cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Least common right/left multiples of integer matrices and applications to multidimensional multirate systems

The basic building blocks in a multidimensional (MD) multirate system are the decimation matrix and the expansion matrix. These matrices are D*D nonsingular integer matrices, where D is the number of dimensions. The authors show that properties of integer matrices, such as greatest common right/left divisors and right/left coprimeness play important roles in MD multirate systems. They also introduce the concept of least common right/left multiple of integer matrices and derive many useful properties of them. They illustrate the importance of these by applying them to several issues in MD multirate signal processing, including interchangeability of decimators and expanders, delay-chain systems, and periodicity matrices. >
Can Aversion Explain the Incest Taboo? Comment on McCabe

institutional viability of brother-sister marriage, given the ancient hardiness of what they show to be its analogues. Far from resolving the mystery of incest tabus, their data only deepen it. On a more rarefied level, these differences in interpretation rest on some fundamentally different assumptions about the nature of culture. One assumption (going back at least as far as Locke) is that culture derives from nature and, to be viable, must conform to it. The other (exemplified in Hobbes and Durkheim) sees culture in dialectical opposition to nature and with the capacity of transcending it. In this latter view, that institutions may have "natural" inconveniences is taken for granted; one point to the analysis is to understand how they transcend them.
Plática con el embajador mexicano Edgardo Flores Rivas: El sistema educativo de México antes y después

Ambassador Edgardo Flores Rivas examines the state of the current Mexican educational system and explains why it has produced a “poverty factory.” He asserts that in the past, the Secretariat of Public Education had such strong political power that its leaders were more concerned about their political agendas than about the country's education. The new government has started to reform the educational system, including universal themes in the national curriculum such as ecology, human rights, special education, and ethics. The ambassador also discusses what the government is doing to support Mexican immigrants in the United States through “Plazas Comunitarias.” El embajador Edgardo Flores Rivas analiza el estado del actual sistema educativo de Mexico y explica por que este ha producido una “fabrica de pobres.” El enfatiza que anteriormente, la Secretaria de Educacion Publica (SEP) ejercio tanto poder politico que los lideres estaban mas preocupados por sus agendas politicas que por la educacion. El nuevo g...
LOW‐ AND MODERATE‐INCOME HOUSING IN THE SUBURBS: THE MASSACHUSETTS “ANTI‐SNOB ZONING” LAW EXPERIENCE

Can a state re-assertion of power to override local exclusionary zoning practices “open up” the suburbs for low and moderate income households? Such an approach, tried in Massachusetts over the last ten years, has had some notable, though limited results. Some 14,000 units of LMIH have been proposed under the innovative provisions of the Massachusetts “Anti-Snob Zoning” Law, but only about 3,600 have actually been built. The foremost factor limiting the impact of the law has been persistent resistance to it by suburbanites. While much suburban opposition undoubtably stems from racial prejudice and fears, some is based upon rational concern over the costs to local communities of providing services to the residents of subsidized housing. Offsetting these costs with state and/or federal subsidies could lower major barriers to the creation of more housing opportunities in the suburbs for low and moderate income persons.
DFT Study of the Ethylene Hydroformylation Catalytic Cycle Employing a HRh(PH3)2(CO) Model Catalyst

The potential energy hypersurface for ethylene hydroformylation catalyzed by HRh(PH3)2(CO) was mapped out at the CCSD(T)//B3LYP and B3LYP//B3LYP levels of theory using effective core potentials. Combining the results obtained for each elementary step there are a number of possible pathways for the hydroformylation catalytic cycle, originating from the trans (2a) and cis (2b) isomers of the active catalyst. At both levels of theory employed, a preference was predicted for the pathways originating from the trans isomer of the active catalyst, 2a. The alternative pathways originating from the cis isomer, 2b, were discounted because of the large activation barriers predicted for the two migratory insertion reactions, arising from unfavorable interactions between the equatorial phosphine ligands and the migrating axial ligand. Considering only those reaction paths originating from the trans isomer of the active catalyst, 2a, a strong preference was identified for the oxidative addition of H2 to the unsaturated...
Chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis: important considerations in the work-up of this fibrotic lung disease

Purpose of review Chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis is increasingly recognized as an important mimic of other fibrotic lung diseases. This review will summarize recent data regarding the importance and difficulty of determining causative exposures both for accurate diagnosis and prognosis, and describe the expanded pathologic spectrum of the disease, the effects of fibrosis on prognosis and challenges in the diagnostic evaluation. Recent findings Several recent publications show the potential pathologic patterns induced by chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis are broader than the classic triad of bronchiolitis, interstitial infiltrates and granulomas. Other pathologic patterns include nonspecific interstitial pneumonia, usual interstitial pneumonia, organizing pneumonia, bronchiolitis and airway centric fibrosis. Detecting a causative antigen in fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis is challenging but critically important both for accurate diagnosis and improved prognosis. The prognosis in hypersensitivity pneumonitis worsens in the presence of fibrosis, but it remains significantly better than idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Summary Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is increasingly recognized as an important cause of fibrotic interstitial lung disease. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis demonstrates a remarkable tendency to mimic other idiopathic interstitial pneumonias. A detailed exposure history remains a cornerstone of diagnosis and management.
Level crossing of resonant third-harmonic generation in I 2

