cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Note on Extreme Sets

In decomposition theory, extreme sets have been studied extensively due to its connection to perfect matchings in a graph. In this paper, we first define extreme sets with respect to degree-matchings and next investigate some of their properties. In particular, we prove the generalized Decomposition Theorem and give a characterization for the set of all extreme vertices in a graph.
Ultrasound-Guided Dynamic Needle Tip Positioning Technique Versus Palpation Technique for Radial Arterial Cannulation in Adult Surgical Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND:Radial arterial cannulation is most commonly done using palpation, but the use of ultrasound has increased the cannulation success rate. This improvement, albeit significant, has not led to a very high success rate especially in trainees. A modified ultrasound technique for vascular cannu
Immediate Implant Placement : Surgical Techniques for Prevention and Management of Complications

Loss of soft and hard tissue is common after tooth extraction. Substantial resorption of alveolar bone compromises esthetics and may result in prosthetic and surgical limitations. Immediate implant placement at the time of tooth extraction is used to maintain alveolar ridge dimensions. Clinical studies support the successful outcome of immediate placement of dental implants in fresh extraction sockets; comparative clinical studies have found that implant survival rates after immediate placement are similar to those after delayed placement. This article addresses surgical techniques for immediate implant placement and the prevention and the management of complications associated with this procedure.
Searching for the Center of an Ellipse.

Biedl et al.[1] first posed the problem of finding the center of a circle, starting from a point on the boundary, using a limited number of operations. We solve an open problem, presented in their work: finding the center of an ellipse. We present new algorithms for finding the center of the ellipse and provide results of experiments showing how these algorithms perform under the introduction of errors.
Self-Referential Behavior Systems

According to the foregoing discussion, the concept system yields a cognitively constructed image of a bounded object that consists of an organized set of active parts that function together according to a “built-in” pattern of operation. Each system, from this perspective, is set apart from other objects by a boundary that is conceptualized as enclosing its parts. This allows an observer to think of a system’s parts as functioning together according to the total system’s internal mechanism.
Role of Dissolved Mineral Species in Calcite-Apatite Flotation

A knowledge of the role of effects and interactions of chemical species is important in developing an understanding of the behavior of mixed minerals and natural ores in beneficiation processes such as flotation and flocculation. In this study the role of such species was examined for the calcite-apatite system by conducting flotation of each mineral in various supernatants prepared by mixing with water. Supernatants of apatite and even that of calcite depressed the flotation of calcite markedly in the pH range of 5 to 13. Addition of Ca(NO3)2, K2CO3, and K3PO4 also produced definite effects under various pH conditions. Apatite flotation was also affected by the mineral supernatants and by carbonate and phosphate solutions. The results are analyzed in terms of the surfactant’s solubility properties and the mineral’s electrochemical and dissolution properties. While depression of calcite flotation by the dissolved species is found to be governed by depletion of oleate by bulk precipitation, the depression of apatite flotation is caused by the carbonate and phosphate species in the system. Turbidity measurements and a thermodynamic analysis of possible interactions in the system support these considerations. The effect of the supernatant of minerals on their own flotation suggests the important role of kinetics of various surface interactions in comparison to that of mineral dissolution.
Prediction of Human Actions in a Smart Home Using Single and Ensemble of Classifiers

There is a growing need for home automation systems that monitor and control a smart home environment to produce an efficient system that accurately predicts the needs of the human occupants. Past research has focused on the accuracy of prediction of a users future action. However, much of that work uses synthetic datasets which do not always reflect the real-world interactions that occur between an individual and the home environment. In addition, a focus on prediction accuracy often comes at the cost of slower processing time. This paper focuses on the prediction of future human actions in an intelligent environment with the goal of achieving both high prediction accuracy and response times that are appropriate for a real-time application environment. We performed experiments using the MavPad dataset, which was gathered from a fully-instrumented home environment and compared several different machine learning algorithms that included both single and ensemble classifiers. This study investigates whether an ensemble approach will satisfy the condition of realtime application much better than the performance of a single classifier. The results show that using a Support Vector Machine as a single classifier approach achieves the best results when using a group of sensors within a local zone, while the Random Forest classifier as an ensemble classifier approach achieves a higher performance when using sensors that are distributed across all zones inside the environment. The results lead us to the conclusion that dividing the environment into smaller zones assures the best performance of machine learning algorithms which is represented by the combination of maximum accuracy with a minimum time response for the prediction process.
Bicyclic diazasugars 2. Synthesis and structures of L-arabinose and D-ribose analogues

Abstract Bicyclic diazasugar analogues of L-arabinose and D-ribose have been prepared and characterized by x-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy. The crystalline arabinose analogue is the β-anomer in the ring-flipped 1C4 conformation (7), but in D2O solution this is a minor component with the major being the α-anomer in the 4C1 conformation (6). The crystalline ribose analogue is the β-anomer in the 4C1 conformation (10) which is also the major component in D2O solution and is accompanied by a minor form which is probably the α-anomer in the ring-flipped 1C4 conformation (11).
Adaptive Modelling of Attentiveness to Messaging: A Hybrid Approach

