular protective effects appears to be due to reductions in plasma lipoprotein concentration, in most people the magnitude of this effect is relatively small. In many, but not all studies using animal models, the reduction in atherosclerosis is in part independent of changes in plasma lipids and lipoproteins. This implies that there may be a direct effect on the arterial wall of one or more of the components in soy protein that reduces susceptibility to atherosclerosis. The most actively studied components of soy protein that may be responsible for these anti-atherogenic effects are the isoflavones and various protein factions. Extraction of isoflavones and other alcohol-soluble components from soy protein lowers, but does not eliminate its ability to reduce atherosclerosis. Surprisingly, in most studies, adding back the isoflavone-rich alcohol extract to the previously extracted soy protein, or to another protein, does not restore its lipoprotein lowering or anti-atherogenic properties. This implies that alcohol extraction either destroys an active component of soy, alters the structural integrity of the soy proteins, or disassociates a required isoflavone—soy protein complex. Understanding the mechanism of this effect is an important goal for future research. Likewise, the sites of action on the arterial wall, and the mechanisms by 302 R. St. Clair and M. Anthony which various soy components act to reduce atherosclerosis are just now being studied. The recent demonstration that expression of estrogen receptor alpha is required for atheroprotection by soy protein provides important new mechanistic insight. Other properties of soy, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and potentially antithrombogenic properties need to be explored more mechanistically before the full potential of dietary soy protein for the protection from cardiovascular disease will be known.
Knowledge and attitudes about emergency contraception in a military population.

Abstract Objective: To assess knowledge and attitudes about reproductive issues and emergency contraception among active duty military members. Methods: A survey was distributed to 302 active duty members of the United States Air Force. Descriptive and Pearson χ 2 statistical analyses were used to evaluate findings. Results: There was a general lack of knowledge about reproductive issues and the Yuzpe emergency contraception method. Eighty-five percent of respondents were sexually active, but only 62% used birth control. Only 40% knew when pregnancy was most likely to occur. Sixty-four percent had heard of emergency contraception, but only 15% were aware of the correct time to take it. Fifty-five percent said they would use emergency contraception if needed, with younger or unmarried individuals most willing. Conclusion: Knowledge deficits must be addressed to keep women deployable. Educational materials and emergency contraception kits should be standard issue items. That might prevent unwanted pregnancies and produce significant savings in reproductive health and emotional costs.
Geoinformatic surveillance of hotspot detection, prioritization and early warning for digital governance

A Geoinformatic Hotspot Surveillance System (GHS) will be demonstrated. This system is comprised of an upper level set scan statistic system for hotspot delineation, and a poset prioritization and ranking system for hotspot prioritization. Surveillance geoinformatics partnership consists of several interested cross-disciplinary scientists from academia, agencies and private sector.
Overlapping Requirements for Tet2 and Tet3 in Normal Development and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Emergence

The Tet family of methylcytosine dioxygenases (Tet1, Tet2, and Tet3) convert 5-methylcytosine to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine. To date, functional overlap among Tet family members has not been examined systematically in the context of embryonic development. To clarify the potential for overlap among Tet enzymes during development, we mutated the zebrafish orthologs of Tet1, Tet2, and Tet3 and examined single-, double-, and triple-mutant genotypes. Here, we identify Tet2 and Tet3 as the major 5-methylcytosine dioxygenases in the zebrafish embryo and uncover a combined requirement for Tet2 and Tet3 in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) emergence. We demonstrate that Notch signaling in the hemogenic endothelium is regulated by Tet2/3 prior to HSC emergence and show that restoring expression of the downstream gata2b/scl/runx1 transcriptional network can rescue HSCs in tet2/3 double mutant larvae. Our results reveal essential, overlapping functions for tet genes during embryonic development and uncover a requirement for 5hmC in regulating HSC production.
Frontend frequency-voltage adaptation for optimal energy-delay/sup 2/

In this paper, we present a clustered, multiple-clock domain (CMCD) microarchitecture that combines the benefits of both clustering and globally asynchronous locally synchronous (GALS) designs. We also present a mechanism for dynamically adapting the frequency and voltage of the frontend of the CMCD with the goal to optimize the energy-delay/sup 2/ product (ED2P). Our mechanism has minimal hardware cost, is entirely self-adjustable, does not depend on any thresholds, and achieves results close to optimal. We evaluate it on 16 SPEC 2000 applications and report 17.5% ED2P reduction on average (80% of the upper bound).
Visual Estimates of Airplane Speed

A comparison of field and laboratory studies shows that the variability of visual estimates of airplane speed made by ground observers increases in direct proportion to the mean estimate in the same manner as does the variability of estimates made for quite different moving objects at close range in the laboratory. Since the standard deviation may be used as a measure of sensitivity to differences in speed, it follows that an observer discriminates a constant percentage difference throughout the range of aircraft speeds studied. This rule also seems to be applicable to certain aspects of automobile driving and to tracking of targets on a cathode-ray tube.
Determination of platinum-containing drugs in human plasma by liquid chromatography with reductive electrochemical detection.

