cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Selective proteolysis of α-lactalbumin by endogenous enzymes of human milk at acidic pH.

Scope The use of human milk products is increasing for high-risk infants. Human milk contains endogenous enzymes that comprise a dynamic proteolytic system, yet biological properties of these enzymes and their activities in response to variations including pH within infants are unclear. Human milk has a neutral pH around 7, while infant gastric pH varies from 2 to 6 depending on individual conditions. This study is designed to determine the specificity of enzyme-substrate interactions in human milk as a function of pH. Methods and results Endogenous proteolysis is characterized by incubating freshly expressed human milk at physiologically relevant pH ranging from 2 to 7 without the addition of exogenous enzymes. Results show that the effects of pH on endogenous proteolysis in human milk are protein-specific. Further, specific interactions between cathepsin D and α-lactalbumin are confirmed. The endogenous enzyme cathepsin D in human milk cleaves α-lactalbumin as the milk pH shifts from 7 to 3. Conclusions This study documents that selective proteolysis activated by pH shift is a mechanism for dynamic interactions between human milk and the infant. Controlled proteolysis can guide the use of human milk products based on individual circumstance.
Predicting the morphologies of γʹ precipitates in cobalt-based superalloys

Abstract Cobalt-based alloys with γ / γ ′ microstructures have the potential to become the next generation of superalloys, but alloy compositions and processing steps must be optimized to improve coarsening, creep, and rafting behavior. While these behaviors are different than in nickel-based superalloys, alloy development can be accelerated by understanding the thermodynamic factors influencing microstructure evolution. In this work, we develop a phase field model informed by first-principles density functional theory and experimental data to predict the equilibrium shapes of Co-Al-W γ ′ precipitates. Three-dimensional simulations of single and multiple precipitates are performed to understand the effect of elastic and interfacial energy on coarsened and rafted microstructures; the elastic energy is dependent on the elastic stiffnesses, misfit strain, precipitate size, applied stress, and precipitate spatial distribution. We observe characteristic microstructures dependent on the type of applied stress that have the same γ ′ morphology and orientation seen in experiments, indicating that the elastic stresses arising from coherent γ / γ ′ interfaces are important for morphological evolution during creep. The results also indicate that the narrow γ channels between γ ′ precipitates are energetically favored, and provide an explanation for the experimentally observed directional coarsening that occurs without any applied stress.
Detection of Human Face by Thermal Infrared Camera Using MPI model and Feature Extraction Method

Thermal imagery is a substitute of visible imagery for face detection due to its property of illumination invariance with the variation of facial appearances. This paper presents an effective method for human face detection in thermal imaging. The concept of histogram plot has been used in the feature extraction process and later in face detection. Techniques like thresholding, object boundary analysis, morphological operation etc. have been performed on the images to ease the process of detection. In order to enhance the performance of the algorithm and to reduce the computation time, parallelism has been achieved using Message Passing Interface (MPI) model. Overall, the proposed algorithm showed a higher level of accuracy and less complexity time of 0.11 seconds in the parallel environment as compared to 0.20 seconds in a serial environment.
The rhizosphere and cropping system, but not arbuscular mycorrhizae, affect ammonia oxidizing archaea and bacteria abundances in two agricultural soils

Abstract Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form symbioses with roots that can enhance plant nutrition. While AMF have been shown to have a role in soil nitrogen (N) cycling, it is unclear whether AMF affect N cycling microbes such as ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA), which convert ammonium into nitrite in the first step of nitrification. In this study, we examined the effects of AMF on AOA and AOB abundances within the corn rhizosphere and bulk soil of conventional (corn-soybean rotation with inorganic fertilizer) and diversified (corn-soybean-oats/alfalfa-oats rotation with composted manure) systems. We hypothesized that AMF would decrease AOA and AOB abundances in a cropping-system dependent manner, possibly due to competition for ammonium. We grew corn deficient or proficient in AMF symbiosis in microcosms for 10 weeks. At the end of the experiment, both soils planted with the AMF-proficient corn genotype had higher ammonium and lower nitrate pool sizes compared to the same soils planted with the AMF-deficient corn genotype. Likewise, total plant N was higher in the AMF-proficient genotype compared to the AMF-deficient genotype. Despite changes in soil inorganic N pool sizes, AOA and AOB abundances were unaffected by plant AMF-proficiency. Instead, AOA abundance was greater in the rhizosphere than in the bulk soil regardless of cropping system, and AOB abundance was greater in the conventional than the diversified cropping system soil regardless of proximity to the root. These data indicate that 1) AMF did not affect AOA or AOB abundance in these N-rich soils but other factors such as root proximity and inorganic fertilization did and 2) AOA and AOB have differing ecological niches within rhizosphere and bulk soil that should be considered when managing for nitrogen losses.
Synchronization in linear chains of non-identical vortex-based spin-torque oscillators