Identifying instances when a user will not able to attend to an incoming message and constructing an auto-response with relevant contextual information may help reduce social pressures to immediately respond that many users face. Mobile messaging behavior often varies from one person to another. As a result, compared to a generic model considering profiles of several users, a personalized model can capture a user's messaging behavior more accurately to predict their inattentive states. However, creating accurate personalized models requires a non-trivial amount of individual data, which is often not available for new users. In this work, we investigate a weighted hybrid approach to model users' attention to messaging. Through dynamic performance-based weighting, we combine the predictions of three types of models, a general model, a group model and a personalized model to create an approach which can work through the lack of initial data while adapting to the user's behavior. We present the details of our modeling approach and the evaluation of the model with over three weeks of data from 274 users. Our results highlight the value of hybrid weighted modeling to predict when a user cannot attend to their messages.
Heterochiral Nucleic Acid Circuits.

The programmability of DNA/RNA-based molecular circuits provides numerous opportunities in the field of synthetic biology. However, the stability of nucleic acids remains a major concern when performing complex computations in biological environments. Our solution to this problem is l-(deoxy)ribose nucleic acids (l-DNA/RNA), which are mirror images (i.e. enantiomers) of natural d-nucleotides. l-oligonucleotides have the same physical and chemical properties as their natural counterparts, yet they are completely invisible to the stereospecific environment of biology. We recently reported a novel strand-displacement methodology for transferring sequence information between oligonucleotide enantiomers (which are incapable of base pairing with each other), enabling bio-orthogonal l-DNA/RNA circuits to be easily interfaced with living systems. In this perspective, we summarize these so-called ‘heterochiral’ circuits, provide a viewpoint on their potential applications in synthetic biology, and discuss key problems that must be solved before achieving the ultimate goal of the engineering complex and reliable functionality.
The Existentialist Legacy: Sisyphean Struggles in Albert Camus’ La Peste and Günter Grass’s Die Rättin

In the course of his career, Gunter Grass repeatedly invoked the works of Albert Camus, above all the 1942 essay “Le Mythe de Sisyphe” (“Der Mythos von Sisyphos”). This article examines Camus’ infl...
Cannabis use for symptom relief in multiple sclerosis: A cross-sectional survey of webinar attendees in the US and Canada.

Abstract Background With the expansion of medical and recreational legalization of cannabis, there is growing interest in cannabis use by people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Research supports that cannabis relieves MS-related pain and spasticity, two common symptoms of MS. However, there is limited information available about cannabis use in people with MS across the United States and Canada. Methods 1,015 people with MS in the US and Canada participated in an informational webinar on cannabis for the control of MS symptoms. Attendees were presented with three questions about their use of cannabis for MS symptoms and their knowledge of the medical legality of cannabis in their state. Demographics and MS characteristics were obtained from webinar registration. The legality of cannabis (not legal, legal for medical use only, and legal for recreational and medical use) and the number of years since medical legalization at the time of this webinar were determined for all states. Using logistic regression, we analyzed associations between individual characteristics (demographics, disease severity and legal status), cannabis use, and knowledge of legality. Results Of the 1,015 webinar registrants, 54% (n = 548) answered the question, “Have you used marijuana in the past year to help control your MS symptoms?” and were included in the analyses. Statistically significant associations were seen between cannabis use and local legal status of cannabis (recreational vs. not legal: OR 4.55, 95% CI: [1.70–12.14], p = 0.002), years since medical legalization of cannabis (for each year since legalization: OR 1.06, 95% CI: [1.02 – 1.10], p = 0.004), disease severity (severe vs. mild disability: OR 3.41, 95% CI: [1.23 – 9.46] p = 0.018) and gender (male vs. female: OR 2.33, 95% CI: [1.10–4.94], p = 0.027). Accuracy of knowledge of local cannabis legality was significantly associated with cannabis use in the past year (users vs. non-users: OR 2.52, p = 0.014), local legal status of cannabis (medical only vs. not legal: OR 0.30, p = 0.001; recreational vs. not legal: OR 4.98, p = 0.039), years since legalization of cannabis (for each increased year since legalization: OR 1.15, p Conclusions This study supports that cannabis use for MS symptoms is more common in states where cannabis laws are more permissive and where cannabis has been legal for longer, in those with more severe MS, and in men. Accurate knowledge of local cannabis legality is more common in those who report using cannabis for their MS in the past year. Those living in states where cannabis is legal for medical use only are less likely to be aware of legal status than those in either recreationally-legal or non-legal states, but awareness of legal status increases with time since medical legalization. Canadians are less likely than Americans to be accurate in their perception of the legal status of cannabis.
Fluctuations in intracranial pressure can be estimated non-invasively using near-infrared spectroscopy in non-human primates:

