cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
cDNA and amino acid sequence of human adenosine deaminase.

Human adenosine deaminase (ADA) is a purine catabolic enzyme that catalyzes the irreversible hydrolytic deamination of adenosine and deoxyadenosine. The enzyme is broadly distributed in human tissues with highest activity in lymphoid Adenosine deaminase purified from human erythrocytes is a soluble monomeric protein with an estimated molecular weight of about 38,000 daltons that exhibits post-translational modification."' In all tissues the enzyme is encoded for by a single genetic locus on the long arm of chromosome 20.&' An inherited deficiency of adenosine deaminase in its most extreme form is associated with an autosomal recessive form of severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID).' Patients have severe T cell and variable B cell dysfunction. In the absence of ADA activity, immature T cells selectively accumulate and are sensitive to dATP and deoxyadenosine toxicity. Patients have recurrent severe infections that usually become fatal within the first few years of life? These patients have undetectable enzyme activity in their erythrocytes and residual lymphocytes, but may have variable amounts of ADA enzymatic activity and immunoreactive protein in other tissues." As evidence for genetic heterogeneity in human ADA deficiency, a smaller group of partially ADA-deficient subjects have been identified through a genetic screening program or by serendipity. Subjects have undetectable ADA activity in senescent erythrocytes but 1-20% of normal lymphocyte enzyme activity."-" The partial ADA lymphocyte activity apparently protects these individuals against immunodeficiency and they remain healthy. Transformed B lymphoblast cell lines derived from these partially ADA-deficient individuals show characteristically low enzyme activity and structural mutations in the enzyme associated with electrophoretically alteredI3 or heat-labile ADA protein." Recent studies by Hutton and associates have described an elevated level of ADA mRNA in a B lymphoblast cell line derived from a severely and a partially ADA-deficient The mutation in both cases may be associated with an unstable ADA protein.
Use of absorbable cyanoacrylate glue to repair an open cystotomy.

Purpose: A biodegradable cyanoacrylate glue was tested for its ability to close bladder injuries in an established porcine model. Inflammation and encrustation associated with this glue were examined in a rabbit model.Materials and Methods: Four domestic pigs underwent transverse cystotomy, which was closed with absorbable cyanoacrylate glue. Four weeks later the bladder was distended with normal saline to evaluate the repair. A total of 45 rabbits underwent cystotomy, which was closed with polyglactin suture, absorbable cyanoacrylate glue or nonabsorbable 2-octyl cyanoacrylate glue. The bladder was harvested at 4 or 12 weeks to evaluate inflammation, microcalcification and encrustation.Results: All 4 pig bladders tolerated a pressure of 200 mm. Hg 4 weeks after closure. In the rabbit bladders there was no difference in inflammation in the groups at 4 and 12 weeks. The absorbable glue and suture groups had less microcalcification than the 2-octyl cyanoacrylate glue group at 4 and 12 weeks (p = 0.01 and 0....
Relating fish kills to upwellings and wind patterns in the Salton Sea

In recent years, the extreme eutrophication of the Salton Sea has been associated with massive fish kills and associated bird kills. Analysis of the magnitude and direction of high wind events indicates that major fish kills are preceded by strong and persistent wind events, with a 24-h accumulated wind magnitude above a critical threshold of approximately 90 m/s. Twelve of the 14 cases of reported fish kills analyzed were found to be preceded by such wind conditions. The winds could potentially produce upwellings of hypolimnetic water at the upwind end of the Sea, resulting in the entire water column being low in dissolved oxygen and high in concentrations of hydrogen sulfide and ammonium. Remotely sensed thermal infrared data from the MODIS instrument on the Terra satellite was available for 5 of the 14 fish kills analyzed. Evaluation of satellite-derived surface temperature maps for these 5 fish kills shows that upwellings did take place after the wind events, affecting a large fraction of the Sea’s area. The location of the upwelling and the fish kills coincided in all cases, confirming the relationship among wind patterns, upwellings, and fish kills in the Salton Sea. The importance of physically mediated processes, such as upwellings, need to be considered in evaluating future remediation strategies for the Salton Sea.
Derivational morphological awareness, academic vocabulary, and reading comprehension in linguistically diverse sixth graders

Abstract This study investigated the multiple roles of morphological awareness in reading comprehension for Spanish-speaking language minority (LM) learners and their native English-speaking (NE) peers. Sixth-grade students (N = 137; 82 LM, 55 NE) were assessed on English measures of derivational morphological awareness, morphologically complex academic vocabulary, silent word reading fluency, and reading comprehension. Multiple-group path analyses indicated that morphological awareness made a significant unique contribution to comprehension as well as indirect contributions to comprehension via academic vocabulary and word reading fluency. Predictive relations were the same across language groups, with the exception of the indirect contribution via academic vocabulary, which was greater for NE speakers than for LM learners. Findings extend prior research by confirming the importance of morphological awareness in literacy development for LM learners and specifying particular roles in academic vocabulary and fluency development, suggesting the value of integrating morphology into multifaceted reading instruction in linguistically diverse classrooms.
Mobile aortic atheroma and systemic emboli: efficacy of anticoagulation and influence of plaque morphology on recurrent stroke.