Abstract Arrays of interacting oscillators having different individual frequencies can exhibit transitions to synchronization depending on array and individual oscillator parameters. In particular, vortex-based spin-torque nanopillar oscillators have gyrotropic frequencies depending inversely on the free layer disk radius. Here the effect of random distribution of radii on synchronization for chains of oscillators is investigated, since in actual systems of spin torque oscillator’s radii will be non-identical owing to fabrication control limitations. The vortex dynamics of linear chains interacting through the dipolar interaction are modeled by the Thiele equations with the free layer radii given by a random distribution about a mean. It is shown that there are two critical current densities for each chain: first, the onset of synchronized gyrotropic motion of the largest radius free layer oscillator, and second, the loss of synchronization as the individual oscillator amplitudes increase. The second critical current density is strongly dependent on the free layer radii of the particular chain. However, the synchronized frequency only weakly depends on the mean radius of each chain, and it is shown to be practically independent of the radii distribution.
It’s a Matter of Style: The Role of Audit Firms and Audit Partners in Key Audit Matter Reporting

We examine the relative importance of audit firm-level versus audit partner-level styles in key audit matter (KAM) outcomes. We define style as stable within-firm (partner) similarities and between-firm (partner) differences in KAM reporting over time and across clients and industries with respect to the volume of KAMs, their topical diversity, and the linguistic manner in which they communicate KAMs to users. Using a sample of UK KAMs, we find that firms and partners have unique styles for KAM reporting volume, topical diversity, and communication. Partner-level styles are the locus of KAM reporting decisions, adding 10 to 19 percent improvement in explanatory power versus firms’ two to five percent. Partner demographics do not meaningfully explain KAM reporting outcomes. We find that partners make unique KAM reporting judgments, countering concerns that audit firms’ standardization will yield boilerplate KAMs, but lending credence to concerns that KAM reporting judgments may lack comparability across partners.
Reply - "Anakinra for COVID-19: how to interpret elevations in liver enzymes".

We appreciate the comments of Cavalli and Dagna regarding our case series addressing the potential utility of anakinra to avoid the need for mechanical ventilation in patients with COVID-19, severe hypoxic respiratory failure and evidence of cytokine storm syndrome (CSS) (1). We thank them for pointing out the similarity of the patients in their recently reported study of COVID-19 patients who received high-dose intravenous anakinra. Indeed, 25 of the 29 patients treated with anakinra in their similar study had severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (2). Cavalli et al. defined severe respiratory distress as partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood to the fractional concentration of oxygen in inspired air ≤ 100 mmHg in the setting of bilateral pulmonary infiltrates and a positive end-expiratory pressure ≥ 5 cm H2 O.
Global Comparison of Influenza Type A and with COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Clinical, Laboratory, and Radiographic Findings

Introduction: Due to concurrency, high transmissibility, and importance of influenza and COVID-19 infections;within this large-scale study, we compared clin
Contraception in Kidney Disease

Unplanned pregnancies account for a large number of encountered pregnancies. One of the reasons for this is the lack of counseling surrounding contraception and subsequently lack of contraception use. A conversation during a regular CKD office visit of simply asking a woman what her plans are regarding pregnancy can lead to further discussion on timing of pregnancy and contraception and eventually safer outcomes for both the mother and fetus. Individual preference, as well as comorbid conditions, should be taken into account when deciding on optimal contraceptive methods. One must remember that contraception counseling and initiation of contraception should not be wrapped up in a single office visit, and there must be continued follow-up to ensure that the woman is using the contraceptive method correctly to prevent any future unplanned pregnancy.
Is There a Bias Against Obese Patients in the Treatment of Breast Cancer

BackgroundPatient and tumor characteristics often coincide with obesity, potentially affecting treatment decision-making in obese breast cancer patients. Independent of all of these factors, howeve...
Maternal production of milk for infants in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Abstract Mother's own milk (MOM) feeding is a cost-effective strategy to reduce risks of comorbidities associated with prematurity and improve long-term health of infants hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Significant racial and socioeconomic disparities exist in MOM provision in the NICU, highlighting the importance of developing strategies to reduce these disparities. Mothers of infants in the NICU experience many health concerns which may negatively impact lactation physiology. Objective measures of lactation physiology are limited but may assist in identifying mothers at particular risk. Several strategies to assist mothers of hospitalized infants are essential, including maternal education, qualified lactation professionals, early and frequent milk expression with a hospital-grade double electric breast pump, and providing support for transitioning to direct breastfeeding prior to discharge from the NICU.
Prevalence of objective excessive daytime sleepiness in a cohort of patients with mild obstructive sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is common, yet the relationship between mild OSA and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is unclear. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of objective EDS in a population with mild OSA using the mean sleep latency (MSL) from the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT). We retrospectively analyzed 1205 consecutive patients who underwent a polysomnography and a following day MSLT at a single sleep center. Adult patients who met criteria for mild OSA with an apnea–hypopnea index of 5 to <15 events/h were identified, and the percentage of patients with a MSL ≤ 8 min was determined. Sleep study and demographic variables were examined to evaluate predictors of objective EDS. Of 155 patients with mild OSA, objective EDS was found in 36% (56/155) with an average MSL of 5.6 ± 2.1 min in the objectively sleepy patients. Objectively sleepy patients with mild OSA had greater total sleep time (411.6 ± 48.9 vs. 384.5 ± 61.7 min, p = 0.004), increased sleep efficiency (84.9 ± 9.7 vs. 79.7 ± 12.7%, p = 0.01), and decreased wake after sleep onset time (53.0 ± 36.9 vs. 67.4 ± 46.1 min, p = 0.04) compared to patients with mild OSA but without objective EDS, with total sleep time being an independent predictor of MSL (p = 0.006). The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) weakly correlated with objective EDS (ρ = − 0.169, p = 0.03). There is a large subgroup of patients with mild OSA patients who have objective sleepiness. This may represent an ideal subgroup to target for future studies examining the effect of treatment in mild OSA. Additionally, the ESS was a poor predictor of this subgroup with mild OSA and objective EDS.
Expansion of insurance under the affordable care act and invasive management of acute myocardial infarction.

