cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Facebook network structure and awareness of preexposure prophylaxis among young men who have sex with men.

Abstract Background Young Black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) are the only population in the United States who have experienced rising human immunodeficiency virus incidence over the past decade. Consistent pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use can substantially reduce the risk of human immunodeficiency virus acquisition. What differentiates those who become aware of PrEP, and those who do not, remains largely unknown. Methods The social networks of YBMSM can impact their awareness of PrEP; to examine this impact, we used two waves of Facebook data from “uConnect”–a longitudinal cohort study of YBMSM in Chicago (n = 266). Results While PrEP awareness increased from 45% at baseline to 75% at follow-up, its use remained low (4% and 6%). There were 88 PrEP-unaware individuals at baseline who became aware (BA) by follow-up, and 56 who remained persistently unaware. While the persistently unawares had a higher median number of total Facebook friends, the BAs had a higher median numbers of friends who participated in uConnect, who were PrEP-aware, and who practiced behaviors previously found to be associated with individual-level awareness of PrEP at baseline. The BAs also had substantially more “influential” friends. Conclusion These findings demonstrate the potential of social networks in raising PrEP awareness and use among YBMSM.
A Positive Amplification Mechanism Involving a Kinase and Replication Initiation Factor Helps Assemble the Replication Fork Helicase

The assembly of the replication fork helicase during S phase is key to the initiation of DNA replication in eukaryotic cells. One step in this assembly in budding yeast is the association of Cdc45 with the Mcm2-7 heterohexameric ATPase, and a second step is the assembly of the tetrameric GINS ( G G- I chi- N ii- S an) complex with Mcm2-7. Dbf4-dependent kinase (DDK) and S-phase cyclin-dependent kinase (S-CDK) are two S phase-specific kinases that phosphorylate replication proteins during S phase, and Dpb11, Sld2, Sld3, Pol ϵ, and Mcm10 are factors that are also required for replication initiation. However, the exact roles of these initiation factors in assembly of the replication fork helicase remain unclear. We show here that Dpb11 stimulates DDK phosphorylation of the minichromosome maintenance complex protein Mcm4 alone and also of the Mcm2-7 complex and the dsDNA-loaded Mcm2-7 complex. We further demonstrate that Dpb11 can directly recruit DDK to Mcm4. A DDK phosphomimetic mutant of Mcm4 bound Dpb11 with substantially higher affinity than wild-type Mcm4, suggesting a mechanism to recruit Dpb11 to DDK-phosphorylated Mcm2-7. Furthermore, dsDNA-loaded Mcm2-7 harboring the DDK phosphomimetic Mcm4 mutant bound GINS in the presence of Dpb11, suggesting a mechanism for how GINS is recruited to Mcm2-7. We isolated a mutant of Dpb11 that is specifically defective for binding to Mcm4. This mutant, when expressed in budding yeast, diminished cell growth and DNA replication, substantially decreased Mcm4 phosphorylation, and decreased association of GINS with replication origins. We conclude that Dpb11 functions with DDK and Mcm4 in a positive amplification mechanism to trigger the assembly of the replication fork helicase.
The role of anxiety sensitivity-physical concerns in terms of quit day withdrawal symptoms and cravings: A pilot test among smokers with asthma

Objective: The aim of the current study was to conduct secondary analyses of data collected from a study examining a self-guided quit attempt of smokers with and without asthma in order to examine ...
Air Pollution and Breast Cancer: a Review

Purpose of Review Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among US women. Air pollution is a pervasive mixture of chemicals containing carcinogenic compounds and chemicals with endocrine-disrupting properties. In the present review, we examine the epidemiologic evidence regarding the association between air pollution measures and breast cancer risk.
IOP: Corneal Hysteresis

Corneal hysteresis (CH) is a measurement that reflects the viscoelastic properties of the cornea and its biomechanical integrity. Hysteresis is expressed in units of mmHg, just like intraocular pressure (IOP). Unlike IOP, CH shows no significant variation throughout the day [1]. The Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA) (Reichert Corp. Buffalo, NY) is an instrument that measures CH. It uses a rapid air pulse to record two applanation pressures (Fig. 11.1) [2]. One applanation pressure is recorded while the cornea is moving inward, during indentation, and the second is measured while the cornea is moving outward (while recovering from indentation). The difference between the two pressures is CH. These two pressures are different because of corneal resistance properties delaying the inward and outward applanation.
Chemie der Komplement-Faktoren

