cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of an automated mid-scale parallel protein purification system for antibody purification and affinity chromatography

Protein purification is often a bottleneck during protein generation for large molecule drug discovery. Therapeutic antibody campaigns typically require the purification of hundreds of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) during the hybridoma process and lead optimization. With the increase in high-throughput cloning, faster DNA sequencing, and the use of parallel protein expression systems, a need for high-throughput purification approaches has evolved, particularly in the midsize range between 20 ml and 100 ml. To address this we modified a four channel Gilson solid phase extraction system (referred to as MG-SPE) with switching valves and sample holding loops to be able to perform standard affinity purification using commercially available columns and micro-titer format deep well blocks. By running 4 samples in parallel, the MG-SPE has the capacity to purify up to 24 samples of greater than 50 ml each using a single-step affinity purification protocol or a two-step protocol consisting of affinity chromatography followed by desalting/buffer exchange overnight (∼12 h run time). Our evaluation of affinity purification using mAbs and Fc-fusion proteins from mammalian cell supernatants demonstrates that the MG-SPE compared favorably with industry standard systems for both protein quality and yield. Overall the system is simple to operate and fills a void in purification processes where a simple, efficient, automated system is needed for affinity purification of midsize research samples.
Design, Synthesis and Incorporation in Peptides of a β-Turn Mimetic

Designing peptides and proteins that fold into predetermined secondary structures is a challenging biochemical problem. α-Helix, β-ribbon and turns are landmark protein secondary structures. While major advances have been made in the design of α-heli-ces, designing water-soluble β-ribbon structures and turns are under active investigation. Several unnatural turn structures have been designed for incorporation into peptides to enhance their folding to yield β-ribbon structures [1–5]. Most of these models involve complex ring systems, which require multistep synthesis. Using model building and computer graphics, we designed a simple β-turn mimic (Figure 1) using three simple building blocks, β-alanine, 3-amino-5-nitrobenzoic acid and sarcosine. Our model forms a nice hydrophobic interior while assuming a β-turn structure. We reasoned this to be quite favorable in aqueous solution.
THE t-TEST

This chapter reviews the t -test. Random variables are a random sample if they are independent and identically distributed random variables. A random variable is normally distributed with mean and positive variance if the random variable has the probability density function. The key to understand the theory behind the t -test is a geometric understanding. The natural coordinate system of the observations is not the best coordinate system for understanding the distribution theory of a random vector; therefore, one transform to an orthonormal coordinate system based on the geometry of the problem at hand. The chapter discusses useful orthonormal coordinate systems, which are also known as useful orthogonal linear transformations.
A Prognostic Role for Absolute Lymphocyte Counts in Pediatric Non- Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

A role for the immune system during treatment for cancer therapy has not been widely established. However, we have previously reported that lymphocyte counts during chemotherapy independently predict outcome in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute myelogenous leukemia, and Ewing’s sarcoma. Others have reported similar observations in adults with AML, follicular lymphoma and diffuse large B cell lymphoma. This led us to evaluate the prognostic ability of lymphocyte counts in pediatric patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). Seventy-six consecutive patients with de novo NHL, age 1–21 years, who were treated at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center were reviewed. We analyzed absolute lymphocyte counts (ALC) at diagnosis and days 7, 15, 21 and 28 of induction chemotherapy. We found that similar to children with ALL, lymphocyte counts in young patients with NHL during induction chemotherapy are independently prognostic for both overall survival and relapse-free survival. For example, children with low ALC on day 7 (ALC-7) of induction had poor RFS and OS. Specifically, patients with ALC-7 600 cells/mcL (HR=4.4, p=0.003). Strikingly, the 19% (12/63) of children with low ALC on both day 7 and 15 ( 600/mcL (HR=8, p=0.0004). This effect was so dramatic that when ALC-7 of treatment was evaluated as a continuous variable, each cell/mcL increase in ALC was protective for OS decreasing the hazard ratio by 0.002 (p=0.04–0.05). This predicts that an increased ALC of only 250 cells/mcL would yield an HR of 0.5. Importantly, in multivariate analysis with disease stage (I+II versus III+IV), ALC-7 These data reveal that low lymphocyte counts prior to and during induction chemotherapy in children with NHL are significant independent predictors of poor prognosis. These findings support a potential role for the immune system in the treatment of pediatric NHL which should be explored. Outcome differences of 39% are highly clinically relevant and suggest that ALC during induction should be evaluated prospectively and may contribute to future risk stratification of pediatric NHL.
The role of gynecologists in providing primary care to elderly women