Background The Affordable Care Act of 2010 extended health insurance through expansion of Medicaid and subsidies for commercial insurance. Prior work has produced differing results in associating expanded insurance with improvements in health care processes and outcomes. Evaluating specific mechanisms of care processes and their association with insurance expansion may help reconcile those results. Methods and results We used inpatient hospitalization data in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality from 1/1/2008 to 9/30/2015. We included all hospitalizations for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). As a primary outcome, we defined percent rate of AMI hospitalizations receiving percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) per month. In the non-Medicare (intervention) group, there was a relative decrease of 0.2% of the monthly trend before and after expansion (95% CI [-0.3%, -0.1%]). In the Medicare group, there was a relative decrease of 0.1% of the monthly trend before and after expansion (95% CI [-0.2%, 0%]). Conclusions We did not detect a relative difference in PCI for AMI associated with insurance expansion under health reform.
Aspects of the Problem of Turbulent Motion

T N 1934, Theodore von Karman 1 delivered a general •*• lecture on turbulent flow at the International Congress of Applied Mechanics. The next year, Taylor published his statistical theory of turbulence. General systematic development of the theory was then made by von Karman 3 and jointly with Howarth. Since tha t time, there has been an almost steady progress in our knowledge of the mechanics of turbulent motion, both theoretical and experimental, although the basic problems still remain largely unsolved. Mathemat ical aspects of the analysis of turbulent motion have also received considerable attention.
Unique Case of Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction After Stingray Strike.

Background. Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction is a common cause of adult acquired flatfoot deformity. The cause of posterior tibial tendon dysfunction is often multifactorial and may include repetitive microtrauma, poor blood supply to the tendon, and, rarely, traumatic rupture. Case Description. We present the case of a 69-year-old male with posterior tibial tendon dysfunction secondary to a stingray injury that occurred directly into the posterior tibial tendon. This injury led to an acquired adult flatfoot deformity that ultimately required surgical reconstruction. At the time of surgery, the posterior tibial tendon was severely degenerative at the site of skin penetration. Literature Review. Previous case reports of stingray injury describe full-thickness skin penetration with a subsequent inflammatory response and large zone of necrobiosis. This is the first reported case of stingray trauma and envenomation directly into tendon with subsequent tendon dysfunction. Clinical Relevance. There are thous...
The Liturgy in Medieval England: The non-monastic religious orders: canons regular

Augustinian canons The amount of attention it will be necessary to devote to the canons regular may seem surprising, given the prevailing assumption that they normally used the liturgies of the diocese in which a given house was located. If this turns out to be generally the case, it must not prevent us from looking into the ways in which this very large, if initially somewhat amorphous, group of religious have influenced the story we are trying to trace. The factors of size and amorphousness are interrelated. As Sir Richard Southern has demonstrated, people of a level under the great landed aristocracy could afford to endow foundations at the middling level that seems to have sufficed for Augustinians (in contrast to Benedictines); the result was that, in his words, “living under a modest Rule the canons performed modest services for men of moderate means and moderate needs.” The consequence in liturgical terms is that their worship is likely to have been in many respects very close to that of ordinary parish churches, with the added factor of participation by a regular religious community. Where this factor was substantial, as in the greater houses like Cirencester and Guisborough, the regular, community aspect would probably have predominated; where it was slight, as with the great number of smaller Augustinian houses, there must often have been close approximation to parochial worship. Indeed, we shall see that some key liturgical manuscripts have reasonably been ascribed to both regular houses and parish churches.
Chapter 3 The neuromuscular junction

Publisher Summary The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a chemical synapse that is anatomically and functionally differentiated for the transmission of a signal from the motor nerve terminal to a circumscribed postsynaptic region on the muscle fiber. Despite the differences, all NMJs have principal components such as (1) a Schwann cell process, (2) a nerve terminal, (3) a synaptic space lined with a basement membrane, (4) a postsynaptic membrane, and (5) junctional sarcoplasm. In normal mature muscle, a single extrafusal muscle fiber receives its innervation from a single motor neuron, but each motor neuron supplies more than one muscle fiber. At the lateral borders of the NMJ basement, membrane only separates the synaptic from the extracellular space. The synaptic space is situated between the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes. The synaptic basal lamina plays an important role in NMJ development and regeneration, and in specifying the molecular architecture and physiologic properties of the pre- and post-synaptic membranes. The postsynaptic region consists of junctional folds and junctional sarcoplasm. The sequential changes during synaptogenesis are discussed in the chapter. Synaptic plasticity considers some aspects of the removal of polyaxonal innervation, nerve sprouting, and NMJ remodeling.
Ecological Fallacy, Statistics of

