cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Load Modulated Balanced mm-Wave CMOS PA with Integrated Linearity Enhancement for 5G applications

The paper presents an mm-Wave load modulated balanced amplifier (LMBA) architecture across 30–40 GHz. The architecture is implemented with a transformer-based hybrid at input and output to allow wideband power combining and achieve high isolation with a control PA for load-modulation and back-off efficiency enhancement across 30–40 GHz. To overcome the compressive behaviour of an LMBA and enhance linearity, an integrated adaptive biasing is integrated on-chip allowing superior ACLR performance across 30–40 GHz. Under CW excitation, the two-stage LMBA demonstrates output power of 18.5-20 dBm, output drain efficiency >30% across 30–40 GHz. The modulation capabilities of LMBA are tested using a 64 QAM signal with a data rate of 6 Gbps wherein PA demonstrates EVM of -26.4 dB and ACLR of -29 dBc at an average output power of 10.6 dBm. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first load-modulated balanced PA at mmWave in silicon.
Literacy Skills and Science Learning

The ability to do science and engage in literacy practices – listening, talking, reading, and writing either individually or in combinations – is important for science learning and for developing scientific literacy. Scientists examine phenomena, propose explanations based on evidence, construct theoretical explanations, engage in scientific argumentation, and communicate scientific knowledge, principles, and procedures. Teaching in a manner consistent with how scientists conduct their practices, engages students in a mix of inquiry steeped in the development and use of literacy practices. The teachers were faced with the disconcerting low levels of language literacy among some of their students. Their narratives revealed the status of literacy skills among their struggling learners and the challenges and impact on science teaching and learning. The teachers made some progress but evident in their experiences was the need for guidance and support in the development of the requisite knowledge to teach literacy skills within the context of their science lessons.
From In Vivo Synthesis to In Vitro Drug Delivery Device Formation

Type I collagens endowed with many capabilities such as self-assembly into fibrils in vivo; mechanical integrity and structural support provision required for cells to attach, proliferate, and communicate in vivo; facilitation of the nutrient and oxygen transportation to tissue through its porous structure, regulating the in vivo activity of small molecules in a tissue (e.g., growth factors) (Lee CH, Singla A, Lee Y, Int J Pharm 221:1–22, 2001, Jones LL, Oudega M, Bunge MB, Tuszynsk MH, J Physiol 533:83–89, 2001, Milev P, Monnerie H, Popp S, Margolis RK, Margolis RU, J Biol Chem 273:21439–21442, 1998) and biodegradability into nontoxic release products. However, it is important to understand that these unique biophysical properties of type I collagen can be attributed to its in vivo synthesis and self-assembly (Bhattacharjee A, Bansal M, IUBMB Life, 57:161–172, 2005, Borel JB, Monboisse JC, C R Seances Soc Biol Fil 187:124–142,1993, Hellmich C, Ulm FJ, J Biomech 35:1199–1212, 2002, Puxkandl R, Zizak I, Paris O, Keckes J, Tesch W, Bernstorff S, Purslow P, Fratzl P, Philos Trans R Soc Lond Ser B Biol Sci 357:191–197, 2002, Bozec L, Horton M, Biophys J 88:4223–4231, 2005). Therefore to use collagen as a successful drug delivery candidate, its unique features such as its hierarchical structure and its self-assembly must be preserved or mimicked. Conventional collagen formulations that do not capitalize on such collagen self-assembly scarcely make it to materials for clinical application as a result of structures with poor mechanical properties and fast degradation as well as the rapid release of drug molecules from the collagen matrix. Some ideas to overcome these limitations of conventional collagen include – (i) isolating and using unique collagen building blocks that can self-assemble in vitro, (ii) applying drug-loading methods through which drugs are entrapped within or attached to collagen without affecting its biophysical properties. Compromises made to collagen through formulations that do not focus on its inherent mechanical strength, structure, and self-assembly, and add exogenous or chemical cross-linking, deter the therapeutic use of collagen. While the versatility of collagen lends itself well to a variety of medical applications, it can be truly captured by focusing on the inherent characteristics of collagen.
Gendered Priorities? Policy Communication in the U.S. Senate

Women running for Congress make different choices than men about how to connect with constituents on social media, but few studies investigate how these variable strategies shape in-office messagin...
Introduction to Urban Big Data Infrastructure

This chapter provides a brief introduction to Part IV of the book and its focus on urban big data infrastructure. Eight chapters (Chaps. 31 to 38) explore the various dimensions of the topic, ranging from massive archives of 3D data and the Internet of Things to spatial search and the social issues of privacy that are raised by big geospatial data.
Interactions between sympatric invasive European fire ants (Myrmica rubra) and blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis)

The blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) and the invasive European fire ant (Myrmica rubra) are both expanding throughout their sympatric range in coastal New England. Ixodes scapularis is the primary vector of the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which is the causative agent of Lyme disease, and Mount Desert Island, Maine, home to Acadia National Park, currently is affected by a high Lyme disease burden. Ticks have many natural predators, including ants, although no previous studies have investigated interactions between these two species. To test the hypothesis that the presence of M. rubra alters I. scapularis abundance, we collected ticks by drag-sampling at eight ant-infested sites and eight uninfested control sites in Acadia National Park. We found that nymph density was significantly higher at ant-infested sites, while larval density was significantly higher at control sites. In addition, we conducted a laboratory bioassay to measure M. rubra aggression against I. scapularis larvae, nymphs, and adults and Dermacentor variabilis adults, and found that ant aggression was significantly higher against D. variabilis adults than I. scapularis adults. Our findings support the hypothesis that M. rubra has divergent effects across I. scapularis life stages, and we discuss possible ecological mechanisms, including optimal microclimate and predation, that could promote density of nymphs while inhibiting density of larvae.
Improved Time-Frequency Representation of Multi-Component FM Signals with Compressed Observations

Compressed data measurements of non-stationary signals, which may arise from intentional signal undersampling or missing data samples, introduce undesirable artifacts in the rendered time-frequency (TF) representations. In particular, for multi-component non-linear frequency modulated (FM) signals with distinct amplitudes, such artifacts pose a great challenge to accurately reconstruct weaker signal components. In this paper, we develop improved TF representations that enable accurate instantaneous frequency estimation of such signals, achieve high energy concentration, and provide effective cross-term and artifact mitigation. The proposed technique utilizes a combination of iterative data interpolation in the time-lag domain to recover missing entries and a signal-adaptive TF kernel to suppress cross-terms and artifacts. Simulation results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Racial/ethnic disparities in the use of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and their effects on residential drug treatment outcomes in the US.

Abstract Background This study examines racial/ethnic disparities in the use of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in residential treatment and the influence of race/ethnicity on the association between MOUD use and treatment retention and completion. Methods Data were extracted from SAMHSA’s 2015–2017 Treatment Episode Dataset-Discharge (TEDS-D) datasets for adult opioid admissions/discharges to short-term (ST) (30 days or less) (N = 83,032) or long-term (LT) (> 30 days) residential treatment settings (N=61,626). Logistic regression estimated the likelihood of MOUD use among racial/ethnic groups and the moderation of race/ethnicity on the probability of treatment completion and retention, controlling for background factors. Results After adjusting for covariates, compared to Whites, MOUD use was less likely for Blacks in ST (OR = 0.728) and LT settings (OR = 0.725) and slightly less likely for Hispanics in ST settings (OR = 0.859) but slightly more likely for Hispanics in LT settings (OR = 1.107). In ST settings, compared to Whites, the positive effect of MOUD on retention was enhanced for Blacks (OR = 1.191) and Hispanics (OR = 1.234), and the positive effect on treatment completion was enhanced for Hispanics (OR = 1.144). In LT settings, the negative association between MOUD and treatment completion was enhanced for Hispanics (OR = 0.776). Conclusions Access to medications for opioid use disorder in short term residential treatment is particularly beneficial for Blacks and Hispanics, though adjusted models indicate they are less likely to receive it compared to Whites. Results are mixed for long-term residential treatment. Residential addiction treatment may represent an important setting for mitigating low rates of medication initiation and early discontinuation for minority patients.
Gentrification and Care

Gentrification and care are two topics that are rarely brought into conversation in the economics literature. Often, gentrification is studied in relation to displacement, housing prices, property values, and segregation. The economics of care, on the other hand has often been occupied with measurement and valuation of women’s labor on a global, de-regulated market. Anthropologists and other social scientists, however, have studied the collaboration and care work that women foster beyond the household. The sharing of unpaid social reproductive labor among networks of women/families is key to sustaining the coherence of low-income communities. If gentrification causes displacement, then, an episode of gentrification can cause care networks to disperse. To bridge the largely parallel literatures on gentrification and care work, we present a mathematical model of gentrification where agents base their decision to move on both the price of housing, and the price of care. The price of care is offset by the ability of agents to form care networks. Our models suggest that gentrification disperses the care networks of the poor, increasing their vulnerability to rising housing prices. Thus, decisions to move are predicated on a particular ‘social price point’-a decision that is not only economic but reflects increasing geographic distance from those who collaborate to accomplish social reproductive and other tasks of community maintenance.
Application of Gene Editing for Climate Change in Agriculture

Climate change imposes a severe threat to agricultural systems. Efforts in crop and livestock gene editing have been undertaken to improve performance across a range of traits. Many of the targeted phenotypes include attributes that could be beneficial for climate change adaptation. Here, we present examples of emerging gene-editing applications and research initiatives that are targeted to the improvement of crops and livestock in response to climate change, and discuss technical limitations and opportunities therein. While only few applications of gene editing have been translated to agricultural production thus far, numerous studies in research settings have demonstrated the potential for potent applications to address climate change in the near future.
Potential of Full-Polarimetric P-and L-Band SAR Data in Characterizing Post-Fire Recovery of Arctic Tundra

