cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 2561: DNA-PKCS deacetylation by SIRT2 promotes DNA double-strand break repair by non-homologous end joining

DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) plays a critical role in non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), the predominant pathway that repairs DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) in response to ionizing radiation (IR) to govern genome integrity. How DNA-PK is activated in response to DSBs has remained elusive. Here, we show that the SIRT2 sirtuin deacetylase and tumor suppressor directs the activation of DNA-PK through deacetylation of its catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs). SIRT2 deacetylase activity governs cellular resistance to DSB-inducing agents and promotes NHEJ. SIRT2 furthermore interacts with and deacetylates DNA-PKcs in response to IR, which facilitates its interaction with Ku and recruitment to DSBs, thereby leading to DNA-PKcs autophosphorylation and DNA-PK signaling to downstream NHEJ substrates. Moreover, SIRT2 inhibitor sensitizes resistant cancer cells and tumors to IR. Our findings define a mechanism for DNA-PK activation by SIRT2-mediated deacetylation, elucidating a critical upstream signaling event initiating the repair of DSBs by NHEJ to promote genome integrity and govern IR resistance, which can be exploited for improvements in cancer therapy. Citation Format: PamelaSara E. Head, Nagaraju P. Ganji, Shi-Ya Wang, Duc Duong, Hui Zhang, Waaqo Daddacha, Shuyi Li, Nicholas T. Seyfried, David M. Smalley, Ya Wang, Xingming Deng, William S. Dynan, Bassel El-Rayes, Anthony J. Davis, David S. Yu. DNA-PKCS deacetylation by SIRT2 promotes DNA double-strand break repair by non-homologous end joining [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2561.
Effect of acute watermelon juice supplementation on post-submaximal exercise heart rate recovery, blood lactate, blood pressure, blood glucose and muscle soreness in healthy non-athletic men and women

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of a single pre-exercise dose of watermelon juice on submaximal post-exercise heart rate (HR) recovery, blood lactate (BL), blood pressure (...
Using the 4-S Framework to Guide Conversations With Patients About CRISPR

As patients with genetic diseases seek to have healthy biologically connected children, they will undoubtedly turn to trusted health care professionals for guidance. "Doctor, should I enter a clinical trial to edit my embryos?" is likely to become a query posed by patients with genetic illnesses. Physicians need both empathic communication skills and a framework for responding to this question. Applying the 4-S framework to gene editing can guide clinicians' responses to patients' CRISPR queries by facilitating discussion of (1) safety, (2) significance of harm to be averted, (3) impact on succeeding generations, and (4) social consequences.
Cross-border teaching experiences in Canada and the U.S.: A writing teacher reflects

A writing teacher reflects on her professional experiences in the U.S. and in Canada. This personal narrative focuses on the incongruencies the practitioner notices between faculty representation and program recognition in her roles first as a Limited Term Appointment Assistant Professor of Composition and Professional Writing at a Canadian university, and next as a tenure-track instructor of writing at an American college. Programmatic differences are attributed to the historic visibility of American First-Year Composition, greater numbers of faculty, and the increased allocation of resources to program development and faculty support.
Dietary Potassium Attenuates the Effects of Dietary Sodium on Vascular Function in Salt-Resistant Adults.

The influence of dietary sodium and potassium on blood pressure (BP) has been extensively studied, however their impact on endothelial function, particularly any interactive effects, has received less attention. The purpose of this study was to determine if dietary potassium can offset the deleterious effect of high dietary sodium on endothelial function independent of BP. Thirty-three adults with salt-resistant BP (16 M and 17 F; 27 ± 1 year) completed seven days each of the following diets in a random order: a moderate potassium/low sodium diet (65 mmol potassium/50 mmol sodium; MK/LS), a moderate potassium/high sodium diet (65mmol potassium/300 mmol sodium; MK/HS) and a high potassium/high sodium (120 mmol potassium/300 mmol sodium; HK/HS). On day seven of each diet, 24-h ambulatory BP and a urine collection were performed. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was measured in response to reactive hyperemia. Between diets, 24-h BP was unchanged confirming salt resistance (p > 0.05). Sodium excretion increased on both HS diets compared to MK/LS (p 0.05). These data suggest that dietary potassium provides vascular protection against the deleterious effects of high dietary sodium by restoring conduit artery function.
Chromatin remodeler Ino80C acts independently of H2A.Z to evict promoter nucleosomes and stimulate transcription of highly expressed genes in yeast

