cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A cooperative governance network for crop genome editing: The success of governance networks in other areas could help to find common ground for applying genome editing in agriculture.

Emerging biotechnologies, such as genome editing, may revolutionize agricultural development through rapid and precise genetic manipulation of a wide range of crop traits without having to transfer foreign DNA [1]. If so, these new genetic‐engineering (GE) technologies can help to generate crop varieties to address critical challenges in agricultural development, such as climate resilience or nutrient uptake, or diet‐related problems in nutrition and health in poorer countries. However, society must also be protected from potential harmful effects of genetically manipulated crops on the environment, human health, or social welfare. Governance of these crops must therefore balance agricultural developments with risk assessment and prevention of potential harm. > …genome editing is being used to improve the characteristics of major crop plants, but the governance of crop genome editing is poorly defined and developed Presently, genome editing is being used to improve the characteristics of major crop plants, but the governance of crop genome editing is poorly defined and developed. Influential groups concerned with the potential hazards of such crops view this situation with growing alarm, which has created tensions with the academic community and regulatory agencies [2]. Both the USA and the European Commission are currently reviewing the governance of crops produced by genome editing and other new technologies. On the US side, at least, the review process appears unlikely to result in governance approaches that will satisfy parties that are concerned with either over‐ or under‐regulation of such crops, and tension and conflicts about them are likely to heighten. We propose an alternative approach for governance of these crops that may help to defuse tensions and enable exploration of genome editing technologies’ potential while protecting society from harm: a cooperative governance network. Such networks have performed well in …
Comparison of Ultrasound-Assisted and Regular Leaching of Vanadium and Chromium from Roasted High Chromium Vanadium Slag

Ultrasound-assisted leaching (UAL) was used for vanadium and chromium leaching from roasted material obtained by the calcification roasting of high-chromium–vanadium slag. UAL was compared with regular leaching. The effect of the leaching time and temperature, acid concentration, and liquid–solid ratio on the vanadium and chromium leaching behaviors was investigated. The UAL mechanism was determined from particle-size-distribution and microstructure analyses. UAL decreased the reaction time and leaching temperature significantly. Furthermore, 96.67% vanadium and less than 1% chromium were leached at 60°C for 60 min with 20% H2SO4 at a liquid–solid ratio of 8, which was higher than the maximum vanadium leaching rate of 90.89% obtained using regular leaching at 80°C for 120 min. Ultrasonic waves broke and dispersed the solid sample because of ultrasonic cavitation, which increased the contact area of the roasted sample and the leaching medium, the solid–liquid mass transfer, and the vanadium leaching rate.
On St. Venant’s principle

The intuitive ideas underlying St. Venant’s principle [1] in the mathematical theory of elasticity are well known. The principle, stated roughly, asserts that if self-equilibrated loads are applied on one end only of a long cylinder, then the strain produced in the body by such forces are much larger near the loaded end than at points far from the loaded end. The principle is now over one hundred years old, yet it remains a vaguely stated intuitive notion without a precise mathematical formulation capable of proof. The theorems of Boussinesq [2], von Mises [3], and Sternberg [4] are often mentioned in connection with St. Venant’s principle, but I have been unable to perceive an easy relationship. Dou [5] proves yet another property of the solutions of elasticity theory for isotropic cylinders having a square cross-section which I also find difficult to translate into St. Venant’s principle. The results of Zanaboni [6, 7] are in the right direction but are not sufficiently sharp to be considered definitive.
A scaling law for short term load forecasting on varying levels of aggregation

Abstract This paper proposes a simple empirical scaling law that describes load forecasting accuracy at varying levels of aggregation. We show that for many forecasting methods, aggregating more customers improves the relative forecasting performance up to specific point. Beyond this point, no more improvement in relative performance can be obtained. A benchmarking procedure for applying the scaling law to different forecasting models is presented. The aggregation model is evaluated with year long consumption profiles of over 180 thousand Pacific Gas & Electric customers. A theoretical model based on a bias variance decomposition of the forecast error is used to model the Aggregation Error Curves (AECs) that are empirically explored.
Gut development on a full stomach.

Mechanical forces are important for normal gastrointestinal development and function. Now, He et al. have discovered a population of Drosophila midgut epithelial enteroendocrine cell (EEC) precursors that express the mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo, which generates a calcium influx that drives EEC differentiation and proliferation in response to physiological mechanical stimuli.
Eyes of the mimicker.

