cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Emergence of meaning, signals and the concept of consciousness

Following an account of signaling games, one can show how meaning emerges and is preserved on the basis of the interactions between individuals and their environments. It is here argued that, as all concepts, a concept of consciousness is formed from a set of signaling games and is assigned a sense, from which its extensional reference can be postulated. It will be helpful to understand the contrast between what we may call a representationalist account of consciousness and an enactivist account. As argued, a consciousness state can be assumed and fixed by intensional reference. Thus, although the notion of consciousness may be explanatorily excluded, in principle, from a neurobiological language, it remains relevant in a semantic way. This is a consequence of what we may call the semantic gap between the mental and the physical. Keywords: concept, sense, reference, enaction, mind, neurophenomenology.
Source-sink dynamics could sustain HIV epidemics in rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa: the case of Malawi

Background: Approximately 25.5 million individuals are infected with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Epidemics in this region are generalized, show substantial geographic variation in prevalence, and are driven by heterosexual transmission; populations are highly mobile. We propose that generalized HIV epidemics should be viewed as a series of micro-epidemics occurring in multiple connected communities. Using a mathematical model, we test the hypothesis that travel can sustain HIV micro-epidemics in communities where transmission is too low to be self-sustaining. We use Malawi as a case study. Methods: We first conduct a mapping exercise to visualize geographic variation in HIV prevalence and population-level mobility. We construct maps by spatially interpolating georeferenced HIV-testing and mobility data from a nationally representative population-level survey: the 2015-16 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey. To test our hypothesis, we construct a novel HIV epidemic model that includes three transmission pathways: resident-to-resident, visitor-caused and travel-related. The model consists of communities functioning as sources and sinks. A community is a source if transmission is high enough to be self-sustaining, and a sink if it is not. Results: HIV prevalence ranges from zero to 27%. Mobility is high, 27% of the population took a trip lasting at least a month in the previous year. Prevalence is higher in urban centers than rural areas, but long-duration travel is higher in rural areas than urban centers. We show that a source-community can sustain a micro-epidemic in a sink-community, but only if specific epidemiological and demographic threshold conditions are met. The threshold depends upon the level of transmission in the source- and sink-communities, as well as the relative sizes of the two communities. The larger the source than the sink, the lower transmission in the source-community needs to be for sustainability. Discussion: Our results support our hypothesis, and suggest that it may be rather easy for large urban communities to sustain HIV micro-epidemics in small rural communities; this may be occurring in northern Malawi. Visitor-generated and travel-related transmission may also be sustaining micro-epidemics in rural communities in other SSA countries with highly-mobile populations. It is essential to consider mobility when developing HIV elimination strategies.
First-principles search for alloying elements that increase corrosion resistance of Mg with second-phase particles of transition metal impurities

Abstract A significant challenge for applications of Mg alloys is their poor corrosion resistance and hence Mg alloys designs with built-in corrosion resistance are of significant interest. Corrosion can result from the coupling of anodic dissolution of Mg and cathodic reduction of water on impurities such as Iron (Fe)-rich second-phase particles. Experiments have shown that small quantities of Arsenic (As) or Germanium (Ge) can inhibit Mg corrosion, possibly slowing the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) as the cathodic reaction on Fe surfaces. Since a broader experimental search across the periodic table for other Mg corrosion inhibiting elements is unavailable, we designed thermodynamic and HER criteria, and used high-throughput computations to search a pool of 68 elements including As and Ge that can segregate from bulk Mg to surfaces of Fe particles and impede the HER there. Our computational procedure predicts that six p-block elements meet these criteria, and they rank according to their ability to reduce H adsorption energies and the HER rate as follows: As > Ge > Si > Ga > P ≈ Al. Results for As, the most effective corrosion-inhibiting element, and Ge are in qualitative accord with recent experiments. While none of the 68 elements was found to enhance H adsorption, the six p-block elements reduce H adsorption via strong orbital overlap (Pauli repulsion) between their outer-shell orbitals and the s orbitals of H adsorbates. These p-block elements are also found to have the potential to reduce HER on surfaces of Ni second-phase particles in Mg according to the same criteria, but not on surfaces of Cu second-phase particles.
Improved vibrational constants for BaCl+ X1Σ+

Abstract Translationally cold BaCl+ has been confined in ion traps and vibrationally relaxed by means of sympathetic laser cooling. Determination of the internal temperature of the ion has been hampered by the lack of spectroscopic data for bound-bound transitions. A promising action spectroscopy scheme involves excitation of the 7–0 vibrational overtone transition, followed by UV photodissociation. The present study extends the vibrational characterization of 138Ba35Cl up to v+ = 7, providing improved vibrational constants.
The power of one: advances in single-cell genomics in the kidney.