Die Komplementforschung ist gegenwartig im Stadium einer explosiven Entwicklung begriffen. Nach einem langen Aufenthalt im Gebiet der reinen Serologie ist sie jetzt in den Bereich der Protein- und Enzymchemie vorgedrungen. Von den zehn bekannten Komplementfaktoren sind funf in hochgereinigter Form gewonnen worden. Von mehreren dieser zehn Faktoren kann man mit gutem Grund annehmen, das sie Enzyme darstellen. Es wird daher in absehbarer Zeit moglich sein, die Komplementreaktion als eine Reihe von Enzym-Substratreaktionen zu beschreiben. Heute mussen wir uns allerdings noch mit der Beschreibung von Fragmenten dieser Reaktionskette begnugen. Die nachfolgende Diskussion beschrankt sich auf die ersten sechs Komponenten des Komplementsystems. Zunachst sollen die bisher isolierten Faktoren definiert und ihre Eigenschaften kurz beschrieben werden. Dann folgt ein Versuch, die molekularen Ereignisse zu analysieren, die wahrend der Komplementreaktion an der Zellmembran vorgehen. Auch hier werden nur die ersten sechs Komponenten Berucksichtigung finden.
Maternal ADHD Symptoms and Physical Child Abuse Risk: A Multi-Informant Study

Parents with ADHD may be at increased risk to engage in physical child abuse and, in turn, influence the developing child abuse risk of their children. The present study investigated the connection between maternal ADHD symptoms and their emerging adult child’s physical abuse risk, considering potential paths via maternal child abuse risk, maternal parenting style, and the child’s ADHD symptoms. The sample included 794 emerging adults and 146 of their mothers. Emerging adults and their mothers both reported on the ADHD symptoms of the mother, the ADHD symptoms of the emerging adult child, and the mothers’ parenting style. Each also independently reported on their own physical child abuse risk. Models indicate maternal ADHD predicted emerging adult children’s abuse risk directly and indirectly through the children’s ADHD symptoms but only weakly through parenting style and not through mothers’ child abuse risk. Child abuse risk appears related to ADHD symptoms in both generations, representing an area to address clinically to reduce the intergenerational patterns of child abuse risk.
Assessing Growth in a Diagnostic Classification Model Framework

A common assessment research design is the single-group pre-test/post-test design in which examinees are administered an assessment before instruction and then another assessment after instruction. In this type of study, the primary objective is to measure growth in examinees, individually and collectively. In an item response theory (IRT) framework, longitudinal IRT models can be used to assess growth in examinee ability over time. In a diagnostic classification model (DCM) framework, assessing growth translates to measuring changes in attribute mastery status over time, thereby providing a categorical, criterion-referenced interpretation of growth. This study introduces the Transition Diagnostic Classification Model (TDCM), which combines latent transition analysis with the log-linear cognitive diagnosis model to provide methodology for analyzing growth in a general DCM framework. Simulation study results indicate that the proposed model is flexible, provides accurate and reliable classifications, and is quite robust to violations to measurement invariance over time. The TDCM is used to analyze pre-test/post-test data from a diagnostic mathematics assessment.
In the interest of the public good: Texas pre-kindergarten compulsory law:

In Texas, public-funded pre-kindergarten is important because it provides the most vulnerable children with the opportunity to develop school readiness, so they can learn core competencies in kinde...
Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization (FISH) for Detecting Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) Rearrangement in Lung Cancer: Clinically Relevant Technical Aspects.

In 2011, the Vysis Break Apart ALK fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration as a companion diagnostic for detecting ALK rearrangement in lung cancer patients who may benefit from treatment of tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy. This assay is the current “gold standard”. According to updated ALK testing guidelines from the College of American Pathologists, the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer and the Association for Molecular Pathology published in 2018, ALK immunohistochemistry is formally an alternative to ALK FISH, and simultaneous detection of multiple hot spots, including, at least, ALK, ROS1, RET, MET, ERBB2, BRAF and KRAS genes is also recommended while performing next generation sequencing (NGS)-based testing. Therefore, ALK status in a specimen can be tested by different methods and platforms, even in the same institution or laboratory. In this review, we discuss several clinically relevant technical aspects of ALK FISH, including pros and cons of the unique two-step (50- to 100-cell) analysis approach employed in the Vysis Break Apart ALK FISH assay, including: the preset cutoff value of ≥15% for a positive result; technical aspects and biology of discordant results obtained by different methods; and incidental findings, such as ALK copy number gain or amplification and co-existent driver mutations. These issues have practical implications for ALK testing in the clinical laboratory following the updated guidelines.
Phase II study of pembrolizumab and capecitabine for triple negative and hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative endocrine-refractory metastatic breast cancer.

