cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gender, Shame, and the ‘Efficacy of Congress Methods of Struggle’ in 1959 Natal Women’s Rural Revolts

AbstractIn early September 1959, over 1000 delegates – almost half of them from rural Natal – packed the Bantu Social Centre in Durban for a Natal People’s Conference. A banner stretched across the...
Reversed Signaling Flow of a Bacterial Pseudokinase

Abstract Bacteria respond to environmental and cellular cues both through isolated signaling events between one sensor histidine kinase and its response regulator, and through more interconnected arrays. Caulobacter crescentus achieves asymmetric division through a network of histidine kinases, and here we interrogate a novel DivL pseudokinase reverse signaling mechanism that enables productive cross-talk across the network. A leucine zipper fusion method was used to synthetically stimulate reverse signaling between the sensor and kinase domains and directly test if reverse signaling could modulate the signaling network in vivo. Stimulation of sensor-kinase helix conformational changes resulted in changes in C. crescentus motility and DivL accumulation at the cell poles. The repurposed roles of the sensor domain in these processes were evaluated. We demonstrate that a domain of unknown function that binds to two scaffolding proteins, and two conserved signaling domains are employed as modulators of an active kinase. We propose that reversed signaling may be widely used across signaling enzymes.
Principled Mentoring: The Impact on Underrepresented Scholars Within America’s Colleges of Education

The times in which we are born, raised, and nurtured define who we are…and who we will become. Those times are sometimes tranquil and peaceful, sometimes trying and turbulent. It is also during these times that we develop the “selves” that make up our identity, both individual and professional, and the core values that drive our actions, identity, and integrity. Exploring the notions of identity and integrity required a deep understanding of who we are as individuals.This narrative will describe those critical moments in my life that shaped my views of mentoring and defined my work as both teacher and mentor. Reflections of this journey were guided by Parker Palmer’s (1998) work: The Courage to Teach: Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher’s Life, which spoke to the very depths of my soul and helped me to explore those parts of my identity that drive my work in the Academy.
Polycystins as components of large multiprotein complexes of polycystin interactors.

Abstract Naturally occurring mutations in two separate genes, PKD1 and PKD2, are responsible for the vast majority of all cases of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), one of the most common genetic diseases affecting 1 in 1000 Americans. The hallmark of ADPKD is the development of epithelial cysts in the kidney, liver, and pancreas. PKD1 encodes a large plasma membrane protein (PKD1, PC1, or Polycystin-1) with a long extracellular domain and has been speculated to function as an atypical G protein coupled receptor. PKD2 encodes an ion channel of the Transient Receptor Potential superfamily (TRPP2, PKD2, PC2, or Polycystin-2). Despite the identification of these genes more than 20 years ago, the molecular function of their encoded proteins and the mechanism(s) by which mutations in PKD1 and PKD2 cause ADPKD remain elusive. Genetic, biochemical, and functional evidence suggests they form a multiprotein complex present in multiple locations in the cell, including the plasma membrane, endoplasmic reticulum, and the primary cilium. Over the years, numerous interacting proteins have been identified using directed and unbiased approaches, and shown to modulate function, cellular localization, and protein stability and turnover of Polycystins. Delineation of the molecular composition of the Polycystin complex can have a significant impact on understanding their cellular function in health and disease states and on the identification of more specific and effective therapeutic targets.
Current trends in the management of acute type A aortic intramural hematoma

Within the spectrum of acute aortic syndromes, intramural hematoma (IMH) is a distinct lesion that is characterized by crescentic or circumferential thickening of the aortic wall in the absence of an intimal defect. The reported incidence of IMH among all type A acute aortic syndromes ranges from 3.5% to 28.3%. As compared with acute aortic dissection, IMH is a disease of the elderly, and it tends to have reduced rates of malperfusion syndromes, aortic insufficiency, and root dilation, yet also tends to have increased rates of pericardial effusion, cardiac tamponade, and periaortic hematoma. With respect to natural history, IMH may progress to classic dissection, frank rupture, or aneurysmal dilation; yet, IMH may also regress and be completely resorbed. However, studies disagree over the rates of progression or regression; as such, few studies agree on the short-term and long-term prognosis associated with IMH. American and European guidelines advocate emergent surgery for all acutely presenting type A IMH. At a minimum, supracoronary replacement of the aorta with hemiarch reconstruction is the preferred extent of operative repair to reduce rates of long-term reintervention for disease progression. However, valve and/or root procedures may be necessary proximally, while total arch reconstruction or hybrid procedures for the descending aorta may be necessary distally. Much remains unknown for IMH, including the ideal extent of aortic repair, risk-stratification for elderly patients, and the optimal treatment paradigm for stable, uncomplicated IMH. As such, IMH remains a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for the cardiovascular surgeon.
A pooled genome-wide association study identifies pancreatic cancer susceptibility loci on chromosome 19p12 and 19p13.3 in the full-Jewish population.

