cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Accuracy of marginal fit and axial wall contour for lithium disilicate crowns fabricated using three digital workflows.

Abstract Statement of problem Comparative assessment of the effectiveness of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) technologies used to fabricate complete-coverage restorations is needed. A quantitative assessment requires precise documentation of the marginal adaptation and external surface contour of fabricated restorations. Limited information is currently available regarding the effects of milling mode on marginal adaptation and reproduction of the external surface contour for CAD-CAM–fabricated restorations. Purpose The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the outcomes for 3 different digital workflows on the marginal gap and the external surface contour reproducibility of CAD-CAM–fabricated lithium disilicate complete-coverage restorations. Material and methods Twelve Ivorine molars were prepared to receive lithium disilicate crowns. The preparations were digitally recorded using 2 intraoral scanners (TRIOS 3; 3Shape A/S and Planmeca PlanScan; E4D Technologies), and the restorations were designed using their associated design software with reference to the anatomy of an unprepared tooth. The designed restorations were then manufactured from lithium disilicate blocks using a 3-axis milling machine. Twelve restorations were manufactured using the detailed mode (Planmeca PlanScan detailed mode [PPD-D]), and 12 using the standard mode for the Planmeca system (Planmeca PlanScan standard mode [PPD-S]). Restorations from the 3Shape system were fabricated using the detailed mode (TRIOS 3Shape detailed mode [T3S-D]). The restorations were secured on their associated preparation with an elastomeric material. The marginal gap of each restoration was then measured in the ImageJ software using images captured by a stereo microscope at ×20 magnification. External surface reproducibility was evaluated by measuring undercut at 4-line angles using a dental surveyor. Differences in the marginal gaps of restorations fabricated using the 3 different workflows were compared by Brown-Forsythe robust ANOVA, followed by a post hoc test (α=.05). Chi-square analysis (α=.05) was used to evaluate differences in the contours of the external surface of the restorations, resistance form, and marginal integrity produced using the 3 workflows. Results The mean marginal gap for restorations fabricated using the T3S-D workflow was 60 μm, a distance significantly lower (P Conclusions Restorations fabricated using the T3S-D workflow produced the smallest marginal gap. However, reproducibility of the external surface contour for this workflow was the worst of the three workflows analyzed.
Optically Accessible MEMS Resonant Mass Sensor for Biological Applications

Resonant measurement of mass has emerged as a powerful tool for cellular characterization in biological and medical research. For application in clinical diagnostics and development, in pursuit of large volumes of sample data, microfluidics become an essential conveyor for serial measurement. The nature of channel fabrication within a resonant structure often prohibits optical characterization and manipulation methods within its inner volume due to the opacity of constituent materials. This perpetuates a lost opportunity for simultaneous investigation with important optical techniques, including laser trapping, fluorescent microscopy, flow cytometry, and many other critical approaches. In an attempt to unify these technologies, we seek to maintain the optical availability of samples as they undergo resonant mass measurement. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the resulting device is the first optically-clear fluidic-enabled resonant structure that is scalable for large cellular study. As such, this paper describes the integrated sensor and its supporting system, accompanied by important specifications and metrics. [2018-0278]
Finite Gröbner bases in infinite dimensional polynomial rings and applications

Abstract We introduce the theory of monoidal Grobner bases, a concept which generalizes the familiar notion in a polynomial ring and allows for a description of Grobner bases of ideals that are stable under the action of a monoid. The main motivation for developing this theory is to prove finiteness results in commutative algebra and applications. A basic theorem of this type is that ideals in infinitely many indeterminates stable under the action of the symmetric group are finitely generated up to symmetry. Using this machinery, we give new streamlined proofs of some classical finiteness theorems in algebraic statistics as well as a proof of the independent set conjecture of Hosten and the second author.
CiteSeerX: 20 years of service to scholarly big data

We overview CiteSeerX, the pioneer digital library search engine, that has been serving academic communities for more than 20 years (first released in 1998), from three perspectives. The system perspective summarizes its architecture evolution in three phases over the past 20 years. The data perspective describes how CiteSeerX has created searchable scholarly big datasets and made them freely available for multiple purposes. In order to be scalable and effective, AI technologies are employed in all essential modules. To effectively train these models, a sufficient amount of data has been labeled, which can then be reused for training future models. Finally, we discuss the future of CiteSeerX. Our ongoing work is to make CiteSeerX more sustainable. To this end, we are working to ingest all open access scholarly papers, estimated to be 30-40 million. Part of the plan is to discover dataset mentions and metadata in scholarly articles and make them more accessible via search interfaces. Users will have more opportunities to explore and trace datasets that can be reused and discover other datasets for new research projects. We summarize what was learned to make a similar system more sustainable and useful.
Use of Linear Programming to Find an Envy-Free Solution Closest to the Brams–Kilgour Gap Solution for the Housemates Problem