The chromatin remodelers SWI/SNF and RSC function in evicting promoter nucleosomes at highly expressed yeast genes, particularly those activated by transcription factor Gcn4. Ino80 remodeling complex (Ino80C) can establish nucleosome-depleted regions (NDRs) in reconstituted chromatin, and was implicated in removing histone variant H2A.Z from the -1 and +1 nucleosomes flanking NDRs; however, Ino80C's function in transcriptional activation in vivo is not well understood. Analyzing the cohort of Gcn4-induced genes in ino80Δ mutants has uncovered a role for Ino80C on par with SWI/SNF in evicting promoter nucleosomes and transcriptional activation. Compared to SWI/SNF, Ino80C generally functions over a wider region, spanning the -1 and +1 nucleosomes, NDR and proximal genic nucleosomes, at genes highly dependent on its function. Defects in nucleosome eviction in ino80Δ cells are frequently accompanied by reduced promoter occupancies of TBP, and diminished transcription; and Ino80 is enriched at genes requiring its remodeler activity. Importantly, nuclear depletion of Ino80 impairs promoter nucleosome eviction even in a mutant lacking H2A.Z. Thus, Ino80C acts widely in the yeast genome together with RSC and SWI/SNF in evicting promoter nucleosomes and enhancing transcription, all in a manner at least partly independent of H2A.Z editing.
To sing the songs of pride: Creating an anthem of inclusion

In this season of public health crises and profound social unrest, we can draw inspiration from those who survived hard times and celebrated the American spirit. Here three students in an accelerated nursing program, poised for graduation in the coming year, join their insights and observation on the challenges facing this country with that of the famed troubadour of the Great Depression, Woody Guthrie. As nurses and public health practitioners, we commit to anthems of inclusion and justice for all.
Faculty status: The next generation employment status preferences among millennial LIS students and new librarians at ARL institutions

Abstract Stereotypes regarding employees of the so-called millennial generation suggest that they like to change jobs frequently and prefer flexibility to long-term job stability. Library administrators who assume this stereotype to be true may believe (or assert) that faculty status and the opportunity to earn tenure are not as important to millennials as to older librarians. This belief may even lead administrators to eliminate or phase out faculty status for librarians at their institutions, on the assumption that younger librarians would find professional staff positions more appealing because they don't want to work at the same institution for the six or more years that it takes to earn tenure. This study, which specifically explores questions concerning faculty status and the opportunity to earn tenure, examines the job-status preferences of hundreds of new academic librarians at ARL-affiliated institutions and soon-to-be academic librarians currently enrolled in ALA-accredited master's programs in the United States and Canada. The themes that emerge from the results indicate that job security is an especially strong concern for this population of academic librarians and students, that faculty status and the opportunity to earn tenure are associated with perceived job security, and that that this population views academic librarians' work as being equal to that of “regular” faculty members. Moreover, this study finds that millennial status is not correlated with any particular view about faculty status and the opportunity to earn tenure.
2D material strainoptronics

Here we demonstrate a MoTe2-based photodetector featuring a strong photoresponse (responsivity 0.5 A/W) operating at 1,550 nm in silicon photonics enabled by strain engineering the two-dimensional material. Non-planarized waveguide structures show a bandgap modulation of 0.2 eV, resulting in a large photoresponse in an otherwise photoinactive medium when unstrained. Unlike graphene-based photodetectors that rely on a gapless band structure, this photodetector shows an approximately 100-fold reduction in dark current, enabling an efficient noise-equivalent power of 90 pW/Hz^0.5. Such a strain-engineered integrated photodetector provides new opportunities for integrated optoelectronic systems.
Modeling and simulation of earthquake soil structure interaction excited by inclined seismic waves

Abstract Presented is an application of wave potential formulation (WPF) together with domain reduction method (DRM) to modeling earthquake soil structure interaction (ESSI) behavior in horizontally layered ground under inclined incident seismic waves. Wave potential formulation is used to develop a spatially varying, inclined seismic wave field from incident Primary (P) and Secondary (S) waves that propagate through layered ground. Developed seismic wave field is then used to develop effective forces for Domain Reduction Method that are then used for analyzing ESSI response of a soil structure system. Developed methodology, called WPF-DRM, is verified using analytic solution for a free field response of layered ground subjected to inclined incident waves. Developed WPF-DRM methodology is illustrated through analysis of an ESSI response of a deeply embedded structure, a small modular reactor (SMR) subjected to incident S wave polarized in vertical plane (SV) with variation in inclinations and frequencies. Presented example highlights the influences of incident wave inclination and frequency on ESSI response of analyzed SMR.
Intact landscape promotes gene flow and low genetic structuring in the threatened Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake.