The intensity of the resonant third-harmonic generation in ${\mathrm{I}}_{2}$ vapor is found to decrease with increasing strength of an external magnetic field even when the exciting light is polarized parallel to the magnetic field. This effect is explained with a theory based on the interference between different molecules. The gyromagnetic ratio of the excited state is determined in this work. This technique may also be applied to study the mechanism of the various processes of saturation in resonant wave mixing.
Levan production by Bacillus polymyxa

A levan-producing bacterium was isolated from soils and its characteristics for polysaccharide synthesis were studied. A series of enrichment and plating techniques enabled the isolation of a levan-producing bacterium from closely related contaminants. Cultural and physiological characteristics of the isolate identified the organism an a strain ofBacillus polymyxa. The organism produced about 40 g extracellular polysaccharide per liter of sucrose medium, which was about three times more yield than levan obtained from known levan producers. The highest amount of polysaccharide was on a 8% sucrose medium. Hydrolysis of the product showed that the polysaccharide consisted entirely ofd-fructose, and13C.n.m.r. spectra confirmed that the product was levan, a fructose polymer linked by B-(2→6) fructofuranosyl linkage.
Vibration response - A non-destructive test for fatigue crack damage in filament-reinforced composites

Vibration response NDT for fatigue crack damage in laminated filament-reinforced epoxy composites
Wave computation in compressible flow using space-time conservation element and solution element method

The recently developed space-time conservation element solution element method has several attractive features for aeroacoustic computations. The scheme is robust, possesses almost no dispersion error, and the implementation of nonreflecting boundary conditions is simple and effective. The scheme is tested for several problems ranging from linear acoustic waves to strongly nonlinear phenomena, with special emphasis on mixing-layer instability, and good numerical results are achieved.
Circumstances of pregnancy: low income women in Georgia describe the difference between planned and unplanned pregnancies.

Introduction and Background: The United States has a higher rate of unintended pregnancies than many other developed countries despite the availability of effective contraception. Using Azjen's Theory of Planned Behavior and Luker's Theory of Contraceptive Risk Taking this qualitative study explores the reasons for the high rate of unintended pregnancy among low income women in Georgia. Methods: Six focus groups (N=39) were conducted at county health department clinics. Women were recruited at the clinics to participate in a discussion of Pregnancy and Motherhood. All English or Spanish speaking women between the ages of 18 and 49 were eligible for participation. Results: Three dimensions of pregnancy planning emerged-the decision to have a child, taking specific behaviors to increase the likelihood of conception, and making plans to care for a child. Planned pregnancies may occur when a couple or a woman decides that they are ready to have a child, but also occur in less stable situations that pose risks for the family and the child. Unplanned pregnancies may be welcomed or be unwanted depending on the circumstances. Women perceive advantages and disadvantages to planned and unplanned pregnancies. Discussion: There are major differences between the definition and values of planned and unplanned pregnancies promoted by public health practitioners and those of the women in our study. This suggests the need for research on the circumstances in which pregnancies occur, as well as targeted interventions and policies that help women and men define and achieve the circumstances in which they would like to bear and rear children.
Investigation of huge negative circular dichroism spectra of some nucleoproteins

Under certain conditions of preparation, DNA, whether free or complexed with polylysine or histone KAP (I, fl), produce huge negative circular dichroism (CD) spectra with maxima at about 270nm. In order to investigate the cause of these spectra, reconstituted polylysine-DNA complex was used as a model system. It was found that the CD change of DNA in the complex is not a linear function of the fraction of base pairs bound. Such a CD spectrum is not changed despite dilution up to 128 folds for as long as 12 hours. Difference CD spectra taken between free DNA and any of the complexes are qualitatively the same, and are similar to those of free DNA and nucleohistone KAP (Fasman et al., Biochemistry 9, 2814-2822, 1970), free DNA and direct mixed polylysine-DNA complexes, or free DNA in high salt (Chang et al., Biochemistry12, 3028-3032, 1973). The suggestion is made that this CD spectrum might be caused by specific conformational changes in DNA, perhaps belonging to the family of B to C transitions followed by a further structural distortion of DNA due to aggregation of the nucleoprotein molecules.
A 4π beta spectrometer using solid state detectors

Abstract A solid state beta spectrometer using silicon detectors in 4π geometry is described. The properties of the spectrometer are examined. The beta spectrum of 32P measured is found to agree with magnetic spectrometer measurements. Correlations between the parameters describing the shape of the beta spectrum are discussed.
Autonomous sensor manager agents (ASMA)

