cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Memory, Faith, and Social Action

Memory, faith, and social action are frequently visited sociological themes. Following Emile Durkheim's The Elementary Forms of Religious Life, scholars such as M. Halbwachs (1962, 1992) and Stefan Czarnowski (1975), or more recently, Eduardo Hoornaert (1988) and Elizabeth Castelli (2004), have sought to illuminate the links within this triad by exploring the manner in which social conditions influence how memory acquires meaning through religious faith and religious practices. Two recent works in particular, Cultural Memory: Resistance, Faith and Identity (Rodriguez and Fortier 2007) and The Catholic Social Imagination: Activism and the Just Society in Mexico and the United States (Palacios 2007), follow the main tenets of previous inquiries, while adding anthropological insights to further shed light on the memory-faithsocial action ensemble. Both works revisit Roman Catholicism as practiced in Mexico. Rodriguez and Fortier also make use of the cases of the Yaqui people in Arizona and Salvadoran Bishop Oscar Romero, assassinated in 1982 in San Salvador after openly opposing repressive governmental actions in that country. Palacios compares the Catholic communities of Guadalajara City and Los Angeles. Both works use Latin Catholicism to illustrate the different ways that faith has informed social practices, highlighting the efficacy of remembrance as a catalyst for social action. Palacios' study suggests that Catholicism after the Second Ecumenical Vatican Council (Vatican II 1962-1965) became completely focused on social issues and its theology became relevant to understand justice and solidarity as the basic tenets of the Catholic faith. Palacios accurately notes that even if the social teachings of the Church started over half a century earlier, its efforts to impact the secular world can be traced back to the birth of the mendicant orders.1 Nonetheless, it was only after the Second Vatican that a distinct preference for principles of human rights, peace, solidarity, and options for the poor
Some general considerations concerning the destabilizing effect in nonconservative systems

Es wird ein lineares System mitN Freiheitsgraden untersucht, beansprucht durch eine Gruppe nichtkonservativer Krafte, welche linear von den verallgemeinerten Koordinaten abhangen. Mehrere Satze bezuglich die labilisierende Wirkung von kleinen Kraften, die von den verallgemeinerten Geschwindigkeiten abhangen, werden aufgestellt. Diese Krafte konnen von der Dampfung oder von gyroskopischen Einflussen herruhren.
Pulmonary Nodule Mimicked by ECG Lead Artifact

Recently, a new ECG lead has been introduced that can mimic a pulmonary nodule to the uninitiated. Alternatively, in those institutions where the lead is commonly seen, physicians may dismiss a real finding on the chest x-ray film as a lead "artifact." We describe the appearance of this new chest wall artifact.
Conformations of blood group H-active oligosaccharides of ovarian cyst mucins.

Spectroscopic data and conformational energy calculations are reported for eight oligosaccharides from ovarian cyst mucins and from human milk, the nonreducing terminals of which have fucose (α1 2)galactose linked either (β1 3) (type I) or (β1 4)(type II) to N-acetylglucosamine or in (β1 3) linkage to galactosaminitol. The fully assigned proton nmr spectra are reported along with nuclear Overhauser enhancement (NOE) data. Amide proton coupling constants and vacuum-uv CD spectra provide information on the amide plane orientation and amide environment. Our results imply that the fucosidic dihedral angles are similar for all three cases and that the substantial differences in the chemical shifts of the fucosyl protons of type I, type II, and 3-ol chains result from different perturbations by the amide group of the residue to which the β-galactose is linked. Stereopair diagrams of conformational models for both type I and II H chains are presented that are consistent with NOE, coupling constants, conformational energy calculations, and the CD data. While the temperature dependence of the observed NOE of penta- and hexasaccharides indicates that their rotational correlation times are strongly temperature dependent, we conclude that the conformations are essentially independent of temperature.
On the Mathematical Foundations of CVM

This paper provides an underlying mathematical framework for the cluster variation method and develops programmable algorithms for treating any CVM description of a multi-component material with complex unit cell. After setting up the symmetry group of the structure as a permutation group over ordering sublattices, a Boolean lattice formalism generated by crystal motifs is introduced to carry out the combinatorics required for the cluster variation method. Two approaches are presented: one is a matrix based algebraic formulation employing the Ma:bius function of the. Boolean lattice and the second gives a detailed analysis including the simplifications afforded by the ordering symmetry group to give a final form permitting arbitrary choice of motif coverings. The Boolean lattice formulation is also used to determine the number of independent variables needed to describe the.CVM distribution function in the presence of symmetry. It is shown that, even under the constraint of a given ordering symmetry group, a set of independent variables associated to Notation
The protein kinase PKB/Akt regulates cell survival and apoptosis by inhibiting Bax conformational change