We used the full polarimetric L-band and P-band SAR data collected from recent NASA Arctic Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE) airborne campaign to understand the sensitivity of longwave radar backscatter intensity and phase to the post-fire recovery process of Arctic tundra. The 2007 Anaktuvuk River fire was used as a case study. At 10-years post-fire, we observed a strong increase (>∼4 dB) in both the P- and L-band radar backscatter in the severely burned areas, in contrast to limited backscatter differences (VV, VH) between burned and unburned areas at C-band. The polarimetric target decomposition analysis indicated a general trend towards more random surface scattering, and strong increases of the double-bounce and volumetric scattering power at both P- and L-band in the burned areas. Large differences were also observed in the Pauli phase angle and the dominant-scattering-type Touzi phase angle between burned and adjacent unburned areas. The above changes are likely caused by increasing surface roughness and microtopography due to thermokarst development and ice degradation, and increasing subsurface scattering due to an overall drier and deeper active layer in the burned areas.
T Cell Receptor Non-Equilibrium Kinetics

ABSTRACT An atomic-scale mechanism describing the role of mechanosensing in T Cell Receptor (TCR) recognition of peptides in the binding groove of the peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) may inform the design of novel TCRs for immunotherapies. Using steered molecular dynamic simulations, our study demonstrates that mutations to peptides in the binding groove of the pMHC – which are known to discretely alter the T cell response to an antigen – influence MHC conformation and thus the overall strength of the TCR-pMHC bond including duration and length under constant load. Moreover, physiochemical features of the TCR-pMHC dynamic bond strength, such as hydrogen bonds and Lennard-Jones contacts, correlate with the immunogenic response elicited by the specific peptide in the MHC groove. Thus, formation of transient TCR-pMHC bonds is a characteristic of immunogenic peptides and is mediated by stabilized interactions.x
Abulia in a Concussed Athlete (P01.261)

OBJECTIVE: This is an atypical presentation of a sports related concussion in a 14-year-old athlete with post-concussive abulia. BACKGROUND: While the majority of sports-related concussions present as headache, nausea, dizziness, confusion, and unsteadiness, there are other less common presenting symptoms such as mood disorders and irritability. Abuila is a disorder of diminished motivation with a reduction of spontaneous thought content and initiative. DESIGN/METHODS: In the case report we present a 14-year-old male who sustained a sports related concussion after falling during a high school basketball game. He injured the front of his head and initially complained of headache, nausea, and dizziness, which later progressed to symptoms of abulia. On neurologic examination he answered mental status questions appropriately but with a lack of emotion. The remainder of his neurologic exam was unremarkable. RESULTS: Our patient underwent a head CT scan that was unremarkable. All of his symptoms improved over the next three days with the exception of his abulia. This persisted for a total of ten days and then he spontaneously remitted back to his baseline and was able to begin the return to play protocol. CONCLUSIONS: While abulia is not a common symptom of sports related concussion, this case illustrates an interesting presentation of frontal lobe injury resulting in lack of emotion, apathy, and decreased motivation. It is important to recognize that in addition to the classic symptoms of sports concussions, less common symptoms exist such as impulsivity, depression, insomnia, and in this case, abulia. Disclosure: Dr. Madey has nothing to disclose. Dr. Williams has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bodle has nothing to disclose. Dr. Williams has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lehman has nothing to disclose.
On the design and initialization of layered feed-forward neural networks

This paper considers the design and initialization of a network, based on application specific knowledge, available at design time. We describe a methodology for translating high level knowledge about an application into a neural network interconnection specification. The program's design philosophy stresses separation of neural design from network function, a uniform syntax for neurons, inputs, and outputs, and flexibility in modularizing the resulting network. The ability to train neural networks allows the encoded knowledge to be further fine tuned for a specific data space. Moreover, the translation rules can allow for the selective training of subnetworks.
RATA: rapid atomic type analysis by abstract interpretation – application to javascript optimization

We introduce RATA, a static analysis based on abstract interpretation for the rapid inference of atomic types in JavaScript programs. RATA enables aggressive type specialization optimizations in dynamic languages. RATA is a combination of an interval analysis (to determine the range of variables), a kind analysis (to determine if a variable may assume fractional values, or NaN), and a variation analysis (to relate the values of variables). The combination of those three analyses allows our compiler to specialize Float64 variables (the only numerical type in JavaScript) to Int32 variables, providing large performance improvements (up to 7.7×) in some of our benchmarks.
Perceived Characteristics and Pedagogical Efficacy of Animated Conversational Agents