Single-cell genomics provide a powerful approach to investigate the intrinsic complexity of the kidney and understand the diverse cell types and states that exist during kidney development, homeostasis and disease. Several advances were made in 2019 that enhance our understanding of kidney immune cell states in health and disease and the quality of current kidney organoid model systems for studying human diseases.
Equity and internationalization on campus intersecting or colliding discourses for LGBTQ people?: by Kaela Jubas, Boston, MA: Brill Sense Publishers, 2018. 162 pp., ISBN: 978-90-04-38091-2

The increasing ways in which the higher education landscape has, and continues to, internationalize over the past few decades, has situated post-secondary institutions in a unique predicament, in w...
Abstract 537: Preclinical development and activity of Anti-FLT3 nanoworms in acute myeloid leukemia

Introduction: Mutations in FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) occur in ~30% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases causing high relapse and short survival. Acquired resistance limits the efficacy of current tyrosine kinase inhibitors against FLT3. Developing FLT3 target-specific antibodies has gained interest as a therapeutic approach for AML. Single-chain antibody fragments (scFv) are as specific as full-length monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), yet they outperform mAbs due to lower immunogenicity and a faster development process via recombinant protein engineering. However, scFvs have short circulating half-lives in humans and are difficult to purify. To overcome this, we developed anti-FLT3 scFv fused with an elastin-like polypeptide (ELP), A192, which aids in protein purifyication and extending its half life. Methods: The α-FLT3 scFv gene was fused to the amino terminus of (VPGAG)192 (A192), in the pET-25b(+) vector, purified and refolded for maximum biological activity. Binding specificity of α-FLT3-A192 was analyzed using FLT3 ITD+ AML cell lines MOLM-13 and MV4-11 and FLT3−U937 cells via flow cytometry. Viability and apoptosis assays were performed via trypan blue and Annexin-V at 72 hours, respectively. Immunoblot analyses were performed to assess the effect of α-FLT3-A192 on FLT3/STAT5/ERK signaling pathway. In vivo activity was analyzed by engrafting 106 MOLM-13 cells/ NOD scid mouse, treating with 220 uM of A192 or α-FLT3-A192 (N=8) on day 7, 10, 13 and 16, and sacrificing on day 17. Engraftment was analyzed in peripheral blood and bone marrow by HuCD45 stain and measured by flow cytometry. Kaplan Meier survival analysis was performed in MOLM-13 murine model. Results: Binding of α-FLT3-A192 (10 μM) vs. A192 (25 μM) was observed in MOLM-13 (MFI 1.0 vs 2.0; p Consistently, apoptosis increased in cells treated with 25 µM α-FLT3-A192 vs A192 (MOLM-13: p=0.007, 42.76% vs 5.27%; (MV4-11: p=0.003, 62.77% vs 25.36%). Mechanistically, α-FLT3-A192 inhibited both phospho-STAT5 and phospho-ERK in MOLM-13 and MV4-11 cells. In vivo analyses showed that spleens of mice treated with α-FLT3-A192 weighed less compared with A192 (0.48 vs 126 mg, p=0.03). Additionally, α-FLT3-A192 reduced engraftment in the peripheral blood (%huCD45- 17.5 vs 43.44, p=0.007) and bone marrow (%huCD45- 10.2 vs 26.1%, p Conclusion: α-FLT3-A192 nanoworms present an effective FLT3 targeting strategy with high pharmacological activity and PK properties in cellular and xenograft murine models of AML. V.P.V. and M.P. contributed equally to the manuscript Citation Format: Vijaya Pooja Vaikari, Mincheol Park, John Andrew Mackay, Houda Alachkar. Preclinical development and activity of Anti-FLT3 nanoworms in acute myeloid leukemia [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 537.
ZINC40099027 activates human focal adhesion kinase by accelerating the enzymatic activity of the FAK kinase domain.

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) regulates gastrointestinal epithelial restitution and healing. ZINC40099027 (Zn27) activates cellular FAK and promotes intestinal epithelial wound closure in vitro and in mice. However, whether Zn27 activates FAK directly or indirectly remains unknown. We evaluated Zn27 potential modulation of the key phosphatases, PTP-PEST, PTP1B, and SHP2, that inactivate FAK, and performed in vitro kinase assays with purified FAK to assess direct Zn27-FAK interaction. In human Caco-2 cells, Zn27-stimulated FAK-Tyr-397 phosphorylation despite PTP-PEST inhibition and did not affect PTP1B-FAK interaction or SHP2 activity. Conversely, in vitro kinase assays demonstrated that Zn27 directly activates both full-length 125 kDa FAK and its 35 kDa kinase domain. The ATP-competitive FAK inhibitor PF573228 reduced basal and ZN27-stimulated FAK phosphorylation in Caco-2 cells, but Zn27 increased FAK phosphorylation even in cells treated with PF573228. Increasing PF573228 concentrations completely prevented activation of 35 kDa FAK in vitro by a normally effective Zn27 concentration. Conversely, increasing Zn27 concentrations dose-dependently activated kinase activity and overcame PF573228 inhibition of FAK, suggesting the direct interactions of Zn27 with FAK may be competitive. Zn27 increased the maximal activity (Vmax ) of FAK. The apparent Km of the substrate also increased under laboratory conditions less relevant to intracellular ATP concentrations. These results suggest that Zn27 is highly potent and enhances FAK activity via allosteric interaction with the FAK kinase domain to increase the Vmax of FAK for ATP. Understanding Zn27 enhancement of FAK activity will be important to redesign and develop a clinical drug that can promote mucosal wound healing.
Awareness of the Public Versus Private Accounting Divide, and Its Impact on the Career Path Preference of Accounting Students

