cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
COVID-19 and biocybersecurity’s increasing role on defending forward

The evolving nature of warfare has been changing with cybersecurity and the use of advanced biotechnology in each aspect of the society is expanding and overlapping with the cyberworld. This intersection, which has been described as “biocybersecurity” (BCS), can become a major front of the 21st-century conflicts. There are three lines of BCS which make it a critical component of overall cybersecurity: (1) cyber operations within the area of BCS have life threatening consequences to a greater extent than other cyber operations, (2) the breach in health-related personal data is a significant tool for fatal attacks, and (3) health-related misinformation campaigns as a component of BCS can cause significant damage compared to other misinformation campaigns. Based on the observation that rather than initiating the necessary cooperation COVID-19 helped exacerbate the existing conflicts, the authors suggest that BCS needs to be considered as an essential component of the cyber doctrine, within the Defending Forward framework. The findings are expected to help future cyber policy developments. Copyright © 2021, IGI Global.
Lecturas de poesía chilena. De Altazor a La Bandera de Chile. María Inés Zaldivar. Santiago: Ediciones UC, 2019. ISBN: 978-956-14-2480-7. 232 pp.

Lecturas de poesia chilena. De Altazor a la Bandera de Chile (2020) de Maria Ines Zaldivar tiene su propia hoja de ruta, traza sus recorridos, se detiene y avanza en un viaje critico que contempla paradas en escrituras que van desde comienzos del siglo XX hasta el siglo XXI. La autora dibuja su plan de vuelo —lecturas de poesia chilena— y enuncia los medios con los cuales emprendera su aventura analitica. El viaje altazoriano, que da inicio a las lecturas poeticas, connota la ruta critica que enmarca el libro, un recorrido que se hace con una mirada que contempla a la viajera como academica y poeta. Esta doble militancia critica la impulsa a emprender —cual Altazor— un viaje que la impulsa a aterrizar a fin de mirar con ojos propios su vision sobre la poesia chilena: “compartir un conjunto . . . de mis lecturas sobre poesia chilena del siglo XX e inicios del XXI” (9), esto es, aproximaciones, “lecturas posibles” (Bianchi). La estudiosa, por tanto, traza y recorre un “mapa poetico alternativo” (10) que desplaza la “mirada analitica literatosa” (185) para detenerse en el placer del texto, como nos diria Barthes, y no en las “teorias de turno” (10). En efecto, Lecturas… es un viaje poetico que privilegia el “cuerpo de la voz” de las textualidades (Masiello) para abandonar la “sordera [y asi] apreciar todo aquello que no ha calzado con lo que estamos preparados y dispuestos a oir y valorar como poetico” (138). Esta declaracion explicita una etica critica, cuyos principios responden a una responsabilidad para con las voces silenciadas en la poesia chilena, principalmente, las mujeres. El libro consta de quince lecturas que se dividen en dos grandes apartados: “Primera Mitad del Siglo XX” (13-115) y “Segunda Mitad del siglo XX” (127-215), las cuales pueden ser leidas de manera individual o en relacion. La autora traza su hoja de ruta, mas los lectores pueden decidir desviarse o tomar atajos.
Abstract 681: Heat shock-mediated suppression of ODC protein expression in colorectal cancer cells

Polyamines are small, positively charged metabolites that have important roles in several cancer hallmarks, including cell proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis. Difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) is an FDA-approved drug that is in clinical trials for treatment of colorectal cancer. DFMO functions by inhibiting ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), which catalyzes the rate-limiting step in polyamine biosynthesis. By reducing polyamine levels, DFMO has shown much promise as an anti-cancer chemotherapeutic. One potential limitation to DFMO is that it causes a profound increase in ODC expression, which we suspect may counteract the intended use of the drug. However, strategies to suppress ODC expression would theoretically increase DFMO efficacy. We have discovered that transient hyperthermia (heat shock, 42°C) causes a profound and rapid suppression in ODC protein levels in RKO colorectal cancer cells. To investigate the responsible mechanism, we began by examining ODC mRNA expression and stability. Hyperthermia caused only a moderate reduction in ODC transcript levels. Also, mRNA stability, which was assessed using actinomycin D, was not reduced by heat shock. We next examined the effect of hyperthermia on the control of ODC protein turnover, which is known to be mediated by ODC antizyme (OAZ1). We performed real-time PCR to assess the effect of heat shock on OAZ1 expression. Data reveal a significant increase in the level of OAZ1 transcript. Since heat shock is known to activate the transcription factor HSF1, we next investigated the role of HSF1 in OAZ1 induction. Using siRNA to silence HSF1, we found that the induction of OAZ1 by heat shock is fully dependent on HSF1 expression. In addition to heat shock, HSF1 is also activated by various chemotherapeutics, but most notably by Hsp90 inhibitors. We therefore tested if Hsp90 inhibitors, geldanamycin and 17-AAG could be used to induce OAZ1 and promote ODC turnover. These results show that both Hsp90 inhibitors caused a significant activation of HSF1, an induction in OAZ1 expression, and decrease in ODC protein levels. We therefore propose that Hsp90 inhibitors may be effective in attenuating ODC expression and polyamine metabolism. We suggest that they may be used in combination with DFMO to prevent the compensatory increase in ODC levels and increase anti-cancer effects. Citation Format: Christina T.K. Wales, Aaron T. Jacobs. Heat shock-mediated suppression of ODC protein expression in colorectal cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 681. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-681
Dynamic defense strategy against advanced persistent threat with insiders