A 42-year-old man presented with intermittent fevers, rigors, headache, and myalgia, and now, one-sided vision loss.
Long-Term In Vitro Culture of the Syphilis Spirochete Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum

Investigation of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum, the spirochete that causes syphilis, has been hindered by an inability to culture the organism continuously in vitro despite more than a century of effort. In this study, long-term logarithmic multiplication of T. pallidum was attained through subculture every 6 to 7 days and periodic feeding using a modified medium (T. pallidum culture medium 2 [TpCM-2]) with a previously described microaerobic, rabbit epithelial cell coincubation system. Currently, cultures have maintained continuous growth for over 6 months with full retention of viability as measured by motility and rabbit infectivity. This system has been applied successfully to the well-studied Nichols strain of T. pallidum, as well as to two recent syphilis isolates, UW231B and UW249B. Light microscopy and cryo-electron microscopy showed that in vitro-cultured T. pallidum retains wild-type morphology. Further refinement of this long-term subculture system is expected to facilitate study of the physiological, genetic, pathological, immunologic, and antimicrobial susceptibility properties of T. pallidum subsp. pallidum and closely related pathogenic Treponema species and subspecies.IMPORTANCE Syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease with a global distribution, is caused by a spiral-shaped bacterium called Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum Previously, T. pallidum was one of the few major bacterial pathogens that had not been cultured long-term in vitro (in a test tube), greatly hindering efforts to better understand this organism and the disease that it causes. In this article, we report the successful long-term cultivation of T. pallidum in a tissue culture system, a finding that is likely to enhance our ability to obtain new information applicable to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of syphilis.
Active Learning with Partially Labeled Data via Bias Reduction.

With active learning the learner participates in the process of selecting instances so as to speed-up convergence to the “best” model. This paper presents a principled method of instance selection based on the recent bias variance decomposition work for a 0-1 loss function. We focus on bias reduction to reduce 0-1 loss by using an approximation to the optimal Bayes classifier to calculate the bias for an instance. We have applied the proposed method to naive Bayes learning on a number of bench mark data sets showing that using this active learning approach decreases the generalization error at a faster rate than randomly adding instances and converges to the optimal Bayes classifier error obtained from the original data set.
Some zoosporic fungi of New Zealand. XIV. Additional species.

In further studies of the zoosporic fungi of New Zealand nine additional species were isolated on various substrata from soil. These include Rhizophydium pythii de Wildemann, R. condylosum Karling, Rhizophlyctis oceanis Karling, R. ingoldii Sparrow, R. boneysi Sparrow, Rhizophlyctis sp., Rhizidium reniformis sp. nov., Chytriomyces rotoruaensis sp. nov., Sparrowia parasitica Willoughby, and Aphanomycopsis punctatus Karling. Rhizidium reniformis is characterized by predominantly reniform, appendiculate zoosporangia and small zoospores which emerge slowly in a columnar mass. This usually floats away from the zoosporangium and explands, and after a while the zoospores swarm collectively in a vesicle. Chytriomyces rotoruaensis resembles R. reniformis by the structure and appearance of its thallus and behavior of the zoospores after discharge, but differs by the presence of a thin inconspicuous operculum and the development of smooth hyaline resting spores with coarsely granular content. Rhizophlyctis ingoldii, Sparrowia parasitica, and R. boneysi, known previously only from England and Hawaii, respectively, occurred abundantly in New Zealand.
Brightness enhancement of a compact, high energy, passively Q-switched Nd:YAG laser using volume Bragg gratings (Conference Presentation)

For many Q-switched lasers, it is desired to maximize the pulse energy while minimize the pulse duration. Such high energy, short pulse output can be achieved by pumping with large mode diameters and maintaining a cavity length of a few centimeters. However, increasing the mode area of the resonator while keeping the same cavity length causes the excitation of higher order transverse modes and consequently decreases the brightness of the output radiation. To overcome this drawback, angular mode selection technique with transmitting Bragg grating (TBGs) was implemented inside the cavity in order to suppress the higher order transverse modes, allowing for near diffraction limited and high brightness output. Since a Bragg gratings angular selection works only in one transverse direction, two orthogonal gratings were implemented for mode selection in both transverse directions. A compact high energy passively Q-switched Nd:YAG laser is presented showing output pulses with 1 mJ of energy and 1.5 ns of duration. Due to the compact design requirements and to obtain such high energy, the resulting laser had large mode diameter and was multimode. The laser consists of a 5 mm thick slab of Nd:YAG, a 3 mm thick slab of Cr:YAG with a 65% transmission, and a 40% output coupler. Two TBGs were implemented in the cavity, orthogonal to one another, for mode selection in both transverse directions. Experimental results are presented demonstrating a 5x improvement in the beam quality of the system after implementing the TBG mode selection approach.
Empowering English Language Learners through Digital Literacies: Research, Complexities, and Implications

In the context of an increasingly global society and rapidly changing technology, English Language Learners (ELLs) need support to develop digital literacies to prepare for a future in which learning new technology is an intuitive process. In the past few decades, technological advances have been shifting how information is produced, communicated, and interpreted. The Internet and digital environments have afforded a broader range of opportunities for literacy practices to take place. Technology has transformed the social practices and definitions of literacy, which leads to transformative implications for the teaching and learning environments facing ELLs. Despite immigrants’ attraction to the US, the tension between the public school system and emergent bilingual students has garnered broad attention. There is a need for a more appropriate teaching pedagogy that embraces the cultural identities of ELLs, and empowers ELLs as critical consumers and producers of information. Though complex, the authors advocate for examining this issue using an asset perspective rather than a deficit lens. Using the sociocultural perspective of learning and critical theory, this paper aims to define and conceptualize ELL learning, establish a shared vision of digital literacies, and review the literature on how practices of digital literacies empower ELLs to become active learners. In the final section, implications and future research directions are articulated in order to move the digital literacy field forward.
Alcohol-related social norms predict more than alcohol use: examining the relation between social norms and substance use

