cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
168 Relative burden of premature mortality in lupus

Background Disease burden is the impact of a health problem on a given area, which can be used to set healthcare and research priorities and identify high-risk populations. Disease burden can be measured using a variety of indicators such as mortality, morbidity, disability, or financial cost. Analyses of 62,843 SLE deaths from the US-CDCs database showed that SLE-mortality remains high relative to general population mortality (Yen E, et al. Ann Int Med 2017). However, mortality rates may not adequately measure SLE burden, because among those who died, a fifth died before reaching 40 years. Premature mortality is an important way to quantify disease burden. In constructing a measure of premature death, an arbitrary limit to life is chosen, and the years of potential life lost (YPLL) is calculated. Methods This is a population-based observational study. Death counts were obtained from the CDC-WONDER for 28 diseases, including SLE, top 15 CDCs leading causes-of-death, and 12 other autoimmune diseases. To calculate YPLL, each decedents age at death from a specific disease was subtracted from a predetermined age of 75 years. The years of potential life lost were then added together to yield the total YPLL. Results From 2000 through 2015, SLE was recorded as the cause of death in 28 411 women in the US. The ranking of SLE deaths relative to the CDCs official leading-causes-of-death in females showed that SLE is within the top 15 leading causes-of-death in reproductive age women (15–44 years) and tenth among women ages 15–24 years. YPLL for SLE was 304.2 thousand years in women ages 15–44 and 66.2 thousand years in women ages 15–24. SLE-YPLL ranked #14 in women ages 15–44, and #8 in women ages 15–24 above diabetes mellitus, HIV disease, septicemia, chronic lower respiratory disease, anemias, nephritis, and cerebrovascular disease. However, the NIH research funding for SLE is not commensurate with its relative premature mortality burden: NIH provided $97 million for SLE research in comparison to $1,084 million for diabetes mellitus and $3,780 million for HIV in 2016. Among autoimmune diseases, SLE ranked #2 in women ages 15–44 years and #1 in women ages 15–24 years. Conclusions SLE is among the leading causes of premature mortality burden in young women, underscoring SLE as an important public health issue. This warrants further studies on SLE disease burden, which can be used to develop and prioritize public health programs, assess performance of changes in SLE management, identify high-risk populations, and set research priorities and funding. Funding Source(s): None
TGF-β Signaling Interferes With the Drosophila Innate Immune and Metabolic Response to Parasitic Nematode Infection.

The common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, is an outstanding model to study the molecular basis of anti-pathogen immunity. The parasitic nematode Heterorhabditis gerrardi, together with its mutualistic bacteria Photorhabdus asymbiotica, infects a wide range of insects, including D. melanogaster. Recently, we have shown that transforming growth factor-β (TGF-s) signaling in D. melanogaster is regulated in response to parasitic nematode infection. In the current study, we investigated the contribution of two TGF-s signaling branches, the activin and the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), to D. melanogaster immune function against H. gerrardi. We used D. melanogaster larvae carrying mutations in the genes coding for the TGF-s extracellular ligands daw and dpp. We have demonstrated that the number of circulating hemocytes in uninfected daw and dpp mutants decreases twofold compared to background controls, yet no significant changes in hemocyte numbers and survival of the TGF-s mutants are observed upon nematode infection. However, we have shown that nematode-infected daw mutants express Dual oxidase at higher levels and phenoloxidase activity at lower levels compared to their background controls. To elucidate the contribution of TGF-s signaling in the metabolic response of D. melanogaster to parasitic nematodes, we estimated lipid and carbohydrate levels in daw and dpp mutant larvae infected with H. gerrardi. We have found that both nematode-infected mutants contain lipid droplets of larger size, with daw mutant larvae also containing elevated glycogen levels. Overall, our findings indicate that the regulation of activin and BMP branches of TGF-s signaling can alter the immune and metabolic processes in D. melanogaster during response to parasitic nematode infection. Results from this study shed light on the molecular signaling pathways insects activate to regulate mechanisms for fighting potent nematode parasites, which could lead to the identification of novel management strategies for the control of damaging pests.
46 Improving the prescription of anticipatory medications for adults recognised as dying in a district general hospital

Introduction The NICE quality standards for care of adults in the last hours/days of life state that all patients should have appropriate as required medication (PRN) prescribed for the symptoms (pain/breathlessness, agitation, nausea/vomiting and respiratory secretions) that can occur at the end of life (EoL). This quality improvement project tested the adherence to this in one UK district general hospital. Aims To investigate whether PRN anticipatory medications were prescribed in accordance to trust guidelines to inform future quality improvement work. Method This was a prospective audit of 20 consecutive patients across adult wards in June 2018. Drug charts were audited using a tool based on the trust guideline, and the auditor met with junior doctors to discuss concerns around prescribing. Results 25% (n=5) of prescriptions were accurately compliant with guidelines. In medications for pain relief and agitation drug dose was correct in 75% (14) and 60% (12) respectively, however dose frequency was incorrect in 45% (9) and 70% (14), with too long a dose interval in 40% (8) and 50% (10) respectively. The PRN medication with the most errors were medication for nausea/vomiting and respiratory secretions with the dose missing or incorrect (no maximum 24 hour dose recommendation) in 95% (19) and 80% (16) respectively. Discussion with junior doctors highlighted a lack of awareness of the guidelines. Conclusions Despite the existence of trust guidelines prescription errors for anticipatory medication at EoL were common. The main concern being patients may have symptoms under treated due missing drugs or too long dose frequency. In collaboration with the specialist palliative care team, pharmacy and junior doctors a poster was created and displayed across all wards. This was supported by teaching sessions delivered by a junior doctor to junior doctors to promote the content of the poster. The adherence to guidelines will be re-audited in 2019 and included in the presentation.
Democracy and redistribution

