cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Childhood abuse and initial presentation for HIV care: An opportunity for early intervention

An alarmingly high prevalence of childhood sexual and physical abuse has been observed in HIV-infected men and women, with rates several times higher than observed in the general population. Childhood abuse history has been associated with worse antiretroviral adherence and negative health behaviours in HIV-infected patients. This study evaluates the relationship between childhood abuse and the timing of presentation for HIV care. Participants in a multi-center prospective cohort study, who established initial HIV care after January 1996 and had a CD4 count available within six months of initial presentation, were included in this analysis. Bivariate contingency tables and multivariate logistic regression were used to evaluate the association of childhood abuse with early presentation for HIV care (initial CD4 count > or =200/mm3). Among the 186 subjects included in this analysis, 33% had childhood abuse histories and 58% had an initial CD4 count > or =200/mm3. Participants with a history of childhood abuse were more likely to present early for HIV care (AOR=2.12; p=0.03), perhaps because survivors of abuse tend to have higher utilization of health services. Because HIV-infected patients with childhood abuse histories have worse antiretroviral medication adherence and are more likely to engage in high-risk sexual and injection drug use behaviours, early presentation affords clinicians the opportunity for timely institution of interventions that may improve patient outcomes and prevent secondary HIV infections.
CONVECTION AND CHEMISTRY EFFECTS IN CVD - A 3-D ANALYSIS FOR SILICON DEPOSITION

The computational fluid dynamics code FLUENT has been adopted to simulate the entire rectangular-channel-like (3-D) geometry of an experimental CVD reactor designed for Si deposition. The code incorporated the effects of both homogeneous (gas phase) and heterogeneous (surface) chemistry with finite reaction rates of important species existing in silane dissociation. The experiments were designed to elucidate the effects of gravitationally-induced buoyancy-driven convection flows on the quality of the grown Si films. This goal is accomplished by contrasting the results obtained from a carrier gas mixture of H2/Ar with the ones obtained from the same molar mixture ratio of H2/He, without any accompanying change in the chemistry. Computationally, these cases are simulated in the terrestrial gravitational field and in the absence of gravity. The numerical results compare favorably with experiments. Powerful computational tools provide invaluable insights into the complex physicochemical phenomena taking place in CVD reactors. Such information is essential for the improved design and optimization of future CVD reactors.
Hall Effect in V O 2 near the Semiconductor-to-Metal Transition

Hall-effect measurements as a function of temperature have been made on single-crystal samples of V${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ at temperatures both above and below the semiconductor-to-metal transition temperature; the Hall mobility in the semiconducting phase was approximately 0.5 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$/V sec and in the metallic phase approximately 0.35 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$/V sec.
Phosphonoformate diester hydrolysis mediated by lanthanide cations

Abstract Eu(III) and La(III) cations, and their bis-tris propane complexes, mediate the hydrolysis of dimethyl phosphonoformate with COMe regiospecificity and substantial rate enhancement.
Health Behavior Survey of California School Health Educators

The purpose of this survey was to assess the health behaviors of California School Health Association members to determine whether or not these individuals utilized their professional knowledge to maintain themselves at a high level of health and consequently act as positive role models in the school health program. The survey was designed to investigate behavior patterns in categories relating to nutrition, drugs, exercise, risk and medical profiles. A questionnaire was designed to determine what percent of the respondents practiced positive health behaviors. The survey results provide strong evidence that the majority of those surveyed practiced what they have learned and teach. Sound nutritional habits were exhibited. Reasonable drug and risk taking behavior was practiced. ***Excellent medical profiles also were maintained. Exercise was a basic component to most of the respondents lives, however, increased participation and regular exercise programs could be improved. The results showed good overall health practices, making CSHA members potentially good role models.
Generalizing the Mahlo Hierarchy, with Applications to the Mitchell Models

On generalise les definitions donnees pour la fonction m, qui peut etre consideree comme une mesure de la grandeur des divers cardinaux
Who Returns to Prison? A Survival Analysis of Recidivism among Adult Offenders Released in Oklahoma, 1985 – 2004:

Identifying and evaluating the influence of factors that predict offenders' post-release performance is central to the study of recidivism. In this project, 60,536 adult prison releases from the Oklahoma Department of Corrections between 1985 and 1999 were tracked until May 31, 2004. Recidivism was measured as a return to incarceration and cases were analyzed with a Cox Proportional Hazards Survival Regression, which allowed for the assessment of the relative hazards of returning to prison over time. Predictor variables included offense type, release type (probation, parole, discharge), number of prior incarcerations, sentence length, time served in prison, security classification, education, age, sex, and race. A greater hazard of recidivism was associated with being a property offender (as opposed to a drug, violent, or sex offender), being released to probation (as opposed to being discharged), having a violent offense history, having a greater number of past incarcerations, and being young, male, and ...
Electron localization in poly(alkoxyanilines)

Electrical conductivity, magnetic susceptibility and electron spin resonance results are reported in poly(o-methoxyaniline), poly(o-ethoxyaniline) and an equimolar blend of polyaniline and poly(o-methoxyaniline) for different protonic acids. Electron localization length is found to be much larger in poly(alkoxyanilines) compared with their respective poly(alkylanilines). The larger localization length in poly(o-alkoxyaniline) materials is thought to arise from decreased Coulomb interaction between the positive charge on the polymer chain and the anion; this interaction is reduced by the electron donating nature of the alkoxy groups.
Doping highly ordered organic semiconductors: experimental results and fits to a self-consistent model of excitonic processes, doping, and transport.

