cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Understanding and Engineering Distributed Biochemical Pathways in Microbial Communities

Microbiomes impact nearly every environment on Earth by modulating the molecular composition of the environment. Temporally changing environmental stimuli and spatial organization are major variables shaping the structure and function of microbiomes. The web of interactions among members of these communities and between the organisms and the environment dictates microbiome functions. Microbial interactions are major drivers of microbiomes and are modulated by spatiotemporal parameters. A mechanistic and quantitative understanding of ecological, molecular, and environmental forces shaping microbiomes could inform strategies to control microbiome dynamics and functions. Major challenges for harnessing the potential of microbiomes for diverse applications include the development of predictive modeling frameworks and tools for precise manipulation of microbiome behaviors.
The Shape of Humidity: Performing Black Atlantic Theory Making

Following bell hooks’ submission that theory making is “a location for healing” (2017, 59) “The Shape of Humidity: Performing Black Atlantic Theory Making” riffs upon the historically critical and widely circulated subject of the black body politic and Atlantic waters informing but non-exclusive to performance, art history, and visual cultural discourses. The theory making performed here alternatively frames the black Atlantic body in relation to humidity, illustrating what Deleuze and Guattari might call the “possibles” evoked through “a contraction of earth and humidity” (Deleuze 1994, 76–78). The theory is shaped upon a discussion of Winslow Homer’s The Gulf Stream (1899), included in Kara Walker’s cultural-political opus, Kara Walker: After The Deluge (2006), mounted at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Theory making confronts the painting’s adherence to the hegemonic tradition of rendering the black Atlantic body as a perennial form in peril, whose destiny in this instance is as matter consumed by the thermodynamic sublimity of the waters. Alternatively, the action of theory making here collapses space-time separations among black Atlantic flora, the healing processes of artists Lygia Clark and Wangechi Mutu, and modes of breath activation, to access states of limitlessness actualized through bodily openness to humidity’s grace.
Interaction of dimeric and monomeric enkephalins with NG108-15 hybrid cells. A kinetic analysis.

The binding of the enkephalin dimer [d-Ala2, Leu5-NH-CH2-]2 (DPE2) is characterized by (1) its high affinity for receptors on NG108-15 hybrid cells, the affinity constantK=4.7×109 M−1 is up to 8-fold that of monomers (0.6 to 1.0×109 M−1), and (2) a maximal binding capacity equal to one half that of the monomers. Kinetic studies showed that DPE2 binds with a 2-fold higher rate, k1=6.3×107 M−1min−1, than monomers (2.4 to 3.8×107 M−1min−1), and dissociates at a slower rate than monomers. Dissociation of DPE2 was consistently bi- or multiphasic but increased about 12% only after 3 hr of dissociation in the presence of a large excess of unlabeled enkephalin. The dissociation kinetics of monomers varied with enkephalin and experimental conditions used. Consistent with the value for the maximal binding capacity, the kinetic studies are interpreted in support of the hypothesis that DPE2 binds by cross-linking two subunits of one receptor.
Automatic Phase Pick Refinement and Similar Event Association in Large Seismic Datasets

Large digital seismic data sets typically have approximate and inconsistent P and S wave arrival estimates. If not corrected, this situation frequently blurs the true hypocenter distribution so as to mask important fault, volcanic, or other seismogenic structure. Recent applications which address this problem for increasingly large data sets have resulted in dramatic illumination of seismogenic features in hydrocarbon and geothermal reservoirs, as well as in tectonic and volcanic earthquake regions. Existing algorithms frequently require substantial analyst interaction, which can become prohibitive once more than a few tens of events are considered. We summarize progress towards developing a fully automatic technique for removing pick inconsistencies and subsequently re-estimating hypocenters, and discuss our development of an adaptive, correlation-based algorithm which points the way towards techniques that appear suitable for the largest data sets presently existing.
“I Started to Feel Better now”: Qualitative Findings from Client Narratives on Early Recovery in Inpatient Substance Use Treatment

While a plethora of studies indicating substance use treatment reduced measurable, pathological symptoms, research is still needed to explore treatment-related recovery (i.e., therapeutic changes) derived from a lived experience from clients. The current study used semistructured interviews to query clients’ narratives on the process of early recovery in inpatient substance use treatment. The analysis of qualitative data revealed five themes: positive therapeutic changes pertaining to substance use (including substance-related problem recognition, a desire for drug cessation, and a continual need for treatment), emotion regulation, mindfulness and self-awareness, being positive for future outcomes, and changes in conceptualizing important relationships. The findings speak to the importance of promoting changes related to substance use and cultivating co-occurring positive psychological functioning in early recovery. Clinicians may consider integrating a variety of interventions into substance use treatment that help process and regulate emotions, reconnect with client sense of self and personal values, and understand traumatic experiences, which would ultimately facilitate recovery.
A Survey of Safety Recommendations for All-Terrain Vehicle Dealers and Track Owners in Kansas.