This article is reproduced from the previous edition, volume 6, pp. 4023–4026, © 2001, Elsevier Ltd., with revisions made by the Editor.
Three-dimensional Semi-generalized Point Placement Method for Delaunay Mesh Refinement

A number of approaches have been suggested for the selection of the positions of Steiner points in Delaunay mesh refinement. In particular, one can define an entire region (called picking region or selection disk) inside the circumscribed sphere of a poor quality element such that any point can be chosen for insertion from this region. The two main results which accompany most of the point selection schemes, including those based on regions, are the proof of termination of the algorithm and the proof of good gradation of the elements in the final mesh. In this paper we show that in order to satisfy only the termination requirement, one can use larger selection disks and benefit from the additional flexibility in choosing the Steiner points. However, if one needs to keep the theoretical guarantees on good grading then the size of the selection disk needs to be smaller. We introduce two types of selection disks to satisfy each of these two goals and prove the corresponding results on termination and good grading first in two dimensions and then in three dimensions using the radius-edge ratio as a measure of element quality. We call the point placement method semi-generalized because the selection disks are defined only for mesh entities of the highest dimension (triangles in two dimensions and tetrahedra in three dimensions); we plan to extend these ideas to lower-dimensional entities in the future work. We implemented the use of both two- and three-dimensional selection disks into the available Delaunay refinement libraries and present one example (out of many choices) of a point placement method; to the best of our knowledge, this is the first implementation of Delaunay refinement with point insertion at any point of the selection disks (picking regions).
Building Simple Models: A Case Study with Decision Trees

Building correctly-sized models is a central challenge for induction algorithms. Many approaches to decision tree induction fail this challenge. Under a broad range of circumstances, these approaches exhibit a nearly linear relationship between training set size and tree size, even after accuracy has ceased to increase. These algorithms fail to adjust for the statistical effects of comparing multiple subtrees. Adjusting for these effects produces trees with little or no excess structure.
Ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy of salivary gland lesions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives/Hypothesis To obtain summary estimates of the sensitivity and specificity of core needle biopsy for assessment of salivary gland lesions and to investigate sources of variation in accuracy between study locations. Study Design Data sources were PubMed, Embase, CAB Abstracts, CINAHL, BIOSIS, LILACS, PakMediNet, Trip Database, and the National Guideline Clearinghouse. Scopus was used to perform forward (citation) and backward (reference) searches of all potentially relevant studies. Methods Screening, data extraction, and quality assessment were independently performed by two different assessors. Meta-analysis was performed using bivariate mixed-effects binary regression as implemented in Stata 12. Quality assessment was performed using the QUADAS-2. Results The summary estimates of sensitivity and specificity of core needle biopsy for diagnosis of malignancy were 96% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 87–99) and 100% (95% CI = 84–100), respectively. There was no significant heterogeneity in accuracy between studies. The quality of included studies was high, with low risk of verification bias. The risk of hematoma was 1.6% per procedure. Conclusions Core needle biopsy has high sensitivity and specificity, and has low risk of complications. There is no significant variation in accuracy between study locations. Laryngoscope, 124:695–700, 2014
Retrospective Comparison of Gastrosplenic Entrapment of the Small Intestine to Other Strangulating Small Intestinal Lesions in Adult Horses.

Objective To compare clinical data of horses with entrapment of the small intestine by the gastrosplenic ligament (ESIGL) to clinical data of horses with other strangulating small intestinal lesions. Study Design Retrospective case series. Methods Medical records (January 2001–December 2011) of horses that had exploratory celiotomy for acute abdominal pain associated with strangulating small intestinal lesions were reviewed. Signalment, physical examination findings, clinicopathologic variables, surgical findings and surgical procedures performed, postoperative data and short-term survival were recorded. Results Clinical findings included excessive nasogastric reflux and abnormal abdominal fluid. Horses with ESIGL were significantly more likely to require intestinal resection and anastomosis and produced significantly less reflux postoperatively than horses with other strangulating small intestinal obstructions. Geldings were significantly more likely to develop ESIGL than mares or stallions. Quarter Horse or Quarter Horse type breeds were predisposed to ESIGL. Survival to hospital discharge in horses with ESIGL (16/22; 72.7%) was significantly higher than that of horses with other strangulating small intestinal obstructions (92/183; 50%). Conclusions ESIGL was more prevalent in this population of horses evaluated for acute abdominal pain than in previous studies, accounting for 10.7% of all horses with strangulating small intestinal lesions. Geldings and Quarter Horse or Quarter Horse related breeds are predisposed to this condition. The prognosis for survival to hospital discharge was fair to good.
The Rhetoric Conspiracy: Why Rhetoric is Too Powerful and Had to Be Lobotomized (Part 1 of 3 in the Rhetoric Series)