Intracranial pressure (ICP) is typically measured invasively through a sensor placed inside the brain or a needle inserted into the spinal canal, limiting the patient population on which this assessment can be performed. Currently, non-invasive methods are limited due to lack of sensitivity and thus only apply to extreme cases of increased ICP, instead of use in general clinical practice. We demonstrate a novel application for near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to accurately estimate ICP changes over time. Using a non-human primate (Rhesus Macaque) model, we collected optical data while we induced ICP oscillations at multiple ICP levels obtained by manipulating the height of a fluid column connected via a catheter to the lateral ventricle. Hemodynamic responses to ICP changes were measured at the occipital pole and compared to changes detected by a conventional intraparenchymal ICP probe. We demonstrate that hemoglobin concentrations are highly correlated with induced ICP oscillations and that this response is frequency dependent. We translated the NIRS data into non-invasive ICP measurements via a fitted non-parametric transfer function, demonstrating a match in both magnitude and time alignment with an invasively measured reference. Our results demonstrate that NIRS has the potential for non-invasive ICP monitoring.
Experience Matters: The Effects of Hypothetical versus Experiential Delays and Magnitudes on Impulsive Choice in Delay Discounting Tasks

Impulsive choice in humans is typically measured using hypothetical delays and rewards. In two experiments, we determined how experiencing the delay and/or the reward affected impulsive choice behavior. Participants chose between two amounts of real or hypothetical candy (M&Ms) after a real or hypothetical delay (5-30 s), where choosing the shorter delay was the impulsive choice. Experiment 1 compared choice behavior on a real-delay, real-reward (RD/RR) task where participants received M&Ms after experiencing the delays versus a real-delay, hypothetical-reward (RD/HR) task where participants accumulated hypothetical M&Ms after experiencing the delays. Experiment 2 compared the RD/HR task and a hypothetical-delay, hypothetical-reward (HD/HR) task where participants accumulated hypothetical M&Ms after hypothetical delays. The results indicated that choices did not differ between real and hypothetical M&Ms (Experiment 1), and participants were less sensitive to delay and more larger-later (LL)-preferring with hypothetical delays compared to real delays (Experiment 2). Experiencing delays to reward may be important for modeling real-world impulsive choices where delays are typically experienced. These novel experiential impulsive choice tasks may improve translational methods for comparison with animal models and may be improved procedures for predicting real-life choice behavior in humans.
Toxic Safety: Flame Retardants, Chemical Controversies, and Environmental Health

In Toxic Safety, sociologist Alissa Cordner uses flame retardants to explore how different stakeholders formulate environmental health risks and spin the science to support their political goals. S...
EFFECT OF SGLT2 INHIBITORS ON LIPID PARAMETERS: A META-ANALYSIS OF 30 RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIALS AND 10,246 PATIENTS

SGLT2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) reduce glycemia. However, their effects on lipid parameters remain unclear because available studies offer discordant results and have small sample sizes. We performed meta-analysis to reliably assess the effects of SGLT2i on lipids We conducted a systematic review and
Vaccine Design Informed by Virus-Induced Immunity

When an individual is exposed to a viral pathogen for the first time, the adaptive immune system is naive and cannot prevent virus replication. The consequence may be severe disease. At the same time, the host may rapidly generate a pathogen-specific immune response that will prevent disease if the virus is encountered again. Parvovirus B19 provides one such example. Children with sickle cell disease can experience life-threatening transient aplastic crisis when first exposed to parvovirus B19, but an effective immune response confers lifelong protection. We briefly examine the induction and benefits of virus-induced immunity. We focus on three human viruses for which there are no licensed vaccines (respiratory syncytial virus, human immunodeficiency virus type 1, and parvovirus B19) and consider how virus-induced immunity may inform successful vaccine design.
The role of the Rb/E2F1 tumor suppressor pathway in nucleotide excision repair

818 The retinoblastoma (Rb)/E2F1 tumor suppressor pathway plays a major role in the regulation of mammalian cell cycle progression and cell proliferation. Deregulation of this pathway is frequently regarded as a fundamental characteristic of tumorigenesis in human cancer. The Rb protein, along with closely related proteins p107 and p130, exerts its anti-proliferative effects by binding to the E2F family of transcription factors known to regulate essential genes throughout the cell cycle. To determine if deregulation of the Rb/E2F1 pathway can affect nucleotide excision repair (NER), we assayed the ability of wildtype (WT) and various Rb-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) to repair DNA lesions following UV-C irradiation. Rb-/-;p107-/-;p130-/- triple knockout (TKO) MEFs repaired both cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) and 6-4 photoproducts (6-4PPs) at higher efficiency than did WT MEFs, while Rb-/- single mutant MEFs and p107-/-;p130-/- double mutant MEFs exhibited intermediate repair phenotypes. Given that DNA lesion recognition is the rate-limiting step in NER, we examined the expression of the Damaged DNA Binding 2 (DDB2) gene by real time RT-PCR and showed a 2.5-fold and 3.8-fold increase in DDB2 transcript levels in Rb-/- and Rb TKO MEFs, respectively. Based on recent evidence indicating that E2F1 is a mediator of DNA damage response and a putative regulator of DNA repair genes, we assayed the ability of E2F1-deficient cells to repair UV-induced DNA lesions. We demonstrated that E2F1-/- MEFs are impaired for the removal CPDs and 6-4PPs by 25-30%. Furthermore, WT MEFs induced a higher expression of DDB2 transcript level than did E2F1-/- MEFs at 16 and 24 hours following UV-C irradiation. This data is consistent with the recent finding that the DDB2 gene contains a putative E2F binding site in its promoter. Experiments are underway to determine if overexpression of DDB2 in E2F1-/- MEFs can partially or completely restore NER. Our study here suggests a regulatory role of the Rb/E2F1 tumor suppressor pathway in DNA damage repair.
Klinefelter's Syndrome with Maternal Uniparental Disomy X, Interstitial Xp22.31 Deletion, X-linked Ichthyosis, and Severe Central Nervous System Regression

