cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular characterization of a stable Flac plasmid.

Abstract F lac S is a thermostable extrachromosomal element isolated in Salmonella typhimurium which is altered in its replication as compared to its precursor Fts114 lac . Sedimentation of both these plasmids in alkaline sucrose gradients has indicated a difference in their sizes. Contour length measurements of open circular plasmid DNA molecules photographed in the electron microscope have revealed the estimated molecular weight of Fts114 lac to be 81 × 106 daltons while that of F lac S is 109 × 106 daltons. F lac S may carry a segment of S. typhimurium chromosomal or cryptic plasmid DNA.
Biological agent detection based on principal component analysis

This paper presents an algorithm, based on principal component analysis for the detection of biological threats using General Dynamics Canada's 4WARN Sentry 3000 biodetection system. The proposed method employs a statistical method for estimating background biological activity so as to make the algorithm adaptive to varying background situations. The method attempts to characterize the pattern of change that occurs in the fluorescent particle counts distribution and uses the information to suppress false-alarms. The performance of the method was evaluated using a total of 68 tests including 51 releases of Bacillus Globigii (BG), six releases of BG in the presence of obscurants, six releases of obscurants only, and five releases of ovalbumin at the Ambient Breeze Tunnel Test facility, Battelle, OH. The peak one-minute average concentration of BG used in the tests ranged from 10 - 65 Agent Containing Particles per Liter of Air (ACPLA). The obscurants used in the tests included diesel smoke, white grenade smoke, and salt solution. The method successfully detected BG at a sensitivity of 10 ACPLA and resulted in an overall probability of detection of 94% for BG without generating any false-alarms for obscurants at a detection threshold of 0.6 on a scale of 0 to 1. Also, the method successfully detected BG in the presence of diesel smoke and salt water fumes. The system successfully responded to all the five ovalbumin releases with noticeable trends in algorithm output and alarmed for two releases at the selected detection threshold.
A system for large-scale analysis of distributed cameras

Thousands of cameras are connected to the Internet providing streaming data (videos or periodic images). The images contain information that can be used to determine the scene contents such as traffic, weather, and the environment. Analyzing the data from these cameras presents many challenges, such as (i) retrieving data from geographically distributed and heterogeneous cameras, (ii) providing a software environment for users to simultaneously analyze large amounts of data from the cameras, (iii) allocating and managing computation and storage resources. This paper presents a system designed to address these challenges. The system enables users to execute image analysis and computer vision techniques on a large scale with only slight changes to the existing methods. It currently includes more than 65,000 cameras deployed worldwide. Users can select cameras for the types of analysis they can do. The system allocates Amazon EC2 and Windows Azure cloud instances for executing the analysis. Our experiments demonstrate that this system can be used for a variety of image analysis techniques (e.g. motion analysis and human detection) using 2.7 million images from 1274 cameras for three hours using 15 cloud instances to analyze 141 GB of images (at 107 Mbps).
Identification and characterization of the cAMP binding proteins of yeast by photoaffinity labeling

Abstract Contrary to previous reports, we find the molecular weight of the major cAMP-binding protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae to be 54,000 daltons. A number of lower molecular weight proteins have also been identified and are believed to be breakdown products of the major protein. The binding protein is soluble and specific for cyclic purine nucleotides with a 3′:5′ configuration.
On the Calculation of the Stationary Phase Volume in Reversed Phase Chromatography

Abstract The volume phase ratio (stationary/mobile, Vs/Vm) in reversed phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) is a necessary quantity for obtaining thermodynamic information such as chromatographic partition coefficients and changes in entropy and Gibbs free energy as a solute partitions from the mobile to the stationary phase. Previous methods of calculating this ratio have used only the surface area of the bonded stationary phase or have overestimated the stationary phase volume by including that of the inert silica support. A new method is presented for the calculation of the stationary phase volume, Vs, which only requires measurements of carbon load and the total weight of packing in the column. A primary advantage of this method is that knowledge of the packing surface area is not necessary. When calculated by this method, Vs is the actual volume of the alkyl chains bonded to the support surface, but neglects intercalated solvent volumes.
Insights into Clostridium phytofermentans biofilm formation: aggregation, microcolony development and the role of extracellular DNA.