Jews are estimated to be at increased risk of pancreatic cancer compared to non-Jews, but their observed 50–80% excess risk is not explained by known non-genetic or genetic risk factors. We conducted a GWAS in a case–control sample of American Jews, largely Ashkenazi, including 406 pancreatic cancer patients and 2332 controls, identified in the dbGaP, PanScan I/II, PanC4 and GERA data sets. We then examined resulting SNPs with P < 10–7 in an expanded sample set, of 539 full- or part-Jewish pancreatic cancer patients and 4117 full- or part-Jewish controls from the same data sets. Jewish ancestries were genetically determined using seeded FastPCA. Among the full Jews, a novel genome-wide significant association was detected on chromosome 19p12 (rs66562280, per-allele OR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.33–1.81, P = 10–7.6). A suggestive relatively independent association was detected on chromosome 19p13.3 (rs2656937, OR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.31–1.78, P = 10–7.0). Similar associations were seen for these SNPs among the full and part Jews combined. This is the first GWAS conducted for pancreatic cancer in the increased-risk Jewish population. The SNPs rs66562280 and rs2656937 are located in introns of ZNF100-like and ARRDC5, respectively, and are known to alter regulatory motifs of genes that play integral roles in pancreatic carcinogenesis.
Leveraging Social Media for Cardio-Oncology

As the world becomes more connected through online and offline social networking, there has been much discussion of how the rapid rise of social media could be used in ways that can be productive and instructive in various healthcare specialties, such as Cardiology and its subspecialty areas. In this review, the role of social media in the field of Cardio-Oncology is discussed. With an estimated 17 million cancer survivors in the USA in 2019 and 22 million estimated by 2030, more education and awareness are needed. Networking and collaboration are also needed to meet the needs of our patients and healthcare professionals in this emerging field bridging two disciplines. Cardiovascular disease is second only to recurrence of the primary cancer or diagnosis with a secondary malignancy, as a leading cause of death in cancer survivors. A majority of these survivors are anticipated to be on social media seeking information, support, and ideas for optimizing health. Healthcare professionals in Cardio-Oncology are also online for networking, education, scholarship, career development, and advocacy in this field. Here, we describe the utilization and potential impact of social media in Cardio-Oncology, with inclusion of various hashtags frequently used in the Cardio-Oncology Twitter community.
The Impact of Tonsillectomy on the Adult Singing Voice: Acoustic and Aerodynamic Measures.

Summary Objective Singers undergoing tonsillectomy are understandably concerned about possible sequelae to their voice. The surgical risks of laryngeal damage from intubation and upper airway scarring are valid reasons for singers to carefully consider their options for treatment of tonsil-related symptoms. No prior studies have statistically assessed objective voice outcomes in a group of adult singers undergoing tonsillectomy. This study determined the impact of tonsillectomy on the adult singing voice by determining if there were statistically significant changes in preoperative versus postoperative acoustic, aerodynamic, and Voice-Related Quality of Life (VRQOL) measures. Study Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Tertiary Referral Academic Hospital Subjects Thirty singers undergoing tonsillectomy from 2012 to 2019. Methods Acoustic recordings were obtained with Computerized Speech Lab (CSL) (Pentax CSL 4500) and analyzed with the Multidimensional Voice Program (MDVP) (Pentax MDVP) and Pratt Acoustic Analysis Software. Estimates of aerodynamic vocal efficiency were obtained and analyzed using the Phonatory Aerodynamic System (Pentax PAS 6600). Preoperative VRQOL scores were recorded, and singers were instructed to refrain from singing for 3 weeks following tonsillectomy. Repeat acoustic and aerodynamic measures as well as VRQOL scores were obtained at the first postoperative visit. Results Average postoperative acoustic (jitter, shimmer, HNR) and aerodynamic (sound pressure level divided by subglottal pressure) parameters related to laryngeal phonatory function did not differ significantly from preoperative measures. The only statistically significant change in postoperative measures of resonance was a decrease in the 3rd formant (F3) for the /a/ vowel. Average postoperative VRQOL scores (79.8, SD18.7) improved significantly from preoperative VRQOL scores (89, SD12.2) (P = 0.007). Conclusions Tonsillectomy does not appear to alter laryngeal voice production in adult singers as measured by standard acoustic and aerodynamic parameters. The observed decrease in F3 for the /a/ vowel is hypothetically related to increasing the pharyngeal cross-sectional area by removing tonsillar tissue, but this would not be expected to appreciably impact the perceptual characteristics of the vowel. Singers’ self-assessment (VRQOL) improved after tonsillectomy.
Speech-Language Pathologists as Expert and Fact Witnesses in Special Education Disputes and Civil Litigation Cases: A Tutorial

Purpose Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are not likely to enter practice in school systems with anticipation of special education disputes, or civil and criminal cases that could involve them e...
Seeking Alpha from Dividend Announcements: Big-Data Insights from Joining CAR and EVA Style Analysis