Historically, rhetoric as an art has been considered both nefarious and weak. The authors, in a three part series on rhetoric, describe the "lobotomization" of rhetoric, its true power, and its applications with individuals and organizations. This first working paper describes the historical context of the lobotomization - the separation of "Invention" from the other four canons of rhetoric, leaving rhetoric the basis of Freshman Composition and Public Speaking. It then discusses the power of rhetoric, beginning with the human capacity to name objects and people, resulting in leverage over the action of others. Finally, the article suggests a new definition for rhetoric: "The means through which one creates and populates worlds of meaning (language-based realities)."
New results on rate control in JPEG2000

Rate control plays an important role in JPEG2000, in which the nonorthogonal wavelet transforms require the mean squared error (MSE) in each subband to be appropriately scaled. modified weight metric is investigated that provides better compression performance than the one specified in the JPEG2000 standard. The experiment is carried out in the JPEG2000 framework. Similar consideration may be applied to real wavelet transforms for lossy image compression.
Symmetric product codes

Product codes were introduced by Elias in 1954 and generalized by Tanner in 1981. Recently, a number of generalized product codes have been proposed for forward error-correction in high-speed optical communication. In practice, these codes are decoded by iteratively decoding each of the component codes. Symmetric product codes are a subclass of generalized product codes that use symmetry to reduce the block length of a product code while using the same component code. One example of this subclass, dubbed half-product codes, was introduced by Tanner in 1981 and then generalized by Justesen in 2011. In this paper, we discuss some initial results on symmetric product codes. Our results show that: (i) these codes have a larger normalized minimum distance than the product code from which they are derived, (ii) some small constructions achieve the largest minimum distance possible for a linear code, and (iii) they can have better performance in both the waterfall region and the error floor when compared to a product code of similar length and rate.
A Concise History of Spain: Toward modernity: from the Napoleonic invasion to Alfonso XIII

Joseph Bonaparte was arguably the best of the Bonaparte clan, and Napoleon undoubtedly hoped that the Spanish people would accept him as a welcome replacement for the feckless Bourbons. He was wrong. By the time that Joseph arrived at the frontier, a spontaneous revolt against the French invasion had already begun. The rising began in Madrid on May 2, in reaction to news that the royal family had left for France. General Murat put down a riot in the Puerta del Sol quickly and brutally, using the Mameluke cavalry that Napoleon had recruited in Egypt. Given the long Spanish history of conflict with Muslim forces, the sight of turbaned horsemen charging a crowd of men and women in the heart of Madrid had a shocking effect. The next day, Murat's soldiers executed the supposed leaders of the riot on the hill of Principe Pio, at the western edge of Madrid near the royal palace. Various Spanish artists would paint their interpretations of those two actions, but the versions that history remembers are two arresting canvases by Goya, which capture the events in all their horror. In The Charge of the Mamelukes on the 2nd of May , the mad look on the face of the horseman in the center of the composition, and the tangle of bloodied bodies and enraged citizens in front of him, evoke the violent movement, confusion, and savagery of the confrontation. By contrast, the composition of The Executions on the Hill of Principe Pio on the 3rd of May is eerily still, as a terrified man in a white shirt raises his arms in surrender, while a contingent of faceless uniformed French soldiers aim their weapons at him in perfect formation. The viewer is left to complete the action, imagining the white shirt splattered in blood and the man collapsing in death to join the bodies of comrades who have fallen all around him. In all, some 400 Spaniards were killed in those two days, and the stunning news spread to all corners of the country in record time. Although Murat thought he had ended the rebellion by his swift actions and exemplary punishments, in fact he had ensured fierce resistance to the French occupation would continue.
Total arsenic in urine: palladium-persulfate vs nickel as a matrix modifier for graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry

We evaluated the effectiveness of nickel and palladium with or without added potassium persulfate as matrix modifiers for the determination of total arsenic in urine. Complete recovery of pure aqueous solutions of As(III), As(V), cacodylic acid (DMA), monomethylarsinic acid (MMA), and o-arsanilic acid was attained by using both nickel and palladium modifiers. Combined arsenobetaine and arsenocholine (so-called fish arsenic), extracted from a certified control material of dogfish muscle (DORM-1), were completely recovered with Pd-S2O8 matrix modification, but not with nickel. Excellent agreement with target values for arsenic in urines from the Centre de Toxicologie du Quebec, supplied by the Interlaboratory Comparison Program, was attained irrespective of the arsenic source when we used Pd-S2O8 as the matrix modifier.
Demonstration of an all-digital 7-bit 33-channel photonic delay line for phased-array radars.