Introduction. All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are associated with injury,mortality, and healthcare costs. ATV related injuries are less severewhen consistent safety practices are followed, however, ATV safetyregulations are varied among states. This study sought to surveyKansas ATV dealers and track owners to determine safety promotionpractices. Methods. A cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted ofKansas ATV dealers and tracks. Survey questions included promotionand sale of safety equipment, provision of ATV safety information,and respondent characteristics. Results. Of those contacted, 32% of dealers and 31% of tracksresponded to the survey. Most ATV dealers sell safety gear (70% -100%) and all recommend safety gear to buyers and riders. All ATVtracks reported requiring helmets (100%) but were varied regardingother forms of safety gear. The majority of ATV dealers (77%) recommendedsafety courses, but only 31% of dealers and 40% of tracksoffered courses. Eighty percent of ATV tracks and 52% of dealers feltthey had a professional responsibility to educate riders/owners onsafety. Conclusions. Safety promotion by ATV dealers in Kansas consistentlywas recommended, but often limited to the sales of safety gear(helmets and gloves) or the provision of manufacturer provided safetymaterials. Further, ATV dealers reported rarely offering skills tests orsafety courses to buyers. In Kansas, safety promotion at the point ofsale or track level could be improved to increase public awareness ofATV safety practices. KS J Med 2017;10(4):76-78.
Immunity Against Microorganisms

Entry of a pathogenic organism into a susceptible host is followed by invasion and colonization of tissues, circumvention of the host immune response and injury or decreased function of host tissues. Microbial immunity consists of several factors. Natural and acquired immune mechanisms facilitate the body’s resistance against microorganisms. Microbes vary in the lymphocyte responsiveness and effector mechanisms they elicit. The skill with which pathogenic microorganisms resist the host’s immune defense mechanisms governs their survival and pathogenicity. Paradoxically, the host response to a pathogenic microorganism, rather than the microbe itself, may induce injury to host tissues. Factors that determine the outcome of man’s encounter with pathogenic microorganisms include the microbe’s virulence and the size of the infecting dose on the one hand and specific defense mechanisms of the host, on the other.
I’ve Been Given COPUS (Classroom Observation Protocol for Undergraduate STEM) Data on My Chemistry Class... Now What?

Classroom observation data using tools such as the Classroom Observation Protocol for Undergraduate STEM (COPUS) are frequently collected in instructional settings for large-scale research studies ...
Management of acute corneal hydrops with intracameral gas injection.

Abstract Purpose To report two cases of severe acute corneal hydrops that were resolved by intracameral gas injection alone. Observations Case 1 is a 27-year-old woman with bilateral severe keratoconus who developed sequential acute corneal hydrops in the right eye followed by the left eye that were each successfully treated using intracameral 20% sulfur hexafluoride gas injection. Case 2 is a 62-year-old man that developed a large fluid cleft beneath a pre-existing LASIK flap, which resolved with intracameral 20% sulfur hexafluoride gas injection without the need for corneal transplantation. Conclusions and importance In acute corneal hydrops, intracameral gas injection to tamponade Descemet's membrane tears with decompression of stromal fluid can be an effective intervention to delay or avoid keratoplasty in individuals whose corneal hydrops does not improve with conventional medical management.
Tau aggregates are RNA-protein assemblies that mis-localize multiple nuclear speckle components

Abstract Tau aggregates contribute to neurodegenerative diseases including frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Although RNA promotes tau aggregation in vitro, whether tau aggregates in cells contain RNA is unknown. We demonstrate in cell culture and mouse brains that both cytosolic and nuclear tau aggregates contain RNA, with enrichment for snRNAs and snoRNAs. Nuclear tau aggregates colocalize with and alter the composition, dynamics, and organization of nuclear speckles, which are membraneless organelles involved in pre-mRNA splicing. Moreover, several nuclear speckle components, including SRRM2, mislocalize to cytosolic tau aggregates in cells, mouse brains, and patient brains with AD, frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and corticobasal degeneration (CBD). Consistent with these alterations we observe the presence of tau aggregates is sufficient to alter pre-mRNA splicing. This work identifies tau alteration of nuclear speckles as a feature of tau aggregation that may contribute to the pathology of tau aggregates.
How did Tunisians react to Ennahdha’s 2016 reforms? Evidence from a survey experiment

This study looks at public reaction to 2016 reforms made by Ennahdha, Tunisia’s most prominent Islamist party, to formally separate from its religious wing. Interviews with Ennahdha’s electoral str...
Common Ethical Problems in Acute Care Surgery

Ethics is to some degree a human rather than a natural phenomenon (or a blend of the two). So at the very least we need to recognize there will be some variation between different countries and cultures, and to a lesser degree there will even be some variation between different states in the USA and even between hospitals. Nevertheless, the variation is small enough, at least within the English speaking world, that the following can be taken as guidance for ethical deliberation in any acute care surgery department in those countries.
Determination of the DC steady-state current density distribution using FDTD and analytical techniques

