cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dual process monitoring of metal-based additive manufacturing using tensor decomposition of thermal image streams

Abstract Additive manufacturing (AM) processes are subject to lower stability compared to their traditional counterparts. The process inconsistency leads to anomalies in the build, which hinders AM’s broader adoption to critical structural component manufacturing. Therefore, it is crucial to detect any process change/anomaly in a timely and accurate manner for potential corrective operations. Real-time thermal image streams captured from AM processes are regarded as most informative signatures of the process stability. Existing state-of-the-art studies on thermal image streams focus merely on in situ sensing, feature extraction, and their relationship with process setup parameters and material properties. The objective of this paper is to develop a statistical process control (SPC) approach to detect process changes as soon as it occurs based on predefined distribution of the monitoring statistics. There are two major challenges: 1) complex spatial interdependence exists in the thermal images and current engineering knowledge is not sufficient to describe all the variability, and 2) the thermal images suffer from a large data volume, a low signal-to-noise ratio, and an ill structure with missing data. To tackle these challenges, multilinear principal component analysis (MPCA) approach is used to extract low dimensional features and residuals. Subsequently, an online dual control charting system is proposed by leveraging multivariate T 2 and Q control charts to detect changes in extracted low dimensional features and residuals, respectively. A real-world case study of thin wall fabrication using a Laser Engineered Net Shaping (LENS) process is used to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, and the accuracy of process anomaly detection is validated based on X-ray computed tomography information collected from the final build offline.
Integral Relativity of Awareness and Energy- The Continuum of Consciousness, Energy, Mind and Matter

Integral Relativity, as an extension of General Relativity, Special Relativity and Advanced Relativity, has four proposed Tenets: (1) The Equation of Energy with Awareness; (2) The Conservation of Awareness; (3) The Continuum of Energy, Consciousness, Mind and Matter via the Kosmic Constant; (4) The Integral Relativity between Observers and Observed in Hilbert Spaces as specified Frequency Domains. It is corroborated by the Observer Effect in all the related double slit and interferometer experiments, most notably those of Dean Radinâ€™s Sigma 7 rated results; by the â€œUnified Spacememory Networkâ€, modeled by Nassim Haramein and William Brown; by Dirk Meijerâ€™s 4D quantum modeling of â€œConsciousness in the Universeâ€; by Elizabeth Rauscherâ€™s â€œComplex Eight Dimensional Model of Minkowsky Space; by Lex Nealeâ€™s octo-dynamic extension of Ken Wilberâ€™s All Quadrants, All Levels â€œAQAL Integral modelâ€ called the â€œAQAL Cubeâ€, which correlates non-physical existence with physical existence as an octo-dynamic fractal continuum; and Garret Lisiâ€™s E8 Geometry underlying the unfolding of physical existence. Integral Relativity predicts that the Observer and observed are a mutually inclusive Consciousness/Mind/Energy/Matter continuum through 2D, 3D, 4D, 5D and nD Hilbert Spaces as full-spectrum Domains of correlated existence. We propose that the terms Consciousness and Mind be no longer used synonymously in the scientific community, but differentiated as an integral Awareness/Energy continuum between 4D and 5D Hilbert Spaces, where 5D Consciousness is Subtle intentional awareness, and 4D Mind is its correlated local or Concrete awareness and means of en-action, as per Meijer.
Boranes with Ultra-High Stokes Shift Fluorescence

The synthesis and optical characterization of 9-(2,6-bis(methoxymethyl)phenyl) borafluorene (BMMP-BF) are reported. NMR spectroscopic data and single-crystal X-ray diffraction data of BMMP-BF show intramolecular chelation by the 2,6-bis(methoxymethyl)phenyl moiety via a boron–oxygen dative bond. The optical spectra of BMMP-BF are unusual in that absorption is entirely in the UV region (λmax = 284 nm), yet fluorescence occurs at 536 nm. This equates to a Stokes shift of 2.05 eV (16 500 cm–1) and is among the highest Stokes shifts ever reported for a small molecule. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that the boron–oxygen dative bond in BMMP-BF is ruptured in the excited state and that emission occurs from a trigonal planar boron geometry. This bond cleavage and the concurrent planarization of the boron center are responsible for the high Stokes shift. Two borafluorenes related to BMMP-BF were also examined: 9-(2,6-bis((methylthio)methyl)phenyl) borafluorene (BMTMP-BF) and 9-(2,6-bis(tert-but...
The Attitudes Toward Tube-Feeding in Advanced Dementia (ATT-FAD) Questionnaire: A Valid and Reliable Tool.