Autonomous sensor manager agents are presented as an algorithm to perform sensor management within a multisensor fusion network. The design of the hybrid ant system/particle swarm agents is described in detail with some insight into their performance. Although the algorithm is designed for the general sensor management problem, a simulation example involving 2 radar systems is presented. Algorithmic parameters are determined by the size of the region covered by the sensor network, the number of sensors, and the number of parameters to be selected. With straight forward modifications, this algorithm can be adapted for most sensor management problems.
Giant Facets at Ice Grain Boundary Grooves

The energy barrier for nucleation on the basal plane of ice has a striking manifestation when the basal orientation is present in a grain boundary groove. As the ice-water interface containing the groove advances, large planar facets grow out of the grain boundary. The facets exhibit dramatic hysteresis, and they can be up to 30 times larger than predicted by equilibrium models. Measurements of the growth direction of the facets yield insight into the nature of the nucleation process. The facets also provide a way to study the relaxation of twist along grain boundaries.
Attitude Research: Between Ockham's Razor and the Fundamental Attribution Error

Attitudes are hypothetical constructs invented by researchers to explain phenomena of interest. Their appeal reflects the common preference for dispositional explanations. Construal models account for the same phenomena without assuming enduring predispositions and are better suited to accommodate a core requirement of any adaptive system of evaluation, namely, high context sensitivity.
On Lok: A Pioneering Long-Term Care Organization for the Elderly (1971–2008)

On Lok is a pioneering nonprofit organization that has delivered services to the frail and elderly since its founding in 1971. The agency began as a grassroots effort focused on improving the health care available to older adults living independently in the community. Over its 40-year history, On Lok has evolved into a $70 million nonprofit human service organization with a national reputation for innovation as a leading provider of care to frail elderly. The agency has developed its own model of care that has been replicated in cities around the country. The history of On Lok represents the important impact that donor and community support plays in an organization's long-term success.
Behavior of Antioxidants in Rubber Stocks Containing Copper

Abstract (1) Deterioration accelerated by copper in a high-grade tread stock, a low-grade tread stock, a high zinc oxide bus-tube stock, and a pure-gum stock has been found to be effectively retarded by the use of suitable antioxidants. (2) Secondary aromatic amines have been found to be much more effective than other antioxidants, in tread stocks, for retarding deterioration due to copper. (3) The degree of protection afforded to rubber compounds containing copper by the use of certain antioxidants, notably secondary aromatic amines, is sufficiently high to make their addition of practical importance.
All-atom Molecular Dynamics Simulations of a Membrane Protein Stabilizing Polymer

Amphipols are amphipathic, polyacrylate-based polymers that have shown great promise in stabilizing membrane proteins for structural analysis. We have used all-atom molecular dynamics simulations in order to probe details of the behavior of the amphipols. First, we have reproduced experimental SANS measurements on pure amphipol particles. Analysis of these simulations has focused on how varying the chemical ordering of polymer side-chains affects the self-organization and dynamic behavior of the particle. In particular, we describe the manner in which hydrophobic and hydrophilic side-chains arrange inside each particle, as well as differences in water permeability. A second set of simulations of amphiol and a membrane protein, namely OmpX, probes how the amphipol is able to stabilize the protein in its native conformation, and further illustrates the impact of chain order and chemistry on this stabilization.
Coaxial electrohydrodynamic spraying: A novel one-step technique to prepare oligodeoxynucleotide encapsulated lipoplex nanoparticles

This study investigates coaxial electrohydrodynamic spraying (electrospray for short) as a novel, rapid, real time and single-step method to produce oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) encapsulated lipoplex nanoparticles for either intravenous injection or, potentially, pulmonary delivery. Using a coaxial needle setup, we produced G3139 (oblimerson sodium, or Genasense) encapsulated lipoplex nanoparticles, and investigated the effects of production parameters on nanoparticle size and structure. Careful control of production parameters yielded lipoplex nanoparticles 190 ± 39 nm in diameter with unilamellar structure and 90 ± 6% encapsulation efficiency of G3139. Both nontargeted and transferrin-targeted G3139 lipoplex nanoparticles were efficiently delivered to K562 cells and downregulated the bcl-2 protein expression by 34 ± 6% and 57 ± 3% respectively.
The GHS inequality for a large external field

We consider general even ferromagnetic systems with pair interactions in a nonnegative external magnetic fieldh. Classes of single-site measuresρ are found such that the GHS inequality is valid for allh ⩾ h, whereh ⩾ 0 is a number depending onρ but independent of the size of the system. These measures include both absolutely continuous and discrete measures. Forρ =aδ 0+{(1−a)/2} · (δ 1 +δ −1), somea e [0, 1),h is determined exactly.
Subfamily specific conservation profiles for proteins based on n-gram patterns