Background: Social Norms Theory is considered a reliable approach to examine alcohol and substance use on college campuses. Alcohol social norms form the foundation of many successful substance use...
Toward an assessment of escape/avoidance coping in depression

Models of animal behavior suggest that anxiety and major depressive disorder (MDD) may be characterized by different profiles of escape and avoidance behavior. However, the literature on coping strategies fails to distinguish between avoidance and escape coping patterns, instead grouping escape behaviors into the larger category of avoidant coping. We argue that investigating both escape and avoidance coping behavior in those with anxiety and depression may reveal distinct behavioral profiles, whereas the current conceptual framework has failed to find significant differences coping style.
Cotton Versus Bacterial Cellulose: A Comparison of Single Ply Yarns

Cotton contains a relatively low amount of impurities, being 90 to 95% cellulose. Cotton requires large amounts of water, pesticides and land to produce. Bacterial cellulose (BC) requires little land, no pesticides and less water to produce. This material typically grows as a nonwoven fiber mat which restricts use for apparel products. This research investigated the properties of the material once twisted into yarns in comparison to cotton. Pure BC was grown using Hestrin Schramm Mannitol media. After processing, half of the BC samples had twist added manually and half were dried flat. These samples were compared to mercerized and un-mercerized cotton yarns. Most BC yarns outperformed cotton yarns in breaking strength and extension. However, when accounting for yarn tex, many BC samples failed to outperform cotton in terms of tenacity. Strength suffered when the BC was twisted into yarns. However, elongation was superior to cotton in most sample groups.
A YOUNG WOMAN PRESENTING WITH ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME SECONDARY TO ALLERGIC CORONARY VASOSPASM (KOUNIS SYNDROME)

Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) is rarely associated with vasospastic acute coronary syndrome (Kounis syndrome). It is important to recognize Kounis syndrome in patients with exposure to a documented allergen. A 33-year-old female with asthma, rhinosinusitis, and nasal polyps
Explaining Individual Differences in Trajectories of Simultaneous Bilingual Development: Contributions of Child and Environmental Factors.

Effects of child and environmental factors in moderating the course of bilingual development were investigated using longitudinal data, from age 2.5 to 5 years, on 126 U.S.-born children with early exposure to Spanish and English. Multilevel models of Spanish and English expressive vocabulary identified children's phonological memory ability as a significant predictor of both outcomes, while also replicating the effect of the relative amount of language exposure. In addition, nonverbal IQ was a significant predictor of English vocabulary; birth order and maternal education in Spanish were significant predictors of Spanish vocabulary. These findings expand our understanding of the sources of the wide heterogeneity in bilingual development and of the requirements that language acquisition makes of learners and their environments.
Evaluation of Ripening Indicators for Harvest-time Decision Making in Cold Climate Grape Production

Currently, growers and winemakers of cold climate interspecific hybrid grape (CCIHG) cultivars rely solely on technological maturity variables of Brix, titratable acidity (TA), and pH as ripening indicators for harvesting and winemaking decisions. In contrast, the use of additional chemical variables to determine optimal harvest times is a common practice in most regions of the world where the European V. vinifera grape is cultivated. As there are significant differences in berry chemistry between CCIHG and V. vinifera, the objective of the present study was to evaluate, by linear regression coupled with PCA and cluster analysis, the suitability of six additional maturity variables (berry fresh weight, total protein, total phenolics, monomeric anthocyanins, percent polymeric color, and total tannins) as potential ripening indicators for the CCIHG cultivars Brianna, Frontenac, La Crescent, Leon Millot, Marechal Foch, Marquette, MN 1220, and Petite Pearl. We observed that berry fresh weight, total phenolics, and percent polymeric color had inconsistent and poorly modelable relationships from year to year and across distinct grape cluster microclimate treatments, resulting in their poor suitability as ripening indicators. In addition to the standard technological maturity variables of Brix, TA, and pH, the variables of total protein concentration for white cultivars and monomeric anthocyanin, total protein, and total tannin concentrations for red cultivars have consistent modelable linear relationships from veraison to harvest, making them good candidates for consideration for future use as ripening indicators.
Second-Hand Nostalgia: Composing a New Reality out of Old Things

In the last few years, the Moscow photographer Danila Tkachenko has produced several highly successful photo-series that creatively reworked and reframed important material objects of the socialist period. Using some of his projects as a case study, this article offers a methodological shift by approaching a second wave of nostalgia for communist past without relying on socialist experience as a key interpretative and explanatory frame. As the essay shows, the decreasing prominence of the firsthand knowledge of socialist lifestyle is compensated by the increasing visibility and importance of (old) socialist things. The essay introduces the term ‘second-hand nostalgia’ to refer to this type of interaction with the material culture of the socialist period. Retaining the melancholic longing for the times past (typical for any nostalgia), the term points, simultaneously, to a condition of historical disconnect from originary contexts, which made possible the objects of current nostalgic fascination in the first place. Keywords: nostalgia, material culture, Russia, postcommunism, photography
Sex discrepancy in the reduction of mucosal-associated invariant T cells caused by obesity.