The landscape of cyber security has been reformed dramatically by the recently emerging Advanced Persistent Threat (APT). It is uniquely featured by the stealthy, continuous, sophisticated and well-funded attack process for long-term malicious gain, which render the current defense mechanisms inapplicable. A novel design of defense strategy, continuously combating APT in a long time-span with imperfect/incomplete information on attacker's actions, is urgently needed. The challenge is even more escalated when APT is coupled with the insider threat (a major threat in cyber-security), where insiders could trade valuable information to APT attacker for monetary gains. The interplay among the defender, APT attacker and insiders should be judiciously studied to shed insights on a more secure defense system. In this paper, we consider the joint threats from APT attacker and the insiders, and characterize the fore-mentioned interplay as a two-layer game model, i.e., a defense/attack game between defender and APT attacker and an information-trading game among insiders. Through rigorous analysis, we identify the best response strategies for each player and prove the existence of Nash Equilibrium for both games. Extensive numerical study further verifies our analytic results and examines the impact of different system configurations on the achievable security level.
The Somali Piracy Challenge: Operational Partnering, the Rule of Law, and Capacity Building

The threat of piracy is emblematic of an emerging, and asymmetric, security challenge involving non-state actors. But it is not the only maritime threat. Drug trafficking, human smuggling, fishing incursions, oil poaching and the transport of illicit cargo, including weapons of mass destruction are critical concerns as well. Ensuring that those who criminally exploit the oceans are held accountable requires navigating complex legal, jurisdictional and operational issues, as well as securing political, judicial and diplomatic support. Challenges with transnational threats could include the pursuit of money in financial institutions scattered across multiple nations to domestic and international information sharing between law enforcement/intelligence personnel.
The future historian: Reflections on the archives of contemporary sciences.

Abstract Historians working on recent science work close to where the archives are created or become accessible. Based on this experience, the essay presents a reflection on the archives of contemporary life sciences. It addresses three questions: firstly, what is special about the archival situation of contemporary sciences? Secondly, which sources do contemporary historians use and what opportunities and challenges do they offer? And finally, what potential changes to the archives of contemporary sciences are we witnessing? The essay draws a distinction between, on the one side, the history of science when the actors are still alive—a situation that presents a particular set of issues in respect to the available sources—and, on the other side, questions relating specifically to the life sciences at the turn of the millennium—a period which will eventually not be considered as 'contemporary' any more. It reviews changes in scientific practice, historiographical trends and archival practices and considers the place of paper records, digital sources, material artefacts and oral sources in the archives of contemporary sciences. It argues that the commercialisation and privatisation of science may prove a bigger problem for the future historian than the shift to the digital medium. It concludes by welcoming the closer interactions between scientists, historians, curators and archivists prompted by recent developments.
Malleable memory mapping: user-level control of memory bounds for effective program adaptation

This paper presents a user-level runtime system which provides memory malleability to programs running on non-dedicated computational nodes. Memory malleability is analogous to processor malleability in the physical memory space. It lets a program shrink and expand its resident set size in response to runtime events, while preserving execution correctness. Malleability becomes relevant in the context of Grid computing, where loosely coupled distributed programs run on non-dedicated computational nodes with fluctuating CPU and memory loads. User-level malleable memory is proposed as a portable solution to obtain as much as possible out of the available physical memory of a computational node, without thrashing, and before reverting to coarse-grain load balancing via checkpointing and migration. Malleable memory mapping copes also with the unpredictable behavior of existing virtual memory systems under over-sized memory loads. The current prototype is simple but leaves plenty of room for both application-dependent and application-independent optimizations. The presented results show that user-level malleable memory can improve the throughput of remotely executed programs running on non-dedicated computational nodes by at least an order of magnitude.
Listeriosis: a Rare but Deadly Disease

Listeriosis is a serious foodborne illness that affects primarily those with weakened immune systems. Sporadic cases are uncommon, but incidence rates can be high in outbreak situations. Identification of the organism is important for early disease detection and treatment and also for epidemiologic surveillance and tracking. This article reviews the microbiology of the organism that causes listeriosis, Listeria monocytogenes, and the clinical aspects of the disease, as well as strategies for prevention.
Effectiveness of Class Discussion in the Case Method of Instruction