An in-depth study of n-type doping in a crystalline perylene diimide organic semiconductor (PPEEB) reveals that electrostatic attractions between the dopant electron and its conjugate dopant cation cause the free carrier density to be much lower than the doping density. Measurements of the dark currents as a function of field, doping density, electrode spacing, and temperature are reported along with preliminary Hall-effect measurements. The activation energy of the current, EaJ, decreases with increasing field and with increasing dopant density, nd. It is the measured change in EaJ with nd that accounts primarily for the variations between PPEEB films; the two adjustable parameters employed to fit the current−voltage data proved to be almost constants, independent of nd and temperature. The free electron density and the electron mobility are nonlinearly coupled through their shared dependences on both field and temperature. The data are fit to a modified Poole−Frenkel-like model that is shown to be valid...
Monte Carlo computations of the escape of atomic nitrogen from Mars

Abstract Monte Carlo simulations were carried out to compute the escape flux of atomic nitrogen for the low and high solar activity martian thermospheres. The total escape of atomic nitrogen at low and high solar activities was found to be 3.03 × 10 5 and 1.32 × 10 6 cm −2 s −1 , respectively. The escape flux of atomic nitrogen at low and high solar activities from photodissociation of N2 was found to be 2.75 × 10 5 and 9.90 × 10 5 cm −2 s −1 , respectively. The remainder of the contribution is from dissociative recombination, which is only important at high solar activity were it comprises about 25% of the total escape. The relative contributions to the total N escape flux from thermal motion of the background atmosphere, winds and co-rotation, and photoionization and subsequent solar wind pickup are also considered here. We find that the total predicted escape fluxes are observed to increase by 20 and 25% at low and high solar activities owing to thermal motion of the background atmosphere. At low and high solar activities, we find that the co-rotation and wind velocities combined translate to a maximum transferable energy of ∼0.0103 and 0.0181 eV, respectively, and that the total escape flux contribution from winds and co-rotation is negligible. Photoionization was found to be a minor process only impacting those source atoms produced with energies close to the escape energy, between 1.5 and 2 eV. The contributions to the total escape fluxes at low and high solar activities from photoionization and subsequent solar wind pickup are found to be about 8 and 13%, respectively.
The risk of sperm competition and the evolution of sperm heteromorphism.

Abstract Members of theDrosophila obscuraspecies group exhibit sperm heteromorphism in which males simultaneously produce two different morphologies of sperm, short and long. Short sperm represent at least 50% of the ejaculate in several species but do not function in fertilization and thus, the evolutionary significance of this phenomenon is unknown. Selective pressures associated with the risk of sperm competition have been suggested to explain the maintenance of sperm heteromorphism. Here I test: (1) whether males alter their behaviour or ejaculate characteristics in response to the risk of sperm competition, and (2) whether short, nonfertilizing sperm serve as ‘cheap filler’ in the female reproductive tract, thereby delaying female receptivity to subsequent matings. Males did not alter tactics based on the risk of sperm competition; copulation durations of males mated to nonvirgin females were unexpectedly shorter than when both sexes were virgin and, contrary to sperm competition predictions, males did not alter the ratio of fertilizing:nonfertilizing sperm relative to female mating status or female age. Short sperm had a small, if any, role in influencing female remating behaviour. The number and proportion of short sperm present in sperm storage organs did not differ between nonvirgin receptive and nonvirgin nonreceptive females. The proportion of short sperm present in the ventral receptacle, however, was lower in receptive than nonreceptive females. Remating behaviour was strongly linked to oviposition patterns. Nonvirgin receptive females oviposited more eggs than nonreceptive females, and female remating interval was positively related to both the number of eggs and progeny produced. Although, oviposition parameters are related to fertilization and thus, the use of long sperm, nonvirgin receptive and nonreceptive females did not predictably differ in the number or proportion of long sperm in storage. These results suggest oviposition per se is probably more important than sperm in determining female receptivity and that sperm heteromorphism may play a marginal, if any, role in affecting female remating.
A Bivalve Gastropod