Registered Dietitians (RDs) should participate in interdisciplinary feeding discussions for patients with advanced dementia, but research on how RDs make such feeding recommendations is scarce. Thi...
Invariants in Object Deformation and Concept Abstraction

Human and animals recognize the invariants of deforming objects with little effort. In this paper we develop a plausible algorithm for such abilities. Our algorithm is useful in general concept abstraction.
The Effect of Tourniquet Use and Sterile Carbon Dioxide Gas Bone Preparation on Cement Penetration in Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background Tourniquetless total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is experiencing resurgence in popularity due to potential pain control benefits. Furthermore, optimal cement technique and implant fixation remain paramount to long-term cemented TKA success, as aseptic loosening continues to be a leading cause of revision. The purpose of this study is to determine how tourniquet use and/or novel bone preparation using sterile, compressed carbon dioxide (CO2) gas affected cement penetration in TKA. Methods A retrospective review was performed on 303 consecutive primary TKAs with the same implant in 3 groups: (1) a tourniquet without sterile CO2 compressed gas used for bone preparation, (2) no tourniquet with CO2 gas, and (3) tourniquet use and CO2 gas bone preparation. Cement penetration was measured on radiographs by two independent, blinded raters across 7 zones defined by the Knee Society Radiographic Evaluation System. Results The 3 groups did not differ on age, body mass index, or gender (P ≥ .1). Cement penetration was greater in 6 of 7 zones with significantly greater cement penetration in 3 zones (tibial anteroposterior zone 2, femoral lateral zones 3A and 3P) in groups that utilized CO2 gas bone preparation compared to the tourniquet only group (P ≤ .039). Conclusion Bone prepared with CO2 gas showed significantly more cement penetration in 3 zones with greater cancellous bone. The results suggest that use of CO2 gas bone preparation may achieve greater cement penetration than using a tourniquet with lavage only.
Effects of Sinusoidal Phase Modulation on the Signal-to-Noise Ratio in a Digital Holography System

Digital holography (DH) has been demonstrated to be an effective wave-front sensor in low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) environments due to the use of a strong reference. However, since DH relies on the interference of a signal with the mutually coherent reference, the coherence properties of the master-oscillator (MO) laser can degrade system SNR at long ranges. In this paper, a DH system in the off-axis image plane recording geometry was assembled and used to measure the effects of the MO coherence properties on the SNR. The coherence properties of the MO laser were degraded using sinusoidal phase modulation, which imparted maximum phase shifts of 0.38π, 0.55π, and 0.73π, at modulation frequencies of 20MHz to 100MHz. The measured coherence efficiency losses were closely predicted by the square of the fringe visibility, and deviated from the theoretical predictions by root-mean-squared errors of 0.0397, 0.0373, and 0.1007 for the three depths of modulation, respectively. The empirical data and models presented in this work may be used to assess efficiency losses in a DH system due to coherence effects.
Fatimid State Documents

The Cairo Geniza preserved thousands of Arabic-script texts, among them documents from the Fatimid and Ayyubid government administration. This essay offers a brief overview of the state document corpus from the Geniza. It also surveys previous scholarship on the documents, attempting to push the material further in two ways: by reading it as evidence of Fatimid and Ayyubid strategies of rule, and by paying attention to its material clues and what they tell us about the production, storage, retrieval, and discard of state documents. The article concludes by suggesting areas for further research and offering an edition and translation of an official memorandum intended for palace officials.
Effectiveness of Bath Wipes After Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: A Randomized Trial:

Objective: Bacteremia is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Infections of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and multidrug resistant (MDR) gram-negative rods (GNRs) are common in this population. Our objective was to assess whether experimental bath wipes containing silver were more effective than standard bath wipes containing soap at reducing skin colonization by VRE and MDR GNRs, and nonmucosal barrier injury bacteremia. Study Design: Patients undergoing autologous or allogeneic HCT in a tertiary referral center were randomized to receive experimental or standard bath wipes for 60 days post-HCT. Skin swabs were collected at baseline, discharge, and day +60 post-HCT. The rate of VRE colonization was chosen as the marker for efficacy. Results: Experimental bath wipes were well tolerated. Before the study, the rate of colonization with VRE in HCT recipients was 25%. In an interim analysis of 127 children, one (2%) patient in the experimental arm and two (3%) in the standard arm were colonized with VRE. Two (3%) patients had nonmucosal barrier injury bacteremia in the standard arm, with none in the experimental arm. MDR GNRs were not isolated. The trial was halted because the interim analyses indicated equivalent efficacy of the two methods. Conclusions: Skin cleansing with silver-containing or standard bath wipes resulted in very low and equivalent rates of bacteremia and colonization with VRE and MDR GNRs in children post-HCT. Future studies in other high-risk populations are needed to confirm these results.
Dreaming into Lines of Matrixial Time

This chapter brings the book to a close but not an ending. As a culture we are being awoken to collective grief, the ecological crisis and the Earth’s lament. To not succumb to the fear and despair that inevitably accompanies awakening, we can instead, restore the visionary function of art and trance to culture. Through dreaming into lines of matrixial time we can step onto paths of beauty, love, fearlessness and mystery in the borderspace(s) of “Dreamtime.” The collaborative art and performance entitled Women ‘Enduring Freedom’ with Barbara Bickel, Mary Blaze and Celeste Snowber are an example of remembrance, crossing lines of matrixial time. A process to close ritual is shared at the end of the chapter.
Drawing the map: The creation and regulation of geographic constraints on shared bikes and e-scooters in San Francisco, CA