We presented in this article a patient with Klinefelter syndrome (KS) (47,XXY) who had maternal nondisjunction and uniparental disomy of the X chromosome with regions of heterodisomy and isodisomy, an interstitial Xp22.31 deletion of both X chromosomes, and other problems. His mother also possesses the same Xp22.31 deletion. The patient presented with status epilepticus and stroke, followed by severe brain atrophy and developmental regression. His unusual clinical and cytogenetic findings apparently have not been reported with either KS or Xp22.31 deletions. Based on the patient's available genetic and biochemical information, we cannot satisfactorily explain his seizures, strokes, or catastrophic brain regression.
IWRA 50th anniversary interview

1. When did you first become a member of IWRA?I joined IWRA in 1987 after completing my graduate PhD programme and starting my teaching at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.2. What responsibi...
Quantifying the effective mobilized RAP content during hot in-place recycling techniques

Abstract The utilization of in-place recycling techniques is capable of consuming 100% reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP). Hot in-place recycling (HIR) is one of the promising techniques to rehabilitate the pavements suffering from minor cracking issues through heat scarification, additive injecting, mechanical mixing, and compacting. However, the main concern of using 100% RAP in HIR remains as how much RAP can be activated and mobilized to coat the aggregates. In this study, a new approach named “ignition oven method”was developed to quantify the effective mobilized RAP content during HIR procedures by targeting directly into the ignition loss of the RAP binder. Various factors were considered including temperatures, heating methods, as well as the types and dosage of the additives. The commonly used Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) method was also adopted to validate the effective mobilized RAP content quantified by the ignition oven method. The results demonstrated that the ignition oven method is an effective tool for quantifying the effective mobilized RAP content, which is comparable to the FTIR methods. The temperatures and dosage of additives are critical in improving the mobilization of RAP and should be optimized to achieve a sustainable pavement.
Biologically optimized schedule of gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel regimen in metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

TPS4168Background: Metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma has a poor prognosis, and improvements in therapy have been challenging. Alongside efforts in developing novel agents, there is a need to opt...
Pro-IL-18 secreted by keratinocytes detects the group A streptococcal protease SpeB

Abstract Group A Streptococcus (GAS, Streptococcus pyogenes) is a professional human pathogen that commonly infects the skin. Keratinocytes are one of the first cells to contact GAS, and by inducing inflammation, they can initiate the earliest immune responses to pathogen invasion. Here, we characterized the proinflammatory cytokine repertoire produced by primary human keratinocytes and surrogate cell lines commonly used in vitro. Infection induces several cytokines and chemokines, but keratinocytes constitutively secrete IL-18 in a form that is inert (pro-IL-18) and lacks proinflammatory activity. Canonically, IL-18 activation and secretion are coupled through a single proteolytic event that is regulated intracellularly by the inflammasome protease caspase-1 in myeloid cells. The pool of extracellular pro-IL-18 generated by keratinocytes is poised to sense extracellular proteases and is directly processed into a mature active form by SpeB, a secreted GAS protease that is a critical virulent factor during skin infection. This mechanism contributes to the proinflammatory response against GAS, resulting in T cell activation and the secretion of IFN-γ that restrict GAS growth. Other major bacterial pathogens and microbiota of this skin did not have significant IL-18-maturing ability. Taken together, these results suggest keratinocyte-secreted IL-18 is a sentinel that sounds an early alarm that is highly sensitive to GAS, yet tolerant to non-invasive members of the microbiota.
Postnatal administration of systemic steroids increases severity of retinopathy in premature infants

Abstract Background Postnatal systemic steroids are known to increase the risk of developing retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). However, whether the total dosage and type of postnatal systemic steroids are related to the development and severity of ROP in premature infants remains unclear. This study was conducted to identify the risk factors for ROP and investigate the relationship between photocoagulation (PC)-demanding severe ROP and the postnatal dosage of any type of systemic steroids. Methods A total of 75 infants born at Results Compared with infants in the non-PC group, PC-treated infants had younger gestational age, longer mechanical ventilation periods, and higher dosage of systemic steroids and dexamethasone. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed total dosage of systemic steroids as the only risk factor for PC-demanding severe ROP. Based on receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, a cutoff value of 8.95 mg/kg of postnatal systemic steroid administration was identified as a useful marker to predict PC-demanding severe ROP. Conclusions By focusing on the method of systemic steroid administration and avoiding excessive doses for infants born at
Nicotine modulation of fear memories and anxiety: Implications for learning and anxiety disorders