Genetic structuring of wild populations is dependent on environmental, ecological, and life-history factors. The specific role environmental context plays in genetic structuring is important to conservation practitioners working with rare species across areas with varying degrees of fragmentation. We investigated fine-scale genetic patterns of the federally threatened Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus) on a relatively undisturbed island in northern Michigan, USA. This species often persists in habitat islands throughout much of its distribution due to extensive habitat loss and distance-limited dispersal. We found that the entire island population exhibited weak genetic structuring with spatially segregated variation in effective migration and genetic diversity. The low level of genetic structuring contrasts with previous studies in the southern part of the species' range at comparable fine scales (~7 km), in which much higher levels of structuring were documented. The island population's genetic structuring more closely resembles that of populations from Ontario, Canada, that occupy similarly intact habitats. Intrapopulation variation in effective migration and genetic diversity likely corresponds to the presence of large inland lakes acting as barriers and more human activity in the southern portion of the island. The observed genetic structuring in this intact landscape suggests that the Eastern Massasauga is capable of sufficient interpatch movements to reduce overall genetic structuring and colonize new habitats. Landscape mosaics with multiple habitat patches and localized barriers (e.g., large water bodies or roads) will promote gene flow and natural colonization for this declining species.
Bouncing behavior of sub-four minute milers

Elite middle distance runners present as a unique population in which to explore biomechanical phenomena in relation to running speed, as their training and racing spans a broad spectrum of paces. However, there have been no comprehensive investigations of running mechanics across speeds within this population. Here, we used the spring-mass model of running to explore global mechanical behavior across speeds in these runners. Ten elite-level 1500 m and mile runners (mean 1500 m best: 3:37.3 ± 3.6 s; mile: 3:54.6 ± 3.9 s) and ten highly trained 1500 m and mile runners (mean 1500 m best: 4:07.6 ± 3.7 s; mile: 4:27.4 ± 4.1 s) ran on a treadmill at 10 speeds where temporal measures were recorded. Spatiotemporal and spring-mass characteristics and their corresponding variation were calculated within and across speeds. All spatiotemporal measures changed with speed in both groups, but the changes were less substantial in the elites. The elite runners ran with greater approximated vertical forces (+ 0.16 BW) and steeper impact angles (+ 3.1°) across speeds. Moreover, the elites ran with greater leg and vertical stiffnesses (+ 2.1 kN/m and + 3.6 kN/m) across speeds. Neither group changed leg stiffness with increasing speeds, but both groups increased vertical stiffness (1.6 kN/m per km/h), and the elite runners more so (further + 0.4 kN/m per km/h). The elite runners also demonstrated lower variability in their spatiotemporal behavior across speeds. Together, these findings suggested that elite middle distance runners may have distinct global mechanical patterns across running speeds, where they behave as stiffer, less variable spring-mass systems compared to highly trained, but sub-elite counterparts.
Experimental Investigation of Bladed Disk Dynamics at Design Speed Under Synchronous Vibration

This work presents an experimental and computational investigation of a rotating bladed disk excited with air jets. The bladed disk is accelerated through critical speeds corresponding to specific ...
Serum N-Glycome Diversity in Teleost and Chondrostrean Fishes.

Recent advances in carbohydrate chemistry, chemical biology, and mass spectrometric techniques have opened the door to rapid progress in uncovering the function and diversity of glycan structures associated with human health and disease. These strategies can be equally well applied to advance non-human health care research. To date, the glycomes of only a handful of non-human, non-domesticated vertebrates have been analyzed in depth due to the logistic complications associated with obtaining or handling wild-caught or farm-raised specimens. In contrast, the last 2 decades have seen advances in proteomics, glycoproteomics, and glycomics that have significantly advanced efforts to identify human serum/plasma biomarkers for various diseases. In this study, we investigated N-glycan structural diversity in serum harvested from five cultured fish species. This biofluid is a useful starting point for glycomic analysis because it is rich in glycoproteins, can be acquired in a sustainable fashion, and its contents reflect dynamic physiologic changes in the organism. Sera acquired from two chondrostrean fish species, the Atlantic sturgeon and shortnose sturgeon, and three teleost fish species, the Atlantic salmon, Arctic char, and channel catfish, were delipidated by organic extraction and the resulting protein-rich preparations sequentially treated with trypsin and PNGaseF to generate released N-glycans for structural analysis. Released N-glycans were analyzed as their native or permethylated forms by nanospray ionization mass spectrometry in negative or positive mode. While the basic biosynthetic pathway that initiates the production of glycoprotein glycan core structures is well-conserved across the teleost fish species examined in this study, species-specific structural differences were detected across the five organisms in terms of their monosaccharide composition, sialylation pattern, fucosylation, and degree of O-acetylation. Our methods and results provide new contributions to a growing library of datasets describing fish N-glycomes that can eventually establish species-normative baselines for assessing N-glycosylation dynamics associated with pathogen invasion, environmental stress, and fish immunologic responses.
Assistive Technology for People with Acquired Brain Injury

This chapter provides an overview of studies that have evaluated the use of assistive technology with individuals diagnosed with acquired brain injury. The chapter begins with an overview of acquired brain injury and the potential impact on functional skill areas. Following this introduction, an overview of selected research studies examining both low-tech and hi-tech assistive technology interventions for acquired brain injury is presented. This overview of research studies is organized into four categories based on the skill domain targeted for improvement through the use of assistive technology. These categories include cognition, communication, leisure, and vocational skills. The final section of this chapter analyzes the overall outcomes of the four categories of studies reviewed, and presents implications of these findings for practice and for future research.
Capacity utilization and new source bias : evidence from the US electric power industry

