cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Conserved Ark1-related kinases control TORC2 signaling

In all orders of life, cell cycle progression is dependent upon cell growth, and the extent of growth required for cell cycle progression is proportional to growth rate. Thus, cells growing rapidly in rich nutrients are substantially larger than slow growing cells. In budding yeast, a conserved signaling network surrounding Tor complex 2 (TORC2) controls growth rate and cell size in response to nutrient availability. Here, a search for new components of the TORC2 network identified a pair of redundant kinase paralogs called Ark1 and Prk1. Previous studies found that Ark/Prk play roles in endocytosis. Here, we show that Ark/Prk are embedded in the TORC2 network, where they appear to influence TORC2 signaling independently of their roles in endocytosis. We also show that reduced endocytosis leads to increased cell size, which indicates that cell size homeostasis requires coordinated control of plasma membrane growth and endocytosis. The discovery that Ark/Prk are embedded in the TORC2 network suggests a model in which TORC2-dependent signals control both plasma membrane growth and endocytosis, which would ensure that the rates of each process are matched to each other and to the availability of nutrients so that cells achieve and maintain an appropriate size.
Drug Testing Is No Substitute for Honesty or Addiction Risk Reduction

The ravages of the opioid epidemic include rising mortality, social disruption, and nearly uncountable fiscal costs. It would be easy amid such front page calamities to overlook another of the epid...
Resistance of Cynomolgus Monkeys to Nipah and Hendra Virus Disease Is Associated With Cell-Mediated and Humoral Immunity.

Background The henipaviruses, Hendra virus (HeV) and Nipah virus (NiV), are capable of causing severe and often lethal respiratory and/or neurologic disease in animals and humans. Given the sporadic nature of henipavirus outbreaks, licensure of vaccines and therapeutics for human use will likely require demonstration of efficacy in animal models that faithfully reproduce the human condition. Currently, the African green monkey (AGM) best mimics human henipavirus-induced disease. Methods The pathogenic potential of HeV and both strains of NiV (Malaysia, Bangladesh) was assessed in cynomolgus monkeys and compared with henipavirus-infected historical control AGMs. Multiplex gene and protein expression assays were used to compare host responses. Results In contrast to AGMs, in which henipaviruses cause severe and usually lethal disease, HeV and NiVs caused only mild or asymptomatic infections in macaques. All henipaviruses replicated in macaques with similar kinetics as in AGMs. Infection in macaques was associated with activation and predicted recruitment of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, Th1 cells, IgM+ B cells, and plasma cells. Conversely, fatal outcome in AGMs was associated with aberrant innate immune signaling, complement dysregulation, Th2 skewing, and increased secretion of MCP-1. Conclusion The restriction factors identified in macaques can be harnessed for development of effective countermeasures against henipavirus disease.
Nuclear Weapons, International Security, and Non-proliferation in the 2020s

Thank you for having me here in Rome to address nuclear weapons, nonproliferation, and the broader security environment. I would like to focus my remarks on our new initiative to launch a structured international dialogue on Creating an Environment for Nuclear Disarmament or CEND. This is a topic of great interest to my boss, Assistant Secretary Chris Ford, who is unable to be here today. He sends his regrets.
DOSSIER “CARITAS IN VERITATE"

In the month of July of 2009 the first social encyclical of Pope Benedicto XVI was published: Caritas in Veritate. For this reason, the habitual leader article of the Revista Fomento Social has been replaced in this number by a group of reflections of interdisciplinary character realised by some of the members of its editorial board. Thus, they have approached the subjects in which habitually they work, but “re-interpreting them” in the light of the reading of the papal text. We enumerate next these individual contributions, whose titles summarize clearly the thematic which they talk about: “Benedicto XVI’s first social encyclical: keys for understanding” (Ildefonso Camacho Larana); “Economic system, business models and business culture” (Juan Ignacio Font Galan); “A more human and all-inclusive conception of economic relations: the economic democracy” (Julio Jimenez Escobar y Alfonso Carlos Morales Gutierrez); “Business and society: the approach of Corporate Social Responsibility” (Rafael Araque Padilla); “Finance and the economic and financial crisis” (Ma del Carmen Lopez Martin y Adolfo Rodero Franganillo); “Ecology and environmental issues. Pragmatic orientations from a different cultural framework” (Juan Antonio Senent de Frutos); “Cooperation for Development” (Jose Juan Romero Rodriguez) y “Fraternity, a way for the human family” (Jose Ma Margenat Peralta).
Interactions of Francisella tularensis with Alveolar Type II Epithelial Cells and the Murine Respiratory Epithelium