We investigated college students' perceptions of a diverse sample of animated conversational agents. We also examined the pedagogical efficacy of those agents. We found that people perceive differences among the agents on several dimensions, such as likeability, and that the agents differ in pedagogical efficacy. However, none of the characteristics that we measured accounted for differences in pedagogical efficacy across the agents. We discuss implications for the field of agent studies with particular emphasis on the creation of pedagogically effective conversational agents and suggest directions for future research.
Victorian Observing Practices, Printing Technology, and Representations of the Solar Corona, (2): The Age of Photomechanical Reproduction

Les progres scientifiques du XIX e siecle ont permis le developpement d'instruments permettant de photographier des eclipses solaires, afin de les publier telles qu'elles sont dans la realite, independamment de l'observation et du jugement des scientifiques
Emerging data on the incidence of concussion in football practice at all levels of amateur play

There has been increasing concern, particularly in the US, about potential long-term neurological deterioration syndromes seen in the US football players. Recurrent concussions are a potential area of concern. The authors of this paper have used data bases from three levels of amateur US football to identify the rate and risk of concussion injury in both football games and practice at the youth, high school, and college levels. This information is very important initial data around concussion rates at these levels.
Abstract 170: Improving Radiation Safety in the Cardiac Catheterization Lab

Objective: Ionizing radiation, while necessary for cardiac catheterization and angioplasty, is an ever present and often unappreciated safety concern for the patient and operator. Radiation exposure has both deterministic and stochastic effects, with risk estimated by peak Skin Dose and Air kerma Area product . Exposure guidelines have been set for radiation safety (4,000 mGray and 20,000 c Gray cm2). Procedure: The frequency of guideline excessive radiation exposure for cardiac cath lab patients was tracked. Operator, patient, anatomic, procedural variables associated with high radiation exposures were identified and specific interventions to minimize radiation exposure identified. Results: Over a 3 year period 17% of interventions [2011- 220/1,543 (14.3%), 2012- 268/1,420 (18.9%), 2013- 270/1,476 (18.3%)] received excessive skin or total body radiation. In 2013 the average peak skin dose/patient for operators ranged from 1,250 -3,252; the average total area dose/patient ranged from 7,360- 20,988 for operators, with only one operator exceeding 20,000 as an average. Advances in equipment and operator experience have been offset by the increasing disease complexity of attempted interventions. Frequency of excessive radiation by operator ranged from 1.4 - 46% of interventions. Patient risk factors included: obesity, multivessel disease and lesion complexity, highly angled views, number, length, and frame rate of cine and fluoroscopy runs. Specific interventions that decreased the frequency of excess radiation administered included: increasing operator feedback and awareness of radiation used, shortening cine runs, decreased frame rate for fluoroscopy and cine, staging procedures, increase use of stored images and mapping capabilities. Physicians adopting safer radiation practices decreased excess radiation cases from 15.8% [35/222] in 2012 to 8.0% [18/224] in 2013. The default settings of X-Ray equipment have been modified to encourage safe and appropriate use of radiation in the cardiac catheterization lab (however, physician overide of settings is still possible). Conclusions: Patient factors (e.g. obesity, prior CABG) and complex, multivessel interventions are potentially frequently associated with excess radiation. Changing default settings and implementing radiation safety practices can significantly decrease radiation exposure to patients and staff.
Faculty Advisors' Experiences with International Graduate Students.

The current study explored the experiences of faculty advisors working with international graduate students (IGS). Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and a demographic survey and was analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding strategies. Three central categories emerged from the analysis: (a) advisors’ perceptions of IGS, (b) lessons learned by advisors, and (c) indicators of success. A model for advisors’ experiences emerged using the data gathered. Overall, advisors reported positive experiences with current and former advisees. Advisor perceptions’ of IGS were used to develop strategies and approaches that they believe enhance their experiences as well as the advisees’ experiences. At the core of the Advisor Experiences Model are variables that convey success regarding the relationship between advisors and their IGS. These variables are: (a) sustained relationships and (b) student success rates. Advisors all reported that the sustained relationship is one of the most rewarding aspects of being an advisor.
A Reference Method Laboratory Network for Cholesterol: A Model for Standardization and Improvement of Clinical Laboratory Measurements