Introduction Gut microbiota has been reported to contribute to obesity and the pathology of obesity-related diseases but the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are a unique subpopulation of T cells characterized by the expression of a semi-invariant T cell receptor (TCR) α chain (Vα19 in mice; Vα7.2 in humans). The expansion and maturation of MAIT cells require the gut microbiota and antigen-presenting molecule MR1, suggesting that MAIT cells may play a unique role in bridging gut microbiota, obesity, and obesity-associated inflammation. Methods The levels of human MAIT cells from obese patients, as well as mouse MAIT cells from obese mouse models, were determined by flow cytometry. By comparing to controls, we analyzed the change of MAIT cells in obese subjects. Results We found obese patients had fewer circulating MAIT cells than healthy-weight donors and the difference was more distinct in male patients. Consistently, male mice (but not female mice) have shown reduced MAIT cells in the liver and adipose tissue after a 10-week Western diet compared to mice on a control diet. We also explored the possibility of utilizing high-throughput technology (i.e., quantitative polymerase chain reaction [qPCR]), other than flow cytometry, to determine the expression levels of the invariant TCR of human MAIT cells. But a minimal correlation (R2 = 0.23, p = .11) was observed between qPCR and flow cytometry data. Conclusion Our study suggests that there is a sex discrepancy in the impact of obesity on MAIT cells: MAIT cells in male (but not female) humans and male mice are reduced by obesity.
The Ethics of Consulting

The consulting field, with its variety of different experiences and scenarios, often presents numerous challenges and conflicts for those involved. These vignettes, some based on actual situations, present a number of dilemmas in which the protagonists must determine the right course of action, often when that is not easily identifiable. These vignettes identify situations in which one's values, ethical judgment, and sense of fairness might be tested and where the road to a good resolution might not always be clear. Excerpt UVA-E-0431 Rev. Jan. 22, 2020 The Ethics of Consulting Overpromise, Overdeliver? (A) Christina sat in her cubicle, thinking about the whirlwind of events that had occurred over the past couple of weeks. As a senior consultant at a consulting firm, Christina had been working long and hard to ensure that she would soon be promoted. While she could almost taste the sweet success of her hard work, she could not help but feel sour about recent events. A few weeks ago, Kyle, a well-liked partner who was behind on meeting his annual sales target (the end of the year was just six weeks away), had asked for Christina's help in scoping out a potential project for a client. Having worked with this client on similar projects before, Christina was well versed on what needed to be done and how many consultants would be required. Given her estimation that the project, which was relatively straightforward, should need to last only three months, Christina thought that one engagement manager, one senior consultant, two consultants, and one business analyst would suffice. . . .
Who Will Stay When Crisis Strikes? Venture Capitalist Threat-Defiant Learning Response to Ventures in Crisis

Firms often depend on relationships with other firms to access important resources. When a crisis strikes a firm, continuation of those relationships can be jeopardized, as many indirectly affected...
Sperm Parameters Before and After COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination.

To address vaccine hesitancy based on concerns about fertility, this study assesses sperm parameters before and after mRNA vaccine administration.
A professional virtues–based ethical framework for medical missions

BACKGROUND More than 1.6 million physicians participate in medical missions each year. This effort is part of a long history of volunteerism and service to those in need in the form of medical missions to low-income countries. The Children's Health International Medical Project of Seattle has provided the following 7 guiding principles of sustainable short-term international medical missions: “mission, collaboration, education, service, teamwork, sustainability, and evaluation.” The role of professional virtues in grounding these principles and thus guiding medical missions is underappreciated. OBJECTIVE To provide a professional virtues–based ethical framework for medical missions, this article addressed the question, “How should physicians design and implement a medical mission in a professionally responsible way?” Reference is made to one of the authors’ experiences as a point of reference. STUDY DESIGN The authors addressed the questions on how to design and implement a medical mission based on 5 professional virtues: compassion, integrity, humility, self-effacement, and self-sacrifice. A concise, historically based explanation of each virtue was provided, and the implications of the aforementioned principles for medical missions were identified. RESULTS Compassion motivates the mission and its team members, whereas integrity, humility, self-effacement, and self-sacrifice guide team members as they act on the professional virtue of compassion. CONCLUSION These 5 professional virtues can be used to provide a practical framework for the professionally responsible design and implementation of medical missions.
SymptomID: A Framework for Rapid Symptom Identification in Pandemics Using News Reports