Anxiety disorders are a group of crippling mental diseases affecting millions of Americans with a 30% lifetime prevalence and costs associated with healthcare of $42.3 billion. While anxiety disorders show high levels of co-morbidity with smoking (45.3% vs. 22.5% in healthy individuals), they are also more common among the smoking population (22% vs. 11.1% in the non-smoking population). Moreover, there is clear evidence that smoking modulates symptom severity in patients with anxiety disorders. In order to better understand this relationship, several animal paradigms are used to model several key symptoms of anxiety disorders; these include fear conditioning and measures of anxiety. Studies clearly demonstrate that nicotine mediates acquisition and extinction of fear as well as anxiety through the modulation of specific subtypes of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in brain regions involved in emotion processing such as the hippocampus. However, the direction of nicotine's effects on these behaviors is determined by several factors that include the length of administration, hippocampus-dependency of the fear learning task, and source of anxiety (novelty-driven vs. social anxiety). Overall, the studies reviewed here suggest that nicotine alters behaviors related to fear and anxiety and that nicotine contributes to the development, maintenance, and reoccurrence of anxiety disorders.
Mechanisms of electromigration under AC and pulsed-DC stress in Cu/low-k dual damascene interconnects

We examine electromigration mass transport under pulsed-DC (PDC) and AC conditions by measuring the Cu drift velocity. We observed drift velocities that are constant as a function of duty ratio, confirm that there is no recovery of electromigration damage during current reversal, or off-cycles. Failure time distributions under PDC conditions can be accurately modeled by a void growth mechanism with an effective current density given by the average of the waveform.
Gas chromatographic analysis of concentrations of amino acids in amniotic fluid from early, middle, and late periods of human gestation

Abstract Sixty-one amniotic fluid samples of 14 to 42 weeks' gestation were analyzed for amino acid concentrations by gas chromatography of the n-propyl-N-acetyl derivatives. The amino acids were eluted from short Dowex-50 columns, then propylated and acetylated on an automated derivatizer. The mean concentrations of almost all amino acids declined significantly with increasing gestational age, but serine levels tended to increase. Tryptophan levels were low compared to those of the other measured amino acids. The ratios of serine/phenylalanine and serine/proline in amniotic fluid showed some promise of being useful indicators of gestational age, but further investigation is necessary to confirm if they have substantial usefulness in this regard. The current report documents the feasibility of gas chromatographic analysis of amino acids in biological fluids with the use of an automated, commercially available derivatizer. The method has certain technical advantages and disadvantages in comparison with ion-exchange chromatography, the usual tool for quantitative amino acid analysis; these positive and negative features are briefly discussed.
Corporate Culture in the Nonprofit Sector: A Comparison of Fringe Benefits with the For-profit Sector

One explanation that may be given for why nonprofit organizations pay lower wages than do other organizations is that nonprofits are more pleasant places to work. Indeed, some authors have proposed that nonprofit organizations should make an effort to promote a working environment that reflects the beliefs of the organization. This paper uses several proxies for whether an organization is a pleasant place in which to work, and tests for whether nonprofits are more likely to offer such pleasant working conditions. Analysis shows that nonprofits are not more likely to offer these conditions in many instances.
Comment on “The complete nucleotide sequence and genome organization of pea streak virus (genus Carlavirus)”

It has come to my attention that the recently published paper by Li Su et al., ‘‘The complete nucleotide sequence and genome organization of pea streak virus (genus Carlavirus)’’ claims that the authors determined ‘‘the first complete genome sequence of PeSV’’ (Arch Virol DOI 10. 1007/s00705-015-2467-2; submitted March 13th, accepted May 23rd, 2015 – as seen in the online version of the paper published on June 21, 2015). However, the complete genomic sequence of the virus (Alfalfa latent virus, a strain of PeSV) was freely available from GenBank since March 1th, 2015 which was two weeks before Li et al. submitted their manuscript to Archives of Virology and almost four months before it was published (please see history of the submission here: http:// www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/KP784454.2?report= girevhist. Since Li Su et al studied phylogeny of the members of the genus Carlavirus, it is likely that the group worked extensively with GenBank data. It is therefore hardly possible that the available complete genome sequence of the virus escaped their attention. I also refer you to the publication in Genome Announcements freely available to the public since April 16, 2015 (Nemchinov LG, Shao J, Postnikova OA. Complete Genome Sequence of the Alfalfa latent virus. Genome Announc. 2015 Apr 16;3(2). pii: e00250-15. doi:10.1128/genomeA.00250-15). This publication was available to the authors, the Editor assigned to the Li Su et al article, and the Reviewers, while the manuscript was under review in Archives of Virology. Please also note that Genome Announcements will not consider manuscripts for publication ‘‘until the availability of the sequence(s) in GenBank/ENA/DDBJ has been verified’’. It appears that it might have been a personal decision of the authors of the Li Su et al paper to ignore the already available genome sequence of the virus belonging to the same species and claim priority rather than adjust their data accordingly and give credit to their colleagues. The obvious facts would not change, regardless of Li Su et al’s explanation and justification of this incident. What is important, however, is to assure that in the future Dr. Xiang and his co-authors will not treat other colleagues’ work in the same way. It is critical for the scientific community that research is built upon principles of mutual respect, honesty, and responsibility.
The Writs of Habeas Corpus and Amparo: A Comparison of Remedies Against the Menaces of State Power