A prominent question in transportation planning is how cities should regulate emerging modes, such as shared bikes and e-scooters. This pertains to a range of attributes, including pricing, use of the public right of way, number of vehicles in a fleet, and vehicle speeds. However, less attention has been paid to the way private operators spatially constrain access to their fleets, such as via the use of virtual geographic boundaries (hereafter “geofences”), or how municipalities have regulated these features. San Francisco, given it is home to a number of these schemes, presents a compelling case for studying geofences, and how regulators have sought to influence them to further public policy goals, including spatial equity. This study analyzes each bike and e-scooter geofence in San Francisco longitudinally from 2017 to 2019 via manual digitization of all geofences. This reveals high levels of overlap in the city’s dense northeast quadrant, with limited to no coverage in western neighborhoods. Each operator’s geofence expanded over this period, filling in gaps in the northeast quadrant and expanding outward in each direction. Review of permit guidelines and applications submitted by operators indicate that San Francisco’s regulations for geofences have been limited and inconsistent, which may have contributed to the concentration of services in one section of the city, as well as disconnected geofence “islands.” Together, these observations demonstrate that if broad geofence coverage (i.e., spatial equity) is an explicit municipal goal, such an aim must prominently feature into the regulatory process. This is particularly important given that operators, if left with freedom over geofence design, are likely to emphasize only a city’s densest areas, especially if tight caps are set on the allowed number of vehicles. Finally, this case also exemplifies that geofences are not drawn in a vacuum but instead relate to other permit conditions as well as pressure from community organizations.
Photonic Designs to Reduce Morbidity and Mortality for ICU Patients on Ventilators

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is pneumonia that occurs >48hrs after initiation of mechanical ventilation and is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients that are hospitalized in intensive care units (ICU). The risk of developing VAP increases during use, and a diagnosis of VAP has been associated with a substantial cost. There are up to hundreds of thousands of cases in the US per year, costing the healthcare system billions annually. Patients who suffer from VAP frequently require longer ICU stays, higher exposure to antibiotics, and more hospital care at the risk of increased mortality. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has further increased the use of antibiotics among patients with COVID19, an indicator of increased VAP prevalence. Before 2020, strides were made to reduce the incidence of VAP through hygienic protocols known as ‘VAP bundles.’ Despite the improvements, VAP continues to be a large problem, with the inoculation of pathogens within the endotracheal tube (ETT) itself. ETTs with built-in subglottic suction devices (SSDETT) allow the removal of subglottic secretions, but this has been adopted heterogeneously. We propose novel optical device designs to be used in combination with SSD-ETTs to reduce colonization and biofilm formation on the inner lumen of ETTs and reduce the incidence of VAP and improve patient care.
Coal Mining, Forest Management, and Deforestation in French Colonial Vietnam

AbstractNo industry had a more profound impact on the environment and communities of northern Vietnam than coal mining. Following the French discovery of the vast Quảng Yen coal basin in the early ...
Regnase-1 is essential for B cell homeostasis to prevent immunopathology

Regnase-1 is an emerging regulator of immune responses with essential roles in the posttranscriptional control of immune cell activation. Regnase-1 is expressed in B cells; however, its B cell-specific functions remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that Regnase-1 prevents severe autoimmune pathology and show its essential role in maintaining B cell homeostasis. Using Cre driver mice for ablation of Regnase-1 at various stages of B cell development, we demonstrate that loss of Regnase-1 leads to aberrant B cell activation and differentiation, resulting in systemic autoimmunity and early morbidity. The basis of these findings was informed by gene expression data revealing a regulatory role for Regnase-1 in the suppression of a transcriptional program that promotes B cell activation, survival, and differentiation. Overall, our study shows that Regnase-1 exerts critical control of B cell activation, which is required for prevention of immunopathology.
The role of PARP inhibitors in BRCA mutated pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) accounts for about 3% of all cancers in the United States and about 7% of all cancer deaths. Despite the lower prevalence relative to other solid tumors, it is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in the US. PDAC is highly resistant to chemotherapy as well as radiation therapy. Current standard-of-care chemotherapeutic regimens provide transient disease control but eventually tumors develop chemoresistance. Tumors that are deficient in DNA damage repair mechanisms such as BRCA mutants respond better to platinum-based chemotherapies. However, these tumor cells can utilize the poly adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-ribose polymerase (PARP) as a salvage DNA repair pathway to prolong survival. Hence, in the presence of BRCA mutations, the inhibition of the PARP pathway can lead to tumor cell death. This provides the rationale for using PARP inhibitors in patients with BRCA mutated PDAC. The phase III POLO trial showed a near doubling of progression-free survival (PFS) compared with placebo in advanced PDAC when a PARP inhibitor, olaparib, was used as maintenance therapy. As a result, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved olaparib as a maintenance treatment for germline BRCA mutated advanced PDAC that has not progressed on platinum-based chemotherapy. The success of olaparib in treating advanced PDAC opened the new field for utilizing PARP inhibitors in patients with DNA damage repair (DDR) gene defects. Currently, many clinical trials with various PARP inhibitors are ongoing either as monotherapy or in combination with other agents. In addition to germline/somatic BRCA mutations, some trials are enrolling patients with defects in other DDR genes such as ATM, PALB2, and CHEK2. With many ongoing PARP inhibitor trials, it is hopeful that the management of PDAC will continuously evolve and eventually lead to improved patient outcomes.
The impact of interfacial Si contamination on GaN-on-GaN regrowth for high power vertical devices