The ability to quickly learn fundamentals about a new infectious disease, such as how it is transmitted, the incubation period, and related symptoms, is crucial in any novel pandemic. For instance,...
Combined Hysteroscopic and Laparoscopic Approach to a Complicated Case of Asherman's Syndrome

Study Objective We aim to present a combined hysteroscopic and laparoscopic approach to the resection of a post-cesarean section scar causing complete obstruction of the endometrial cavity. Design Video presentation. Setting Ambulatory surgery center, academic hospital. Patients or Participants 31-year-old multiparous patient with history of c-section who presented with secondary amenorrhea and infertility due to Asherman's Syndrome. She underwent laparoscopic guided hysteroscopic adhesiolysis followed by postoperative hormone therapy and close follow up. Interventions The patient's workup included saline infusion sonohysterogram, 2D ultrasound, and 3D ultrasound. She underwent a combined hysteroscopic and laparoscopic procedure in which hysteroscopic scissors were used to remove the adhesion under laparoscopic guidance. An intrauterine balloon catheter was placed postoperatively. She took postoperative antibiotics while the balloon remained in situ as well as postoperative hormone therapy to promote growth of healthy endometrium and prevent new adhesion formation. Measurements and Main Results The use of a combined hysteroscopic and laparoscopic approach resulted in a safe and successful removal of post-cesarean uterine scar tissue and treatment of Asherman's Syndrome with subsequent resumption of menses. Conclusion Asherman's Syndrome should remain on the differential for women who present with secondary amenorrhea. The addition of 3D ultrasound to saline infusion sonohysterogram is useful for surgical planning. A combined hysteroscopic and laparoscopic approach to the resection of uterine adhesions should be considered when managing severe cases of Asherman's Syndrome and dense adhesions, especially when the location of adhesions is not clear from imaging.
Graphitic carbon anode temperature excursions reflect crystallographic phase transitions in lithium-ion cells

Abstract Surface temperature measurement of lithium-ion cells provides a limited view of internal physical processes during charging. Using a recently developed non-invasive battery internal temperature sensor, we now demonstrate that anode temperature reflects physically-based dynamics at the anode that were previously obscured by cell-surface measurements. First, using automated segmentation with a maximum-likelihood piecewise-linear statistical model, we show that features in the anode temperature reproducibly coincide with phase transitions into Stages IVd, IV and I of graphitic carbon lithiation at various charging rates. Second, we show that anode temperature peaks around 61% state of charge, intermediate between Stages II and I of the lithiated graphitic carbon. Third, we demonstrate a sharp and sustained increase in anode temperature at variable state of charge above 85%. These findings open the possibility for improved state-of-charge estimation and adaptive charging profiles that safely reduce charging time.
Online teaching: say goodby to chat

Online teaching must be structured where students are on a specific timeline and feel they are in a "classroom" learning environment. This philosophy has evolved into meaning that online teaching requires a high interaction with students using e-mail and chat. This paper describes an online study in introductory statistics which used computer tutorial supplements and computer graded quizzes (over 25 quizzes) with immediate feedback to monitor the progress of students. This type of learning environment is modeled after certification programs conducted by corporations such as Microsoft and Novell. These programs are not limited by a large number of participants nor are they labor intense. Benefits from this study will include how to teach large online classes in a more efficient yet less time consuming manner.
Visual literacy and manipulation

(1994). Visual literacy and manipulation. Critical Studies in Mass Communication: Vol. 11, No. 2, pp. 180-203.
Pack palsy: a neurological complication of scouting.

Clinical histories of two cases of brachial plexus palsy occurring in Boy Scouts are presented. The proposed mechanism of this type of palsy is compression of the brachial plexus between the clavicle and first rib by the shoulder straps of a heavy camping pack. The importance of recognition and the favorable prognosis of this injury are discussed.
Evaluation of the Spectrin Compartment Size in Normal and Diseased Red Blood Cells by Single Particle Tracking.