This research assesses what knowledge upper-level accounting students possess about the distinctions between the public and private branches of accounting, as well as the influence such knowledge might have on their accounting branch choice. Overall, the study concluded that, before they were aware of the pros and cons of each career path, students preferred a career in public accounting over private accounting. But upon learning the pros and cons of each career path, however, students showed a slight preference toward private accounting. The study suggests research on accountant personality be supplemented by research on the impact of practical knowledge about private versus public accounting work environments on accounting career choice. It suggests greater importance be placed in accounting education on instilling such knowledge.
An Efficient Subcycle Alternative to Instantaneous Power Metrics

In this article, we discuss the relationship between subcycle and instantaneous power metrics in polyphase ac systems. While both approaches have very low computational cost, which makes them suitable for real-time control of industrial processes, the two-sample subcycle scheme offers several distinct advantages over the purely-instantaneous approach. In particular, we show that: a) the level of steady-state fluctuation of subcycle power metrics that use only two time-domain samples is significantly lower than that of purely-instantaneous metrics, and b) the subcycle scheme generates several additional power metrics, which can be used to detect onset of faults, and accurately determine their duration. We illustrate our points using both synthetic and (real-life) industrial examples. In addition, we examine the connection between the two-sample subcycle scheme and other near-instantaneous approaches, based on derivatives of currents and voltages. We again observe a significantly lower numerical sensitivity for the two-sample subcycle quantities. Furthermore, two-sample quantities have a unique feature that they can naturally be extended to more samples, with concomitant reduction in fluctuations, better accuracy and with only moderate increase in computational cost. We posit that the subcycle approach has promise in detection, control, and classification applications.
Effective Therapy Targeting Cytochrome bc 1 Prevents Babesia Erythrocytic Development and Protects from Lethal Infection.

An effective strategy to control blood-borne diseases and prevent outbreak recrudescence involves targeting conserved metabolic processes that are essential for pathogen viability. One such target for Plasmodium and Babesia, the infectious agents of malaria and babesiosis, respectively, is the mitochondrial cytochrome bc1 protein complex, which can be inhibited by endochin-like quinolones (ELQ) and atovaquone. We used the tick-transmitted and culturable blood-borne pathogen Babesia duncani to evaluate the structure-activity relationship, safety, efficacy and mode of action of ELQs. We identified a potent and highly selective ELQ prodrug (ELQ-502), which, alone, or in combination with atovaquone, eliminates B. microti and B. duncani infections in vitro and in mouse models of parasitemia and lethal infection. The strong efficacy at low dose, excellent safety, bioavailability and long half-life of this experimental therapy makes it an ideal clinical candidate for the treatment of human infections caused by Babesia and its closely related apicomplexan parasites.
COVID on Campus: Assessing the Impact of the Pandemic on Undocumented College Students

This article examines the initial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on undocumented college students. Deploying an ecological framework, we situate students’ experiences within their families, commun...
Promoting healthy childhood behaviors with financial incentives: A narrative review of key considerations and design features for future research

Abstract In the last decade, there has been a robust increase in research using financial incentives to promote healthy behaviors as behavioral economics and new monitoring technologies have been applied to health behaviors. Most studies of financial incentives on health behaviors have focused on adults, yet many unhealthy adult behaviors have roots in childhood and adolescence. The use of financial incentives is an attractive but controversial strategy in childhood. In this review, we first propose five general considerations in designing and applying incentive interventions to children. These include: (1) the potential impact of incentives on intrinsic motivation, (2) ethical concerns about incentives promoting undue influence, (3) the importance of child neurodevelopmental stage, (4) how incentives interventions may influence health disparities, and (5) how to finance effective programs. We then highlight empirical findings from randomized trials investigating key design features of financial incentive interventions, including framing (loss versus gain), timing (immediate versus delayed), and magnitude (incentive size) effects on a range of childhood behaviors from healthy eating to adherence to glycemic control in type 1 diabetes. Though the current research base on these subjects in children is limited, we found no evidence suggesting that loss-framed incentives perform better than gain-framed incentives in children and isolated studies from healthy food choice experiments support the use of immediate, small incentives versus delayed, larger incentives. Future research on childhood incentives should compare the effectiveness of gain versus loss-framing and focus on which intervention characteristics lead to sustained behavior change and habit formation.
Impaired trigeminal control of ingestive behavior in the Prrxl1- / - mouse is associated with a lemniscal-biased orosensory deafferentation