When do countries democratize? What facilitates the survival of authoritarian regimes? What determines the occurrence of revolutions, often leading to left-wing dictatorships, such as the Soviet regime? Although a large literature has developed since Aristotle through contemporary political science to answer these questions, we still lack a convincing understanding of the process of political development. Employing analytical tools borrowed from game theory, Carles Boix offers a complete theory of political transitions, in which political regimes ultimately hinge on the nature of economic assets, their distribution among individuals, and the balance of power among different social groups. Backed up by detailed historical work and extensive statistical analysis that goes back to the mid-nineteenth century, this 2003 book explains why democracy emerged in classical Athens. It also discusses the early triumph of democracy in both nineteenth-century agrarian Norway, Switzerland and northeastern America and the failure in countries with a powerful landowning class.
High-resolution photoelectron spectroscopy of the pyridinide isomers

Isomer-specific, high-resolution photoelectron spectra of cryogenically cooled pyridinide anions obtained using slow photoelectron velocity-map imaging are presented. New vibrational structure in the detachment spectrum of para-pyridinide is resolved, and the spectra of meta- and ortho-pyridinide are reported for the first time. These spectra yield electron affinities of 1.4797(5), 1.4473(5), and 0.8669(7) eV for the para-, meta-, and ortho-pyridyl radicals, respectively, as well as a number of vibrational frequencies for each neutral isomer. While most of the resolved structure in all three spectra is readily assigned by comparison to B3LYP/6-311+G* Franck-Condon simulations, the para-pyridinide spectrum shows newly resolved fine structure attributed to anharmonic coupling within the vibrational manifold of the corresponding neutral radical. Isomeric trends in the photoelectron angular distributions are rationalized by approximating the detached anion orbitals as superpositions of s-, p-, and d-like hydrogenic orbitals, based on an application of Sanov’s generalized mixing model [D. Khuseynov et al., J. Chem. Phys. 141, 124312 (2014)]. The presented experimental and theoretical results are used to address the relative energies of the anion and neutral isomers, as well as the site-specific bond dissociation energies of pyridine.
COPING WITH STRESS : A PHYSICIAN'S GUIDE TO MENTAL HEALTH IN AGING

The mental and emotional health of people of all ages is related to how well they cope with or adapt to the stresses and changes in their lives. Although risks to health do increase with advancing age, stress is not an inevitable consequence of old age. However, two transitional stressors that are more common with increased age are the onset of illness and/or physical impairment and the death of loved ones. As recently as 1987, less than 1.5% of community-based mental health care went to persons over age 65. The elderly consistently report that when they do seek help with emotional problems, they first consult with their primary care physicians. Therefore, these physicians need to be knowledgeable about mental health in aging and familiar with mental health services their patients could use.
Cirripectes matatakaro, a new species of combtooth blenny from the Central Pacific, illuminates the origins of the Hawaiian fish fauna

Included among the currently recognized 23 species of combtooth blennies of the genus Cirripectes (Blenniiformes: Blenniidae) of the Indo-Pacific are the Hawaiian endemic C. vanderbilti, and the widespread C. variolosus. During the course of a phylogeographic study of these species, a third species was detected, herein described as C. matatakaro. The new species is distinguished primarily by the configuration of the pore structures posterior to the lateral centers of the transverse row of nuchal cirri in addition to 12 meristic characters and nine morphometric characters documented across 72 specimens and ∼4.2% divergence in mtDNA cytochrome oxidase subunit I. The new species is currently known only from the Marquesas, Gambier, Pitcairns, Tuamotus, and Australs in the South Pacific, and the Northern Line Islands and possibly Johnston Atoll south of Hawai'i. Previous researchers speculated that the geographically widespread C. variolosus was included in an unresolved trichotomy with the Hawaiian endemic and other species based on a morphological phylogeny. Our molecular-phylogenetic analysis resolves many of the previously unresolved relationships within the genus and reveals C. matatakaro as the sister lineage to the Hawaiian C. vanderbilti. The restricted geographic distribution of Cirripectes matatakaro combines with its status as sister to C. vanderbilti to indicate a southern pathway of colonization into Hawai'i.
Deep Large-Scale Multitask Learning Network for Gene Expression Inference.