Francisella tularensis is classified as a Tier 1 select agent by the CDC due to its low infectious dose and the possibility that the organism can be used as a bioweapon. The low dose of infection suggests that Francisella is unusually efficient at evading host defenses. Although ~50 cfu are necessary to cause human respiratory infection, the early interactions of virulent Francisella with the lung environment are not well understood. To provide additional insights into these interactions during early Francisella infection of mice, we performed TEM analysis on mouse lungs infected with F. tularensis strains Schu S4, LVS and the O-antigen mutant Schu S4 waaY::TrgTn. For all three strains, the majority of the bacteria that we could detect were observed within alveolar type II epithelial cells at 16 hours post infection. Although there were no detectable differences in the amount of bacteria within an infected cell between the three strains, there was a significant increase in the amount of cellular debris observed in the air spaces of the lungs in the Schu S4 waaY::TrgTn mutant compared to either the Schu S4 or LVS strain. We also studied the interactions of Francisella strains with human AT-II cells in vitro by characterizing the ability of these three strains to invade and replicate within these cells. Gentamicin assay and confocal microscopy both confirmed that F. tularensis Schu S4 replicated robustly within these cells while F. tularensis LVS displayed significantly lower levels of growth over 24 hours, although the strain was able to enter these cells at about the same level as Schu S4 (1 organism per cell), as determined by confocal imaging. The Schu S4 waaY::TrgTn mutant that we have previously described as attenuated for growth in macrophages and mouse virulence displayed interesting properties as well. This mutant induced significant airway inflammation (cell debris) and had an attenuated growth phenotype in the human AT-II cells. These data extend our understanding of early Francisella infection by demonstrating that Francisella enter significant numbers of AT-II cells within the lung and that the capsule and LPS of wild type Schu S4 helps prevent murine lung damage during infection. Furthermore, our data identified that human AT-II cells allow growth of Schu S4, but these same cells supported poor growth of the attenuated LVS strain in vitro. Collectively, these data further our understanding of the role of AT-II cells in Francisella infections.
The Assessment and Treatment of Sleep Abnormalities in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Review.

Objective To summarize causes, evaluation methods, and treatment of sleep disturbance in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods A narrative literature and synthesis approach was used. Results/discussion Sleep disturbances in this population are common and include insomnia, parasomnias, circadian rhythm disorders, and sleep-related movement disorders. Multiple factors may contribute to the higher rates of sleep disturbances in persons with ASD. Unfortunately, there are not evidence-based guidelines specific for the management of these sleep disorders in this population. There is also a lack of controlled clinical studies. Nevertheless, assessment of sleep problems using both subjective and objective methods are recommended to develop an individualized approach. Behavioural interventions are preferred first line treatment for insomnia. As adjunctive measures, pharmacotherapy may be warranted and choice should be guided based on accompanying symptoms. The most commonly used pharmacotherapy for sleep disturbance, primarily insomnia, include melatonin and alpha agonists. Not all currently used medications are approved for use for children and adolescents.
Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life: by Christie Tate. Avid Readers Press, 2020. 279 pp.

The recently released memoir Group: How One Therapist and Circle of Strangers Saved My Life by Christie Tate is not a movie just yet, though it may well find life beyond the printed page in the nea...
Radiomic modeling to predict risk of vertebral compression fracture after stereotactic body radiation therapy for spinal metastases.

OBJECTIVE In the treatment of spinal metastases with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), vertebral compression fracture (VCF) is a common and potentially morbid complication. Better methods to identify patients at high risk of radiation-induced VCF are needed to evaluate prophylactic measures. Radiomic features from pretreatment imaging may be employed to more accurately predict VCF. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a machine learning model based on clinical characteristics and radiomic features from pretreatment imaging to predict the risk of VCF after SBRT for spinal metastases. METHODS Vertebral levels C2 through L5 containing metastases treated with SBRT were included if they were naive to prior surgery or radiation therapy, target delineation was based on consensus guidelines, and 1-year follow-up data were available. Clinical features, including characteristics of the patient, disease, and treatment, were obtained from chart review. Radiomic features were extracted from the planning target volume (PTV) on pretreatment CT and T1-weighted MRI. Clinical and radiomic features selected by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression were included in random forest classification models, which were trained to predict VCF within 1 year after SBRT. Model performance was assessed with leave-one-out cross-validation. RESULTS Within 1 year after SBRT, 15 of 95 vertebral levels included in the analysis demonstrated new or progressive VCF. Selected clinical features included BMI, performance status, total prescription dose, dose to 99% of the PTV, lumbar location, and 2 components of the Spine Instability Neoplastic Score (SINS): lytic tumor character and spinal misalignment. Selected radiomic features included 5 features from CT and 3 features from MRI. The best-performing classification model, derived from a combination of selected clinical and radiomic features, demonstrated a sensitivity of 0.844, specificity of 0.800, and area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of 0.878. This model was significantly more accurate than alternative models derived from only selected clinical features (AUC = 0.795, p = 0.048) or only components of the SINS (AUC = 0.579, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS In the treatment of spinal metastases with SBRT, a machine learning model incorporating both clinical features and radiomic features from pretreatment imaging predicted VCF at 1 year after SBRT with excellent sensitivity and specificity, outperforming models developed from clinical features or components of the SINS alone. If validated, these findings may allow more judicious selection of patients for prophylactic interventions.
The Incidence and Mortality Impact of Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients.