Background Response rates to single agent immune checkpoint blockade in unselected pretreated HER2−negative metastatic breast cancer (MBC) are low. However, they may be augmented when combined with chemotherapy. Methods We conducted a single-arm, phase II study of patients with triple negative (TN) or hormone receptor-positive endocrine-refractory (HR+) MBC who were candidates for capecitabine. Patients were treated with pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenously day 1 and capecitabine 1000 mg/m2 by mouth twice daily on days 1–14 of a 21-day cycle. The primary end point was median progression-free survival (mPFS) compared with historic controls and secondary end points were overall response rate (ORR), safety and tolerability. The study had 80% power to detect a 2-month improvement in mPFS with the addition of pembrolizumab over historic controls treated with capecitabine alone. Results Thirty patients, 16 TN and 14 HR+ MBC, were enrolled from 2017 to 2018. Patients had a median age of 51 years and received a median of 1 (range 0–6) prior lines of therapy for MBC. Of 29 evaluable patients, the mPFS was 4.0 (95% CI 2.0 to 6.4) months and was not significantly longer than historic controls of 3 months. The median overall survival was 15.4 (95% CI 8.2 to 20.3) months. The ORR was 14% (n=4), stable disease (SD) was 41% (n=12) and clinical benefit rate (CBR=partial response+SD>6 months) was 28% (n=8). The ORR and CBR were not significantly different between disease subtypes (ORR 13% and 14%, CBR 25% and 29% for TN and HR+, respectively). The 1-year PFS rate was 20.7% and three patients have ongoing responses. The most common adverse events were low grade and consistent with those seen in MBC patients receiving capecitabine, including hand-foot syndrome, gastrointestinal symptoms, fatigue and cytopenias. Toxicities at least possibly from pembrolizumab included grade 3 or 4 liver test abnormalities (7%), rash (7%) and diarrhea (3%), as well as grade 5 hepatic failure in a patient with liver metastases. Conclusions Compared with historical controls, pembrolizumab with capecitabine did not improve PFS in this biomarker unselected, pretreated cohort. However, some patients had prolonged disease control. Trial registration number NCT03044730.
Impact of nutrients on photoacclimation of phytoplankton in an oligotrophic lake measured with long-term and high-frequency data: implications for chlorophyll as an estimate of phytoplankton biomass

Chlorophyll measurements are commonly used to estimate phytoplankton biomass. However, phytoplankton readily acclimate to variations in light through a range of phenotypic responses, including major adjustments in chlorophyll pigmentation at the cellular level. The ratio of pigment chlorophyll to carbon concentration (Chl:C) is a commonly used metric in the oceanographic community to explore photoacclimation responses to varied light levels, yet is relatively rare in freshwater studies. Here we explore how nutrient variability impacted summertime Chl:C ratios of a natural phytoplankton community throughout the water column of a stratified oligotrophic lake. We utilized both long-term (18–24 years) and high-frequency (daily) data from Crater Lake, Oregon, a deep mountain lake with little anthropogenic disturbance. As expected, fluctuation in nutrients had a strong impact on phytoplankton particle density, primary productivity, light penetration, and water clarity. However, chlorophyll concentration did not register predictable changes even though the vertical location of the deep chlorophyll maximum was responsive to the overlying algal density. The impact of elevated nutrients on the Chl:C ratio was further complicated by upward shifts in chlorophyll distribution. The muted response of chlorophyll concentration to nutrients may be partially explained by variations in phytoplankton community composition or iron stress.
CHAPTER 22 – REGULATION AND FUNCTION OF PYRIDOXAL PHOSPHATE IN CNS

Pyridoxal phosphate and pyridoxamine phosphate, the catalytically active forms of vitamin B6, influence brain function by participating at stages in metabolism of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, other coenzymes and hormones. Vitamin B6 participates in the metabolism of amino acids in the form of decarboxylation, transamination, deamination, racemization and desulfhydration reactions. The crucial roles that these coenzymes play in the maintenance of functional integrity of the brain become evident when one realizes that some compounds implicated as neurotransmitters are synthesized and/or metabolized by the aid of the vitamin B6-dependent enzymatic reactions. These include dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin, tyramine, tryptamine, taurine, histamine, gamma aminobutyric acid, and even acetylcholine indirectly. In recent years, the above-mentioned biogenic amines have become of considerable interest to neurobiologists who are investigating the etiology and the pathological manifestations of many disorders of the central nervous system such as Parkinsonism, Huntington's chorea, minimal brain disfunction, schizophrenia, depression, sleep disorders and seizure disorders. Vitamin B6 deficiency in these cases is characterized by anemia, growth retardation and alteration in neuronal function, including neuropathies, hyperirritability, hyperexcitability and convulsions. The importance of vitamin B6 in the study of brain function assumes still greater significance when one considers the effects of nutritional deficiencies on growth and development of the brain and mental processes and in the involvement of vitamin B6 in some inborn errors of metabolism which result in mental retardation. Vitamin B6 deficiency results in a lowered concentration of Coenzyme A in blood, in reduced absorption and storage of vitamin B12, and in increased excretion of vitamin C. Furthermore, vitamin B6 acts synergistically with vitamin E to control metabolism of unsaturated fats, with vitamin C in tyrosine metabolism and with niacin in its action and participates in niacin synthesis. In addition, vitamin B6 deficiency results in insufficiency of insulin and in alteration of the functions of adrenal and pituitary glands, since it is involved in the synthesis of growth hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, aldosterone, glucagon, Cortisol, estradiol, testosterone and epinephrine. It is hoped that by understanding the factors that regulate the synthesis, binding, storage and degradation of pyridoxal phosphate in the brain, a better insight into the role of vitamin B6 in neurobiology may be gained.
Frame-Hydrogel Methodology for Engineering Highly Functional Cardiac Tissue Constructs