Gene expressions profiling empowers many biological studies in various fields by comprehensive characterization of cellular status under different experimental conditions. Despite the recent advances in high-throughput technologies, profiling the whole-genome set is still challenging and expensive. Based on the fact that there is high correlation among the expression patterns of different genes, the above issue can be addressed by a cost-effective approach that collects only a small subset of genes, called landmark genes, as the representative of the entire genome set and estimates the remaining ones, called target genes, via the computational model. Several shallow and deep regression models have been presented in the literature for inferring the expressions of target genes. However, the shallow models suffer from underfitting due to their insufficient capacity in capturing the complex nature of gene expression data, and the existing deep models are prone to overfitting due to the lack of using the interrelations of target genes in the learning framework. To address these challenges, we formulate the gene expression inference as a multi-task learning problem and propose a novel deep multi-task learning algorithm with automatically learning the biological interrelations among target genes and utilizing such information to enhance the prediction. In particular, we employ a multi-layer sub-network with low dimensional latent variables for learning the interrelations among target genes (i.e. distinct predictive tasks), and impose a seamless and easy to implement regularization on deep models. Unlike the conventional complicated multi-task learning methods, which can only deal with tens or hundreds of tasks, our proposed algorithm can effectively learn the interrelations from the large-scale (\(\sim \)10,000) tasks on the gene expression inference problem, and does not suffer from cost-prohibitive operations. Experimental results indicate the superiority of our method compared to the existing gene expression inference models and alternative multi-task learning algorithms on two large-scale datasets.
CuInS2-Doped ZnS Quantum Dots Obtained via Non-Injection Cation Exchange Show Reduced but Heterogeneous Blinking and Provide Insights into Their Structure–Optical Property Relationships

Cadmium-free CuInS2-doped ZnS quantum dots (QDs) are synthesized through a two-step non-injection synthetic method. The resulting QDs are small (∼8 nm or less) and relatively isotropic with photolu...
Influenza risk perception and travel-related health protection behavior in the US: Insights for the aftermath of the COVID-19 outbreak

Influenza is a contagious virus affecting both one's health and economic productivity. This study evaluates uses a survey of 2168 individuals across the U.S. Ordered logit regressions are used to model risk perception and generalized ordered logit regressions are used to model risk mitigation travel-related decisions. Models are estimated for three influenza outbreak scenarios, specifically an individual's travel-related: 1) risk perceptions, 2) risk mitigation decisions when infected and the individual wants to prevent spreading it, and may want treatment, and 3) risk mitigation decisions when not infected and the individual wants to reduce exposure. Risk perception results show that a recent personal experience with influenza-like symptoms and being female significantly increased risk perception at mandatory and medical trip locations. Risk mitigation model results show that males are less likely to alter their travel patterns in response to the possible spreading of the virus or increasing exposure. Knowing the difference between influenza and the stomach flu is more influential in reducing travel than a recent influenza experience in one's household. Individuals proactive with their health (i.e., receive the vaccine, have health insurance) are also proactive in seeking medical attention and reducing influenza spread. Lastly, aligned with the Protection Motivation Theory, individuals reduce travel to locations in which they perceived medium or high risk. However, increased risk perceived at one's work location did not significantly reduce travel. The findings provide insight into the risk perception and mitigation behavior of the American public during the COVID-19 pandemic and after restrictions are lifted.
Evolving indications for surgical intervention in patients with differences/disorders of sex development: Implications of deferred reconstruction

Rare medical conditions are difficult to study due to the lack of patient volume and limited research resources, and as a result of these challenges, progress in the care of patients with these conditions is slow. Individuals born with differences of sex development (DSD) fall into this category of rare conditions and have additional social barriers due to the intimate nature of the conditions. There is also a lack of general knowledge in the medical community about this group of diverse diagnoses. Despite these limitations, progress has been made in the study of effective ways to care for patients who are born with chromosomal or anatomical differences of their internal reproductive organs or external genitalia. Advocacy groups have placed a spotlight on these topics and asked for a thoughtful approach to educate parents of newborns, medical providers, and the adolescents and young adults themselves as they mature.1 There is growing interest in the approaches to surgical reconstruction of the genitalia and the management of internal gonads, specifically the timing of procedures and the indications for those procedures.2 Advocates suggest deferring surgical procedures until the affected individual can participate in the decision-making process. This approach requires a roadmap for addressing the long-term implications of delayed surgical management. Presented here is a review of the specific issues regarding the complex management of the various categories of DSD.
An Adaptive Approach to Recoverable Mutual Exclusion

Mutual exclusion (ME) is one of the most commonly used techniques to handle conflicts in concurrent systems. Traditionally, mutual exclusion algorithms have been designed under the assumption that a process does not fail while acquiring/releasing a lock or while executing its critical section. However, failures do occur in real life, potentially leaving the lock in an inconsistent state. This gives rise to the problem of recoverable mutual exclusion (RME) that involves designing a mutual exclusion algorithm that can tolerate failures, while maintaining safety and liveness properties. One of the important measures of performance of any ME algorithm, including an RME algorithm, is the number of remote memory references (RMRs) made by a process (for acquiring and releasing a lock as well as recovering the lock structure after a failure). The best known RME algorithm solves the problem for n processes in sub-logarithmic number of RMRs, given by O(log n/log log n), irrespective of the number of failures in the system. In this work, we present a new algorithm for solving the RME problem whose RMR complexity gradually adapts to the number of failures that have occurred in the system recently. Specifically, its RMR complexity is given by [EQUATION] where F denotes the total number of failures that have occurred in the recent past.
Transient Stability Analysis and Tuning of Power System Stabilizer for Three Machine Nine Bus System Using Frequency Response Approach