Background Patients requiring hospitalization to critical care units are at a higher risk for gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. Although severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) infection is predominantly a pulmonary disease, other serious manifestations including thromboembolic phenomenon are reported. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) requiring mechanical ventilation, use of steroids and anticoagulation are all known to increase the risk of GI bleeding significantly. Aim To study the incidence of GI bleeding and its impact on mortality in patients admitted with SARS-CoV-2. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all patients admitted with SARS-CoV-2 from February 1, 2020 to April 15, 2020. We collected data including demographics, comorbid conditions, laboratory parameters, steroid and anticoagulant use. Coffee ground emesis, hematemesis, melena and hematochezia were defined as GI bleeding. All-cause mortality was reviewed for all patients included in the study. The relationship between GI bleeding and mortality was studied using logistic regression. Results We had a total of 1206 patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection with an all-cause mortality of 34% (n = 411). The overall incidence of GI bleeding was 3.1% (n = 37) with no significant difference between the patients who survived versus died during hospitalization (1.3% vs 1.5%, p = 0.77). Logistic regression analysis did not identify GI bleeding as an independent predictor of mortality. Therapeutic doses of anticoagulation were administered in 13.3% (n = 161) of patients, of which 6.8% (n = 11) developed GI bleeding. Patients were more likely to develop GI bleeding with use of therapeutic doses of anticoagulation (29.7% vs 12.8%, p = 0.003), steroids (37.8% vs 18.5%, p = 0.003) and mechanical ventilation (48.6% vs 30.4%, p = 0.018). Conclusion Patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection are at risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. Therapeutic doses of anticoagulation, mechanical ventilation and steroid use are significant risk factors for GI bleeding. However, GI bleeding did not significantly alter the mortality rates in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the Primary Brain Tumor Population and Its Association with Health-Reported Quality of Life (S18.007)

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to identify the percentage of brain tumor patients using CAMs, the modalities they use, and whether or not there is a significant difference in their HRQoL. BACKGROUND: Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) refers to a non-mainstream approach to healthcare. This holistic field of healthcare is growing, not only among the general public, but also in oncology. Use of CAMs occurs in the brain tumor population, but little is known about their effect on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). DESIGN/METHODS: A database of primary brain tumor patients (PRoGREss) from The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, along with demographic and clinical information from patient records was queried retrospectively from December 16, 2013 to February 28, 2014. Data collected via a modified International CAM Questionnaire (I-CAM-Q) assessed CAM usage such as supplements, meditation, massage, yoga, Osteopathy, and Reiki. Assessment of HRQoL included FACT-Br, FACIT-F, and Godin-Leisure surveys. Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to assess the relationship between the I-CAM-Q and the HRQoL measures. RESULTS: 845 subjects were identified with the majority using CAM (N=534, 63.2[percnt]) and self-help techniques (N=434, 51.4[percnt]). The most common CAM modalities used were: vitamins/supplements (N=491, 58.1[percnt]), massage (N=85, 10.1[percnt]), herbs (N=62, 7.3[percnt]) and spiritual healing (N=62, 7.3[percnt]) while prayer (N=379, 44.9[percnt]), diet (N=83, 9.8[percnt]) and meditation (N=79, 9.3[percnt]) were the most commonly used self help practices. The usage of CAM or self-help techniques did not have a significant relationship with HRQoL. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the interest in CAM and self-help practices in the primary brain tumor population. In spite of their prevalence, we find no evidence of an association between the use of CAM or self-help techniques and HRQol. Further research is needed to fully understand the impact of these modalities on patient outcome. Disclosure: Dr. Randazzo has nothing to disclose. Dr. Affronti has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lipp has nothing to disclose. Dr. McSherry has nothing to disclose. Dr. Herndon, II has nothing to disclose. Dr. Flahiff has nothing to disclose. Dr. Miller has nothing to disclose. Dr. Woodring has nothing to disclose. Dr. Freeman has nothing to disclose. Dr. Healy has nothing to disclose. Dr. Minchew has nothing to disclose. Dr. Boulton has nothing to disclose. Dr. DesJardins has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ranjan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Vlahovic has nothing to disclose. Dr. Friedman has nothing to disclose. Dr. Peters has nothing to disclose.
Tracing the Limits of the Green Economy

This paper was presented at the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Society of International Law as part of a panel considering the 2012 U.N. Conference on Sustainable Development. It critiques the "Green Economy," a theme of the Rio 20 Conference, by emphasizing the core indeterminancy of the concept. The paper points out some key definitional issues that must be resolved if the "Green Economy" is going to be more than a contentless slogan.
INVESTIGATING KNOWLEDGE AND OPINION