The authors conduct a big-data analysis to assess the pricing impact of dividend announcements. They join the traditional cumulative abnormal return (CAR) approach to estimating abnormal returns with economic value added (EVA) style analysis. The empirical results are significant for a sample of 172,481 dividend announcements during the 23 years from 1997–2019. For active investors, alpha-generating trading returns may be available by longing the stocks of dividend-increasing companies and shorting the stocks of dividend-deceasing companies. A notable finding linked to EVA style analysis is that alpha returns on dividend-increasing companies were available on the stocks of value-creating growth companies, the stocks of underinvesting companies, and especially the stocks of “wise contraction or cyclical restructuring” companies in need of a turnaround growth signal. Alpha returns on dividend-decreasing companies were available on the stocks of value-destroying growth companies and the “wise restructuring” companies. The authors also find significant dividend announcement CARs and potential alpha-generating trading opportunities across 10 S&P-classified sectors. TOPICS:Security analysis and valuation, quantitative methods, big data/machine learning, performance measurement Key Findings ▪ The authors conduct a big-data analysis of 172,481 dividend announcements on stock returns in the 1997–2019 period. Their CAR findings on dividend-increasing and dividend-decreasing companies confirm both information signaling at time of announcement and the potential for generating alpha-generating trading returns (long–short) during the immediate days thereafter. ▪ Based on EVA style classifications, they find that alpha returns on dividend-increasing companies were available on the stocks of value-creating growth companies, the stocks of underinvesting companies with positive EVA (ROIC > WACC), and especially, the stocks of “wise restructuring” companies in need of a turnaround growth signal. Alpha returns on dividend-decreasing companies were potentially available by shorting the stocks of value-destroying growth companies and the “wise restructuring” companies. ▪ They also find significant dividend announcement CARs, along with potential alpha-generating trading opportunities, across 10 S&P-classified sectors.
Persistent racial and ethnic disparities as a potential source of epilepsy surgery underutilization: Analysis of large national datasets from 2006-2016.

Abstract Objective High volume surgical epilepsy centers have reported a decrease in surgical resections and an increase in intracranial monitoring. Despite this increase in complexity, epilepsy surgery remains significantly underutilized. The goal of this study is to examine the utilization of and access to epilepsy surgery in the United States from 2006 to 2016. Methods We used administrative datasets from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) and Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to report national estimates of epilepsy surgery and changes in surgery types. We also examined disparities and barriers in access to epilepsy surgery. Results Inpatient epilepsy admissions increased from 2.41 to 5.78 per 100,000 between 2006 and 2016, while surgical epilepsy admissions plateaued after 2011. Open resections comprised 75 % of all surgical cases from 2006 to 2011 then decreased each year to 50 % in 2016 with both temporal and extratemporal resections decreasing proportionally. Intracranial monitoring increased in the last two years of the study due to an increase in SEEG/depth electrode cases. The multivariate analysis showed that patients with Medicaid (OR 0.75, 95 % CI 0.67−0.83) and Medicare (OR 0.62, 95 % CI 0.54−0.70) were significantly less likely to undergo epilepsy surgery compared to those with private insurance. Black patients were less likely to undergo epilepsy surgery than White or Hispanic patients (OR 0.57, 95 % CI 0.49−0.67). No significant difference was found in epilepsy surgery rates after implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2014. Conclusion This study identifies recent trends in epilepsy surgical approaches and suggests that improving access to care does not necessarily address disparities present in the treatment of epilepsy patients who need surgical care.
How much prestin motor activity is required for normal hearing

Prestin (SLC26A5) is a membrane-based voltage-dependent motor protein responsible for outer hair cell (OHC) somatic electromotility. Its importance for mammalian cochlear amplification has been demonstrated using mouse models lacking prestin (prestin-KO) and expressing dysfunctional prestin, prestinV499G/Y501H (499-prestin-KI). However, it is still not elucidated how prestin contributes to the mechanical amplification process in the cochlea. In this study, we characterized several prestin mouse models in which prestin activity in OHCs was variously manipulated. We found that near-normal cochlear function can be maintained even when prestin activity is significantly reduced, suggesting that the relationship between OHC electromotility and the peripheral sensitivity to sound may not be linear. This result is counterintuitive given the large threshold shifts in prestin-KO and 499-prestin-KI mice, as reported in previous studies. To reconcile these apparently opposing observations, we entertain a voltage- and turgor pressure-based cochlear amplification mechanism that requires prestin but is insensitive to significant reductions in prestin protein expression. This article is part of the Special Issue Outer hair cell Edited by Joseph Santos-Sacchi and Kumar Navaratnam.
Petroleum, Origin of

Accumulation of oil and gas in natural reservoirs begins with sediments incorporating organic matter as these are deposited. Upon increasing depth of burial, rising temperature converts the complex insoluble organic material called kerogen into a lower molecular weight, solvent-extractable material called bitumen. This reaction is essentially first-order. Generation of bitumen occurs at lower temperatures in older rocks. Part of the bitumen may migrate and accumulate in reservoirs as a commercial accumulation of petroleum. This migration process is not fully understood. Bitumen is probably expelled from the source rock as a separate petroleum phase. The type of organic matter in the source rock exercises initial control on whether oil or gas is generated, but considerable modification of petroleum composition can occur after it accumulates in the reservoir. Rising temperature owing to increasing burial depth, water flowing past an oil reservoir, and bacteria can all play a role. Thus the origin of petroleum involves generation in source rocks, migration to a reservoir, and the possibility of further modification of composition after accumulation. Keywords: Origin; Petroleum; Crude oil; Bacteria; Composition; Biomarkers
Civilization, Concept and History of

This article is reproduced from the previous edition, volume 3, pp. 1903–1909, © 2001, Elsevier Ltd, with revisions made by the Editor.
5′- and 3′-noncoding regions in flavivirus RNA.