This paper examines the application of the FDTD method to the determination of the DC steady-state current density distribution of arbitrary geometries when the excitation is an impressed current. The term DC is used in this context to denote the response of a system to any waveform which tends asymptotically to a non-zero constant. Thus, more general waveforms than the unit step function can be considered. By concentrating on the steady state only (or, equivalently, the late time response) certain physical and mathematical difficulties can be circumvented. First, by definition of DC, there is no time variation so that the problem can be formulated in terms of an electrostatic potential, which is obviously more convenient than the magnetic vector potential needed in the time-dependent case. Additionally, assuming that the released heat is such that the temperature of the system (and hence the conductivity) remains almost constant, the thermal and electrical problems can be considered to be decoupled.
HIV-Specific IL-10-Positive CD8+ T Cells Suppress Cytolysis and IL-2 Production by CD8+ T Cells

IL-10 producing T cells inhibit Ag-specific CD8 + T cell responses and may play a role in the immune dysregulation observed in HIV infection. We have previously observed the presence of HIV-specific IL-10-positive CD8 + T cells in advanced HIV disease. In this study, we examined the suppressive function of the Gag-specific IL-10-positive CD8 + T cells. Removal of these IL-10-positive CD8 + T cells resulted in increased cytolysis and IL-2, but not IFN-γ, production by both HIV- and human CMV-specific CD8 + T cells. In addition, these IL-10-positive CD8 + T cells mediated suppression through direct cell-cell contact, and had a distinct immunophenotypic profile compared with other regulatory T cells. We describe a new suppressor CD8 + T cell population in advanced HIV infection that may contribute to the immune dysfunction observed in HIV infection.
Multiple fault detection and location in WSI baseline interconnection networks

Presents an approach for the full diagnosis (detection and location) of baseline interconnection networks implemented in WSI. A multiple fault model as applicable to production of these devices, is assumed. This implies that a totally exhaustive combinatorial fault model is used in the analysis. It is proved that the maximum number of tests for detecting multiple faults (i.e. 2(1+log/sub 2/N), where N is the number of inputs/outputs), can be used to locate and identify multiple faulty switching elements provided that no intermittent and/or transient behaviour is present, i.e. using the definition of no logically undefined and no undetermined outputs are present. The proposed diagnostic technique is based on a process which reveals the switching state of each element on a stage by stage basis using the test set. No additional hardware is therefore required. The proposed technique can be efficiently used in the manufacturing of complex interconnection networks using advanced integration techniques such as WSI. >
The SMARTS Multi-epoch Optical Spectroscopy Atlas (SAMOSA): Using Emission Line Variability to Probe the Location of the Blazar Gamma-emitting Region

We present multi-epoch optical spectroscopy of seven southern Fermi-monitored blazars from 2008 - 2013 using the Small and Medium Aperture Research Telescope System (SMARTS), with supplemental spectroscopy and polarization data from the Steward Observatory. We find that the emission lines are much less variable than the continuum; 4 of 7 blazars had no detectable emission line variability over the 5 years. This is consistent with photoionization primarily by an accretion disk, allowing us to use the lines as a probe of disk activity. Comparing optical emission line flux with Fermi $\gamma$-ray flux and optical polarized flux, we investigate whether relativistic jet variability is related to the accretion flow. In general, we see no such dependence, suggesting the jet variability is likely caused by internal processes like turbulence or shock acceleration rather than a variable accretion rate. However, three sources showed statistically significant emission line flares in close temporal proximity to very large Fermi $\gamma$-ray flares. While we do not have sufficient emission line data to quantitatively assess their correlation with the $\gamma$-ray flux, it appears that in some cases, the jet might provide additional photoionizing flux to the broad line region, which implies some gamma-rays are produced within the broad line region, at least for these large flares.
A Bookstore for Bailey: A Novel Approach to Teaching a Small-Business Management Course.

This article presents the development of an online, student-centered, introductory small-business management course that uses an educational business novel, hypertext graphic-design features, an interactive workbook, and a student-authored final chapter. Student learning was assessed through the use of a pre- and posttest survey. Student reflection was incorporated to make students consider the impact of learning. Results showed that student learning and understanding increased in two separate courses.
Isolated intestinal myopathy resembling progressive systemic sclerosis in a child

A 15-yr-old girl had a life-threatening episode of toxic megacolon at age 6 yr and a life-long history of constipation and abdominal distention. A diagnosis of chronic intestinal pseudoobstruction was made. Her clinical course was that of repeated bouts of pseudoobstruction, multiple episodes of intestinal volvulus at different sites, and progressive cachexia. Histologic examination of specimens of jejunum, ileum, appendix, and colon revealed progressive fibrotic changes in intestinal smooth muscle. The abnormalities observed are most consistent with those described in progressive systemic sclerosis, but no cutaneous manifestations of this disorder have been noted in this child, and no abnormalities in other organs have been detected. Thus, this patient represents a childhood case of chronic intestinal pseudoobstruction caused by a disorder closely resembling progressive systemic sclerosis confined to the gastrointestinal tract.
The role of midlatitude mixing barriers in creating the annual variation of total ozone in high northern latitudes