The development of gallium nitride (GaN) power devices requires a reliable selective-area doping process, which is difficult to achieve because of ongoing challenges associated with the required etch-then-regrow process. The presence of silicon (Si) impurities of unclear physical origin at the GaN regrowth interface has proven to be a major bottleneck. This paper investigates the origin of Si contamination at the epitaxial GaN-on-GaN interface and demonstrates an approach that markedly reduces its impact on device performance. An optimized dry-etching approach combined with UV-ozone and chemical etching is shown to greatly reduce the Si concentration levels at the regrowth interface, and a significant improvement in a reverse leakage current in vertical GaN-based p–n diodes is achieved.
Nothing Like a Dame: Conversations with the Great Women of Musical Theater: By Eddie Shapiro. New York: Oxford University Press, 2015. 400 pp. ISBN 978-0-19-023119-4 (softbound) $24.95.

For Nothing Like a Dame, journalist Eddie Shapiro compiled twenty-two interviews he conducted with famous American musical theater legends. The power of the book lies in its simplicity: each chapte...
Evaluating the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerance of Silver Sulfadiazine Dressings Once Daily Versus Twice Daily in the Treatment of Burn Wounds.

Background Topical silver sulfadiazine (SSD) is an effective antimicrobial therapy used to prevent burn wound infection and promote healing, but the frequency of application has not been previously examined. This study compares once versus twice daily dressing changes with SSD, focusing on development of wound infections, incidence of hospital acquired complications, patient pain scores, and length of stay. Objective To evaluate whether a once-daily or twice-daily application of SSD impacts burn wound healing outcomes. Methods Our institution maintained a twice-daily dressing change standard of care until 01/01/2019. Patients admitted after that date had their dressing changed once-daily. We performed a non-inferiority analysis which indicated that a sample size of 75 per group would be sufficient to detect a significant difference with a power of 0.80. Our goal is to review outcomes for 75 patients before the change-of-practice and 75 patients after. Our main outcomes recorded are wound infection, average pain scores, average daily narcotic requirements, and length-of-stay. Results Results from 75 pre-change-of-practice and 75 post-change-of-practice patients showed slightly better outcomes in the post-change-of-practice group. The wound-infection rates were the same for both groups (pre=5.33%, post=5.33%), average daily pain-levels for the pre-change group were slightly higher but the difference was negligible and not statistically significant (pre=5.27, post=5.25), hospital-related complication rates (unrelated to wound care) were higher pre-change (pre=10.67%, post=6.67%), and length-of-stay, was longer in the pre-change group (pre=11.97, post=10.31). The amount average amount of SSD (g/day) used per patient per hospital stay was higher as well (pre=320.14, post=202.12). Further statistical analysis of the results, particularly in the distribution of burn type, age, and burn depth showed no discrepancy and a generalized decreased length-of-stay with once-daily SSD dressing change. Conclusion Our results show that once-daily dressing changes of SSD in burn wounds have no negative impact on wound outcomes. However, it is associated with a decreased length-of-stay, decreased pain levels, and less hospital-acquired complications. A decreased length-of-stay means reduced medical expenses for the patient and the hospital. In addition, less hospital-acquired complications result in better patient recovery. Since the difference in wound outcomes is negligible and statistically insignificant, changing the standard-of-care to once-daily could prove beneficial.
Transnational architecture and urbanism: rethinking how cities plan, transform, and learn

In the opening chapter of Davide Ponzini’s new book, Transnational Architecture and Urbanism, he juxtaposes two eerily similar images. The first is the skyline of lower Manhattan, and the second is...
An adaptive numeric predictor-corrector guidance algorithm for atmospheric entry vehicles

An adaptive numeric predictor-corrector guidance is developed for atmospheric entry vehicles which utilize lift to achieve maximum footprint capability. Applicability of the guidance design to vehicles with a wide range of performance capabilities is desired so as to reduce the need for algorithm redesign with each new vehicle. Adaptability is desired to minimize mission-specific analysis and planning. The guidance algorithm motivation and design are presented. Performance is assessed for application of the algorithm to the NASA Entry Research Vehicle (ERV). The dispersions the guidance must be designed to handle are presented. The achievable operational footprint for expected worst-case dispersions is presented. The algorithm performs excellently for the expected dispersions and captures most of the achievable footprint.
Ixabepilone, mitoxantrone, and prednisone for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer after docetaxel-based therapy: a phase 2 study of the Department Of Defense Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Consortium.