Publisher Summary The flavivirus genome is a capped, positive-sense RNA approximately 10.5 kb in length. It contains a single long open reading frame (ORF), flanked by a 5´ noncoding regions (NCR), which is about 100 nucleotides in length, and a 3´ NCR ranging in size from about 400 to 800 nucleotides in length. The conserved structural and nucleotide sequence elements of these NCRs and their function in RNA replication and translation are the subjects of this chapter. The 5´ and 3´ NCRs play a role in the initiation of negative-strand synthesis on virus RNA released from entering virions, switching from negative-strand synthesis to synthesis of progeny plus strand RNA at late times after infection, and possibly in the initiation of translation and in the packaging of virus plus strand RNA into particles. The presence of conserved and nonconserved complementary nucleotide sequences near the 5´ and 3´ termini of flavivirus genomes suggests that ‘‘panhandle’’ or circular RNA structures are formed transiently by hydrogen bonding at some stage during RNA replication.
New time-frequency distributions: theory and applications

A new conceptualization of time-frequency (t-f) energy distributions is discussed. Many new t-f distributions with desirable properties can now be designed with relative ease by approaching the problem in terms of the ambiguity plane representation of the kernel. Careful attention to the design principles yields kernels, which yield high-resolution t-f distributions with a considerable reduction of the sometimes troublesome cross terms observed when using other distributions such as the Wigner distribution. When these new t-f distributions are applied to some common signals, fascinating new details emerge. Examples are provided for speech, cortical evoked potentials, and electromyograms. >
EXPERIMENTAL SYPHILIS IN THE RABBIT II. PRIMARY INFECTION IN THE SCROTUM. PART 2. SCROTAL LESIONS AND THE CHARACTER OF THE SCROTAL INFECTION.

From a study of the reaction to scrotal inoculation with Treponema pallidum in alarge series of rabbits, it was found that the specific reaction presented the following characteristics. In general, the reaction in the scrotum became apparent within 7 to 14 days after inoculation but was subject to considerable variation. The early reaction took the form of an edematous swelling and congestion associated with a new growth of vessels or of an infiltration with more or less proliferation of fixed tissue cells. These reactions were either confined to a small circumscribed area of the scrotum or were of a diffusely spreading character, and as the infection advanced, the infiltration and proliferation together with such secondary changes as exfoliation, necrosis, and ulceration became the most conspicuous features of the reaction. The course of the reaction in the scrotum was essentially the same as that in the testicle; that is, it was periodic in character and was marked by a phase of active progression followed by quiescence or regression and renewed activity. The scrotal reaction resembled that in the testicle also in the varying character of the reaction, appearing at times as a circumscribed focus of reaction and later becoming diffuse, or first as a diffuse reaction which subsequently became more localized. The lesions produced in consequence of this reaction were of two general types —one a circumscribed indurated granulomatous lesion closely resembling the human chancre, the other a diffuse infiltration more analogous to the secondary skin lesions of man. Both groups of lesions presented the greatest degree of individual variations and possessed no fixed status but were subject to frequent and marked transformations. After a period of from a few weeks to many months, the lesions in the scrotum disappeared spontaneously.
Towards working with small atomic functions

Shannon's notion of entropy remains a benchmark reference for understanding information and data content of cryptosystems. Ideally, secure ciphers maintain high entropy between possible plaintextciphertext pairs. The one time pad, though perfectly secure in terms of entropy, remains impractical in most general cases due to key management issues. We discuss in this paper the similar notion of function entropy and examine its use on a small scale to provide perfect functional secrecy. We illustrate how such small units of composition can form the basis for obfuscating software transformations in a general, but highly constrained sense.
IMPALA/RPS‐BLAST/PSI‐BLAST in protein sequence analysis

Pairwise sequence comparison works well if the sequence similarity is high; as the similarity decreases, alignment scores become less and less reliable. Profile-based approaches allow to extend the analysis into the “twilight zone”. Several NCBI tools – PSI-BLAST, IMPALA, and RPS-BLAST – can be used to iteratively build position-specific scoring matrices and use them in direct (query profile against a sequence database) and reverse (query sequence against a profile database) similarity searches. Keywords: PSI-BLAST; IMPALA; RPS-BLAST; sequence similarity search; profile search; profile library
Postural Tachycardia Syndrome in Children and Adolescents

Postural tachycardia syndrome is a chronic condition with frequent symptoms of orthostatic intolerance or sympathetic activation and excessive tachycardia while standing, without significant hypotension. Orthostatic symptoms include dizziness, lightheadedness, blurring of vision, near faints, weakness in legs, poor concentration, nausea, and headaches. Somatic symptoms include fatigue, sleep disorder, widespread pain, abdominal pain, and menstrual irregularities. Psychological problems may overlap with physical complaints. This review discusses the normal physiology of orthostatic change, different pathophysiological mechanisms of postural tachycardia syndrome, including hypovolemia, venous pooling, autonomic neuropathy, and hyperadrenergic responses. In addition, an outline for management tailored to the patient's clinical syndrome is presented, along with concluding thoughts on future research needs.
Negotiating in a Complex World