Although the Gap Procedure that Brams and Kilgour (2001) proposed for determining the price of each room in the housemates problem has many favorable properties, it also has one drawback: Its solution is not always envy-free. Described herein is an approach that uses linear programming to find an envy-free solution closest (in a certain sense) to the Gap solution when the latter is not envy-free. If negative prices are allowed, such a solution always exists. If not, it sometimes exists, in which case linear programming can find it by disallowing negative prices. Several examples are presented.
Verification and Optimization of Single Phase Solid Solution Rule in High Entropy Alloys

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) with single face-centered cubic (FCC) structures always exhibit excellent ductility, and those with a single body-centered cubic (BCC) structure exhibit high strength. The mixture of FCC and BCC structures contributes to a synergy of strength and ductility. Thus, investigating the formation rules of different structures in HEAs is beneficial for obtaining the desired HEA composition. In this article, several HEAs were designed and prepared to verify the pure single-phase solid-solution rule, i.e., δ 8 for single FCC solid solution and δ 12.47 J mol−1 K−1, while for the other HEAs, the critical values of the rule will be extended.
Is there an association between body mass index and 21-gene recurrence score?

Abstract Purpose The 21-gene recurrence score (RS) is an established predictor of recurrence for early stage, hormone receptor positive breast cancer. The association between RS and other risk factors such as obesity has not been fully explored. We hypothesized that patients with obesity may present with primary breast cancers with higher recurrence scores. Methods We identified 1546 patients who have body mass index (BMI) recorded around the time of RS assay. Obesity was classified as per CDC definitions of overweight (BMI 25–30 kg/m2) and obesity (BMI >30 kg/m2). RS was assessed as a continuous variable and according to pre- and post-TAILORx classifications. Kaplan Meier survival analysis was employed to assess the interaction between RS and BMI on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Results In univariate analyses, the median RS in patients with overweight was 15, which was significantly lower than the median RS (16) of patients with normal weight (p = 0.03). The overall recurrence rate of patients with obesity was 4.1%, which was significantly worse than the overall recurrence rate of patients with normal and overweight of 2.6% and 1.5%, respectively (p = 0.05). In multivariate analyses using the inverse probability weighted regression adjustment (IPWRA) method to adjust for imbalances between subgroups, patients with overweight or obesity had significantly lower RS than patients with normal weight, correlating to an average decrease in RS value of 2.37 and 1.71, respectively (both p Conclusion Tumors in post-menopausal women with higher BMI generally have lower RS. DFS is significantly worse in women with obesity whose RS ≥ 30. The reasons for poor outcomes for postmenopausal patients with obesity despite lower presenting RS merits further study.
Distribution-Free Multisample Tests Based on Optimal Matchings With Applications to Single Cell Genomics

In this article, we propose a nonparametric graphical test based on optimal matching, for assessing the equality of multiple unknown multivariate probability distributions. Our procedure pools the ...
Women’s Leadership and Political Opportunity Structures

Simone de Beauvoir’s The Second Sex (1949) was published seventy years ago at the outset of second-wave feminism and presented a celebrated philosophical and meticulous study of women in their contemporary and historic(al) situations from various angles, such as psychoanalytical, historical, literary, and biological. De Beauvoir analyzes the feminine myth as it appears in works of famous writers highlighting that each separate author contributes to the great collective myth of women. In works of thinkers she chooses to interpret, the woman appears as a privileged Other. Women, according to de Beauvoir, belonged to this category for centuries: “she is the Other in a totality of which the two components are necessary to one another.” The Otherness is usually a hostile entity, as it is perceived by various social strata; De Beauvoir acknowledges a woman of letters and femme philosophe Olympe de Gouges (1748–1793) as one of those wo/men who dared to protest against their harsh destiny and unjust position. Gouges is known not only for her book The Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen (1791), but also as one of the first advocates who defended women’s human rights and victims of injustice, and for demanding the emancipation of slaves.
Abstract 126: Differential Effects of Respectively Blocking Two BET Bromodomains on Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotype Transformation

Introduction: Intimal hyperplasia (IH) occurs primarily due to vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) transformation from quiescent to pathogenic phenotypes (e.g. proliferation and inflammation). Identi...
Itch: epidemiology, clinical presentation, and diagnostic workup.

Itch, or pruritus, is the uncomfortable sensation underlying the desire to scratch. Itch is a very common complaint in the general population that can result from dermatologic, systemic (e.g. renal, hepatobiliary, endocrine), paraneoplastic, neuropathic, and psychogenic etiologies. Chronic itch is associated with significant sleep disturbances and profoundly reduces overall quality of life. Certain populations including the elderly and African Americans are at increased risk of suffering a heightened burden of itch. Due to the variable clinical presentation and wide-ranging etiologies, itch presents a challenge for clinicians. Initial evaluation should include a complete blood count with differential, hepatic, renal, and thyroid function testing along with diabetes screening. Further testing should be guided by history and physical examination findings. There should be a heightened concern for underlying malignancy in individuals greater than age 60 with history of liver disease, and diffuse itch less than 12 months in duration. For individuals with chronic pruritus of unknown origin, increased blood eosinophils may serve as a biomarker of Th2 polarization and response to immunomodulator therapies. In the first article of this 2-part continuing medical education series, we describe the broader epidemiology, specific conditions associated with itch, clinical presentation, and diagnostic workup for itch patients.
Electrophoretic Distribution of the Proteins and Glycoproteins of Influenza Virus and Sendai Virus