BACKGROUND: Mitoxantrone plus prednisone and ixabepilone each have modest activity as monotherapy for second-line chemotherapy in patients with docetaxel-refractory castration-resistant prostate cancer. Clinical noncross- resistance was previously observed. Phase 1 testing determined the maximum tolerated dose and dose-limiting toxicities with the combination regimen; a phase 2 study was conducted to evaluate the activity of the combination. METHODS: Patients with metastatic progressive castration-resistant prostate cancer during or after 3 or more cycles of taxane-based chemotherapy enrolled in a phase 2 multicenter study of ixabepilone 35 mg/m2 and mitoxantrone 12 mg/m2 administered on Day 1 every 21 days with pegfilgrastim support, along with prednisone 5 mg twice daily. Patients were evaluated for disease response and toxicity. RESULTS: Results are reported for the 56 evaluable patients. Twenty-five (45%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 31%-59%) experienced confirmed ≥50% prostate-specific antigen (PSA) declines, 33 (59%; 95% CI, 45%-72%) experienced confirmed ≥30% PSA declines, and 8 of 36 patients (22%; 95% CI, 10%-39%) with measurable disease experienced objective responses. Median time to PSA or objective progression was 4.4 months (95% CI, 3.5-5.6), and median progression-free survival was also 4.4 months (95% CI, 3.0-6.0). Median overall survival was 12.5 months (95% CI, 10.2-15.9). Thirty-two percent of patients experienced grade 3 of 4 neutropenia, and 11% experienced grade 3 or higher neutropenic infections, including 1 treatment-related death. Grade 2 and 3 neuropathy occurred in 11% and 12.5% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the combination of ixabepilone and mitoxantrone is both feasible and active in castration-resistant prostate cancer and requires dosing with pegfilgrastim. Cancer 2011;. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Corinthian Wisdom, Stoic Philosophy, and the Ancient Economy

1. Introduction 2. Rhetoric versus philosophy in 1 Corinthians 3. Method 4. The Corinthian social world 5. The 'wise man' among the Corinthians 6. Loose ends 7. Conclusion.
Learning Shape Models from Examples Using Automatic Shape Clustering and Procrustes Analysis

A new fully automated shape learning method is presented. It is based on clustering a shape training set in the original shape space and performing a Procrustes analysis on each cluster to obtain a cluster prototype and information about shape variation. As a direct application of our shape learning method, a 17-structure shape model of brain substructures was computed from MR image data, an eigen-shape model was automatically derived. Our approach can serve as an automated substitute to the tedious and time-consuming manual shape analysis.
Avoiding iatrogenic prematurity with elective repeat cesarean section without the routine use of amniocentesis

Abstract During the 3-year period from January, 1976 through December 1978, 1,497 repeat cesarean sections were performed at one hospital. To ensure that the correct gestational age had been established prior to electively timed repeat cesarean section, a protocol was recommended which emphasized menstrual history, early bimanual pelvic examination, and mid-pregnancy ultrasonography. Amniocentesis for confirmation of pulmonary maturity was not performed routinely, but if the above-mentioned criteria were not met, predelivery amniocentesis was recommended. Among the 23 infants who weighed over 1,800 grams and developed the respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), there were four who had been delivered by electively timed repeat cesarean section. In two of these four, both the birth weight and the pediatric assessment confirmed that they were 38 and 40 weeks' gestation, as anticipated. The other two infants appeared to be premature both by birth weight and pediatric assessment. If the overall experience is considered, the incidence of iatrogenic prematurity with RDS was 0.13% (two cases), and the incidence of potentially preventable RDS was 0.27% (four cases). None of the infants experienced serious complications of the RDS, and none died. In the entire group of repeat cesarean sections, the frequency with which amniocentesis was performed to confirm pulmonary maturity was estimated to be 12.7%.
Transplantation in Zebrafish

Tissue or cell transplantation has been an extremely valuable technique for studying developmental potential of certain cell population, dissecting cell-environment interaction relationship, identifying stem cells, and many other applications. One key technical requirement for performing transplantation assay is the capability of distinguishing the transplanted donor cells from the endogenous host cells, and tracing the donor cells over time. Zebrafish has emerged as an excellent model organism for performing transplantation assay, thanks to the transparency of embryos during development and even certain adults. Using transgenic techniques and fast-evolving imaging technology, fluorescence-labeled donor cells can be easily identified and studied in vivo. In this chapter, we will first discuss the rationale of different types of zebrafish transplantation in both embryos and adults, and then focus on detailed methods of three types of transplantation: blastula/gastrula transplantation for mosaic analysis, stem cell transplantation, and tumor transplantation.
Serine transhydroxymethylase. Affinity of the active site for substrates, substrate analogues, and anions.

