cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exact computation of protein structure similarity

A protein can be considered as a string (on the alphabet of 20 amino acids) or as a structure (each protein folds into a particular 3D configuration). Consider the following string-based problem: Given two protein strings that are not necessarily similar in their entirety, determine the most similar contiguous substrings, one from each protein. The exact meaning of most similar here is determined by the user; it is based on user-specified scores for character vs. character similarity and for character vs. space similarity. It is important to allow for spaces or gaps because evolutionary changes to proteins often involve insertion or deletion of one or more individual amino acids. For this kind of string-based similarity, the most-similar substrings can be determined in time O(mn) using Dynamic Programming (DP).The goal here is to design an algorithm for similarity of protein structures as opposed to protein strings. The inspiration for our algorithm is drawn from the DP-based similarity algorithm for strings. Instead of comparing sequences of characters, we compare sequences of vectors. One complication for working with structures instead of strings is the problem of orientation: basically, two structures that have similar shape can "look different" if they are at different orientations. Algorithmically, this means that we must establish the optimal orientations for our two proteins as well as finding the similar subsequences. In other words, an algorithm for similarity of structures involves both discrete optimization (to find the corresponding subsequences) and continuous optimization (to find the optimal orientation). Interestingly, if the correspondence is given then the optimal orientation (for that correspondence) is easy to find, and if the the orientation is given then the optimal correspondence (for that orientation) is easy to find. The challenge is to accomplish both optimizations at once. Note that the technique presented here produces a globally optimal solution; there are no approximations or assumptions of randomness.
Diltiazem treatment in newborn canine endotoxic shock.

The mortality of sepsis/septic shock continues to be high in newborns. However, there is no established method in its treatment. Although calcium channel blockers ameliorate the hemodynamic deterioration of adult circulatory shock, their effects on newborn endotoxic shock have not been elucidated. This study was performed in newborn dogs to investigate the effects of diltiazem on newborn endotoxic shock. Endotoxic shock was induced in newborn dogs (2-10 days old, 300-800g) by an intravenous injection of E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 1.5mg/kg), and diltiazem (DZ) at the dose of 300, 600 or 1200μg/kg was administered intravenously 20min prior to LPS injection. Hemodynamic changes were serially observed until 120min after LPS injection. The heart rate, mean arterial pressure and cardiac output decreased after LPS injection, and systemic vascular resistance decreased. DZ at the dose of 600μg/kg attenuated the decreases of MAP and cardiac output, but 300 and 1200μg/kg of DZ exacerbated them. DZ at the dose of 1200μg/kg decreased the heart rate, and DZ at all three doses attenuated the increase of systemic vascular resistance. Therefore, 600μg/kg of DZ is beneficial in the treatment of endotoxic shock in newborn dogs.
Systematic review with meta-analysis: pharmacological interventions for eosinophilic oesophagitis.

Summary Background Eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) is a growing cause of dysphagia. Current therapies include dietary manipulation, steroids and biological drugs. Aim To perform a systematic review and summarise the effect of different medical interventions on EoE. Methods Two reviewers searched Pubmed and Embase for studies on treatment for EoE. We included randomised controlled trials (RCT) limited to pharmacological interventions. Two reviewers selected studies. Meta-analysis was done using random effects model to estimate odds ratio (OR). Heterogeneity was determined by Cochran's Q statistic and I2. Results Seventeen references met our inclusion criteria. Eleven RCTs involving 455 participants were included in the meta-analysis. 325 participants were evaluated for symptomatic improvement and 330 were evaluated for histological remission. Symptomatic improvement with topical steroids (7 studies, 250 participants) compared to the control group (placebo or PPI) was noted (OR: 3.03, 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.57–5.87). Histological remission was also noted in nine studies involving 330 participants (OR: 13.66, 95% CI: 2.65–70.34) comparing topical steroids to a control (placebo or PPI). There was no difference between anti-IL-5 drugs and placebo in terms of symptomatic improvement (OR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.34–1.42). Conclusions Topical steroids induce significant symptomatic and histological remission, and should be considered as a first line treatment. Anti-IL-5 therapy has a minor effect on eosinophilic oesophagitis. Future research in eosinophilic oesophagitis should standardise methodology according to published guidelines to improve quality and allow direct comparison between therapies.
Consumer sovereignty: New boundaries for telecommunications and broadband access

Antitrust and consumer protection laws share a common purpose to facilitate the exercise of effective consumer choice. This article uses this concept of consumer sovereignty to frame analysis of the shifting boundaries between the industry-specific and general business legal regimes for telecommunications and broadband access services. A critical distinction in the temporal sequencing of the evolution of the original industry-specific and general business regimes in the US relative to other nations appears to confer institutional differences for developing and implementing deregulatory policies. In the US, issues of consumer sovereignty are being addressed through an uncoordinated stream of piecemeal litigation primarily through interpretation of numerous savings clauses. By contrast, other nations are demonstrating a greater ability or willingness to conduct a holistic review and coordination of consumer protection remedies.
Soluble factors secreted by differentiating embryonic stem cells stimulate exogenous cell proliferation and migration.