The proteins of influenza (WSN) and Sendai virus have been separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis into five components. In both cases, three of these components were shown to be glycoproteins containing fucose, galactose, and glucosamine. Two protein components of each virus were probably free from these sugar residues, including the structural unit of the viral ribonucleoprotein (molecular weight of about 60,000 daltons).
7 Settlement, Territory, and the Political Landscape of Late Bronze Age Polities in the Northern Levant

By bringing together analysis of cuneiform texts and archaeological settlement data, I offer new perspectives on the spatial and territorial dimensions of polities in the northern Levant during the mid to late second millennium B.C.E. Settlement data suggest that a highly nucleated pattern of occupation at tell sites remained dominant and remarkably stable throughout the period, perhaps driven by hierarchically organized systems of land rights. In contrast, historical data show a complex and dynamic tapestry of changing territorial institutions, moving from a system of fragmented, spatially discontinuous polities in the earlier second millennium to one characterized by increasingly territorial states in later centuries. Results show how rapidly notions of territoriality might have changed in the past and highlight the fundamental importance of studies that integrate archaeological and historical data in efforts to understand the spatiality of ancient states. [Near East, Amuq, settlement, Hittites, Amorites]
Robust nonlinear control of time-varying systems

For a class of SISO nonlinear time-varying systems, we present a robust output feedback control scheme. The control scheme removes some of the structural constraints so as to enlarge the class of systems that can be handled by recently developed nonlinear control schemes. The enlargement can be seen via four aspects: 1) all the unknown coefficients and parameters are assumed to be time-varying; 2) the linear parameterization condition is not required; 3) there is no limitation on how fast the uncertainties vary with respect to time; and 4) all of the unknown nonlinearities are not constrained to be in the span of the control. The robust control approach for linear time varying systems is a special case of the nonlinear control proposed in this paper. We first discuss a second order nonlinear system example to demonstrate the systematic design procedure, then a general class of system is described in which the systematic procedure discussed in the second order example can be applied.
PPM performance with BWT complexity: a new method for lossless data compression

This work combines a new fast context-search algorithm with the lossless source coding models of PPM to achieve a lossless data compression algorithm with the linear context-search complexity and memory of BWT and Ziv-Lempel codes and the compression performance of PPM-based algorithms. Both sequential and nonsequential encoding are considered. The proposed algorithm yields an average rate of 2.27 bits per character (bpc) on the Calgary corpus, comparing favorably to the 2.33 and 2.34 bpc of PPM5 and PPM/sup */ and the 2.43 bpc of BW94 but not matching the 2.12 bpc of PPMZ9, which, at the time of this publication, gives the greatest compression of all algorithms reported on the Calgary corpus results page. The proposed algorithm gives an average rate of 2.14 bpc on the Canterbury corpus. The Canterbury corpus Web page gives average rates of 1.99 bpc for PPMZ9, 2.11 bpc for PPM5, 2.15 bpc for PPM7, and 2.23 bpc for BZIP2 (a BWT-based code) on the same data set.
TU-G-204-04: A Unified Strategy for Bi-Factorial Optimization of Radiation Dose and Contrast Dose in CT Imaging

Purpose: To substantiate the interdependency of contrast dose, radiation dose, and image quality in CT towards the patient- specific optimization of the imaging protocols Methods: The study deployed two phantom platforms. A variable sized (12, 18, 23, 30, 37 cm) phantom (Mercury-3.0) containing an iodinated insert (8.5 mgI/ml) was imaged on a representative CT scanner at multiple CTDI values (0.7–22.6 mGy). The contrast and noise were measured from the reconstructed images for each phantom diameter. Linearly related to iodine-concentration, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), were calculated for 16 iodine-concentration levels (0–8.5 mgI/ml). The analysis was extended to a recently developed suit of 58 virtual human models (5D XCAT) with added contrast dynamics. Emulating a contrast-enhanced abdominal image procedure and targeting a peak-enhancement in aorta, each XCAT phantom was “imaged” using a simulation platform (CatSim, GE). 3D surfaces for each patient/size established the relationship between iodine-concentration, dose, and CNR. The ratios of change in iodine-concentration versus dose (IDR) to yield a constant change in CNR were calculated for each patient size. Results: Mercury phantom results show the image-quality size- dependence on CTDI and IC levels. For desired image-quality values, the iso-contour-lines reflect the trade off between contrast-material and radiation doses. For a fixed iodine-concentration (4 mgI/mL), the IDR values for low (1.4 mGy) and high (11.5 mGy) dose levels were 1.02, 1.07, 1.19, 1.65, 1.54, and 3.14, 3.12, 3.52, 3.76, 4.06, respectively across five sizes. The simulation data from XCAT models confirmed the empirical results from Mercury phantom. Conclusion: The iodine-concentration, image quality, and radiation dose are interdependent. The understanding of the relationships between iodine-concentration, image quality, and radiation dose will allow for a more comprehensive optimization of CT imaging devices and techniques, providing the methodology to balance iodine-concentration and dose based on patient’s attributes.
An Efficient and Secure Cryptosystem for Encrypting Long Messages