Data from the HIgh Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder (HIRDLS), the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS), and the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM) are used to investigate the annual variation of total column ozone in high northern latitudes. Downward transport of ozone-rich air by the residual mean circulation during autumn and winter bends ozone isopleths down and increases the high-latitude ozone amounts, leading to an ozone maximum at the end of the winter. During the summer months eddy mixing acts to restore pre-fall distributions of ozone. In this study the large-scale mixing in the lower stratosphere is analyzed using Nakamura's (1996) equivalent length formulation with observed and simulated ozone. The analysis of ozone mixing is performed in the tracer equivalent latitude-potential temperature coordinate system. Steep latitudinal gradients of ozone isopleths below about 500 K occur during the winter, where there are minima in the equivalent length, indicating barriers to mixing at 30°N–40°N. This transport barrier allows large ozone maxima to develop poleward of it. The barrier disappears over the summer, permitting latitudinal mixing of the high ozone air. Above 500 K mixing is more effective during the winter, so a large winter maximum does not occur. In both midlatitude and high latitude the lower stratospheric layer from 330 to 500 K doubles its ozone content from autumn to spring, compared with much smaller changes in the layer from 500 to 650 K. Our results confirm that the presence of the winter transport barrier in the lower stratosphere controls the seasonal variation of total ozone.
Crustal structure in eastern Kazakh, U. S. S. R. from teleseismic receiver functions

Broadband receiver functions determined from teleseismic P-waveforms recorded at two seismic stations in eastern Kazakh, U.S.S.R., are inverted for the vertical velocity structure beneath the stations. The detailed broadband receiver functions are obtained by stacking source-equalized radial components of teleseismic P-waveforms. A time-domain inversion of the radial receiver function is used to determine the structure assuming a crustal model parameterized by flat-lying, homogeneous layers. The general features of the inversion results are: a complex shallow crust, velocities less than 6 km/s in the upper crust, a high velocity (6.9-7.5 km/s) lower crust, and a Moho that varies between 47 and 57 km depth. These results compare favorably with a composite velocity model from Deep Seismic Sounding data, but show lower velocities in the upper crust, and higher velocities in the lower crust. The results indicate that the crust in this region is relatively uniform, however the nature and depth of the Moho changes significantly across the region. The receiver function inversion structure for the Kazakh sites is similar to a published receiver function structure for a site on the Canadian Shield.
Insurance status predicts access to care and outcomes of vascular disease.

Objective To determine if insurance status predicts severity of vascular disease at the time of treatment or outcomes following intervention. Methods Hospital discharge databases from Florida and New York from 2000-2005 were analyzed for lower extremity revascularization (LER, n=73,532), carotid revascularization (CR, n=116,578), or abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (AAA, n=35,593), using ICD-9 codes for diagnosis and procedure. The indications for intervention as well as the post-operative outcomes were examined assigning insurance status as the independent variable. Patients covered under a variety of commercial insurers, as well as Medicare, were compared to those who either had no insurance or were covered by Medicaid. Results Patients without insurance or with Medicaid were at significantly greater risk of presenting with a ruptured AAA compared to insured (non-Medicaid) patients; while insurance status did not seem to impact post-operative mortality rates for elective and ruptured AAA repair. The uninsured or Medicaid recipients presented with symptomatic carotid disease nearly twice as often as the insured, but stroke rates after CR did not differ significantly based on insurance status. Patients with Medicaid or without insurance were more likely to present with limb threatening ischemia than claudication. In contrast to AAA repair and CR, the outcomes of LER were worse in the uninsured and Medicaid beneficiaries who had higher rates of post-revascularization amputation compared to the insured (non-Medicaid) group. Conclusion Insurance status predicts disease severity at the time of treatment, but once treated, the outcomes are similar among insurance categories, with the exception of lower extremity revascularization. This data suggests inferior access to preventative vascular care in the Medicaid and the uninsured populations.
Perceptual specificity in nonverbal priming.

Five experiments were conducted to examine whether varying certain perceptual attributes of study and test items influences priming on pictorial tasks. Priming was found to be specific to the form of studied items; substantial priming occurred from studying pictures, whereas little or no priming occured from studying the pictures' names (read or generated). Priming was specific to the exact contour presented at study. Studying the same fragment that was presented at test resulted in greater priming than did studying an intact image or a different fragment of the object. Priming was also specific to the viewing angle of studied objects. Same study-test views showed the greatest priming, whereas priming across different views was greater when subjects studied an unusual view of the object and were tested on a canonical view than when the reverse was true
QBRST cohomology: A mechanism for getting rid of negative norm states, with an application to the bosonic string