Stability analysis of Power System is performed to understand and analyze its behaviour under variant conditions. Power System Stabilizer (PSS) is employed in Generators to maintain its stability under fault conditions. Transient stability analysis is performed to analyze performance of PSS under transient fault condition. While such analysis cannot be performed on the field, simulation software such as ETap, Power World Simulator etc. allows such analysis on test systems such as Nine Bus System which are designed to evaluate different components of the system under different conditions. Different genetic algorithms and optimization algorithms have been used in previous works to tune the frequency of PSS. In this paper, I propose tuning the frequency of PSS using frequency response approach that uses the frequency of the system under transient condition, and also compare the results obtained with that of other algorithms. Power World Simulator simulation software has been used to design Three Machine Nine Bus System with PSS1A and perform Transient Stability Analysis on the same.
Demographics and Outcomes of Interhospital Neurosurgical Transfer Patients Undergoing Spine Surgery.

Objective Interhospital patient transfer (IHT) of patients is common and accounts for a significant portion of health care costs, yet the variables driving neurosurgical IHT have not been systematically described. We analyzed variables that distinguished spine surgery patients who underwent IHT from patients who did not undergo IHT to report on the effect of frailty on IHT. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed to collect data on consecutive patients undergoing spinal procedures during 2015–2017. IHT patients were identified and compared with non–interhospital patient transfer (n-IHT) patients to identify factors that distinguished the 2 patient groups using multivariate regression analysis. Studied variables included case complexity, frailty (modified frailty index), age, insurance status, and baseline demographic variables. Postoperative outcomes affected by transfer status were identified in binary regression analysis. Results During 2015–2017, there were 595 n-IHT and 76 IHT spine surgery patients (N = 671). Increased frailty (modified frailty index ≥3; odds ratio = 2.4, P = 0.01) and increased spine surgery complexity (spine surgery complexity score ≥2; odds ratio = 2.57, P = 0.002) were independent risk factors associated with IHT. IHT was an independent risk factor for increased hospital length of stay and increased postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo scale; P Conclusions IHT patients comprise a more frail and surgically complex surgical spine population compared with n-IHT patients. IHT was also an independent risk factor for increased complications and length of stay after spine surgery. Patients' insurance status and age did not distinguish between IHT and n-IHT groups. This is the first report in any specialty to demonstrate increasing frailty is associated with IHT.
Barack Obama and the Partisan Presidency: Four More Years?

Despite his initial vow to be “post-partisan,” Barack Obama has followed the “partisan presidency” paradigm that has dominated since 1980. This has not always been by choice. Despite efforts at outreach, congressional Republicans have rarely backed Obama’s agenda. Continuing patterns seen in the 2012 election, Republican voters have tended to hold highly negative views of Obama. But Obama has also fed into polarized politics by seeking to enact the policy priorities of the Democratic Party. Other aspects of the “partisan presidency” have persisted: ideological niche media has thrived, while Obama has relied mostly upon Democratic veterans to staff his administration.
Cyclooxygenase-dependent mechanisms mediate in part the anti-dilatory effects of perivascular adipose tissue in uterine arteries from pregnant rats

Uterine perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) contributes to uterine blood flow regulation in pregnancy, at least in part, due to its effects on uterine artery reactivity. Here, we investigated the effects of uterine PVAT on endothelium-dependent pathways involved in relaxation of main uterine arteries. We hypothesized that uterine PVAT modulates the balance between the contribution of nitric oxide synthase (NOS)- and cyclooxygenase (COX)-dependent pathways to acetylcholine (ACh)-induced relaxation in isolated uterine arteries. Concentration-response curves to ACh (1 nM - 30 {micro}M) were performed on main uterine arteries from pregnant and non-pregnant rats. Arteries were exposed to Krebs-Henseleit solution (control) or PVAT-conditioned media (PVATmedia) in the presence of the following inhibitors: L-NAME (100 {micro}M), indomethacin (COX inhibitor, 10 {micro}M), SC560 (selective COX-1 inhibitor, 1 {micro}M), NS398 (selective COX-2 inhibitor, 1 {micro}M), SQ 29,548 (selective thromboxane receptor (TP) inhibitor, 1 {micro}M). Indomethacin suppressed ACh-induced relaxation in control uterine arteries from pregnant rats (p 1.0). In arteries incubated with PVATmedia, the presence of indomethacin increased ACh-induced relaxation, reversing the anti-dilatory effect of PVATmedia. NOS inhibition reduced ACh-induced relaxation in uterine arteries from pregnant rats, and exposure to PVATmedia did not change this effect. Selective inhibition of COX-1 but not COX-2 suppressed relaxation responses to ACh in control arteries. The presence of PVATmedia abolished the effect COX-1 inhibition. Incubation of uterine arteries from pregnant rats with PVATmedia increased production of thromboxane B2 (TxB2, p=0.01). TP inhibition did not have any effect on the anti-dilatory properties of PVATmedia. In conclusion, uterine PVAT releases transferable factors that reduce relaxation responses to ACh via a COX-dependent mechanism in isolated uterine arteries from pregnant rats.
Chapter IV – Denaturation