Although peripheral deafferentation studies have demonstrated a critical role for trigeminal afference in modulating the orosensorimotor control of eating and drinking, the central trigeminal pathways mediating that control, as well as the timescale of control, remain to be elucidated. In rodents, three ascending somatosensory pathways process and relay orofacial mechanosensory input: the lemniscal, paralemniscal, and extralemniscal. Two of these pathways (the lemniscal and extralemniscal) exhibit highly structured topographic representations of the orofacial sensory surface, as exemplified by the one-to-one somatotopic mapping between vibrissae on the animals’ face and barrelettes in brainstem, barreloids in thalamus, and barrels in cortex. Here we use the Prrxl1 knockout mouse model to investigate ingestive behavior deficits associated with disruption of the lemniscal pathway. The Prrxl1 deletion disrupts somatotopic patterning and axonal projections throughout the lemniscal pathway but spares patterning in the extralemniscal nucleus. Our data reveal an imprecise and inefficient ingestive phenotype with deficits that span timescales from milliseconds to months, tightly linking trigeminal input with ingestion, from moment-to-moment consummatory to long term appetitive control. We suggest that ordered assembly of trigeminal sensory information along the lemniscal pathway is critical for the rapid and precise modulation of motor circuits driving eating and drinking action sequences.
Detection of sinkhole activity in West-Central Florida using InSAR time series observations

Abstract Sinkhole activity in Florida is a major hazard for people and property. Its increasing frequency is often related to an accelerated use of ground-water and land resources in the region. In this work, we use a combined approach of radar interferometry and spatial clustering analysis over three selected sites in West-Central Florida to identify localized deformation that may be caused by sinkhole activity. The region of West-Central Florida is a densely active sinkhole region, where sinkholes tend to be small and land cover is mixed resulting in variable interferometric coherence that complicates Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) surveys. In this work, we present a combined methodology implementing InSAR and a Density-Based Spatial Clustering Analysis (DBSCAN) algorithm to detect unknown sinkhole activity and to alert to possible precursors of sinkhole collapse. The data used for the study consist of acquisitions from three TerraSAR-X frames covering time spans of ~1.7 and 2.5 years with spatial resolutions ranging from 25 cm up to 1 m. We applied the Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) technique using the Stanford Method for Persistent Scatterers (StaMPS) and confirmed the observed deformation signals by also processing the data using the SAR PROcessing tool (SARPROZ). Results show several areas of localized subsidence, from which the cluster with highest rates for each site was selected for detailed inspection. Locations of selected clusters were found in buildings with sizes ranging from 300 m2 to nearly 2000 m2, with subsidence trends ranging from −3 to −6 mm/yr. Results were compared with in-situ observations such as ground penetrating radar (GPR), electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) surveys, visual structural inspection and public county archive documents to help as ground truthing; subsiding locations were found to be related to sinkhole presence or development.
Smitko v. Gulf South Shrimp, Inc.: Another Thread Unraveling the Efficacy of Suits to Quiet Tax Titles in Louisiana

This paper discusses a recent decision of the Louisiana Supreme Court, Smitko v. Gulf South Shrimp, and explores the soundness of the court’s reasoning. Since the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Mennonite Board of Missions v. Adams, Louisiana courts have begun to adopt an interpretation that has led to increasing instability in the Louisiana real estate market. In an effort to protect a citizen’s Fourteenth Amendment Due Process rights, Louisiana courts took the heavy-handed approach of applying the doctrine of absolute nullity to tax-sale proceedings that were constitutionally deficient of notice.Through this decision, the Louisiana Supreme Court has expanded the application of the doctrine of absolute nullity not only to state sale proceedings, but also to judicial proceedings confirming tax titles. The decision now provides independent grounds for overturning final and unappealable judgments obtained in confirmation proceedings. This paper traces the history of the jurisprudence relied upon in Smitko and examines whether this approach is actually mandated or necessary to remedy a purported Due Process violation.
Subnormal Serum Folate and Macrocytosis Associated with Anticonvulsant Drug Therapy

Hematologic studies and microbiological assay of serum folate levels with L. casei and serum vitamin B12 concentrations with L. leichmannii were performed on 60 subjects receiving anticonvulsant drug therapy and five epileptics receiving no treatment. Subnormal serum folate levels of less than 5.0 mµg./ml. were observed in 58 per cent of 53 subjects receiving Dilantin and one of seven patients on other anticonvulsant agents. The incidence of subnormal serum folate values was greater in those subjects who had been taking Dilantin for periods of time greater than 5 years, but did not appear to bear any correlation to the dosage of the drug. Slight or moderate macrocytosis was observed in 71 per cent of subjects receiving Dilantin who had subnormal serum folate levels and in 18 per cent of subjects with normal levels. Serum B12 concentrations were within the normal range. The growth of L. casei was not inhibited by anticonvulsant drugs when added to culture media containing folic acid or serum from patients on Dilantin with normal or low folate concentrations. Folic acid clearance studies were abnormally rapid in three of nine patients studied who were receiving Dilantin. Possible sites of metabolic inhibition resulting in disturbances in folic acid metabolism during therapy with anticonvulsant medications are discussed.
SEROLOGY OF AEROBIC AQUATIC ACTINOMYCETES I. Factors Involved in Antiserum Production and In Vitro Antigen-Antibody Reactions