Biofilm formation is a critical component to the lifestyle of many naturally occurring cellulose-degrading microbes. In this work, cellular aggregation and biofilm formation of Clostridium phytofermentans, a cellulolytic anaerobic bacterium, was investigated using a combination of microscopy and analytical techniques. Aggregates included thread-like linkages and a DNA/protein-rich extracellular matrix when grown on soluble cellobiose. Similar dense biofilms formed on the surface of the model cellulosic substrate Whatman no. 1 filter paper. Following initially dispersed attachment, microcolonies of ~500 µm diameter formed on the filter paper after 6 days. Enzymic treatment of both the biofilm and cellular aggregates with DNase and proteinase resulted in significant loss of rigidity, pointing to the key role of extracellular DNA and proteins in the biofilm structure. A high-throughput biofilm assay was adapted for studying potential regulators of biofilm formation. Various media manipulations were shown to greatly impact biofilm formation, including repression in the presence of glucose but not the β(1→4)-linked disaccharide cellobiose, implicating a balance of hydrolytic activity and assimilation to maintain biofilm integrity. Using the microtitre plate biofilm assay, DNase and proteinase dispersed ~60 and 30 % of mature biofilms, respectively, whilst RNase had no impact. This work suggests that Clostridium phytofermentans has evolved a DNA/protein-rich biofilm matrix complementing its cellulolytic nature. These insights add to our current understanding of natural ecosystems as well as strategies for efficient bioprocess design.
Pseudo-Noise Interferometer

This paper describes a radio interferometer that can be employed for beaming and attitude determination. It differs from conventional interferometers in that it employs a carrier modulated by a pseudonoise sequence. This enables it to provide an unambiguous angular resolution of the signal source.
THE TRUEX PROCESS - A PROCESS FOR THE EXTRACTION OF THE TKANSURANIC ELEMENTS EROM NITRIC AC In WASTES UTILIZING MODIFIED PUREX SOLVENT*

ABSTRACT A generic transurantc (TRU) element extraction/recovery process was developed based on the use of octyl(phenyl)-N,N-diiso-butylcarbamoylmetliylphosphine oxide, 0φD(iB)CMPO, dissolved in PUREX process solvent (tribntyl phosphate, TBP, in normal paraffluic hydrocarbon, NPH). The process (called TRUEX) is capable of reducing the TRU concentration by many orders of magnitude In waste solutions containing a wide range of nitric acid, salt, and fission product concentrations. A major feature of the process is that it is readily adaptable for waste processing in existing fuel reprocessing facilities.
Population stabilization and national spatial policy of public investment: the Japanese experience.

This paper presents a new method that can be used to reveal the policy objectives with which actual public investment decisions are consistent. Japanese regional investment expenditures from 1958 to 1978 are analyzed and the dominant policies in effect during this period are identified using this method. A connection between Japanese regional public investment policies and the convergence of population growth across regions is suggested. The suitability of redistributive investment policies as a mechanism for the spatial stabilization of other populations experiencing rapid economic growth is noted. (EXCERPT)
Two German Vocabulary Tests

Author's Summary— Two types of vocabulary test, each using the same words, are compared and analyzed. No significant differences in general behavior are found, although the analysis shows that the distributions of the difficulty and validity of the items vary considerably for the two tests. The conclusion is reached that the two tests, recall and recognition, measure very nearly the same ability. The tests are reproduced, and norms given.
NOVEL METHOD FOR STUDY OF THE EXTRACELLULAR CELL-BOUND PROTEINASE FROM LACTIC ACID BACTERIA1

Skim milk agar was developed to investigate extracellular cell-bound proteinase in yogurt cultures. The agar was inoculated with yogurt starter cultures Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus, incubated anaerobically at 37C for 48 h, and then stored at 4C for 3 days. Both S. thermophilus and L. bulgaricus colonies, which could produce extracellular proteinase, developed clear zones in skim milk agar. The clear zone produced by L. bulgaricus was bigger (4.551-4.620 mm) than that produced by S. thermophilus (2.350 mm). This result suggested that L. bulgaricus produced more extracellular cell-bound proteinase. The clear zone on skim milk agar can be used to easily determine the presence of extracellular cell bound proteinase. and furthermore, the size of clear zone might indicate proteolytic activity.
Drawing out culture: productive methods to measure cognition and resonance

Theories of culture and action, especially after the cognitive turn, have developed more complex understandings of how unconscious, embodied, internalized culture motivates action. As our theories have become more sophisticated, our methods for capturing these internal processes have not kept up and we struggle to adjudicate among theories of how culture shapes action. This article discusses what I call “productive” methods: methods that observe people creating a cultural object. Productive methods, I argue, are well suited for drawing out moments of shared automatic cognition and resonance. To demonstrate the value of productive methods, I describe my method of asking focus group participants to devise and draw AIDS campaign posters collectively. I then 1) show how this productive method made visible distinct moments of both automatic and deliberative cognition, 2) offer an operational definition of resonance and demonstrate how the process of drawing revealed moments of resonance, and 3) suggest how this method allowed me to investigate the relationship between cognition and resonance and their effect on action. To conclude, I discuss strategies for using productive methods and advocate for their use in measuring culture.
Investigation of band inversion in (Pb,Sn)Te alloys using ab initio calculations