The serine-threonine kinase Akt exerts its anti-apoptotic effects through several downstream targets, including the pro-apoptotic Bc1-2 family member Bad, Forkhead transcription factors, and the cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB). In this report we demonstrate that Akt inhibits a conformational change in the pro-apoptotic Bax protein and its translocation to mitochondria, thus preventing the disruption of the mitochondrial inner membrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)), caspase-3 activation, and apoptosis in pre-B hematopoietic cells FL5.12 following interleukin-3 (IL-3) withdrawal. Inhibition of PI-3 kinase, but not MAPK kinase, promotes this conformational change in Bax. Moreover, overexpression of Akt suppresses the relocalization of GFP-Bax to mitochondria and apoptosis in Hela cells induced by the DNA-damaging agent methyl methanesulphonate. However, Akt does not abolish the ability of a conformationally changed Bax mutant, GFP-Bax (DeltaS184), to translocate to mitochondria and to induce apoptosis. These findings indicate that Akt exerts its anti-apoptotic effects in cells at a premitochondrial stage, at least in part, by inhibiting Bax conformational change and its redistribution to the mitochondrial membranes.
Study of the charging process of a LiCoO2-based Li-ion battery

Abstract A three-electrode Li-ion cell with metallic lithium as the reference electrode was designed to study the charging process of Li-ion cells. The cell was connected to three independent testing channels, of which two channels shared the same lithium reference to measure the potentials of anode and cathode, respectively. A graphite/LiCoO 2 cell with a C/A ratio, i.e., the reversible capacity ratio of the cathode to anode, of 0.985 was assembled and cycled using a normal constant-current/constant-voltage (CC/CV) charging procedure, during which the potentials of the anode and cathode were recorded. The results showed that lithium plating occurred under most of the charging conditions, especially at high currents and at low temperatures. Even in the region of CC charging, the potential of the graphite might drop below 0 V versus Li + /Li. As a result, lithium plating and re-intercalating of the plated lithium into the graphite coexist, which resulted in a low charging capacity. When the current exceeded a certain level (0.4 C in the present case), increasing the current could not shorten the charging time significantly, instead it aggravated lithium plating and prolonged the CV charging time. In addition, we found that lowering the battery temperature significantly aggravated lithium plating. At −20 °C, for example, the CC charging became impossible and lithium plating accompanied the entire charging process. For an improved charging performance, an optimized C/A ratio of 0.85–0.90 is proposed for the graphite/LiCoO 2 Li-ion cell. A high C/A ratio results in lithium plating onto the anode, while a low ratio results in overcharge of the cathode.
Surface Motions on Near-Distance Rock Sites in the 2011 Tohoku-Oki Earthquake:

This paper selects several sites intended to represent relatively undistorted rock motions just inland from the faulting in the 2011 Tohoku-oki earthquake. Sites were selected for relatively high v...
Consistent skew-symmetric couple stress theory for size-dependent creeping flow

Abstract Within the framework of continuum fluid dynamics, couple-stresses appear as an inevitable consequence of non-central forces and the discrete character of matter at the finest scales. As a result, the force-stress tensor becomes non-symmetric and classical theory may not accurately predict the behavior. Recent theoretical work has shown that the couple-stress tensor must be skew-symmetric and that mean curvature rate is the energy-conjugate kinematical measure. The resulting fully consistent couple stress theory incorporates a characteristic material length scale for the fluid that becomes increasingly important, as the characteristic geometric dimension of the problem approaches that level. This size-dependent non-Newtonian theory is essential to understand a range of behavior at micro-scales with potential applications to blood flow and lubrication, among others. Here we concentrate on steady creeping flow within this newly developed fully determinate linear couple stress theory and formulate a boundary integral representation for two-dimensional problems. These boundary integral equations are written in terms of velocities, angular velocities, force-tractions and moment-tractions as primary variables. Details are provided on the derivation of fundamental solutions and on the corresponding boundary element implementation. Afterwards, the new boundary element method is applied for the solution of two basic problems to explore some consequences of this size-dependent couple stress fluid mechanics.
Neutron Deficient Isotopes of Tellurium and Antimony

While investigating the relative yields for the many reactions resulting from the irradiation of antimony with 200-Mev deuterons in the Berkeley 184-inch cyclotron several previously unreported isotopes of tellurium and antimony were encountered. The tellurium fraction when followed on a thin mica window counter could be resolved into half-life periods of 2.5 hrs, 6.0 days and a small amount of a long-lived component. The 2.5 hour period has not been further characterized with respect to mass number or mode of decay other than to note that the radiation is predominantly electrons. The 6.0-day period is accompanied by positrons which were shown to be due to a 3.5 minute antimony daughter which is undoubtedly the same activity assigned to Sb{sup 118} by Risser, Lark-Horowitz and Smith. The positron energy was found to be 3.1 {+-} 0.2 Mev by absorption in berylllum and from the end point of the energy distribution curve taken with a low-resolution beta-ray spectrometer. Gamma activity is also present with this period. The 6.0-day tellurium showed a high abundance of x-rays, little or no conversion electrons and some gamma-ray activity which could be due to the 3.5 minute antimony daughter. The tellurium fraction contained another component of 4.5-daymore » half-life which could not be observed in the decay curve because of its low abundance but which was detected by means of its 39-hour antimony daughter. The 39-hour antimony showed x-rays of tin (critical absorption with cadmiium, silver and palladium), no detectable hard radiation or electrons and is apparently identical with an activity recently assigned to Sb{sup 119} by Coleman and Pool.« less
Note on the method of inverse sampling