IN Nature of March 12, p. 749, Drs. L. R. Cox and W. J. Rees reviewed a paper by the Japanese authors Kawaguti and Baba on a bivalved gastropod they had described under the generic name Tamanovalva. I should like to put on record a further occurrence of this remarkable group of molluscs. A single left valve (now in the Stanford University Collection, California) of what is probably a new species, with the characteristic spiral nucleus and central adductor muscle scar, was collected on Espritu Santo Island, near La Paz, Gulf of California, in beach drift, on November 1, 1959.
Lack of effect of tumor size on the prognosis of carcinoma of the uterine cervix stage IB and IIA treated with preoperative irradiation and surgery

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate the prognostic significance of cervical tumor size in patients with Stages Ib and IIa carcinoma of the cervix treated with preoperative irradiation and radical or conservative hysterectomy. Methods and Materials: This study is a retrospective analysis of 177 patients. One hundred forty-one patients had Stage Ib and 36 patients had Stage IIa carcinoma of the cervix. All patients were treated with preoperative irradiation and surgery. Radiation therapy consisted of external pelvic irradiation and intracavitary brachytherapy; total doses ranged from 30 to 60 Gy to the pelvic sidewall and 60 to 70 Gy to point A. Surgery consisting of radical hysterectomy and lymph node dissection or a conservative hysterectomy and lymph node dissection was performed 4 to 6 weeks after completion of irradiation. Results: The 5-year progression-free survivals were 80% for Stage Ib and 63% for Stage IIa ( p = 0.03). The 5-year cumulative pelvic failure rates for Stage Ib were 16% for tumors 3 cm ( p = 0.90). The 5-year cumulative pelvic failure rates for Stage IIa were 22% for tumors 3 cm ( p = 0.75). The corresponding cumulative distant metastasis failure rates at 5 years for Stage Ib were 21% for tumors 3 cm ( p = 0.60). For patients with Stage IIa disease, the 5-year cumulative distant metastasis rates were 33% for tumors 3 cm ( p = 0.70). A multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate prognostic factors for the endpoint of progression-free survival. The variables that were analyzed were patient age, tumor histology, tumor size, clinical stage, point A and pelvic lymph node irradiation dose, and cervical tumor status and pelvic lymph node status at the time of hysterectomy. The variables that were found to be of independent significance for progression-free survival by multivariate analysis were pelvic lymph node irradiation dose ( p p = 0.01), and clinical stage ( p = 0.02). Cervical tumor size at the time of diagnosis and the presence of tumor cells in the cervix in the hysterectomy specimen was not an independent prognostic factor by multivariate analysis. The overall severe complication rate was 11% for all patients. Conclusions: For this population of patients treated with preoperative irradiation and surgery, pelvic lymph node status at the time of hysterectomy and the preoperative irradiation dose to the pelvic lymph nodes are independent predictors of progression-free survival and the development of distant metastasis. The pretreatment cervical tumor size is of less importance for predicting progression-free survival and the development of distant metastasis but clinical stage is an important prognostic variable. These results are in contrast with those of surgery or irradiation alone, in which primary tumor size is a critical prognostic factor for all outcome parameters.
Simplified Microneutralization Test for Serotyping Adenovirus Isolates

A simplified microneutralization procedure is described that uses an empirically determined virus challenge dose, a single dilution of antiserum, and observation of cytopathic effect to determine the adenovirus serotype. The simplified test has faster turnaround time and was 96% concordant with a confirmatory test using serial dilutions of type-specific sera. This method will find utility in high-volume serotyping work.
Differential effects of methadone and buprenorphine on the response of D2/D3 dopamine receptors in adolescent mice

Abstract Background There is a lack of studies that examine the effects of opioid maintenance drugs on the developing adolescent brain, limiting the ability of physicians to conduct a science-based risk assessment on the appropriateness of these treatments for that age group. Our recent observations indicate higher potential risks in repeated exposure to morphine during adolescence, specifically to the D2/D3 dopamine receptors’ signaling. Disturbances in dopaminergic signaling could have broader implications for long-term mental health. Thus, this study examined whether buprenorphine and methadone differentially alter the responses of the D2/D3 dopamine receptors in adolescents. Methods Adolescent mice were orally administered buprenorphine (0.1–0.4 mg/kg), methadone (25–100 mg/kg), or saline once daily for 6 days. Two hours or three days later, the mice were tested for their locomotor response to 10 mg/kg quinpirole, a D2/D3 dopamine receptor agonist. Results Buprenorphine-treated adolescent mice did not significantly differ from control drug-naive animals in their response to quinpirole. However, an enhanced response was observed in methadone-treated adolescent animals. This enhanced locomotion was significantly higher two hours following the final dose of methadone, as compared to three days afterwards. Conclusions This study suggests that exposure to various opioids carries differential probabilities of altering the highly sensitive neurochemistry of adolescent brains. Methadone exposure disturbs the D2-like receptor's response, indicating a potential risk in administering methadone to adolescents (either for the treatment of opioid dependency/abuse or for pain management). In contrast, buprenorphine appears to have a significantly lower effect on the behavioral sensitivity of D2/D3 dopamine receptors in adolescents.
Probing the interaction between a single quantum dot and a photonic crystal cavity