The electronic structure of the (Pb,Sn)Te alloy displays the so-called ``band inversion'' between its two end members, PbTe and SnTe. Although the electronic structures of these two end members have been extensively studied by first-principles calculations, there have been no reports of first-principles calculations of the evolution of the band gap with composition. We have studied systematically the band structure using first-principles calculations within the generalized gradient approximation and have investigated the effects of compositional disorder. By taking into account local disorder, we show that the calculated dependence of band gap on composition is in good agreement with experimental results.
Retronasal and Oral-Cavity-Only Identifications of Air-Phase Trigeminal Stimuli

Oral-cavity-only (OCO) identifications of air-phase trigeminal stimulus chemicals, i.e., pure chemicals that are often discriminated from their solvents by anosmics and are usually lateralized without sniffing by normosmics, were compared with retronasal identifications made by 20 participants. Participants selected the best possible identification from nine alternatives, but did not respond if they could not provide an identification within the 10-s response interval. It was found that, except for dl-menthol, the frequencies of correct identifications for OCO presentations were significantly different from the frequencies for retronasal presentations. OCO percent correct identifications were: eugenol 7%, heptyl alcohol 5%, nonanal 10%, 1-octanal 18%, and valeric acid 20%, but 58% correct for dl-menthol. Median percent correct OCO identifications were all 0% except 67% for dl-menthol. Modal OCO identification responses were ‘no response’, except “peppermint” for dl-menthol. In contrast, retronasal overall percent correct identifications, median percent correct identifications, and modal identifications were: eugenol 78%, 100%, “cloves”; heptyl alcohol 49%, 67%, “cleaner”; nonanal 54%, 58%, “citrus”; 1-octanal 71%, 67%, “cleaner”; dl-menthol 80%, 100%, “peppermint”; valeric acid 66%, 67%, “rancid”. One implication of the differences between OCO and retronasal responses is that, for many trigeminal stimuli at retronasal-effective concentrations, responses from the oral cavity trigeminal sensory system are not sufficient for identification, suggesting that the oral cavity trigeminal system may be different from and generally provides less differential information than the nasal cavity one. However, because dl-menthol received consistent oral cavity identifications comparable to retronasal identifications, this ten-carbon alcohol may represent a unique class of trigeminal stimuli.
Boundary Conditions in the Exciton Absorption Region

The additional boundary condition (abc) is derived for a semi-infinite spatially dispersive-model medium, assuming normal incidence. The model is descriptive of an insulating crystal in the vicinity of an isolated exciton absorption band. Only when spatial dispersion is sufficiently weak does this abc reduce to the generally accepted abc.
Phase-plane analysis of automatic control systems with nonlinear gain elements

This paper develops a unified method of transient analysis of second-order feedback control systems having nonlinear gain components and subjected to step or ramp inputs. Essentially, the technique is a decomposition of the phase plane into linear regions within which trajectories converge to corresponding critical points. Application of the method to several typical problems previously analyzed by other means shows that considerably more insight may be obtained.
Analysis of the effect of fluorescence intensity on distributions obtained by flow cytofluorometry.

Abstract It is shown that one of the major resolution limiting factors in the rapid measurement of fluorescence from individual cells with “fast flow cytofluorometers” is the small number of photons which are counted in each light pulse. A method is described for evaluating this factor for individual systems and for specific cells and stains. Once evaluated, this contribution to the broadening of the distribution can be stripped from the observed distribution to give a closer estimate of the actual distribution of dye in the cell poulation.
General t-fraction expansions for ratios of hypergeometric functions

Abstract General T-fraction expansions for ratios of hypergeometric series are discussed. Correspondence and convergence are established. Two examples are considered.
Diffractive printing methods using volume holograms

A unique, proprietary, holographic printing technology has been demonstrated using DuPont OmniDex TM Holographic Recording Films which can incorporate multicolor, image individualization and anticounterfeiting functions into volume holograms. Starting with a monocolor volume hologram, we describe a process using simple existing photopatterning technologies to introduce imagewise selective colors into the monochrome hologram. In this process a latent image is recorded in our OmniDex TM Color Tuning Film. This latent image is transferred to a prerecorded hologram by lamination and developed by heating. Bright, multicolor holographic images were achieved with high resolution. The process flexibility and applications of this technology to graphic arts holography and security printing will be discussed.
FinPrin: FinFET Logic Circuit Analysis and Optimization Under PVT Variations