In a process termed “hop diffusion”, membrane proteins diffuse randomly within a cytoskeletally-enclosed compartment over short time scales, periodically hopping from one compartment to the next. Band 3 diffuses in the erythrocyte membrane bilayer in a manner that is thought to be restricted by the size and stability of the spectrin network. Although a fraction of band 3 may exhibit reduced mobility due to its association with spectrin (mediated by proteins such as ankyrin and adducin), another subpopulation of band 3 is thought to diffuse freely within the spectrin compartments, hopping from one corral to the next by transient opening of the barrier (presumably a spectrin tetramer) separating adjacent corrals. Based on this hypothesis, measurement of the compartment size and hopping frequency of a band 3 molecule in the erythrocyte membrane can provide information on the structure and stability of the spectrin network. We have combined single particle tracking (SPT) techniques with high-speed video microscopy to determine the average compartment size and diffusion coefficient of the mobile fraction of band 3 in both normal and diseased red blood cells (RBCs). Streptavidin-linked quantum dots (525nm emission) and 40 nm fluorescent beads were attached to band 3 via a DIDS-biotin-linker, and fluorescence microscopy coupled to a high speed camera was used to determine the position of band 3 with a time resolution of 8 ms (120 fps). Labeling specificity was demonstrated by blotting with streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase, and flow cytometry studies established the binding constant of DIDS-biotin for band 3 in the intact cell of ∼1-2*10 −5 M. For diffusion studies, RBCs were incubated with 10 −11 M conjugate in order to attach only one or two streptavidin-quantum dots per cell. SPT data were collected on both healthy and pathologic human RBCs, including HbSS (sickle cells), HbSC (sickle cell hemoglobin C), HbSB o (sickle cell zero-beta-thalasamia), HbSB + (sickle cell beta-plus-thalasamia), HS (hereditary spherocytosis), and HPP (hereditary pyropoikilocytosis). Movement within the observed compartments was found to be random, with an average diagonal length for the mobile fraction in healthy cells of ∼100nm and a diffusion coefficient of ∼1–2*10 −10 cm 2 /s . HbSS cells, however, displayed a comparatively smaller compartment size (∼60–80nm) with a lower diffusion coefficient (0.1−1*10 −10 cm 2 /s). In contrast, HPP cells exhibited an average compartment size of ∼133nm with a diffusion coefficient of 6*10 −10 cm 2 /s. SPT data further suggest the presence of multiple populations of band 3, exhibiting both free diffusion and restricted mobilities with different characteristics. Details of band 3 diffusion in all of the aforementioned diseased and normal blood cells will be provided, and a model accounting for the multiple populations of band 3 will be presented.
Molecular mobility of amorphous pharmaceutical solids below their glass transition temperatures.

Purpose. To measure the molecular mobility of amorphous pharmaceutical solids below their glass transition temperatures (Tg), using indomethacin, poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) and sucrose as model compounds. Methods. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to measure enthalpic relaxation of the amorphous samples after storage at temperatures 16-47 K below Tg for various time periods. The measured enthalpy changes were used to calculate molecular relaxation time parameters. Analogous changes in specimen dimensions were measured for PVP films using thermomechanical analysis. Results. For all the model materials it was necessary to cool to at least 50 K below the experimental Tg before the molecular motions detected by DSC could be considered to be negligible over the lifetime of a typical pharmaceutical product. In each case the temperature dependence of the molecular motions below Tg was less than that typically reported above Tg and was rapidly changing. Conclusions. In the temperature range studied the model amorphous solids were in a transition zone between regions of very high molecular mobility above Tg and very low molecular mobility much further below Tg. In general glassy pharmaceutical solids should be expected to experience significant molecular mobility at temperatures up to fifty degrees below their glass transition temperature.
Inhibition of the Synthesis of Deoxyribonucleic Acid in Bacteria by 6-(p-Hydroxyphenylazo)-2,4-dihydroxypyrimidine: I. METABOLIC STUDIES IN STREPTOCOCCUS FECALIS

Abstract 6-(p-Hydroxyphenylazo)-2,4-dihydroxypyrimidine, a microbial inhibitor with selective toxicity for gram-positive bacteria, is bactericidal for growing cultures of Streptococcus fecalis at concentrations greater than 1.0 µM. This phenylazopyrimidine specifically and completely inhibits the synthesis of deoxyribonucleic acid and has no apparent effects on major areas of intermediary metabolism or on the gross synthesis of lipid, ribonucleic acid, protein, and cell wall material. The inhibition of synthesis of DNA is not associated with an increased degradation of the DNA in cells to acid-soluble forms, and is completely reversed by removal of the drug from inhibited cultures. Since neither the formation of the essential deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate precursors of DNA nor the processes responsible for initiation of synthesis of DNA are inhibited, the primary locus of action is believed to be the polymerization reaction that results in the formation of DNA.
Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of the hammerhead ribozyme domain: Secondary structure formation and magnesium ion dependence

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (n.m.r.) experiments were used to probe base-pair formation in several hammerhead RNA enzyme (ribozyme) domains. The hammerhead domains consist of a 34 nucleotide ribozyme bound to a complementary 13 nucleotide non-cleavable DNA substrate. Three hammerhead domains were studied that differ in the sequence and stability of one of the helices involved in recognition of the substrate by the ribozyme. The n.m.r. data show a 1:1 stoichiometry for the ribozyme-substrate complexes. The imino proton resonances in the hammerhead complexes were assigned by two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser effect experiments. These data confirm the presence of two of the three helical regions in the hammerhead domain, predicted from phylogenetic data; and are also consistent with the formation of the third helix. Since a divalent cation is required for efficient catalytic activity of the hammerhead domain, the magnesium ion dependence of the n.m.r. spectra was studied for two of the hammerhead complexes. One of the complexes showed very large spectral changes upon addition of magnesium ions. However, the complex that has the most C.G base-pairs in one of the recognition helices shows essentially no spectral (and therefore presumably structural) changes upon addition of magnesium. These data are consistent with a model where the magnesium binding site already exists in the magnesium-free complex, suggesting that the magnesium ion serves primarily a catalytic, and not a structural, role under the conditions used here.
Informed consent for live liver donors: A qualitative, prospective study