Drawing on the literatures on negotiation and conflict resolution as well as research on international diplomacy, the author proposes a framework for understanding complexity in real-world negotiations. Rejecting models of the process that are simplistic, sterile, or static, he argues that complexity is inherent in negotiation. In ten propositions, he lays out key dimensions of complexity and ways that skilled negotiators can manage it. The propositions focus attention on the ways negotiators create and claim value, shape perceptions and learn, work within structure and shape the structure, negotiate and mediate, link and de-link negotiations, create momentum and engineer impasses, and work outside and inside. The author also highlights the importance of organizational learning in negotiation, noting that most negotiators manage multiple negotiations in parallel, and most organizations have many negotiators doing similar things.
TRH Immunoreactivity in Human Urine: Evidence for Dissociation from TRH

Affinity chromatography columns containing rabbit antiserum to thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) were prepared and used to concentrate and investigate human urinary TRH imrnunoreactivity (TRH-IR). The recovery of synthetic TRH, [3H]TRH, and [125I]TRH when added to 20 to 25 ml of urine was 33 ± 9% (mean ± SE), 35 ± 8%, and 36 ± 6%, respectively. Twenty-fivefold urine concentrates (UC) contained only 0.05% of the least amount of urea which would affect the TRH radioimmunoassay (RIA). RIA of the UC containing only endogenous TRH-IR indicated a value of 177 ± 35 pg/ml which corresponded to a calculated concentration inthe original urine of 35 ± 10 pg/ml, based on synthetic and labeled TRH recovery. Destruction of the endogenous TRH-IR of UC by incubation with human serum was similar (mean= 75% loss) to that of synthetic TRH (mean = 73% loss). Measurement of TRH-IR in UC utilizing two different anti-TRH sera resulted in significantly (P< 001) different values despite the fact that the two antisera measured t...
Charcoal analysis in marine sediments

A technique is described for measuring charcoal in small samples (5 mg) of marine sediments to quantify the contribution of charcoal to the total organic carbon loading of marine sediments. Charcoal is measured as elemental carbon by gas chromatography after acidification with hot concentrated nitric acid in situ within aluminum sample cups to remove calcium carbonate and refractory carbon such as coal, pollen, and humic acids. The in situ acidification eliminates sample loss during sequential decarboxylation and oxidation and provides a precise (±2.29% of the measured value) and rapid (∼50 analyses per week per analyst) means to measure charcoal in marine sediments. The absolute detection limit of the charcoal determinations is 0.70 μg C (3 times mean blank value) and the relative detection limit is 0.01%.
Flash annealing of amorphous alloys

A new method to improve the magnetic properties of amorphous alloys by fast annealing is introduced. The zero-magnetostrictive Fe 4.7 Co 70.3 Si 15 B 10 amorphous alloy was flash-annealed by the resistive heating of short (of the order of a second) electric current pulse flowing through the sample. The heating/cooling rate was of the order of 104-105K/min. This enables the sample to be annealed at much higher temperatures (estimated 800°C) without causing crystallization, compared to the conventional annealing methods. The maximum permeability of a zeromagnetostrictive alloy obtained by this method is higher than those obtained by the conventional annealing, with the additional benefit of smaller disaccomodation effect.
Association between HLA phenotype and HLA concentration in plasma or platelets

To understand the relationship between HLA phenotype and plasma or platelet HLA better, concentrations of plasma and platelet HLA were measured in 215 individuals of known HLA phenotypes. Precise quantitation of HLA antigens was achieved by means of an enzyme-linked immunoassay using the W6/32 monoclonal antibody and purified HLA molecules. The mean plasma and platelet HLA concentrations were 2.04 ± 1.67 μg/ml (±SD, n = 215) and 11.28 ± 4.65 fg/cell (±SD, n = 213), respectively. Statistical analysis of associations between HLA phenotypes and plasma HLA revealed that the mean plasma HLA concentration of individuals with HLA-A23 or HLA-A24 was 1.4 (p < 0.002) or 1.9 (p < 0.001) times higher than those without these two HLA antigens. Furthermore, the mean plasma HLA concentration of individuals who have HLA-A26 was 25% less than those without HLA-A26 (p < 0.05). In contrast, the only association between HLA phenotypes and HLA concentrations of platelets was observed in HLA-B7-positive individuals. The mean platelet HLA concentration of HLA-B7 individuals was 27% higher than those without HLA-B7 (p < 0.005). This finding is in accordance with previous observations made on red blood cells. The results indicate that the HLA concentrations in plasma are regulated, at least in part, by genetic factors that are different from those regulating platelet HLA.
Motion pattern interpretation and detection for tracking moving vehicles in airborne video