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of denaturation to highlight intermolecular changes of proteins, which are transformed from an ordered to a disordered state without the rupture of covalent bonds. As the configuration of the native protein can be stabilized by side-chain hydrogen bonds, these hydrogen bonds should be expected to influence the rate and equilibrium in the intramolecular conversion of native protein to denatured protein. The chapter focuses on the effect of denaturing agents on the dimensions and the elastic properties of protein fibers. In the dilute solution, the molecularly dispersed proteins undergo intramolecular changes of configuration that can be detected by a variety of experimental techniques such as optical rotation. The chapter discusses the effect of denaturing agents on the kinetics and the equilibrium involved in the transformation from native to denatured protein in solution. As the reversibility of relatively few denaturation reactions has been demonstrated, it is not surprising that most denaturation studies have been concerned with the kinetics of denaturation. The most commonly used techniques are optical rotatory and precipitation methods.
The Role of Book Value in Equity Valuation: Does the Stock Variable Merely Proxy for Relevant Past Flows?

We propose an alternative explanation for the value-relevance of book value. Specifically, we suggest that book value can have an indirect role in valuation even under an earnings capitalization framework. We first show that past earnings are relevant for valuation (in addition to current earnings) when earnings have transitory components. Next, we argue that book value may correlate with stock price simply because it aggregates past (and current) earnings. That is, the stock variable does not have a direct role in valuation (in the sense of representing the net assets of the firm). Rather, its role arises indirectly because it proxies for past flows. Our findings are consistent with our predictions. We find that past earnings provide incremental explanatory power beyond that provided by current earnings. More important, we find that a model of current and past earnings outperforms a model of current earnings and book value in terms of explanatory power. Our results are striking when we split our sample into profit firms and loss firms. For profit firms we report that book value provides no incremental explanatory power beyond that provided by current and past earnings. However, for loss firms book value provides significant incremental explanatory power while current and past earnings provide only marginal explanatory power. This suggests a very restrictive direct role for book value in equity valuation, that is as a proxy for the firm's abandonment or liquidation value.
Supporting MPI-2 one sided communication on multi-rail infiniband clusters: design challenges and performance benefits

In cluster computing, InfiniBand has emerged as a popular high performance interconnect with MPI as the de facto programming model. However, even with InfiniBand, bandwidth can become a bottleneck for clusters executing communication intensive applications. Multi-rail cluster configurations with MPI-1 are being proposed to alleviate this problem. Recently, MPI-2 with support for one-sided communication is gaining significance. In this paper, we take the challenge of designing high performance MPI-2 one-sided communication on multi-rail InfiniBand clusters. We propose a unified MPI-2 design for different configurations of multi-rail networks (multiple ports, multiple HCAs and combinations). We present various issues associated with one-sided communication such as multiple synchronization messages, scheduling of RDMA (Read, Write) operations, ordering relaxation and discuss their implications on our design. Our performance results show that multi-rail networks can significantly improve MPI-2 one-sided communication performance. Using PCI-Express with two-ports, we can achieve a peak MPI_Put bidirectional bandwidth of 2620 Million Bytes/s, compared to 1910 MB/s for single-rail implementation. For PCI-X with two HCAs, we can almost double the throughput and reduce the latency to half for large messages.
Supervised and knowledge-based methods for disambiguating terms in biomedical text using the umls and metamap

Word Sense Disambiguation is the task of automatically identifying the appropriate sense (or concept) of an ambiguous word, for example, the term cold could refer to the temperature or a virus depending on the context in which it is used. Not being able to identify the intended concept of an ambiguous word negatively impacts the accuracy of biomedical applications such as medical coding and indexing which are becoming essential in the biomedical and clinical world with the push towards electronic medical records and the growing amount of information that is available to biomedical researchers and clinicians. This dissertation focuses on disambiguating ambiguous words in biomedical text. This dissertation presents two methods, K-CUI and A-CUI, that can disambiguate ambiguous terms in any biomedical text using information from the Unified Medical Language System (UMLS). K-CUI explores the use of Concept Unique Identifiers (CUIs) as assigned by MetaMap, as features for a supervised learning method for word sense disambiguation. It also investigates four techniques to reduce the noise in the feature set by restricting which CUIs to include. The first technique is windowing, whose results show that in biomedical text indicative CUIs are highly localized. The second is a frequency cutoff, whose results show that when a dataset contains a high majority concept, the features that only occur a few times are essential in disambiguating the minority concepts. The third is a MetaMap Indexing cutoff, whose results show that word concepts are correlated with the topical information describing an instance. The fourth is a semantic similarity cutoff, whose results show in biomedical text, indicative features have a high semantic similarity with at least one of the possible concepts of the ambiguous word.
An Impedance Aptasensor with Microfluidic Chips for Specific Detection of H5N1 Avian Influenza Virus.