Abstract Objectives. We sought to determine the influence of plaque morphology and warfarin anticoagulation on the risk of recurrent emboli in patients with mobile aortic atheroma. Background. An epidemiologic link between aortic atheroma and systemic emboli has been described both in pathologic and transesophageal studies. Likewise, a few studies have found an increased incidence of recurrent emboli in these patients. The therapeutic implications of these findings has not been studied. Methods. Thirty-one patients presenting with a systemic embolic event and found to have mobile aortic atheroma were studied. The height, width and area of both immobile and mobile portions of atheroma were quantitated. The dimensions of the mobile component was used to define three groups: small, intermediate and large mobile atheroma. The patients were followed up by means of telephone interview and clinical records, with emphasis on anticoagulant use and recurrent embolic or vascular events. Results. Patients not receiving warfarin had a higher incidence of vascular events (45% vs. 5%, p = 0.006). Stroke occurred in 27% of these patients and in none of those treated with warfarin. The annual incidence of stroke in patients not taking warfarin was 0.32. Myocardial infarction occurred in 18% of patients also in this group. Taken together, the risk of myocardial infarction or stroke was significantly increased in this group (p = 0.001). Forty-seven percent of patients with small, mobile atheroma did not receive warfarin. Recurrent stroke occurred in 38% of these patients, representing an annual incidence of 0.61. There were no strokes in patients with small, mobile atheroma treated with warfarin (p = 0.04). Likewise, none of the patients with intermediate or large mobile atheroma had a stroke during follow-up. Only three of these patients had not been taking warfarin. Conclusions. Patients presenting with systemic emboli and found to have mobile aortic atheroma on transesophageal echocardiography have a high incidence of recurrent vascular events. Warfarin is efficacious in preventing stroke in this population. The dimension of the mobile component of atheroma should not be used to determine the need for anticoagulation.
Isolation of cold sensitive-rifampicin resistant RNA polymerase mutants of escherichia coli

Summary A selection procedure was performed to isolate mutants of E. coli which were temperature sensitive due to a structural modification of the enzyme DNA-dependent RNA polymerase. This was accomplished by using a tritium suicide procedure and isolating surviving cells resistant to the antibiotic rifampicin. The use of a tritium suicide procedure made it possible to virtually eliminate cells which were not temperature sensitive, while the use of high concentrations of rifampicin ensured the isolation of mutants with an altered RNA polymerase. Although an attempt was made to isolate spontaneous mutants which were inhibited in growth at either 30 or 40°C, only in mutants failing to grow at 30°C was resistance to high concentrations of rifampicin found. The mutants appear to have one mutation which alters RNA polymerase activity.
INTRODUCTION: THE JUST WAR TRADITION AND THE CONTINUING CHALLENGES TO WORLD PUBLIC ORDER

Abstract This introductory article argues that world public order continues to be challenged by the emergence of the doctrines of anticipatory self-defense and humanitarian intervention. These challenges may be better understood, and reconciled, by application of the just war tradition.
Inability to detect mycobactin in Mycobacteria-infected tissues suggests an alternative iron acquisition mechanism by Mycobacteria in vivo

Although most species of mycobacterium are capable of producing mycobactin, it is not known if conditions within the host allow for mycobactin synthesis or whether it even plays a role in iron acquisition in vivo. We employed the mycobactin-auxotroph, Mycobacterium paratuberculosis, in a bioassay to examine tissues from animals infected with either Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium avium or M. paratuberculosis for the presence of mycobactin or compounds which demonstrate mycobactin-like activity. Other iron-binding compounds, including purified siderophores from unrelated organisms and host iron-binding proteins were also evaluated in the bioassay for growth induction of M. paratuberculosis in the absence of mycobactin. Although mycobactin could be easily demonstrated in tissues artificially seeded with mycobacteria, no mycobactin could be detected in heavily infected tissues. None of the purified siderophores from unrelated microorganisms were found to support growth of M. paratuberculosis in the absence of mycobactin. Host iron-binding proteins (transferrin, lactoferrin, ferritin, hemin) also failed to induce growth in the bioassay at pH 6.8, however, when the pH was adjusted between 5-6.2, transferrin and lactoferrin promoted growth of M. paratuberculosis without mycobactin, probably as a result of the dissociation of iron rather than a specific interaction. We confirm that mycobacteria are incapable of iron uptake when iron is chelated to siderophores from unrelated organisms and conclude that mycobactin-mediated mechanisms of iron-acquisition by mycobacteria do not appear to have as significant a role in vivo as in vitro. In addition, evidence is presented that suggests iron-containing transferrin and lactoferrin at low pH may circumvent the need for mycobactin by M. paratuberculosis.
“Animals First”: Good Communication May Be the Missing Element in Nonhuman Animal Welfare Systems