Detection and tracking of moving vehicles in airborne videos is a challenging problem. Many approaches have been proposed to improve motion segmentation on frame-by-frame and pixel-by-pixel bases, however, little attention has been paid to analyze the long-term motion pattern, which is a distinctive property for moving vehicles in airborne videos. In this paper, we provide a straightforward geometric interpretation of a general motion pattern in 4D space (x, y, vx, vy). We propose to use the tensor voting computational framework to detect and segment such motion patterns in 4D space. Specifically, in airborne videos, we analyze the essential difference in motion patterns caused by parallax and independent moving objects, which leads to a practical method for segmenting motion patterns (flows) created by moving vehicles in stabilized airborne videos. The flows are used in turn to facilitate detection and tracking of each individual object in the flow. Conceptually, this approach is similar to “track-before-detect” techniques, which involves temporal information in the process as early as possible. As shown in the experiments, many difficult cases in airborne videos, such as parallax, noisy background modeling and long term occlusions, can be addressed by our approach.
Cord-factor analogs: Synthesis of 6,6′-di-O-mycoloyl- and -corynomycoloyl-(α-d-mannopyranosyl α-d-mannopyranoside)

Selective triflation of 4,6:4',6'-di-O-benzylidene-alpha,alpha-trehalose gave 4,6:4',6'-di-O-benzylidene-2,2'-di-O-triflyl-alpha,alpha-trehalose , the structure of which was confirmed by the 1H-n.m.r. spectrum of its 3,3'-di-O-acetyl derivative (4). Treatment of 4 with sodium nitrite in hexamethylphosphoric triamide, followed by benzylation, afforded 2,3,2',3'-tetra-O-benzyl-4,6:4',6'-di-O-benzylidene-(alpha-D-mannopyrano syl alpha-D-mannopyranoside (7). Removal of the two benzylidene groups from 7, and selective tosylation of the product, gave a mixture of the 6,6'-ditosylate (11) and the 6-monotosylate (12), which were separated by chromatography. Treatment of 11 with potassium corynomycolate or potassium mycolate afforded the corresponding 6,6'-diesters, 14 and 15, respectively. Treatment of the monotosylate 12 with potassium corynomycolate gave the 6-monoester 18. Catalytic hydrogenolysis of 14, 15, and 18 gave the respective cord-factor analogs.
Identification of proteins involved in the peptidyl transferase activity of ribosomes by chemical modification.

Photochemical oxidation of Escherichia coli 50 S ribosomal subunits in the presence of methylene blue or Rose Bengal causes rapid loss of peptidyl transferase activity. Reconstitution experiments using mixtures of components from modified and unmodified ribosomes reveal that both RNA and proteins are affected, and that among the proteins responsible for inactivation there are both LiCl-split and core proteins. The proteins L2 and L16 from the split fraction and L4 from the core fraction of unmodified ribosomes were together nearly as effective as total unmodified proteins in restoring peptidyl transferase activity to reconstituted ribosomes when added with proteins from modified ribosomes. These three proteins are therefore the most important targets identified as responsible for loss of peptidyl transferase activity on photo-oxidation of 50 S ribosomal subunits.
Narratives in Two Languages: Assessing Performance of Bilingual Children

Abstract Studies with monolingual children have demonstrated the significance of children’s narrative development for the acquisition of literacy skills. However, little is known about the narrative skills of Spanish-speaking children who are in the process of becoming bilingual. These children may exhibit various levels of competence in the first (L1) and second language (L2). For some of these children, their English narrative skills may not be sufficient to facilitate their literacy development. This study examined the narrative performance of 33 typically developing bilingual children in both (Spanish) L1 and English (L2), using story recall and story comprehension tasks. Most children exhibited greater narrative recall and story comprehension in English, and some children showed significantly poorer performance on the narrative recall than on a spontaneous narrative production task for one of the languages. The data underscored the notion of bilingualism as a continuum of proficiencies. Narrative assessment tasks in L1 and L2, which appear to be comparable, may not pose similar processing demands on a bilingual speaker.
Insulin-like growth factors and bone mineral density in African American and White girls.

Objectives: African American children have greater bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) than white children. We examined the hypothesis that differences in insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are important determinants of BMD during childhood. Methods: We measured IGFs and IGF binding proteins in 59 African American and 59 white girls matched for age, body mass index, socioeconomic status, and pubertal stage. BMD and BMC were determined by dual emission x-ray absorptiometry. Results: African American girls had greater total BMD (P <.001), BMC (P <.01), total IGF-1 (P <.001), and free IGF-1 (P <.01) than white girls. IGFBP-1, IGFBP-2, and IGFBP-3 were similar in both groups or lower in African Americans. IGF-1 was positively correlated with IGF-2 in white girls (P =.012) but was negatively correlated with IGF-2 in African Americans (P =.015). IGF-1 and free IGF-1 were positively correlated with BMD/BMC. Multiple regression analyses showed 80% of the variance in BMC could be accounted for by the use of body weight, height, and IGF-1 in the model. When IGF-1 was included as a factor, race did not add to the model’s predictive power. Conclusion: IGF-1 and free IGF-1 are greater in African American than in white girls and may contribute to the greater BMD of African Americans. (J Pediatr 2000;137:826-32)
High pressure vapor-liquid equilibria for argon + neopentane and methane + neopentane