Abstract While prior research has shown that new source bias has increased construction costs and delayed the building of new electric power plants, this research explores the empirical question of whether increased operating costs caused by new source bias are larger than the cost savings of newer technology. If new sources do have higher operating costs, an incentive exists to utilize order plants more intensively. Statistical evidence of these differing utilization rates is found.
Is Our Best Good Enough?: Educating End-Users About Licensing Terms

Educating end-users about licensing terms is an on-going systematic activity at most academic research institutions and there have been many methods employed by various institutions to address this concern. Through the use of rudimentary surveys and the responses to these surveys from librarians, content providers, and management providers, this paper outlines some of the ways libraries have been addressing these educational issues, how content providers feel libraries are attempting to meet these needs, and introduces resources from the library marketplace that can help facilitate this educational goal. Finally, best practices for educating users about the contractual agreements are suggested.
Safety versus Secrecy

Safety and secrecy are formulated for a deterministic programming language. A safety property is defined as a set of program traces and secrecy is defined as a binary relation on traces, characterizing a form of Noninterference. Safety properties may have sound and complete execution monitors whereas secrecy has no such monitor.
PURPOSEFUL ACTION AND THE STRIVING FOR THE SACRED

Religion invests human existence with meaning by establishing goals and value systems that potentially pertain to all aspects of a persons' life. A goals approach rooted in personal strivings provides a general unifying framework to capture the dynamic aspect of religion in people's lives. Empirical research on the measurement of spirituality and religion through personal strivings is described. The origins of spiritual strivings in motivational needs theory and in an evolutionary psychology rooted in solutions to adaptive problems faced by our ancestors are discussed
Role of RAI in the management of incidental N1a disease in papillary thyroid cancer.

SummaryBackground Following total thyroidectomy (TT) for papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), pathological assessment can occasionally reveal incidental perithyroidal lymph nodes (LNs) with occult metastases. These cN0pN1a patients often receive radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy for this indication alone. The aim of this study was to determine the central compartment nodal recurrence-free survival in patients treated without RAI compared to those who received RAI treatment. Methods An institutional database of 3664 previously untreated patients with differentiated thyroid cancer operated between 1986 and 2010 was reviewed. A total of 232 pT1-3 patients managed with TT and no neck dissection were subsequently found to have incidental level 6 LNs on pathology. Patients with other indications for RAI, such as extrathyroidal extension and close or positive margins, were excluded. One hundred and four patients remained for analysis. Kaplan–Meier method was used to determine central neck LN recurrence-free survival (RFS). Results The median age of the cohort was 40 years (range 17–83). The median follow-up was 53 months (range 1–211). The median number of positive LNs removed and maximum LN diameter were 1 (range 1–8) and 5 mm (range 1–16 mm), respectively. A total of 67 (64%) patients had adjuvant RAI and 37 (36%) did not. Patients with vascular invasion (P = 0·01), LNs >2 mm (P = 0·07) and >2 positive nodes (P = 0·06) were more likely to be selected for adjuvant RAI therapy. Patients without RAI therapy had similar 5-year central neck LN RFS compared to those treated with RAI: 96·2% vs 94·6%, respectively (P = 0·92). Conclusion There is no difference in the 5-year central compartment nodal recurrence-free survival in patients treated without RAI compared to those who received RAI treatment.
Culture, Contact and the Agency of Appropriation in a 1741 Map of Nagasaki

The concept of “influence,” as it relates to Japanese cartography after the arrival of the Europeans in the middle of the sixteenth century, is reinterpreted as a method through which a mid-eighteenth-century map of Nagasak­i Harbor, held by the James Ford Bell Library at the University of Minnesota, can be analyzed. Through a brief outline of the major historiography surrounding Japanese mapmaking practices from Western academics of the past hundred years, the use of the term “influence” and the power dynamics that underlie such a construction are examined and challenged in an attempt to move beyond the predominant modes of thought surrounding tutelage and uniquely “European” forms of knowledge, particularly in the field of early modern Japanese relations with the West. In addition, Japanese cultural traditions, as alluded to within the Nagasaki map, are fleshed out as a way of indicating Japanese agency in the appropriation of cartographic techniques.
Antigen processing at the molecular level

The recognition of antigen by helper T cells is one of the key steps in the induction of an immune response. Most helper T cells recognize a processed form of antigen; here, Paul Allen reviews the definition of antigen processing and shows that it may take at least three forms which depend upon the antigen and T cells being examined.
The development of an interactive virtual scenography for the opera A Menina da Gotinha De Água