Continued scaling of bulk CMOS technology is facing formidable challenges. FinFETs, with better control of short-channel effects, offer a promising alternative for the 22-nm technology node and beyond. However, FinFETs still suffer from process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) variations. Thus, to analyze the delay of FinFET logic circuits, statistical static timing analysis (SSTA) is more suitable than traditional static timing analysis. In this paper, using an existing SSTA algorithm as a foundation, we analyze silicon-on-insulator FinFET circuits in various new ways: basing the analysis on accurate device simulation of the logic library; considering voltage and temperature variations, in addition to process variations; deriving accurate timing and leakage macromodels; and investigating the impact of PVT variations on delay/leakage distributions at the circuit level. We propose a simplified timing model that greatly reduces the computational complexity without giving rise to any convergence issues. The timing model has an average absolute error of 3.4% and 4.4%, respectively, for gate output slope and gate delay over all logic gates and sizes, compared with accurate quasi-Monte Carlo simulations. We evaluate the performance of our SSTA algorithm with respect to Monte Carlo simulation, and extend the algorithm to enable statistical leakage and dynamic power analysis as well. We investigate the impact of PVT variations on delay/power distributions at the circuit level. We show that deterministic optimization methods can optimize both the mean and variance of circuit delay/power distributions, and even the ratio of standard deviation to mean in some cases. Finally, we show that FinFET circuits need to be carefully optimized with temperature taken into consideration, since the ratio between the leakage and dynamic power of a circuit can vary drastically depending on the operating temperature assumed.
Correlation between prenatal urinary matrix metalloproteinase activity and the degree of kidney damage in a large animal model of congenital obstructive uropathy.

Abstract Background/Purpose We aimed to determine whether the profile of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity in fetal urine correlates with the degree of kidney damage in the setting of congenital obstructive uropathy. Methods Fetal lambs underwent either a sham operation or creation of a complete urinary tract obstruction. Necropsies were performed before term, when urinary MMP profiling was performed by zymography; and kidney damage was assessed histologically by multiple semiquantitative analyses and histomorphometric measurements. Results There was a significant correlation between inner medullary thickness and MMP-9 ( P = .005) and 63-kd MMP-2 ( P = .019) activities. In like manner, the only MMPs associated with kidney fibrosis were MMP-9 and 63-kd MMP-2. Matrix metalloproteinase–9 activity was a highly significant independent predictor of the total combined kidney fibrosis score ( P P Conclusions In a fetal ovine model, urinary MMP activity correlates with the degree of kidney damage. The presence of MMP-9 (in particular) and that of 63-kd MMP-2 are independent predictors of severity. Prenatal urinary MMP profiling may enhance patient stratification and counseling in the setting of congenital obstructive uropathy.
How does interoceptive exposure for Panic Disorder work? an uncontrolled case study☆

To examine the influence of interoceptive exposure (IE) when used alone in the treatment of Panic Disorder (PD), 17 PD patients were presented with six IE sessions, using 35% CO2 as the exposure medium. The data indicate that IE alone is effective in reducing panic, panic-related fears, and general anxiety. However, the positive effects of IE do not appear to extend to agoraphobia, related fears, or depressed mood. Two distinct within-session patterns of fear response to IE were noted, one indicating habituation and the other indicating a lack of fear reduction. Although both patterns were associated with reductions in panic and anxiety following IE, the Habituators appeared to have a more positive outcome, which occurred more rapidly. These data suggest that IE may operate via two different pathways. Implications for understanding fear reduction are discussed, along with directions for future study.
Stress enhancement at inclusion particles in aluminum matrix composites: computational modeling and implications to fatigue damage

Abstract The evolution of stresses inside the native inclusion particles in silicon carbide (SiC) particulate reinforced aluminum (Al) matrix composites is studied computationally by recourse to the finite element method. It is motivated by the experimental findings that inclusion fracture serves as the fatigue crack initiation in such types of composite materials. The analyses were performed for a simplistic model, with the inclusion embedded within a homogeneous material bearing the properties of Al/SiC mixture, and a refined model, with the inclusion, Al matrix and SiC particles specifically included. The simplistic model was found to be able to predict the stress enhancement in the inclusion that is consistent with the measured propensity of fatigue crack initiation when elasticity dominates. When plastic yielding occurs, the simplistic model failed to predict the experimental trend due to its inability to capture the highly non-uniform plastic flow field within the Al matrix. The refined three-phase model is needed for the plastic analysis. Implications of the present findings to general numerical modeling of composite materials are discussed.
Cosmetic aspects of cranial reconstruction

Cranial reconstruction has evolved to achieve both functional coverage and esthetic appearance. Hair preservation/reconstruction and free flaps have markedly improved the soft tissue esthetic outcome. Restoration of bony contour has been facilitated by advanced craniofacial techniques and three-dimensional alloplast.
Tier 3 specialized writing instruction for students with dyslexia