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums' (AZA) Animal Welfare Committee helps raise Accreditation Standards for nonhuman animal well being. An Animal Welfare Process Standard requires AZA-accredited ...
Pasteurization of Pacific Oysters by Radiation: Post-Mortem Changes in Nucleotides During Storage at 0-2°C

SUMMARY: The concentration of nucleotides was lower in the adductor muscle of the oyster (1.64 μmoles/g) than in the remaining dark tissues of the oyster (2.75 μmoles/g). The concentration was less in the whole oyster meats (2.87 μmoles/g) than is usually found in fish muscle, or other marine invertebrates. In addition to the adenine nucleotides and inosine monophosphate, uridine triphosphate, guanosine triphosphate, guanosine diphosphate, guanosine monophosphate and guanosine diphosphate-mannose were found in the fresh oysters. Samples collected in summer had greater concentrations of nucleotides than similar winter samples. lnosine monophosphate formed rapidly from adenosine triphosphate during storage at 0°–2°C, while the turnover rate of inosine monophosphate was slow and reflected low 5′-nucleotidase activity. Hypoxanthine, inosine, guanosine, guanine and uracil were formed during ice storage. The nucleotide breakdown in oysters was not changed by 2 mrads of radiation dose. Total nucleosides and free bases increased during storage of both unirradiated and irradiated samples. During the latter part of the storage period the concentrations of nucleosides and free bases were considerably greater in the irradiated samples. This difference probably is due to the utilization of these compounds by bacteria in the un-irradiated samples. After 15 days of storage bacteria had increased to more than 10’organisms per g, while the counts for irradiated samples were very low (less than 103 per g).
Mapping the hydration dynamics of ubiquitin.

The nature of water’s interaction with biomolecules such as proteins has been difficult to examine in detail at atomic resolution. Solution NMR spectroscopy is potentially a powerful method for cha...
Singlet and Triplet Excitation Management in a Bichromophoric Near-Infrared-Phosphorescent BODIPY-Benzoporphyrin Platinum Complex

Multichromophoric arrays provide one strategy for assembling molecules with intense absorptions across the visible spectrum but are generally focused on systems that efficiently produce and manipulate singlet excitations and therefore are burdened by the restrictions of (a) unidirectional energy transfer and (b) limited tunability of the lowest molecular excited state. In contrast, we present here a multichromophoric array based on four boron dipyrrins (BODIPY) bound to a platinum benzoporphyrin scaffold that exhibits intense panchromatic absorption and efficiently generates triplets. The spectral complementarity of the BODIPY and porphryin units allows the direct observation of fast bidirectional singlet and triplet energy transfer processes (k_(ST)(^1BDP→^1Por) = 7.8 × 10^(11) s^(−1), k_(TT)(^3Por→^3BDP) = 1.0 × 10^(10) s^(−1), k_(TT)(^3BDP→^3Por) = 1.6 × 10^(10) s^(−1)), leading to a long-lived equilibrated [^3BDP][Por]⇔[BDP][^3Por] state. This equilibrated state contains approximately isoenergetic porphyrin and BODIPY triplets and exhibits efficient near-infrared phosphorescence (λ_(em) = 772 nm, Φ = 0.26). Taken together, these studies show that appropriately designed triplet-utilizing arrays may overcome fundamental limitations typically associated with core−shell chromophores by tunable redistribution of energy from the core back onto the antennae.
Prolonged depletion of ATP and of the adenine nucleotide pool due to delayed resynthesis of adenine nucleotides following reversible myocardial ischemic injury in dogs

Abstract After 15 min of severe ischemia induced by circumflex artery occlusion in open-chest dogs, 65% of the ATP and 50% of the total adenine nucleotide (ΣAd) pool is lost from the subendocardial myocardium [ 12 ]. Nevertheless, this injury is reversible if the affected tissue is reperfused with coronary arterial blood. In the present experiment, we assessed the effects of various periods of arterial reflow following 15 min of ischemic injury, on resynthesis of ATP and ΣAd. The circumflex artery was occluded for 15 min and reperfused for 20 or 60 min, or 24 or 96 h. Ten seconds prior to excision of the heart, the circumflex artery was reoccluded and the fluorescent dye thioflavine S was injected intravenously in order to identify the ischemic or the reperfused tissue which had been ischemic. The mean ATP after 15 min of ischemia was reduced 62% from 5.42 ± 0.33 to 2.08 ± 0.21 μmol/g; and the total nucleotide content was reduced by 50%. ATP content recovered slightly during the first 20 min of reperfusion but remained markedly depressed for at least 24 h because of the initial depletion of adenine nucleotides and because minimal salvage or de novo synthesis occurred in the injured muscle during this time period. By 4 days, ATP and total adenine nucleotides were still slightly depressed but had recovered to 88% and 91% of control. Electrolyte changes and an increased inulin diffusible space, which are characteristic of irreversibly injured myocardium reperfused for 20 or 60 min, were not observed. Also tissue necrosis was absent in the hearts reperfused for 24 or 96 h. These observations indicate that the marked depression of ATP and adenine nucleotides and the slow recovery of these metabolites occurred in myocardium which nevertheless was reversibly injured in terms of cellular viability.
An accept-reject algorithm for the positive multivariate normal distribution