Engineered cardiac tissues hold tremendous promise for in vitro drug discovery, studies of heart development and disease, and therapeutic applications. Here, we describe a versatile "frame-hydrogel" methodology to generate engineered cardiac tissues with highly mature functional properties. This methodology has been successfully utilized with a variety of cell sources (neonatal rat ventricular myocytes, human and mouse pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes) to generate tissues with diverse 3D geometries (patch, bundle, network) and levels of structural and functional anisotropy. Maturation of such engineered cardiac tissues is rapidly achieved without the need for exogenous electrical or mechanical stimulation or use of complex bioreactors, with tissues routinely reaching conduction velocities and specific forces of 25 cm/s and 20 mN/mm2, respectively, and forces per input cardiomyocyte of up to 12 nN. This method is reproducible and readily scalable to generate small tissues ideal for in vitro testing as well as tissues with large, clinically relevant dimensions.
Vibrational Recognition of Adsorption Sites for CO on Platinum and Platinum−Ruthenium Surfaces

We have studied the vibrational properties of CO adsorbed on platinum and platinum-ruthenium surfaces using density-functional perturbation theory within the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof generalized-gradient approximation. The calculated C-O stretching frequencies are found to be in excellent agreement with spectroscopic measurements. The frequency shifts that take place when the surface is covered with ruthenium monolayers are also correctly predicted. This agreement for both shifts and absolute vibrational frequencies is made more remarkable by the frequent failure of local and semilocal exchange-correlation functionals in predicting the stability of the different adsorption sites for CO on transition metal surfaces. We have investigated the chemical origin of the C-O frequency shifts introducing an orbital-resolved analysis of the force and frequency density of states, and assessed the effect of donation and backdonation on the CO vibrational frequency using a GGA + molecular U approach. These findings rationalize and establish the accuracy of density-functional calculations in predicting absolute vibrational frequencies, notwithstanding the failure in determining relative adsorption energies, in the strong chemisorption regime.
Interventions in Native American communities during an era of assimilation

This “From the Archives” article provides the texts of two articles on Native Americans written in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The first, Alice C. Fletcher’s speech on “The Legal Condit...
Theory of hyper-singular integrals and its application to the Navier-Stokes problem.

In this paper the convolution integrals $\int_0^t(t-s)^{\lambda -1}b(s)ds$ with hyper-singular kernels are considered, where $\lambda\le 0$ and $b$ is a smooth or $b$ is in $L^1(\mathbb{R}_+)$. For such $\lambda$ these integrals diverge classically even for smooth $b$. These convolution integrals are defined in this paper for $\lambda\le 0$, $\lambda\neq 0,-1,-2,...$. Integral equations and inequalities are considered with the hyper-singular kernels $(t-s)^{\lambda -1}_+$ for $\lambda\le 0$, where $t^\lambda_+:=0$ for $t<0$. In particular, one is interested in the value $\lambda=-\frac 14$ because it is important for the Navier-Stokes problem (NSP). Integral equations of the type $b(t)=b_0(t)+ \int_0^t(t-s)^{\lambda-1}b(s)ds$, $\lambda\le 0$, are studied. The solution of these equations is investigated, existence and uniqueness of the solution is proved for $\lambda=-\frac 1 4$. This special value of $\lambda$ is of basic importance for a study of the Navier-Stokes problem (NSP). The above results are applied to the analysis of the NSP in the space $\mathbb{R}^3$ without boundaries. It is proved that the NSP is contradictory in the following sense: even if one assumes that the initial data $v_0(x):=v(x,0)\not\equiv 0$, $\nabla \cdot v_0(x)=0$ one proves that the solution $v(x,t)$ to the NSP has the property $v(x,0)=0$. This paradox shows that the NSP is not a correct description of the fluid mechanics problem and it proves that the NSP does not have a solution.
Does alcohol affect emotional face processing via interoceptive pathways

Abstract Background Our brain uses interoceptive signals from the body to shape how we perceive emotions in others; however, whether interoceptive signals can be manipulated to alter emotional perceptions is unknown. Alcohol has acute effects both on emotional processing and on the physiological substrates supporting interoception. In this registered report, we examine whether alcohol administration triggers physiological changes that alter interoceptive signals and manipulate emotional face processing. Such knowledge will broaden understanding of the mechanisms by which alcohol affects emotional face processing. Methods Participants (n = 36) will be administered an alcohol or placebo beverage. Cardiovascular physiology will be recorded before and after administration. Participants will complete two behavioral tasks in which they view emotional faces presented in synchrony with different phases of the cardiac cycle (i.e., systole, diastole). This manipulation creates an index of how interoceptive signals amplify emotional face processing. Hypotheses We hypothesize that, compared to placebo, alcohol administration will disrupt the cardiac amplification of emotional face processing. We further explore whether this disruption depends on the nature and magnitude of changes in cardiovascular physiology after alcohol administration.
Evaluating Local Health Department Disease Surveillance and Epidemiologic Investigation