This article reviews our recent work on the development of nanophotonic devices for quantum information processing. We have developed a temperature tuning technique, that allows us to independently tune photonic crystal cavities and quantum dots on the same chip. The high quality factor to mode volume ratio of such cavities leads to a strong interaction between the cavity and the quantum dot. The cavity modifies the quantum dot lifetime, which, in turn, modifies the transmission properties of the cavity. We observe that the resonant nonlinearity of the quantum dot is greatly enhanced by the recirculation of light, and leads to a giant optical nonlinearity, where single photons are able to saturate the quantum dot and modify the transmission function of the cavity. Along with these results, we review the experimental developments, which have led to the realization of the experiment.
The clinical investigator-subject relationship: a contextual approach

The nature of the relationship between a clinical investigator and a research subject has generated considerable debate because the investigator occupies two distinct roles: clinician and scientist. As a clinician, the investigator has duties to provide the patient with optimal care and undivided loyalty. As a scientist, the investigator has duties to follow the rules, procedures and methods described in the protocol. In this article, I present a contextual approach to the investigator-subject relationship. The extent of the investigator's duty to provide the patient/subject with clinical care can vary from one situation to the next, as a function of several factors, including: the research design, benefits and risks of the research; the subject's reasonable expectations, motivations, and vulnerabilities; the investigator's ability to benefit the subject; and the investigator's prior relationship with the subject. These and other factors need to be considered when determining the clinical investigator's obligations to provide clinical care to human research subjects. In some research contexts, the investigator has extensive clinical obligations to the patient/subject; in others, the investigator has minimal ones.
Introductory Remarks for the NATO Workshop on Movable Bed Physical Models

Movable bed models have long been employed to investigate complex hydraulic phenomena. However, the design and usage of models still greatly rely upon experiments and judgments. The interpretation of results from the famous movable bed tests for the Yellow River in China, conducted by the eminent Professor Herbert Engels, is yet to be agreed upon. We wish to thank NATO for partially sponsoring this Workshop so that researchers from different countries can share knowledge on this important subject.
Triptolide inhibits interferon-γ-induced programmed death-1-ligand 1 surface expression in breast cancer cells

Triptolide, a natural compound purified from the Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii, has been reported to inhibit the growth and metastasis of tumors in vivo. However, the effects of triptolide on the immune responses of cancer cells remain unknown. Up-regulation of programmed death-1-ligand 1 (PD-L1) in cancer cells is an important mechanism of tumor immune evasion. In the present study, we demonstrated that triptolide was able to inhibit interferon-γ-induced PD-L1 surface expression in human breast cancer cells. Therefore, by down-regulating PD-1/PD-L1 pathway, triptolide may also serve as a modulator to promote cancer cell-reactive immune responses.
A Novel Role for Cdc5p in DNA Replication

DNA replication initiates from specific chromosomal sites called origins, and in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae these sites are occupied by the origin recognition complex (ORC). Dbf4p is proposed to play a role in targeting the G1/S kinase Cdc7p to initiation complexes late in G1. We report that Dbf4p may also recruit Cdc5p to origin complexes. Cdc5p is a member of the Polo family of kinases that is required for the completion of mitosis. Cdc5p and Cdc7p each interact with a distinct domain of Dbf4p. cdc5-1 mutants have a plasmid maintenance defect that can be suppressed by the addition of multiple origins. cdc5-1 orc2-1 double mutants are synthetically lethal. Levels of Cdc5p were found to be cell cycle regulated and peaked in G2/M. These results suggest a role for Cdc5p and possibly Polo-like kinases at origin complexes.
The race for survival in myelodysplastic syndromes.

Another Summer Olympics has passed and we, like many, trudged into work bleary-eyed each morning, having stayed up late the previous night to watch our favorite events, from swimming to track and f...
Automating mode detection for travel behaviour analysis by using global positioning systemsenabled mobile phones and neural networks

Travel surveys collect trip data such as origin, destination, mode, duration, distance and purpose of trips, as well as socioeconomic and demographic data for analysis. Transportation planners, policymakers, state departments of transportation, metropolitan planning organisations, industry professionals and academic researchers use survey data to better understand the current demand and performance of the transportation infrastructure, and to plan in preparation for future growth. Next-generation travel surveys will utilise global positioning systems (GPS) to collect trip data with minimal input from survey participants. Owing to their ubiquity, GPS-enabled mobile phones are developing into a promising survey tool. TRAC-IT is a mobile phone application that collects real-time GPS data and requires minimal input from the user for data such as trip purpose, mode and vehicle occupancy. To ease survey burden on participants and enable real-time, mode-specific location-based services, new techniques must be explored to derive more information directly from GPS data. As part of travel survey collection, TRAC-IT is able to passively determine trip mode using GPS-enabled mobile phones and neural networks. The mode detection technique presented in this article can be optimised using a critical point, pre-processing algorithm to reduce the size of required GPS datasets obtained from GPS-enabled mobile phones, thus reducing data collection costs while conserving precious mobile phone resources such as battery life.
Systems medicine and the public's health.