The writs of habeas corpus and amparo are known remedies against the arbitrary exercise of State power, particularly in cases of deprivation of liberty. While they substantially intersect, they also substantially differ. In fact in the Philippines, an activist Supreme Court crafted the writ of amparo as a remedy to address cases of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances or threats thereof. The Arroyo regime presided over a political climate which was marked by a spate of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances which the Great Writ - as the writ of habeas corpus is traditionally known - could not curb. This paper compares and contrasts the two remedies and looks at actual cases decided by the Philippine Supreme Court to show whether or not the remedies are effective.
The Histone Methyltransferase MMSET Regulates Class Switch Recombination

Wolf–Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS) is a genetic disease with characteristic facial features and developmental disorders. Of interest, loss of the MMSET gene (also known as WHSC1) is considered to be responsible for the core phenotypes of this disease. Patients with WHS also display Ab deficiency, although the underlying cause of this deficiency is unclear. Recent studies suggest that the histone methyltransferase activity of MMSET plays an important role in the DNA damage response by facilitating the recruitment of 53BP1 to sites of DNA damage. We hypothesize that MMSET also regulates class switch recombination (CSR) through its effect on 53BP1. In this study, we show that MMSET indeed plays an important role in CSR through its histone methyltransferase activity. Knocking down MMSET expression impaired 53BP1 recruitment as well as the germline transcription of the Igh switch regions, resulting in defective CSR but no effect on cell growth and viability. These results suggest that defective CSR caused by MMSET deficiency could be a cause of Ab deficiency in WHS patients.
Cutting Edge: CD28 Controls Dominant Regulatory T Cell Activity during Active Immunization

Ligation of CD28 during Ag recognition plays an important role in the generation of effective T cell responses. However, its peripheral control of regulatory T cell function remains obscure. In this study, we show that naive wild-type or CD28−/− CD4+CD25− T cells exposed to peptide in vivo develop regulatory activity that suppresses the response of adoptively transferred naive T cells to a subsequent immunogenic challenge. We find that although CD28 is engaged during the initial peptide-priming event and is essential to sustain T cell survival, it is not sufficient to prevent the dominance of regulatory T cell function. Immunization with adjuvant abrogates regulatory dominance, reducing overall Foxp3 expression in a CD28-dependent manner. We conclude that CD28 licenses active immunization by regulating Ag-induced immunoregulation.
Palm and partially hydrogenated soybean oils adversely alter lipoprotein profiles compared with soybean and canola oils in moderately hyperlipidemic subjects

BACKGROUND Partially hydrogenated fat has an unfavorable effect on cardiovascular disease risk. Palm oil is a potential substitute because of favorable physical characteristics. OBJECTIVE We assessed the effect of palm oil on lipoprotein profiles compared with the effects of both partially hydrogenated fat and oils high in monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fatty acids. DESIGN Fifteen volunteers aged > or =50 y with LDL cholesterol > or =130 mg/dL were provided with food for each of 4 diets (35 d/phase) varying in type of fat (partially hydrogenated soybean, soybean, palm, or canola; two-thirds fat, 20% of energy). Plasma fatty acid profiles, lipids, lipoproteins, apolipoprotein A-I, apolipoprotein B, lipoprotein(a), glucose, insulin, HDL subfractions, and indicators of lipoprotein metabolism (HDL-cholesterol fractional esterification rate, cholesteryl ester transfer protein, phospholipid transfer protein, and paraoxonase activities) were measured at the end of each phase. RESULTS Plasma fatty acid profiles reflected the main source of dietary fat. Partially hydrogenated soybean and palm oils resulted in higher LDL-cholesterol concentrations than did soybean (12% and 14%, respectively; P < 0.05) and canola (16% and 18%; P < 0.05) oils. Apolipoprotein B (P < 0.05) and A-I (P < 0.05) concentrations mirrored the pattern of LDL- and HDL-cholesterol concentrations, respectively. No significant effect on the total-to-HDL cholesterol ratio was observed for palm oil compared with the other dietary fats. HDL3 cholesterol was higher after palm oil than after partially hydrogenated and soybean oils (P < 0.05). Differences in measures of glucose and HDL intravascular processing attributable to dietary fat were small. CONCLUSION Palm and partially hydrogenated soybean oils, compared with soybean and canola oils, adversely altered the lipoprotein profile in moderately hyperlipidemic subjects without significantly affecting HDL intravascular processing markers.
MO‐B‐303A‐01: Digital Mammography Update: Design and Characteristics of Current Systems