Para estimar la frecuencia con que aparezcen los items extranos en una poblacion, J. B. S. Haldene propuso el metodo del muestreo inverso. De acuerdo con este metodo se enumera hasta el numerom de items extranos que se encontraran en una muestra de extensionn. Tal metodo ha sido utilizado en el campo de la hematologia, genetica e inspeccion y control de calidad del trabajo.
Muon spin rotation experiments on a silicon crystal doped with 13 C

A crystal of silicon doped with carbon enriched to 60.1% in13C was studied byμSR to determine whether13C hyperfine structure could be observed in the frequency spectra of normal muonium, Mu, or anomalous muonium, Mu*. Measurements at 100 G and 100 K with 40 million good events yielded extremely weak Mu* signals and no Mu in these data or in measurements at 10 G and 150 K. Transmission electron micrographs of this sample contained small regions showing strain contrast and structure factor contrast. Annealing the sample at 900°C for 84 hours led to featureless electromicrographs. SubsequentμSR measurements yielded a strong Mu* signal but still no Mu. No broadening due to13C was observed.
Interviewers, Elites, and Academic Freedom

This paper explores the reactions of academic social scientists towards being interviewed about issues clustering around their academic freedom and their fears for its invasion, issues which concern many of them directly, and the rest vicariously. The interviews --2500 of them took place in 1955 in the course of a survey of "teacher apprehensions" commissioned by the Fund for the Republic and undertaken by Professor Paul F. Lazarsfeld.* *
Heart Failure Patients With Low Blood Pressure How Should We Manage Neurohormonal Blocking Drugs

Among patients with heart failure, neurohormonal blockade with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, β-adrenergic receptor blockers (BB), and aldosterone antagonists has been shown to improve mortality and hospitalization rates.1–4 Combination therapy with these drugs can reduce mortality more …
A transparent ground plane using miniaturized element frequency selective surfaces

Frequency selective surfaces (FSS) are typically planar structures consisting of one or more layers of periodic resonant unit cells. To achieve the frequency selective properties, a large number of unit cells must be present. Therefore the overall size of the screen is electrically large. Recently a new class of FSSs with elements much smaller than the wavelength was introduced[1]. The advantages of the so called miniaturized element FSSs (MEFSS) over traditional designs is in their ability to shrink the size of the screen to achieve more uniform phase front and also to localize the frequency selective behavior due to small element sizes. The bandpass properties of the MEFSSs have been studied rigorously[2,3]. The bandstop properties of these structures however, is not properly studied and exploited.
Diverse Immunoglobulin Light Chain Organizations in Fish Retain Potential to Revise B Cell Receptor Specificities

We have characterized the genomic organization of the three zebrafish L chain isotypes and found they all differed from those reported in other teleost fishes. Two of the zebrafish L chain isotypes are encoded by two loci, each carrying multiple V gene segments. To understand the derivation of these L chain genes and their organizations, we performed phylogenetic analyses and show that IgL organization can diverge considerably among closely related species. Except in zebrafish, the teleost fish IgL each contain only two to four recombinogenic components (one to three V, one J) and exist in multiple copies. BCR heterogeneity can be generated, but this arrangement apparently provides neither combinatorial diversification nor an opportunity for the secondary rearrangements that, in mammals, take place during receptor editing, a process crucial to the promotion of tolerance in developing lymphocytes. Examination of the zebrafish IgL recombination possibilities gave insight into how the suppression of self-reactivity by receptor editing might be managed, including in miniloci. We suggest that, despite the diverse IgL organizations in early and higher vertebrates, two elements essential to generating the Ab repertoire are retained: the numerous genes/loci for ligand-binding diversification and the potential for correcting unwanted specificities that arise.
Charge Transfer Interactions in the Generation of Singlet Oxygen O2(1∆g) by Strong Electron Donors

The quenching rate constant of the triplet state by molecular oxygen and the efficiency of singlet oxygen generation have been measured for 12 amines in cyclohexane and benzene. For the best electron donors, the average rate constant for quenching by energy transfer is 6.0 × 109 M-1 s-1. For the same compounds, the rate constant of quenching via enchancement of internal conversion is 1.2 × 1010 M-1 s-1. The energy transfer component of the total quenching rate constant is almost twice as fast as the maximum from the standard Porter model. The mechanisms of quenching via quintet, singlet, and triplet channels are discussed for amines and aromatic hydrocarbons, and intersystem crossing out of the quintet manifold is proposed.
Damage detection of structures by wavelet analysis