Innovative 'systems' approaches to biomedical research offer substantial promise for advancing knowledge and improving health care, as outlined by Bousquet et al. in this issue. However, they are unlikely to improve population health without concurrent efforts to address environmental and social contributors to health, including conditions such as poverty, substandard housing, and restricted access to employment and education. Biomedical researchers have a responsibility to promote realistic expectations for systems or 'P4' medicine, and to join others in calling for broad efforts to promote equitable access to health care and social conditions that promote well-being.
Free‐living, Amphizoic and Opportunistic Amebas

Amebas belonging to the genera Naegleria, Acanthamoeba and Balamuthia are free-living, amphizoic and opportunistic protozoa that are ubiquitous in nature. These amebas are found in soil, water and air samples from all over the world. Human infection due to these amebas involving brain, skin, lung and eyes has increased significantly during the last 10 years. The epidemiology, immunology, protozoology, pathology, and clinical features of the infections produced by these protozoa differ strikingly. Infection by the pathogenic Naegleria fowleri is acquired by exposure to polluted water in ponds, swimming pools and man-made lakes. Raised temperatures during the hot summer months or warm water from power plants facilitate the growth of N. fowleri. N. fowleri is a thermophilic ameba that grows well in tropical and subtropical climates. The CNS infection, called Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), produced by N. fowleri is characterized by an acute fulminant meningoencephalitis leading to death 3-7 days after exposure. Victims are healthy, young individuals with a history of recent water-related sport activities. The portal of entry is the olfactory neuroepithelium. The pathologic changes are an acute hemorrhagic necrotizing meningoencephalitis with modest purulent exudate, mainly at the base of the brain, brain-stem and cerebellum. Trophozoites can be seen within the CNS lesions located mainly around blood vessels. Thus far 179 cases have been reported; 81 in the USA alone. Balamuthia mandrillaris and several species of Acanthamoeba are pathogenic "opportunistic" free-living amebas which cause Granulomatous Amebic Encephalitis (GAE) in humans and animals. GAE is an infection, usually seen in debilitated, malnourished individuals, in patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy for organ transplants and in Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The granulomatous component is negligible, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Pathologically these amebas produce a patchy, chronic or subacute granulomatous encephalitis with the presence of trophozoites and cysts. The portal of entry is probably through the respiratory tract or an ulceration of the skin reaching the CNS by hematogenous spread. As of October 1, 1996, 166 cases (103 due to Acanthamoeba and 63 due to Balamuthia) of GAE have been reported from around the world. Of these 103 cases due to Acanthamoeba (72 have been reported in the USA alone, > 50 in AIDS). It is well known that several species of Acanthamoeba can also produce, chronic sight threatening ulceration of the cornea called Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), mostly in contact lens wearers or in individuals with minor corneal abrasions. Hundreds of cases of AK have been documented world wide.
REFINEMENT OF AN AMESITE-2H1 POLYTYPE FROM POSTMASBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

The crystal structure of amesite-2H1 from the Postmasburg Mn ores of South Africa has been refined to R = 4.7% using Siemens P4 rotating-anode MoKα X-ray data and SHELXL-93 software. Partial ordering of tetrahedral Si,Al and especially of octahedral Mg,Al has reduced the ideal P63cm symmetry to triclinic P1 (refined as C1). Tetrahedral rotation of 15° moves the basal oxygens toward the octahedral cations in the same layer but away from the OH H-donors of the next layers. The ordering pattern of AlIV and AlVI is unique in that the locus of Al-rich sites consists of 2 intersecting sets of zigzag lines parallel to X2 and X3, plus 2 Al-rich octahedra in layer 2 instead of the usual 1 site.
Exploiting Apoptosis for Therapeutic Tolerance Induction

Immune tolerance remains the most promising yet elusive strategy for treating immune-mediated diseases. An experimental strategy showing promise in phase 1 clinical studies is the delivery of Ag cross-linked to apoptotic leukocytes using ethylene carbodiimide. This approach originated from demonstration of the profound tolerance-inducing ability of i.v. administered Ag-coupled splenocytes (Ag-SP) in mice, which has been demonstrated to treat T cell–mediated disorders including autoimmunity, allergy, and transplant rejection. Recent studies have defined the intricate interplay between the innate and adaptive immune systems in Ag-SP tolerance induction. Innate mechanisms include scavenger receptor–mediated uptake of Ag-SP by host APCs, Ag representation, and the required upregulation of PD-L1 expression and IL-10 production by splenic marginal zone macrophages leading to Ag-specific T cell regulation via the combined effects of cell-intrinsic anergy and regulatory T cell induction. In this paper, we discuss the history, advantages, current mechanistic understanding, and clinical potential of tolerance induction using apoptotic Ag-coupled apoptotic leukocytes.
Minimum average cost testing for partially ordered components