In this research a DNA aptamer, which was selected through SELEX (systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment) to be specific against the H5N1 subtype of the avian influenza virus (AIV), was used as an alternative reagent to monoclonal antibodies in an impedance biosensor utilizing a microfluidics flow cell and an interdigitated microelectrode for the specific detection of H5N1 AIV. The gold surface of the interdigitated microelectrode embedded in a microfluidics flow cell was modified using streptavidin. The biotinylated aptamer against H5N1 was then immobilized on the electrode surface using biotin–streptavidin binding. The target virus was captured on the microelectrode surface, causing an increase in impedance magnitude. The aptasensor had a detection time of 30 min with a detection limit of 0.0128 hemagglutinin units (HAU). Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the binding of the target virus onto the electrode surface. The DNA aptamer was specific to H5N1 and had no cross-reaction to other subtypes of AIV (e.g., H1N1, H2N2, H7N2). The newly developed aptasensor offers a portable, rapid, low-cost alternative to current methods with the same sensitivity and specificity.
A mathematical model for interplanetary logistics

The objective of this paper is to demonstrate a methodology for designing and evaluating the operational planning for interplanetary exploration missions. A primary question for space exploration mission design is how to best design the logistics required to sustain the exploration initiative. Using terrestrial logistics modeling tools that have been extended to encompass the dynamics and requirements of space transportation, an architectural decision method has been created. The model presented in this paper is capable of analyzing a variety of mission scenarios over an extended period of time with the goal of defining interesting mission architectures that enable space logistics. This model can be utilized to evaluate different logistics trades, such as a possible establishment of a push-pull boundary, which can aid in commodity prepositioning. The model is demonstrated on an Apollo-style mission to both provide an example and validate the methodology.
Continued decline for ethnic minorities in the transition

Using three Bulgarian cross-sectional household surveys from 1986, 1993 and 1997, this essay shows that the mean log wage differential between ethnic Bulgarians and Turks increased from 0.1615 in 1986 to 0.2874 in 1993 and again to 0.4075 by 1997. Bulgarian gains over ethnic Turks in the early transition are related to both changes in the relative returns to skill and changes in the composition of demand for goods and services as the country moved toward a market economy. The Turks began the transition with fewer years of education than the Bulgarians, and began to close the education gap over this time. The Bulgarians, however, were more likely to have obtained more general secondary and university degrees than the ethnic Turks – degrees that, in contrast to technical or vocational degrees, are experiencing increased remuneration in the transition. With more of an asset that has become more valuable, the ethnic Bulgarians improved their relative position.
Structural requirements for the induction of the SOS repair in bacteria by nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and related chemicals.

Abstract The CASE (computer-automated structure evaluation) methodology was used to investigate the structural basis of the SOS-inducing activity of 56 nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (nitroarenes, nPAH) and the unsubstituted parent PAH molecules. Based upon the presence and/or absence of structural features, CASE identified 5 activating (biophores) and 4 inactivating (biophobes) fragments responsible for the SOS-inducing activity. Based upon these fragments, CASE correctly calculated the genotoxicity of 94.6% of the molecules in the training set (sensitivity = 0.85, specifity = 1.0). Disregarding the questionable experimental results of the unexpected very weak direct-acting activity of the unsubstituted benzo[ a ]pyrene, dibenzo[ a , h ]anthracene and 7,12-dimethylbenz[ a ]anthracene, the concordance of the prediction was 100%, i.e., sensitivity = 1.0, specifity = 1.0. Additionally, the quantitative analysis of the SOS-inducing potency showed a good correlation between the experimental and predicted results. The present analyses indicate an identity in the structural determinants responsible for SOS induction in E. coli PQ37 (SOS chromotest) and mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium .
Regiochemical Reversals in Nitrosobenzene Reactions with Carbonyl Compounds – α‐Aminooxy Ketone versus α‐Hydroxyamino Ketone Products

The Lewis acid-catalyzed reaction of nitrosobenzene with a ketone can produce an α-aminooxyketones or an α-hydroxyaminoketone, with reaction regiochemistry switching from the latter to the former, dependent upon the addition of Lewis acid or sterically-hindered solvent. While the latter (C-N bond formation) is easily explained by attack of the enolate α-carbon at N, the former (C-O bond formation) has been an enigma, with few proposed explanations, and none which explain simultaneously formation of both products and all the regiochemical reversals. Herein, the regiochemistry reversal is proposed to occur via (1) nucleophile formation governed by Hard and Soft Acids and Bases (HSAB) theory, (2) a nucleophilic attack by the enolate O at N, followed by (3) a [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement. This mechanistic pathway and HSAB considerations account for formation of both products and explain the three reported regiochemistry reversals, which are observed upon the introduction of (A) Lewis acid catalyst, (B) AcOH, or (C) solvent bulkiness.
Neonatal cavopulmonary assist: Benefit of pulsatile pulmonary perfusion