A general theme is identified from the papers featured in this Frontiers of PHSSR issue by relating it to the evaluation of local health department (LHD) disease surveillance and investigation activities. The discussion focuses on how the studies in this issue contribute to the extant empirical PHSSR literature on disease surveillance and investigation by (1) highlighting the challenges and constraints to LHD preparedness capacity and response; (2) determining the level and variability among LHDs of implementing disease surveillance systems to help address the surveillance input constraints; and (3) considering the various evaluation methods for assessing LHD surveillance and investigation processes and infrastructure.
Microscopy beyond the diffraction limit using actively controlled single molecules

In this short review, the general principles are described for obtaining microscopic images with resolution beyond the optical diffraction limit with single molecules. Although it has been known for several decades that single-molecule emitters can blink or turn on and off, in recent work the addition of on/off control of molecular emission to maintain concentrations at very low levels in each imaging frame combined with sequential imaging of sparse subsets has enabled the reconstruction of images with resolution far below the optical diffraction limit. Single-molecule active control microscopy provides a powerful window into information about nanoscale structures that was previously unavailable.
Negative Regulatory Elements (NREs)

Negative regulatory elements (NREs) are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequences that repress gene expression. NREs can act locally to repress expression of individual genes, or globally to repress expression of an expansive chromosomal domain. In either case, NREs act as binding sites for specific proteins, which in turn interact with other factors either to block recruitment of ribonucleic acid (RNA) polymerase or to facilitate formation of heterochromatin. Keywords: chromatin; repression; silencing; transcription
The NF-kappa B p50 precursor, p105, contains an internal I kappa B-like inhibitor that preferentially inhibits p50.

Abstract The p50 subunit of NF-kappa B is apparently synthesized as a precursor molecule of 105 kDa (p105); subsequent processing releases the amino-terminal p50 polypeptide with rel homology, DNA binding activity and transcriptional activation potential. The carboxy-terminal region of p105 contains seven copies of an ankyrin-related sequence previously found in several genes involved in differentiation and cell cycle control. Two proteins with I kappa B activity, MAD-3 and pp40, have been cloned and found to contain five obvious ankyrin repeats that align with those in the carboxy-terminus of p105. Both proteins target their inhibitory activity to the p65 subunit of NF-kappa B and to c-rel. Here we show that the bacterially expressed and purified carboxy-terminal region (CTR) of p105 abolishes the binding of p50 homodimers to a kappa B motif but minimally affects the binding of p65 homodimers and NF-kappa B. By contrast, MAD-3 inhibits the binding of p65 and NF-kappa B but not p50. Both the CTR and MAD-3 interact with their respective targets through physical association both in vitro and in vivo. The CTR can be expressed as an independent entity and thus may play two roles, as a cis inhibitor built into the p105 molecule and as a trans regulator of p50.
Application-specific and QoS-aware scheduling for wireless systems

This paper describes how user-specific QoS requirements are a critical innovation that may be used to improve spectral utilization in wireless systems. Rate adaptation and MAC scheduling algorithms that process user-specific QoS to improve system capacity are proposed and evaluated. Through dynamically adapting the AMR codec mode or video data rate and the MAC scheduling algorithm to the user-specific QoS requirements, system capacity, as measured by the number of supportable users, is maximized, while user satisfaction, as measured by the Mean Opinion Score (MOS), is maintained at an acceptable level. OPNET system simulations were performed for a set of VoIP users and video users that were assigned specific QoS target levels. Simulation results show that significant system capacity improvement and acceptable MOS level can be achieved if such user-specific QoS requirements are considered in the rate adaptation and MAC scheduling algorithms.
A brighter future for protein structure prediction.

The most recent critical assessment of structure prediction meeting (CASP3) revealed significant progress in predicting the three–dimensional folds of proteins with unknown structures.
Physiology: Female Flies Have the Guts for Reproduction

Females of many species adjust their diet to support the energetic requirements of egg production. New research shows how, in flies, females remodel their gut and modify gut physiology too.
The Role of Dispersion in the Slaking of Intact Clay

A series of slaking tests was conducted to identify those conditions under which dispersion is the dominant mechanism of clay slaking. Variables investigated were clay mineralogy, adsorbed cation ratios (sodium/calcium), consolidation fluid electrolyte concentration, water content, and slaking fluid electrolyte concentration. All clays with sodium ions occupying more than 10 percent of the exchange complex exhibited a dispersion slaking regardless of other conditions, provided the electrolyte concentration of the slaking fluid was lower than 10 - 3 N. Observed slaking behavior can be classified into four modes: (a) swelling slaking, (b) dispersion slaking, (c) surface slaking, and (d) body slaking.
Controversies in brachial plexus injuries.