The problem of designing a sequence of optimal binary tests for the identification of a single faulty component is addressed. For components in linear order this is equivalent to the classical alphabetic coding problem solved by Hu and Tucker (1971). For partially ordered components the problem is solved by reduction to a minimization over a set of alphabetic problems. >
Enhanced ammonia secretion by proximal tubules from mice receiving NH4Cl: role of angiotensin II

Acidosis and angiotensin II (ANG II) stimulate ammonia production and transport by the proximal tubule. We examined the effect of short-term (18 h) in vivo acid loading with NH4Cl on ammonia produc...
Giant Cell Aortitis and Noonan Syndrome

An 18-year-old girl with Noonan syndrome was diagnosed with progressive aneurysmal dilatation of the ascending aorta. Histopathological examination revealed giant cell aortitis. Connective tissue abnormalities leading to aortic root dilatation and the sinuses of Valsalva aneurysm have been reported in Noonan syndrome. This report is the first description of giant cell aortitis in Noonan syndrome and may provide a link between aortic aneurysm, and giant cell granuloma of bone in Noonan syndrome.
The occurrence of operational anomalies in spacecraft and their relationship to space weather

Modern spacecraft systems and subsystems appear to show an increasing susceptibility to effects of the space environment. This trend is probably due to "softer" designs of electronic components, reduction in subsystem sizes, and increases in performance demands and number of components within spacecraft. The major agents within the space environment that contribute to spacecraft anomalies can be reasonably well described. This paper reviews operational anomaly trends and assesses the identification and potential prediction of causative space weather agents.
Force field apparatus for investigating movement control in small animals

As part of our overall effort to build a closed loop brain-machine interface (BMI), we have developed a simple, low weight, and low inertial torque manipulandum that is ideal for use in motor system investigations with small animals such as rats. It is inexpensive and small but emulates features of large and very expensive systems currently used in monkey and human research. Our device consists of a small programmable torque-motor system that is attached to a manipulandum. Rats are trained to grasp this manipulandum and move it to one or more targets against programmed force field perturbations. Here we report several paradigms that may be used with this device and results from rat's making reaching movements in a variety of force fields. These and other available experimental manipulations allow one to experimentally separate several key variables that are critical for understanding and ultimately emulating the feedforward and feedback mechanisms of motor control.
The Bin3 RNA methyltransferase targets 7SK RNA to control transcription and translation

Bicoid-interacting protein 3 (Bin3) is a conserved RNA methyltransferase found in eukaryotes ranging from fission yeast to humans. It was originally discovered as a Bicoid (Bcd)-interacting protein in Drosophila, where it is required for anterior-posterior and dorso-ventral axis determination in the early embryo. The mammalian ortholog of Bin3 (BCDIN3), also known as methyl phosphate capping enzyme (MePCE), plays a key role in repressing transcription. In transcription, MePCE binds the non-coding 7SK RNA, which forms a scaffold for an RNA-protein complex that inhibits positive-acting transcription elongation factor b, an RNA polymerase II elongation factor. MePCE uses S-adenosyl methionine to transfer a methyl group onto the γ-phosphate of the 5' guanosine of 7SK RNA generating an unusual cap structure that protects 7SK RNA from degradation. Bin3/MePCE also has a role in translation regulation. Initial studies in Drosophila indicate that Bin3 targets 7SK RNA and stabilizes a distinct RNA-protein complex that assembles on the 3'-untranslated region of caudal mRNAs to prevent translation initiation. Much remains to be learned about Bin3/MeCPE function, including how it recognizes 7SK RNA, what other RNA substrates it might target, and how widespread a role it plays in gene regulation and embryonic development.
Raman Spectroscopy Using dc Signal Detection and a Microcomputer: An Alternative Approach

Raman spectroscopic data have been obtained with the use of direct current (dc) signal detection, an IBM PC/AT microcomputer, and commercially available software. Since photomultiplier currents of the order of nanoamps to microamps are readily attained for Raman emission under conditions of moderate laser excitation power levels (150-200 mW) and medium resolution spectral slits (1-4 cm−1), signal levels well within the domain measurable by dc signal detection techniques are achieved for a wide range of chemical and biochemical samples. Further, the digitization and signal averaging capabilities of generic data acquisition boards and microcomputers allow dc detection to yield signal-to-noise ratios competitive with those derived from complementary pulse-counting techniques.
Whole inactivated SIV virion vaccines with functional envelope glycoproteins: safety, immunogenicity, and activity against intrarectal challenge.