The need to simulate from a positive multivariate normal distribution arises in several settings, specifically in Bayesian analysis. A variety of algorithms can be used to sample from this distribution, but most of these algorithms involve Gibbs sampling. Since the sample is generated from a Markov chain, the user has to account for the fact that sequential draws in the sample depend on one another and that the sample generated only follows a positive multivariate normal distribution asymptotically. The user would not have to account for such issues if the sample generated was i.i.d. In this paper, an accept-reject algorithm is introduced in which variates from a positive multivariate normal distribution are proposed from a multivariate skew-normal distribution. This new algorithm generates an i.i.d. sample and is shown, under certain conditions, to be very efficient.
Towards optimally exploiting physical layer information in OFDM wireless networks

Wireless communication is inherently vulnerable in nature and packets can be corrupted due to various reasons. The network performance can potentially be improved if one is able to identify the reasons for packet corruption and react to them accordingly. However, none of the current wireless protocols do so. In this paper, we design a novel scheme to diagnose packet corruption in OFDM wireless networks by statistically analyzing certain available physical layer information, based on the observation that different causes of corruption result in different per-symbol-SINR patterns within a packet. Our approach introduces no additional traffic overhead. By running experiments on a GNU radio test bed in an electromagnetic anechoic chamber, we study and demonstrate that one can separate three reasons for packet corruption: weak signal, interference from transmitters using the same band, and interference from transmitters using an adjacent band. We study three statistical classification methods and compare their accuracy.
Where did I park? A naturalistic study of spatial memory

A naturalistic study of spatial memory having temporary utility was conducted using 32 faculty and staff of a university, who park in non-reserved parking spaces, as subjects. The subjects, who were unaware of the study until interviewed, were asked to indicate on a map the exact location where they had parked their car on that day and on each of the three preceding days. Whereas retention accuracy decreased significantly across days, the recency effect was weak and overall retention proved to be very accurate. Of the subjects who varied their parking location, 88 per cent were able to indicate within three spaces where they parked on the day of the interview, and 58 per cent on the most remote day. Younger females made significantly larger retention errors across the four days than older females and younger and older males. Subjects' overall retention accuracy correlated with their overall confidence in their recollections (γ = .72). Daily ratings of ‘how busy on the job’, reported times left campus each day, parking location variability, particular parking lot used, and number of parking spaces in the distinct locations used were not significantly correlated with retention errors. In follow-up interviews, subjects reported preferring a behavioural, ‘park in a favourite spot’ strategy, with several types of imagery-based cognitive strategies being cited less frequently, and verbal encoding being the least often cited strategy.
Analysis of the promoter from an expanding mouse retrotransposon subfamily.

Abstract The mouse genome contains several subfamilies of the retrotransposon L1. One subfamily, T F , contains 4000–5000 full-length members and is expanding due to retrotransposition of a large number of active elements. Here we studied the T F 5′ untranslated region (UTR), which contains promoter activity required for subfamily expression. Using reporter assays, we show that promoter activity is derived from T F -specific monomer sequences and is proportional to the number of monomers in the 5′ UTR. These data suggest that nearly all full-length T F elements in the mouse genome are currently competent for expression. We aligned the sequences of 53 monomers to generate a consensus T F monomer and determined that most T F elements are truncated near a potential binding site for a transcription initiation factor. We also determined that much of the sequence variation among T F monomers results from transition mutations at CpG dinucleotides, suggesting that genomic T F 5′ UTRs are methylated at CpGs.
Arachidonic acid directly activates members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase superfamily in rabbit proximal tubule cells