Traditionally, due to efficiency considerations, when encrypting long messages using an asymmtric cryptosystem, one needs to use a symmetric cryptosystem in addition. To eliminate this requirement, Hwang, Chang, and Hwang introduced an asymmetric cryptosystem for encrypting long messages. However, they did not give any formal proof of the security of this cryptosystem. In this paper, we propose an improved asymmetric cryptosystem for encrypting long messages, which is both efficient and secure. In the aspect of efficiency, our cryptosystem is about twice as fast as the Hwang-Chang-Hwang cryptosystem. In the aspect of security, besides providing an informal analysis, we rigorously show that computing any part of the plaintext message encrypted using our cryptosystem is as hard as breaking the ElGamal cryptosystem, even if all other parts of the message are already known to the adversary.
Internal Control Practices in Casino Gaming

ABSTRACT Gaming has become one of the fastest-growing segments of the hospitality industry. In addition, an enormous amount of cash changes hands in the daily operation of a casino. Therefore, internal control practices, especially those concerning cash revenue flows, are important. Through literature searches, gaming control boards and commissions' regulations, manuals of various casino operations, and personal industry experience, this conceptual piece is written to address the regulations set by gaming authorities and discuss some of the minimum standards for internal control. It will then review the accounting functions of a casino, the principal revenue flow, the importance of cashiering, and the control practices used in the opening and closing procedures for table games.
Effect of pH, carbamylation and other hemoglobins on deoxyhemoglobin S aggregation inside intact erythrocytes as detected by proton relaxation rate measurements.

Abstract Measurement of the transverse water proton relaxation rate has been used to study the effect of pH, carbamylation, and other hemoglobins on the aggregation of deoxyhemoglobin S inside intact erythrocytes. Upon complete deoxygenation, cyanate-treated ( S S ) erythrocytes and erythrocytes heterozygous with respect to hemoglobin S ( A S , C S , and S D ) have high transverse water proton relaxation rates very similar to the values obtained with homozygous ( S S ) erythrocytes. These results suggest extensive intermolecular interactions between deoxyhemoglobin S molecules and a resultant increase in the correlation time for the small fraction of “irrotationally bound” water. When the transverse relaxation rate in deoxygenated ( S S ) erythrocytes was measured as a function of pH, the maximum rate was observed between pH 7.0 and 7.5. Upon increasing the pH beyond this range the observed relaxation rate decreases as does the number of sickled cells. Upon decreasing the pH, the observed transverse relaxation rate also decreases but the ratio of values from deoxy oxy ( S S ) erythrocytes remains in the normal range of 4–6 and the number of sickled cells does not change. Therefore, the deoxyhemoglobin S aggregate inside sickled erythrocytes, as observed by water proton relaxation rates, is not altered by carbamylation or by the presence of nongelling hemoglobins. In addition, the enhancement of the relaxation rates as a function of pH is consistent with the number of sickled forms observed.
Gastroduodenal electrical activity in turkeys.

Bipolar Ag/AgCl electrodes were implanted in the stomach and duodenum of 21 turkeys to study electrical activity in those organs. Intraluminal pressure changes were also monitored. For comparative purposes, electric slow waves were recorded from the ileum of one dog. Slow waves were not observed in the recordings from the stomach of turkeys. Although slow waves were recorded from the duodenum of turkeys, the waves were observed to wax and wane and were possibly not the major regulators of duodenal contractile activity. Several bursts of action potentials and several contractions usually occurred in the duodenum during one slow-wave cycle. Duodenal motility appeared to be totally coordinated with the gastric cycle. Impulses conducted over intrinsic nerves from a gastric pacemaker (15) were proposed as a possible mechanism for initiating and coordinating gastroduodenal motor activity.
Primate evolution of the α-globin gene cluster and its Alu-like repeats

The arrangement of alpha-globin genes in Old World and New World monkeys and a prosimian, galago, has been determined by restriction mapping. Recombinant DNAs containing galago and Old World monkey alpha-globin genes have been isolated and subjected to a partial sequence determination for comparison to alpha-globin genes in human, chimpanzee and non-primate mammals. The results of this extensive structural analysis are relevant to several topics concerning the evolution of primate alpha-globin genes and Alu family repeats. All orders of higher primates (i.e. Old and New World monkeys, chimpanzee and human) have the same arrangement of alpha-globin genes. In contrast, the arrangement and correction of galago alpha-globin genes differ from those of higher primates, but are similar to those of non-primate mammals. The 5' and 3'-flanking regions of the human alpha 1 gene are orthologous to the corresponding region in galago, identifying the human alpha 2 gene as the more recently duplicated gene. The human psi alpha 1 gene is found to be inactivated after divergence of the human and galago lineages but prior to the divergence of human and monkey. Orthologous Alu family members in human and monkey DNAs indicate that the dispersion of some Alu repeats occurred prior to the divergence of these lineages. However, the Alu-like repeats of prosimian and higher primates result from entirely independent events giving rise to different repeat elements inserted at distinct genomic positions.
A Powerful and Robust New Linkage Statistic for Discordant Sibling Pairs