A new algorithm has been developed for generating conservation profiles that reflect the evolutionary history of the subfamily associated with a query sequence. It is based on n-gram patterns (NP{n,m}) which are sets of n residues and m wildcards in windows of size n+m. The generation of conservation profiles is treated as a signal-to-noise problem where the signal is the count of n-gram patterns in target sequences that are similar to the query sequence and the noise is the count over all target sequences. The signal is differentiated from the noise by applying singular value decomposition to sets of target sequences rank ordered by similarity with respect to the query. The new algorithm was used to construct 4,248 profiles from 120 randomly selected Pfam-A families. These were compared to profiles generated from multiple alignments using the consensus approach. The two profiles were similar whenever the subfamily associated with the query sequence was well represented in the multiple alignment. It was possible to construct subfamily specific conservation profiles using the new algorithm for subfamilies with as few as five members. The speed of the new algorithm was comparable to the multiple alignment approach. Subfamily specific conservation profiles can be generated by the new algorithm without aprioi knowledge of family relationships or domain architecture. This is useful when the subfamily contains multiple domains with different levels of representation in protein databases. It may also be applicable when the subfamily sample size is too small for the multiple alignment approach.
On "pathogenesis and management of postoperative ileus" (clin colon rectal surg 2009;22:47-50).

I read with great interest the article in your Volume 22 issue by Carroll and Alavi regarding the pathogenesis and management of postoperative ileus (POI).1 Alvimopan was reviewed by the authors and concluded to show “promise in reducing POI, but needs more rigorous investigation.” Alvimopan has been extensively evaluated for the management of gastrointestinal (GI) recovery (POI) in five large, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 clinical trials (>3,000 patients). The results from these clinical trials have all been published in peer-reviewed journals.2,3,4,5,6 Furthermore, alvimopan was ultimately approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2008 to accelerate the time to upper and lower GI recovery following partial large or small bowel resection surgery with primary anastomosis.7 Although the information presented in the article is accurate, it is also incomplete. This additional information, which was not referenced in the original article, may help provide perspective to the reader about the current state of development of alvimopan. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this interesting paper by Carroll and Alavi.
Continuous production of sugars from pyrolysis of acid-infused lignocellulosic biomass

Although pyrolysis of carbohydrate-rich biomass should theoretically yield large amounts of sugar, the presence of alkali and alkaline earth metals (AAEMs) in most biomass prevents this from happening. Even in small amounts, AAEM strongly catalyzes the fragmentation of holocellulose to light oxygenates compared to the thermally-induced breaking of glycosidic bonds that yield anhydrosugars. The concept of AAEM passivation, by which the catalytic activity of AAEMs can be suppressed to enhance thermal depolymerization of lignocellulose to sugars, has been previously established at the microgram scale using batch reactors. The feasibility of increasing sugar yield via AAEM passivation has not been previously demonstrated at the kilogram scale in a continuous flow reactor. The goal of this research is to demonstrate the enhanced production of sugars from AAEM passivated feedstocks in a continuous auger pyrolyzer at the kilogram scale. Alkali and alkaline earth metal passivation prior to pyrolysis increased total sugars from red oak by 105% compared to conventional pyrolysis, increasing from 7.8 wt% to 15.9 wt% of feedstock. Light oxygenates and non-condensable gases (NCGs) simultaneously decreased 45%, from 27.1 wt% to 14.7 wt% of feedstock as a result of AAEM passivation. Similarly, AAEM passivation of switchgrass increased total sugars by 259%, from 4.5 wt% to 16.2 wt% of feedstock, while the light oxygenates and NCGs decreased by 48%, from 20.0 wt% to 10.5 wt% of feedstock. An undesirable outcome of AAEM passivation was an increase in char production, increasing by 65% and 30% for pyrolysis of red oak and switchgrass, respectively. Loss of lignin-derived phenolic compounds from the bio-oil can explain 67% and 38% of the increase in char for red oak and switchgrass, respectively. The remaining 33% char increase for red oak (3.1 wt% char) and 62% char increase for switchgrass (4.0 wt% char) appear to be from carbonization of sugars released during pyrolysis of acid-infused biomass.
The swelling of rubber in liquid and vapour (schroeder's paradox)

Abstract Polymeric substances usually swell less when placed in the vapor of a liquid in a closed vessel than they do in the liquid itself. This is known as “Schroeder's Paradox”, and many attempts have been made to explain it. With lightly vulcanized rubber and carbon tetrachloride the paradoxical behavior is caused by small differences in temperature (of order 0.1° C) which exist under normal conditions between a liquid and its vapor in a closed vessel; the vapor is normally the warmer of the two. Strict temperature control abolishes the paradox.
Novel association approach for determining the genetic predisposition to schizophrenia: Case‐control resource and testing of a candidate gene

We have developed a two-tiered approach to elucidating the genetic predisposition to schizophrenia. The approach first involves the examination of candidate genes in a subset of schizophrenic individuals to identify DNA sequence variations of likely functional significance, i.e., that produce either structural alterations in the protein or affect the level of gene expression. Once identified, the prevalence of the aberrant allele is examined in a large group of unrelated schizophrenic cases and controls to assess whether a true disease association exists. Herein, we describe the establishment of a DNA bank on nearly 200 unrelated schizophrenic cases defined by DSM-III-R criteria and on over 300 unrelated, ethnically similar controls. Characteristics of the study sample are described. The study approach then is illustrated by testing known mutations in the phenylalanine hydroxylase gene, responsible for the autosomal recessive disease of phenylketonuria, in the case-control sample to determine if carriership of a mutant allele is associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia. Using PCR amplification of specific alleles (PASA), we screened 190 schizophrenic cases and 336 controls for two common point mutations in the phenylalanine hydroxylase gene. Two carriers were found among the controls, while none of the cases was shown to carry a mutant allele. Thus, carriership of either of two common mutations in the phenylalanine hydroxylase gene does not appear to be associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia. As additional candidate genes are tested in this case-control resource, adjustment for multiple comparisons will become crucial in order to reduce the chance of false positive findings.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Fast algorithms for approximately counting mismatches