Background: Accurate and precise measurement of blood cholesterol plays a central role in the National Cholesterol Education Program’s strategy to reduce the morbidity and mortality attributable to coronary heart disease. Matrix effects hamper the ability of manufacturers to adequately calibrate and validate traceability to the National Reference System for Cholesterol (NRS/CHOL). CDC created the Cholesterol Reference Method Laboratory Network (CRMLN) to improve cholesterol measurement by assisting manufacturers of in vitro diagnostic products with validation of the traceability of their assays to the NRS/CHOL. Methods: CRMLN laboratories established the CDC cholesterol reference method (modification of the Abell-Levy-Brodie-Kendall chemical method) and are standardized using CDC frozen serum reference materials. CRMLN laboratories use common quality-control materials and participate in monthly external performance evaluations conducted by CDC. The CRMLN performance criteria require member laboratories to agree with CDC within ± 1.0% and maintain a CV ≤2.0%. Results: From 1995 to 2000, the CRMLN laboratories met the accuracy criterion 97% of the time and the precision criterion 99% of the time. During this time period, the CRMLN maintained an average bias to CDC of 0.01% and an average collective CV of 0.33%. Conclusions: CDC established the CRMLN as the first international reference method laboratory network. The CRMLN assists manufacturers in the validation of the calibration of their diagnostic products so that clinical laboratories can measure blood cholesterol more reliably. The CRMLN can serve as a model for other clinical analytes where traceability to a hierarchy of methods is needed and matrix effects of the field methods with processed calibrators or reference materials are present.
Directed DNA deamination by AID/APOBEC3 in immunity.

The important contributions of many investigators could not be specifically cited due to space considerations, but many of these can be found within the bibliography. We thank Tim Behrens, Bill Brown, Eric Hendrickson, Stefan Jonsson and Michael Neuberger for thoughtful comments on this manuscript. R.S.H. is supported in part by a Searle Scholarship, a University of Minnesota McKnight Land Grant Assistant Professorship, and a grant from the NIH NIAID (AI064046).
Modification of agonist binding moiety in hybrid derivative 5/7-{[2-(4-aryl-piperazin-1-yl)-ethyl]-propyl-amino}-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-naphthalen-1-ol/-2-amino versions: Impact on functional activity and selectivity for dopamine D2/D3 receptors

The goal of the present study was to explore, in our previously developed hybrid template, the effect of introduction of additional heterocyclic rings (mimicking catechol hydroxyl groups as bioisosteric replacement) on selectivity and affinity for the D3 versus D2 receptor. In addition, we wanted to explore the effect of derivatization of functional groups of the agonist binding moiety in compounds developed by us earlier from the hybrid template. Binding affinity (K(i)) of the new compounds was measured with tritiated spiperone as the radioligand and HEK-293 cells expressing either D2 or D3 receptors. Functional activity of selected compounds was assessed in the GTPγS binding assay. In the imidazole series, compound 10a exhibited the highest D3 affinity whereas the indole derivative 13 exhibited similar high D3 affinity. Functionalization of the amino group in agonist (+)-9d with different sulfonamides derivatives improved the D3 affinity significantly with (+)-14f exhibiting the highest affinity. However, functionalization of the hydroxyl and amino groups of 15 and (+)-9d, known agonist and partial agonist, to sulfonate ester and amide in general modulated the affinity. In both cases loss of agonist potency resulted from such derivatization.
Application of fractographic techniques to beryllium

Abstract Metallography of deformed beryllium surfaces reveals considerable plastic flow on the microscale by both slip and twinning. Cracks are arrested or deflected by grain boundaries, and the interaction of twins with grain boundaries seems to be the main cause of microcrack formation. These microcracks are also associated with inclusions and are both intergranular and transgranular. The latter are directly related to the grain size and expand in a brittle manner. The fracture surfaces exhibit both ductile and brittle characteristics and both transgranular and intergranular fracture.
Abnormal melt curve profile during prothrombin 20210G → A analysis due to the 20209C → T variant:

The common factor II 20210G --> A mutation, located in the 3'-untranslated region, is an important risk factor for the development of thromboembolic disorders, especially in Caucasians. A number of methods are employed for clinical laboratory diagnosis of this mutation, some of which are capable of detecting adjacent 3'-end sequence variations. We present results from an African deep vein thrombosis patient tested for the 20210G --> A mutation by real-time polymerase chain reaction and melt-curve analysis using hybridization probes that incidentally detected an adjacent 3'-untranslated region variant. The patient sample was tested using the Factor II (Prothromobin) G20210A Kit (Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA), in conjunction with the Roche LightCycler. A polymerase chain reaction fragment from the 3'-end of the F2 gene was subsequently sequenced for identification of the variant. Melt-curve analysis revealed a normal 20210*G peak and an unknown aberrant allelic peak. Following sequence analysis, the patient was determined to be heterozygous for 20209C --> T. The presence of the 20209C --> T variant in the current patient and in eight other reported individuals of African descent, most with thrombosis-associated complaints, suggests that this rare variant poses a potential increased risk for thromboembolic disease in this ethnic group.
1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D effects in the kidney: Induction of calmodulin binding proteins

A marked induction of 125I-calmodulin binding proteins (185kDa and 115kDa) occurred in the rat kidney in response to treatment with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (100 ng/day s.c. x 7d). These 125I-calmodulin binding proteins, measured by the gel overlay procedure, exhibited calcium dependence and were abolished in the presence of excess unlabelled calmodulin. The response was tissue specific: there was no change in 125I-calmodulin binding in rat testis, heart, and brain and only a modest elevation of binding to one calmodulin binding protein in the intestinal mucosa. These results are particularly important in suggesting that the calmodulin signal transduction mechanism may, via changes in its acceptor proteins, participate in mediating some biological effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.
A new subtype of Hodgkin's lymphoma, syncytial nodular sclerosing: first case report of primary small bowel lymphoma.