We study the action of a BRST operator on a negative norm space. We find a mechanism which guarantees that the kernel of an operator Q, which obeys Q2 = 0 and Q† = Q, is free of negative norm states. We give both a rigorous proof and some more general heuristic arguments, that this mechanism is indeed working for the bosonic string case. This gives the no “ghost” theorem a new simple proof.
Impact of real modem characteristics on practical underwater MAC design

The grand challenges posed by the adverse acoustic channels have been extensively studied in medium access control (MAC) design for underwater acoustic networks (UWANs). In recent years a bunch of MAC protocols have been proposed and analyzed to address the long propagation delay and constraint power supply problems. However, the challenges from the real acoustic modem characteristics are still neglected in the current research. Based on our experiments and sea trial tests with different modems — Teledyne Benthos modem, WHOI MicroModem and high speed UConn OFDM modem, we discover two important real system issues and discuss their significant effect on MAC design in UWANs. Experiment and simulation results reveal that the long preamble sequence feature of acoustic modems harm most existing MAC protocols with short packets, such as acknowledgment, notification, reservation used control packets. Other than reservation based methods are vulnerable to the long transmission time and busy terminal problem, the random access based protocols can benefit from them. As a result, Aloha based protocols yield encouraging throughput performance in UWANs and are reconsidered as viable solution for underwater MAC. Based on the analysis, simulation and experiment results, we also provide discussion on the direction of future MAC designs.
A simple device to increase rates of compliance in maintaining 30-degree head-of-bed elevation in ventilated patients.

Objective:To determine whether a highly visible device that clearly indicates whether the head-of-bed is adequately elevated would increase rates of compliance with head-of-bed elevation guidelines.Design:A prospective, single-center, multi-unit, two-phase study.Setting:Surgical, thoracic, trauma, a
Personal phenotypes to go with personal genomes.

Mol Syst Biol. 5: 273 With the cost of DNA sequencing decreasing rapidly, it is likely that the genome sequences of many individuals will be determined. In fact, if half of the individuals in industrialized countries choose to have their genomes sequenced, then well over 500 million personal genome sequences will be determined. Currently, such genetic information is likely to be of limited value to the individual, as the number of loci that provide useful predictive information is quite small (probably less than 200). Indeed, recent analyses of common complex traits such as diabetes, body mass and height show that in each case the genetically identifiable contribution from multiple candidate loci (18 in the case of diabetes) is only a small percentage (less than 7%) of the total identifiable genetic load (Gaulton et al , 2008; Willer et al , 2009); thus, the interpretable genetic contributions that can be identified are quite minor. Presumably, either many low‐frequency alleles at different loci contribute to the genetic load or perhaps the many phenotypes are because of other phenomena such as synergistic effects between variants at more than one locus or between different loci and factors in the environment, recurrent spontaneous mutations, or epigenetic defects. Regardless of which proves to be correct (likely a differing mixture of effects for different diseases), the ability to accurately correlate all bases with precise phenotypes is likely to be powerful only if a common set of phenotypes are scored. The power of 500 million sequences correlated with 500 million phenotypes can show both small contributions as well as help identify potential causative mutations. Indeed, a data set of this size would greatly exceed that of even the large genome‐wide association studies that typically analyze thousands of individuals to tens of thousands …
Mössbauer spectroscopy of CO shift catalysts promoted with lead

Abstract Lead promotes the activity of Cr-promoted magnetite CO shift catalysts. An analysis of the Mossbauer parameters of the Pb-promoted catalysts shows that lead enters the spinel structure as Pb 4+ on tetrahedral sites, giving rise to a partly normal spinel structure. Attempts to synthesize the Pb 4+ -containing Fe-Cr spinel by firing the oxides in vacuum at 1000 °C failed, indicating Pb 4+ is not stable in the spinel structure at high temperature. In fact it exsolves from the Pb-promoted catalyst upon heating to above 700 °C. The data indicate that the octahedral Fe 3+ ions exhibit an increased covalency as a resutt of promotion by lead. This together with the inherent defect structure of the spinel phase may explain the enhanced activity toward the CO shift reaction at 400 °C.
Emerging Role of ISG15 in Antiviral Immunity

Cells express a plethora of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) in response to viral infection. Among these is ISG15, a ubiquitin-like protein (UBL) that can be covalently attached to both host and viral proteins. Here we review recent advances toward understanding the role and mechanism of ISG15 modification in antiviral defense.
Comparative morphology of seeds of four closely related species of Aristolochia subgenus Siphisia (Aristolochiaceae, Piperales)

The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether morphological divergence has occurred in seeds of species in a subclade of Aristolochia subgenus Siphisia. Thus, we compared seed mass, surface area, and wings (presence or absence), embryo shape and state, and embryo length to seed length (E:S) ratio in A. californica Torr., endemic to California, A. macrophylla Lamk. and A. tomentosa Sims of eastern USA, and A. manshuriensis Komarov of eastern Asia. We also compared capsule length and number of seeds per capsule in the three US species. All four species have linear, underdeveloped embryos, but for the other morphological features statistically significant differences occurred among the taxa. However, none of the seed morphological features differed between the eastern North American species A. macrophylla and its eastern Asian sister species A. manshuriensis. © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2005, 148, 433–436.
Clinical laboratory data in psychiatric outpatients.