Abstract Given a text string T ϵ Σn and a pattern string P ϵ Σm, for each i = 1, 2,…,n − m + 1 define ƒ(i) to be the number of mismatches when the pattern is aligned below the text and starts in position i of the text. The fastest known algorithm to compute all the ƒ(i)'s when the alphabet is arbitrary has worst-case time exceeding n√m. For any e > 0, we give simple randomized and deterministic algorithms that compute g(i) such that ƒ(i) ⩽ g(i) ⩽ ƒ(i)(1 + e) for all i. The algorithms run in time O((n/e2) logcm) for a small universal constant c and are easy reductions from the case of arbitrary Σ to the case Σ = {0, 1}.
Recent advances in lung neuropeptide biology using neprilysin and VIP knockout mice

Pulmonary hypertension (PHTN) is a major clinical problem, which develops in response to vascular injury or rarely arises spontaneously. The field of neuropeptide biology has been a rich source of biomarkers (like brain natriuretic peptide; BNP) and treatment strategies (like endothelin receptor antagonists; ETRAs) for PHTN. We describe two knockout mouse models from this area, one involving the metallopeptidase, neprilysin (NEP) and the other the neuropeptide, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), that are providing new mechanistic insights into smoke- and hypoxia-induced (secondary) and idiopathic (primary) PHTN, respectively.
The role of large-scale eddies in the climate equilibrium. Part I: Fixed static stability

Lorenz's two-level model on a sphere is used to investigate how the results of Part 1 are modified when the interaction of the vertical eddy heat flux and static stability is included. In general, the climate state does not depend very much on whether or not this interaction is included, because the poleward eddy heat transport dominates the eddy forcing of mean temperature and wind fields. However, the climatic sensitivity is significantly affected. Compared to two-level model results with fixed static stability, the poleward eddy heat flux is less sensitive to the meridional temperature gradient and the gradient is more sensitive to the forcing. For example, the logarithmic derivative of the eddy flux with respect to the gradient has a slope that is reduced from approximately 15 on a beta-plane with fixed static stability and approximately 6 on a sphere with fixed static stability, to approximately 3 to 4 in the present model. This last result is more in line with analyses from observations. The present model also has a stronger baroclinic adjustment than that in Part 1, more like that in two-level beta-plane models with fixed static stability, that is, the midlatitude isentropic slope is very insensitive to the forcing, the diabatic heating, and the friction, unless the forcing is very weak.
Regression models to predict corrected weight, height and obesity prevalence from self-reported data: data from BRFSS 1999-2007.

Surveys such as the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) collect only self-reported data on height and weight to estimate obesity prevalence rates. Because of biased self-reporting of height and weight, obesity prevalence rates reported by these surveys are too low. To develop regression models that can predict corrected height, weight and obesity prevalence from self-reported data, as well as to compare obesity prevalence rates based on self-reported and modeled data and test for trends in obesity prevalence by gender, age and race/ethnicity. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for the period 1999–2006 were used to develop regression models to predict corrected height, weight and obesity prevalence. Regression coefficients estimated from these models were used to predict corrected height, weight and obesity prevalence for BRFSS data for 1999–2007. Self-reported weights for males were higher by 0.1–0.2 kg and lower by about 1.25 kg than corrected weights for females. Underreporting of weights was lowest for Hispanics when compared with other race/ethnicities. In addition, underreporting of weight increased with an increase in body mass index. Self-reported heights for males were higher than corrected heights by about 2 cm, and for females, by about 1 cm. Overreporting of height increased with an increase in age. Self-reported obesity prevalence was 4.5–5.8% lower than corrected rates for males and by 4.4–5.1% for females. Underreporting of obesity prevalence increased with an increase in age. Obesity prevalence rates increased over time for each gender, race/ethnicity and age group for BRFSS data. Obesity prevalence calculated from self-reported data is too low and should be used with caution for health-care planning purposes. When it is not possible to have measured data, corrected heights and weights may be predicted by using models such as those presented by us from a relatively large data set that has both measured and self-reported data.
Scaling Turbulent Wall Layers

The two-layer concept is a framework for interpreting events and constructing mathematical models of turbulent wall layers. An asymptotic theory is constructed employing the idea that the interaction between the layers is the most important aspect.
Characterization of infectious laryngotracheitis virus isolates from the US by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism of multiple genome regions

Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) is an acute viral respiratory disease, primarily of chickens. Economic losses attributable to ILT affect many poultry-producing areas throughout the United States (US) and the world. Despite efforts to control the disease by vaccination, prolonged epidemics of ILT remain a threat to the poultry industry. Earlier epidemiological and molecular evidence indicated that outbreaks in the US are caused by vaccine-related strains. In this study, polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) of four genome regions was utilized to characterize 25 isolates from commercial poultry and backyard flocks from the US. Combinations of PCR-RFLP patterns classified the ILT virus isolates into nine groups. Backyard flock isolates were categorized in three separate groups. The ILT virus US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reference strain and the tissue culture origin (TCO) vaccine strain were categorized into two separate groups. Twenty-two isolates from commerci...
Neural networks letter: Adaptive critics for dynamic optimization

A novel action-dependent adaptive critic design (ACD) is developed for dynamic optimization. The proposed combination of a particle swarm optimization-based actor and a neural network critic is demonstrated through dynamic sleep scheduling of wireless sensor motes for wildlife monitoring. The objective of the sleep scheduler is to dynamically adapt the sleep duration to node's battery capacity and movement pattern of animals in its environment in order to obtain snapshots of the animal on its trajectory uniformly. Simulation results show that the sleep time of the node determined by the actor critic yields superior quality of sensory data acquisition and enhanced node longevity.
Alcohol consumption and significant left-sided colorectal neoplasia in a screening population

Alcohol consumption and significant left-sided colorectal neoplasia in a screening population
Abstract A12: Chromatin accessibility reveals insight into androgen receptor activation and transcriptional specificity

Epigenetic mechanisms such as chromatin accessibility and histone modifications impact transcription factor binding to DNA and transcriptional specificity. The androgen receptor (AR), a master regulator of prostate cancer initiation and progression, acts primarily through ligand-activated transcription of target genes. By combining deep sequencing with DNase I hypersensitivity analysis (DNase-seq) and RNA analysis (mRNA-seq) we assessed genome-wide chromatin structure and transcription and combined this data with publicly available AR chromatin immunoprecipitation data (AR ChIP-seq). We find that 72% of DNase I hypersensitive sites (DHS) overlap each other before and after androgen in LNCaP cells. Interestingly, in regions of increased chromatin accessibility with androgen induction, the canonical AR DNA recognition motif is enriched. Comparing identified DHS to AR binding sites from three different data sets consistently reveals that 50% of AR binding overlaps a DHS in induced cells. Of those sites with both DHS and AR binding, approximately half are available prior to androgen induction (i.e., “primed”) and half open in response to androgen stimulation. This contrasts with the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), which was recently reported to bind to DNA primarily in regions that are accessible to nuclease cleavage prior to ligand activation. Our mRNA-seq analysis discovered 339 genes regulated by AR activation (FDR < 0.05), including 16 of the 19 most commonly identified AR-mediated genes in several other studies. Importantly, we find that regions of increased chromatin accessibility are significantly associated with genes identified as AR-regulated by mRNA-seq. Finally, base pair resolution of the DNase-seq signal reveals distinct footprinting patterns associated with the AR-DNA interaction. Analysis of chromatin structure, AR binding, and transcription prior to and following androgen induction demonstrates that AR activation by ligand induces genome-wide changes in chromatin accessibility, these changes correspond to AR binding to the genome, and they impact AR-mediated transcriptional response. These findings suggest that interaction between the AR and DNA alters chromatin structure and transcriptional specificity. Citation Format: Alok Tewari, Galip Yardimci, Yoichiro Shibata, Nathan Sheffield, Lingyun Song, Barry Taylor, Gerhard Coetzee, Terrence Furey, Gregory Crawford, Phillip Febbo. Chromatin accessibility reveals insight into androgen receptor activation and transcriptional specificity [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Prostate Cancer Research; 2012 Feb 6-9; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(4 Suppl):Abstract nr A12.
Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study of Femtosecond Laser Based Micro/Nano Machining of Ultra Thin Metallic Films

The effectiveness of ultra-short pulsed laser radiation for high-precision material processing and surface micro-modification, owing to the minimal thermal and mechanical damage, has been shown. Micro/Nano structuring of thin films is gaining widespread importance owing to ever-increasing applications in a variety of fields. The present study details femtosecond laser interaction with ultra thin metallic films at the micro and nano scales. Results of Microablation studies, carried out with an 800nm wavelength, 80fs pulse duration, femtosecond laser focused tightly using a long working distance objective lens, are discussed. A parametric study of single shot ablation and subsequent atomic force microscope characterization of the ablation craters is presented. The formation of elevated convex hillock structures at low laser pulse energies and considerable delamination at higher energies evinces a stress driven modification mechanism. Further, nanostructuring results on thin films carried out with femtosecond laser in conjunction with an atomic force microscope are presented. Various nanofeatures were machined with high spatial resolution (∼10–12nm), flexibility and repeatability by utilizing the local field enhancement in the near-field of the scanning probe tip irradiated with the laser beam. Attempting to understand the modification mechanism and the physics involved, numerical simulation studies were performed to evaluate the field enhancement underneath the tip and the ‘femtosecond laser–thin film’ interaction dynamics in general. Possible applications of thin film structuring may be in the areas of high-resolution nanolithography, controlled nanodeposition, ultra high-density data storage, high-resolution mask production and repair, nanoelectronics, nanophotonics and various nanobiotechnology related applications.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Bottom-Up Synthesis of Polymer Nanocomposites and Molecular Composites: Ionic Exchange with PMMA Latex