Arachidonic acid directly activates members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase superfamily in rabbit proximal tubule cells. Background To explore the roles of eicosanoids in arachidonic acid-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction, we have shown that exposure of proximal tubular cells to arachidonic acid induces phosphorylation of c-Jun NH 2 -terminal kinase (JNK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), two members of the MAPK superfamily. We observed that ketoconazole, an inhibitor of the cytochrome P450 pathway, blocked ERK but not JNK activation. Methods Direct regulation of arachidonic acid on mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways was evaluated more directly by utilizing specific enzyme inhibitors of the cytochrome P450 metabolic pathway and by comparing the relative efficacy of arachidonic acid versus its cytochrome P450 metabolites (exogenous and endogenous), eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA), and other fatty acids on the phosphorylation of members of the MAPK superfamily (ERKs, JNK, and p38 MAPK ), by utilizing early passage rabbit proximal tubular epithelial cells. Results Arachidonic acid activated p38 MAPK , a third member of the MAPK superfamily, in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Studies designed to evaluate the ability of arachidonic acid and its cytochrome P450 metabolites (endogenously and exogenously) to stimulate ERKs, JNK, and p38 MAPK found four conclusions. First, the metabolites of arachidonic acid generated endogenously by cytochrome P450 2C1 significantly augmented basal ERK activity, whereas the metabolites generated by the 2C2 isozyme significantly augmented basal p38 MAPK activity. However, their effects were less profound than arachidonic acid itself. In contrast, there were no significant effects with transfection of either isozyme on basal JNK activity. Second, a variety of exogenous cytochrome P450 products were less potent than arachidonic acid on a molar basis in stimulating the activity of all three MAPKs. Third, ketoconazole and 17-octadecynoic acid, inhibitors of the cytochrome P450 pathway, as well as PPOH and DDMS, inhibitors of the epoxygenase and ɷ-hydroxylase pathways, respectively, failed to significantly reduce the effects of arachidonic acid to activate ERK and p38 MAPK (JNK was not evaluated). Finally, arachidonic acid, its inactive analog ETYA, and other fatty acids with differing chain lengths and degrees of saturation stimulated the activity of all three MAPKs. Conclusions These observations substantiate a role for arachidonic acid and other fatty acids in signaling linked to the MAPK superfamily in rabbit proximal tubular epithelium without the necessity of conversion to cytochrome P450 metabolites.
Performance assessment of self-interrogation neutron resonance densitometry for spent nuclear fuel assay

Abstract Self-Interrogation Neutron Resonance Densitometry (SINRD) is one of several nondestructive assay (NDA) techniques being integrated into systems to measure spent fuel as part of the Next Generation Safeguards Initiative (NGSI) Spent Fuel Project. The NGSI Spent Fuel Project is sponsored by the US Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration to measure plutonium in, and detect diversion of fuel pins from, spent nuclear fuel assemblies. SINRD shows promising capability in determining the 239 Pu and 235 U content in spent fuel. SINRD is a relatively low-cost and lightweight instrument, and it is easy to implement in the field. The technique makes use of the passive neutron source existing in a spent fuel assembly, and it uses ratios between the count rates collected in fission chambers that are covered with different absorbing materials. These ratios are correlated to key attributes of the spent fuel assembly, such as the total mass of 239 Pu and 235 U. Using count rate ratios instead of absolute count rates makes SINRD less vulnerable to systematic uncertainties. Building upon the previous research, this work focuses on the underlying physics of the SINRD technique: quantifying the individual impacts on the count rate ratios of a few important nuclides using the perturbation method; examining new correlations between count rate ratio and mass quantities based on the results of the perturbation study; quantifying the impacts on the energy windows of the filtering materials that cover the fission chambers by tallying the neutron spectra before and after the neutrons go through the filters; and identifying the most important nuclides that cause cooling-time variations in the count rate ratios. The results of these studies show that 235 U content has a major impact on the SINRD signal in addition to the 239 Pu content. Plutonium-241 and 241 Am are the two main nuclides responsible for the variation in the count rate ratio with cooling time. In short, this work provides insights into some of the main factors that affect the performance of SINRD, and it should help improve the hardware design and the algorithm used to interpret the signal for the SINRD technique. In addition, the modeling and simulation techniques used in this work can be easily adopted for analysis of other NDA systems, especially when complex systems like spent nuclear fuel are involved. These studies were conducted at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Structural basis for packaging the dimeric genome of Moloney murine leukaemia virus

All retroviruses specifically package two copies of their genomes during virus assembly, a requirement for strand-transfer-mediated recombination during reverse transcription1,2. Genomic RNA exists in virions as dimers, and the overlap of RNA elements that promote dimerization and encapsidation suggests that these processes may be coupled3,4,5. Both processes are mediated by the nucleocapsid domain (NC) of the retroviral Gag polyprotein3. Here we show that dimerization-induced register shifts in base pairing within the Ψ-RNA packaging signal of Moloney murine leukaemia virus (MoMuLV) expose conserved UCUG elements that bind NC with high affinity (dissociation constant = 75 ± 12 nM). These elements are base-paired and do not bind NC in the monomeric RNA. The structure of the NC complex with a 101-nucleotide ‘core encapsidation’ segment of the MoMuLV Ψ site6 reveals a network of interactions that promote sequence- and structure-specific binding by NC's single CCHC zinc knuckle. Our findings support a structural RNA switch mechanism for genome encapsidation, in which protein binding sites are sequestered by base pairing in the monomeric RNA and become exposed upon dimerization to promote packaging of a diploid genome.
A new interpretation of "End" resistance measurements

We propose a new interpretation of the "end" resistance measurements for field-effect transistors (FET's). This interpretation is based on the solution of the current transport equations under the gate and relates the "end" resistance to the source series resistance and the channel resistance of the device. The values of the series source and drain resistances determined for GaAs ion-implanted FET's, using our formulas for the "end" resistance, are in excellent agreement with the values obtained using our modification of the Fukui method [1].
Bioethical decision-making: a reply to Ackerman