Introduction Gastrointestinal lymphomas may arise as a component of systemic disease with GI involvement or primary neoplasm. The diagnosis of primary GI lymphoma requires the lack of peripheral or mediastinal lymphadenopathy, normal white blood cell count, and differential on the peripheral blood smear; tumor involvement must be predominantly in the GI tract, and no evidence of liver or spleen involvement. The small bowel accounts for approximately 9% of the GI lymphomas.
Substantial improvements in methyl ketone production in E. coli and insights on the pathway from in vitro studies

We previously reported development of a metabolic pathway in Escherichia coli for overproduction of medium-chain methyl ketones (MK), which are relevant to the biofuel and flavor-and-fragrance industries. This MK pathway was a re-engineered version of β-oxidation designed to overproduce β-ketoacyl-CoAs and involved overexpression of the fadM thioesterase gene. Here, we document metabolic engineering modifications that have led to a MK titer of 3.4 g/L after ~45 h of fed-batch glucose fermentation and attainment of 40% of the maximum theoretical yield (the best values reported to date for MK). Modifications included balancing overexpression of fadR and fadD to increase fatty acid flux into the pathway, consolidation of the pathway from two plasmids into one, codon optimization, and knocking out key acetate production pathways. In vitro studies confirmed that a decarboxylase is not required to convert β-keto acids into MK and that FadM is promiscuous and can hydrolyze several CoA-thioester pathway intermediates.
Dealing With Biblical (Mediterranean) Characters: a Guide for U.S. Consumers

An alternative scenario for imagining the Mediterranean characters who appear in the Bible stands in contrast to U.S. understandings of persons as psychological individuals in a social world in which economic relationships are primary. Biblical characters should be seen in terms of Mediterranean patterns where familism and gender-based identity make kinship the primary social institution. U.S. readers need to be alerted to patterns in Mediterranean communication, which expect males to show emotion freely, which produces texts such as the Bible where authors are more intent on showing how they felt about what was going on than on simply telling in a post-Enlightenment fashion "what was really going on."
The Phenomenon of Drug Craving

The phenomenology of drug craving has become the focus of much research within addictive disorders because of the belief that desire plays a role in maintaining the addiction. Many of the studies have focused on the activation of neural pathways, particularly within the dopamine system in response to specific events or stimuli. While many of these studies have focused on a particular drug of choice, little has been done across addictive disorders. This article will present and review phenomena that induce drug craving, as well as delineate precise neural pathways which are activated during craving and specific neurobiological markers which are associated with an increased risk for drug craving and other forms of addictive behavior.
Ischial pressure sore coverage: a rationale for flap selection

The role of wound debridement and flap coverage in treating pressure sores is clearly established. However, criteria and supportive clinical data for specific flap selection and the sequence of flaps for coverage of the ischium remain ill-defined. From 1979-1995, 114 consecutive patients underwent flap coverage of 139 ischial pressure sores. Preoperative risk factors, prior flap history, defect size, flap success, complication rates, and the length of hospitalization were retrospectively evaluated and compared for 112 flaps in 87 patients. Flap success was defined as a completely healed wound. Average follow-up was 10 months (range: 1 month-9 years). Overall, 83% (93/112) of the flaps healed. In the majority of cases (75%, 84/112), wound debridement and flap reconstruction was achieved in a single stage. However, there were significant differences in the healing rates among the various flaps used. The inferior gluteus maximus island flap and the inferior gluteal thigh flap had the highest success rates, 94% (32/34) and 93% (25/27), respectively, while the V-Y hamstring flap and the tensor fascia lata flap had the poorest healing rates, 58% (7/12) and 50% (6/12), respectively. Flap success was not significantly affected by the age of the patient or the prior number of flaps used and preoperative risk factors were equally distributed across all types of flaps. The overall complication rate was 37% (41/112), most commonly from a slight wound edge dehiscence (n = 16) that healed with local wound care within one month postoperatively. Results of this study show that proper flap selection and the appropriate sequence of flap use significantly improve success rates for ischial pressure sore coverage in both the short- and long-term. Based upon flap reliability (successful healing rates), reusability, and the need to preserve as many future flap options as possible, a rationale for flap selection is presented which can be individualized to any patient.
Model theoretic properties in the variety generated by a primal algebra

We show that the model theoretic and syntactic properties of the structures in the variety generated by a primal algebra are essentially the same as those in the variety generated by the two element Boolean algebra. The particular properties that we study here are the finite axiomatizability of their theories, the quantifier complexity of axioms for their theories, and various kinds of model completeness for these theories. It turns out that the proofs of these results can be extracted from the corresponding results for Boolean algebras if one takes the proper viewpoint.
Quantitative modeling of DNA-mediated electron transfer between metallointercalators