This paper describes the development of the virtual scenography for the opera for choir, narrator and live electronics A Menina da Gotinha de Agua. The objective of the virtual scenography was to substitute the traditional illumination and scenography systems with projections and also introduce an interactive aspect for the visual elements of the stage. The final visual result was a composition of pre-edited videos, real-time interactive animations and pre-made children drawings that were made interactive. The interaction was divided in two parts: a master controller software with graphical user interface and two Reactables (Reactable Live!)[1] with custom software, through which, a master operator and six children could control images and real-time effects. We conclude that the dialogue between the music, choreography and scenography was enhanced by the use of an interactive virtual scenography. Designing the live visuals to highlight each key moment of the musical and literal text increased the general understanding and appreciation of the opera by the public.
Regularity of multiplicative invariants

The group GL e (Z) acts on the Laurent polynomial ring over the field k via its natural action on the multiplicative group generated by the variables . For G a finite subgroup of GL e (Z) with order |G| not divisible by char k we show that the algebra of G-invariants in is regular preciely if G is a reflection group and . HereD is the subgroup of G that is generated by the reflections which are diagonalizable over Z and (Z d ) D are the D-invariants in Z d . The results of some machine computations are also discussed.
DAMson: On distributed sensing scheduling to achieve high Quality of Monitoring

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) are widely adopted to monitor and collect data, such as temperature, humidity etc., from the physical environment. Those sensor readings often exhibit strong spacial-temporal correlations, e.g., sensor readings from nearby sensors tend to be similar, and sensor readings from consecutive time slots are also highly correlated. As in our previous works, we first introduce the concept of Quality of Monitoring (QoM), and further define an utility function to quantify the QoM under different sensing schedules. In particular, the utility function is non-decreasing submodular function which is able to capture the spacial-temporal correlations among sensor readings. The objective of this work is to develop a set of distributed sensing schedules in order to achieve the highest QoM subject to energy constraint (e.g., under fixed working duty cycle). Extensive experiments validate our theoretical results. Notice that most existing works on this topic put their focus on centralized sensing schedule, which is shown to be extremely difficult to implement in large scale networked sensor system.
Purification of chicken intestinal receptor for 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 to apparent homogeneity.

Abstract The chicken intestinal 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptor-like protein has been purified to apparent homogeneity as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis. The techniques employed for the purification include selective precipitation of the receptor by Polymin P (polyethyleneimine) and (NH4)2SO4 and batch adsorption to and selective elution from hydroxylapatite, followed by gel exclusion and DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Finally, the labeled receptor was eluted at a pH of approximately 6.0 on a chromatofocusing column. The protein was purified 6100-fold and the receptor was obtained in 9% yield.
Some statistical relationships between rainfall and runoff

Abstract Relationships are developed between statistical parameters of annual rainfall and those of annual runoff. The transformation of rainfall into runoff is characterized by a single linear reservoir. The relationships are compared with those available in the literature, and can be utilized to describe the statistical distribution of runoff, given the distribution of rainfall. It is shown that, for large carryover, the distribution of runoff always tends to be normal regardless of the distribution of rainfall.
The impact of amniotic fluid volume assessed intrapartum on perinatal outcome.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine the value of routine intrapartum amniotic fluid volume assessment on perinatal outcome. STUDY DESIGN: Patients admitted for labor and delivery who were ultimately delivered between January 1988 and June 1989 with a gestational age ≥26 weeks and who had an intrapartum amniotic fluid index composed the study group. The amniotic fluid index was determined by the four-quadrant technique on admission to labor and delivery. Oligohydramnios was defined as an amniotic fluid index ≤5 cm (n = 170), borderline oligohydramnios as an amniotic fluid index 5.1 to 8.0 cm (n = 261), and normal amniotic fluid volume as an amniotic fluid index 8.1 to 20 cm (n = 336). Nine patients with an amniotic fluid index >20 cm were excluded from data analysis. The oligohydramnios and borderline oligohydramnios groups were compared with the normal group with regard to antenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum variables. RESULTS: The groups had similar maternal age, parity, gestational age at delivery, and antenatal complications. Meconium-stained amniotic fluid occurred significantly less often in the oligohydramnios group compared with the normal group (relative risk 0.67, 95% confidence interval 0.49 to 0.92). However, variable decelerations occurred significantly more often in the oligohydramnios group compared with the normal group (relative risk 1.44, 95% confidence interval 1.12 to 1.87), and cesarean delivery for fetal distress also occurred significantly more often (relative risk 6.83, 95% confidence interval 1.55 to 30.4). There was no difference in Apgar scores or neonatal complications between groups. The efficacy of intrapartum-determined oligohydramnios predicting cesarean delivery for fetal distress gave a sensitivity of 78%, a specificity of 74%, a positive predictive value of 33%, and a negative predictive value of 95%. CONCLUSION: The amniotic fluid index for detecting intrapartum oligohydramnios is a valuable screening test for subsequent fetal distress requiring cesarean delivery.
Predicting fingerprint biometrics performance from a small gallery