Terrence Ackerman has suggested that we ought to view general bioethical principles as generalizations which summarize our previous bioethical decisions rather than as moral rules. He would have us derive our ethical views instead principally from the facts of the cases in question and our intuitions about them. The proposal is attractive because of its similarity to medical decision-making, but it fails because it allows for no higher order standard of reference against which conflicting ethical intuitions may be judged.
Hierarchical Design of Phononic Materials and Structures

Within periodically heterogeneous materials and structures, wave scattering and dispersion occur across constituent material interfaces leading to a banded frequency response. A novel multiscale dispersive design methodology is presented by which periodic unit cells are designed for desired frequency band structures, and are used as building blocks for forming fully or partially periodic structures, typically at larger length scales. Structures resulting from this hierarchical design approach are tailored to desired dynamical characteristics without the necessity for altering the overall geometric shape of the structure nor employing dissipative damping materials. Case studies are presented for shock isolation and frequency sensing.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
On the improved correlative prediction scheme for aliased electrocardiogram (ECG) data compression

An improved scheme for aliased electrocardiogram (ECG) data compression has been constructed, where the predictor exploits the correlative characteristics of adjacent QRS waveforms. The twin-R correlation prediction and lifting wavelet transform (LWT) for periodical ECG waves exhibits feasibility and high efficiency to achieve lower distortion rates with realizable compression ratio (CR); grey predictions via GM(1, 1) model have been adopted to evaluate the parametric performance for ECG data compression. Simulation results illuminate the validity of our approach.
Theory of collision-induced translation-rotation spectra: H2-He

An adiabatic quantal theory of spectral line shapes in collision-induced absorption and emission is presented which incorporates the induced translation-rotation and translation-vibration spectra. The generalization to account for the anisotropy of the scattering potential is given. Calculations are carried out of the collision-induced absorption spectra of He in collisions with H2 with ab initio electric dipole functions and realistic potentials. The anisotropy of the interaction potential is small and is not included in the calculations. The predicted spectra are in satisfactory agreement with experimental data though some deviations occur which may be significant. The rotational line shapes have exponential wings and are not Lorentzian. The connection between the quantal and classical theories is written out explicitly for the isotropic overlap induction.
Axonal Transport: CDKs as Traffic Signals for Motor-ists along the Axon?

A screen for axonal cargo mislocalization in Caenorhabditis elegans neurons implicates the cyclin-dependent kinases CDK-5 and PCT-1 and the cyclin CCY-1 in the regulation of the microtubule motor cytoplasmic dynein.
Special educators' perceptions of stutterers

Abstract A questionnaire asking respondents to list adjectives describing four hypothetical stutterers (a typical female child, male child, female adult, and male adult stutterer) was completed by 82 special educators in six states. The majority of reported adjectives were negative stereotypical personality traits, indicating descriptions of stutterers similar to other groups, including teachers and speech-language pathologists. Implications of these findings and suggestions for pre-service and continuing education programs for special educators are discussed.
Interfacial synthesis and widely controllable conductivity of polythiophene microparticles.

Fine polythiophene (PTh) microparticles were successfully synthesized by a novel interfacial polymerization at a dynamic interface between two immiscible solvents, i.e., n-hexane and acetonitrile or nitromethane containing thiophene and oxidant, respectively. The polymerization yield, size, and electrical conductivity of the microparticles are optimized by facilely regulating the medium species, oxidant species, oxidant/monomer ratio, monomer concentration, and polymerization temperature. The microparticles were thoroughly characterized by IR, UV−vis spectroscopy, wide-angle X-ray diffractometry, laser particle-size analyzer, and simultaneous TG-DSC technique. The yield rises with increasing oxidant/monomer ratio, monomer concentration, and polymerization temperature. However, low monomer concentration, low polymerization temperature, and modest oxidant/monomer ratio are all favorable for the formation of the PTh with good, large π-conjugation and high conductivity. With decreasing the thiophene concentra...
Adsorption, thermal reaction, and desorption of disilane on Ge(111)- c (2×8)

Room-temperature adsorption of disilane (${\mathrm{Si}}_{2}$${\mathrm{H}}_{6}$) on Ge(111)-c(2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}8) and subsequent thermal reactions and desorption at elevated temperatures were studied using scanning tunneling microscopy and core-level photoemission. The initial adsorption results in the formation of various surface radicals, and the reacted areas on the surface grow laterally for increasing exposures. The sticking coefficient is rather low, and an exposure greater than about 30 000 langmuirs is needed to saturate the surface. The net amount of Si deposited for the saturated surface is about one-half of an atomic layer. Thermal annealing causes the hydrogen atoms to desorb and the Si atoms to move below the surface. For annealing temperatures beyond about 630 K, the desorption of hydrogen becomes complete, all of the Si atoms move below the surface, and the resulting surface resembles the starting clean Ge(111)-c(2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}8) surface except that the c(2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}8) long-range order is partially destroyed. Step flow and island coarsening, similar to growth by molecular-beam epitaxy, are observed.
Radiative transfer and the scattering problem