Guthrie, R. K. (North Texas State University, Denton), A. W. Roach, and J. K. Ferguson. Serology of aerobic aquatic actinomycetes. I. Factors involved in antiserum production and in vitro antigen-antibody reactions. J. Bacteriol. 84:313-317. 1962.-The use of adjuvants permits shortening of immunization schedules, which results in improved specificity of in vitro reactions using sonically disrupted actinomycete antigenic preparations. The demonstration of specific serological reactions and of cross reactions is simplified, specificity is increased, and multiplicity of reactions is detectable by the use of agar-gel diffusion techniques in the study of individual isolates.
Pressure signature of an axisymmetric body at angle of attack.

Incidence effect assessment upon pressure signature, considering supersonic flow about slender rotating body at angle of attack
Integrating External and Internal Clock Synchronization

We address the problem of how to integrate fault-tolerant external and internal clock synchronization. In this paper we propose a new external/internal clock synchronization algorithm which provides both external and internal clock synchronization for as long as a majority of the reference time servers (servers with access to reference time) stay correct. When half or more of the reference time servers are faulty, the algorithm degrades to a fault-tolerant internal clock synchronization algorithm. We prove that at least 2 F+1 reference time servers are necessary for achieving external clock synchronization when up to F reference time servers can suffer arbitrary failures, thus the proposed algorithm provides maximum fault-tolerance. In this paper we also derive lower bounds for the best maximum external deviation achievable in standard mode and the best drift rate achievable in degraded mode. Our algorithm is optimal with respect to these two bounds: (1) the maximum external deviation is optimal in standard mode, and (2) the drift rate of the clocks is optimal in standard and degraded mode.
Stress tolerance and metabolic response to stress in Drosophila melanogaster.

A potentially important physiological response to stress may be alteration in the gross regulation of energy metabolism. Different genotypes may respond differently to environmental stress, and the variation in these norms of reaction may be of key importance to the maintenance of genetic variation in metabolic traits. In the study reported here, a set of genetically defined lines of Drosophila melanogaster were exposed to four stresses (acetic acid, ethanol, starvation and thermal stress) in order to assess the magnitude of environmental effects and genotype×environment interactions. In addition to scoring metabolic traits, distributions of survival times under each stress were also quantified. Although both metabolic traits and survival times exhibited strong differences among genotypes, the correlations between enzyme traits and survival were generally weak. Many of the genetic correlations exhibit significant heterogeneity across environments. The results suggest that transient environmental stress may play an important role in the evolution of this highly intercorrelated set of metabolic traits.
A study of performance comparison of digital multipliers using 22nm strained silicon technology

Multiplication is one of the most important fundamental operations in applications such as Digital Signal Processing and in ALU of the microprocessors. Since multiplication dominates the execution time and power consumption of most of the digital signal processing applications, high speed and low power multipliers are essential for next generation processors. This paper presents a detailed study of performance comparison of different types of multipliers such as Array Multiplier, Carry Save Multiplier, Wallace Tree Multiplier and Baugh Wooley Multiplier. The simulations were performed using 22nm predictive technology model with a supply voltage of 0.8V. Results show that baugh wooley multiplier is the fastest multiplier with the least delay.
A role for DRAK2 in the germinal center reaction and the antibody response

DAP-related apoptotic kinase-2 (DRAK2), a death-associated protein kinase family member, is highly expressed in B and T lymphocytes in the human and the mouse. To determine whether DRAK2 plays a role in B-cell activation and differentiation, we analyzed germinal centers (GCs) and the specific antibody response to NP in drak2− / − mice immunized with the thymus-dependent (TD) conjugated hapten NP16-CGG. In drak2− / − mice, spleen GCs were normal in size and morphology, but their number was reduced by as much as 5-fold, as compared to their wild-type littermates. This was not due to a defect in B-cell proliferation, as the BrdU uptake was comparable in DRAK2-deficient and wild-type B cells. Rather, the proportion of apoptotic GC B and T cells in drak2− / − mice was significantly higher than that in wild-type control mice, as shown by 7-AAD and terminal deoxynucleotide transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. In drak2− / − mice, the generation high affinity IgG antibodies was impaired in spite of...
Changes in the nursing facility-hospital interface after the prospective payment system: the effects on patients with infections in the post-acute care setting.

The purpose of the article is to discuss the impact of Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) new prospective payment system (PPS) on the flow of patients between hospitals and nursing homes, with a particular focus on how patients with infections are likely to be affected. The first section describes Medicare’s relationship to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). The second describes the revised reimbursement system, known as Resource Utilization Groups (RUGs), and the third section describes the changes in provider responses given the altered incentives around patient flows, created through use of the RUGs. The final section examines how these changes might affect the flow of residents with infections, particularly those that are resistant to antimicrobial agents.
Real-time PCR assays for genus-specific detection and quantification of culturable and non-culturable mycobacteria and pseudomonads in metalworking fluids.