BACKGROUND Federal legislation has recently been proposed to designate obstetrician-gynecologists (OBGs) as primary care physicians. The Institute of Medicine identifies care unrestricted by problem or organ system as an essential characteristic of primary care. We examined the degree to which OBGs in the state of Washington offer this aspect of primary care to their elderly patients by investigating the type and amount of nongynecologic care they provide. METHODS Using 1994 Part B Medicare claims data for Washington residents, we identified visits made by women aged 65 years and older to OBGs (N=10,522) and 9 other types of specialists. Diagnoses were classified as in or out of the domain of care traditionally provided by each specialty. Visit volumes, proportion of out of domain visits, and the frequency of diagnoses were reported. RESULTS Of the patient visits to obstetrician-gynecologists, 12.2% had nongynecologic diagnoses. The median percentage of nongynecologic visits for individual OBGs was 6.7%. Patients who saw OBGs received 15.4% of their overall health care from an OBG; patients who saw family physicians received 42.9% of their total health care from a family physician. CONCLUSIONS In 1994, a small amount of the care that Washington OBGs provided to their elderly patients was for nongynecologic conditions. Studies are needed to evaluate how the practices of OBGs have changed since the 1996 implementation of a primary care requirement in obstetrics-gynecology residencies, and if adopted, how legislation designating OBGs as primary care physicians affects the health care received by elderly women.
THE EMPEROR AS A 'MAN OF GOD': THE IMPACT OF CONSTANTINE THE GREAT'S. Conversion on Roman Ideas of Kingship

De varias maneiras, o primeiro imperador cristao, Constantino I (306-337), indicou as semelhancas que ele via entre si e Sao Paulo. Nessas semelhancas, ele incluiu a sua historia de intervencao divina (a visao da Cruz) e a sua decisao de ser enterrado em meio as marcas para os doze Apostolos. Seu biografo, porem, o Bispo Eusebio de Cesareia, escolhe comparar Constantino, ao inves de Sao Paulo, com Moises, que liderou os israelitas na saida do cativeiro. Focando sobre as diferentes conotacoes de "Homem de Deus" (como Constantino preferiu se definir) e "Amigo de Deus" (termo usado por Eusebio), este artigo sugere que a razao para essas diferencas estava na preocupacao de Eusebio em evitar que Constantino - e por extensao todos os futuros imperadores - se declarasse melhor que os outros bispos cristaos.
Relationships between Poly(ethylene glycol) Modifications on RNA-Spherical Nucleic Acid Conjugates and Cellular Uptake and Circulation Time

Two synthetic approaches that allow one to control PEG content within spherical nucleic acids (SNAs) have been developed. One approach begins with RNA-modified gold nanoparticles followed by a backfill of PEG 2K alkanethiols, and the other involves co-adsorption of the two entities on a gold nanoparticle template. These two methods have been used to explore the role of PEG density on the chemical and biological properties of RNA–SNAs. Such studies show that while increasing the extent of PEGylation within RNA–SNAs extends their blood circulation half-life in mice, it also results in decreased cellular uptake. Modified ELISA assays show that constructs, depending upon RNA and PEG content, have markedly different affinities for class A scavenger receptors, the entities responsible, in part, for cellular internalization of SNAs. In designing SNAs for therapeutic purposes, these competing factors must be considered and appropriately adjusted depending upon the desired use.
Interventions to Reduce Shiga Toxin–Producing Escherichia coli on Beef Carcasses at Slaughter

Abstract Since the major, multistate outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Hamburgers in 1992–93, in which 501 people became ill and three ultimately died of their infection, E. coli O157:H7 and other Shiga toxin–producing E. coli have been a major concern for the beef industry, Federal regulators, and consumers. Hazard analysis and critical control point plans to reduce or eliminate these pathogens have been instituted in many countries, but even with these plans in place, there are still outbreaks of this pathogen traced back to beef. In May 2014, there was a multistate outbreak of illness where 1.8 million pounds of beef products were recalled because of possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7. The most common technologies used to decontaminate beef carcasses range from simple cutting away of visually contaminated portions of the carcass, to carcass steaming, or application of antimicrobials using spray cabinets. This review investigates the current and emerging technologies used in the beef industry to reduce pathogens during processing.
Differential pressure control of 3D printed soft fluidic actuators

Fluidically actuated soft robots show a great promise for operation in sensitive and unknown environments due to their intrinsic compliance. However, most previous designs use either flow control systems that are noisy, inefficient, sensitive to leaks, and cannot achieve differential pressure (i.e. can only apply either positive or negative pressures with respect to atmospheric), or closed volume control systems that are not adaptable and prohibitively expensive. In this paper, we present a modular, low cost volume control system for differential pressure control of soft actuators. We use this system to actuate three-chamber 3D printed soft robotic modules. For this design, we find a 54% increase in achievable blocked force, and a significant increase in actuator workspace when using differential pressure actuation as compared to the use of only pressure or vacuum. The increased workspace allowed the robot to achieve complex tasks such as writing on a screen with a laser pointer or manipulating fragile objects. Furthermore, we demonstrate a self-healing capability of the combined system by using vacuum to actuate ruptured modules which were no longer responsive to positive pressure.
Recreation in American Life. By Reynold Edgar Carlson, Theodore R. Deppe, and Janet R. Maclean. Belmont

(1973). Recreation in American Life. By Reynold Edgar Carlson, Theodore R. Deppe, and Janet R. Maclean. Belmont. Journal of Leisure Research: Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 78-80.
Maternal Obesity and Labor Induction.