Previously, Szatkiewicz and colleagues evaluated the performance of a wide variety of statistics for quantitative-trait–locus linkage, using discordant sibling pairs. They found that the most powerful statistics, in general, were a score statistic and a “composite statistic.” However, whereas these two statistics have equal power under ideal conditions, each has limitations that reduce its power in certain circumstances. The score statistic depends on estimates of trait parameters and can lose a lot of power if those estimates are incorrect. The composite statistic is not sensitive to trait-parameter estimates but does depend on arbitrary weights that must be chosen on the basis of the ascertainment scheme. In this report, we elucidate the algebraic relationship between the score and composite statistics and then use that relationship to suggest a new statistic that combines the best properties of both. We call our new statistic the “robust discordant pair” (RDP) statistic. We report simulation studies to show that the RDP statistic does, indeed, have all of the strengths and none of the weaknesses of the score and composite statistics.
Effects of calcium ions on the streaming potentials of zirconium hydrous oxide-polyacrylate formed-in-place membranes

Abstract The effects of calcium ions on the electrokinetic properties of a zirconium hydrous oxide-polyacrylate membrane were investigated by measuring streaming potentials of this membrane and its precursor substrate, a zirconium hydrous oxide membrane, in potassium and calcium chloride solutions. The streaming potential per unit of transmembrane flux was calculated and used as a parameter to characterize the electrokinetic properties of the membrane-electrolyte systems. This parameter for the zirconium hydrous oxide-polyacrylate membrane was more positive in the calcium chloride solutions over the pH range investigated, 3.5 to 8.5, than in the potassium chloride solutions. However, for the zirconium hydrous oxide membrane it was the same within experimental variation in both electrolyte solutions at pH greater than and including the common zero point of charge. These results imply that the effect of the calcium ion on the electrokinetic properties of the zirconium hydrous oxide-polyacrylate membrane in this pH range is constrained to an interaction with the polyacrylate, probably through site binding with the carboxylate groups of the polymer. At pH less than the zero point of charge, the parameter was more positive for the calcium chloride solution than for the potassium chloride solution for both types of membranes, which implies alteration of the surface of the zirconium hydrous oxide by the calcium.
Recognition and cleavage of primary microRNA precursors by the nuclear processing enzyme Drosha.

A critical step during human microRNA maturation is the processing of the primary microRNA transcript by the nuclear RNaseIII enzyme Drosha to generate the ∼60-nucleotide precursor microRNA hairpin. How Drosha recognizes primary RNA substrates and selects its cleavage sites has remained a mystery, especially given that the known targets for Drosha processing show no discernable sequence homology. Here, we show that human Drosha selectively cleaves RNA hairpins bearing a large (⩾10 nucleotides) terminal loop. From the junction of the loop and the adjacent stem, Drosha then cleaves approximately two helical RNA turns into the stem to produce the precursor microRNA. Beyond the precursor microRNA cleavage sites, approximately one helix turn of stem extension is also essential for efficient processing. While the sites of Drosha cleavage are determined largely by the distance from the terminal loop, variations in stem structure and sequence around the cleavage site can fine-tune the actual cleavage sites chosen.
Effect of alpha-naphthyl isothiocyanate and CCl4 interaction on hepatocellular calcium transport.

Alpha-naphthyl isothiocyanate (ANIT), and CCl/sub 4/ are both hepatotoxic agents but with different mechanisms of action. In recent years, much attention has been focused on the disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis as a common ultimate mechanism of the chemical induced irreversible hepatocellular damage. Calcium is known to accumulate in necrotic tissues. The extracellular fluid is rich in calcium whereas the concentration of the intracellular calcium is much lower. Therefore, it is believed that any damage to plasma membrane will result in an influx of calcium. Calcium ions are biologically very active, being capable of considerable disruption of metabolic order. Agents such as CCl/sub 4/, BrCCl/sub 3/ which cause hepatocellular necrosis have also been reported to perturb the intracellular calcium homeostasis. The present study was designed to determine the effect of intrahepatic cholestasis as produced by a single toxic dose of ANIT on CCl/sub 4/ induced hepatotoxicity and hepatocellular calcium uptake. /sup 45/Ca uptake in the isolated mitochondria and microsomes using three different doses of CCl/sub 4/ known to be toxic was measured in ANIT pretreated animals. Calcium ATPase in these organelles was assayed. Microsomal cytochrome P-450 and the levels of serum GPT and Bilirubin were also determined.
Purification of a high-molecular-weight inhibitor of the calcium-activated proteinase.