Abstract Genus-specific real-time PCR assays were developed and optimized for the direct culture-independent detection and quantification of Mycobacteria and Pseudomonads in contaminated metalworking fluids (MWF) and the results were compared with conventional culturing using selective media. It included optimization of the direct DNA isolation from the fluid matrix and the amplification conditions using genus-specific primers. Mycobacterium-specific primers based on 65-kDa heat shock protein ( hsp ) gene, and Pseudomonas-specific primers based on 16S rRNA gene were used. A standard curve was developed each for the two model bacterial species Mycobacterium immunogenum and Pseudomonas fluorescens , representing two important genera frequently isolated from MWF. A minimum quantification limit of 10 cells/ml was achieved although as low as 1 cell/ml yielded a detectable amplicon signal. Of the twenty MWF field samples contaminated with mixed microflora, only two samples yielded putative colonies of Mycobacteria and Pseudomonads by culturing method, while seven samples responded to the genus-specific real-time PCR detection and quantification for each genus. In contrast to the low culturable counts, the real-time PCR based cell counts ranged from 1.3×10 2 to 5.5×10 5 cells/ml and 5.2×10 2 to 7.0×10 5 cells/ml for Mycobacteria and Pseudomonads, respectively, indicating a significant non-culturable fraction in the fluids, for the two genera. This is the first application of real-time PCR protocol to MWF samples for detection and quantification of total (culturable and non-culturable) Mycobacteria and Pseudomonads without culturing.
Numerical Computation of Multivariate Normal and Multivariate-t Probabilities over Convex Regions

Abstract A methodology has been developed and Fortran 90 programs have been written to evaluate multivariate normal and multivariate-t integrals over convex regions. The Cholesky transformation is used to transform the integrand into a product of standard normal or spherically symmetric t variables. For any random direction from the origin, an unbiased estimate of the value of the integral is Pr[X 2 ≥ r2] (multivariate normal) or Pr[F ≥ r2/k] (multivariate-t), where r is the distance from the origin to the boundary in a randomly chosen direction, and k is the dimension of the integral. Two Fortran 90 programs have been written. MVI uses the average of many estimates. MVIB uses a binning procedure to obtain an empirical distribution of the distance from the origin to the boundary. Gauss-Legendre quadrature is then used to estimate the value of the integral. The running time for MVIB is modestly smaller than that for MVI. However, in solving certain integral equations (e.g., using an iterative procedure to ...
A composite reinforced with bone-shaped short fibers

Using a model composite system, the authors have demonstrated the concept that bone-shaped short-fiber composites can yield both high strength and toughness, thus avoiding reliance on the interfacial properties as the limiting factor for improving the strength and toughness of short-fiber composites. The higher yield strength and Young`s modulus of bone-shaped short fiber composites demonstrate that bone-shaped short fibers more effectively reinforce the composite matrix, most likely due to more effective cracking bridging and load transfer. The results suggest that an optimized bone morphology, coupled with a weak interface, has the potential to significantly improve both the strength and toughness of short fiber composites. Further study is underway to optimize the fiber morphology to obtain the best combination of strength and toughness.
Electro-Chemical Modeling Challenges of Biological Ion Pumps.

We outline the basic operational, structural and functional features of ion motive ATPases: trans-membrane proteins central to biological functions of all animal cells. As an example we discuss the modeling problems associated with the operation of the surface membrane Na+,K+-ATPase and skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase and focus on the frameworks required for their solution. There are three basic problems: identification of the pathway for ion permeation, prediction of ion binding rate coefficients and affinities based on the structure of the protein, and prediction of conformational changes of protein structure and the associated movement of charges within the membrane dielectric. A solution strategy useful in approaching the first two problems and preliminary results obtained using molecular dynamics simulations are also presented.
Indirect determination of fluorides by the edta titration of samarium

Abstract Fluorides are determined by the back-titration of excess of samarium with EDTA to the canary yellow end-point of Methylthymol Blue. The fluoride is precipitated and digested in a solution buffered at pH 2.5–3.0 with monochloroacetate buffer. After digestion, the pH is adjusted to 5.6–5.8 with pyridine and the excess of samarium is back-titrated in the presence of the precipitate, for samples with small quantities of fluoride. The procedure was used to analyse simple fluorides, fluoroborates and some other fluoro-complexes.
A New Formulation of the Nonmetric Strain Problem in Multidimensional Scaling

A natural extension of classical metric multidimensional scaling is proposed. The result is a new formulation of nonmetric multidimensional scaling in which the strain criterion is minimized subject to order constraints on the disparity variables. Innovative features of the new formulation include: the parametrization of the p-dimensional distance matrices by the positive semidefinite matrices of rank ≤p; optimization of the (squared) disparity variables, rather than the configuration coordinate variables; and a new nondegeneracy constraint, which restricts the set of (squared) disparities rather than the set of distances. Solutions are obtained using an easily implemented gradient projection method for numerical optimization. The method is applied to two published data sets.
ILP models for simultaneous energy and transient power minimization during behavioral synthesis