Abstract Introduction: A systemic venous source of pulmonary blood flow reduces the instability associated with Stage I Norwood physiology. We have previously demonstrated neonatal cavopulmonary assist under steady flow conditions. We hypothesized that pulsatile pulmonary perfusion would improve pulmonary hemodynamics. Methods: Lambs (7.2 +/− 1.1 SD kg, age 7.9 +/− 1.5 days) underwent cavopulmonary diversion using bicaval venous-to-main pulmonary artery cannulation. The proximal main pulmonary artery was clamped and the right ventricle vented for egress of coronary venous blood. A miniature centrifugal pump was used to assist cavopulmonary blood flow. Control animals (n = 4) underwent sham surgery. 13 animals received steady flow pulmonary perfusion, and six animals received pulsatile pulmonary perfusion. Hemodynamic and gas exchange data were measured for eight hours. Groups were compared using ANOVA. Results: All animals remained physiologically stable. Cardiac index, systemic arterial pressure, mean pulmonary arterial pressure, vena caval pressure, mean circulatory filling pressure, pO2, and pCO2 were not statistically different between the steady flow and pulsatile flow groups after 8 hours of cavopulmonary assist (P Conclusions: Pulsatile pulmonary perfusion yields a pulmonary vascular resistance comparable to control and lower than steady flow perfusion in a neonatal animal model of univentricular Fontan circulation.
Role of Antigenic Conformation in the Antigen–Antibody Complex Formation

THE immunochemical reactivity of a protein molecule may be affected by its conformation in two ways: (1) a particular conformation may expose or mask primary antigenic sites on the polypeptide chain; (2) the con-formational flexibility (allosteric properties) of a protein may determine the steric fit between antigen (Ag) and antibody (Ab) molecules1–5. The effect of conformation may be particularly significant in the soluble Ag–Ab lattice formation, for the availability of antigenic sites and the steric fit between Ag and Ab would determine the size and stoichiometric composition of the lattice. A conformationally flexible protein would be expected to form Ag–Ab lattices more readily than a rigid protein, and this would be expressed either by an increased rate in lattice formation, an increased size of the Ag–Ab lattice, an increased amount of Ab in the lattice or an increased stability of the formed lattice.
Ventricular activation during ventricular endocardial pacing: I. Electrocardiographic patterns related to the site of pacing☆

The QRS configuration produced by pacing at multiple left ventricular endocardial sites was evaluated in eight patients with (group 1) and six patients without (group 2) left ventricular wait motion abnormalities. Pacing was performed at a total of 122 sites, 4 to 13 sites in each patient. The QRS configuration resulting from apical pacing locations was compared with that at basal, septal to lateral and inferior to superior locations. Significant differences in QRS configuration during pacing from apical and basal locations were observed in electrocardiographic leads I, V1, V2 and V6 (probability [p] less than 0.01). Specifically, a QS pattern in leads I, V2 and V6 was more characteristic of an apical pacing location (p less than 0.001), and a monophasic R wave in leads V1 and V2 was more characteristic of a basal pacing location (p less than 0.01). Significant differences in leads V1 and V2 were observed when septal and lateral pacing sites were compared (p less than 0.001). A monophasic R wave in leads V1 and V2 was more characteristic of a lateral pacing location (p less than 0.01); a QS complex in lead V2 was more characteristic of a septal pacing location (p less than 0.001). Pacing at superior sites usually produced an inferior axis and vice versa (p less than 0.001). The electrocardiographic patterns produced by pacing at similar sites in patients in group 1 were less consistent than those in patients in group 2. The QRS complex during ventricular pacing was wider in patients in group 1 (159 +/- 30 ms) than in patients in group 2 (132 +/- 18 ms) (p less than 0.001). It is concluded that the QRS configuration recorded with 12 lead electrocardiography during endocardial pacing can help locate the region of the pacing site in patients with and without organic heart disease, although precise localization is not possible.
Chronic Sazetidine-A Maintains Anxiolytic Effects and Slower Weight Gain Following Chronic Nicotine Without Maintaining Increased Density of Nicotinic Receptors in Rodent Brain

Chronic nicotine administration increases the density of brain α4β2* nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), which may contribute to nicotine addiction by exacerbating withdrawal symptoms associated with smoking cessation. Varenicline, a smoking cessation drug, also increases these receptors in rodent brain. The maintenance of this increase by varenicline as well as nicotine replacement may contribute to the high rate of relapse during the first year after smoking cessation. Recently, we found that sazetidine-A (saz-A), a potent partial agonist that desensitizes α4β2* nAChRs, does not increase the density of these receptors in brain at doses that decrease nicotine self-administration, increase attention in rats, and produce anxiolytic effects in mice. Here, we investigated whether chronic saz-A and varenicline maintain the density of nAChRs after their up-regulation by nicotine. In addition, we examined the effects of these drugs on a measure of anxiety in mice and weight gain in rats. After increasing nAChRs in the rodent brain with chronic nicotine, replacing nicotine with chronic varenicline maintained the increased nAChR binding, as well as the α4β2 subunit proteins measured by western blots. In contrast, replacing nicotine treatments with chronic saz-A resulted in the return of the density of nAChRs to the levels seen in saline controls. Nicotine, saz-A and varenicline each demonstrated anxiolytic effects in mice, but only saz-A and nicotine attenuated the gain of weight over a 6-week period in rats. These findings suggest that apart from its modest anxiolytic and weight control effects, saz-A, or drugs like it, may be useful in achieving long-term abstinence from smoking.
Role of the Myosin Assembly Protein UNC-45 as a Molecular Chaperone for Myosin