Abstract Over the last few decades, the damage identification methods of civil and mechanical structures have been drawing much interest from various fields. Wavelet analysis, a relatively new mathematical and signal processing tool, is one of such methods that has been studied recently. It is a time–frequency analysis that provides more detailed information about non-stationary signals which traditional Fourier analysis miss. This rather new method has been applied to various fields including civil, mechanical and aerospace engineering, especially for damage detection and structural health monitoring (SHM). The purpose of this paper is to provide the review of the research that has been conducted on damage detection by wavelet analysis. First, the theory of wavelet analysis is presented including continuous and discrete wavelet transform followed by its application to SHM. Then more specific applications—namely crack detection of a beam and mechanical gear and roller damage—are presented.
Defect dynamics of cement paste under repeated compression studied by electrical resistivity measurement

Defect dynamics, as studied by electrical resistivity measurement during repeated compression of cement paste in the elastic regime, are characterized by defect generation that dominates during the first loading, defect diminution that dominates during subsequent loading, and defect extension that dominates during subsequent unloading.
Antibody-Induced Conformational Changes in Herpes Simplex Virus Glycoprotein gD Reveal New Targets for Virus Neutralization

As the receptor-binding protein of herpes simplex virus (HSV), gD plays an essential role in virus entry. In its native state, the last 56 amino acids of the ectodomain C terminus (C-term) occlude binding to its receptors, herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM) and nectin-1. Although it is clear that movement of the C-term must occur to permit receptor binding, we believe that this conformational change is also a key event for triggering later steps leading to fusion. Specifically, gD mutants containing disulfide bonds that constrain the C-term are deficient in their ability to trigger fusion following receptor binding. In this report, we show that two newly made monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), MC2 and MC5, have virus-neutralizing activity but do not block binding of gD to either receptor. In contrast, all previously characterized neutralizing anti-gD MAbs block binding of gD to a receptor(s). Interestingly, instead of blocking receptor binding, MC2 significantly enhances the affinity of gD for both receptors. Several nonneutralizing MAbs (MC4, MC10, and MC14) also enhanced gD-receptor binding. While MC2 and MC5 recognized different epitopes on the core of gD, these nonneutralizing MAbs recognized the gD C-term. Both the neutralizing capacity and rate of neutralization of virus by MC2 are uniquely enhanced when MC2 is combined with MAb MC4, MC10, or MC14. We suggest that MC2 and MC5 prevent gD from performing a function that triggers later steps leading to fusion and that the epitope for MC2 is normally occluded by the C-term of the gD ectodomain.
The effects of domain knowledge on search tactic formulation

A search tactic is a set of search moves that are temporally and semantically related. The current study examined the tactics of medical students searching a factual database in microbiology. The students answered problems and searched the database on three occasions over a 9-month period. Their search moves were analyzed in terms of the changes in search terms used from one cycle to the next, using two different analysis methods.Common patterns were found in the students' search tactics; the most common approach was the specification of a concept, followed by the addition of one or more concepts, gradually narrowing the retrieved set before it was displayed. It was also found that the search tactics changed over time as the students' domain knowledge changed. These results have important implications for designers in developing systems that will support users' preferred ways of formulating searches. In addition, the research methods used (the coding scheme and the two data analysis methods--zero-order state transition matrices and maximal repeating patterns [MRP] analysis) are discussed in terms of their validity in future studies of search tactics.
Eigenvalue Solvers for Atomistic Simulations of Electronic Structures with NEMO-3D

The atomistic simulations of electronic structures, using a tight binding model with millions of atoms, require solution of very large sparse Hermitian eigenvalue problems. To obtain the eigenpairs of interest in the interior of the spectrum, we must take advantage of the most efficient parallel numerical algorithms. Several methods have been developed and implemented in Nanoelectronic Modeling software package NEMO-3D, including (P)ARPACK, (Block) Lanczos and Tracemin. In this paper, the performance and tradeoffs of these algorithms for realistic models are discussed. The effectiveness of code optimization techniques such as SSE2 vectorization is also presented.
Performance Analysis of Power-Aware Task Scheduling Algorithms on Multiprocessor Computers with Dynamic Voltage and Speed

Task scheduling on multiprocessor computers with dynamically variable voltage and speed is investigated as combinatorial optimization problems, namely, the problem of minimizing schedule length with energy consumption constraint and the problem of minimizing energy consumption with schedule length constraint. The first problem has applications in general multiprocessor computing systems where energy consumption is an important concern and in mobile computers where energy conservation is a main concern. The second problem has applications in real-time multiprocessing systems where timing constraint is a major requirement. These problems emphasize the tradeoff between power and performance and are defined such that the power-performance product is optimized by fixing one factor and minimizing the other. It is found that both problems are equivalent to the sum of powers problem and can be decomposed into two subproblems, namely, scheduling tasks and determining power supplies. Such decomposition makes design and analysis of heuristic algorithms tractable. We analyze the performance of list scheduling algorithms and equal-speed algorithms and prove that these algorithms are asymptotically optimal. Our extensive simulation data validate our analytical results and provide deeper insight into the performance of our heuristic algorithms.
On the stability robustness in a closed-loop interconnection under a class of operations performed on the controller: a novel characterization for static controllers