This presentation will summarize some of the controversies I found treating these devastating injuries. The brachial plexus injuries are amongst the most challenging cases that a hand surgeon can face in his career. The normal variations of the brachial plexus anatomy, the complexity of the injured poli-trauma patients and the current standard algorithms of treatment can be questioned in light of the functional results. Kerr has shown historically regarding the variation of the normal anatomy of the brachial plexus that must have implications on the clinical evaluation of the patient, electro diagnostics studies and the recovery from an injury. Understanding the hand and the upper extremity as a sensory organ brings a debate about the current algorithm of treatment that prioritizes the motor recovery of elbow flexion, shoulder stability and external rotation over sensory recovery. The latter, unfortunately, has an absence of good treatment options. The evaluation of the patient by MRI and electro-diagnostic studies is also controversial in the setting of high percentage of false positives and false negatives and the above mentioned anatomical variations. Very long and risky microsurgery procedures have been postulated for motor recovery achieving a poor result in many cases. In my practice, a huge patient dissatisfaction after reconstruction of a complete brachial plexus injury is more a rule than an exception. The key factor on this dissatisfaction is the lack of sensation and in some of the cases the inability to regain voluntary control of free muscle transfers that have been connected to intercostal and/or phrenic nerve. Another controversial issue is the presence of de-afferentiation pain. This pain is a central nervous pain that is caused by the avulsion of the rootless from the spinal cord. Unfortunately, no good options are available when this situation becomes chronic. The cost and risk of reconstructing a complete brachial plexus injury cannot be afforded by some medical systems in light of the poor results. I can divide the strategies to treat the complete brachial plexus injuries into the conventional or biological and into non-conventional or technological. In this presentation I will introduce a project I am working on its initial steps. The project is named under bridge, due to the fact that the idea behind is bridging the brachial plexus injury with technological resources. The theory behind is that the brain still has the memory of the affected upper extremity and that the brain activity can be transmitted to an exo-skeleton to provide a motor function. Then an artificial shield that scenes temperature, pressure and motion can transmit this to the sensory area of the brain. For all these, communicating interface are to be created to connect the brain with the exo-skeleton and the sensory shield.
Classification and dynamics of developmental stages in late-successional temperate forests

Late-successional forests often have complex disturbance histories that can result in stands with widely varying structure, ranging from young pole stands to uneven-aged old growth. Arranging stands in chronosequences, however, is problematic because ‘stand age’ is not a meaningful concept for multi-aged stands and ‘time since last stand-replacing disturbance’ often cannot be determined from tree-ring evidence. In this paper, we describe a systematic approach for classifying developmental stages in late-successional forests using structural metrics known to be correlated with key ecological properties such as total biomass, carbon storage, stand production rates, and wildlife habitat. While conceptually based on the amount of aggregate crown area occupied by different size classes of trees, the computations in this study, for ease of use, are based entirely on absolute and relative basal area of four size classes (saplings, poles, mature, and large trees). Eight forest structural stages are recognized, including four stages of old growth (early-, mid-, late-transition, and steady state). The method was used to classify developmental stages of 70 primary northern hardwood stands (Acer–Betula–Tsuga) in large landscape reserves in upper Michigan, USA. The degree to which the developmental stages mimic underlying temporal trends in stand dynamics was investigated with the aid of 30-year permanent plot records in primary forests and multi-century simulations using the CANOPY forest dynamics model. Results indicated good correspondence between the postulated developmental sequence in the 70 field stands compared with CANOPY simulations of structural changes over time and changes observed on the permanent plots. Results support the Bormann–Likens hypothesis that the number of large trees reaches a maximum toward the end of the lifespan of an even-aged cohort and subsequently declines in the steady state. While most of the field plots were uneven-aged, both simulations and field data suggest that developmental pathways of even-aged and multi-aged stands after disturbance are very similar and are difficult to distinguish based on the form of the size distributions. In the study area landscapes, 78% of the stands were classified as old growth, with 39% in early or mid-transition and 39% in late transition or steady state. The method should be useful, with appropriate site-specific modifications, in evaluating the degree to which stands meet structural goals under ecological forestry methods, in monitoring responses to environmental change, and in examining biotic changes along a gradient of structural development following disturbance.
Manipulating Nanoscale Morphologies in Cylinder-Forming Poly(styrene-b-isoprene-b-styrene) Thin Films Using Film Thickness and Substrate Surface Chemistry Gradients

Controlling the nanostructure of self-assembled block copolymer thin films is critical for applications in nanotemplate design, nanoporous membranes, and organic optoelectronics. In this study, we ...
Filament winding cylinders. I - Process model

A model was developed which describes the filament winding process of composite cylinders. The model relates the significant process variables such as winding speed, fiber tension, and applied temperature to the thermal, chemical and mechanical behavior of the composite cylinder and the mandrel. Based on the model, a user friendly code was written which can be used to calculate (1) the temperature in the cylinder and the mandrel, (2) the degree of cure and viscosity in the cylinder, (3) the fiber tensions and fiber positions, (4) the stresses and strains in the cylinder and in the mandrel, and (5) the void diameters in the cylinder.
Regulation of protein synthesis in root, shoot and embryonic tissues of germinating barley during salinity stress