Abstract Modification of the radiative transfer in a medium with absorption and emission by different types of scattering is outlined. The physical processes due to scattering change quite considerably the radiative transfer in such case to an extent that the scattering has to be taken into consideration, when a realistic solution is desired. When scattering processes are included, considerable complications appear in the mathematics of radiative transfer. The fundamental methods of mathematical solution of these problems are briefly described and the remaining problems to be solved are enumerated.
Computation of Partial Zeta Values ats=0 over a Totally Real Cubic Field

Abstract In theory the problem of computing the special values of partial zeta functions of a totally real field was solved by Shintani. In practice it rarely works as the fundamental domain of the action of the relevant unit group is too cumbersome to apply in a computational setting. The object of this article is to give a computationally efficient version of Shintani's approach in the cubic case. The basic idea is to take the convex closure of the lattice points, in the first octant, and use the boundary points, of this convex set, to construct a more amenable fundamental domain. Thus the basic thrust is to arrive at an algorithm to find points on this boundary. For us the case of interest is when s =0. In this case we find a cubic analogue of the CF-formula for real quadratic number fields.
A hospitalist inpatient system does not improve patient care outcomes.

First, hospitalist “systems” vary greatly among hospitals. We cannot evaluate hospitalist systems generically because of their great variation. Second, we must look at all outcomes. We cannot focus just on hospital outcomes; we must include long-term outcomes. The hospitalist model might have positive or negative effects on trust and satisfaction. Third, we must consider the relative importance of physician factors and system factors. We must include continuity factors—both in the hospital and across settings. The first explicit discussion of the job description hospitalist came in the classic article by Wachter and Goldman published in the New England Journal of Medicine, “The Emerging Role of ‘Hospitalists’ in the American Health Care System.” They simply defined a hospitalist as a specialist in inpatient medicine. Over the past 10 years, we have seen a rapid increase in selfidentified hospitalists. They work in various models. Some hospitalists participate in groups that provide coverage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (24/7). Others work only during the day or evening. Some in academic medical centers function as ward attending physicians. Other academic hospitalists provide direct care without house staff assistance. Some groups include midlevel providers; others do not. Some groups care only for classic internal medicine or pediatric patients; others focus on comanagement of surgical patients. Many hospitalists (and their groups) care for a full spectrum of inpatients. I can find no articles that enumerate these various models. This lack of uniformity in the definition of a hospitalist system represents our first challenge. Thus, our first challenge in assessing the proposition is in understanding which patients and which physicians the proposition assumes. Are we talking about adult medicine, or pediatrics, or surgical patients? Are we talking about a 24/7 hospitalist program or a daytime hospitalist? Are we considering a community setting or an academic setting? Now, these considerations are not just debating points. In order for us to consider hospitalists, we must specify the context. Are hospitalists different from traditional general internists who cared for patients regardless of setting? When general internists care for their hospitalized patients, why are they not hospitalists? Perhaps we should define hospitalists by counting the number of hospitalized patients they treat each year. Or should we define them because they do not perform any outpatient work? As I review the literature on hospitalists, these issues are rarely emphasized. The problem exists in both community hospitals and academic medical center hospitals. In academic centers, should we count the number of teaching months, or should we restrict the hospitalist designation to those who also care for patients without house staff assistance? These definitions make reading studies on hospitalists most difficult.
Interactions with WNK (With No Lysine) Family Members Regulate Oxidative Stress Response 1 and Ion Co-transporter Activity

Two of the four WNK (with no lysine (K)) protein kinases are associated with a heritable form of ion imbalance culminating in hypertension. WNK1 affects ion transport in part through activation of the closely related Ste20 family protein kinases oxidative stress-responsive 1 (OSR1) and STE20/SPS1-related proline-, alanine-rich kinase (SPAK). Once activated by WNK1, OSR1 and SPAK phosphorylate and stimulate the sodium, potassium, two chloride co-transporters, NKCC1 and NKCC2, and also affect other related ion co-transporters. We find that WNK1 and OSR1 co-localize on cytoplasmic puncta in HeLa and other cell types. We show that the C-terminal region of WNK1 including a coiled coil is sufficient to localize the fragment in a manner similar to the full-length protein, but some other fragments lacking this region are mislocalized. Photobleaching experiments indicate that both hypertonic and hypotonic conditions reduce the mobility of GFP-WNK1 in cells. The four WNK family members can phosphorylate the activation loop of OSR1 to increase its activity with similar kinetic constants. C-terminal fragments of WNK1 that contain three RFXV interaction motifs can bind OSR1, block activation of OSR1 by sorbitol, and prevent the OSR1-induced enhancement of ion co-transporter activity in cells, further supporting the conclusion that association with WNK1 is required for OSR1 activation and function at least in some contexts. C-terminal WNK1 fragments can be phosphorylated by OSR1, suggesting that OSR1 catalyzes feedback phosphorylation of WNK1.
The effect of diphtheria toxin on carnitine metabolism in the heart