Predicting the performance of a biometrics is an important problem in a real-world application. In this paper, we present a binomial model to predict both the fingerprint verification and identification performance. The match and non-match scores are computed, using the number of corresponding triangles as the match metric, between the query and gallery fingerprints. The triangles are formed using the minutiae features. The match score and non-match score in a binomial prediction model are used to predict the performance on large (relative to the size of the gallery) populations from a small gallery. We apply the model to the entire NIST-4 database and show the results for both the fingerprint verification and the identification.
Neuropathology of Trimethyltin: A Proposed Pathogenetic Mechanism

Abstract The pathological changes in the limbic system induced by trimethyltin (TMT) in mouse, rat, and neonatal rats were reviewed and compared. It becomes apparent that there was an inverse pathological pattern between the fascia dentata granule cells and the Ammon's horn CA 3 pyramidal neurons. This inverse pathological relationship could be demonstrated along the septotemporal axis of the adult brain as well as in neonatal nervous system. Thus it becomes apparent that the induction of pathological lesion in the Ammon's horn requires the functional integrity of the granule cells. The hypothesis of “hyperexcitory” and “hyperstimulatory” damage of neurons was proposed. In view that this inverse relationship also exists between the entorhinal cortical cells and the fascia dentate granule cells as well as between the CA 3 and CA 1,2 neurons in the Ammon's horn, a theory on the hyperexcitory cascade between the entorhinal cortex → fascia dentate → CA 3 → CA 1,2 neurons was constructed. The present proposal represents a working hypothesis which helps to explain the various patterns of pathological lesions induced in the nervous system by TMT.
Gas phase hydrogen/deuterium exchange of proteins in an ion trap mass spectrometer

Abstract Electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry (ESI-ITMS) coupled with gas phase hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) exchange is demonstrated to be a useful tool to investigate the gas phase conformations of proteins when coupled with a mechanistic understanding of exchange. We have investigated the H/D exchange of multiple charge states of lysozyme, cytochrome c , ubiquitin, insulin, thioredoxin and melittin with deuterated methanol in the ion trap. This allows a direct comparison of exchange of these well studied proteins under identical conditions. For all proteins except lysozyme, exchange results in some peak broadening but no evidence of distinct conformers is observed. Qualitatively, trends in exchange levels are consistent with prior Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR) experiments. Consistent with mechanistic studies which have shown that amine hydrogens in peptides exchange rapidly, a correlation between the number of amine hydrogens and exchange level is observed. Highest levels of exchange are observed for proteins without disulfide bonds, and for proteins which are protonated on sites other than arginine. Both of these observations are explained by the “relay” mechanism of exchange. These results indicate that a further understanding of both the dynamics of gas phase molecules and mechanisms of exchange are necessary to relate gas phase H/D exchange data more directly to protein conformation.
A Lens-to-Channel Waveguide Solar Concentrator

We present a lens-to-waveguide structure, employing a lens array and tapered channel waveguides. It eliminates decoupling losses for 100% design efficiency, providing up to 5000x concentration under 0.26° incidence angle.
Electric fields enhance miscibility of polystyrene/poly(vinyl methyl ether) blends

How the presence of electric fields alters the miscibility of mixtures has been studied since the 1960s with conflicting reports on both the magnitude and direction of the shift in the phase separation temperature Ts. Theoretical understanding of the phenomenon has been hampered by the lack of experimental data with unambiguously large shifts in Ts outside of experimental error. Here, we address these concerns by presenting data showing that uniform electric fields strongly enhance the miscibility of polystyrene (PS)/poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME) blends. Reliable shifts in Ts of up to 13.5 ± 1.4 K were measured for electric fields strengths of E = 1.7 × 10(7) V/m in a 50/50 PS/PVME mixture. By using a sensitive fluorescence method to measure Ts, the PS/PVME blend can be quenched back into the one phase region of the phase diagram when the domains are still small allowing the blend to be remixed such that Ts can be measured repeatedly on the same sample. In this manner, highly reproducible Ts values at non-zero and zero electric field can be ascertained on the same sample. Our results agree with the vast majority of existing experimental data on various mixtures finding that electric fields enhance miscibility, but are opposite to the one previous study on PS/PVME blends by Reich and Gordon [J. Polym. Sci.: Polym. Phys. Ed. 17, 371 (1979)] reporting that electric fields induce phase separation, a study which has been considered anomalous in the field.
A unified framework for studying parameter identifiability and estimation in biased sampling designs

SUMMARY Based on the odds ratio representation of a joint density, we propose a unified framework to study parameter identifiability in biased sampling designs. It is shown that most of these designs encountered in practice can be reformulated within the proposed framework and, as a result, the question of parameter identifiability can be largely clarified. Estimation of the identifiable parameters is considered and traditional results on the equivalence of the prospective and retrospective likelihoods are extended. Information contained in data on certain identifiable parameters is often very limited. Such parameters can be poorly estimated by the likelihood approach with practically attainable sample sizes, which can substantially affect the estimates of parameters of primary interest. A partially penalized likelihood approach is proposed to address this. Simulation results suggest that the proposed approach has good performance.
Computer-aided diagnosis of dysplasia in Barrett"s esophagus using endoscopic optical coherence tomography