Background & Aims Adult-to-adult live donor liver transplantation (LDLT) poses serious health risks and no direct health benefits to donors. Ensuring live donors' autonomy through informed consent is critical. We assessed live liver donors' (LD) comprehension, information needs, risk perceptions, and demographics. Methods Semi-structured interviews were prospectively conducted with LDs after completing donor evaluation and informed consent at our transplant center. Likert scales measured informed consent domains. Open-ended responses underwent thematic analysis. Results Thirty LDs participated (100% participation rate). Although 90% of LDs reported being informed about donation ‘a great deal', only 66% reported understanding information about donation ‘a great deal.' Many (40%) reported difficulty understanding medical terminology. Information LDs most desired to feel comfortable with their decision included: incidence and type of donor complications (67%), description of donation procedure (57%), and the process of donor preparation (43%). Most (83%) LDs rated risks to themselves as ‘not at all' to ‘somewhat' risky, and minimized these risks. Conclusions Although LDs perceived that they were adequately informed, their actual comprehension about donation was inadequate. Findings suggest the value of informed consent for preparation for the procedure and potential periprocedural risks rather than for decision-making. More comprehensible information disclosure may optimize informed consent.
Analytical decision model for the cost-effective management of solitary pulmonary nodules.

PURPOSE AND METHODSMultiple strategies are currently being used to manage patients who present with indeterminate solitary pulmonary nodules (SPN). We have used decision-analysis models to assess the cost-effectiveness of various strategies for the diagnosis and management of SPN. Four decision strategies were compared: a wait and watch strategy, a surgery strategy, a computed tomography (CT)-based strategy, and a CT-plus-positron emission tomography (PET) strategy. An incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was used to compare all strategies to the wait and watch strategy.RESULTSA CT-plus-PET strategy was the most cost-effective over a large pretest likelihood (probability of having a malignant nodule), with a range of 0.12 to 0.69. Furthermore, within this likelihood range, the potential cost savings of using the CT-plus-PET strategy over the CT strategy ranged from $91 to $2,200 per patient. This translates to a yearly national savings of approximately $62.7 million.CONCLUSIONDecision-analysis mode...
Grooming using rotating brushes as a proactive method to control ship hull fouling

Grooming may be defined as the frequent and gentle cleaning of a ship hull coating, when it is in port or idle, to prevent the establishment of fouling. This study assessed the effectiveness of grooming with a five-headed rotating brush system on epoxy, ablative copper and two silicone fouling release (FR) coatings. These coatings were placed under static immersion at Port Canaveral, FL on a weekly and biweekly frequency. The results showed that grooming reduced fouling on all surfaces and was able to prevent fouling on the ablative copper and FR coatings when performed weekly. It was concluded that the grooming tool used for these tests was sufficient to remove biofilm and most hard fouling. However, when fouling pressure increased or when grooming was performed less frequently, insufficient forces were imparted by the brush to remove all of the established hard fouling organisms.
A metric of modifiability for software maintenance

A model for measuring software modifiability is presented. In this model, the key to the modifiability of a program module is attributed to its localization property, which can be interpreted as indicating whether changes made to the module would have only a localized effect or not. The localization property of a module can be further broken down into intramodular localization and intermodular localization. Corresponding to the localization property are the dependences among program code entities. A data-interdependency metric for measuring the dependencies among primitive statements in a module is developed. The metric is then extended to incorporate intermodular localization property to measure the modifiability of program modules. A number of software maintenance experiments were designed and conducted for validating the software modifiability metric. The details of the experimentation as well as the results are presented. >
Reactivity of methylidyne ligands on trinuclear clusters of group 8 metals

Abstract The chemistry of alkylidyne containing clusters HM3(μ-CX)(CO)10 and H3M3(μ3-CX)(CO)9 is presented—(1) structures, bonding and spectroscopic characterizations, (2) syntheses involving modification of the methylidyne substituent, (3) alkyne-alkylidyne coupling, and (4) formation of HCX bonds. Reactions of HRu3 (COMe)(CO)10 or H3Ru3(CX)(CO)9 (X = OMe, Ph or alkyl) with alkynes, produce HRu3(μ3-η3-XCCRCR)(CO)9 clusters containing 1,3-dimetalloallyl ligands. Hydrogenation of these products when X = OMe or SEt gives new alkylidynes H3Ru3(μ3-CCHRCH2R)(CO)9. For X = SEt, isomerization of HRu3(μ3-η3-EtSCCRCR)(CO)9 to Ru3(μ-SEt)(μ3-η3-CCRCHR)(CO)9, a presumed intermediate in the hydrogenation reaction, occurs under mild conditions. Under CO, reductive elimination of CH3X can be induced from H3Ru3(μ3-CX)(CO)9 (X = OMe, Ph, Cl or CO2Me). Pyrolysis of H3Ru3(μ3-CX)(CO)9, X = CO2Me and SEt, gives stabilized intermediates H2Ru3(μ3-CHCO2Me) (CO)9 and HRu3(μ3-CH2SEt)(CO)9, respectively. Protonation of H3Ru3(μ3-CR)(CO)9 (R = Et or CHPhCH2Ph) yields H3Ru3(μ3-HCR)(CO)91+, in which the alkylidene hydrogen is agostic; the protonated clusters undergo more rapid reductive elimination than the neutral precursors. The kinetics and mechanism of reductive elimination have been investigated. A mechanism is presented.
Responses to spinal microstimulation in the chronically spinalized rat and their relationship to spinal systems activated by low threshold cutaneous stimulation