Abstract Protein synthesis during seed germination, a stage vulnerable to salinity stress, was investigated. The responses of barley genotypes, CM72 (California Mariout 72) and Prato, toward salinity were different during seed germination. Germination of CM72 was unaffected up to 0.34 kmol m−3 (2%) NaCl, but that of Prato was reduced 30% by 0.17 kmol m 3 NaCl and 75% by 0.34 kmol m−3 NaCl. Therefore, the former genotype is relatively more salt-tolerant than the latter. Protein synthesis in roots, shoots, and embryos was investigated in these two genotypes before and after salinity stress. The uptake of S-methionine and its incorporation into protein were significantly reduced by salinity in both genotypes. The inhibition of global protein synthesis was significant in roots and shoots. Proteins from different tissues were resolved by single and two dimensional gels. The steady-state protein levels were maintained remarkably well during salinity stress in roots and shoots. Likewise, proteins in germinating embryos were stable except for a 42-kilodalton protein unique to the salt tolerant genotype which was apparently degraded during salinity stress. Salinity, around 0.34 kmol m−3 NaCl, induced both quantitative and qualitative changes in the expression of some proteins labelled in vivo. The quantitative changes included repression or enhancement of synthesis of selected groups of proteins. Around 8% of the nearly 400 resolved proteins in a tissue was affected this way. Some of the proteins in this category were specific to each genotype. About 1 % of the total showed qualitative changes; these proteins were expressed only during salinity stress. In roots, two proteins (28, 41.7 kilodaltons) were detected in CM72 and five (28, 45, 60.5, 76.5, 82.5 kilodaltons) in Prato; only the 28-kilodalton protein was common to both genotypes. In shoots, four proteins (45, 60.5, 76.5, 82.5 kilodaltons) were found only in Prato and these were similar to those induced in roots. The four new proteins (32, 37.5, 89, 92 kilodaltons) in germinating embryos were apparently induced only in CM72; these were distinctly different from those detected in developed roots and shoots. The unique protein changes induced by salinity stress during germination (this study) and seedling growth studies reported earlier (Ramagopal, 1987b) are apparently different. The findings demonstrate that ontogeny plays an important role in the expression of tissue-specific proteins during salinity stress in the salt tolerant and sensitive barley genotypes.
American Welfare Strategies: Three Programs Under the Social Security Act*

In the United States, a single piece of legislation, the Social Security Act, is the major vehicle through which the cash assistance to citizens is provided. This act contains many subprograms, programs so different in concept, administration and programmatic implication that many people do not know that the same piece of legislation makes them all possible. In this paper three programs—“social security,” “unemployment compensation,” and “public assistance”—are examined in a sociohistorical, sociocultural context. The roots of these programs are analyzed, their current operations outlined, and the policy problems currently confronting them are detailed. The ways in which the programs relate to the political mythology of the society is seen as important. Because of the continual conflicts arising out of the administration of public assistance, three special cases involving that program are mentioned.
Toward analysis tools for the engineering process

Rapid development and delivery of high-performance, high-quality new products is the key to survival and success for many firms in today's high technology, global marketplace. However, shrinking time to market for complex, high technology products can be extremely difficult and costly. Even the most successful engineering managers have experienced the escalating costs of overtime, coordination and rework that are so common in fast-track, high technology, product development efforts; and they know the quality problems that can result when coordination breaks down in the face of aggressive—often “impossible”—development schedules.
Estimation of the degree of synchrony in microbial populations.

Abstract The distributions of cell size, cellular division time, and stage of nuclear division were studied in synchronized cultures of C. pyrenoidosa in an attempt to evaluate the effectiveness of the synchronization process. Cell size and stage of nuclear division were not found to be distributed in a manner which would allow their use in a critical evaluation of synchrony in C. pyrenoidosa . The distribution of cellular division time as derived from cell count data was found to possess three measurable parameters (standard deviation, coefficient of variation, and “range coefficient”) which were correlated with the degree of synchrony and were useful in its evaluation. Of the three parameters studied, only the coefficient of variation of division time was found suitable for comparing the degrees of synchrony in cultures which exhibited different mean division times. The algal system studied was found to have a typical peak degree of synchrony characterized by a standard deviation of cellular division time of 39 min with a coefficient of variation of 6.06 per cent and a “range coefficient” of 0.77.
Risky Appeals: Recruiting to the Environmental Breast Cancer Movement in the Age of “Pink Fatigue”

This essay analyzes and contrasts the rhetorical appeals of Breast Cancer Action and Breast Cancer Fund, the two national breast cancer organizations devoted to prevention and environmental activism. Following in the tradition of rhetoric scholars who understand rhetoric as constitutive of its audiences, I elucidate not only how these organizations recruit new audiences to their cause, but who they construct as recruitable. Ultimately, I demonstrate that one of these organizations' rhetorics is successful as constitutive rhetoric (the other's less so), but worry over the political and social actions potentially precluded by its successes. This organization's rhetoric, as I show, retains and thus recirculates many individualistic assumptions and regressive notions of femininity associated with the more mainstream breast cancer movement and, well beyond, with most hegemonic US discourses.
Molecular aspects of the phagocytosis resistance of group A streptococci.

Once the streptococci are ingested by the phagocytic cells, they are almost all killed within minutes (93). Thus, the invasiveness is dependent upon factors which impede the phagocytosis of the bacteria. Streptococci have long been recognized to have two such antiphagocytic factors namely, the hyaluronic acid capsule, and the M protein, a component of the bacterial cell wall. The hyaluronic acid capsule is often shed spontaneously from the organism (19, 51, 58, 61), and is also destroyed readily by factors present in human serum. Therefore, the major antiphagocytic determinant of the group A streptococcus is the M protein.
Actin turnover during encystation in Acanthamoeba.