A closed-loop stable interconnection of two linear time-invariant finite-dimensional systems (one the plant, the other the controller) is considered. We analyze the preservation of the stability in the closed-loop interconnection whenever the input and output signals of the controller are multiplied by time-variant gains, one the reciprocal of the other, and in addition the function that represents those gains belongs to a specific class of functions. An important consequence of that analysis (and the main motivation in considering the aforementioned seemingly artificial robust stability setting) is the new characterization for output static stabilizing controllers we present in this communication. Moreover, a new technical tool is also presented: the principal function of the closed-loop stable interconnection. This function provides with information relative to the property of being static, of a stabilizing controller.
Urban Design, the Composition of Complexity

Ron Kasprisin, Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group, 240 pp, £29.9 (pb), ISBN 978 0 41559147 8 Ron Kasprisin is an urban design practitioner who also teaches at the University of Washington. This bo...
Detection of Antinuclear and Antilaminin Antibodies in Autistic Children Who Received Thimerosal-Containing Vaccines

Autism, a neurodevelopmental disorder, may involve autoimmune pathogenesis. Since mercury is potentially a risk factor for autoimmunity, we conducted a study of mercury-induced antinuclear and antilaminin antibodies in autistic and normal children who had been pre-administered with thimerosal-containing vaccines. Laboratory analysis by different immunoassays showed that the serum level of these two autoimmune markers did not significantly differ between autistic and normal children. This finding suggests that the mercury as in thimerosal-containing vaccines is likely not related to autoimmune phenomenon in autism.
Nutritional intake and carbohydrate supplementation at high altitude

A high carbohydrate (CHO) diet has previously been shown to lessen the severity of the symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). The aims of this study were to ascertain whether selected military field rations provided adequate nutritional support, and assess the effectiveness of a high CHO food supplement in reducing the severity of the symptoms of AMS at high altitude. An experimental group ( n = 32) received field rations plus a CHO food supplement and a control group ( n = 35) only received field rations. Food intakes for 15 consecutive days were recorded using a visual estimation technique and 24-h dietary log. Food acceptability was assessed with a 9-point hedonic scale. Daily urine samples and body weights were obtained from all subjects and a 24-h urine sample obtained from a subsample of the combined groups ( n = 30) for the first and last two days of the study. Results show that energy intake decreased for the first three days at altitude, improved on day four and leveled out thereafter. Mean daily energy intakes were 2265 kcal for the supplemented group and 2140 kcal for the control group; body weight losses were 1.71 kg and 1.68 kg. Mean CHO intake was 271 and 244 g per day; 48 and 46% of energy intake. Ration acceptability was generally good and did not decline over time. It was concluded that rations used at sea level could also be satisfactorily used at altitude, but given an ad libitum dietary regimen and a CHO food supplement, CHO intake was not automatically increased. Supplementation via a beverage component, rather than a food supplement, may therefore be more effective in increasing CHO intake.
Regulation of Nitric Oxide Synthase Induction in Cultured Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells by Lipopolysaccharide and Interferon

Nitric oxide is synthesized by vascular smooth muscle cells in response to endotoxin or inflammatory mediators. We investigated the molecular basis for the induction of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or IL-1β using rat vascular smooth muscle cells derived from pulmonary and systemic vasculature. The regulation of mRNA levels for this enzyme in response to LPS or IL-1β treatment was examined in parallel with changes in levels of cyclic GMP. We found an increase in expression of inducible NOS transcript corresponding to an increase in cyclic GMP levels beginning with 3 hr of exposure to either LPS or IL-Iβ. In cells derived from the pulmonary circulation, initial induction of NOS transcript was detectable at 3 hr and the transcript levels continued to increase to a maximum level at 24 hr. In contrast, the cells derived from the systemic vasculature showed a maximal induction of NOS transcript at 3 hr, and the level decreased from this time point to 24 hr. The full induct...
Curriculum for simulation education: integration of computer simulation and visualization research into undergraduate degree programs

Faculty from several departments in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at IUP have engaged in interdisciplinary projects involving the simulation and visualization of neural networks and material science research. The existing Computer Science degree programs at IUP, however, contain no courses in computer simulation. It has been felt by all the researchers involved in the projects that a degree program focusing on computer simulation is needed to, among its other missions, cultivate students with sufficient knowledge and skills to participate in the projects. This paper starts with an analysis of the knowledge and skills required of the students, followed by identification of existing and new courses that may be taken to acquire the knowledge and skills. The paper concludes with a proposal to establish a degree program in computer simulation and visualization, and an approach in integrating the research projects with the proposed degree program.
Selective Estrogen-Receptor Modulators for Primary Prevention of Breast Cancer

Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) impact a variety of biologic processes regulated by activated estrogen receptor (ER). Depending on the target tissue, physiologic conditions, and their structure, SERMs may exhibit either estrogen antagonist or estrogen agonist effects. SERMs have a long history in the treatment of breast cancer, based on estrogen antagonist activity in ER-positive breast cancer cells. Beginning with tamoxifen, SERMs have moved to the prevention arena, where their partial estrogen effects may provide other organ benefits, particularly for postmenopausal women. It is because of these partial estrogen agonist effects on organs such as the bone, vagina, CNS, and cardiovascular system that SERMs are likely to remain preferable to pure antiestrogens as primary breast cancer prevention agents in the context of total women’s health. The ideal SERM should function as an antiestrogen in the breast and uterus and a partial estrogen agonist in skeletal, cardiovascular, CNS, gastrointestinal tract, and vagina. Further, this ideal SERM should be devoid of procoagulant effects and should not be associated with an increase in perimenopausal symptoms. Although several generations of SERMs have been developed, the ideal SERM for prevention remains elusive. We will review progress to date for SERMs as single agents and potential for combination therapy in the future. BIOLOGY BEHIND THE MULTIFACETED ACTION OF SERMs
Allograft-prosthesis composite reconstruction of the proximal part of the humerus: surgical technique.

BACKGROUND: Limb salvage following resection of a tumor in the proximal part of the humerus poses many challenges. Reconstructive options are limited because of the loss of periarticular soft-tissue stabilizers of the glenohumeral joint in addition to the loss of bone and articular cartilage. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the functional outcome and survival of the reconstruction following use of a humeral allograft-prosthesis composite for limb salvage. METHODS: An allograft-prosthesis composite was used to reconstruct a proximal humeral defect following tumor resection in thirty-six consecutive patients at one institution over a sixteen-year period. The reconstruction was performed at the time of a primary tumor resection in thirty cases, after a failure of a reconstruction following a previous tumor resection in five patients, and following excision of a local recurrence in one patient. The mean duration of follow-up of the living patients was five years. Glenohumeral stability, function, implant survival, fracture rate, and union rate following the reconstructions were measured. Functional outcome and implant survival were analyzed on the basis of the amount of deltoid resection, whether the glenohumeral resection had been extra-articular or intra-articular, and the length of the humerus that had been resected. RESULTS: One patient sustained a glenohumeral dislocation. Deltoid resection (partial or complete) resulted in a reduced postoperative range of motion in flexion and abduction but had no effect on the mean Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score. Extra-articular resections were associated with lower Musculoskeletal Tumor Society scores. All patients had either mild or no pain and normal hand function at the time of final follow-up. The overall estimated rate of survival of the construct, with revision as the end point, was 88% at ten years. There were three failures due to progressive prosthetic loosening that necessitated removal of the construct. Four patients required an additional bone-grafting procedure to treat a delayed union of the osteosynthesis site. CONCLUSIONS: An allograft-prosthesis composite used for limb salvage following tumor resection in the proximal part of the humerus is a durable construct associated with an acceptable complication rate. Deltoid preservation and intra-articular resection are associated with a greater range of shoulder motion and a superior functional outcome, respectively. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence. ORIGINAL ABSTRACT CITATION: “Allograft-Prosthesis Composite Reconstruction of the Proximal Part of the Humerus. Functional Outcome and Survivorship” (2009;91:2406-15).
Haplotype Inference and Haplotype Information

Haplotypes have become increasingly popular because of the abundance of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the limited power of the single-locus analyses. To contend with some weaknesses of the existing haplotype inference methods, we propose new algorithms based on the partition-ligation idea. In particular, we first partition the whole haplotype into smaller segments. Then, we use either the Gibbs sampler or the EM algorithm to construct the partial haplotypes of each segment and to assemble all the segments together. Our algorithm can infer haplotype frequencies rapidly and accurately for a large number of linked SNPs and provides a robust estimate of their standard deviations. The algorithms are robust to the violation of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and can handle missing marker data easily. As a follow-up study, we also investigated two related questions: how much the haplotype information contributes to linkage disequilibrium (LD) mapping and whether an in silico haplotype construction preceding the LD analysis can help. For simple disease gene mapping our conclusions are as follows: (a) if a proper statistical model is employed, the loss of haplotype information for either control or disease data do not have a great impact on LD fine mapping, and (b) haplotype inference should be carried out jointly with LD analysis to achieve the most accurate location estimation.
Critical questions in development of targeted nanoparticle therapeutics