We describe the responses evoked by microstimulation of interneuronal regions of the spinal cord in unanesthetized rats chronically spinalized at T10-T12. One to three weeks after spinalization, sites in the lumbar spinal cord were stimulated using trains of low current microstimulation. The isometric force produced by stimulation of a spinal site was measured at the ankle. Responses were reliably observed from stimulation of a region within the first 1250 microm from the dorsal surface of the spinal cord. These responses were clearly not due to direct motoneuronal activation and were maintained after chronic deafferentation. The force evoked by microstimulation and measured at the ankle varied smoothly across the workspace. Simultaneous stimulation of two sites in the spinal cord produced a response that was a simple linear summation of the responses evoked from each of the sites alone. Microstimulation generally produced a highly non-uniform distribution of response directions, biased toward responses which pulled the limb toward the body. Within these distributions there appeared to be two main types of responses. These different types of responses were preferentially evoked by microstimulation of different rostrocaudal regions of the spinal cord. This anatomical organization paralleled the spinal cutaneous somatotopy, as assessed by recording cutaneous receptive fields of neurons at sites to which the microstimulation was applied. This relationship was maintained after chronic deafferentation. The findings described here in the rat spinal cord in large part replicate those previously described in the frog.
Heuristics for the regression of stochastic simulations

Modelling and simulation environments that are stochastic in nature present a multitude of problems in the creation of meta-models, notably the reduction of the quality of fit due to statistical er...
A comparison of calcaneus ultrasound and dual X-ray absorptiometry in healthy North American youths and young adults.

Abstract Quantitative ultrasound is the newest noninvasive method to be accepted for assessing bone mineral in adults. Heel ultrasound measurements correlate with bone density measurements by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and predict fracture risk in adults. Far less is known about the value of calcaneus ultrasound (CUS) in children. We determined spine, femoral neck, and whole-body bone mineral by DXA and heel bone mass by CUS in 125 youths (69 females, 56 males), ages 9–25 yr. CUS and DXA measurements of bone mass increased with age and pubertal development during adolescence in a parallel fashion. Among females, Tanner stage was a stronger predictor than age for all CUS and DXA measurements, and among males, pubertal stage was a stronger predictor for spine bone mineral apparent density (BMAD) and femoral bone mineral density (BMD). CUS measurements correlated moderately well with DXA measurements of the spine, femoral neck, and whole-body BMD and spine BMAD ( r = 0.23–0.58, p
Ethics for an International Health Profession

These thoughts about an ethic of international health can be summarized in a very free revision of the Hippocratic Oath: I will share the science and art by precept, by demonstration, and by every mode of teaching with other physicians regardless of their national origin. I will try to help secure for the physicians in each country the esteem of their own people, and in collaborative work see that they get full credit. I will strive to eliminate sources of disease everywhere in the world and not merely set up barriers to the spread of disease to my own people. I will work for understanding of the diverse causes of disease, including the social, economic, and environmental. I will promote the well-being of mankind in all its aspects, not merely the bodily, with sympathy and consideration for a people9s culture and beliefs. I will strive to prevent painful and untimely death, and also to help parents to achieve a family size conforming to their desires and to their ability to care for their children. In my concern with whole communities I will never forget the needs of its individual members.
Posterior Distribution Charts: A Bayesian Approach for Graphically Exploring a Process Mean

We develop a Bayesian approach for monitoring and graphically exploring a process mean and informing decisions related to process adjustment. We assume a rather general model, in which the observations are represented as a process mean plus a random error term. In contrast to previous work on Bayesian methods for monitoring a mean, we allow any Markov model for the mean. This includes a mean that wanders slowly, that is constant over periods of time with occasional random jumps or combinations thereof. The approach also allows for any distribution for the random errors, although we focus on the normal error case. We use numerical integration to update relevant posterior distributions (e.g., for the current mean or for future observations), as each new observation is obtained, in a computationally inexpensive manner. Using an example from automobile body assembly, we illustrate how the approach can inform decisions regarding whether to adjust a process. Supplementary Materials for this article, including c...