This work treats correlative concepts of knowledge and opinion, in various senses. In all senses of ‘knowledge’ and ‘opinion’, a belief known to be true is knowledge; a belief not known to be true is opinion. In this sense of ‘belief’, a belief is a proposition thought to be true—perhaps, but not necessarily, known to be true. All knowledge is truth. Some but not all opinion is truth. Every proposition known to be true is believed to be true. Some but not every proposition believed to be true is known to be true. Our focus is thus on propositional belief (“belief-that”): the combination of propositional knowledge (“knowledge-that”) and propositional opinion (“opinion-that”). Each of a person’s beliefs, whether knowledge or opinion, is the end result of a particular thought process that continued during a particular time interval and ended at a particular time with a conclusive act—a judgment that something is the case. This work is mainly about beliefs in substantive informative propositions—not empty tautologies.
A one-year aeroallergen survey of Puerto Rico: Correlation of results with clinical findings in 300 patients

Abstract 1.1. A one-year aeroallergen survey of San Juan, Puerto Rico, is presented. 1.1.a. Fungus spores are the most commonly found aeroallergens in Puerto Rico. 1.2.b. The pollen counts are too low to be clinically significant. 1.3.c. There are marked day-to-day variations in the fungus and pollen count, but there are no seasonal differences. 1.4.d. The most commonly encountered fungi are: Hormodendrum, Basis-porium, Penicillium, and two unidentifiable groups. 2.2. Clinical findings of 300 patients with respiratory allergy living in Puerto Rico are evaluated. 2.1.a. There is no seasonal variation of allergic symptoms. 2.2.b. Fungus allergy appears to be a significant factor in one fourth of all patients and in half of those patients who traveled to the temperate zones and obtained relief of symptoms.
Short communication: feasibility and acceptability of developing a multisite clinical cohort of transgender people with HIV infection.

Abstract Transgender women bear a disproportionate burden of HIV, yet data among this population are not routinely collected in HIV clinical cohorts. Brief surveys and follow-up qualitative interviews were conducted with principal investigators or designated representatives of 17 HIV clinical cohorts to determine the acceptability and feasibility of pooling transgender-specific data from existing HIV clinical cohort studies. Twelve of 17 sites reported that they already collect gender identity data but not consistently. Others were receptive to collecting this information. Many also expressed interest in a study of clinical outcomes among HIV-infected transgender women using pooled data across cohorts. The collection of longitudinal data on transgender people living with HIV is acceptable and feasible for most North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration on Research and Design (NA-ACCORD) cohorts. HIV clinical cohort studies should make efforts to include transgender individuals and develop the tools to colle...
Structural and computational dissection of the catalytic mechanism of the inorganic pyrophosphatase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Family I inorganic pyrophosphatases (PPiases) are ubiquitous enzymes that are critical for phosphate metabolism in all domains of life. The detailed catalytic mechanism of these enzymes, including the identity of the general base, is not fully understood. We determined a series of crystal structures of the PPiase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb PPiase) bound to catalytic metals, inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi; the reaction substrate) and to one or two inorganic phosphate ions (Pi; the reaction product), ranging in resolution from 1.85 to 3.30A. These structures represent a set of major kinetic intermediates in the catalytic turnover pathway for this enzyme and suggest an order of association and dissociation of the divalent metals, the substrate and the two products during the catalytic turnover. The active site of Mtb PPiase exhibits significant structural differences from the well characterized Escherichia coli PPiase in the vicinity of the bound PPi substrate. Prompted by these differences, quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) analysis yielded an atomic description of the hydrolysis step for Mtb PPiase and, unexpectedly, indicated that Asp89, rather than Asp54 that was proposed for E. coli PPiase, can abstract a proton from a water molecule to activate it for a nucleophilic attack on the PPi substrate. Mutagenesis studies of the key Asp residues of Mtb PPiase supported this mechanism. This combination of structural and computational analyses clarifies our understanding of the mechanism of family I PPiases and has potential utility for rational development of drugs targeting this enzyme.
Design of a broadband microwave BJT active inductor circuit

The synthesis and S-parameter analysis of a novel broadband microwave active inductor circuit utilizing bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) are presented. The circuit realizes inductance by impedance gyration using a CC-CE pair, with the parasitic capacitance between the base and emitter of the CE transistor as the load. A feedback network consisting of two parallel RC networks in series is used to produce a flat inductance versus frequency response by compensating for the pi model elements of the transistors. Using the S-parameters of NEC NE57800 transistors (f tau approximately=6 GHz), an analysis of the proposed circuit predicted an inductance of 4+or-1 nH and a resistance of less than 14 Omega up to a frequency of 2.5 GHz. The resonant frequency of the circuit was computed to be about 3.45 GHz. An integrated version of this circuit could prove to be useful for monolithic microwave integrated circuits using BJTs. >
Crisis, habitus y trayectoria intelectual

Etant donne la crise que l'epistemogie scientifique traverse a propos des notions de verite, de certitude, de raison, l'A. cherche a fonder un systeme politico-ethique qui soit rationnel. Pour cela, il determine les valeurs appartenant a la societe ouverte. Il ressort de cette etude que les limites, imposees par la postmodernite a la raison, s'accompagnent de limites importantes dans le domaine de l'action morale au sein de la societe
Trouble in Paradise: the 2007–2009 Global Economic Recession and Hawai'i's Visitor Industry