Full Field Digital Mammography (FFDM) systems are fast becoming popular and replacing conventional film‐screen mammographysystems. FFDM systems use a digital detector instead of screen‐film to capture the image of the breast. Several FFDM systems based on different digital detector design and materials are currently available. Some systems are characterized as direct conversion detectors and some are based on indirect conversion process. The digital detectors can be characterized by image quality metrics such as detector quantum efficiency (DQE) and modulation transfer function(MTF). In this lecture, the physics and technology of the digital detectors used in FFDM will be discussed as well as the advantages and applications arising due to the availability of these systems will be presented. The most recent commercially available systems will also be discussed. Educational Objectives: 1. Understand the physics of digital detector technology. 2. Understand the image quality metrics such as DQE and MTFRecognize that vendors use varying detector technology in FFDM systems. 3. Appreciate the advantages and disadvantages of digital mammographysystems.
Vanadium Oxide Thin Films Alloyed with Ti, Zr, Nb, and Mo for Uncooled Infrared Imaging Applications

Microbolometer-grade vanadium oxide (VOx) thin films with 1.3 < x < 2.0 were prepared by pulsed direct-current (DC) sputtering using substrate bias in a controlled oxygen and argon environment. These films were systematically alloyed with Ti, Nb, Mo, and Zr using a second gun and radiofrequency (RF) reactive co-sputtering to probe the effects of the transition metals on the film charge transport characteristics. The results reveal that the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) and resistivity are unexpectedly similar for alloyed and unalloyed films up to alloy compositions in the ∼20 at.% range. Analysis of the film structures for the case of the 17% Nb-alloyed film by glancing-angle x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy shows that the microstructure remains even with the addition of high concentrations of alloy metal, demonstrating the robust character of the VOx films to maintain favorable electrical transport properties for bolometer applications. Postdeposition thermal annealing of the alloyed VOx films further reveals improvement of electrical properties compared with unalloyed films, indicating a direction for further improvements in the materials.
Filtering Diversity: A Global Corporation Struggles With Race, Class, and Gender in Employment Policy

The spread of corporate diversity programs in the past decade has meant renewed attention to the rhetoric of fairness in employment relations. A number of organizational dynamics can derail this project, however, especially at the transnational level. In the author's case studies of a U.S. high-tech firm (AmCo) and its subsidiary in India (TransCo), this happens through a filtering process, in which managers disassemble broad themes of diversity and repackage them in more narrow and exclusive terms. In the United States, the discourse of gender is more legitimate, whereas in India, it is ethnicity/race. These discourses of diversity have both positive and negative implications. They are used by managers to divert attention from overt forms of stratification and avoid disruptions in employee relations, yet they also generate a mutual critique between the two firms that can help to overcome the filtering process and achieve a more integrated understanding of discrimination.
Knee pain reduces joint space width in conventional standing anteroposterior radiographs of osteoarthritic knees

Objective A suspected, but heretofore undemonstrated, limitation of the conventional weight-bearing anteroposterior (AP) knee radiograph, in which the joint is imaged in extension, for studies of progression of osteoarthritis (OA) is that changes in knee pain may affect extension, thereby altering the apparent thickness of the articular cartilage. The present study was undertaken to examine the effect of changes in knee pain of varying magnitudes on radiographic joint space width (JSW) in the weight-bearing extended and the semiflexed AP views, in which radioanatomic positioning of the knee was carefully standardized by fluoroscopy. Methods Fifteen patients with knee OA underwent a washout of their analgesic/nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) agents (duration 5 half-lives), after which standing AP and semiflexed AP knee radiographs of both knees were obtained. Examinations were repeated 1–12 weeks later (median 4.5 weeks, mean 6.0 weeks), after resumption of analgesic/NSAID therapy. Knee pain was measured with the pain subscale of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) Index (Likert scale). JSW was measured with a pair of calipers and a magnifying lens. Mixed model analyses of variance were used to test the significance of changes in pain and JSW within and between 2 groups of knees with mild-to-moderate radiographic severity of OA: (a) “flaring knees,” in which the patient rated standing knee pain as severe or extreme after the washout and in which pain decreased to any degree after resumption of analgesics and/or NSAIDs (n = 12) and (b) “nonflaring knees,” in which standing knee pain was absent, mild, or moderate after the washout or did not decrease after resumption of treatment (n = 15). Results After reinstitution of treatment, WOMAC pain scores decreased significantly in both flaring and nonflaring knees (−44%; P < 0.0001 and −18%; P < 0.01, respectively). After adjustment for the within-subject correlation between knees, mean JSW (±SEM) in the extended view of the flaring OA knee increased significantly from the first to second examination (0.20 ± 0.06 mm; P = 0.005). In contrast, the change in adjusted mean JSW in the extended view of the nonflaring OA knee was negligible (−0.04 ± 0.04 mm) and significantly smaller than that observed in flaring knees (P < 0.01). Mean JSW in the semiflexed AP view was unaffected by the severity or responsiveness of standing knee pain in flaring and nonflaring OA knees. Conclusion JSW in weight-bearing extended-view radiographs of highly symptomatic OA knees can be altered significantly by changes in joint pain. In clinical trials and in epidemiologic studies of OA progression that use this radiographic technique, longitudinal variations in pain may confound changes in the apparent thickness of the articular cartilage.
An ESR study of nonenzymatic reactions of nitroso compounds with biological reducing agents.