Two instructional experiments used randomized, controlled designs to evaluate the effectiveness of writing instruction for students with carefully diagnosed dyslexia, which is both an oral reading and writing disorder, characterized by impaired word decoding, reading, and spelling. In Study 1 (4th to 6th grade sample and 7th to 9th grade sample), students were randomly assigned to orthographic or morphological spelling treatment but all students were taught strategies for planning, writing, and reviewing/revising narrative and expository texts. Both treatments resulted in improvement on three measures of spelling and one measure of composition. Morphological treatment resulted in better improvement in spelling pseudowords, whereas orthographic treatment resulted in better improvement in rate of reading pseudowords. In Study 2 (4th to 6th grade sample), students were randomly assigned to explicit language treatment (phonological working memory + phonological-orthographic spelling + science report writing training) or nonverbal problem solving treatment (virtual reality-based computer simulation, drawing maps, and building clay models). Both treatments used science content material and resulted in significant improvement in spelling and reading pseudowords (accuracy and rate). The surprising finding was that hands-on, engaging science problem solving led to more improvement in phonological working memory than did specialized phonological instruction. Only when spelling instruction emphasized orthography or morphology (Study 1) did real word spelling improve.
Double-stranded RNA from HeLa cell nuclei inhibits initiation of protein synthesis.

Abstract Double-stranded RNA from HeLa cell nuclei was isolated and purified using chromatography on CF-11 cellulose columns. Analysis by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that the [3H]uridine-labeled RNA had a molecular size slightly greater than that of transfer RNA. The double-stranded RNA was a potent inhibitor of initiation of protein synthesis, as measured in rabbit reticulocyte lysates in vitro.
In vivo reduction of cyclopropane by Azotobacter vinelandii nitrogenase

NITROGENASE from N2-fixing aerobes such as Azotobacter vinelandii is stable to air in crude extracts but on fractionation into its two protein components, Fe–Mo protein and Fe protein it manifests the O2 sensitivity characteristic of other nitrogenases1. This difference between the air-stable and air-labile forms of the enzyme has been ascribed to various causes2–4. More generally, the incompletely defined correlations between in vivo and in vitro nitrogenase function with respect to optimal component ratio5, local pH6, ATP stoichiometry7, reductant8, catalytic behaviour4,9 and other important enzymatic parameters are a source of ambiguity in biochemical studies on the cell-free enzyme. In principle, effects from changes in many of these parameters can be studied by parallel in vivo and in vitro substrate reduction and inhibition studies. In practice10, restrictive limitations are imposed by the paucity of nitrogenase substrates that are at once (1) well bound, (2) capable of diagnostically complex chemical interactions, and (3) compatible with function of the enzyme in living microorganisms. For example, among known substrates other than N2 itself, C2H2 is deficient in reduction complexity10, HCN is excluded by its cytotoxicity and acrylonitrile, which displays interesting product patterns11, is a poor substrate12. Recently, cyclopropene was shown to undergo ATP-dependent nitrogenase-catalysed reduction to propene and cyclopropane in vitro13. The product ratio of ∼2:1 alkene:cycloalkane was found to be insensitive to purification over a specific activity range of 40–1,200 in conventional assay conditions. We report here results of further nitrogenase-cyclopropene investigations which establish that: (1) nitrogenase in living A. vinelandii catalyses cyclopropene reduction to the products observed in vitro in the same ∼2:1 ratio; the Km for formation of either product is very similar if not identical to that obtained with cell-free enzyme; (2) with purified components (specific activity up to 2,000) at optimal stoichiometry, the Km for formation of the reduction products (propene and cyclopropane) is 0.01 atm, corresponding to a molar Km as low as that of N2 (and C2H2). These findings strengthen the case for catalytic similarity between in vivo and in vitro nitrogenase. Conversely, they substantiate the importance of cyclopropene product ratio as a chemical probe for the enzyme and as an important new criterion for nitrogenase biomimetic chemistry.
Fibroblast growth factor levels in the whole embryo and limb bud during chick development.

Abstract A growth factor with properties very similar to fibroblast growth factor (FGF) was detected in the yolk and white of unfertilized chick eggs, and in the limb buds and bodies of Day 2.5 (stage 18)-13 chick embryos using two complementary and highly sensitive biological assays—competition of 125I-a-FGF binding to the FGF receptors of 3T3 cells and stimulation of DNA synthesis in MM14 cells, a permanent mouse skeletal muscle cell line that is dependent upon FGF for proliferation. Further evidence of the similarity of this growth factor to FGF is provided by the finding that biological activity is lost when the material is bound to a heparin-Sepharose column and restored upon elution with 2.5 M NaCl; the 2.5 M NaCl fraction from Day 12 embryos contains several polypeptides of apparent molecular weights 12,500–17,500. The level of FGF in the embryonic chick body is fairly constant between Days 2.5 and 6 (stages 18–29), ranging between 1 and 2 ng FGF/mg protein; but thereafter the level increases so that by Day 13 the body contains about 15 ng FGF/mg protein. In contrast, the level of FGF in the limb bud is higher than that in the rest of the body until Day 5 (stage 27); it then undergoes a transient decrease between Days 6 and 7, after which it increases but remains below the level observed in the remainder of the body.
Management of grape pests in central California vineyards. 1. Cultural and chemical control of Platynota stultana on grapes.