This is a case study of the impact of the global economic recession of 2007–2009 on Hawai'i's visitor industry. The industry responded to the downturn largely with advertising blitzes to its primary market on the US mainland. Notwithstanding these efforts, diminished lift capacity and visitor arrivals, combined with widespread discounting, resulted in a 26% decrease in real visitor spending in 2009 versus that in 2006. The industry recovered during 2010 and 2011, but major hotel foreclosures, State bond downgrades and lost accommodations jobs are enduring scars. The experience demonstrated anew Hawai'i's need to strengthen its visitor industry and diversify its economy. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Using mass media to reduce adolescent involvement in drug trafficking

OBJECTIVE. Drug trafficking among adolescents is a newly recognized high-risk behavior that seems to be involving large numbers of youths. Strategies to prevent and/or alter this behavior must be developed and evaluated. In view of the high exposure of adolescents to the mass media, interventionists seeking to reduce adolescent risk behavior have increasingly employed the media in their efforts to reduce adolescent risk behaviors in general. However, not all risk behaviors may be amendable to change as a result of this approach. Therefore, before utilizing this approach to address adolescent drug trafficking, it is important to investigate previous efforts targeting related risk behaviors. RESULTS. Mass media campaigns against the use of drugs have been common in the US and seem to have played a role in reducing consumption of both legal and illegal drugs. The most effective messages seem to focus on the risks of drug use and the social disapproval that attends use. The mass media may increase the influence of these antidrug messages by changing the social climate surrounding drug use. CONCLUSIONS. The mass media may be a particularly effective way to reach adolescents and their parents in communities in which adolescent drug trafficking is prevalent and to unite the institutions that could influence adolescents against involvement in the drug trade. However, intervention efforts must also contend with the economic incentives of the drug trade in poor, central-city communities. Language: en
Size and subdomain architecture of the glucan-binding domain of sucrose:3-alpha-D-glucosyltransferase from Streptococcus sobrinus.

Mild trypsin proteolysis of Streptococcus sobrinus sucrose:3-alpha-D-glucosyltransferase (GTF-I) reduced most of the enzyme to small products but left a few large fragments undigested. The digest had no glucosyl transfer activity, but several digestion products had an affinity for glucan equivalent to that of the native enzyme. The glucan-binding fragments ranged in size from 17 to 60 kilodaltons (kDa), with a particularly prominent 42-kDa fragment. The largest of these (60 kDa) appears to be the full extent of the domain since it increases in abundance when the enzyme is protected with glucan during proteolysis. The presence of smaller fragments with glucan-binding function and intact tertiary structure indicates that the full domain must be built on glucan-binding subdomains. Among the range of glucan-binding fragments, only the 42-kDa segment could be satisfactorily purified. It was subjected to N-terminal sequence analysis and, because of some ambiguity, was also subjected to chymotrypsin digestion and sequence of several chymotryptic peptides. The sequence data established that the 42-kDa domain fragment is initiated approximately two-thirds into the 170-kDa enzyme in a region previously identified as a segment of the gene that includes the glucan-binding domain (J. J. Ferretti, M. L. Gilpin, and R. R. B. Russell, J. Bacteriol. 169:4271-4278, 1987). The site is approximately 60 kDa from the C terminus and covers a region characterized by extensive amino acid sequence repeats. The data are discussed in the context of the size range of the glucan-binding fragments and subdomain architecture of the full glucan-binding domain. Images
Cyclodextrins as a means to nanostructure and functionalize polymers

The cyclic starches α-, β-, and γ-cyclodextrins (CDs) readily form inclusion complexes (ICs) with a large variety of polymers. In polymer-CD-ICs, the CD hosts are threaded by the guest polymers, which must be highly extended, and stacks of polymer threaded host CDs pack closely together and crystallize. When guest polymers are coalesced from their CD-IC crystals, by washing with a solvent good, bad for CD, polymer, or treatment with an amylase enzyme, the guest polymers coalesce into bulk samples whose structures, morphologies, and even conformations are distinct from bulk samples made from their solutions and melts. We generally observe (i) crystallizable homopolymers coalesced from their CD-ICs to evidence increased levels of crystallinity, unusual polymorphs, and higher melting, crystallization, and decomposition temperatures, while coalesced amorphous homopolymers exhibit higher glass-transition temperatures, than samples consolidated from their disordered solutions and melts; (ii) molecularly mixed, intimate blends of two or more polymers that are normally believed to be immiscible can be achieved by coalescence from their common CD-IC crystals, (iii) the phase segregation of incompatible blocks can be controlled (suppressed or increased) when block copolymers are coalesced from their CD-IC crystals, and (iv) the thermal and temporal stabilities of the coalesced and well-mixed homopolymer blends and block copolymers appear to be substantial, thereby suggesting retention of as-coalesced structures and morphologies under normal thermal processing conditions. Furthermore, CDs may be covalently incorporated in polymers both during and after their syntheses, thereby providing a broad range of new functionalities for delivery of additives or to act as sensors or filters. Alternatively, additive-CD-ICs or additives rotaxanated with CDs may be effectively delivered to polymers. As an example, TiO2—filled polypropylene fibers may be readily dyed in aqueous solution using water soluble CD-rotaxanated azo-dyes.
Chromaticity of Chordal Graphs