The nonenzymatic reduction of nitrosobenzene (1), 2-nitroso-l-naphthol (II) and 2-nitroso-l-naphthol-4-sulfonic acid (III) with reducing agents such as NADPH, L-cysteine and N-acetyl-L-cysteine led to the formation of the corresponding hydronitroxide radicals, as confirmed with ESR spectroscopy. In addition to these radicals, a novel hydronitroxide radical, which was conjugated with GSH at the 4-position, was observed in the reaction of II or III with GSH. The formation of a hydronitroxide conjugated with GSH still retains the radical structure with its related redox chemistry. In this case, the formation of a GSH conjugate does not lead to the formation of chemically less reactive species.
Cassava leaf protein

Crude protein content of the leaf of cultivars ofManihot esculenta is very high. There are no analyses of nutritionally essential ami no acids, but certain evidence indicates that cassava leaf may be of value in protein-rich diets.
Procedural and Legal Motivations to Correct for Perceived Judicial Biases

The question of whether procedural or legal concerns per se can motivate corrections of jurors' judgments when in conflict with accuracy concerns was examined. Mock jury members were exposed to diagnostic incriminating evidence that was obtained in either serious or mild violation of due process and that was ruled as admissible or inadmissible. When the evidence was obtained in serious violation of due process, jurors corrected for it whether or not it was ruled as inadmissible, consistent with a personal concern with procedural justice. When the evidence was obtained in mild violation of due process, jurors corrected for the evidence when it was inadmissible but not when it was admissible, consistent with a legal motivation. We suggest that corrections made in a social role (i.e., juror) can be motivated by both procedural and legal concerns, even when they conflict with perceived accuracy.
Mitotic inhibition of ICR 2A frog cells exposed to 265-313 nm monochromatic ultraviolet wavelengths and photoreactivating light.

SummaryExposure of ICR 2A frog cells to 265, 289, 302 or 313 nm U.V. radiation caused a decrease in the MI of the irradiated cells in a fluence-dependent fashion. Treatment of cells with PRL immediately after U.V.-irradiation resulted in a smaller decrease in the MI, demonstrating that pyrimidine dimers played a role in the mitotic inhibition induced by these U.V. wavelengths. The effect of PRL on 313 nm-irradiated cells was much smaller than for the other wavelengths tested, indicating that non-dimer photoproducts were of importance in the mitotic inhibition induced by this U.V. wavelength.
Chemical weapons abandoned by the Imperial Japanese Army in Japan and China at the end of World War II

The Imperial Japanese Army possessed different types of chemical weapons and used them frequently in China during World War II (WWII). At the end of WWII, Japan abandoned all the chemical weapons by dumping them into the sea and burying them underground. It has been 65 years since the end of WWII. During this time, many of the containers holding the weapons have rotted and the chemical agents leaked out causing multiple casualties especially in China. In this review, the brief history of Japanese chemical weapons is discussed along with the variety of chemical weapons the Japanese Army possessed during WWII. Finally, the destruction caused by the leftover chemical weapons, especially in China, is described.
Quantitative solid state NMR analysis of residues from acid hydrolysis of loblolly pine wood.

Abstract The composition of solid residues from hydrolysis reactions of loblolly pine wood with dilute mineral acids is analyzed by 13 C Cross Polarization Magic Angle Spinning (CP MAS) NMR spectroscopy. Using this method, the carbohydrate and lignin fractions are quantified in less than 3 h as compared to over a day using wet chemical methods. In addition to the quantitative information, 13 C CP MAS NMR spectroscopy provides information on the formation of additional extractives and pseudo lignin from the carbohydrates. Being a non-destructive technique, NMR spectroscopy provides unambiguous evidence of the presence of side reactions and products, which is a clear advantage over the wet chemical analytical methods. Quantitative results from NMR spectroscopy and proximate analysis are compared for the residues from hydrolysis of loblolly pine wood under 13 different conditions; samples were treated either at 150 °C or 200 °C in the presence of various acids (HCl, H 2 SO 4 , H 3 PO 4 , HNO 3 and TFA) or water. The lignin content determined by both methods differed on averaged by 2.9 wt% resulting in a standard deviation of 3.5 wt%. It is shown that solid degradation products are formed from saccharide precursors under harsh reaction conditions. These degradation reactions limit the total possible yield of monosaccharides from any subsequent reaction.