Ionic exchange between electrostatically stabilized PMMA latex and aqueous dispersion of nanoparticles or rigid-rod polyelectrolytes of opposite sense is demonstrated to be a flexible approach to fabrication of polymeric-based nano and molecular composites, including layered silicates, indium tin oxide nanoparticles, rigid-rod polyelectrolyte, and carbon nanofibers. The exchange reaction produces a nanoscale coating on the polymer latex surface, providing efficient dispersion of the nanoparticle, interfacial control between the constituents, as well as the potential for hierarchical morphology control. The resulting nano and molecular scale dispersions are thermodynamically stable when an emulsifier that participates with the free-radical polymerization of the MMA is used. The result is direct ionic coupling between the polymer and the nanoparticle, but at a sufficiently low level to maintain solution and melt processibility. Molecular composites of sPBI and PMMA are discussed in detail, and demonstrate i...
Computational Study on the Existence of Organic Peroxy Radical-Water Complexes (RO2·H2O)

The existence of a series of organic peroxy radical−water complexes [CH3O2·H2O (methyl peroxy); CH3CH2O2·H2O (ethyl peroxy); CH3C(O)O2·H2O (acetyl peroxy); CH3C(O)CH2O2·H2O (acetonyl peroxy); CH2(OH)O2·H2O (hydroxyl methyl peroxy); CH2(OH)CH2O2·H2O (2-hydroxy ethyl peroxy); CH2(F)O2·H2O (fluoro methyl peroxy); CH2(F)CH2O2·H2O (2-fluoro ethyl peroxy)] is evaluated using high level ab initio calculations. A wide range of binding energies is predicted for these complexes, in which the difference in binding energies can be explained by examination of the composition of the R group attached to the peroxy moiety. The general trend in binding energies has been determined to be as follows: fluorine ≈ alkyl < carbonyl < alcohol. The weakest bound complex, CH3O2·H2O, is calculated to be bound by 2.3 kcal mol-1, and the strongest, the CH2(OH)O2·H2O complex, is bound by 5.1 kcal mol-1. The binding energy of the peroxy radical−water complexes which contain carbonyl and alcohol groups indicates that these complexes ma...
Casein, a powerful enhancer of the rate of plasminogen activation

Casein was found to be a potent accelerator of the rate of plasminogen activation by both tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and urokinase plasminogen activator (u-PA). The effect is measured by the increase in the rate of hydrolysis of the synthetic plasmin substrate, Spectrozyme PL, when the activating mixture contains casein. The effect on two chain human urokinase was studied in detail. Both bovine and human casein are effective; of the three principal fractions of bovine casein, α, β, and κ, the α fraction was found to be most effective. α-casein, immobilized on agarose, bound both u-PA and plasminogen to a significantly greater extent than did plain agarose, or agarose conjugated to irrelevant proteins. The enhancement of the rate of activation by u-PA was much larger when Glu-plasminogen, rather than Lys-plasminogen, was used. In the presence of casein, Glu-plasminogen was activated at the fast rate characteristic of Lys-plasminogen. Since the presence of casein did not result in the proteolytic conversion of the Glu to the Lys form, the effect is interpreted as a change in the conformation of Glu-plasminogen to that of the Lys form, by interaction with casein. Kinetic analysis of the time course of activation at varying Glu-plasminogen concentrations gave a 23-fold decrease in Km in the presence of casein. This, coupled with a 3.45-fold increase in kcat, resulted in an 80-fold increase in kcat/Km, i.e. in the overall efficiency of activation. Indirect evidence suggests that the effect may be related to the micellar structure of casein.
Isolation of functional ribosomes and polysomes from lyophilized fungi

Abstract Functional monosomes and polysomes were readily isolated from lyophilized mycelia and spores of the tetrapolar basidiomycetes Schizophyllum commune and Coprinus lagopus. 1. 1. Monosomes having sedimentation properties similar to rabbit reticulocyte monosomes predominate in these ribosomal preparations. 2. 2. Polysomes of dimer, trimer, and tetramer size are consistently present. The polysomes are stable at low Mg2+ concentrations and are sensitive to ribonuclease treatment. 3. 3. The ribosomes are functional in a cell-free protein synthesizing system containing no exogenous mRNA. The isolation of intact polysomes from the material lyophilized prior to grinding is considered significant because of the advantages of this technique to molecular studies on organisms with resistant cell walls and because of the indication that lyophilization has little effect on the functional integrity of the polysome-mRNA complex.
Single center review of femoral arteriovenous grafts for hemodialysis.