Barrett's esophagus (BE) has become a major health care burden because of its association with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. We have shown that endoscopic optical coherence tomography (EOCT) has a 70% accuracy in the diagnosis of dysplasia (Gastrointest Endosc 2003; 57:AB77). To demonstrate the feasiblity of computer aided diagnosis (CAD) of dysplasia in BE using EOCT digital images, to quantitate/standardize the diagnosis of dysplasia, and to develop algorithms suitable for EOCT surveillance of large areas of Barrett’s mucosa, 106 EOCT images were selected (13 patients from 28 cases) from the clinical study including 68 of non-dysplastic and 38 of dysplastic mucosa. From the digital image stream, the 3 frames immediately preceding impact of the forceps on the tissue were selected to insure close correlation between histology/EOCT image pairs. Computer aided diagnosis by center symmetric autocorrelation (CENS) and principal component analysis (PCA) were used for feature parameter extraction and analysis based on the segmented ROI. Leave-one-out cross-validation was used for classification and finally receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the performance of CAD and the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and accuracy were calculated. The result shows that CAD is able to achieve a higher accuracy than humans for identification of dysplasia in EOCT images. CAD may be of assistance in the EOCT surveillance of large surface areas of Barrett’s mucosa for dysplasia.
Modeling the Effects of Vaccination and Treatment on Pandemic Influenza

In this paper, we demonstrate the uses of some simple mathematical models for the study of disease dynamics in a pandemic situation with a focus on influenza. These models are employed to evaluate the effectiveness of various control programs via vaccination and antiviral treatment. We use susceptible-, infectious-, recovered-type epidemic models consisting of ordinary differential equations. These models allow us to derive threshold conditions that can be used to assess the effectiveness of vaccine and drug use and to determine disease outcomes. Simulations are helpful for examining the potential consequences of control options under different scenarios. Particularly, results from models with constant parameters and models with time-dependent parameter functions are compared, demonstrating the significant differences in model outcomes. Results suggest that the effectiveness of vaccination and drug treatment can be very sensitive to factors including the time of introduction of the pathogen into the population, the beginning time of control programs, and the levels of control measures. More importantly, in some cases, the benefits of vaccination and antiviral use might be significantly compromised if these control programs are not designed appropriately. Mathematical models can be very useful for understanding the effects of various factors on the spread and control of infectious diseases. Particularly, the models can help identify potential adverse effects of vaccination and drug treatment in the case of pandemic influenza.
Computing classically exact diffusion constants using short-time trajectories.

The classical diffusion constant of a point defect in an infinite lattice of binding sites is shown to be expressible as transition-state-theory rates multiplied by dynamical correction factors computed from short-time classical trajectories initiated at the site boundaries. The expression, which results from time differentiating the lattice-discretized mean-square displacement, is valid at any temperature for which the site lattice is well defined. It thus avoids both the time-scale limitations of direct molecular dynamics and the rare-event requirements of standard dynamical-correction methods.
An evaluation of the economic costs and patient-related consequences of treatments for benign prostatic hyperplasia

OBJECTIVE To compare the costs and effectiveness of treatments for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), including watchful waiting, pharmaceuticals (α-blockers, 5-α-reductase inhibitors, combined therapy), transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT), and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). PATIENTS AND METHODS This study used a Markov model over a 20-year period and the societal perspective to evaluate the costs of treatment alternatives for BPH. Markov states include urinary symptom improvement, symptom improvement with adverse effects, or no urinary symptom improvement. For the analysis, patients could remain on their initial treatment, change to a different treatment, have treatment failure that required TURP, or die (all-cause mortality). We used published data for outcomes, including systematic reviews when possible. Costs were estimated using a managed-care claims database and Medicare fee schedules. Costs and effectiveness outcomes were discounted at 3%/year where appropriate. Men (aged ≥ 45 years) with moderate-to-severe lower urinary tract symptoms and uncomplicated BPH were included in the analysis, and results were stratified by age. Outcomes include costs, disease progression, surgery, hospitalization, and catheterization time. RESULTS What is the ‘best’ treatment depends on the value that an individual and society place on costs and consequences. α−Blockers are less expensive than the alternatives, and are effective at relieving patient-reported symptoms. Unfortunately, they have little effect on clinical outcomes and have the highest BPH progression rate. Other treatments have lower disease progression and better clinical outcomes, but are more expensive and entail more invasive treatments, and/or more uncertainty. CONCLUSIONS Treatment decisions are made using a variety of information, including the cost and consequences of treatment. The best treatment depends on the patient's preference and the outcome considered most important. α-Blockers are very effective at treating urinary symptoms but do not improve clinical outcomes, including disease progression, relative to other treatments. TURP remains the ‘gold standard’ for surgical procedures. The desire to avoid TURP or the 2 weeks of catheterization associated with TUMT might affect a patient's treatment decision when symptoms are severe. Therefore, more information about patient preferences and risk aversion is needed to inform treatment decision-making for BPH.
Tetragonal symmetry from superconductivity in orthorhombic YBa2Cu3O7