A novel type of whole inactivated simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) virion vaccine immunogen with functional envelope glycoproteins was evaluated, without adjuvant, in rhesus macaques. Immunogens included purified inactivated virions of SIVmac239, a designed mutant of SIVmac239 with gp120 carbohydrate attachment sites deleted (SIVmac239 g4,5), and SIVmneE11S. The vaccines were noninfectious, safe, and immunogenic, inducing antibody responses and cellular responses, including responses by CD8+ lymphocytes. Interpretation of protective efficacy following intrarectal challenge was complicated by incomplete take of the challenge in some SIV naive controls.
The Constitutional Politics of Roads and Canals: Inter-Branch Dialogue Over Internal Improvements, 1800-1828

In contrast to the plethora of Supreme Court-centered scholarship, the attached article discusses a topic that illustrates how national policies that implicate constitutional issues are discussed and resolved in a political context, a subject that is relevant to current academic debates about non-judicial constitutional interpretation - e.g. constitutional interpretation by the political branches of government. In this article, I discuss internal improvements - i.e. the building of infrastructure such as roads and canals - in early America. Far from being of merely quaint historical interest, internal improvements was a politically salient topic during the early part of the nineteenth century. The topic also serves to illustrate constitutional decision-making in an era in which the U.S. Supreme Court had not yet become a dominant player in the nation. Why did the federal government, despite popular support as well as support from Congress and four consecutive presidents, fail to implement a national plan for an integrated system of roads and canals. The question becomes even more puzzling considering the actions that Congress took to achieve that goal - twice commissioning the treasury secretary in two different administrations to devise and report on such a system of infrastructure, and then passing key legislation to begin implementation of a system. As I show in the article, a comprehensive system of internal improvements did not fail for lack of political support, legitimate need, or sufficient finances. After analyzing primary and secondary sources, focusing primarily on congressional debates and speeches by various lawmakers and the presidents involved, I argue that the federal government's failure to establish a coherent system of infrastructure was caused by two factors. First, the constitutional scruples of the Republican presidents initially prevented Congress from moving ahead with plans to build a system of roads and canals. Second, the corrupting influence of sectional interests within Congress later prevented both Congress and the president from supplying federal funds in a coherent manner to states and private corporations for building the infrastructure. What this article shows is that, despite all-around support for certain public policies, the interaction between constitutional principle and political interest may lead to unexpected results.
Cross-Country Practices on the Disclosure of Bank External Audits

This paper attempts to compare policies and practices on the disclosure of external auditing results of deposit taking institutions in Hong Kong, Indonesia, China, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Korea and Malaysia.
Effectively Crowdsourcing Radiology Report Annotations

Crowdsourcing platforms are a popular choice for researchers to gather text annotations quickly at scale. We investigate whether crowdsourced annotations are useful when the labeling task requires medical domain knowledge. Comparing a sentence classification model trained with expert-annotated sentences to the same model trained on crowd-labeled sentences, we find the crowdsourced training data to be just as effective as the manually produced dataset. We can improve the accuracy of the crowd-fueled model without collecting further labels by filtering out worker labels applied with low confidence.
Buder: The Extent of Equitable Recoupment

In Buder, in a refund action by the widow's estate for overpayment plus interest owing to its erroneous inclusion of a purported QTIP trust, the Eighth Circuit, affirming the district court, agreed that the government was entitled to the defense of equitable recoupment for unpaid estate taxes in the husband's estate because of that faulty QTIP election and allowance of a marital deduction. However, the appellate court, like the lower court, first discounted that amount to reflect that others - a charity and a daughter - who were not parties to the litigation and who were not beneficiaries of the trust, would have borne some of the husband's estate tax liability. Likewise, the Eighth Circuit denied the government interest on the equitable recoupment because of the particular circumstances of the case - that the government knew of the erroneous QTIP election and could have timely recovered the husband's estate tax deficiency. The district court rejected the government's proffered authorities, E.I. du Pont and Rogers, as guidance on the issue of interest on an equitable recoupment. In E.I. du Pont, the Claims Court allowed the government to offset interest on the taxpayer's income tax deficiency for 1942 against the taxpayer's refund for interest paid on excess profits taxes deferred for that year. In Rogers, in an action by both parties for costs, which the court rejected, the court said, Nonetheless, on an alternative theory of recovery, which plaintiffs asserted to support their alternative claim, the court awarded plaintiffs $288,884 plus interest under the doctrine of equitable recoupment. Neither case discussed the issue of awarding interest on an equitable recoupment. Neither, however, did the Eighth Circuit in IES Industries, the case on which the district court in Buder relied. If preventing unjust enrichment is the essence of the equitable recoupment defense, interest should be paid on those amounts to reflect the actual benefit the Buder sons received by not having the trust taxed in the husband's estate, as it should have been. However, if the government's culpability is a factor favoring a limited application of equitable recoupment, as the Eighth Circuit held, as a way of restricting the defense in Buder, it may not be unfair to deny the Government interest on the amount recouped.
Impact of source texts and prompts on students’ genre uptake