Pregnant women who are obese have nearly double the rate of cesarean delivery, and obesity increases the median duration of active labor by up to four hours when labor is induced. The difference in cesarean delivery rate is larger in obese primigravida patients presenting with cervical dilation of less than 1 cm.
THE PUPIL IN MYOTONIC DYSTROPHY.

The pupils of 15 patients with myotonic dystrophy tvere examined with the electronic pupillograph of Loioenstein and Loeioenfeld. They were found to have round, equal, miotic pupils which reacted sluggishly to light and to near vision. The studies showed no defect of the sympathetic pathways. Pupillary fatigue was comparable to the normal. Various locations for a defect causing this combination of pupillary abnormalities are discussed. The midbrain is suggested as the most likely location.
Rocket Classifications, Liquid Propellant Rockets, Engine Selection, and Heat Transfer

In a broad sense, propulsion is the act of changing the motion of a body. Propulsion mechanisms provide forces which move bodies that are initially at rest, change a constant velocity motion, or overcome retarding forces when a body is propelled through a medium. There are two essential elements in any propulsive mechanism: the energy source and an energy conversion device to transpose the energy into the form most suitable for propulsion. In an automobile, for example, a chemical combustion process of fuel with air furnishes the energy input, which is then transformed in an engine into thermal energy of a gas and subsequently by transformation into the mechanical energy through a rotating shaft and wheels to imparting momentum to the vehicle.
Ureteral Dimensions and Specifications for Bioengineering Modeling

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses ureteral dimensions and specifications for bioengineering modeling. Ureter is an adaptive organ, functioning as an adaptive system that alters one or more of its characteristics and dimensions to meet its functional requirements. A new ureter must be actively contractile so that it empties and sterilizes itself completely. It must carry no residual urine and should imitate normal rhythms, bolus volumes, and functional demands. A new ureter must be patent and offer low resistance to the elaboration of urine by the nephron. It should not absorb urinary constituents and should have a smooth lumen that provides no nidus for calculus formation, infection, or obstruction. It should allow only unidirectional flow with no retrograde peristalsis or reflux. The wall of the new ureter must be tolerated biologically and immunologically, and should not secrete substances into the urinary tract.
Conductors' Literature Selection Practices for Community Children's Choirs in North America.

This study utilized a mixed methods approach to investigate the particular factors integral to literature selection and the resources conductors utilized to find repertoire for their children’s cho...
Multimodality therapy in IIIA-N2 NSCLC: Factors associated with treatment selection and survival.

8550Background: Multimodality therapy is recommended in the management of clinical stage IIIA-N2 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the optimal combination and sequence of treatments and ...
Promoting Health Literacy: Finding Consumer Health Resources and Writing Health Materials for Patients

With the advent of the Plain Writing Act of 2010 under the Obama Administration, Federal agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control have been mandated to implement strategies and processes t...
10 – MATHEMATICAL FOUNDATIONS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the mathematical foundations of the TETRAD program. The TETRAD program uses a modification of a well-known path finding algorithm to compute the tetrad equations a model implies. It first calculates the open paths and the treks between each pair of variables in the graph. The program then calculates, for each pair u,v of measured variables, the trek sum for that pair. The products of the trek sums are then compared to determine whether or not they constitute an algebraic identity. If they do, the model implies the corresponding tetrad equation. To determine the sets of suggested trek additions to an initial model, the program proceeds through all foursomes of measured variables. For each foursome, it locates an appropriate subgraph of the initial model and determines whether or not to recommend the addition of a trek between any pair of variables in the subgraph. The program's recommendations do not distinguish between directed edges connecting two measured variables in either direction or the introduction of a new error variable connected to two measured variables. The program distinguishes, however, between these sorts of modifications and the addition of a directed edge between a latent variable and a measured variable.
Dopamine Suppresses Synaptic Responses of Fan Cells in the Lateral Entorhinal Cortex to Olfactory Bulb Input in Mice

The lateral entorhinal cortex (LEC) is involved in odor discrimination, odor-associative multimodal memory, and neurological or neuropsychiatric disorders. It receives direct axonal projections from both olfactory bulb (OB) output neurons and midbrain dopaminergic neurons. However, the cellular targets in LEC receiving direct synaptic input from OB output neuron, the functional characteristics of these synapses, and whether or how dopamine (DA) modulates the OB-LEC pathway remain undetermined. We addressed these questions in the present study by combing optogenetic and electrophysiological approaches with four major findings: (1) selective activation of OB input elicited glutamate-mediated monosynaptic responses in all fan cells, the major output neurons in layer II of the LEC; (2) this excitatory synaptic transmission exhibited robust paired-pulse facilitation (PPF), a presynaptically derived short-term synaptic plasticity; (3) DA dramatically attenuated the strength of the OB input-fan cell synaptic transmission via activation of D1 receptors; and (4) DA altered the PPF of this transmission but neither intrinsic properties of postsynaptic neurons nor the kinetic profile of postsynaptic responses, suggesting that presynaptic mechanisms underlie the DA inhibitory actions. This study for the first time demonstrates the FCs in the LEC layer II as the postsynaptic target of direct OB input and characterizes DA modulation of the OB input-fan cell pathway. These findings set the foundation for future studies to examine the synaptic transmission from the OB output neuron axon terminals to other potential cell types in the LEC and to pinpoint the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying olfactory deficits associated with DA-relevant neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders.
Preoperative Right Heart Dysfunction and Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Patients with Left Ventricular Assist Devices.

Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) is a common cause of morbidity among patients supported by left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). The aim of this study was to identify if pre-LVAD right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is associated with risk of GIB after LVAD implantation. Of 398 patients implanted with LVADs between July 2008 and July 2016, 130 (33%) developed GIB at a median of 2.6 months following LVAD implantation. Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) were found in 42 (34%) GIB patients. Patients with GIB were older and more likely to have hypertension, diabetes, and ischemic cardiomyopathy. On pre-LVAD echocardiography, GIB patients had increased RV diastolic dimension (4.7 ± 0.8 vs. 4.4 ± 0.9 cm, p = 0.02), a higher rate of greater than mild tricuspid valve (TV) regurgitation (73 [60%] vs. 120 [47%], p = 0.006), and underwent TV repair more often (38 [30%] vs. 43 [16%], p = 0.0006) during LVAD implantation. After multivariable adjustment, preoperative greater than mild RV enlargement (hazard ratio [HR] 2.32, 95% CI 1.12-5.03; p = 0.03), TV regurgitation (HR 1.83, CI 1.02-3.44; p = 0.01), and TV repair (HR 3.76, confidence interval [CI] 1.02-4.44; p = 0.01) remained associated with risk of GIB. This finding was driven by the AVM-GIB subgroup. Preoperative RV enlargement and TV regurgitation are associated with post-LVAD AVM-related GIB.
Confirmatory Factor and Smallest Space Analyses on the Belief in a Just World Scale

A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used on the Belief in a Just World Scale (BJW; Lucas, Zhdanova & Alexander in J Individ Diff 32:14–25, 2011) to test the replicability of its four-scale structure. Additionally, Guttman’s Smallest Space Analysis (SSA) was used to test the presence of two facets with each consisting of two elements: Type of Justice (Distributive and Procedural) and Locus of Attributions (Justice Beliefs for Self and Justice Beliefs for Others) in the BJW scale. Participants (n = 301) were university students and community members (recruited through local church and social media). The CFA revealed marginally acceptable support for the four-factor structure of the BJW. As hypothesized, the SSA provided evidence for the presence of two facets with two elements each as stated above. Consistent with earlier findings of Lucas et al. (J Individ Diff 32:14–25, 2011) and Lucas et al. (Political Psychol 35:775–793, 2014), the BJW subscales had positive significant correlations with each other and evidenced strong internal consistency reliabilities.
Indoor GIS Solution for Space Use Assessment

As GIS and computing technologies advanced rapidly, many indoor space studies began to adopt GIS technology, data models, and analysis methods. However, even with a considerable amount of research ...
Recovering Dunham’s pacifism in macro social work: implications for community organization education and practice

Using primary and secondary sources, the author describes the pacifist social work and community organization contributions of Arthur Dunham and positions them among the contributions of past and c...
Benefits Cliffs, Disincentive Deserts, and Economic Mobility

This paper highlights a bigger problem than benefits cliffs for people receiving government assistance, which we call “disincentive deserts.” These “deserts” are long ranges of work effort with 90–...
On the Other Side of the Table: Lessons Learned From Negotiations:

District-level directors, principals, and human resource personnel can bring important viewpoints and information in assisting the school board and superintendent during the teacher negotiations pr...
New and Emerging Opioid Overdose Risk Factors.

The purpose of this review is to provide a review of the current literature surrounding opioid overdose risk factors, focusing on relatively new factors in the opioid crisis. Both a market supply driving force and a subpopulation of people who use opioids actively seeking out fentanyl are contributing to its recent proliferation in the opioid market. Harm reduction techniques such as fentanyl testing strips, naloxone education and distribution, drug sampling behaviors, and supervised injection facilities are all seeing expanded use with increasing amounts of research being published regarding their effectiveness. Availability and use of interventions such as medication for opioid use disorder and peer recovery coaching programs are also on the rise to prevent opioid overdose. The opioid epidemic is an evolving crisis, necessitating continuing research to identify novel overdose risk factors and the development of new interventions targeting at-risk populations.
Zip-tie guys: military-grade radicalization among Capitol Hill insurrectionists

Among rioters storming the Capitol Hill building in Washington, DC, on January, 6, 2021, two men carried zip ties, presumably for restraining lawmakers. The Zip-Tie Guys, as the media dubbed the du...
A spectroscopic approach to measuring meibum lipid composition and conformation in donors with Sjӧgren's syndrome.