The purposes of this study were to assess student achievement with discussion as the intervention, investigate participation in the discussion segment of a course employing the case method, and assess students' attitudes toward the discussion segment. A nine item pre- and posttest concerning a personnel management case were administered to an experimental group (N = 29) and control group (N = 29). Only the experimental group had class discussion on the case that was presented between the two test administrations. Findings showed a significant increase in scores between the pre- and posttests for the experimental group, as well as a significant difference between the two groups for five items. Students' attitudes toward discussion were assessed using a 12-item survey. Mean scores for all items were > 3.58 for both groups on a five-point scale with 5=strongly agree.
Our Local Astrophysical Laboratory

The behavior of the orbiting bodies within Saturn's rings, now being closely observed by the Cassini spacecraft, can inform our understanding of the birth of extrasolar planets.
X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Study on E-beam Co-evaporated YBCO Precursors and their Post-deposition Conversion

Electron beam co-evaporation is one of the ex situ techniques being developed for cost-effective fabrication of YBa2Cu3O7-{umlt a} (YBCO) coated conductors. To achieve high critical current (Ic) and fast conversion, further understanding is needed of the chemical and microstructural characteristics of the precursors and the phase evolution process towards the epitaxial c-axis oriented YBCO film during the post-deposition conversion annealing. In this study, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to investigate the chemical and compositional profiles of the precursors. Samples quenched from the processing stage were also inspected for identifying the transient elemental chemical states during the YBCO phase formation. XPS survey and detailed spectra were recorded for the surfaces and through various depths. It is suggested that XPS spectra, especially the 'Auger parameters' can be used for revealing the conversion reaction. Preliminary results indicate that the copper oxidation state might have important effect on precursor conversion behaviors.
Mg Nanostructures Tailored by Glancing Angle Deposition

Magnesium nanostructures, with the material characteristic of surface adatom diffusion strongly influencing the nanostructure growth during physical vapor deposition, have been fabricated by a glancing angle deposition (GLAD) technique on flat and patterned substrates at a substrate rotation speed ranging from ω = 0 rpm to ω = 10 rpm. Depending on the substrate rotation speed, the Mg nanostructures consist of different nanostructure units: a nanoblade at ω = 0 rpm (oblique angle deposition), a bundle of nanoblades at ω = 0.1 rpm, an oblate nanorod mixed with a bundle of nanoblades at ω = I rpm and an oblate nanorod at ω = 10 rpm. The formation of different nanostructure units in the samples deposited at different ω values is explained by the competition between the deposition and diffusion processes. In addition, during the oblique angle deposition of Mg, the substrate is rotated 90°, and the formed sample is composed of two layers of nanoblade arrays with an included angle γ ≈ 33° between the two layers, resulting from a lattice match at the interface. Macroscopically, the structure parameters, including the number density, width and thickness of the nanostructure units, the height of samples, and the tilting angle of the nanostructures, depend strongly on both the substrate rotation speed and the substrate features.
Synthesis of New Thermoelectrics Using Modulated Elemental Reactants

A series of new, metastable ternary crystalline compounds with the skutterudite crystal structure have been synthesized using modulated elemental reactants. The initial reactants are made up of multiple repeats of a ≈25A thick unit containing elemental layers of the desired ternary metal, iron and antimony. Low temperature annealing (150°C) results in interdiffusion of the elemental layers to form amorphous reaction intermediates. Annealing these intermediates at temperatures between 200°C and 250°C results in exothermic crystallization of the desired skutterudite crystal structure. Most of the new compounds prepared are only kinetically stable, decomposing exothermically to form thermodynamically more stable mixtures of binary compounds and elements. Low angle x-ray diffraction studies show that the resulting films are exceedingly smooth. These films have an ideal geometry for measuring properties of importance for thermoelectric devices—the Seebeck coefficient and the electrical conductivity. Thermal conductivity can be measured using a modification of the 3ω technique of Cahill. Samples can be produced rapidly, allowing for systematic screening and subsequent optimization as a function of composition and doping levels.
A programmed spot automatic scanning system for spark chambers

Abstract A relatively simple system has been built for automatically scanning any rectangular array of spark chamber views on film. It has been successfully used to scan an experiment with 24 views at the rate of about one frame per second. The optics, electronics, programming and the principles of operation are discussed.
Minimal Fertility Defects in Mice Deficient in Oocyte-Expressed Smad4

Bidirectional signaling between oocytes and granulosa cells is required for normal folliculogenesis. Oocyte-secreted members of the transforming growth factor beta (TGFB) family, growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9), and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) are well-known mediators of granulosa cell function. Deletion in granulosa cells of Smad4, the common SMAD mediating all canonical TGFB-related protein signals, results in infertility. Reciprocal signaling by granulosa cell-expressed TGFB family ligands, such as activin, to the oocyte during follicle development has been proposed but not tested in vivo using conditional knockout mice. Therefore, we generated two oocyte-specific conditional knockout models for the common SMAD, Smad4, using cre recombinase expression from either the zona pellucida 3 (Zp3) or Gdf9 promoter. Cre expression from the Gdf9 promoter occurs at a slightly earlier time point in follicle development than from Zp3. Deletion of Smad4 using Zp3cre had no effect on fertility, while deletion of Smad4 with Gdf9icre resulted in a slight, but significant, reduction in litter size. These mouse models suggest a novel, although minor, role for Smad4 in the oocyte restricted to the primordial follicle stage.
1S-2S spectrum of a hydrogen Bose-Einstein condensate