One of the fourteen Grand Challenges for Engineering articulated by the US National Academy of Engineering is ‘Engineer Better Medicines’. Although there are many ways that better medicines could be engineered, one of the most promising ideas is to improve our ability to deliver the therapeutic molecule more precisely to the desired target. Most conventional drug delivery methods (oral absorption, intravenous infusion etc.) result in systemic exposure to the therapeutic molecule, which places severe constraints on the types of molecules that can be used. A molecule administered by systemic delivery must be effective at low concentrations in the target tissue, yet safe everywhere else in the body. If drug carriers could be developed to deliver therapeutic molecules selectively to the desired target, it should be possible to greatly improve safety and efficacy of therapy. Nanoparticles (and related nanostructures, such as liposomes, nanoemulsions, micelles and dendrimers) are an attractive drug carrier concept because they can be made from a variety of materials engineered to have properties that allow loading and precise delivery of bound therapeutic molecules. The field of targeted nanoparticles has been extraordinarily active in the academic realm, with thousands of articles published over the last few years. Many of these publications seem to demonstrate very promising results in in vitro studies and even in animal models. In addition, a handful of human clinical trials are in progress. Yet, the biopharmaceutical industry has been relatively slow to make major investments in targeted nanoparticle development programs, despite a clear desire to introduce innovative new therapies to the market. What is the reason for such caution? Some degree of caution is no doubt due to the use of novel materials and the unproven nature of targeted nanoparticle technology, but many other unproven technologies have generated intense interest at various times. We believe that the major barrier to the exploration of nanoparticles is because they are so complex. The very design flexibility that makes the nanoparticle approach attractive also makes it challenging. Fortunately, continuing progress in experimental tools has greatly improved the ability to study biology and potential interventions at a nanoscale. Thus, it is increasingly possible to answer detailed questions about how nanoparticles can and should work. However, a detailed understanding at the mechanistic level is only the beginning. Any new medicine must not only work at the molecular level, but must also be manufactured reproducibly at scale and proven in the clinic. New materials will require new methods at all scales. The purpose of this short article is to focus on a set of questions that are being asked in the large biopharmaceutical companies and that must be answered if targeted nanoparticles are to become the medicines of the 21st century.
Effects of Optical Combiner and IPD Change for Convergence on Near-Field Depth Perception in an Optical See-Through HMD

Many error sources have been explored in regards to the depth perception problem in augmented reality environments using optical see-through head-mounted displays (OST-HMDs). Nonetheless, two error sources are commonly neglected: the ray-shift phenomenon and the change in interpupillary distance (IPD). The first source of error arises from the difference in refraction for virtual and see-through optical paths caused by an optical combiner, which is required of OST-HMDs. The second occurs from the change in the viewer's IPD due to eye convergence. In this paper, we analyze the effects of these two error sources on near-field depth perception and propose methods to compensate for these two types of errors. Furthermore, we investigate their effectiveness through an experiment comparing the conditions with and without our error compensation methods applied. In our experiment, participants estimated the egocentric depth of a virtual and a physical object located at seven different near-field distances (40∼200 cm) using a perceptual matching task. Although the experimental results showed different patterns depending on the target distance, the results demonstrated that the near-field depth perception error can be effectively reduced to a very small level (at most 1 percent error) by compensating for the two mentioned error sources.
LED Lighting: Maximizing the Reliability, Safety, and Efficiency of Light Fixtures in Hazardous Environments

LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE (LED) luminaires provide compelling benefits, such as long-term cost savings, safety advantages through longer life and durability, inherently lower maintenance costs, and instant restrike capability when compared with legacy lamp types. The proven lower total cost of ownership and increased safety for LEDs have been a driving force in the trend of LED luminaires replacing traditional light sources in process industries. As with any new technology, challenges exist in designing and maintaining an optimal system to withstand the intended application and environmental conditions. Common challenges and considerations include luminaire placement, the intensity/dispersion/quality of light, thermal management, material selection and redundant safety, and operating systems. We will examine the best practices and common misconceptions in the selection and application of LED luminaires, focusing on harsh and hazardous locations. The probability of success in maximizing the reliability, safety, and efficiency of LED technology in such applications is enhanced by utilizing proven design principles and methods. The selection methods and design principles will be explained using actual application examples and case studies.
Effect of Cr or Ta Coating Thickness on Near-Bore Temperatures and Coating Interface Stress for Cannon Firing Conditions