Abstract An inhibitor of the muscle calcium-activated proteinases has been purified from porcine skeletal muscle by using DEAE-cellulose column chromatography, thermal treatment, Sephacryl S-400 column chromatography in 6 M urea and Sephacryl S-300 column chromatography in 6 M urea. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis shows that the purified inhibitor is homogeneous and has a subunit molecular weight of 172000. The inhibitor inactivates both the low- and high-calcium-requiring forms of the calcium-activated proteinase but does not inhibit other proteinases against which it has been tried. It thus appears that the inhibitor is specific for the calcium-activated proteinase. Studies using homogeneous inhibitor and high-calcium-requiring proteinase show that one molecule of the inhibitor can inactive up to eight molecules of the calcium-activated proteinase. Inactivation of the calcium-activated proteinase by the inhibitor cannot be reversed by calcium concentrations as high as 25 mM, thus eliminating the possibility that the inhibitor functions by chelating calcium. The inhibitory peptide appears to be extremely susceptible to proteolysis during its isolation. Even in the presence of synthetic proteinase inhibitors different inhibitor preparations yield homogeneous inhibitory peptides ranging in molecular weight from 145000 to 172000. Preparative electrophoresis and column chromatography have been used to isolate putative proteolytic breakdown products of the 172 kDa peptide at 145, 114, 41 and 29 kDa.
Enhanced acetylation of alpha-tubulin in influenza A virus infected epithelial cells

Acetylated microtubules (AcMTs), a post-translationally modified form of microtubules, promote polarized protein transport. Here we report that influenza A virus (IAV) induces the acetylation of microtubules in epithelial cells. By employing specific inhibitors and siRNA we demonstrate Rho GTPase-mediated downregulation of tubulin deacetylase activity in IAV-infected cells, resulting in increased tubulin acetylation. Further, we demonstrate that depolymerization/deacetylation or enhanced acetylation of microtubules decreased or increased, respectively, the release of virions from infected cells. IAV assembly requires the polarized delivery of viral components to apical plasma membrane. Our findings suggest the potential involvement of AcMTs in polarized trafficking of IAV components.
Activation of group III metabotropic glutamate receptors presynaptically reduces both GABAergic and glutamatergic transmission in the rat globus pallidus.

Abstract To investigate the role of group III metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) in the globus pallidus (GP), whole-cell recordings were performed using rat brain slice preparations. Application of the group III mGluRs specific agonist l (+)-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid ( l -AP4) suppressed the amplitude of striatal stimulation-induced IPSCs and internal capsule stimulation-induced EPSCs in most of the GP neurons that were capable of generating repetitive firing without spike accommodation. The suppression of IPSCs and EPSCs was accompanied by an increase in the paired-pulse ratio. The l -AP4 effects were antagonized by (R,S)-alpha-cyclopropyl-4-phosphophenylglycine, a blocker for group II/III mGluRs. l -AP4 reduced the frequency of mIPSCs and mEPSCs without changing their amplitude distribution. l -AP4 failed to change iontophoretic glutamate induced responses. These results suggest that the subthalamo-pallidal glutamatergic input might homo- and hetero-synaptically control GABAergic and glutamatergic transmission in the GP.
Explaining Religion without Explaining It Away: Trust, Truth, and the Evolution of Cooperation in Roy A. Rappaport's “The Obvious Aspects of Ritual”

Moving beyond the ecological functionalism of Pigs for the Ancestors, Roy Rappaport's subsequent work on ritual explored how the “obvious aspects” of ritual's formalism and the need to perform it literally embody in its performers expressions of sanctity and truth that counter the threats of lying and alternative inherent in symbolic communication. He recognized that symbolic meaning and truth presuppose social cooperation and trust between individuals, and ritual serves uniquely to reaffirm this mutuality at the level of both individual behavior and conventional meaning. Through a study of male greetings among olive baboons (Papio cynocephalus anubis), this paper illustrates how ritual in Rappaport's sense may indeed intensify cooperation in socially complex but nonlinguistic contexts by establishing a behaviorally transparent means of certifying otherwise opaque individual intentions. Thus, not only may ritual sanctify symbolic communication, but it also may have played a crucial role in its evolution, [ritual, sociocultural evolution, religion and society, symbolic communication, olive baboons, primate social behavior]
The infrared spectrum and water binding of collagen as a function of relative humidity.

The infrared spectra of undenatured bovine tendon collagen were investigated at 25°C and relative humidities from 0 to 95%. Suitable samples were prepared by forcing frozen suspensions of the material in distilled water through a stainless steel capillary. The samples were investigated by electron microscopy before and after the spectra were obtained to ascertain that no denaturation had taken place while the sample was exposed to infrared radiation. Temperature controlled absorption cells were constructed which permitted the passing of air with a known water content over the sample film. Gradual changes were observed in the frequencies and intensities of characteristic amide bands over the relative humidity range of 0 to 75%. These changes are particularly pronounced for the amide II band, associated with bending motions of peptide NH bonds. They lead to the conclusion that water molecules are gradually attached to peptide NH bonds within the triple helix over a wide range of relative humidity. Changes in CH deformation bands suggest that CH to O hydrogen bonding does occur and that it is more pronounced in collagen exposed to high relative humidity.
Effect of protein on sorption characteristics of delactosed permeate