A 7-bit multichannel photonic delay line for phased-array antenna control is demonstrated. Multichannel (33-pixel) ferroelectric liquid-crystal (FLC) devices are used as polarization rotation elements, and polarization beam-splitter cubes are used as polarization elements that route the optical signals to different paths. The controller is remotely fed by a unique fiber-optic-array design that uses gradient-index lens collimators for the input single-mode polarization-maintaining fibers. The optical signal is collected by a similar fiber array that uses multimode fibers for improved coupling efficiency. Photonic delay-line (PDL) design issues such as multiport assemblies, multipixel FLC designs, and delay-line architectures are discussed. Furthermore, various PDL parameters are examined. High electrical isolation numbers are obtained for both the within-channel leakage noise (e.g., less than -70 dB) and the interchannel cross talk (e.g., less than -90 dB). Optical and electrical insertion loss is examined for the PDL as well as for the overall system. A high-compression dynamic range of 149 dB · Hz and a spurious free dynamic range of 105 dB · Hz2/3 are presented.
Peptide T bolus normalizes the growth hormone secretion pattern in two children with AIDS

In humans, HIV infection reduces growth hormone (GH) secretion contributing to AIDS wasting. In rats, the HIV envelope protein gp120 alone blocks GH secretion both in vitro and in vivo through GH-releasing hormone receptors. Peptide T, a modified octapeptide derived from gp120, normalizes GH secretion. We now report that an intravenous bolus of peptide T normalizes nocturnal GH secretion in two out of three children with AIDS. These results, coupled with the lack of toxicity of this experimental AIDS therapeutic, justify clinical trials for AIDS wasting and pediatric AIDS. A clinical and basic science update on peptide T appears in Current HIV Research.
Seminoma and a gonadoblastoma in an infant with mixed gonadal dysgenesis.

The genital examination of a newborn with ambiguous genitaliarevealedanenlargedphallicstructure,asingleanterior perineal opening, and fused labioscrotal folds with no palpable gonads (Fig 1). No Turner syndrome stigmata were present. The testosterone level was 29 ng/dL (normal range for female newborns, 20-64 ng/dL; males, 75-400 ng/dL), and a mullerian inhibitory substance was undetectable. Chromosome analysis revealed a 45,X/46,XY mosaic karyotype. A normal uterus and kidneys were identified by ultrasonogram, and a urogenital sinus was present on cystourethrogram. The family selected a female gender for the baby. At9monthsofage,theinfanthadbilateralgonadectomy and feminizing genital surgery. Intraoperative findings confirmed a low confluence urogenital sinus with a well-formed vagina. A streak gonad with a normal fallopian tube and hemiuterus were present on the right. The left gonad was torsed and free-floating in the abdomen without identifiable ductal structures. Pathologic examination of the right gonad showed a testis-streak with seminiferous tubules containing placental alkaline phosphatase-positive (PLAP) cells, consistent with intratubular germ cell neoplasia, and peripheral streak gonadal tissue with multifocal areas of gonadoblastoma (Fig 2, B). The left gonad consisted of an encapsulated 2.0 3 1.8 3 0.6 cm soft tissue mass with diffuse coagulative necrosis and dystrophic calcifications consistent with torsion. Sheets of monomorphic large round cells surrounded by fibrous septae (Fig 2, A) were identified, consistent with a seminoma. A computed tomography scan of the abdomen, pelvis, and chest showed no evidence of metastasis. Beta-human chorionic gonadatropin and a-fetoprotein levels were normal. We describe a unique case of bilateral gonadal tumors occurring in an infant with mixed gonadal dysgenesis (MGD). MGD is an intersex disorder characterized by asymmetric dysgenetic gonads, ambiguous genitalia, persistent mullerian structures, and a Y cell line. Patients with MGD are at high risk of developing gonadal tumors, the majority being identified in the second and third decade of life. The most common tumor is a gonadoblastoma, a benign lesion composed of dysplastic germ and sex cord cells. However, the germ cell element can give rise to malignant germinomas such as seminomas, as in our case. 1,2 Prophylactic gonadectomy is indicated, but there are no clear recommendations as to when this should occur. The young age of this child emphasizes the importance of very early gonadectomy in patients with MGD that are to be raised in the female gender, and careful monitoring of male infants after early orchiopexy.
LES and analyses on the vortex structure behind supersonic MVG with turbulent inflow

Abstract In this paper, an implicitly implemented high order large eddy simulation by using the fifth order bandwidth-optimized WENO scheme is applied to make comprehensive studies on ramp flows with and without control at Mach 2.5 and Re θ = 5760. Flow control in the form of microramp vortex generators (MVG) is applied. The mechanism of vortex ring generation behind MVG has been studied in detail and shear layer instability has been studied and found as the mechanism of K–H vortex ring generation. A series of new observations on the flow around supersonic MVG have been made including inflection points (surface in 3-D), vorticity conservation, interaction of the primary vortex and new generated K–H vortex rings, and the K–H vortex ring structure. The numerical observations have been confirmed by the experimental work.
A simplified characterization of upholstered furniture heat release rates

The technology for measuring uphostered furniture heat release rates was established with the development of the furniture calorimeter. Analysis of a large number of tests in the furniture calorimeter has now demonstrated that for most specimens a good approximation to the rate of heat release as a function of time may take the form of a triangle. Methods of generating such curves, suitable for fire protection engineering hazard assessment purposes, have been developed.
Immune responses in chickens against Salmonella typhimurium monitored with egg antibodies.