A polynomial $P = \lambda ^{m_0 } (\lambda - 1)^{m_1 } \cdots (\lambda - k)^{m_k } $ is said to be a chordal polynomial, if for any graph G, P(G, Â?) = P implies G is a chordal graph. Using a previous result in [16], we give a necessary and sufficient condition for P to be a chordal polynomial under the condition Σm i = k + 3.
Increased Immune and Inflammatory Responses to Dust Mite Antigen in Rats Exposed to 5 ppm NO2

Immune hypersensitivity to house dust mite antigen (HDM) is a frequent cause of respiratory allergy. The objective of this study was to determine whether exposure to NO2, a common indoor air pollutant, modulates immune responses to HDM and influences immune-mediated lung disease. Brown Norway rats were immunized ip with 100 micrograms semipurified antigen and Bordetella pertussis adjuvant and challenged 2 weeks later with an intratracheal injection of 50 micrograms of a crude antigen preparation. Exposure to 5 ppm NO2 for 3 hr after both immunization and challenge procedures resulted in significantly higher levels of antigen-specific serum IgE, local IgA, IgG, and IgE antibody than air controls, and increased numbers of inflammatory cells in the lungs. Lymphocyte responsiveness to antigen in the spleen and MLN was also significantly higher in NO2-exposed animals. These data show that exposure to a common air pollutant can upregulate specific immune responses and subsequent immune-mediated pulmonary inflammation.
Ranking Procedures and Subjective Probability Distributions

For the most part, modern management has become gradually conditioned to techniques involving the use of subjective probability distributions. In spite of this conditioning, there remain a few who are still somewhat skeptical with regard to the use of such distributions. However, in many instances principal objections are leveled, not toward subjectivity per se, but, rather, toward “nebulous subjectivity.” Many managers still associate an air of mysticism with the development of subjective probability distributions. This is not surprising in view of the facts that 1 relatively little material in pertinent literature is devoted to discussions of methods for deriving subjective distributions, and 2 a large percentage of those discussions which do appear can best be characterized as hand-waving approaches. The purpose of the present article is two-fold. First, the article proposes a specific, logical, and consistent procedure for deriving subjective probability distributions. The procedure, which involves the use of statistical ranking techniques, is exemplified for the purpose of clarity. Second, and possibly even more important than the first objective, the procedure is set forth in the hope that it will stimulate further activity toward development of improved methods for deriving subjective distributions.
A community-based Inventory of Current Concerns of impoverished homeless and drug-addicted minority women.

The purpose of this series of studies was to refine and evaluate the psychometric properties of a measure of the concerns of impoverished minority women who were homeless and/ or drug addicted. A comprehensive review of the literature and qualitative focus groups conducted with homeless and drug-addicted minority women were used to refine the Inventory of Current Concerns (ICC) (Weisman, Worden, & Sobel, 1980). A 31-item revised Community-Based Inventory of Current Concerns (CICC) was critiqued by measurement and content experts, and content validity was established. The CICC was administered to 978 black and Hispanic women who were residents of drug recovery programs or were homeless and residing in shelters, single room occupancy hotels, or with family or friends. Principal components factor analysis with varimax rotation resulted in a five-factor solution explaining 53% of the variance. These factors were labeled Competency, Personal Instability/Despondency, Survival, Drug-Related, and Parenting Concerns. Alpha reliability coefficient was 0.90 for the total scale and 0.79 to 0.93 for the subscales. Construct validity was demonstrated by moderate correlations (r = 0.54) between the total CICC and the CES-D. The revised CICC can be used for clinical and research purposes to aid in assessing the concerns of minority impoverished women.
A system for the parametric description of the ventricular surface of the heart

Abstract A series of computer programs has been developed to create and display a parametric model of the epicardial surface of the heart ventricles. The system utilizes a class of functions known as “B-splines” that have been widely used in the ship and aircraft design industry. A parametric description of the three-dimensional surface offers several advantages over nonparametric forms. These programs were designed to be linked to another system to generate computer-animated films demonstrating the sequence of ventricular activation.
Phase II Trial of Imatinib in AIDS-Associated Kaposi's Sarcoma: AIDS Malignancy Consortium Protocol 042