Introduction: It is unclear how to manage high risk hemodialysis patients who present with an indwelling catheter. The National Kidney Foundation Practice Guidelines urge prompt removal of the catheter, but the guidelines do not specifically address the problem of patients whose only option is a femoral arteriovenous (AV) graft. Methods: This study was a retrospective review of all patients who underwent femoral AV graft placement for hemodialysis access between January 1, 1996 and January 1, 2003 at the University of Michigan Health System (UMHS). Graft patency is reported according to the standards developed by the Society of Vascular Surgery and the American Association of Vascular Surgeons. Results: Thirty patients were identified who had undergone femoral AV graft placement. The mean follow-up was 23 months (range 1‐75 months). The patients had had significant medical comorbidities and multiple previous access operations (mean 3; interquartile range 1‐5). The 1-year secondary graft patency rate was 41%, the 2-year rate was 26%, and the 3-year rate was 21%. Infection was the cause of final graft loss in eight patients (50% of the grafts losses, 27% of the total grafts placed.) Among those who died (n = 14), the mean time from femoral graft placement to death was 31.2 – 27.5 months. The patient survival was quite low: at 1 year 81%, at 2 years 68%, and at 3 years 54%. Conclusions: These complex patients who have exhausted their upper extremity hemodialysis options do poorly following femoral AV graft placement. Consideration should be given to longterm catheter-based access in some of these patients.
Nonlinear effects in molecular dynamics of water: large sample computer simulation of rise and fall transients

Abstract In one of the largest computer simulations to data of liquid water, the effect of a strong, external, uniaxial electric field on an equilibrium sample of 1372 molecules has been investigated. The orientational rise transient from field-off to field-on equilibrium shows a complex pattern of oscillations in the sub-picosecond range which are neither predicted theoretically nor seen in previous computer simulations. On the other hand, the phenomenon of fall transient acceleration first discovered by computer simulation in a sample of only 108 molecules is confirmed in the present work, indicating that the acceleration effect is independent of sample size, and is a fundamental physical property of liquids, including water.
The rural hospital project: conceptual background and current status.

: Rural hospitals are confronting continuing and increasing threats to their inability. A demonstration project for the Washington-Alaska-Montana-Idaho region to address the problems of the rural hospital and health system is described. The assumptions underlying the project are that the rural hospital represents the most important component of the rural health care system, and the role of the rural hospital must be defined in relation to the broad health care needs of the population it serves. However, since the elements of community health services are also interdependent, a comprehensive approach to addressing the broad array of problems which besiege rural health services has been developed. The phases of this comprehensive health services development model are described. This approach is having a substantial impact on the ability of community health care leaders to work together, identify important problems, and initiate a range of interventions, with results that are encouraging for the future of the rural hospital and health care system.
Coordination Chemistry of New Sulfur-Containing Ligands. 25. Reduction and Deoxygenation of MoO3+(Aq) by Pyrrole-N-Carbodithioate (L) to Yield Eight-Coordinate MoL4: Crystal and Molecular Structure of Tetrakis(Pyrrole-N-Carbodithioato)Molybdenum-Hemi(Methylene Chloride)

Cristallisation dans le groupe P1 avec a=11,197, b=11,220 et c=13,165 A, α=73,36, β=67,07 et γ=66,75°, Z=2. Affinement jusqu'a R=3,17%. La molecule possede la symetrie D 2d avec les atomes de soufre situes aux sommets d'un dodecaedre D 2d
A CD20 tandem-epitope immunogen elicits antibody in mice that binds murine cell surface CD20 and depletes splenic B cells in vivo

CD20 is an important target for monoclonal antibody therapy of B-cell malignancies and for some autoimmune disorders. Though there is interest in evaluating the induction of active immunity to CD20 in the mouse model, the CD20 extracellular domain (ECD) has significant secondary and tertiary structure which make it difficult to target using peptide immunogens. We constructed, expressed, and purified a recombinant immunogen, CD20ECD-6, which displays six tandemly repeated copies of the C-terminus of the murine CD20 ECD covalently linked to maltose-binding protein. Analysis of the purified protein suggested a complex conformation as the protein migrated in significantly retarded fashion by SDS-PAGE analysis. Immunization of mice and rabbits with the CD20ECD-6 led to the induction of antibodies reactive with the C-terminal ECD peptide sequence by ELISA and more importantly, with native cell surface CD20 on the murine B-cell lymphomas, 38C13 and A20. Immunoprecipitation using the rabbit antisera and non-denaturing detergent confirmed the identity of the bound cell surface protein as murine CD20 and suggested that the cell-binding antibodies were specific for the native, folded conformation. Finally, immunization of mice with the CD20ECD-6 using Freund's or QS-21 adjuvants was shown to exert significant biological effects in vivo with the pronounced depletion of splenic B cells. The tandem-epitope immunogen represents a promising tool for eliciting and studying active autoimmunity to CD20, as a basis for potential development of new immunotherapeutics for cancer and autoimmune diseases.