The organization of myosin into motile cellular structures requires precise temporal and spatial regulation. Proteins containing a UCS (UNC-45/CRO1/She4p) domain are necessary for the incorporation of myosin into the contractile ring during cytokinesis and into thick filaments during muscle development. We report that the carboxyl-terminal regions of UNC-45 bound and exerted chaperone activity on the myosin head. The amino-terminal tetratricopeptide repeat domain of UNC-45 bound the molecular chaperone Hsp90. Thus, UNC-45 functions both as a molecular chaperone and as an Hsp90 co-chaperone for myosin, which can explain previous findings of altered assembly and decreased accumulation of myosin in UNC-45 mutants ofCaenorhabditis elegans.
Preliminary experiences with 222Rn gas in Arizona homes.

Results of a survey of 222Rn gas using four-day charcoal canister tests in 759 Arizona homes are reported. Although the study was not random with respect to population or land area, it was useful in identifying areas at risk and locating several homes having elevated indoor 222Rn air concentrations. Approximately 18% of the homes tested exceeded 150 Bq m-3 (4 pCi L-1), with 7% exceeding 300 Bq m-3 (8 pCi L-1). Several Arizona cities had larger fractions of homes exceeding 150 Bq m-3 (4 pCi L-1), such as Carefree and Cave Creek (23%), Paradise Valley (30%), Payson (33%), and Prescott (31%). The Granite Dells and Groom Creek areas of Prescott had in excess of 40-60% of the houses tested exceeding 150 Bq m-3 (4 pCi L-1). Elevated 222Rn concentrations were measured for a variety of home types having different construction materials. Private well water was identified as a potentially significant source of 222Rn gas in Prescott homes, with water from one well testing over 3.5 MBq m-3 (94,000 pCi L-1). A 222Rn concentration in air exceeding 410,000 Bq m-3 (11,000 pCi L-1) was measured using a four-day charcoal canister test in a house in Prescott which had a well openingmore » into a living space. Additional measurements in this 150-m3 dwelling revealed a strikingly heterogeneous 222Rn concentration. The excessive 222Rn level in the dwelling was reduced to less than 190 Bq m-3 (5.2 pCi L-1) by sealing the well head with caulking and providing passive ventilation through a pipe.« less
Proximity relationships between helices I and XI or XII in the lactose permease of Escherichia coli determined by site-directed thiol cross-linking.

Abstract The lactose permease of Escherichia coli was expressed in two fragments (split permease), each with a Cys residue, and cross-linking was studied. Split permease with a discontinuity in either loop II/III (N 2 C 10 permease) or loop VI/VII (N 6 C 6 permease) was used. Proximity of multiple pairs of Cys residues in helices I and XI or XII was examined by using three homobifunctional thiol-specific cross-linking reagents of different lengths and flexibilities (6 A, rigid; 10 A, rigid; 16 A, flexible) or iodine. Cys residues in the periplasmic half of helix I cross-link to Cys residues in the periplasmic half of helix XI. In contrast, no cross-linking is evident with paired Cys residues near the cytoplasmic ends of helices I and XI. Therefore, the periplasmic halves of helices I and XI are in close proximity, and the helices tilt away from each other towards the cytoplasmic face of the membrane. Cross-linking is also found with paired Cys residues near the middle of helices I and XII, but not with paired Cys residues near either end of the helices. Thus, helices I and XII are in close proximity only in the approximate middle of the membrane. Based on the findings, a modified helix packing model is proposed.
Application of fuzzy logic in intelligent software agents for IP selection

IPs (Intellectual Properties) are becoming increasingly essential in today's electronic system design. One of important issues in design reuse is the IP selection, i.e. finding an existing solution that matches the user's expectations best. This paper describes the Internet-based intelligent software system (Software Agent) that helps the user to pick out the optimal designs among those marketed by the IP vendors. The Software Agent for IP Selection (SAFIPS) conducts dialogues with both the IP users and IP vendors, narrowing the choices after evaluating general characteristics first, followed by matching behavioral, RTL, logic, and physical levels. The SAFIPS system conducts reasoning based on fuzzy logic rules derived in the process of dialogues of the software agent with the IP users and vendors. In addition to the dialogue system and fuzzy logic inference system, the SAFIPS includes a HDL simulator and fuzzy logic evaluator that are used to measure the level of matching of the user's behavioral model with the IP vendor's model.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.