Abstract 1. 1. In cardiac homogenates from guinea-pigs given diphtheria toxin, a decreased rate of palmitylcarnitine synthesis and of palmitic acid oxidation is associated with a depletion of myocardial carnitine. The addition of carnitine to the homogenates restores the rates of both palmitylcarnitine synthesis and palmitate oxidation. 2. 2. In view of the role of carnitine in the transport of long-chain fatty acids from extra- to intramitochondrial sites, it is postulated that carnitine depletion in the myocardium effected by diphtheria toxin results in a depressed rate of long-chain fatty acid oxidation by impairing the rate of translocation of the long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria.
Nanometer resolution tracking and modeling of bidirectional axonal cargo transport

Survival and function of neurons depend critically on bidirectional transport of essential cargoes within their axons. To study related molecular mechanisms, we developed an automated single particle tracking method that combines nanometer resolution detection of cargo positions with kymograph-based multiple hypothesis tracking of cargo motion for precise and complete recovery of cargo trajectories. Experiments confirmed that the method can precisely track vesicles in dense axonal traffic of Drosophila motor neurons at 10∼20 nm resolution and reliably resolve their trajectories in events of crossing, merging, and splitting. Recovered cargo trajectories were statistically analyzed to identify motion patterns and computationally represented using hidden Markov models to characterize behavior changes. Together, these tools allowed us to reliably detect and measure subtle changes in dynamics of axonal transport and to discover previously unknown axonal transport properties.
Health care reform and the new economy.

ABSTRACT: The objectives and assumptions of health care reform have changed repeatedly during the past century and may now be entering a new historical phase as a result of the “new economy” rooted in information technology. In a high-growth context, proponents of reform may no longer feel obliged to bundle expanded coverage with tighter cost containment. At the same time, the new digital environment may facilitate innovations intended to inform and expand consumer choice and to improve quality. The new environment elevates “transparency” to a guiding principle. Health informatics has long been peripheral to reform and must now become more central.
The US Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002: What audit committees of non-US issuers need to know

The US Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002 (‘the Act’) introduced sweeping changes in the regulation of issuers of public securities in the USA, including non-US issuers. Audit committees are a key area of corporate governance addressed by the Act, and the authors summarise how the Act applies to audit committees of non-US issuers. First, the Act imposes certain requirements directly on audit committees, relating to areas such as independence and substantive duties. Secondly, it indirectly sets standards for audit committees, for example, through regulation of auditors. Finally, the Act introduces a far-reaching concept, internal control over financial reporting. Audit committee members need to understand the internal control rules in detail, because of the critical importance of internal control to an issuer's financial reporting. The authors conclude that the full weight of the Act will only be felt when the Act's ‘internal control’ provisions come into effect in 2005.
Plasma electron observations in the wake of Venus

Two plasma regimes were observed in the Venus wake, one characterized by negative-going anisotropies accompanied by high bulk speeds and low magnetic variance, and the other characterized by positive-going anisotropies accompanied by low bulk speeds and high magnetic variance. The two modes alternate in time in a stochastic bimodal fashion as interplanetary magnetic field discontinuities propagate past Venus and switch on the positive anisotropies. The positive mode probably represents enhanced planetary ion pickup which results in instabilities, the damping of which energizes the electrons in the distant wake.
Post-capillary affinity detection of protein microheterogeneity in capillary zone electrophoresis

Post-capillary affinity detection is developed to selectively evaluate protein microheterogeneity in complex sample matrices. In this scheme, separation of protein variants is accomplished prior to affinity detection. A post-capillary reactor is constructed to allow the transfer of separated variants as well as the addition of a fluorescein-labeled analyte-binding protein into the reaction capillary. Affinity complexes are formed within the reaction capillary and monitored by laser-induced fluorescence detection. Fluorescence enhancement, upon affinity complex formation, allows selective detection of protein variants. Successful resolution of IgG Fc variants is presented and compared with affinity capillary electrophoresis techniques reported in the literature. Additionally, the effects of analyte transfer and affinity complex formation on the resolution and detection limits of IgG Fc variants are discussed.
ZEKE-PFI spectroscopy of the Al–(H2O) and Al–(D2O) complexes

Abstract The weakly bound complexes Al–(H 2 O) and Al–(D 2 O) are prepared with pulsed laser vaporization and studied with single-photon ZEKE-PFI spectroscopy. The spectra consist of progressions in the Al–water stretch in the ground state of the corresponding cations (Al–H 2 O: ω e + =327.5 cm −1 ). The origin energy, Al atom ionization potential and the known Al + –(H 2 O) bond energy produce a neutral Al–(H 2 O) bond energy of D 0 =1440 cm −1 . Partially resolved rotational structure suggests that the cation complexes have C 2v structures, while the neutrals are non-planar. The neutral structure and energetics are consistent with a metal–water coordinate covalent bond, which has been predicted by theory.