Abstract While concurrent medical conditions have been shown to be more prevalent among psychiatric patients than among the general population, the authors found no previous studies documenting the frequencies of abnormal clinical laboratory tests in groups of stabilized psychiatric patients. They report the yield of abnormal laboratory findings gathered prospectively from a sample of 205 patients regularly seen in an outpatient clinic.
NH2-terminal signals in ATP7B Cu-ATPase mediate its Cu-dependent anterograde traffic in polarized hepatic cells.

Cu is an essential cofactor of cellular proteins but is toxic in its free state. The hepatic Cu-ATPase ATP7B has two functions in Cu homeostasis: it loads Cu+ onto newly synthesized apoceruloplasmi...
High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Etoposide in Plasma

Abstract A rapid and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of etoposide in plasma is described. Etoposide and the internal standard phenacetin were extracted with 1,2 dichloroethane. Separation was achieved using a phenyl (300 × 3.9 mm, 5 μm packing) analytical column. the effluent was monitored by UV detection at a wavelength of 233 nm. the etoposide peak-height ratio to the internal standard was linearly related to etoposide plasma concentration over a range of 0.1–50 μg/mL (r2 = 0.998). Reliability of the assay was excellent with both the within-and between- day coefficient of variation lt; 5%. We have observed this method to be both sensitive and reliable, qualities important in our recent application of this method in a high-dose etoposide pharmacokinetic study in cancer patients.
A point mutation in the Nul gene of bacteriophage λ facilitates phage growth in Escherichia coli with himA and gyrB mutations

A mutant of lambda was isolated that grows in the Escherichia coli himA delta/gyrB-him320(Ts) double mutant at 42 degrees C; conditions which are non-permissive for wild-type lambda growth. The responsible mutation, ohm1, alters the 40th codon of the Nul reading frame. The Nul and A gene products comprise the terminase protein which cleaves concatameric DNA into unit-length phage genomes during DNA packaging. The Nul-ohm1 gene product acts in trans to support lambda growth in the double himA/gyrB mutant, and lambda cos154 growth in the single himA mutant. The observation that an alteration in Nul suppresses the inhibition of growth in the double himA/gyrB mutant implicates DNA gyrase, as well as integration host factor, in the DNA:protein interactions that occur at the initiation of packaging.
Directed self-assembly of CdS quantum dots on bacteriophage P22 coat protein templates

The hierarchical organization of inorganic nanostructures has potential applications in diverse areas such as photocatalytic systems, composites, drug delivery and biomedicine. An attractive approach for this purpose is the use of biological organisms as templates since they often possess highly ordered arrays of protein molecules that can be genetically engineered for specific binding. Indeed, recent studies have shown that viruses can be used as versatile templates for the assembly of a variety of nanostructured materials because of their unique structural and chemical diversity. These highly ordered protein templates can be employed or adapted for specific binding interactions. Herein we report the directed self-assembly of independently synthesized 5 nm CdS nanocrystal quantum dots on ∼60 nm procapsid shells derived from wild-type P22 bacteriophage. The bacteriophage P22 shell is comprised of hexameric and pentameric clusters of subunits known as capsomeres. The pre-synthesized CdS QDs show the corresponding hexameric and pentameric patterns of assembly on these P22 shells, possibly by interacting with particular protein pockets.
RNAi As a Tool for Understanding Germline Development in Caenorhabditis Elegans: Uses and Cautions

RNA-mediated genetic interference (RNAi) has become a very useful tool for analyzing gene function in development and other processes. RNAi can be used as a complement to traditional genetic studies or as a primary means of determining biological function. However, the efficacy of RNAi depends on a variety of factors that the researcher must take into consideration. This review focuses on germline development in the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, and discusses the uses and limitations of RNAi in providing new information about gene function as well as the possible endogenous role RNAi plays in germline physiology.
Semi-realistic shell model studies in the lead region. II. 211Bi

Abstract The semi-realistic approach described earlier is applied to a calculation of the 208Pb ± 3 nucleus 211Bi. It is shown that the anomalously low lying 7 2 − first excited state arises from the particularly strong coupling between the f 7 2 single-proton state and the 7 2 − member of the i 13 2 ⊗ 208Pb(3−) core multiplet.
Can we teach algorithm development skills