Abstract Patients with Sjӧgren's syndrome (SS) have dry eye associated with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). The meibum from donors with dry eye due to MGD but without SS (MMGD) presents with lower levels of cholesteryl ester, less straight chains, and more ordered hydrocarbon chains compared with meibum from donors without MGD (Mn). The aim of the current study was to compare the composition and hydrocarbon chain conformation of meibum from donors with Sjogren's syndrome (Mss) to Mn and MMGD. Meibum was expressed from patients with SS using an ILUX instrument (Alcon Inc., Fort Worth TX). All of the nine meibum donors with SS were female. Meibum composition was characterized using 1H-NMR and meibum hydrocarbon chain conformation was measured using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Meibum from every donor with SS measured contained a significantly (P 0.05, for Mss compared with Mn. Nor was the CH3/CH2 band height ratio used to estimate the number of hydrocarbon CH3 and CH2 moieties different, P = 0.22, for Mss compared with Mn. In conclusion, the compositional differences between Mss compared with Mn did not result in differences in any of the nine meibum lipid phase transitional parameters measured. The compositional differences observed between Mss and Mn could be markers for or contribute to SS as the differences could lead to tear film lipid packing differences other than conformational differences.
Comparison of Thermal Cycling Induced Mechanical Property Evolutions in Bulk Solder and Solder Joints

During the service life of electronic packages, solder joints undergo thermal cycling which occurs between low to high temperature extreme. Also, solder joints can experience same exposure during accelerated thermal cycling testing which is being used for characterizing thermal-mechanical fatigue behavior. Mechanical behavior of solder joints evolves due to this variation in temperature and microstructure evolution of solder materials. In addition, during dwell at high temperature extreme, thermal aging phenomena occurs in the solder material which causes the microstructural evolution and leads to the material property degradation. Additional aging effects may occur during ramping between low to high temperature extremes in thermal cycling. In literature, many studies showed the evolution of mechanical properties of solder materials under isothermal aging whereas studies on evolution under thermal cycling exposure is limited. In our prior study, evolution of mechanical behavior of SAC305 lead-free solder material under different thermal cycling profiles have been reported for up to 5 days of thermal cycling. Severe mechanical properties degradation was observed, particularly for the thermal cycles with slow ramping rate and dwell period. In the present study, mechanical behavior evolution of small solder balls under stress free condition in different thermal cyclic loading for up to 50 days has been investigated. Particularly, the evolutions of mechanical behavior in both bulk SAC305 miniature solder bar samples and small SAC305 solder balls under stress free condition have been investigated for several thermal cycling profiles, and then the results were compared.The bulk solder specimens for uniaxial tensile testing were prepared by reflow solidification technique in rectangular glass tubes with a controlled temperature profile. On the other hand, BGA solder balls were ground and polished to find out single grain by optical microscopy for avoiding grain orientation effect in nanoindentation technique. Afterwards, both types of specimens were placed into the thermal cycling chamber and thermally cycled between -40 C to +125 °C under a stress-free condition (no load) in several thermal cycling profiles. The thermal cycling profiles were: (1) 150 minutes cycles with 45 minutes ramps and 30 minutes dwells, (2) air-to-air thermal shock exposures with 30 minutes dwells and near instantaneous ramps, (3) 90 minute cycles with 45 minutes ramps and 0 minutes dwells (thermal ramp only), and (4) Isothermal aging at high temperature extreme (no cycle). After each thermal cycling exposure, mechanical properties evolution of uniaxial tensile test specimens was presented in terms of effective elastic modulus (E), yield strength (YS), and ultimate tensile strength (UTS). For the BGA solder balls, the evolution of mechanical properties was measured using nanoindentation and presented in terms of E, YS, and hardness. Finally, the mechanical properties evolution of both bulk solder material and BGA solder balls were compared.
Evaluation of Delamination Onset and Growth Characterization Methods Under Mode I Fatigue Loading

Double-cantilevered beam specimens of IM7/8552 graphite/epoxy from two different manufacturers were tested in static and fatigue to compare the material characterization data and to evaluate a proposed ASTM standard for generating Paris Law equations for delamination growth. Static results were used to generate compliance calibration constants for reducing the fatigue data, and a delamination resistance curve, GIR, for each material. Specimens were tested in fatigue at different initial cyclic GImax levels to determine a delamination onset curve and the delamination growth rate. The delamination onset curve equations were similar for the two sources. Delamination growth rate was calculated by plotting da/dN versus GImax on a log-log scale and fitting a Paris Law. Two different data reduction methods were used to calculate da/dN. To determine the effects of fiber-bridging, growth results were normalized by the delamination resistance curves. Paris Law exponents decreased by 31% to 37% after normalizing the data. Visual data records from the fatigue tests were used to calculate individual compliance constants from the fatigue data. The resulting da/dN versus GImax plots showed improved repeatability for each source, compared to using averaged static data. The Paris Law expressions for the two sources showed the closest agreement using the individually fit compliance data.
ALGORITHM FOR DUAL-ENERGY RADIOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS

The use of two or more radiographs of an object taken with different x-ray spectral characteristics to infer quantitative values of material density or Z number has been of interest to both the medical and industrial worlds for some time. One method uses monoenergetic isotopic sources with well defined energies in conjunction with standard step wedges and solving the resulting simultaneous equations. Besides the problem of finding isotopic sources with the appropriate energies, you have to have a priori knowledge of the materials in the object.
Rashmi Desai and Raymond Kapral: Dynamics of Self-Organized and Self-Assembled Structures: Cambridge, USA: Cambridge University Press, 2009. 342 pp, USD 76

Nature exhibits the remarkable ability to self-organize into a variety of complex dynamic and static architectures when driven far from thermal equilibrium by external forces or by heat and concentration gradients. Self-assembly, an ability to create ordered structures from simpler building blocks can range from single molecules to complex protein assemblies and is one of the most common self-organization processes occurring in a majority of biological and some synthetic systems. Self-assembly is ubiquitous in everyday life—at the most basic level all living organisms are self-assembling entities. Self-assembly is also one of the few practical strategies for large-scale production of nanostructured materials and is therefore an essential part of nanotechnology. While self-assembly can take place on scales as small as the molecular, control of self-assembly is possible largely by the manipulation of macroscopic variables such as temperature, pressure, composition, and applied electric or magnetic fields. Nature routinely exhibits self-assembly. The potential to predict, model, and ultimately tailor the properties of self-assembled materials for broad technological applications, however, has been hampered by the lack of fundamental understanding of the dynamics of selfassembly and the ability to bridge from the microscopic to the macroscopic scales. Although the definitions of self-assembling systems are very broad, it is practical to identify two major classes: static and dynamic. Static self-assembly involves systems that are at global or local equilibrium and do not dissipate energy. For example lipid bilayers and most systems exhibiting spinodal decomposition are formed by static self-assembly. In static selfassembly the formation of ordered structures may require energy, but once they are formed they are stable. In dynamic self-assembly, such as most of the biological systems and autocatalytic chemical reactions, the interactions responsible for the formation of nontrivial structures occurs only if the system is consuming energy from an external energy source provided, for example, by an applied field from chemical reactions. Since the hierarchical
Design of Genomic Signatures for Pathogen Identification and Characterization

This chapter will address some of the many issues associated with the identification of signatures based on genomic DNA/RNA, which can be used to identify and characterize pathogens for biodefense and microbial forensic goals. For the purposes of this chapter, we define a signature as one or more strings of contiguous genomic DNA or RNA bases that are sufficient to identify a pathogenic target of interest at the desired resolution and which could be instantiated with particular detection chemistry on a particular platform. The target may be a whole organism, an individual functional mechanism (e.g., a toxin gene), or simply a nucleic acid indicative of the organism. The desired resolution will vary with each program's goals but could easily range from family to genus to species to strain to isolate. The resolution may not be taxonomically based but rather pan-mechanistic in nature: detecting virulence or antibiotic-resistance genes shared by multiple microbes. Entire industries exist around different detection chemistries and instrument platforms for identification of pathogens, and we will only briefly mention a few of the techniques that we have used at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to support our biosecurity-related work since 2000. Most nucleic acid based detection chemistries involvemore » the ability to isolate and amplify the signature target region(s), combined with a technique to detect the amplification. Genomic signature based identification techniques have the advantage of being precise, highly sensitive and relatively fast in comparison to biochemical typing methods and protein signatures. Classical biochemical typing methods were developed long before knowledge of DNA and resulted in dozens of tests (Gram's stain, differential growth characteristics media, etc.) that could be used to roughly characterize the major known pathogens (of course some are uncultivable). These tests could take many days to complete and precise resolution of species and strains is not always possible. In contrast, protein recognition signatures composed of antibodies or synthetic high-affinity ligands offer extremely fast results but require a large quantity of the target to be present. False positives/negatives are also a problem with some protein-based techniques (home pregnancy kits use this basic approach).« less
Confirmation of Occurrence of Hydroxamate Siderophores in Soil by a Novel Escherichia coli Bioassay.