In central California vineyards the populations of Platynota stultana Walshingham were suppressed by manipulating various cultural and farm sanitation practices. The collection and destruction of leftover bunches hanging on the vines and rotten bunches and trash on the ground were of critical importance. Among the various chemicals tested, the more effective insecticides against P. stultana were methomyl, trichlorfon, Imidan® ( O, O -dimethyl phosphorodithioate S -ester with N -(mercaptomethyl) phthalimide), carbaryl + naled mixture, and azinphosmethyl. The mid-season (July) treatment seemed to be slightly more effective than the late-season (August) treatment. A management strategy employing cultural practice, and selective use of effective chemicals is suggested.
An ab initio study of the structure and bonding of pralidoxime and its conjugate base

Abstract The pralidoxime (2-PAM) cation and its conjugate base have been studied by ab initio methods. Properties computed include their detailed molecular structures, as well as the number and structures of all conformers formed by rotation about double bonds, the number of conformers formed by rotation about single bonds, the relative energy differences between conformers of both species and between species, and the charge distributions of both species. Each property was computed in both the STO-3G and 3-21G basis sets. The results show that the conjugate base exhibits a structure much different from that of pralidoxime itself. The former is found to possess two stable conformers while the latter has three. The positive charge in pralidoxime is largely concentrated on the methyl group, while the nitrogen is negatively charged. The conformational energies in both species arise from a combination of steric and stereoelectronic effects.
Effect of propylthiouracil and thyroid-stimulating hormone on glucose oxidation in rat thyroid tissue.

Previous observations that small amounts of propylthiouracil increased the uptake of radioiodine and the consumption of oxygen by rat thyroid slices led to study of the effect of propylthiouracil on the metabolism of C14 labeled glucose. A high concentration of propylthiouracil (10−3M) in the medium diminished the production of C14O2 by rat thyroid slices, at 1 hour, from both glucose-1-C14 and glucose-6-C14. However, with small doses of propylthiouracil (10−8M), the production of C14O2 from glucose- 6-C14 was markedly stimulated (10-fold; P<0.001) whereas the production of C14O2 from glucose-1-C14 was still inhibited (P<0.001). Thyrotropin stimulated the oxidation of glucose-1-C14 to C14O2 but had no significant effect on the production of C14O2 derived from glucose-6-C14. The results suggest that small amounts of propylthiouracil stimulate the production of C14O2 from glucose-6- C14 by modifying the various pathways of carbohydrate metabolism in rat thyroid slices (possibly by a stimulation of the Embde...
A Perhaps "Politically Incorrect" Solution to the Very Real Problem of Grade Inflation

Few would disagree that grade inflation is a major problem at colleges and universities across the country. In this article, I argue that a significant contributing factor-perhaps the single most important factor-has been the institution of the now almost universal practice of administering anonymous, multiple-choice student evaluations of instruction at the end of most courses. I argue that the process has been examined incorrectly from a short-term perspective-whether there is a correlation between the grades an instructor gives and instructor evaluations in a particular course. The problem must be addressed from a much broader academic cultural perspective.
Synthesis of the orienticin C M(2–4) macrocycle utilizing a nucleophilic aromatic substitution strategy

Abstract The synthesis of the fully functionalized M(2–4) macrocyclic orienticin C subunit 5 is described utilizing a intramolecular nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction.
Oscillations of a Monsoon System. Part I. Observational Aspects

Abstract In this paper the elements of a monsoon system are defined, and its oscillations are determined from spectral analysis of long observational records. The elements of the monsoon system include pressure of the monsoon trough, pressure of the Mascarene high, cross-equatorial low-level jet, Tibetan high, tropical easterly jet, monsoon cloud cover, monsoon rainfall, dry static stability of the lower troposphere, and moist static stability of the lower troposphere. The summer monsoon months over India during normal monsoon rainfall years are considered as guidelines in the selection of data for the period of this study. The salient result of this study is that there seems to exist a quasi-biweekly oscillation in almost all of the elements of the monsoon system. For some of these elements, such as the surface pressure field, monsoon rainfall, low-level cross-equatorial jet and monsoon cloudiness, the amplitude of this oscillation in quasi-biweekly range is very pronounced. For the spectral representati...
Utilization of comprehensive geriatric assessment in cancer patients