Abstract The effects of whey protein isolate (WPI) were investigated on the characteristics of delactosed permeate (DLP) (moisture adsorption/desorption kinetics and glass transition temperature (Tg)) that reflect on the drying ability and shelf stability. The Peleg model showed a good fit to the moisture adsorption/desorption data for the DLP-protein samples. An increase in the protein concentration resulted in a decrease in the initial adsorption rate and adsorption capacity. However, its effect on extent of desorption in DLP-protein mixtures was not significant. Tg increased with an increase in protein concentration. Significant relationships were observed between the Peleg constants for adsorption/desorption kinetics and Tg for the DLP-protein mixtures.
Kinase packing defects as drug targets

Protein kinases constitute major targets in molecular cancer therapy. The structural conservation of kinases causes specificity problems in most drug inhibitors, often resulting in dangerous side effects. Here we survey recent approaches in drug design that exploit a molecular marker for specificity: the pattern of packing defects. These packing defects are solvent-exposed intramolecular hydrogen bonds that may be protected by drugs upon association. In this light, we review design strategies to achieve paralogue discrimination, to control cross reactivity and to overcome drug resistance induced by target mutations.
Initial-value transformations for elliptic boundary value problems☆

Abstract The solution of elliptic boundary value problems is considered through the use of an initial value transformation. While the original boundary value problem usually has unfavorable stability properties, the transformed problem can usually be handled in a direct manner. The transformation is shown to lead to the standard numerical techniques and also suggests many new methods.
Analysis of nonlinear damping using quadrature spectrum

Energy loss per cycle is one of the most common parameters to determine the magnitude of hysteresis damping. The measured hysteresis loops for materials during dynamic measurements are often irregular and general equations for defining the force-displacement-time relations of materials are unavailable in almost all cases. In order to analyze the complicate nature of the behavior of nonlinear hysteresis damping under non-sinusoidal loading, a new method was developed by the author for the damping characterization of materials subjected to any arbitrary dynamic loading. This method uses quadrature spectrum of displacement and restoring force signals to calculate the damping properties of materials at any frequency. It was proven that the quadrature spectrum method is an excellent tool for practical hysteresis damping measurement. The dynamic damping density function was also defined and discussed in this paper.
Projectively flat Randers metrics with constant flag curvature

We classify locally projectively flat Randers metrics with constant Ricci curvature and obtain a new family of Randers metrics of negative constant flag curvature.
A Single Case Report of Moyamoya Disease Presenting in a Psychiatric Setting

Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a rare cerebral vasculopathy with limited information on the associated cognitive and emotional sequelae, particularly presenting in a psychiatric setting. We present the case of a 25-year-old female with a history of MMD and depressive disorder. She underwent revascularization surgery following an ischemic stroke at age 15 years. Magnetic resonance imaging at the time of the current assessment revealed markedly abnormal appearance in the anterior cerebral circulation with extensive periventricular collateral vasculature involvement. Neuropsychological assessment data revealed deficits in inhibition and problem-solving, consistent with frontal lobe dysfunction. We discuss the importance of further research on the neuropsychological sequelae of MMD.
Szilard-Chalmers reactions of bridged derivatives of titanocene dichloride, zirconocene dichloride and hafnocene dichloride☆

Abstract Retentions following ( n , γ ) reactions in solid state and in solution in benzene were measured for 1,1′-trimethylenetitanocene dichloride and for the corresponding derivatives of zirconocene dichloride and hafnocence dichloride. Comparisons are made of these retentions with those previously measured for the parent compounds. Retentions in solution are best interpreted as due to a fast three-body recombination reaction for the parent compounds and to a fast two-body recombination reaction for the bridged derivatives.
Hyperfine interactions of111In→111Cd probe atoms on GaAs (111)B reconstructed surfaces

We have used111In→111Cd perturbed-angular-correlation (PAC) spectroscopy to measure hyperfine interactions at surface sites on two molecular-beam-epitaxy-grown GaAs (111)B (As-terminated) reconstructed surfaces. The PAC measurements performed on the 2×2 reconstructed surfaces show two well-defined nuclear electric-quadrupole interactions that occur at two inequivalent Ga-sites on the surface. The measurements performed on the √19×√19 R 23.4° reconstructed surfaces show primarily one well-defined interaction to which corresponds a large and asymmetric EFG, in which the EFGz-axis is oriented essentially perpendicular to the surface. Annealing experiments were performed to convert one reconstruction to the other and then to reconvert it back to the original reconstruction, e.g., 2×2→√19×√19 R 23.4°→ 2×2. The PAC measurements that followed each annealing step show the characteristic frequencies for each reconstruction. This result indicates that these probe sites are thermodynamically stable. In this report, we present a brief description of the experiment and, as an example, one series of measurements that illustrates the results of an extensive investigation, which reports the first measurements of group-III bonding symmetries on a compound III–V semiconductor surface.
Reliability Demonstration Requirements: Tables and Charts for Bernoulli Trials

Charts and tables are furnished to compute reliability demonstration requirements when each test (Bernoulli trial) must result in either success or failure. Reliabilities and confidence levels are limited to those most often stated in government contracts. All the variables involved are shown. Difficulties of reliability demonstration are discussed.
Evaluating the suitability of highly cross-linked and remelted materials for use in posterior stabilized knees.