Experimental vapor-liquid equilibrium measurements were made for argon + neopentane at 50 °C and for methane + neopentane at 25 °C. For both systems compositions and densities are given for the coexisting phases at pressures up to the critical.
A parametric investigation of electrical effects on aerosol scavenging by droplets over large fires

Abstract Our nucleation model of strong up-drafts over large fires (such as those ignited by nuclear blasts) show that many droplets in the size range of 1–10 μm are rapidly formed when the cloud becomes supersaturated. In this study we calculate aerosol/droplet collection kernels for electrical parameters commonly seen in cloud air. These kernels, which do not include Brownian diffusion, are used with aged droplet distributions to determine instantaneous scavenging rates of unwettable aerosols with cloud droplets. We find that within a portion of this parameter space the aerosol may be removed from the cloud air with time constants substantially below 1 h over the entire aerosol size range of 0.025–0.5 μm. For much of the parameter space, E-field enhanced attachment of charged aerosol is more rapid than that for Brownian diffusion. The aging of the droplet distribution incorporates the detailed microphysics of nucleation and condensation in a Lagrangian parcel with forced up-draft of 50 m s −1 . We assume an initial aerosol distribution that is lognormal about a median radius of 0.05 μm with a geometric standard deviation of 2. Initially there are 10 6 insoluble aerosol particles per cubic centimeter of air with one-half of them being wettable and the other half being non-wettable. We present our results as a set of curves showing collection kernels and instantaneous scavenging rates vs aerosol radius and electric field strengths. The collection kernel curves are parametrically displayed for droplets of radii 1, 3 and 10 μm and electrical parameters typical of cumulus and thunderstorm clouds. The instantaneous scavenging curve vs aerosol radius is displayed as a function of electrical parameters.
Progressive degeneration of dopamine neurons in 6-hydroxydopamine rat model of parkinson's disease does not involve activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3

6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), a neurotoxin that causes the death of dopamine (DA) neurons, is commonly used to produce experimental models of Parkinson's disease (PD) in rodents. In the rat model of PD first described by Sauer and Oertel, DA neurons progressively die over several weeks following a striatal injection of 6-OHDA. It is generally assumed that DA neurons die through apoptosis after exposure to 6-OHDA, but data supporting activation of a caspase enzymatic cascade are lacking. In this study, we sought to determine if caspases involved in the intrinsic apoptotic cascade play a role in the initial stages of 6-OHDA-induced death of DA neurons in the progressively lesioned rat model of PD. We found that injection of 6-OHDA into adult rat striatum did not activate caspase-9 or caspase-3 or increase levels of caspase-dependent cleavage products in the substantia nigra at various survival times up to 7 days after the lesion, even though this paradigm produced DA neuronal loss. These data suggest that in the adult rat brain DA neurons whose terminals are challenged with 6-OHDA do not die through a classical caspase-dependent apoptotic mechanism.
Incidence of Internal Defects in Shell Eggs

ABSTRACT IN CONNECTION with two large-scale shell egg breakout tests detailed observations were made on the incidence of internal defects. In view of the current emphasis on egg quality research it seemed possible that there might be considerable interest in the results obtained. Accordingly the data collected from examining 9,881 eggs are presented here. PROCEDURE These breakout tests were carried out in February and March, 1957. In both tests approximately fourteen cases of eggs were obtained from four large commercial egg producers (approximately 3½ cases each) in San Diego County. The eggs were selected as they were delivered to the grading station. The flocks from which the eggs were obtained were presumably White Leghorn (at least the chicks had been purchased as such), although tinted eggs were frequently noted in the samples taken for breakout. Egg weight class distributions (% extra large, large, medium and small) were in their normal pattern . . .
Assessment of Learning during Library Instruction: Practices, Prevalence, and Preparation.

Abstract Library instruction serves a critical function in the operation of the contemporary academic library environment. Librarians are asked to provide instruction and information literacy training using a range of tools and modes of delivery. The current literature presents an array of instruments used for assessing student learning and for delivering instruction. However, there is little consensus about best practices for assessment of both student learning and assessment of the instruction itself. In addition, a few studies have investigated how librarians are prepared for conducting assessment exercises. Therefore, this research presents the results of a nation‐wide survey of practices of assessment and preparation for assessment. The results provide a state‐of‐the-art description of the prevalence of instruction librarians, the types of assessments they conduct, and the methods by which they learn assessment skills and tools. Implications for instruction librarians, administrators, and educators are provided.
O1-03-08: Multiple mechanisms of neuroprotection by cystatin C: Inhibition of Aβ deposition, induction of autophagy, and induction of proliferation

with the FGF receptor required for the binding of FGF23 and maintenance of proper vitamin D signaling. Methods: We used microarray analysis, RT-PCR, Western blotting, siRNAs and enzymatic assays. Results: We performed a gene profile analysis comparing young and old rhesus monkey brains and found Klotho mRNA to be decreased with normal aging. Next, we showed that the Klotho protein decreases with age in rhesus monkey, mouse and rat brain. Klotho is a type I transmembrane protein, and because of its abundance in serum and CSF, we searched for sheddases responsible for its release. We identified ADAM10 and 17 as the Klotho secretases and discovered that insulin activates Klotho secretion. Because of Klotho’s reported antioxidant effects, we measured its levels in the brain tissue of several AD mouse models where markers of oxidation are commonly found. Our results indicate that Klotho expression is lower in the AD models compared to age-matched controls. Conclusions: The anti-aging protein Klotho is decreased in the healthy aged brain and is even further decreased in AD mouse models. Finding ways to increase Klotho expression a protein known to activate antioxidant genes may lead to the design of compounds that will slow the aging process and protect against progressive neurodegenerative diseases such as AD, Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Finally, Klotho may provide a link between diabetes and AD.
Site-specific genomic integration produces therapeutic Factor IX levels in mice