Abstract A growing and diverse aging population, recent advances in research on aging and cancer, and the fact that a disproportional burden of cancer still occurs in people aged 65 years and older have generated great interest in delivering better cancer care for older adults. This is particularly true as more survivors of cancer live to experience cancer as a chronic disease. Cancer and its treatment precipitate classic geriatric syndromes such as falls, malnutrition, delirium, and urinary incontinence. Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA), by taking all patient's needs into account and by incorporating patient's wishes for the level of aggressiveness of treatment, offers a model of integrating medical care with social support services. It holds the promise of controlling health care costs while improving quality of care by providing a better match of services to patient needs. Three decades after the CGA was initially developed in England, oncologists have begun taking notice on the potential benefits that CGA might bring to the field of geriatric oncology. This article describes the utilization of the CGA in cancer patients with an eye toward promoting interdisciplinary care for older cancer patients. To set an initial context, a search of computerized databases took place, using “comprehensive geriatric assessment” and “cancer” as keywords. A selection of literature from between 1980 and 2003 was reviewed. Additional articles were identified through the bibliography of relevant articles.
Safety Performance Function Development for Analysis of Bridges

Bridges are an integral infrastructure component and, as such, have been the subject of extensive research efforts related to structural performance. However, there has been little study on the traffic safety performance of bridges, which have very different physical and operational characteristics compared with regular roadway facilities. This study develops safety performance functions (SPFs) for overall vehicle crashes and single-vehicle crashes occurring on major highway bridges in Alabama. The bridge characteristic data and crash information are obtained from three different databases. Geographic information systems (GIS) are used to spatially represent bridges as vectors and associate crashes to the bridges based on location attributes from the crash data. SPFs of several functional forms are developed and investigated for identifying the best model using negative binomial regression. The models are validated by comparing their relative predictive capabilities. This paper recommends models that fit the Alabama data well. These models can be used for estimating the expected number of crashes on bridges along major highways in Alabama.
Mesostriatal dopamine markers in aged Long-Evans rats with sensorimotor impairment

Changes in the mesostriatal dopamine system associated with normal aging are observed in both human and laboratory animals, but the specific behavioral consequences of these nonpathological changes are largely unexplored. The present study (a) assessed the effects of normal aging on markers for the mesostriatal dopamine system, and (b) examined the relationship of age-related changes in this system to decline in reaction time performance. Decreased levels of midbrain dopamine (DA) and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) were observed in the aged rats as compared to young, but there was no evidence for age-related changes in the density of D1 or D2 receptor binding or the density of dopamine uptake sites. Some differences were observed when the aged rats were grouped according to reaction time performance. Aged RT-unimpaired rats exhibited higher density of D1 binding in rostrodorsal striatal patch areas, but lower overall levels of DA. In caudal striatum, aged RT-unimpaired rats exhibited lower DA and higher DOPAC levels.
Truly independent research? Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS).

Lenzer’s article contains several incorrect statements about the Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS), which was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) under a contract to Duke University Medical Center.1 2 The design of the study was not unilaterally chosen by the investigators at Duke University: it was selected by NIMH on the basis of the recommendations of …
A 17,000-year glacio-eustatic sea level record: influence of glacial melting rates on the Younger Dryas event and deep-ocean circulation

Coral reefs drilled offshore of Barbados provide the first continuous and detailed record of sea level change during the last deglaciation. The sea level was 121 ± 5 metres below present level during the last glacial maximum. The deglacial sea level rise was not monotonic; rather, it was marked by two intervals of rapid rise. Varying rates of melt-water discharge to the North Atlantic surface ocean dramatically affected North Atlantic deep-water production and oceanic oxygen isotope chemistry. A global oxygen isotope record for ocean water has been calculated from the Barbados sea level curve, allowing separation of the ice volume component common to all oxygen isotope records measured in deep-sea cores.
Malfunctioning and Infected Tunneled Infusion Catheters: Over-the-Wire Catheter Exchange versus Catheter Removal and Replacement

Abstract Purpose To compare the safety and effectiveness of over-the-wire catheter exchange (catheter-exchange) with catheter removal and replacement (removal-replacement) at a new site for infected or malfunctioning tunneled infusion catheters. Materials and Methods Using a quality assurance database, 61 patients with tunneled infusion catheters placed during the period July 2001 to June 2009 were included in this study. Patients receiving hemodialysis catheters were excluded. Catheter-exchange was performed in 25 patients, and same-day removal-replacement was performed in 36 patients. Data collected included demographic information, indication for initial catheter placement and replacement, dwell time for the new catheter, and ultimate fate of the new device. Statistical comparisons between the two cohorts were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier technique and Fisher exact test. Results Catheters exchanged over the wire remained functional without infection for a median of 102 days (range, 2–570 days), whereas catheters removed and replaced were functional for a median 238 days (range, 1–292 days, P = .12). After catheter replacement, there were 11 instances of subsequent infection in the catheter-exchange group and 7 instances in the removal-replacement cohort, accounting for infection rates of 4.4 and 2.3 per 1,000 catheter days ( P = .049). Patients in the catheter-exchange group had 3.2 greater odds of infection compared with patients in the removal-replacement group. Five malfunction events occurred in each group, accounting for 2.0 and 1.7 malfunctions per 1,000 catheter days in the catheter-exchange and removal-replacement groups ( P = .73). Conclusions Catheter-exchange of tunneled infusion catheters results in a higher infection rate compared with removal-replacement at a new site. The rate of catheter malfunction is not significantly different between the two groups. Catheter-exchange is an alternative for patients with tunneled infusion catheters who have limited venous access, but this technique should not be expanded for use in all patients. Because of the size of this initial study, further investigation is needed to verify the results in a larger sample size.
Vaginal breech deliveries selected using computed tomographic pelvimetry may be associated with fewer adverse outcomes.