Abstract A number of substrate analogues of serine transhydroxymethylase were tested as competitive inhibitors and substrates. Our previous results show that l-serine, l-threonine, allothreonine, and d-alanine serve as substrates. In this study, we found that threo- and erythro-β-phenylserine were cleaved to benzaldehyde and glycine. Tetrahydrofolate was not required for this reaction. Substrate analogues which contained an amino group adjacent to a carboxyl, phosphonate, or sulfonate group were bound by the enzyme. Analogues which lacked either the amino group or a carboxyl group of the amino acid had little if any affinity for the active site. The only exceptions to this were several sulfhydryl compounds. Several d-amino acids were competitive inhibitors with d-cysteine being the most effective. This shows that the configuration around the α-carbon of the amino acid is not critical for substrate binding. The variation of Vmax and Km with pH for the substrate allothreonine was determined. Both Vmax and Km were found not to change from pH 5.8 to 7.6. However, an anion binding site on the enzyme with a pK of 6.2 was found. This site showed little specificity for anions with all anions tested serving as competitive inhibitors. The enzyme-glycine complex exhibits absorption maxima at 343, 425, and 495 mµ. The equilibrium between the complexes absorbing at 343 and 425 mµ was found to be sensitive to both temperature and pH. A group on the enzyme-glycine complex with a pK of 6.9 was found to be involved. The temperature sensitivity was observed to be due in part to a large increase in entropy, which suggests that conformational changes in the protein are also involved in the interconversion of the enzyme-glycine complexes.
HIV / AIDS treatment for millions.

Pharmaceutical companies have at last announced sharp price reductions for antiretroviral (ARV) medication in Africa. Prices offered by generic manufacturers are even lower. If competition among generic drug producers and patent holders can be maintained or intensified, further drops in ARV prices are likely. Millions can now afford the drugs. Many more millions are uninsured and cannot afford to pay. Nor can governments of poor countries afford to subsidize the drugs. Large donation programs must therefore be financed by public and private donations from developed countries. Fast expansion of ARV treatment requires quick complementary actions by associations of people living with HIV/AIDS, medical associations, and private and public donors, and facilitating actions by poor governments, and international organizations.
Analysis with Heavy Ions

In the past decade, nondestructive analysis using heavy-ion beams has become increasingly important both in fundamental physics and in technology. For example, see (An 80) and (Du 79). Perhaps the most obvious example is the important contribution Rutherford backscattering spectrometry has made in the development of the planar thin-film technology that has made possible the present revolution in microelectronics. Indeed, many of the major corporations in this industry now have their own accelerators used exclusively for analysis. While it is still too early to judge the full impact in other fields, there are strong indications that analysis using heavy ions will make equally important contributions to such diverse areas as fundamental surface science, energy, corrosion, and material science.
Angola and Kenya Pavilions in the 2013 Venice Biennale: African Contemporary Art and Cultural Diplomacy in the “Olympics of Art”

A record six African states were awarded a national pavilion at the 2013 Venice Biennale, the premier venue for showcasing a nation's contemporary art, from which Africa has historically been excluded. While first-time participant Angola won the top prize, Kenya's pavilion was the target of bafflement and ire. Using a cultural diplomacy framework that integrates the insights of leading scholars, this research makes concrete recommendations for practitioners vis-a-vis a comparative case study of the two pavilions. Analysis and recommendations consider the interests of a variety of stakeholders and offer insights relevant to Africa and other emerging regions.
Legal Implications of International Students

Colleges and universities in the United States enjoy numerous benefits by enrolling international students who, in addition to providing tuition revenue, bring fresh talent and new perspectives to campus. While most international students in the United States complete their studies without incident, research in recent years has found that many international students believe they are treated harshly or unfairly by faculty, students, or institutional policies. In order to identify areas of potential legal concern for universities that seek to enroll international students, this paper explores 19 cases involving international students that have occurred in recent years. The purpose of this paper is to offer insight into potential legal issues and to determine how universities might avoid circumstances that could lead to grievances or lawsuits as well as undermine an institution's ability to attract more international students. Universities would be wise to assume that, as they enroll more foreign students, they will likely face policy and legal issues.
Recruitment and Retention of Minority Women in Cancer Screening, Prevention, and Treatment Trials

Researchers are giving greater attention to the recruitment and retention of minority women in clinical studies because of their historical underrepresentation, despite their greater morbidity and mortality for many conditions. Using findings from four studies, this article examines documented barriers to the recruitment and retention of minority women to clinical cancer research and discusses effective recruitment strategies. Among the major barriers to recruitment were lack of awareness, lack of transportation, interference with work/family responsibilities, financial costs, negative side effects, and burdensome procedures. Effective recruitment strategies focused on using culturally targeted mass mailings and media presentations based on acquiring an understanding of the minority community. Recommendations are made for further study and implementation.
Molecular and Biochemical Evidence for the Involvement of the Asp-333–His-523 Pair in the Catalytic Mechanism of Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase

In order to investigate the involvement of amino acids in the catalytic mechanism of the soluble epoxide hydrolase, different mutants of the murine enzyme were produced using the baculovirus expression system. Our results are consistent with the involvement of Asp-333 and His-523 in a catalytic mechanism similar to that of other alpha/beta hydrolase fold enzymes. Mutation of His-263 to asparagine led to the loss of approximately half the specific activity compared to wild-type enzyme. When His-332 was replaced by asparagine, 96.7% of the specific activity was lost and mutation of the conserved His-523 to glutamine led to a more dramatic loss of 99.9% of the specific activity. No activity was detectable after the replacement of Asp-333 by serine. However, more than 20% of the wild-type activity was retained in an Asp-333-->Asn mutant produced in Spodoptera frugiperda cells. We purified, by affinity chromatography, the wild-type and the Asp-333-->Asn mutant enzymes produced in Trichoplusia ni cells. We labeled these enzymes by incubating them with the epoxide containing radiolabeled substrate juvenile hormone III (JH III). The purified Asp-333-->Asn mutant bound 6% of the substrate compared to the wild-type soluble epoxide hydrolase. The mutant also showed 8% of the specific activity of the wild-type. Preincubation of the purified Asp-333-->Asn mutant at 37 degrees C (pH 8), however, led to a complete recovery of activity and to a change of isoelectric point (pI), both of which are consistent with hydrolysis of Asn-333 to aspartic acid. This intramolecular hydrolysis of asparagine to aspartic acid may explain the activity observed in this mutant. Wild-type enzyme that had been radiolabeled with the substrate was digested with trypsin. Using reverse phase-high pressure liquid chromatography, we isolated four radiolabeled peptides of similar polarity. These peptides were not radiolabeled if the enzyme was preincubated with a selective competitive inhibitor of soluble epoxide hydrolase 4-fluorochalcone oxide. This strongly suggested that these peptides contained a catalytic amino acid. Each peptide was characterized with N-terminal amino acid sequencing and electrospray mass spectrometry. All four radiolabeled peptides contained overlapping sequences. The only aspartic acid present in all four peptides and conserved in all epoxide hydrolases was Asp-333. These peptides resulted from cleavage at different trypsin sites and the mass of each was consistent with the covalent linkage of Asp-333 to the substrate.
On Three-Dimensional Magnetic Skeleton Elements Due to Discrete Flux Sources

The magnetic field in the solar corona plays an important role in coronal heating, flaring activity and many other phenomena studied on the Sun. Magnetic topology is frequently used to understand complicated coronal magnetic fields. By calculating the skeleton of a field, it is possible to build up a sophisticated representation of the key elements of a field’s configuration. This paper determines a simple relation between the numbers of separators (X), coronal null points (Nc), flux domains (D) and flux sources (S) in such a configuration: D=X+S−Nc−1. This equation is used to explain the behaviour of some of the bifurcations found in Magnetic Charge Topology, and to show that a one-to-one relationship exists between the number of circuits in the domain graph and the augmented null graph. Finally, it is shown that in quiet-Sun regions, the number of separators is approximately proportional to the number of flux sources.
Dance dialects and foraging range in three Asian honey bee species

We measured the “distance dialects” in the dance languages of three honey bee species in Thailand (Apis florea, A. cerana, and A. dorsata), and used these dialects to examine the hypothesis that a colony's dialect is adaptively “tuned” to enhance efficiency of communication over the distances that its foragers typically fly. in contrast to previous interspecific comparisons in Sri Lanka (Lindauer 1956; Punchihewa et al. 1985), we found no striking dialect differences among the Asian bees in Thailand. The adaptive tuning hypothesis predicts that the foraging ranges of the three species should also be similar, but comparisons of colonial foraging range using the “forage mapping” technique (Visscher and Seeley 1982) actually revealed marked differences. This raises the possibility that the link between ecology and distance code is more subtle than previously supposed, if a link exists at all.
Which strategy is better for linkage analysis: single-nucleotide polymorphisms or microsatellites? Evaluation by identity-by-state – identity-by-descent transformation affected sib-pair method on GAW14 data

The central issue for Genetic Analysis Workshop 14 (GAW14) is the question, which is the better strategy for linkage analysis, the use of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) or microsatellite markers? To answer this question we analyzed the simulated data using Duffy's SIB-PAIR program, which can incorporate parental genotypes, and our identity-by-state – identity-by-descent (IBS-IBD) transformation method of affected sib-pair linkage analysis which uses the matrix transformation between IBS and IBD. The advantages of our method are as follows: the assumption of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium is not necessary; the parental genotype information maybe all unknown; both IBS and its related IBD transformation can be used in the linkage analysis; the determinant of the IBS-IBD transformation matrix provides a quantitative measure of the quality of the marker in linkage analysis. With the originally distributed simulated data, we found that 1) for microsatellite markers there are virtually no differences in types I and II error rates when parental genotypes were or were not used; 2) on average, a microsatellite marker has more power than a SNP marker does in linkage detection; 3) if parental genotype information is used, SNP markers show lower type I error rates than microsatellite markers; and 4) if parental genotypes are not available, SNP markers show considerable variation in type I error rates for different methods.
Consumptive water use and crop coefficients for warm-season turfgrass species in the Southeastern United States