Purpose Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a disease of multifocal vascular proliferation that requires infection with KS herpes virus (KSHV/HHV-8). Activation of the c-kit and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptors by autocrine/paracrine mechanisms follows endothelial cell KSHV infection. In a pilot study, imatinib, a c-kit/PDGF-receptor inhibitor, induced partial regression of AIDS-associated KS (AIDS-KS) in five of 10 patients. Patients and Methods This multicenter phase II study was designed to estimate the response rate to imatinib in AIDS-KS. Secondary objectives included investigation of predictors of response and imatinib pharmacokinetics in patients on antiretrovirals. Patients received imatinib 400 mg/day by mouth for up to 12 months with dose escalation up to 600 mg/day at 3 months if their disease was stable. Results Thirty patients were treated at 12 AIDS Malignancy Consortium sites. Ten patients (33.3%) achieved partial response, six (20%) had stable disease, and seven (23.3%) exhibited KS pr...
Endovascular stent-graft repair of thoracic aortic aneurysms

Abstract Conventional repair of aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta entails thoracotomy and graft interposition. For elderly patients and those with previous operations, obesity, respiratory insufficiency, or other comorbidities, such a procedure entails significant mortality and morbidity. Transluminal stent-graft placement offers an alternative approach with potentially less morbidity and quicker recovery; however, the effectiveness and durability of stent-grafts remain uncertain. Methods: Since July 1992, thoracic aortic stent-grafts have been placed in 44 patients with a variety of pathologic conditions. Each graft was individually constructed from self-expanding, stainless-steel Z stents covered with a woven Dacron polyester fabric graft. Graft dimensions were determined from spiral computed tomographic scans. All implants were performed in the operating theater under fluoroscopic and transesophageal echocardiographic guidance. Follow-up was by computed tomography and contrast angiography in all cases. Patient data: There were 36 men and 8 women. Mean age was 66 years (range 35 to 88 years). Mean aneurysmal diameter was 6.3 cm (range 4.0 to 9.4 cm). Etiologies included 23 degenerative aneurysms, four posttraumatic aneurysms, four pseudoaneurysms, and one chronic aortic dissection. Results: There were three early deaths ( Conclusions: These early results support the hypothesis that endovascular stent-graft placement may be a safe and durable treatment for selected patients with aneurysmal disease of the descending thoracic aorta. Large introducer size (26F outer diameter) and relatively limited angulation capability, as well as imprecise deployment techniques, currently limit its applicability. Distal embolization and stent migration have not been observed. Failure to achieve complete aneurysmal thrombosis may allow continued aneurysmal expansion and rupture. Further follow-up is clearly necessary to evaluate the true long-term effectiveness of this procedure. (J THORAC CARDIOVASC SURG 1996;111:1054-62)
Parent coping and child distress behaviors during invasive procedures for childhood cancer

This study examines what parents identified as their primary stressor before their child's invasive procedure, what coping strategies were used to manage the stress, what level of distress their children experienced during each phase of the procedure, and whether parents' coping modes were associated with their children's distress. Twenty children with cancer from 3 to 11 years of age and the parent present during the procedure participated in the study. Parents' primary stressors were identified as uncertainty about parent role and anticipating the child's distress during the procedure. Although parents used both emotion-focused and problem-focused strategies for coping with their primary stressors, they primarily relied on emotion-focused strategies. Children experienced the most behavioral distress during the procedural phase, and girls exhibited more distress than boys. The parents' coping modes were not associated with their children's distress, but children of parents whose primary stressor was uncertainty about parent role had higher distress than children of parents whose primary stressor was anticipating the child's distress. The findings related to parents' stressors, their coping strategies, and their children's distress were consistent with previous research. Directions for future research and suggestions for dealing with invasive procedures for childhood cancer are described.
Equilibria of the brain-state-in-a-box (BSB) neural model

Abstract The Brain-State-in-a-Box Neural model is shown to converge to the hypercube's extreme points under mild assumptions. Absorption at other fixed points of the activity rule is shown to be avoided by a simple randomization. This is possible because, as is shown, the extreme points are the only stable equilibria.
Computer optimisation of hemodialysis

Abstract Clinical attempts to perform rapid hemodialysis have produced a characteristic malaise in certain patients, termed a ‘disequilibrium syndrome’. It is hypothesised that this syndrome is the result of large intracellular to extracellular concentration gradients set up by the rapid clearance of wastes, particularly urea, from the blood. In an attempt to optimise hemodialysis and minimise patient discomfort, a study of the dynamics of the patient/artificial-kidney system with respect to urea levels was made. The patient was modelled as a two-compartment system and the pertinent mass balance equations simulated on a digital computer. The match between best-fit simulated and actual data served to prove the usefulness of the model. Patient discomfort was found to be related to the intercompartmental urea gradient, thus a control scheme was developed to maintain this level with clinical bounds, yet provide a clinically safe dialysis. On the basis of the individual patient's model and various clinical restrictions, a computer schedule for blood-flow rates during dialysis was generated and used. Clinical results were satisfactory and the disequilibrium syndrome was avoided.
Development of No-Fines Concrete Pavement Applications