We calculate the two-photon 1S-2S spectrum of an atomic hydrogen Bose-Einstein condensate in the regime where the cold collision frequency shift dominates the lineshape. WKB and static phase approximations are made to find the intensities for transitions from the condensate to motional eigenstates for 2S atoms. The excited state wave functions are found using a mean field potential which includes the effects of collisions with condensate atoms. Results agree well with experimental data. This formalism can be used to find condensate spectra for a wide range of excitation schemes.
Feeding the dinosaurs: Economic concentration in the retail book industry

While bookstores play the vital role in book distribution, little attention has been paid to concentration and conglomerate ownership in the retail book trade. In 1958, one-store book firms accounted for nearly 80 percent of book sales; by 1982 that figure had fallen to 26 percent even though single-store retailers continue to account for a majority of all bookstore outlets. Today the chains control at least 54 percent of bookstore sales. Buoyed by discriminatory discounts and publisher-subsidized advertising campaigns, the chains’ dramatic growth seems likely to continue despite the fact that they are less profitable than independent booksellers. The chains’ marketing orientation fits well with changes in the broader publishing industry, as publishers seek to rationalize operations in order to improve the bottom line. As books become just another commodity, sold through increasingly centralized and monopolized channels, access for alternative and minority voices is being for-closed.
Substrate-mediated interactions on solid surfaces: Theory, experiment, and consequences for thin-film morphology

Abstract When two or more atoms bind to a solid surface, the substrate can mediate an interaction between them. In this review, we discuss the origins of this interaction and the theories that describe substrate-mediated interactions, including recent studies with electronic density-functional theory. We summarize the results of experimental studies, in particular those with scanning–tunneling microscopy, aimed at quantifying substrate-mediated interactions. Over the intermediate range, these interactions can be strong enough to influence the ordering of adsorbates at surfaces. We discuss the results of recent studies, employing kinetic Monte Carlo simulations that probe the ramifications of these interactions for the morphology in thin-film epitaxy.
Disruption rates for one vulnerable soil in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona, USA

Abstract Rates of soil disruption from hikers and vehicle traffic are poorly known, particularly for arid landscapes. We conducted an experiment in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (ORPI) in western Arizona, USA, on an air-dry very fine sandy loam that is considered to be vulnerable to disruption. We created variable-pass tracks using hikers, an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), and a four-wheel drive vehicle (4WD) and measured changes in cross-track topography, penetration depth, and bulk density. Hikers (one pass = 5 hikers) increased bulk density and altered penetration depth but caused minimal surface disruption up to 100 passes; a minimum of 10 passes were required to overcome surface strength of this dry soil. Both ATV and 4WD traffic significantly disrupted the soil with one pass, creating deep ruts with increasing passes that rendered the 4WD trail impassable after 20 passes. Despite considerable soil loosening (dilation), bulk density increased in the vehicle trails, and lateral displacement created berms of loosened soil. This soil type, when dry, can sustain up to 10 passes of hikers but only one vehicle pass before significant soil disruption occurs; greater disruption is expected when soils are wet. Bulk density increased logarithmically with applied pressure from hikers, ATV, and 4WD.
Nursing Home Aides: Saints or Monsters?

In-depth fieldwork in a New York City nursing home shows that most aides were neither saints nor monsters. Only a small minority were consistently cruel, on the one hand, or consistently warm and supportive, on the other. While there were many instances of harsh treatment of patients, most nursing aides were kind and helpful to residents most of the time. Indeed, many aides established relations with patients that they and the patients found gratifying.
Monitoring compliance of a software system with its high-level design models

As a complex software system evolves, its implementation tends to diverge from the intended or documented design models. Such undesirable deviation makes the system hard to understand, modify and maintain. This paper presents a hybrid computer-assisted approach for confirming that the implementation of a system maintains its expected design models and rules. Our approach closely integrates logic-based static analysis and dynamic visualization, providing multiple code views and perspectives. We show that the hybrid technique helps determine design-implementation congruence at various levels of abstraction: concrete rules like coding guidelines, architectural models like design patterns or connectors, and subjective design principles like low coupling and high cohesion. The utility of our approach has been demonstrated in the development of /spl mu/Choices, a new multimedia operating system which inherits many design decisions and guidelines learned from experience in the construction and maintenance of its predecessor, Choices.
Trust production and privacy concerns on the Internet

Abstract Trust plays a key role in the electronic market that involves high uncertainty and lack of legal protection. Building trust online is proposed as a solution to consumers' privacy concerns. Drawing from relationship marketing and social exchange theory, this study examined several key mechanisms that can help increase customers' trust of e-commerce and decrease privacy concerns. These mechanisms include characteristic-based (e.g., community), transaction process-based (e.g., repeated purchases), and institution-based trust production (e.g., digital certificate).
Cadherin Function Is Required for Human Keratinocytes to Assemble Desmosomes and Stratify in Response to Calcium