Abstract Increased urban demand for landscape irrigation, as well as interest in promoting water-use efficient species by municipalities, water purveyors, and homeowners associations emphasize the need for comparative data on consumptive water use by warm-season lawn grasses. The objective of this study was to quantify actual evapotranspiration (ETa) and to develop crop coefficients (Kc) for four warm-season turfgrass species, namely ‘Tifway’ bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. x Cynodon transvaalensis Burtt-Davy), ‘Empire’ zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.), ‘Floratam’ St. Augustinegrass [Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walter) Kuntze], and ‘Argentine’ bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge). Crop coefficients were derived by dividing ETa (measured directly from lysimeter weight change over 24 to 72-h periods) by reference evapotranspiration (ETo) calculated from the ASCE–EWRI Standardized Method using onsite weather station data. Data were collected over three seasons from non-stressed, well-watered turf. For 17 of the 30 measurement periods, Kc did not differ among the 4 species, and on 24 of 30 periods zoysiagrass, bermudagrass, and St. Augustinegrass Kc did not differ from one another. A trend toward elevated Kc was observed in bahiagrass in years 2 and 3, particularly during early spring measurement periods. Kc values for all species fluctuated across seasons and years, peaking to ∼0.8 during active growth periods when vapor pressure deficit and solar radiation were greatest, and declining to ∼0.3 in late fall and winter. Root growth differences among the species appeared to have a stronger relationship to ET rates than did shoot growth rate. Results demonstrated that the commonly recommended warm-season turf coefficient of 0.6, while approximating overall average annual ETa, under-predicted ETa during active growth periods and over-predicted ETa during late fall and winter periods, when turf was slowly growing or quiescent. The results indicate seasonal refinement of Kc values may be needed to more effectively meet consumptive water use requirements of warm-season turfgrasses.
Electron Ejection by Slow Positive Ions Incident on Flashed and Gas-Covered Metallic Surfaces

A direct measurement of the ejected electron yield (${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{i}$) for ${\mathrm{A}}^{+}$ incident on flashed and ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$-, ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$- and ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$-treated Ta and Pt and for the singly-charged hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen ions incident on Ta and Pt after treatment with the respective parent gas has been made for the kinetic energy range of 2 to 150 ev. The gas treatment for Pt consisted of an exposure to the molecular gas at a pressure of a few mm of Hg, while the treatment for Ta consisted of an exposure plus a glow discharge in which the Ta surface served as the cathode. In general, gas treatment of Ta and Pt was found to produce large decreases in ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{i}$ for ${\mathrm{A}}^{+}$ ions, with the effect increasing with decreasing ion energy. For both Ta and Pt the ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ treatment was found to be the most effective in reducing ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{i}$ while the ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ treatment was found to be the least effective. ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{i}$ for nitrogen ions on ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$-treated Ta and Pt showed a unique behavior at low ion energy in that it was found to increase with decreasing ion energy. This behavior was not observed for the other ions in this study.
Early selection and moral hazard

Abstract The selection of individuals into a school or job or team may be made early based on the expected skills. For instance, children are selected into an academic or a vocational education track at early ages in Germany and other European countries. The paper considers the effects of such early selection on the incentive to make effort.
Impact of thermal conductivity models on the coupling of heat transport, oxygen diffusion, and deformation in (U, Pu)O2-x nuclear fuel elements

Abstract We study the coupled thermal transport, oxygen diffusion, and thermal expansion in a generic nuclear fuel rod consisting of a ( U 1 - y Pu y ) O 2 - x fuel pellet separated by a helium gap from zircaloy cladding. Steady-state and time-dependent finite-element simulations with a variety of initial- and boundary-value conditions are used to study the effect of the Pu content, y , and deviation from stoichiometry, x , on the temperature and deformation profiles in this fuel element. We find that the equilibrium radial temperature and deformation profiles are most sensitive to x at small values of y . For larger values of y , the effects of oxygen and Pu content are equally important. Following a change in the heat-generation rate, the centerline temperature, the radial deformation of the fuel pellet, and the centerline deviation from stoichiometry track each other closely in ( U,Pu ) O 2 - x , as the characteristic time scales of the heat transport and oxygen diffusion are similar. This result is different from the situation observed in the case of UO 2 + x fuels.
Electrogenerated R4N(Hg)5 films: stoichiometry and substituent effects

Abstract The reduction of several dialkylpyrrolidinium cations and tetramethylammonium at mercury cathodes was investigated. The data obtained from polarography and from cyclic voltammetry at mercury film cathodes show that the process involves fast one-electron transfer per R4N+ and results in the generation of solid ordered films. The solids incorporate mercury from the cathode and their stoichiometric composition is R4N+/1 e−/5 Hg. The cations can be regenerated quantitatively by oxidation and it is proposed that the organometallic solids contain units of R4N+ and (Hg)−5. Comparing the various dialkylpyrrolidinium ions shows that increasing the size of the cation results in a more negative E0′ and less persistent R4N(Hg)5. Complexities in the voltammetric results are discussed.