Abstract A shear transformation has previously been shown to account for the discontinuities or jumps in the crystallographic thermal expansion coefficients across the normal to superconducting transition temperature. The crystallographic stress dependence of the superconducting transition temperature is shown here to also support a shear transformation; d T c /d τ =4K/GPa. The shear motion of the lattice restricts the elastic compliances involved in superconductivity to tetragonal symmetry while considering all nine elastic interactions with the orthorhombic superconducting crystal. The shear transformation has isothermal elastic interactions with the lattice through the orthorhombic shear compliance changes of ( Δs 11 + Δs 22 − 2 Δs 12 ). The onset of superconductivity restricts to a higher symmetry the shear motion of the orthorhombic lattice with Δs 11 = Δs 22 and Δs 23 = Δs 13 across th e superconducting phase boundary. Crystallographic second order thermodynamics predicts that isothermally Δs 11 = - Δs 12 = 1.7 × 10 -15 / Pa . It is shown that the jumps in the elastic compliance matrix are unique functions of the thermal expansion matrix jumps and the heat capacity jumps for any second order phase transition.
Reversible oxygenation of tyrosinase.

Summary When mushroom tyrosinase reacts aerobically with molar equivalents of H2O2, a hitherto unobserved absorption spectrum develops, apparently according to first order kinetics, and then decays. The spectrum has peaks, ɛ345 nm = 10 × 103 MCu−1 cm−1 and ɛ600 nm = 7 × 102 MCu−1 cm−1. Both bands disappear upon deoxygenation, and reappear upon reoxygenation, in a cyclic manner. The reaction system can be interpreted in terms of four states of the enzyme in the reaction: Tr + H2O2 ⇌ T′ ⇌ T″ ⇌ T‴ + O2, where Tr is the resting state, T′ a kinetically necessary intermediate, T″ an oxygenated state, and T‴ the cuprous enzyme.
A simplified method for the determination of volatiles in eggs using headspace analysis with a photoionization detector

Headspace sampling of whole eggs at 50°C was used to determine benzene, toluene, trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, chlorobenzene, ethylbenzene, ortho-, meta-, and para-xylenes as sources of contamination. A 30-m, 0.53-mm ID fused silica capillary column coated with 1.0 μm (5%) methyl silicone attached to a photoionization detector was used to separate and detect the volatiles. The sensitivity of the method was 0.002 μg/mL with an average precision for all nine compounds of 16.5 ±3.1% (n = 10) for a 0.01 μg/ml standard.
The self in autism: An emerging view from neuroimaging

One of the defining characteristics of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is difficulty with social interaction and communication with others, or interpersonal interaction. Accordingly, the majority of research efforts to date have focused on understanding the brain mechanisms underlying the deficits in social cognition and language associated with ASD. However, recent empirical and theoretical work has begun to reveal increasing evidence for altered self-representation, or intrapersonal cognition in ASD. Here we review recent studies of the self in ASD, focusing on paradigms examining ‘physical’ aspects of the self, including self-recognition, agency and perspective taking, and ‘psychological’ aspects of the self, including self-knowledge and autobiographical memory. A review of the existing literature suggests that psychological, but not physical, aspects of self-representation are altered in ASD. One key brain region that has emerged as a potential locus of self-related deficits in ASD is ...
Exploring essential characteristics of self-determination for diverse students using data from NLTS2

This study explored the impact of race/ethnicity on three of the four essential characteristics of self-determination--autonomy, self-realization, and psychological empowerment--directly assessed in the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2. Specifically, the impact of race/ethnicity was examined with six disability groups established in previous research: high incidence disabilities (learning disabilities, emotional disturbances, speech language impairments, and other health impairments), sensory disabilities (visual and hearing impairments), cognitive disabilities (autism, multiple disabilities, and deaf-blindness); intellectual disability, traumatic brain injury, and orthopedic impairments. Measurement equivalence was established across groups, but significant differences in the latent means, variances, and covariances were found suggesting a complex pattern of differences based on race/ethnicity within disability groups. Implications for future research and practice are discussed. Language: en
Periodic Precipitation in the Absence of Colloids.

SEVERAL writers1 have recently discussed periodic precipitation in the presence of gels and other related phenomena. It is the object of this note to direct attention to one of the most important and significant papers2 in this field that appears, however, to have been overlooked.