Abstract Argumentative writing is a vital but challenging genre for university students, particularly second language writers. While much is known about different factors that make it challenging, in this paper, we focus on an underexplored factor: the intertextual relationship between source texts, prompts, and student writing. We analyze student writing in a first-year history class at a branch campus of an American university in the Middle East, and more specifically, how source texts and writing prompts condition whether students produce the expected argument genre. We draw from two perspectives on genre: Rhetorical Genre Studies, with its focus on the highly contextualized nature of writing, provides a useful lens through which to view intertextuality; Systemic Functional Linguistics, with its explicit focus on language, provides tools for studying writing development in school genres. Results suggest that source texts that do not contain an explicit argument and prompts that ask for students’ opinion may facilitate students’ uptake of argument. The study has pedagogical implications for improving alignment between an instructor's goals and expectations, assignment design, and the writing students produce.
The Role of Property Taxes in State and Local Finances

The author says that property taxes are important to public finance, especially the finance of public schools. The property tax demonstrates the benefit principle of taxation, the author writes.
Contribution of Avian Feces to Fecundity in the Mexican Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Adults of the Mexican fruit fIy, Anastrepha ludens (Loew), given access to bird droppings were not significantly more fecund than flies without access to bird droppings. Flies with access to dried torula yeast and sugar had a 7-fold increase in fecundity compared with flies maintained on sugar only. The latter result demonstrates that flies maintained on a diet of sugar alone are nutritionally deprived. Yet, bird droppings were not used to increase fecundity by these nutritionally challenged flies. Reports that other economically important tephritid species use bird droppings as a natural source of organic nitrogen does not seem to apply to the Mexican fruit fly.
Specificity of Reactions Produced by Injection of Urine from Pregnant Cows into Immature Female Guinea Pigs.

Recent experiments have shown that the anterior hypophysis, in addition to its primary growth inducing function, has a secondary, apparently specific effect upon the sex organs. Under the influence of transplants of anterior hypophysis taken from various mammals, immature mice and rats have been brought to precocious sexual maturity (Smith and Engle,1 Zondek and Aschheim2). One of the most striking effects produced by the anterior hypophyseal transplants has been the luteinization of follicles in the ovaries of the female host animal. Within 2 days after the first transplantation the ovaries began to show hyperemia accompanied by progressive growth of follicles. About 2 to 3 days later a distinct luteinization process was initiated in a number of follicles, which changed into atretic corpora lutea. Similar phenomena had been previously recorded by Evans and Long3 after intraperitoneal injections of fresh anterior hypophyseal substance. These authors believe the whole reaction to represent “a powerful, spe...
Geology of the Chenier Plain of Cameron Parish, southwestern Louisiana

The Chenier Plain of southwestern coastal Louisiana is a Holocene strand plain composed of wooded beach ridges (cheniers) and intervening mudfl at grassy wetlands. The mudfl ats form as prograding tidal fl ats along the open, but low-energy Gulf of Mexico coast; cheniers form from winnowing of sand and shells from the mudfl ats by waves during transgression. Mudfl ats are deposited when a Mississippi River delta lobe is nearby to the east, and cheniers are formed when distributaries switch to a more distant location farther east. All of the cheniers have formed within approximately the past 3000 yr or less and are progressively younger toward the present coastline. Spits are attached to the cheniers at estuaries; they grow westward in response to the dominant longshore currents. Currently, mudfl ats are prograding in Vermillion Parish to the east, while cheniers form in eastern Cameron Parish along with some regressive beach ridge development in western Cameron Parish. This coast is microtidal with low wave energy. A high rate of subsidence as well as sea-level rise characterizes the Chenier Plain, which is subject to increased wave energy and mud transport every year during many cold-front passages and periodic storm surges associated with tropical cyclones of much lower frequency. Major storm surges can inundate the entire Chenier Plain, wreaking havoc on human settlements.
Process Research on Friction Stir Spot Welding Without Key Hole Between Magnesium and Steel Dissimilar Alloys

Friction stir spot welding(FSSW) lap joint without keyhole between dissimilar materials of a thick DP600 galvanized steel sheet and a 3 mm thick AZ31B magnesium sheet(the steel sheet was placed on top and the magnesium sheet bottom) was successfully made.The effects of welding process parameters on the welding spot surface forms and mechanical property were studied.The orthogonal experiment results show that: the parameters influence factors from main to secondary is B(shoulder depth)→A(rotating speed)→C(diameter of pin).When the welding time is fixed and stretch out of pin is 1.8-2.0 mm,the rotating speed is in the range of 1200-1500 r/min,the shoulder press amount is 0.1-0.3 mm,the pin is 5.5-6.0 mm in diameter,then a sound joint with the strength of 7.5 kN is obtained.