Often when designing an educational tool, the focus is primarily on how well the tool helps the student learn a concept. However, always in educational research there is an underlying desire to determine what factors actually influence student learning. This is because an understanding of these factors can lead to the design of more effective tools/techniques. The focus of our research has been on developing a tool to help students learn algorithm design. The ability to design an algorithm for a given problem is one of the most important, and unfortunately one of the most difficult to accomplish, learning outcomes of computer science courses. It has previously been shown [13] that students who use AlgoTutor, a Web-based algorithm development tutor, are significantly more likely to think that algorithm design prior to coding is important and to have confidence in their own ability to design an algorithm. From follow up studies, we have found that students who have used AlgoTutor in introductory computer science classes are not only more confident in their ability to design an algorithm, but also more likely to design a correct algorithm than those who have not used AlgoTutor. Additionally, we show that the course management utility for the AlgoTutor system can be used to investigate questions about factors that influence student learning. As an example we investigate the question, "how much is too much help and how much is not enough help if a student is having difficulty solving a problem?"
Women's Letters to Walt Whitman: Some Corrections

Corrects a false gender attribution in Edwin Haviland Miller's "Calendar of Letters Written to Whitman," in which Miller describes Ada H. Spalding's letter as from a male correspondent, and points out that another letter, attributed to "Pedalia (?) Bates," is in fact from women's rights activist Redelia Bates; explores the implications of these errors.
Freeze-off limits in transient liquid-phase infiltration

Transient liquid-phase infiltration (TLI) involves a powder-metal skeleton and an infiltrant with similar composition containing a melting-point depressant (MPD). Upon infiltration, the MPD diffuses into the skeleton, causing isothermal solidification and allowing a homogeneous final-part composition. Diffusional solidification of the infiltrant can restrict liquid flow and result in premature freeze-off if the liquid solidifies before filling the entire part. A capillary-driven fluid-flow model was developed to predict the infiltration rate and freeze-off limit using a variable skeleton permeability. Diffusional solidification was measured via quenching experiments, compared to theory, and used to define the change in permeability of the skeleton. The infiltration rate was measured via mass increase and compared to the flow model for various skeletons with powder sizes ranging from 60 to 300 µm. The predicted horizontal infiltration freeze-off limits were proportional to the square root of d 3 γ/μDβ 2, where d is the average powder diameter, γ and μ are the infiltrant surface tension and viscosity, respectively, D is the solid diffusivity, and β is a function of the solidus and liquidus concentrations. These relations can be used for selection of processing parameters and for evaluation of new material systems.
Force-mediated parametric generation in nano-optomechanical structures

We report a novel scheme for freely engineering phase matching, enabling efficient parametric generation at arbitrary frequencies in mechanically compliant nano-optomechanical structures.
Search for identity: the impact of the “great books” in public administration

Do public administration scholars build upon seminal works by scholars in the field or do they still rely heavily upon other disciplines? This question is addressed by assessing the impact of the “great books” in public administration on research published in academic journals. It is found that the 1980's are characterized by an increasing importance of those classic books that are generic management in orientation, suggesting that scholars still rely heavily on other fields for theoretical direction. Implications for an interdisciplinary approach to public administration and the training of doctoral students is discussed.
Incorporation of noise and prior images in penalized-likelihood reconstruction of sparse data

Many imaging scenarios involve a sequence of tomographic data acquisitions to monitor change over time - e.g., longitudinal studies of disease progression (tumor surveillance) and intraoperative imaging of tissue changes during intervention. Radiation dose imparted for these repeat acquisitions present a concern. Because such image sequences share a great deal of information between acquisitions, using prior image information from baseline scans in the reconstruction of subsequent scans can relax data fidelity requirements of follow-up acquisitions. For example, sparse data acquisitions, including angular undersampling and limited-angle tomography, limit exposure by reducing the number of acquired projections. Various approaches such as prior-image constrained compressed sensing (PICCS) have successfully incorporated prior images in the reconstruction of such sparse data. Another technique to limit radiation dose is to reduce the x-ray fluence per projection. However, many methods for reconstruction of sparse data do not include a noise model accounting for stochastic fluctuations in such low-dose measurements and cannot balance the differing information content of various measurements. In this paper, we present a prior-image, penalized-likelihood estimator (PI-PLE) that utilizes prior image information, compressed-sensing penalties, and a Poisson noise model for measurements. The approach is applied to a lung nodule surveillance scenario with sparse data acquired at low exposures to illustrate performance under cases of extremely limited data fidelity. The results show that PI-PLE is able to greatly reduce streak artifacts that otherwise arise from photon starvation, and maintain high-resolution anatomical features, whereas traditional approaches are subject to streak artifacts or lower-resolution images.
Hospital Emergency Response to Novel Influenza a (H1N1) Pandemic in a Large New York City Hospital: An Opportunity for Antimicrobial Stewardship:

We report a hospital wide response to the influenza A (H1N1) pandemic that was necessary given the early surge of potential cases and issues that New York City hospitals encountered. Our response was novel in that an antimicrobial stewardship team promoted guidelines for the triaging, isolation, testing, and treatment of potential H1N1 suspects. The experience was an unexpected opportunity for our growing antimicrobial stewardship program.
Spatial and symbolic implicit sequence learning in young and older adults