Abstract Three mature hens were immunized with an Aro -mutant of Salmonella typhimurium beginning with a subcutaneous dose in adjuvant followed by two oral boosters. Isotypeantibodies were measured in the white and yolk eggs collected weekly over a period of 230 days. Two hens showed a memory response to the first oral boosters, with large increases in egg yolk IgG and smaller increases in IgA and IgM antibodies in egg whites. Smaller amounts of IgA and IgM antbodies were found in egg yolks, and a slight increase in IgG occured in the whites. One hen showed an increase in serum titers of all isotypes against S. typhimurium . The second hen had serum titers before immunization was started which did not change. The third hen had a high level of IgM in the white of eggs before immunization was started. This hen showed erratic responses in egg white antibodies following immunization, no increase in IgA or IgM in yolks and only a slight increase in IgG, no increase in serum IgG, and was the only hen with a high level of IgM antibody against S. typhimurium in the bile, conditions reflecting a state of oral tolerance. With the exception of this hen, the results showed that IgA and IgM antibodies were aroused in hens by immunization with an avirulent mutant of S. typhimurium , and that these antibodies were present in the white of eggs from immunized hens.
Responses of herbaceous mimosa (Mimosa strigillosa), a new reclamation species, to cyclic moisture stress

A greenhouse study was conducted to evaluate the response of herbaceous mimosa (Mimosa strigillosa) to six levels of cyclic soil moisture stresses in a 17-week period. The results showed that the cultivar continued to grow and the biomass continued to increase even when the soil moisture stress was as high as at the wilting point (1500 Kpa). Also, transpiration recovery rate was quick and values of root/shoot ratio were high when the plant was subject to the cyclic moisture stress condition. All these characteristics, along with strong rooting and spreading ability, suggest this legume as a promising drought hardiness species for reclamation purposes.
DOLAP 2010 workshop summary

The ACM DOLAP workshop presents research on data warehousing and On-Line Analytical Processing (OLAP). The program has three interesting sessions on modeling, query processing and new trends, as well as a keynote talk on OLAP query processing and a panel comparing relational and non-relational technology for data warehousing.
OBSERVED FORMAT OF SEMINAR/DISCUSSION GROUPS AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS

Recently Meredith (2, p. 869) reported that college students described the instructional format of 365 lecture courses as “mostly lecture with some group discussion.” In addition, students preferred significantly more discussion than they received. The seminar-and-discussion group format provides a small group setting, and increased social interaction among participants (1). The empirical questions were formulated: (a) How do college students describe the format of seminar/discussion groups? (b) Does observed format predict course/instructor satisfaction?
Shielding of external electric fields in atoms

Abstract Recent theoretical results by Dzuba, Flambaum, Silvestrov and Sushkov on the response of atomic systems to applied electric fields are discussed. An interpretation of the spatial variation of the induced field in terms of simple electrostatics and the shell model is given.
Synthesis of the C10–C17 fragment of aurisides and callipeltosides

Abstract The key unsaturated chiral C10–C17 fragment common on the synthesis of aurisides and callipeltosides was synthesized in six steps from 5-bromopentadienal via aldol condensation with Nagao's chiral auxiliary and further manipulation using Ohira's reagent and Negishi's carboalumination–iodination.
Wide-angle high-energy proton spectra by 800 MeV/A C, Ne, and Ar beams

Abstract Inclusive proton spectra, as well as two-particle correlations, resulting from collisions between energetic nuclei have been measured. Protons associated with large momentum transfers show exponential-type energy distributions having a decay constant about (70–90 MeV)−1. For light-mass targets a strong two-particle correlation has been observed, which is kinematically consistent with quasi-elastic pp scatterings.
The kinetics and equilibria of the gold-chlorine system

Abstract The kinetics and vapor-solid equilibria of the gold-chlorine system have been studied between 70 ° and 8oo °C at chlorine pressures ranging from 76 to 760 torr. Four kinetic regions, differentiated by separate controlling mechanisms, were found. Kinetic factors were correlated with equilibria involving (1) the vapor pressure of Au 2 Cl 6 , (2) chlorine and Au 2 Cl 6 vapor in equilibrium with Au 2 Cl 2 , (3) chlorine and Au 2 Cl 6 vapor over gold, and (4) chlorine and Au 2 Cl 2 vapor over gold.
Near-threshold photoionization of hot isopropyl radicals.