The distance dependence of electron transfer (ET) rates between donors and acceptors in a DNA environment has been an area of intense research and heated discussion, especially with regard to the recent report of ultrafast ET over a separation of >40 A. This paper is focused on quantitative modeling of the photodynamics and gel electrophoresis/photocleavage experiments of the untethered DNA/metallointercalator system. Simulations are compared to previously published experimental results in order to quantitatively examine the possible involvement of long-range ET and donor/acceptor clustering in the DNA-mediated ET between metallointercalators. Comparison of the simulation results with a broad range of experimental data strongly indicates that a fairly typical distance dependence for ET (β ≈ 1 A-1) coupled to donor/acceptor clustering is able to account for all features in the data and for related photocleavage studies.
Breast cancer: hormones and other risk factors.

In North America and Northern Europe, breast cancer incidence rates begin increasing in the early reproductive years and continue climbing into the late seventies, whereas rates plateau after menopause in japan and less developed countries. Female gender, age and country of birth are the strongest determinants of disease risk. Family history and mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are important correlates of lifetime risk. Genetic polymorphisms associated with estrogen synthesis and metabolism are currently under study. Atypical hyperplasia and molecular alterations in benign breast lesions appear to be involved in the pathogenesis of invasive carcinoma. In postmenopausal women, increased breast density on mammograms increases risk. Bone density and breast cancer are associated, presumably through the mechanism of endogenous estrogen levels. Serum estrogen levels are higher in breast cancer cases than controls. Many established risk factors for breast cancer may function through and endocrine mechanism. Current use of oral contraceptives and prolonged, current or recent use of hormone replacement therapy moderately increase risk. Tamoxifen and possibly other selective estrogen receptor modulators reduce breast cancer risk in high risk women. Relationships between various dietary micro and macronutrients and breast cancer have been suggested but require evaluation in clinical trials. Whereas alcohol consumption is associated with increased risk, most environmental factors, including polychlorinated compounds and electromagnetic fields, are not. Conclusion: Breast cancer etiology is becoming clearer through the study of molecular alterations in germline and somatic cell genes, and the interaction of these genes with steroid hormones and relevant growth factors. This knowledge should be useful for breast cancer prevention.
Spontaneous functional recovery from parkinsonism is not due to reinnervation of the dorsal striatum by residual dopaminergic neurons

Abstract Cats exposed to MPTP experience severe motor deficits that spontaneously recover after 4–6 weeks. This recovery occurs despite a persistent deficit (approximately 95%) in dorsal striatal DA levels. To determine whether residual DA neurons that previously did not innervate the dorsal caudate nucleus (CD) have innervated this area in recovered MPTP-treated animals, HRP was injected into the dorsal lateral and dorsal medial CD and the locations of retrogradely labeled neurons in ventral mesencephalon were mapped in normal and recovered MPTP-treated cats. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) positive cells were also counted in ventral mesencephalic DA-containing cell groups in normal, symptomatic, and recovered MPTP-treated cats. Results showed no difference in the pattern of HRP labeling in normal and recovered cats except for the loss of labeled substantia-nigra pars compacta (SNc) cells in MPTP-treated cats. Cell counts revealed no significant difference in the degree of TH-positive cell loss in all ventral mesencephalic areas studied in both symptomatic and recovered cats. The results suggest that spontaneous recovery of gross motor function in MPTP-treated cats is most likely not dependent upon reinnervation of the dorsal striatum from residual DAergic neurons.
Epistemic Value and the Primacy of What We Care About

Abstract In this paper I argue that to understand the ethics of belief we need to put it in a context of what we care about. Epistemic values always arise from something we care about and they arise only from something we care about. It is caring that gives rise to the demand to be epistemically conscientious. The reason morality puts epistemic demands on us is that we care about morality. But there may be a (small) class of beliefs which it is not wrong to hold unconscientiously. I also argue that epistemic values enjoy a privileged place in the panorama of what we care about because they are entailed by anything we care about. That means that when there is a conflict between caring about knowledge or true belief and caring about something else, that conflict cannot be resolved simply by following the one we care about the most because caring about knowledge in any domain is entailed by caring about that domain. Finally, I argue that whereas caring demands different degrees of conscientiousness in differ...
Activities associated with the onset of acute coronary artery occlusion