Elevation of the calcium concentration in keratinocyte culture induces the rapid organization of adherens junctions and desmosomes. Formation of these intercellular junctions is accompanied by reorganization of the cytoskeleton and, with a more delayed timecourse, stratification of the culture into a multilayered epithelial cell sheet. Keratinocytes express two cadherins, known as E- and P-cadherin, which are the cell-cell adhesion molecules of the adherens junction. Antibody that blocks E-cadherin function delays the calcium-induced formation of both adherens junctions and desmosomes and leads to an abnormally stratified culture. In the present study, we show that anti – E-cadherin plus anti – P-cadherin antibodies inhibit the formation of adherens junctions and desmosomes, prevent reorganization of the cytoskeleton, and block stratification. These studies indicate that cadherin function is required for the calcium-induced intercellular junction organization and stratification of human keratinocytes in vitro.
Heterogeneous sensitizers based on merrifield copolymer beads

Abstract The properties of Merrifield polymers to which the singlet oxygen sensitizer, rose bengal, is attached are compared with monomeric derivatives of the dye as well as with soluble polymers containing this xanthene dye.
Key parameters for de novo formation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans.

De novo formation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDDs and PCDFs) was investigated in an Entrained Flow Reactor (EFR) to simulate combustion conditions. The parameters investigated were carbon content and nature in fly ash; type of gas-phase environment (oxidative versus reducing conditions) influence of combustion gases such as water, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide; amount of gas-phase chlorine; reaction temperature (250−600 °C); and reaction time (minutes vs hours). The comprehensive data set was further evaluated with principal component analysis (PCA) to statistically determine the role and importance of each parameter for de novo formation of PCDDs and PCDFs. Results revealed that an initial fast de novo formation occurs within the first minutes with a formation rate in the orders of hundreds of pmol per minutes; however, the reactivity of the ash was found to decline with time. An average formation rate as low as 3 pmol/min was measured after 6 h. The slower de novo for...
Initial coronary air embolus in the differential diagnosis of coronary artery spasm

Angiographic and electrocardiographic manifestations of initial coronary air embolism were seen in 4 patients and in a dog. All 4 patients had angina pectoris, 2 had ST elevation, 1 patient had ST depression and 1 had no electrocardiographic change after the air embolus. Although the initial diagnosis in these 4 patients was coronary artery spasm, a subsequent ergonovine test response for coronary artery spasm was negative in the 3 patients in whom it was performed. In a dog, initial injection of air in a coronary artery produced ST-segment elevation and delayed clearance of contrast material. The angiographic appearance of initial air embolus was similar in the 4 patients and in the dog. The leading edge of contrast material that followed an air embolus stopped abruptly, appeared hazy and blunt, and pulsated back and forth. The air embolus produced temporary cessation of flow in the main artery and its branches. Initial injection of air during coronary arteriography mimics coronary artery spasm by producing a syndrome characterized by angina, ischemic changes on the electrocardiogram, and delayed flow of contrast material. An initial air embolus may be differentiated from true coronary spasm by several distinctive angiographic features.
Quantitative measurements of FPGA utility in special and general purpose processors

We present experimental results on FPGA use in special and general purpose processors, using as case studies a computational accelerator for gene sequence analysis, an integer implementation of the DLX microprocessor and a real-time signal processor for rocket telemetry. All these devices have been successfully prototyped, and are now completely functional. We present detailed analysis of our experience with FPGAs in these machines, describing savings in chip count, power consumption, area, and cost. For all quantitites except cost, measured savings were typically an order of magnitude improvement over discrete IC implementations. References
Robust outliers detection in image point matching

Classic tie-point detection algorithms such as the Scale Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) show their limitations when the images contain drastic changes or repetitive patterns. This is especially evident when considering multi-temporal series of images for change detection. In order to overcome this limitation we propose a new algorithm, the Affine Parameters Estimation by Random Sampling (APERS), which detects the outliers in a given set of matched points. This is accomplished by estimating the global affine transform defined by the largest subset of points and by detecting the points which are not coherent (outliers) with the transform. Comparisons with state-of-the-art methods such as GroupSAC or ORSA demonstrate the higher performance of the proposed method. In particular, when the proportion of outliers varies between 60% and 90% APERS is able to reject all the outliers while the others fail. Examples with real images and a shaded Digital Elevation Model are provided.
Thermodynamics of the conversion of penicillin G to phenylacetic acid and 6-aminopenicillanic acid.