In three experiments, we examined the effects of age and spatial processing on implicit sequence learning. In experiment 1, 48 older adults (OA) and 48 young adults (YA) performed the alternating serial reaction time task (ASRT) under one of four conditions in which spatial processing demands were either present or absent from stimulus presentation (spatial vs. symbolic cueing) and/or response execution (spatial manual vs. vocal responses). Surprisingly, OA exhibited more learning than YA in the two vocal response conditions. In two follow-up experiments, we increased the response selection demands of the sequence learning task by asking new groups of YA and OA participants to make word categorization responses with 1:1 stimulus–response mapping (experiment 2) and 2:1 mapping (experiment 3) rather than letter reading (vocal response condition of experiment 1). The results showed that YA had increased learning under the more challenging response selection conditions (experiments 2 and 3) while OA did not. We propose that (1) manipulating the spatial aspects of implicit sequence learning does not necessarily impact the amount of learning for OA, (2) implicit sequence learning depends on both the structure of response execution and relative task difficulty, and (3) these factors affect implicit sequence learning for both YA and OA.
Effect of nonparabolicity on Ohmic magnetoresistance in semiconductors

The effect of nonparabolicity of the conduction band of $n\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{InSb}$ type semiconductors is studied in the framework of the Arora-Peterson density-matrix formalism. To exhibit clearly the effect of nonparabolicity, only the case of elastic electron-acoustic-phonon scattering is considered. Numerical results are presented both for parabolic and nonparabolic models. The nonparabolicity enhances the magnetoresistance, the effect being larger for larger magnetic fields. The Hall coefficient decreases slightly with the increasing magnetic field.
K, U, and Th distribution between dry and wet facies of a syenitic intrusion and the role of fluid content

Abstract Syenitic intrusions of the Laramie anorthosite complex consist of a biotite-hornblende syenite and a pyroxene syenite. Rocks of the two related types of syenite show practically the same major element chemistry, but concentrations of U and Th are much higher in the “wet” biotite-hornblende syenite than in the “dry” pyroxene syenite. A strong empirical relationship between hydrous mineralogy and higher U and Th concentrations is established. If U and Th are strongly concentrated upward in granitic intrusions this cannot be caused by differentiation affecting major elements; such and upward concentration of U and Th could be caused by upward differentiation of H 2 O.
(±)-1-Tetralone-3-carboxyl­ic acid and (±)-1-tetralone-2-acetic acid: hydrogen bonding in two γ-keto acids

The crystal structure of (±)-4-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetra­hydro­naph­thalene-2-carboxylic acid (C11H10O3) involves projection of the carboxyl group nearly orthogonal to the aromatic plane and hydrogen bonding of the acid groups by centrosymmetric pairing across the a edge and the center of the chosen cell [O⋯O = 2.705 (2) A]. Intermolecular C—H⋯O=C close contacts to translationally related mol­ecules are found for both the ketone (2.55 A) and the acid (2.67 A). In (±)-1-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetra­hydro­naph­thalene-2-acetic acid (C12H12O3), the aggregation involves centrosymmetric carboxyl dimers mutually hydrogen bonded across the bc face and the a edge of the chosen cell [O⋯O = 2.674 (2) A]. A 2.60 A close C—H⋯O=C contact is found to the carboxyl group of centrosymmetrically related mol­ecule.
Manufacturer price reduction pressure and supplier relations

Purpose – Manufacturer price reduction pressure on suppliers is an important contributor to helping a manufacturer maintain a strong competitive position by keeping costs low. The benefits of trusting supplier working relations also help strengthen a manufacturer's competitive position. The purpose of this paper is to determine if manufacturer price reduction pressure and trusting working relations with the pressured suppliers, typically considered to be mutually exclusive, can co‐exist.Design/methodology/approach – A structural equation modeling approach was used to analyze data covering 946 production buying situations involving 279 suppliers and six NA automotive OEMs.Findings – Manufacturer price reduction pressure and trusting working relations with the pressured suppliers, are not mutually exclusive, they can co‐exist.Research limitations/implications – The research found that it is not the pressure that impacts the manufacturer – supplier relations, but rather it is the manner by which the manufact...
Quantum dot p-i-n structure in an electric field

Abstract Time-resolved photoluminescence (PL), steady-state PL, and electroluminescence (EL) techniques have been used to characterize the carrier relaxation processes and carrier escape mechanisms in self-assembled InAs/GaAs quantum dot (SAQD) p-i-n structures under reverse bias. The measurements were performed between 5 K and room temperature on a ring mesa sample as a function of bias. At 100 K, the PL decay time originating from the n = 1 SAQD decreases with increasing reverse bias from ∼3 ns under flat band condition to∼ 400 ps for a bias of −3 V. The data can be explained by a simple model based on electron recombination in the quantum dots (QDs) or escape out of the dots. The escape can occur by one of three possible routes: direct tunneling out of the distribution of excited electronic levels, thermally assisted tunneling of ground state electrons through the upper excited electronic states or thermionic emission to the wetting layer.