A combination of ion imaging and vacuum ultraviolet, single-photon ionization is used to study the internal energy dependence of the photoionization cross section of isopropyl radicals produced by the 266nm photodissociation of isopropyl iodide. The isopropyl radicals so produced have internal energies of ∼0.3–2.0eV. Images recorded for photoionization energies from just below the adiabatic ionization threshold at 7.37±0.02 and 8.04eV are essentially identical both to each other and to that recorded at 9.67eV. These results imply that the photoionization cross section is only weakly dependent on internal energy. Several factors contributing to this observation are discussed, as are the implications for the photoionization of other systems with significant internal excitation.
A Novel DNA Damage Response RAPID DEGRADATION OF THE p12 SUBUNIT OF DNA POLYMERASE δ

Mammalian DNA polymerase (Pol) δ is essential for DNA replication. It consists of four subunits, p125, p50, p68, and p12. We report the discovery that the p12 subunit is rapidly degraded in cultured human cells by DNA damage or replication stress brought about by treatments with UV, methyl methanesulfonate, hydroxyurea, and aphidicolin. The degradation of p12 is due to an accelerated rate of proteolysis that is inhibited by the proteasome inhibitors, MG132 and lactacystin. UV treatment converts Pol δ in vivo to the three-subunit form lacking p12. This was demonstrated by its isolation using immunoaffinity chromatography. The three-subunit enzyme retains activity on poly(dA)/oligo(dT) templates but is impaired in its ability to extend singly primed M13 templates, clearly indicating that its in vivo functions are likely to be compromised. This transformation of Pol δ by modification of its quaternary structure is reversible in vitro by the addition of the p12 subunit and could represent a novel in vivo mechanism for the modulation of Pol δ function. UV and hydroxyurea-triggered p12 degradation is blocked in ATR–/– cells but not in ATM–/– cells, thereby demonstrating that p12 degradation is regulated by ATR, the apical kinase that regulates the damage response in S-phase. These findings reveal a novel addition to the cellular repertoire of DNA damage responses that also impacts our understanding of the role of Pol δ in both DNA replication and DNA repair.
Legal Research: MacCrate's “Fundamental Lawyering Skill” Missing in Action

“It can hardly be doubted that the ability to do legal research is one of the skills that any competent legal practitioner must possess.” 1 The American Bar Association's 1992 MacCrate Report 2 was...
O CONTO MACHADIANO ENTRE A TRADUÇÃO, A CIRCULAÇÃO CULTURAL E AS NOVAS CONSTRUÇÕES CONCEITUAIS

By analyzing Machado de Assis’s short stories work and thought, we intend to point out relationships between translation, here understood as a mediation and cultural diffusion strategy, and the building of a broad concept of Latin American literatures. We also present an anthology of 30 short stories by Machado de Assis translated into Spanish and published in 2011 in Valencia/Spain, as part of this translation and research project.
A Pulse Flow Microreactor Study of Hydrogen Spillover from Palladium on Carbon to Silica and Polyvinylphenol

A portion of the hydrogen of a high-surface-area silica was exchanged with deuterium gas in a pulse flow microreactor. The exchange reaction was rapid at 190°C when the silica was physically mixed with a Pd on carbon catalyst. The amount of readily exchangeable hydrogen was determined using a titration technique to be 0.87 mmol H/g silica, more than 50% of the estimated number of hydroxyl groups. A smaller number, 0.46 mmol H/g silica, was determined after the silica was partially dehydrated by heating to 360°C. Although silica itself becomes an active catalyst for H 2 /D 2 exchange after being heated to 360°C, exchange between D 2 gas and the surface hydroxyls was not observed in the absence of the Pd/carbon catalyst. The results are interpreted in terms of hydrogen spillover from the Pd/carbon catalyst to the silica surface. Equilibrium is established for a pool of hydrogen including that in the gas phase, on the catalyst surface, and a certain portion of the hydrogen on the surface of the silica, providing evidence that transport by spillover is rapid in comparison to the transit time of a pulse, about 3 min. Similar results were found by substituting polyvinylphenol for silica. The results illustrate that ready pathways exist for transport of spillover hydrogen between solid substrates and physically admixed catalyst.
The impact of allergy and immunology on our expanding industrial environment

Abstract In summary, allergists and clinical immunologists have assumed a primary role related to the diagnosis and pathophysiology of a wide range of environmental and occupational diseases associated with our increasingly industrialized environment. Prevention, rather than therapy, is the primary goal in managing many of these conditions. With all such diseases, it is most important to take into account the patient's environment and to record a thorough occupational and environmental history. The concept of environmental agents as causative factors of disease in man dates to antiquity but has assumed considerably greater significance in recent years. In this context, it should be remembered that Hippocrates and Socrates both emphasized that a good physician should strongly consider the patient's environment as an aid in diagnosis. Of equal importance was the recommendation by Bernardo Ramazzini in 1713, that, "in addition to the questions and recommendations of Hippocrates," a careful inquiry into the patient's occupation should be made.
Optimal control/structure integrated design of a flexible space platform with articulated appendages

A complete set of closed form symbolic equations are developed for a 2-D model of a system comprised of a flexible platform with articulated appendages. The system considered has a flexible two link manipulator, with joint compliance, at one end of the flexible platform and an articulated antenna on the other end. The model is formulated using a Lagrangian approach which incorporates homogeneous transformation matrices, similar to those typically seen in the robotics literature, for the kinematic representation. The integrated control/structure design strategy considered emphasizes rapid system response and minimal structural weight. Constraints are included to keep antenna pointing error to a minimum, and at the same time achieve accurate end point positioning of the manipulator with minimal oscillations.