The occurrence of ferrichrome-type hydroxamate siderophores in soil was confirmed. In the presence of the iron-scavenging chelator ethylenediamine[di(o-hydroxyphenylacetic)acid], soil extract stimulated the growth of an Escherichia coli strain possessing the ferrichrome transport protein (TonA) but did not stimulate growth of a strain lacking this protein (TonA−). The siderophore concentration in a 1:1 (soil-water) extract was estimated to be approximately 78 nM. Specificity of the assay was supported by the absence of significant differential strain responses to ferric citrate, ferric 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate, enterochelin, ferrioxamine B, coprogen, and triacetylfusigen.
Constraint Satisfaction, Complexity, and Logic

Constraint satisfaction problems arise naturally in several different areas of artificial intelligence and computer science. Indeed, constraint satisfaction problems encompass Boolean satisfiability, graph colorability, relational join evaluation, as well as numerous other problems in temporal reasoning, machine vision, belief maintenance, scheduling, and optimization. In their full generality, constraint satisfaction problems are NP-complete and, thus, presumed to be algorithmically intractable. For this reason, significant research efforts have been devoted to the pursuit of ”islands of tractability” of constraint satisfaction, that is, special cases of constraint satisfaction problems for which polynomial-time algorithms exist. The aim of this talk is to present an overview of recent advances in the investigation of the computational complexity of constraint satisfaction with emphasis on the connections between “islands of tractability” of constraint satisfaction, database theory, definability in finite-variable logics, and structures of bounded treewidth.
Adiposity and Kidney Disease

The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing worldwide and is a global public health challenge. Epidemiological data suggest a casual relationship with adiposity. Clinical and laboratory studies suggest that adiposity is involved in the development and progression of kidney disease. Mechanisms include adaptation to increased body mass, activation of sympathetic nervous and renin–angiotensin systems, insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, and release of adipokines. Kidney disease may also effect the association of adiposity with cardiovascular outcomes. In this chapter, the interactions of adiposity and kidney disease and their effects on clinical outcomes are examined.
Political Contributions and Insurance

We propose a mechanism that eliminates the incentive for risk-averse agents to influence government policy via political contributions. The mechanism requires the government to create a political insurance exchange where agents can insure against the outcome of a government decision and firms selling insurance announce and commit to a price of insurance and their political contributions. If the exchange contains actuarially fair priced insurance, then the agent fully insures and neither the firm nor agent lobbies the government. The exchange is better than contribution limits because it is welfare-enhancing, more fair, and does not restrict speech.
Counter-terrorism and the Rule of Law

This paper examines the difference between administrative law measures in counter-terrorism (deportations, house demolitions and administrative detentions) and the criminal law in developing a counter-terrorism strategy. Furthermore, the article analyzes a number of critical issues related to counter-terrorism including indefinite detention, judicial review, self-defense, torture and the status of terrorists.
A document segmentation, classification and recognition system

A discussion is given on a document segmentation, classification and recognition system for automatically reading daily-received office documents that have complex layout structures, such as multiple columns and mixed-mode contents of texts, graphics and half-tone pictures. First, the block segmentation employs a two-step run-length smoothing algorithm for decomposing any document into single-mode blocks. Next, based on clustering rules the block classification classifies each block into one of text, horizontal or vertical lines, graphics, and pictures. The text block is separated into isolated characters using projection profiles, and which are translated into ASCII codes through a font- and size-independent character recognition subsystem. Logo pictures discriminated from half-tone pictures are identified and converted into symbolic words. The experimental results show that the proposed system is capable of correctly reading different styles of mixed-mode printed documents. >
A commentary on natural childbirth.

VARIOUS aspects of the rooming-in program from the point of view of the mother, the nurse, and the pediatrician have been emphasized. The obstetricians are no less enthusiastic. Thoms, Jackson and others have shown, after 18 months9 experience with mothers in a rooming-in unit, that physically these patients recover as well if not better than those patients not so fortunate as to enjoy an arrangement of this type. Psychologically the advantages are more obvious. The rooming-in mothers have a mental attitude and a morale rarely seen in those mothers who experience the conventional type of hospitalization. That a beneficial mother-child relationship is established in this unit is, we believe, undeniable. Accepting this as the basic philosophy of rooming-in, it is natural that the obstetrician would come to consider his own role in the furtherance of its establishment. If it is true that the foundations of mental health are laid in infancy and since infancy begins at birth, it seems reasonable to suppose that childbirth itself should be an emotionally satisfactory experience for the mother if an adequate mother-child relationship is to be established. We may question whether childbirth is emotionally satisfactory for most mothers today. Consider for a moment the course of many pregnancies and labors, particularly in urban areas, today. The woman begins her pregnancy with doubts and fears, many of them founded in ignorance and superstitution, and acquires misinformation from her relatives and friends which contributes to her original anxieties. Despite the reassurance which she receives from her medical attendant as to her physical safety, in his preoccupation with the satisfaction of her somatic needs he may overlook the deep-seated anxieties with which she began her pregnancy and which usually increase as the pregnancy advances.
Surface and Interfacial Properties of Nonaqueous-Phase Liquid Mixtures Released to the Subsurface at the Hanford Site