Finite difference calculations of one-dimensional, convection-conduction, non-reacting heat flow are described, focusing on near-cannon-bore temperatures using time-dependent combustion gas temperatures and convection coefficient data derived from cannon interior ballistic codes. Temperatures are obtained for a 0.1-to-1.0 mm thickness range of chromium or tantalum coating over pressure vessel steel substrate, using temperature-dependent conductivity and diffusivity data for pure chromium and tantalum and ASTM A723 steel. In-situ verification of calculated temperature profiles is done by comparing with metallographic observation of depths of the steel phase transformation at its well characterized temperature. The temperature profiles are used to estimate the thermal shear stress at the interface of a crack-generated coating segment, with segment length characteristic of that observed from cannon firing. Finite element thermo-mechanical analysis is used to verify that the temperature difference used to estimate interface shear stress and the resulting stress values are realistic. Results show that: [i] temperatures and interface stress are somewhat higher for Ta than Cr coatings due to the lower heat capacity of Ta; [ii] interface stress is higher for thinner coatings, as expected, but reaches a maximum at 0.1 to 0.2 mm thickness, because of the limited temperature range that can be present in a thinner coating; [iii] the characteristic length of coating segment relative to coating thickness has important control over interface shear stress, with the longer segment observed for tantalum coatings providing a significant reduction in average shear stress compared to the stress for the smaller segments observed with chromium coatings.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Physicochemical Property Analysis and Gene Mapping of a Floury Endosperm Mutant flo7 in Rice

Starch is major storage substance and accounts for 80% of dry weight in rice endosperm.The rice grain quality is partial determined by component,content and granule structure of starch.In this study,starchy mutant designated flo7,selected from the progeny of tissue culture of Nipponbare,displayed floury and opaque endosperm.The grain length of flo7 was longer,but grain width,grain thickness and 1000-grain weight were lower than those of its wild type.Compared with the wild type,the flo7 endosperm accumulated a higher level of glucose,fructose and sucrose,but lower level of dry weight.There was no significant difference in protein content between the wild type and flo7 mutant.The amylose content and gel consistency of flo7 were lower than that of wild type,but the alkali spreading value of flo7 was higher.Scanning electron microscopic examinations showed that the mutant endosperms contained irregular,loosely packed,compound starch granules.Genetic analysis indicated that the mutant phenotype was determined by a single recessive nuclear gene.By means of molecular marker technique,flo7 gene was narrowed down to a 95.1kb interval which includes 13 open reading frames(ORFs)on the long arm of chromosome 12.The results of RT-PCR indicated that the expression levels of some genes involved in starch synthesis were influenced in flo7 mutant.These results suggested that FLO7 plays an important role in the synthesis and regulation of starch in rice.
13 WHY VITAMIN E DOES NOT PREVENT ATHEROSCLEROSIS.

Purpose Recent clinical trials have indicated that vitamin E does not prevent atherosclerosis, in contrast to epidemiological studies that demonstrated a beneficial effect. To clarify this controversy, we examined the effects of different dosages of vitamin E (in combination with vitamin C) on the surrogate markers of atherosclerosis. Methods Our randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial involved 6 males and 5 females with type 2 diabetes. Each subject participated in four study arms: placebo, low-dose (200 IU/d), medium-dose (400 IU/d), and high-dose vitamins (800 IU/d). For each study arm, the subject took the corresponding vitamins daily for 2 weeks. The clinical protocol included a day-long hospital admission, during which the subject ate a high-fat meal. Blood was drawn at multiple time points, primarily after the meal. The primary outcomes were markers of oxidative stress (oxy-LDL and intracellular glutathione), inflammation (C-reactive protein [CRP] and adiponectin), and hypercoagulation (plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 [PAI-1] and fibrinogen). Results Low-dose vitamins reduced oxy-LDL across all time points when compared to other study arms (p = .002). However, there were no differences between the four arms in intracellular glutathione (p = .89), CRP (p = .84), adiponectin (p = 1.0), PAI-1 (p = .72), and fibrinogen (p = .95). Conclusion Supplementation of low-dose vitamin E (plus C), in type 2 diabetic individuals, significantly lowered postprandial levels of oxy-LDL. However, vitamins did not alter levels of intracellular glutathione, CRP, adiponectin, PAI-1, and fibrinogen when compared to placebo. These data suggest that low-dose vitamins reduce the oxidation of LDL but do not lower inflammation and hypercoagulation. Our study may explain why vitamin E at high dosages does not prevent atherosclerosis.
Some interrelationships of blood and the fava bean principle in vitro.

1. Saline suspensions of human red cells, as well as those of several animal species, were agglutinated by normal saline extracts of the Fava bean. 2. This agglutination was potentiated in titer 100-fold in a medium of 10 per cent acacia, as a diluent. 3. The inhibition of the hemagglutination action of the Fava bean extract by human serum was apparently attributable to the gamma globulin fraction. 4. The Fava bean principle could be transferred from cell to cell, as shown by heat-elution and acacia technics. 5. Fava-sensitized red cells did not exhibit increased susceptibility in the test tube to complement, hemolysin, or osmotic or mechanical fragility. 6. The mechanism of in vivo red cell destruction in Favism is as yet unknown, but a special immunologic susceptibility to the action of the bean’s principle is suspected in certain persons. 7. It is suggested that the relation of acacia to Fava-sensitized red cells may form the basis of a diagnostic test for Favism in the early, acute stages of the disease.
Structure from Splatter

Will mass spectrometry join other common methods of protein structure elucidation? New developments from the Wysocki group show how surface induced dissociation can help toward this goal.