In low-power design for battery-driven portable applications, the reduction of peak power, peak power differential, cycle difference power, average power and energy are equally important. These are different forms of dynamic power dissipation of a CMOS circuit, which is predominant compared to static power dissipation for higher switching activity. The peak power, the cycle difference power, and the peak power differential drive the transient characteristic of a CMOS circuit. In this article, we propose an ILP-based framework for the reduction of energy and transient power through datapath scheduling during behavioral synthesis. A new metric called “modified cycle power function” (CPFa) is defined that captures the above power characteristics and facilitates integer linear programming formulations. The ILP-based datapath scheduling schemes with CPFa as objective function are developed assuming three modes of datapath operation, such as, single supply voltage and single frequency (SVSF), multiple supply voltages and dynamic frequency clocking (MVDFC), and multiple supply voltages and multicycling (MVMC). We conducted experiments on selected high-level synthesis benchmark circuits for various resource constraints and estimated power, energy and energy delay product for each of them. Experimental results show that significant reductions in power, energy and energy delay product can be obtained.
Reduction-induced switching of single-molecule conductance of fullerene derivatives.

The effect of electrochemical reduction on the single-molecule conductance of fullerene C60 derivatives was studied by scanning tunneling microscopy. Three types of C60 derivatives were synthesized...
Biochemical and genetic studies on mammalian cells

A methodology is developed for the investigation of biochemical and genetic phenomena associated with mammalian cell cultures. During the course of the discussion, the mutagenic effects of EMS, X rays, and ultraviolet radiation are mentioned. The modifying effects of caffeine on the survival curves of x- and ultraviolet irradiated mammalian cells is also discussed.
Newton interpolation is efficient for approximation of linear functionals

The Newton interpolation approach is developed for approximation of linear functionals. It is shown that in numerical interpolation and numerical differentiation, the Newton interpolation approach is more efficient than solving the Vandermonde systems.
Organic carbon in surface sands seaward of Altamaha and Doboy Sounds, Georgia

Organic-carbon levels typically are low ( 0.3% organic carbon), concave landward, is located at sound entrances around the seaward periphery of ebb-tidal shoal complexes. This distribution pattern indicates that organic detritus, derived mainly from salt marshes, is exported from the sounds and is deposited just offshore because of waning hydraulic tidal currents combined with negligible wave activity. Organic carbon transported from the sounds to the inner shelf evidently helps support a thriving macrobenthic community consisting dominantly of polychaetes, mollusks, and crustaceans.
How many people have to die over a type II error

Although much concern over type I errors has permeated psychology for decades, there is less concern over type II errors. In fact, type II errors constitute a serious problem in safety research that can result in accidents and fatalities because researchers fail to reject the null hypothesis due to arbitrary probability thresholds. The purpose of this paper is to reveal how often type II errors occur and the effect they have on applied ergonomics research. Computer simulations using population parameters were generated, revealing that type II errors happen quite often, particularly with effect sizes between 0.2 and 1.2. A utility analysis also reveals that the cost of type II errors on society is much greater than it needs to be. Solutions for avoiding type II errors are discussed.
An efficient and convenient synthesis of 5‐(3,3‐dimethyl‐14C‐1‐triazeno)‐imidazole‐4‐carboxamide

Reaction of dimethylamine-14C with a four-fold molar excess of 5-doazoimidazole-4-carboxamide in methanol followed by column chromatography of the product on basic alumina afforded 5-(3,3-dimethyl-14C-1-triazeno)imidazole-4-carboxamide in 70–75% yield and greater than 99.9% radiochemical purity. The preparation is suitable for chemical and biological mechanistic studies.
Suppression of bovine T- and B-lymphocyte responses by fetuin, a bovine glycoprotein

Abstract Fetuin, a bovine glycoprotein present in milligram amounts in fetal calf serum, suppressed lymphocyte responses to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) by 70–90%. T-lymphocyte-enriched populations were suppressed by fetuin in their response to PHA indicating direct T-cell regulation and suggesting that macrophages were not required for fetuin activity. Lymphocyte responses to the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of Escherichia coli and Brucella abortus in the presence of fetuin were markedly reduced compared to cultures without fetuin. Fetuin also suppressed alloantigen recognition in 85% of the mixed-leukocyte responses, and primary in vitro antibody responses induced by the LPS of B. abortus . No toxicity to responding cells or inhibition of early cell division could be demonstrated. A mechanism of regulation appeared to be via suppressor cells. Lymphocytes maintained in fetuin for 48 hr, but not beyond 72 hr, exhibited suppressor cells which could modulate normal adult lymphocyte responses to PHA.
Institutional Civil Disobedience: a case study in unintended outcomes