Objective. Vaginal breech (VB) delivery at term remains controversial. Our objective was to compare neonatal and maternal outcomes in VB deliveries selected using computed tomographic (CT) pelvimet...
Designing social translucence over social networks

Social translucence is a landmark theory in social computing. Modeled on physical life, it guides designers toward elegant social technologies. However, we argue that it breaks down over modern social network sites because social networks resist its physical metaphors. In this paper, we build theory relating social translucence to social network structure. To explore this idea, we built a tool called Link Different. Link Different addresses a structural awareness problem by letting users know how many of their Twitter followers already a saw link via someone else they follow. During two months on the web, nearly 150K people used the site a total of 1.3M times. Its widespread, viral use suggests that people want social translucence, but network structure gets in the way. We conclude the paper by illustrating new design problems that lie at the intersection of social translucence and other unexplored network structures.
High-Resolution MR Neurography of Diffuse Peripheral Nerve Lesions

High-resolution MR imaging of peripheral nerves is becoming more common and practical with the increasing availability of 3T magnets. There are multiple reports of MR imaging of peripheral nerves in compression and entrapment neuropathies. However, there is a relative paucity of literature on MRN appearance of diffuse peripheral nerve lesions. We attempted to highlight the salient imaging features of myriad diffuse peripheral nerve disorders and imaging techniques for MRN. Using clinical and pathologically proved relevant examples, we present the MRN appearance of various types of diffuse peripheral nerve lesions, such as traumatic, inflammatory, infectious, hereditary, radiation-induced, neoplastic, and tumor variants.
Prolonged insulin treatment inhibits GH signaling via STAT3 and STAT1.

Growth hormone (GH) and insulin are important regulators of cellular and whole body metabolism as well as somatic growth and body composition. Studies have indicated complex feedback effects of GH on insulin action and of insulin on GH signaling pathways. Previous studies in our laboratory have shown that GH induction of signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT)5B tyrosine phosphorylation is inhibited by prolonged insulin treatment, probably via downregulation of GHR. Here, we find that in rat H4IIE hepatoma cells GH-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of two other STATs (STAT3 and STAT1) was also greatly reduced following prolonged insulin pretreatment compared with that induced by GH alone. In the present work, total STAT5B and STAT1 protein levels were not altered by prolonged insulin treatment. However, prolonged insulin treatment (16 h; 10 or 100 nM) resulted in a 30‐40% reduction of total STAT3 protein, with little change at 0·1 and 1·0 nM insulin. Thus, there is a selective reduction of total STAT3 protein levels by insulin, but only at high concentration of insulin. Basal tyrosine phosphorylated (PY)-STAT3 was also significantly reduced by prolonged insulin treatment, and to a greater extent than total STAT3 protein levels. The inhibitory effect of insulin on total STAT3 protein and basal PY-STAT3 levels was dependent on activation of the MEK-ERK pathway, rather than the PI3K pathway. In contrast, the MEK-ERK pathway did not play a major role in insulin’s inhibition of GH-induced PY-STAT3 and PY-STAT1. The present studies indicate that prolonged hyperinsulinemia, such as that found in some obese patients or patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus, may have profound effects on GH signaling via STAT3 and STAT1.
A formal framework for positive and negative detection schemes

In anomaly detection, the normal behavior of a process is characterized by a model, and deviations from the model are called anomalies. In behavior-based approaches to anomaly detection, the model of normal behavior is constructed from an observed sample of normally occurring patterns. Models of normal behavior can represent either the set of allowed patterns (positive detection) or the set of anomalous patterns (negative detection). A formal framework is given for analyzing the tradeoffs between positive and negative detection schemes in terms of the number of detectors needed to maximize coverage. For realistically sized problems, the universe of possible patterns is too large to represent exactly (in either the positive or negative scheme). Partial matching rules generalize the set of allowable (or unallowable) patterns, and the choice of matching rule affects the tradeoff between positive and negative detection. A new match rule is introduced, called r-chunks, and the generalizations induced by different partial matching rules are characterized in terms of the crossover closure. Permutations of the representation can be used to achieve more precise discrimination between normal and anomalous patterns. Quantitative results are given for the recognition ability of contiguous-bits matching together with permutations.