Posterior stabilized (PS) knee designs are a popular choice for cruciate sacrificing knee arthroplasty procedures. The introduction of PS inserts fabricated from highly cross-linked and remelted Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) has recently generated concern as these materials have been shown to possess reduced mechanical properties. This study investigated whether highly cross-linked and remelted UHMWPE material (referred to as XRP) can be expected to perform similarly to historical gamma-air polyethylene, which has suffered few reported incidences of tibial post failure. Never-implanted gamma-air PS tibial inserts shelf-aged 14 years were examined and compared to XRP materials. Evaluation of oxidation levels, impact toughness, and fatigue strength demonstrated never-implanted gamma-air PS tibial inserts to possess nonuniform mechanical properties. Despite severe oxidation along the exterior of gamma-air tibial posts, comparatively low oxidation levels at the center of the tibial posts corresponded to sufficiently high mechanical properties. XRP material (75 kGy) showed superior impact toughness over shelf aged gamma-air material; however, tibial post fatigue testing demonstrated XRP material (100 kGy) to be less resistant to fatigue failure than historical gamma-air material. Results from this study indicate that XRP materials (100 kGy) may demonstrate an inferior resistance to tibial post failure than historical polyethylene. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2010
Boltzmann transport equation-based thermal modeling approaches for hotspots in microelectronics

Fourier diffusion has been found to be inadequate for the prediction of heat conduction in modern microelectronics, where extreme miniaturization has led to feature sizes in the sub-micron range. Over the past decade, the phonon Boltzmann transport equation (BTE) in the relaxation time approximation has been employed to make thermal predictions in dielectrics and semiconductors at micro-scales and nano-scales. This paper presents a review of the BTE-based solution methods widely employed in the literature and recently developed by the authors. First, the solution approaches based on the gray formulation of the BTE are presented. The semi-gray approach, moments of the Boltzmann equation, the lattice Boltzmann approach, and the ballistic-diffusive approximation are also discussed. Models which incorporate greater details of phonon dispersion are also presented. Hotspot self-heating in sub-micron SOI transistors and transient electrostatic discharge in NMOS transistors are also examined. Results, which illustrate the differences between some of these models reveal the importance of developing models that incorporate substantial details of phonon physics. The impact of boundary conditions on thermal predictions is also investigated.
Removing spikes while preserving data and noise using wavelet filter banks

Many diagnostic datasets suffer from the adverse effects of spikes that are embedded in data and noise. For example, this is true for electrical power system data where the switches, relays, and inverters are major contributors to these effects. Spikes are mostly harmful to the analysis of data in that they throw off real-time detection of abnormal conditions, and classification of faults. Since noise and spikes are mixed together and embedded within the data, removal of the unwanted signals from the data is not always easy and may result in losing the integrity of the information carried by the data. Additionally, in some applications noise and spikes need to be filtered independently. The proposed algorithm is a multi-resolution filtering approach based on Haar wavelets that is capable of removing spikes while incurring insignificant damage to other data. In particular, noise in the data, which is a useful indicator that a sensor is healthy and not stuck, can be preserved using our approach. Presented here is the theoretical background with some examples from a realistic testbed.1 2
8-Oxo-7,8-dihydrodeoxyadenosine: the first example of a native DNA lesion that stabilizes human telomeric G-quadruplex DNA.

Abstract Native DNA lesions in general destabilize DNA secondary structures such as duplex and G-quadruplex because they disrupt optimized interactions in DNA defined by nature. In this paper, we report the first example of a native DNA lesion (8-oxo-7,8-dihydrodeoxyadenosine, OxodA) that stabilizes human telomeric G-quadruplex DNA. CD thermal denaturation studies explicitly displayed increased melting temperatures of telomeric G-quadruplex DNAs that contain OxodA(s) in different DNA loops, suggesting enhanced thermal stability. Conformation studies of G-quadruplex DNAs containing OxodA(s) in the loops using CD and native PAGE revealed that they adopt a similar antiparallel conformation in Na + but have much more versatile conformations in K + . According to computational calculations, the observed stabilization may result from the tight binding of K + into the pocket formed by the O8 of OxodA and its loop. The study reported here may provide better understanding of the effect of DNA lesions on G-quadruplex stability and conformation.
Multi-junction solar cells based on the integration of II/VI and III/V semiconductors

High-efficiency multifunction solar cells are attracting a great deal of attention for both space and terrestrial applications. We proposed the monolithic integration of the II/VI (ZnCdMg)(SeTe) and the III/V (InAlGa)(AsSb) material systems for multijunction solar cells. These material systems have direct bandgap, zinc blende, quaternary alloys, lattice-matched to GaSb substrates that cover the entire optical spectrum from greater than 3.0 eV to less than 0.4 eV; enabling the fabrication of high quality multijunction solar cells (with an arbitrary number of junctions) that are well matched to the solar spectrum.