As industry-wide incentives and mandates increasingly influence entrepreneurial organisations to adopt efficiency-generating practices, the power of inter-organisational consensus can become ingrained to the point where illegal or unethical behaviour may become widely accepted. Using the healthcare industry as a natural experiment, we suggest that forces that promote technology adoption can also have unforeseen negative consequences as they become part of the professional institution, and may serve to have undesirable effects across a given industry. In the USA, industry-specific technology adoption mandates related to healthcare billing practices have met with some resistance from managers and professional groups, who have openly accepted a type of 'institutional civil disobedience', or ICD, in response to perceived unfair or ambiguous reimbursement policies. There is evidence, however, that such behaviour can lead to unforeseen outcomes (i.e., underbilling) that ultimately cause more harm than good for professional stakeholders. This study highlights the phenomenon of ICD and its role in generating unforeseen consequences.
Quantitative determination of chlorogenic acid in plant tissue by combined polyvinylpyrrolidone column and gas chromatography

Abstract A new, specific, and sensitive chromatographic method for the quantitative determination of chlorogenic acid in plant tissue has been developed. Polyvinylpyrrolidone column chromatography is utilized for preliminary quantitative isolation of chlorogenic acid from whole extracts of plant tissue. The partially purified chlorogenic acid, after conversion to the trimethylsilyl derivative, is then further purified and quantitatively determined by gas chromatography. The essential features of the method appear readily applicable to the analysis of other plant phenolic compounds.
Fabrication of Perforated Conical Nanopores in Freestanding Polymer Membranes Using Nanoimprint Lithography and Pressed Self-Perfection Method

Nanopores have proven to be an important sensing element in biosensors to detect and analyze single biomolecules such as DNAs, RNAs, or proteins. The charged biomolecules are driven by an electric field and detected as transient current blocks associated with their translocation through the pores. While protein nanopores, such as alpha-hemolysin and MspA protein nanopores embedded within a lipid bilayer membrane [1], promise to be a rapid, sensitive and label-free sensing paradigm, their duration of usage is too short to perform repetitive experiments due to the mechanical instability of the lipid bilayer. A variety of methods have been developed to prepare synthetic nanopores, which can substrate for protein nanopores, including a direct milling with a focused high-energy electron or ion beam in insulating substrates, an ion track etching in polymer substrates, and an anodizing in aluminum substrates. However, those methods do not allow for control over both the size and location of pores and the high yield of production.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Localization in Disordered Materials: Existence of Mobility Edges

Disordered materials electronic structure band states localization, examining mobility edges
Tandem treatment: A model for work with parents of troubled children

The complexity of individual work with parents whose children are in treatment because of their difficulties is explicated. An exploratory study of 15 mothers' experiences with such treatment is reported. The focus of the study was on parents' expectations, their relationships with their own and their child's clinician, the process of treatment and termination. The findings are integrated with relevant literature and clinical experience to provide a tandem treatment model in which emphasis is placed on clarifying parents' expectations, working with parents' individual issues as well as their role as parents, and focusing first on their children's problems, then gradually moving to the parents' concerns about their own problems.
Best Practice Options: Yugoslavia

Several Cooperative Efforts to Manage Emigration (CEME) members visited the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) in early June 2001 to examine the new Government’s approach to migration issues. We found that both the Federal Government and the Serb Republic are faced with three principal issues related to immigration and refugees that require substantial cooperation with North American and European countries that are donors of international aid, as well as recipients of Yugoslav migrants and third country nationals transiting the FRY. First, they are faced with migration issues that the international community considers priorities, including demilitarizing border management; combating human smuggling and trafficking; and drafting and implementing an aliens law, which includes asylum policies and procedures consistent with international standards. Second, they need to plan for the return or integration of 350,000 refugees from Croatia and Bosnia, and another 150,000 internally displaced Yugoslavs from Kosovo, primarily by offering dual citizenship in the FRY, and Croatia and Bosnia so refugees can integrate in the FRY, but retain rights and privileges according to Croatians or Bosnians. Third, it is important to build bridges to Yugoslavs abroad in order to attract remittances and the return of the professionals needed to rebuild the FRY.
Note Taking and Recall

AbstractIn order to study the effect of note taking and opportunity for review on subsequent recall, eighty-eight college students were randomly assigned to five treatment groups utilizing different note taking and review combinations. No treatment effects were found, although quality of notes was positively correlated with both free recall and multiple-choice measures. Females recalled significantly more data than males, but opinions concerning note taking and note taking habits had no effect on recall.
Comic Strips: A Rhetorical Perspective.

Growing from the speech communication field's increasing interest in the persuasive potential of popular art forms, this essay proposes a rhetorical perspective of the newspaper comic strip. The essay explicates the reciprocal influence of comics and society through two major sections: the first offers a theoretical exploration of the rhetorical dimensions of the comic strip medium, with special attention to Bormann's concept of fantasy themes, while the second is an historical analysis of the function of these dimensions in conveying images of women in American society.
Dual-wavelength method for high-density magneto-optic data storage at blue wavelengths.

Dielectric multilayer antireflection coatings using TiO2, SiO2, Si3N4, and Al2O3 produce optimal results for a dual-wavelength optical data storage system to reduce the power requirement and enhance the Kerr rotation at blue wavelengths.