No-fines concrete is a type of concrete from which the fine aggregate is totally omitted and single-sized coarse aggregates are held together by a binder consisting of a paste of hydraulic cement and water. The earliest application of no-fines concrete dates back to 1852 when two houses and a seagroin of 61 m (200 ft.) long and 2.15 m (7 ft.) high were constructed in the United Kingdom. Its extensive use came about after World War II when nearly the whole of Europe was in vast housing need. The unprecedented demand for bricks, and the subsequent inability of the brick-making industry to provide bricks in sufficient quantity, led to the adoption of no-fines concrete as a construction material since it required considerably less cement per volume than conventional concrete. Earlier use of no-fines concrete was confined to building construction and other nonpavement applications. The present paper cites the use of no-fines concrete for pavement applications in the United States and Europe.
How does biological knowledge grow? a study of life scientists' research practices

In his book entitled Restructuring Science Education: The Importance of Theories and Their Development (1990), science educator Richard A. Duschl presented an equiposed triadic model of the growth of scientific knowledge that is based upon the work of philosopher of science, Larry Laudan (1984). Stage 1 of our study tested that model against the research practices of 10 accomplished life scientists employed at a Carnegie Research 1 university, via purposive sampling, a carefully sequenced model-based interview schedule, face-to-face questioning, and propositional analysis of the interview transcripts. In Stage 2, a revised research-based graphic version of Laudan's model was presented to two experts on the nature of science (Drs. Richard Duschl and Nancy Nercessian) during an extended interview. From that interview, further data collection and analysis, and an extensive literature search, our Stage 1 graphic was elaborated. In response to the interview, 5 novice graduate students and 5 advanced graduate students or new Ph.D's of the original 10 life scientists were interviewed, using the same methods, to ascertain if their research perceptions and practices will differ from that of their mentors. Implications for the teaching of biological science were derived from the research findings.
Passive VHF radar for ionospheric physics

Abstract Recent technological advances enable a new class of passive radar instruments. These radars have no dedicated transmitter, observing serendipitous scatter of existing sources. Such radars may have very high performance and cost far less than conventional radars. The resulting equipment is essentially reduced to simple antennas, desktop computers, and Global Positioning System equipment. The safety hazards, interference problems, licensing issues, and financial costs associated with high-power transmitters are conspicuously absent. We will offer general design considerations and describe our own instrument, which observes the scatter of commercial FM broadcasts. Our system provides far better range and Doppler resolution than any conventional radar used in ionospheric coherent scatter studies, and is completely free of any range or Doppler aliasing problems. There are two principal drawbacks to passive radars: the “front end” signal processing cost is very large, and there is a significant data transport problem. However, spectacular advances in low-cost computing and internet bandwidth have rendered these problems quite easy to solve.
Osteoporosis and African-American women

African-American women are missing from the list of risk factors for osteoporosis although over 300,000 currently have osteoporosis. Possible bone structure differences such as greater peak bone mass, a slower rate of bone loss after menopause, and better quality of bone microarchitecture in African-American women have not been supported by research. Approaches such as calcium intake, hormone replacement therapy, and medications which prevent and treat osteoporosis need to be undertaken.
Optimal conditions for the release of protoplasts ofNeurospora using Novozym 234

Abstract The optimal conditions for the release of protoplasts from 18-h-hyphae of Neurospora crassa using Novozym 234 were 120-minute incubations at 25°C and 10 mg/ml Novozym. Protoplasts were released from all parts of hyphae and were found not to contain surface-bound cell wall material. About 10% of Novozym-derived protoplasts were viable.
The midpoint transformation in Witten's string field theory

Abstract We study the transformation to midpoint coordinates in Witten's string field theory using a ζ-function regularization. We find that the vertex is well defined and local (in that it makes no explicit reference to the midpoint coordinate) as the regulator is removed. This is in contrast to the heat-kernel regularization previously studied by others. We interpret the locality and unitarity anomalies of the heat-kernel regularization in terms of the associativity anomaly of the vertex. We also study the BRST charge in the same limit, verify that it is well defined, and propose a sense in which it is nilpotent. We then argue that the transformed vertex is BRST invariant. We discuss the structure of the space of states in the transformed theory; physical states are singular as the regulator is removed, suggesting that they be interpreted in a distributional sense.
GD2-Targeted Immunotherapy and Radioimmunotherapy

Ganglioside GD2 is a tumor-associated surface antigen found in a broad spectrum of human cancers and stem cells. They include pediatric embryonal tumors (neuroblastoma, retinoblastoma, brain tumors, osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma), as well as adult cancers (small cell lung cancer, melanoma, soft tissue sarcomas). Because of its restricted normal tissue distribution, GD2 has been proven safe for antibody targeting. Anti-GD2 antibody is now incorporated into the standard of care for the treatment of high-risk metastatic neuroblastoma. Building on this experience, novel combinations of antibodies, cytokines, cells, and genetically engineered products all directed at GD2 are rapidly moving into the clinic. In this review, past and present immunotherapy trials directed at GD2 will be summarized, highlighting the lessons learned and the future directions.
The CIE visual performance system

The International Commission on Illumination (CIE) has developed a system for evaluating the visual performance aspects of lighting. The system and its concepts are presented with special reference to lighting energy conservation. Some of the problems involved in the application of the CIE system and the data required before widespread application is possible are discussed.