Abstract 1. 1. One thousand four hundred and forty attacks of coronary artery occlusion were analyzed from the standpoint of the patients' activities preceding the attacks, the time of day when the attacks occurred, the patients' occupations, and other associated factors. 2. 2. The distribution of occupations in this series of cases was approximately the same as that in the general population; therefore, occupation and social status did not predispose to coronary occlusion. 3. 3. The circumstances preceding the onset of symptoms in 890 cases were: sleep, 22.3 per cent, rest, 31.1 per cent, mild activity, 20.2 per cent, moderate activity, 8.5 per cent, walking, 15.8 per cent, and unusual exertion, 2.0 per cent. 4. 4. Correlation of these percentages with the number of hours spent daily by the ordinary person in the same occupations indicated that the circumstances were coincidental and that none of them was causally related to the coronary occlusion. Coronary occlusion occurs irrespective of the state of physical activity of the body. 5. 5. Associated factors in 930 cases were: meals, 9.9 per cent, emotional excitement, 5.6 per cent, surgical operation, 6.6 per cent, infection, 4.3 per cent, and miscellaneous factors, 1 per cent. It was concluded that, with the possible exception of surgical procedures, these factors did not play a role in the pathogenesis of coronary occlusion. Only two attacks of coronary occlusion were associated with trauma. 6. 6. Detailed histories of the activities and emotional state of patients for hours, days, and weeks preceding attacks confirm the belief that physical activity and excitement are not factors in the onset of coronary occlusion. 7. 7. Sixty patients sustained an attack of coronary occlusion after having been bedridden for weeks or months because of some chronic illness. 8. 8. The time of onset of the attack was ascertained in 722 cases. Equal numbers occurred during the afternoon, evening, and night, and a slightly greater number during the morning. The attacks were well distributed throughout all the hours of the day, with peaks at 2 a.m. and 10 p.m. This also indicates that activity is not a factor in the precipitation of coronary occlusion. 9. 9. Premonitory symptoms of the attack, such as chest pain, dyspnea, or weakness, were present in 80 of 170 cases in which these symptoms were investigated. 10. 10. There is no evidence that physical effort or excitement produces intimal hemorrhage in the coronary arteries, which is the usual forerunner of thrombosis and occlusion. Intimal hemorrhage is the end result of the progressive, degenerative arteriosclerotic process and is probably a fortuitous event. It was found at necropsy as frequently in patients who had been bedridden prior to the occlusion as in those who were physically active.
Temperature-dependent absolute fluorescence quantum yield of C60 multilayers

Laser-induced fluorescence techniques were used to examine the fluorescence quantum yield of C60 multilayers on Al2O3 (0001) from 28 to 350 K in ultra-high vacuum. The C60 fluorescence quantum yield was q = 6.2 × 10−4±1.3 × 10−4 at 28 K. This absolute value was determined by comparison with the known fluorescence quantum yield of 9,10-diphenylanthracene. The C60 fluorescence quantum yield decreased progressively with increasing temperature from 28 to 350 K. The temperature-dependent changes in the quantum yield were reversible. No fluorescence was detected at surface temperatures greater than 350 K. The temperature dependence was attributed to either enhanced internal conversion or increased intersystem crossing.
Dynamic disorders and its relaxation in organic superconductor κ-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu[N(CN)2]Br

Abstract In this paper, we report direct evidence of dynamic structural disorders introduced by quenching a crystal of charge transfer salt κ-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu[N(CN)2]Br superconductor from high temperatures to 77 K. The sample quenched from different high temperatures relaxes to an equilibrium state with a single relaxation time constant. The magnitude of the relaxation amplitude is dependent on the quenching temperature up to 140 K, above which all relaxation curves overlap with each other. The results suggest strongly that the 140 K is associated with the onset temperature of the order-disorder transition of ethylene groups and the transition is responsible for the anomalous lattice expansion observed at this temperature.
On the Importance of Being Earnest about Treatment Integrity

The degree to which an independent variable is implemented as intended has come to be known as “treatment integrity.” The purpose of this article is to substantiate the crucial role of treatment integrity in (a) establishing a science of intervention research in augmentative and alternative communication and (b) assisting practitioners to engage in evidence-based practice and to evaluate the outcomes of everyday interventions. A treatment integrity checklist is introduced to assist interventionists in planning, implementing, and evaluating treatment integrity. Given its importance, treatment integrity needs to be given considerable weight in publication decisions.
An empirical test of optimal respondent weighting in conjoint analysis

This article empirically tests a proposal (due to Hagerty) to use Q-type factor analysis to maximize predictive accuracy in conjoint analysis. Data sets from three different studies are used to compare the accuracy of predictions from optimal weighting with those from individual conjoint parameter estimation. The results do not support the contention that optimal weighting significantly improves cross-validity, as compared to individual conjoint prediction.
Debugging multithreaded programs with MPD

MPD, a multiprocessor debugger, is described. In MPD, users specify sequential or parallel event (breakpoint) expressions and associated actions; MPD automatically generates code to recognize these patterns of events and invokes the corresponding actions when the event expressions are satisfied during the program execution. The richness of the expression-specification language gives users a great deal of precision in formulating queries, obviating tedious searches through long traces of multithreaded software. Implementation issues are discussed. >