Surface and interfacial tensions that arise at the interface between different phases are key parameters affecting Nonaqueous Phase Liquid (NAPL) movement and redistribution in the vadose zone after spill events. In this study, the impact of major additive components on surface and interfacial tensions for organic mixtures and wastewater was investigated. Organic mixture and wastewater compositions are based upon carbon tetrachloride (CT) mixtures released at the Hanford site, where CT was discharged simultaneously with dibutyl butyl phosphonate (DBBP), tributyl phosphate (TBP), dibutyl phosphate (DBP), and a machining lard oil (LO). A considerable amount of wastewater consisting primarily of nitrates and metal salts was also discharged. The tension values measured in this study revealed that the addition of these additive components caused a significant lowering of the interfacial tension with water or wastewater and the surface tension of the wastewater phase in equilibrium with the organic mixtures, compared to pure CT, but had minimal effect on the surface tension of the NAPL itself. These results lead to large differences in spreading coefficients for several mixtures, where the additives caused both a higher (more spreading) initial spreading coefficient and a lower (less spreading) equilibrium spreading coefficient. This indicates that if these mixturesmore » migrate into uncontaminated areas, they will tend to spread quickly, but form a higher residual NAPL saturation after equilibrium, as compared to pure CT. Over time, CT likely volatilizes more rapidly than other components in the originally disposed mixtures and the lard oil and phosphates would become more concentrated in the remaining NAPL, resulting in a lower interfacial tension for the mixture. Spreading coefficients are expected to increase and perhaps change the equilibrated organic mixtures from nonspreading to spreading in water-wetting porous media. These results show that the behavior of organic chemical mixtures should be accounted for in numerical flow and transport models.« less
The effect of ostomy surgery between the ages of 6 and 12 years on psychosocial development during childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood.

Objective: To investigate the effect of ostomy surgery performed between the ages of 6 and 12 years on psychosocial development during subsequent childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood. Design: Ethnographic. Setting and Subjects: Six women and 4 men (mean age 30.7 years) who responded to a notice in a chapter newsletter of the United Ostomy Association. Methods: Spradley's Ethnographic interview format was used for this study. One interview was conducted with each informant over a 4-week period, and a second, more detailed interview was conducted with 2 subjects who were identified as key informants. The interviews were audiotaped and transcribed, and the transcripts were analyzed to detect shared patterns in the informants' language. Instruments: The Ethnograph computer software program was used as an aid in analyzing the interview transcripts. Main Outcome Measures: The informants' subjective experiences during childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood. Results: Nine of the 10 informants adjusted well in the first years after surgery. Key factors in good adjustment were support from family and a perception of “normalcy,” including managing one's own ostomy care. All informants reported that their ostomy had a negative impact on their lives during adolescence and that they would have appreciated contact with other teens facing the same dilemma. The age at which an informant underwent ostomy surgery did not influence the difficulties reported during adolescence. Conclusion: Ostomy surgery performed between the ages of 6 and 12 years can have long-term effects on psychosocial development. Nurses should promote normalization, teach self-care of the ostomy as soon as possible after surgery, and refer children and parents to mutual support groups as appropriate.
Cancer of the gastrointestinal tract.

There has been in the past quarter-century a definite, though perhaps not spectacular, improvement in the outlook for the patient with gastrointestinal tract cancer. Cancer of the esophagus, particularly of the lower third, is no longer universally fatal. Cancer of the stomach, colon, and rectum also have an improved outlook.
Ablation Of Polymers And Tissue By Ultraviolet Lasers

The interactions of laser radiation with animal tissue have become a vast field of study. The detailed chemical behavior of the photons with the tissue, while scientifically a fascinating topic for investigation, is difficult to study experimentally. We have used synthetic polymers and small molecules in the condensed phase as models for the study of non-linear photochemistry of all organic systems. While such extrapolations should always be used with caution, they have been helpful in suggesting new strategies for tissue ablation which may be adaptable to experiments in vivo.
A new coherent optical pseudo-color encoder

A new and simple method for pseudo-coloring a photograph in a coherent optical processing system, utilizing a newly developed technique of half-tone screens, is described. By selective spatial filtering of the high diffraction orders in the Fourier plane of a coherent optical system, images with up to ten contours of constant brightness have been generated on a picture from a single half-tone copy of that picture. The pseudo-coloring of the picture is achieved by mixing the high-diffraction-order outputs generated by lasers of different wavelengths. In the experiment described herein, an argon laser and a He-Ne laser were used. The experimental results demonstrate that the method has considerable flexibility. A discussion of the theory, the method, and potential applications is given.
High pressure spectroscopic study of ferricenium hexafluorophosphate: Pressure-induced order-disorder transitions

Abstract Studies of the visible and infrared spectra of polycrystalline ferricenium hexafluorophosphate show discontinuities near 5 kbar. These changes are attributed to an order-disorder phase transition, which has also been observed at 211 K (atmospheric pressure). A volume decrease of 1.66 cm 3 mol −1 has been calculated for this transition, which is significantly less than that for the order-disorder transition which occurs at 347 K. It is proposed that the transition studied here involves at the very least an orientational change for Fe(cp) 2 + on the basis of large changes in the spectroscopic features assignable to the cation.