Abstract The platinum cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cisplatin or CDDP), which is used successfully to treat various kinds of tumour, can be determined in human plasma ultrafiltrate using liquid chromatography with reductive electrchemical detection (LC—ED). Polarographic analyses of other platinum-containing drugs have been carried out, and the results indicate that some of them might be good candidates for detection using the ED method. cis-Dichloro-trans-dihydroxo-cis-bis-(isopropylamine)platinum(IV) (CHIP or JM-9), diammine(1,1-cyclobutanedicarboxylato)platinum(II) (CBDA or JM-8), and tetrachloro(trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane)platinum(IV) (TCDCP), which are under evaluation for antitumour properties, have been investigated by this method. The results suggest that LC—ED may be a suitable technique for the determination of CHIP and TCDCP. The separation of cationic hydrolysis products from the neutral parent complex (CDDP) was carried out on reversed-phase columns, modified with alkylsuphonic acid ion-pair reagents. The rate of disapperance of CDDP in various media at 37.0°C was studied using this method. These results are in good agreement with those determined by other investigators using different methods. In addition, the monoaqua hydrolysis product was detected after incubation of CDDP with plasma ultrafiltrate and 100 mM sodium chloride. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry with electrothermal atomisation was used to determine the total platinum content in eluate fractions. This aided the identification of platinum-containing peaks in the LC—ED profile, and was also used to measure the percentage platinum recovered from the column.
Stability of the apoprotein of human serum low density lipoprotein: absence of endogenous endopeptidase activity.

Abstract Protease activity, inhibitable by DFP, has been reported in purified preparations of low density lipoprotein from human serum. Such activity could introduce serious error in studies of structure of its subunit proteins. In this study low density lipoprotein was prepared and stored in an effective antimicrobial medium. The protein moiety was examined for evidence of proteolysis by electrophoresis with sodium dodecyl sulfate, gel permeation chromatography, solubility in tetramethylurea, and measurement of amino and carboxyl termini. No evidence of proteolytic cleavage of the apoprotein was found indicating that low density lipoprotein lacks endogenous protease activity.
Expanded donor pool

Background. Since suitable recipients for hepatic allografts from donors with antibodies to hepatitis B virus (HBV) have not been determined, a review of our 7-year experience with donors positive for hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc), or both was undertaken. Methods. Recipients of hepatic allografts from donors with antibodies to HBV were identified by a retrospective review of procurement records and screened for HBV infection. Results. From January 1, 1990, to January 1, 1997, 2578 liver transplants were performed and 140 (5.4%) recipients received an allograft from a donor with antibodies to HBV. Twenty-five of 48 recipients of a hepatic allograft from a donor positive only for anti-HBs were screened and none developed HBV infection. Twenty-five of 41 naive recipients of a hepatic allograft from an anti-HBc positive donor were screened and 18/25 (72%) developed HBV infections. Four of these 18 naive recipients with HBV infection received an allograft from a donor positive for both anti-HBc and anti-HBs. Seven of 13 anti-HBs-positive recipients of an allograft from an anti-HBc positive donor were screened and none developed HBV infection. Fifteen of 16 recipients positive only for anti-HBc who received a hepatic allograft from an anti-HBc-positive donor were screened and 2/15 (13%) developed HBV infection. Conclusions. Hepatic allografts from donors positive only for anti-HBs do not transmit HBV infection. Hepatic allografts from anti-HBc-positive donors frequently transmit HBV infection to naive recipients regardless of the donor anti-HBs status, and antiviral prophylaxis may be indicated. Anti-HBs-positive recipients appear resistant to HBV infection after orthotopic liver transplantation with an allograft from an anti-HBc-positive donor. Recipients positive only for anti-HBc infrequently develop HBV infection when transplanted with an allograft from an anti-HBc-positive donor; however, HBV prophylaxis may be justified.