Abstract The thermodynamics of the enzymatic conversion (penicillin acylase) of aqueous penicillin G to phenylacetic acid and 6-aminopenicillanic acid have been studied using both high-pressure liquid-chromatography and microcalorimetry. The reaction was carried out in aqueous phosphate buffer over the pH range 6.0–7.6, at ionic strengths from 0.10 to 0.40 mol kg−1, and at temperatures from 292 to 322 K. The data have been analyzed using a chemical equilibrium model with an extended Debye-Huckel expression for the activity coefficients. For the reference reaction, penicillin G−(aq)±H2O(1)‡phenylacetic acid−(aq)± 6-aminopenicillanic acid-(aq)±H±(aq), the following parameters have been obtained: K‡(7.35±1.5)x10−8 mol kg−1, △Go‡40.7±0.5 kJ mol−1 △Ho‡ 29.7±0.6 kJ mol−, and △Cop‡-240±50 J mol−1 K−1 at 298.15 K and at the thermochemical standard state. The extent of reaction for the overall conversion is highly dependent upon the pH.
Use of thermoluminescent dosimetry to verify dose compensation in total body irradiation

Abstract For Total Body irradiation (TBI) the midline dose along the long axis of the body should vary by no more than ± 10% compared to the dose received at the prescription point. Compensating filters are often made to compensate for contour irregularities. This paper describes an experimental method using Thermoluminescent Dosimetry (TLD) to verify the appropriateness of dose compensation provided by compensating filters. An AP PA treatment geometry was used with an 18 MV photon beam. TLDs were placed in the midplane and on the surface of an anthropomorphic phantom in five different areas. Three different lead compensating filters were designed to provide proper compensation, overcompensation, and undercompensation. The TLD readings were compared with calculated doses and the measurements correlated favorably. The measurements were sensitive enough to detect dose variations due to improper compensation. These results demonstrate that TLD is a reliable method of verifying dose compensation provided by compensating filters in TBI.
Reduced vascular excitatory responses to cardiopulmonary unloading in hypertensive patients with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.

Physiological consequences of altered peak left ventricular diastolic filling rate in hypertension have not yet been fully assessed. The hypothesis that altered left ventricular diastolic filling rate interferes with inhibitory cardiopulmonary reflexes was tested. Normalized peak left ventricular diastolic filling rate was calculated from radionuclide ventriculography. Haemodynamic changes during lower body negative pressure (−5 to −40 mmHg) in nine hypertensive patients with slow normalized left ventricular filling rate (Group A) were compared with 16 hypertensive patients with normal normalized peak left ventricular diastolic filling rate and ten normal volunteers of the same age group. Baseline total peripheral resistance was higher in essential hypertension compared to normals but did not differ significantly between the two hypertensive groups. For data analysis, the levels of lower body negative pressure were grouped as low levels of −5 to −10, and −15 to −20 mmHg, an intermediate level of −25 mmHg, and high levels of −30 to −40 mmHg; the change in total peripheral resistance (from baseline) was less prominent in Group A compared to Group B and to normals (−1.4 ± 1.7 [SE], −0.06 ± 1.4, 1.1 ± 1.2 and 4.5 ± 2 u·M2 in Group A at the four consecutive levels of lower body negative pressure vs. 0.9 ± 0.7, 3.8 ± 0.9, 7.2 ± 1.6, and 8.2 ± 1.4 in Group B, and 2.0 ± 0.7, 3.3 ± 0.8, 4.9 ± 0.8, and 5.6 ± 1.0 in normals). The reductions in central venous pressure and in pulmonary wedge pressure were not significantly different among the three groups at the different levels of lower body negative pressure, but the reduction in cardiac output was smaller in patients with reduced dv/dt ratio than in the other two groups. The responses to the cold pressor test were similar in all subjects. We conclude that patients with essential hypertension and diastolic dysfunction have impaired total peripheral resistance responses to lower body negative pressure. This abnormality may reflect an alteration in cardiac baroreflexes secondary to left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, an influence of baseline sympathetic activity on the observed vascular responsiveness to lower body negative pressure, or primary differences among groups in the changes in cardiac output induced by similar levels of lower body negative pressure.
The importance of histological evaluation in death investigation: two cases of fatal proximal airway masses.

Abstract A recent prospective study published in the American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology concluded that routine histopathologic examination lacked value. We disagreed with this assertion as we have found routine microscopic examination to be fruitful by documenting gross findings and by revealing interesting and unexpected findings.We designed a retrospective study to determine the benefit and cost of routine histopathologic examination at our institution. Forensic autopsy cases from January 2004 through June 2007 with lethal gross findings were reviewed to determine the number of cases in which microscopic examination provided the definitive cause of death. Cost was based on the average number of hematoxylin-eosin-stained slides per autopsy.One case was found in which the microscopic findings determined the correct cause of death despite compelling history and the initial impression from the autopsy findings. The cost of routine histopathologic examination during this period was approximately $39,000.We conclude that routine histopathologic examination has value. Despite having a low yield, the information it provides is nonetheless important, and its cost is not prohibitive. Furthermore, there are benefits gained from routine microscopic examination as exemplified in the 2 case reports presented in this article.
AMPK isoform expression in the normal and failing hearts