We used the integrase from phage φC31 to integrate the human Factor IX (hFIX) gene permanently into specific sites in the mouse genome. A plasmid containing attB and an expression cassette for hFIX was delivered to the livers of mice by using high-pressure tail vein injection. When an integrase expression plasmid was coinjected, hFIX serum levels increased more than tenfold to ∼4 µg/ml, similar to normal FIX levels, and remained stable throughout the more than eight months of the experiment. hFIX levels persisted after partial hepatectomy, suggesting genomic integration of the vector. Site-specific integration was proven by characterizing and quantifying genomic integration in the liver at the DNA level. Integration was documented at two pseudo-attP sites, native sequences with partial identity to attP, with one site highly predominant. This study demonstrates in vivo gene transfer in an animal by site-specific genomic integration. Lasting gene therapy may be facilitated by the permanent introduction of exogenous DNA into the chromosomes of patients. Here we describe the use of bacteriophage φC31 integrase to achieve site-specific genomic integration of therapeutic genes into the genomes of adult mice. In nature, the integrase mediates unidirectional recombination of the phage genome into the bacterial chromosome through a site-specific reaction between the phage attP site and the host attB site1,2 .W e have shown that this integrase is functional in mammalian cells3, and that it can efficiently integrate plasmids containing an attB site into pseudo-attP sites in mammalian genomes 4 .T hese pseudo sites have enough identity with wild-type attP to support integrase-mediated recombination, and persistent gene expression occurs from vectors integrated at such sites 4 .I n this study, we have applied these principles in vivo to integrate attB vectors bearing the gene for human blood clotting Factor IX (hFIX) into the chromosomes of mice at native pseudoattP sites, resulting in the generation of persistent normal levels of the protein. Results Integrase-mediated expression of hAAT in mouse liver. We constructed plasmids that contained a φC31 attB site and either a cDNA expression construct of the human α 1-antitrypsin gene (hAAT) 5
How regularly do earthquakes recur? A synthetic seismicity model for the San Andreas Fault

We have been attempting to improve estimates of long-term earthquake recurrence probabilities along the San Andreas Fault by means of synthetic seismicity calculations. The calculations are based on the concept of fault segmentation and incorporate the physics of static dislocation theory. Forecasts constructed from synthetic seismicity are robust in that: they embody regional seismicity information over several units of magnitude; they tie together in a physical manner, a spectrum of fault segment features such as length, strength, characteristic magnitude, mean repeat time and slip rate; they can reasonably account for fault segment interactions; and they are formulated from a catalog which can be extended as long as needed to be statistically significant. We contend earthquake recurrence is more aperiodic than previously thought and, as a result, probabilities of major San Andreas earthquakes should be revised downward.
NMR polypeptide backbone conformation of the E. coli outer membrane protein W.

Summary The outer membrane proteins (Omps) are key factors for bacterial survival and virulence. Among the Omps that have been structurally characterized either by X-ray crystallography or by NMR in solution, the crystal structure of OmpW stands out because three of its four extracellular loops are well defined, whereas long extracellular loops in other E. coli Omps are disordered in the crystals as well as in NMR structures. OmpW thus presented an opportunity for a detailed comparison of the extracellular loops in a β-barrel membrane protein structure in crystals and in noncrystalline milieus. Here, the polypeptide backbone conformation of OmpW in 30-Fos micelles was determined. Complete backbone NMR assignments were obtained and the loops were structurally characterized. In combination with the OmpW crystal structure, NMR line shape analyses, and 15 N{ 1 H}-NOE data, these results showed that intact regular secondary structures in the loops undergo slow hinge motions at the detergent-solvent interface.
Histopathology of In-Stent Restenosis in Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease

Background Clinical studies have suggested that smooth muscle cell (SMC) hyperplasia is the most likely cause of in-stent restenosis. However, pathological data regarding this issue are limited. Specifically, direct evidence of proliferative activity in tissues excised from stenotic stents has not been previously reported. Methods and Results Tissue specimens were retrieved by directional atherectomy from 10 patients in whom in-stent restenosis complicated percutaneous revascularization of peripheral artery disease. Analysis of cellular composition was performed quantitatively after cell-specific immunostaining. For specimens preserved in methanol (7 of 10), cellular proliferation was evaluated by use of antibodies to proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cyclin E, and cdk2. TUNEL staining for apoptosis was performed on 8 paraformaldehyde-preserved specimens. Each of the 10 specimens contained extensive foci of hypercellularity composed predominantly of SMCs (mean±SEM, 59.3±3.0%). Evidence of ongoing...