Abstract A thin-slab, SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis system is described in which actin within whole cell homogenates can be quantitated within a wide range of protein values (0.05–1.4 μg/band). After demonstrating the absence of appreciable contaminants in the actin band, and the lack of appreciable reincorporation of label during pulse-chase experiments, the turnover of actin was examined in pre-labeled cells during normal log growth and during induced encystation in Acanthamoeba. During log growth, no actin degradation was detected. However, as the cells approached the end of log phase growth and entered stationary phase, a dramatic increase in the amount of actin/cell and the percentage of total protein represented by actin was recorded. The encystation process per se was accompanied by a rapid reduction in these values to preencystment levels.
Detection of peripheral blood plasma cells as a predictor of disease course in patients with smouldering multiple myeloma.

SUMMARY. We evaluated the number and labelling index of circulating peripheral blood monoclonal plasma cells (PBPC) in 57 patients with newly diagnosed smouldering multiple myeloma (SMM) to determine if these measurements could distinguish SMM from active multiple myeloma (MM). The PBPC were detected by a sensitive slide-based immunofluorescence procedure that identified PC by their morphology and monoclonal light chain staining. The presence of abnormal PBPC (defined as an increase in number or proliferative rate of circulating monoclonal plasma cells) was correlated with patient status at 6 and 12 months after testing. 16 of the 57 patients progressed within 12 months and 63% of these had abnormal PBPC. In contrast, only 10% (4/41) of those patients who remained stable had abnormal PBPC. The median time to progression for patients with abnormal PBPC was 0.75 years, compared to 2.5 years for those patients without abnormal PBPC (P < 0.01). The detection of PBPC is important and helps to identify patients with active MM when other parameters suggest SMM. The lack of abnormal PBPC suggests SMM, and these patients may have a stable course without the need for immediate chemotherapy.
Anti-windup with Slab-based Scheduling for Systems with Bounded Actuators⋆

Abstract We present an Anti-windup scheme in which once saturation is encountered the nominal controller is replaced with a continuous scheduled family of controllers. In the proposed scheme, when the command to the actuator reaches the saturation limit, based on the system behavior (e.g., the closed-loop state vector or compensator states), the control law selects a member of the family of controllers that provides the best performance while avoiding saturation. As a result, the controller has a quasi linear parameter varying structure. Numerically, the family of the controllers is based on linear splines, and can be obtained by standard LMI software.
Theory of Spin Resonance of Localized Moments in Normal Metals

The rf susceptibility of a normal metal containing one or a small concentration of magnetic impurities is calculated. We use Anderson's model, the Hartree-Fock approximation for the ground state, and the randomphase approximation for the susceptibility. The resulting $g$ shift agrees with other semiphenomenological analyses.
Future directions in training teachers of visually impaired children

Abstract The purpose of this article is to make predictions for the future in training leaders of visually impaired children. These predictions are based on the history of preparing teachers in the education of visually impaired children at Peabody College of Vanderbilt University and the literature regarding training teachers of visually impaired children. The major issues examined in this article include how to train enough teachers to serve the needs of visually impaired children and how to provide teachers with the competencies needed for children with a wide range of abilities.
Accessing the transference relationship through previewing techniques

This paper proposes that in order to understand the etiology of the patient's conflict, the transference should be interpreted from a developmental perspective. The developmental approach examines processes derived from early life interaction. In particular, the paper focuses on aspects of the relationship between caregiver and infant that may be used analogously during analysis to evoke early life developmental phenomena. Developmental phenomena provide information about the caregiver-infant experience, as well as about the representational processes by which the individual has formulated models of the “self” and “other.” Understanding the interpersonal implications of these representational phenomena not only facilitates the interpretation of the transference, overcomes resistance and provides access to the conflict, but may also help the analyst promote more adaptive responses to future change.
Rapid colorimetric assay for intestinal peptide hydrolases

Abstract A simple two-step method is described for quantitating the release of free l -phenylalanine, l -leucine, l -methionine, or l -isoleucine from di- or polypeptides. The colorimetric assay is based on the ability of l -amino acid oxidase to catalyze the oxidation of free l -amino acid, but not of peptides. The potent metal chelator 1,10-phenanthroline, which is included in the second step of the assay, effectively inhibits peptide hydrolase activity thus permitting the assay to be carried out in two sequential steps in the same test tube with no intervening enzyme-destroying step. Although the assay is indirect and subject to interference by some chemicals, it is not affected by a large number of compounds frequently used in enzyme studies. The method was used to study the subcellular distribution of a number of peptide hydrolase activities in rat intestinal mucosa. For nine substrates, more than 80% of the total recovered activity was present in the cytoplasmic fraction while for two substrates, phenylalanylglycine and phenylalanylglycylglycine, more than 60% of the activity recovered was present in the particulate fraction.