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a master metabolic switch that plays an important role in energy homeostasis at the cellular and whole body level, hence a promising drug target. AMPK is a heterotrimeric complex composed of catalytic α-subunit and regulatory β- and γ-subunits with multiple isoforms for each subunit. It has been shown that AMPK activity is increased in cardiac hypertrophy and failure but it is unknown whether changes in subunit composition of AMPK contribute to the altered AMPK activity. In this study, we determined the protein expression pattern of AMPK subunit isoforms during cardiac development as well as during cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure in mouse heart. We also compared the findings in failing mouse heart to that of the human failing hearts in order to determine whether the mouse heart is a good model of AMPK in human diseases. In mouse developmental hearts, AMPK was highly expressed in the fetal stages and fell back to the adult level after birth. In the failing mouse heart, there was a significant increase in α2, β2, and γ2 subunits both at the mRNA and protein levels. In contrary, we found significant increases in the protein level of α1, β1 and γ2c subunits in human failing hearts with no change in the mRNA level. We also compared isoform-specific AMPK activity in the mouse and human failing hearts. Consistent with the literature, in the failing mouse heart, the α2 complexes accounted for ~2/3 of total AMPK activity while the α1 complexes accounted for the remaining 30-35%. In the human hearts, however, the contribution of α1-AMPK activity was significantly higher (>40%) in the non-failing hearts, and it further increased to 50% in the failing hearts. Thus, the human hearts have a greater amount of α1-AMPK activity compared to the rodent hearts. In summary, the protein level and the isoform distribution of AMPK in the heart change significantly during normal development as well as in heart failure. These observations provide a basis for future development of therapeutic strategies for targeting AMPK.
The Hammett acidity function H0 in H2SO4SO3 mixtures; superacidity

Abstract The comparative quantitative acidities of mineral acids H+(ClO4−) and H+(HSO4−), the two superacids, then HI, HBr, HCl, HNO3, Cl3CCOOH, and HF are reviewed in the light of the Hammett and Michaelis acidity functions H0 and G. The great power of the Hammett quantitative acidity function H0 is emphasized, with evidence being provided for the independence of charge in Hammett general acidity function Hx with charge type of the indicator in concentrated water-type solutions. The Lewis-Bigeleisen extension of the Hammett function H0 to H2SO4SO3 mixtures, using vapour pressure of SO3 as a measure of H0, is reviewed, and an error separating H0 from −log αH+ is removed. The Lewis-Bigeleisen data provide by this interpretation new information on the polyacids H2O(SO3)n, and the superacid anhydrous SO3. The effective proton activity of anhydrous SO3 is given as 1014·1 referred to that in 1M H3O+ and unity.
Effect of neutropenia on the impact of a cognitive-behavioral intervention for symptom management

BACKGROUND Trials of cognitive-behavioral interventions (CBI) designed to reduce symptom severity or improve dimensions of quality of life seldom consider how the side effects of treatment or the complications imposed by the disease or treatment may moderate the impact of the trial on the designated outcome. To address this issue, the moderating effect of neutropenia on the impact of a CBI for reducing symptom severity was evaluated among patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy. METHODS The authors described the impact of a randomized trial of a 10-contact, 20-week CBI on symptom severity, as well as the moderating effect of a neutropenic episode on symptom severity at 20 weeks. Severity scores were based on sum scores (0–10) for 15 symptoms. RESULTS There was an effect for age (younger) and group on severity at 20 weeks and an interaction between neutropenia and group. Among patients with no evidence of neutropenia, those in the experimental arm had a 9-point lower severity score at 20 weeks. Among patients who experienced neutropenia, differences in symptom severity by arm of the trial were < 3 points. Further, fatigue, fever, and pain were more prevalent among patients with neutropenia. CONCLUSIONS Patients who experienced neutropenia did not benefit from a CBI to lower symptoms. The overall effect of this intervention came almost exclusively from patients without neutropenia. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
Regulation of the latency-reactivation cycle by products encoded by the bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) latency-related gene

Like other α-herpesvirinae subfamily members, the primary site for bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) latency is ganglionic sensory neurons. Periodically BHV-1 reactivates from latency, virus is shed, and consequently virus transmission occurs. Transcription from the latency-related (LR) gene is readily detected in neurons of trigeminal ganglia (TG) of calves or rabbits latently infected with BHV-1. Two micro-RNAs and a transcript encompassing a small open reading frame (ORF-E) located within the LR promoter can also be detected in TG of latently infected calves. A BHV-1 mutant that contains stop codons near the beginning of the first open reading frame (ORF2) within the major LR transcript (LR mutant virus) has been characterized. The LR mutant virus does not express ORF2, a reading frame that lacks an initiating ATG (reading frame B), and has reduced expression of ORF1 during productive infection. The LR mutant virus does not reactivate from latency following dexamethasone treatment suggesting that LR protein expression regulates the latency–reactivation cycle. Higher levels of apoptosis occur in TG neurons of calves infected with the LR mutant viruses when compared to wild-type BHV-1 indicating that the anti-apoptotic properties of the LR gene is necessary for the latency–reactivation cycle. ORF2 inhibits apoptosis and regulates certain viral promoters, in part, because it interacts with three cellular transcription factors (C/EBP-alpha, Notch1, and Notch3). Although ORF2 is important for the latency–reactivation cycle, we predict that other LR gene products play a supportive role during life-long latency in cattle.
Variations in the optical properties of poly-3-hexylthiophene/C60 blends and poly-3-hexylthiophene/sol-gel composites

Abstract We report the synthesis and characterization of thin photoemissive films of poly-3-hexylthiophene (P3HT)/C 60 blends. UV-Vis spectra of the P3HT/C 60 blends, with various amounts of C 60 added during film formation, show significant blue shifts. This indicates that an intimate association forms between P3HT and C 60 which alters polymer chain conformation through intimate complexation. Additionally, we have prepared a new type of luminescent glass by a sol-gel technique. This method incorporates P3HT into the final composite matrix as a semi-penetrating polymer network within the silica glass. This procedure yields glasses with novel stimulated photoluminescent properties. By slightly varying the synthetic conditions of composite gel fabricaton, these P3HT/sol-gel glasses can be made to emit light from blue to red, so as to cover emitted light in the whole visible spectrum.
Naturalizando a nação: estrangeiros, apocalipse e o Estado pós-colonial

Este artigo examina a situacao do Estado-nacao pos-colonial sob o prisma da catastrofe ambiental: como e que "invasores" vegetais podem se tornar uma questao politica iminente? O que isto poderia nos revelar sobre as relacoes cambiantes entre cidadania, comunidade e soberania nacional sob condicoes neoliberais? Examinando estas questoes em relacao a um caso proveniente da "nova" Africa do Sul, postulamos tres caracteristicas centrais das organizacoes politicas pos-coloniais numa era de laissez-faire: a reconfiguracao do sujeito-cidadao, a crise da soberania das fronteiras soberanas e a despolitizacao da politica. Os estrangeiros - sejam eles plantas ou pessoas - reunem em si, sob tais condicoes, as principais contradicoes da demarcabilidade de fronteiras e do pertencimento; e uma natureza-estrangeira fornece a linguagem que da voz a novas formas de discriminacao no seio de uma cultura de "pos-racismo" e de direitos civis.
The retarding effect of the TRC response-elimination procedure upon the subsequent reacquisition of autoshaping: Comparison of between- and within-subjects assessment procedures and the evaluation of the role of background contextual stimuli

In Experiment 1, two groups of pigeons were autoshaped to a green keylight CS and then administered either CS only or truly random control (TRC) response-elimination procedures with the green keylight CS. The groups ceased responding at comparable rates. In a subsequent reacquisition test with a vertical-line key stimulus, the group administered CS only during response elimination reacquired the keypecking CR more rapidly. The two groups were then administered the alternative response-elimination treatment with the vertical-line CS. Again, the groups ceased responding at comparable rates. In a subsequent reacquisition test with a red keylight CS, the group administered CS only during the immediately preceding response-elimination phase reacquired the keypecking CR more rapidly. In Experiment 2, following initial acquisition, the CS-only and TRC response-elimination treatments were administered under the context-change and no-context change conditions. The TRC/context-change and CS-only/context-change groups ceased responding more rapidly than either the TRC/ no-context-change or CS-only/no-context-change groups. In subsequent reacquisition to a novel CS, the CS-only/no-context-change group reacquired the fastest, the TRC/no-context-change group reacquired the slowest, and the CS-only/context-change and TRC/context-change groups reacquired at similar intermediate rates. Implications of these results for the context-blocking hypothesis are discussed.
Co-Polyoxetanes with Alkylammonium and Fluorous or PEG-Like Side Chains: Soft Blocks for Surface Modifying Polyurethanes

The goal of this work was to prepare polyurethanes having P[AB] co-polyoxetane soft blocks, where A is a surface active (fluorous) or PEG-like side chain and B represents a desired function (alkylammonium). To this end, poly(2,2-substituted-1,3-propylene oxide) ran-co-telechelics with bromobutoxymethyl (−CH2O(CH2)4Br) and either trifluoroethoxymethyl (3FOx, −CH2OCH2CF3)) or PEG-like (2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)methyl (ME2Ox, (−CH2(OCH2CH2)2OCH3)) side chains were prepared via cationic ring-opening polymerization. Characterization utilized 1H NMR spectroscopy, temperature modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Molecular weights (Mn) by 1H NMR end group analysis were ∼6 kDa while bromobutoxymethyl co-telechelic Tgs were −68 and −48 °C for ME2Ox and 3FOx, respectively. Bromobutoxymethyl groups were completely substituted with N,N-dimethylalkyl amines to obtain oxetane B repeats with six carbon (C6) and twelve carbon (C12) alkylammonium side chains. P[AB] Tgs r...