Introduction: Stem cells are being investigated as catalysts of tissue regeneration to either directly replace or promote cellularity lost as a result of traumatic injury or degenerative disease. In many reports, despite low numbers of stably integrated cells, the transient presence of cells delivered or recruited to sites of tissue remodeling globally benefits functional recovery. Such findings have motivated the need to determine how paracrine factors secreted from transplanted cells may be capable of positively impacting endogenous repair processes and somatic cell responses. Methods: Embryonic stem cells were differentiated as embryoid bodies (EBs) in vitro and media conditioned by EBs were collected at different intervals of time. Gene and protein expression analysis of several different growth factors secreted by EBs were examined by polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis, respectively, as a function of time. The proliferation and migration of fibroblasts and endothelial cells treated with EB conditioned media was examined compared with unconditioned and growth media controls. Results: The expression of several growth factors, including bone morphogenic protein-4, insulin-like growth factors and vascular endothelial growth factor-A, increased during the course of embryonic stem cell (ESC) differentiation as EBs. Conditioned media collected from EBs at different stages of differentiation stimulated proliferation and migration of both fibroblasts and endothelial cells, based on 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine incorporation and transwell assays, respectively. Conclusions: Overall, these results demonstrate that differentiating ESCs express increasing amounts of various growth factors over time that altogether are capable of stimulating mitogenic and motogenic activity of exogenous cell populations.
Planning and control of purchasing performance: A new concept

Abstract The slowdown in sales growth experienced by many companies in Western Europe during the 1970s has led to an increasing awareness of the importance of measuring a company's operating performance relative to that of its competitors, and to a resurgence of interest in the production function. Production managers have traditionally enjoyed a very low status within the management hierarchy and this is particularly true of purchasing managers, yet many industrial companies with high manufacturing costs find that material costs constitute a major element in total factory cost, and any improvement in purchasing costs has an immediate and beneficial impact on company profitability. In this paper, the authors suggest three ways in which management can better measure, plan and control their company's purchasing performance: they emphasize the importance of concentrating on each product rather than each commodity; they outline a simple and practical way in which to measure and monitor a product's material costs over time so as to enable realistic purchasing objectives to be set; finally, they suggest a way of separating the effects of commodity price fluctuations from the performance of the purchasing manager so that the latter can be properly judged.
Distributed Decision-Making Over Adaptive Networks

In distributed processing, agents generally collect data generated by the same underlying unknown model (represented by a vector of parameters) and then solve an estimation or inference task cooperatively. In this paper, we consider the situation in which the data observed by the agents may have risen from two different models. Agents do not know beforehand which model accounts for their data and the data of their neighbors. The objective for the network is for all agents to reach agreement on which model to track and to estimate this model cooperatively. In these situations, where agents are subject to data from unknown different sources, conventional distributed estimation strategies would lead to biased estimates relative to any of the underlying models. We first show how to modify existing strategies to guarantee unbiasedness. We then develop a classification scheme for the agents to identify the models that generated the data, and propose a procedure by which the entire network can be made to converge towards the same model through a collaborative decision-making process. The resulting algorithm is applied to model fish foraging behavior in the presence of two food sources.
Simian virus 40 and human disease.

Received 11 August 2004; accepted 11 August 2004; electronically published 16 November 2004. Reprints or correspondence: Dr. Keerti Shah, Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205 (kvshah @jhsph.edu). The Journal of Infectious Diseases 2004;190:2061–4 2004 by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. 0022-1899/2004/19012-0001$15.00 The inadvertent and unrecognized presence of simian virus 40 (SV40) in the commercial inactivated Salk poliovaccines administered between 1955 and 1963 resulted in the potential exposure of millions of individuals, in the United States and elsewhere, to this polyomavirus of the rhesus macaque [1]. Many of the monkeykidney cultures used to prepare poliovirus pools were infected with the indigenous SV40. Soon after its discovery in 1960 [2], SV40 was found to be oncogenic in laboratory animals [3]. Therefore, the possibility that SV40 may cause human disease, particularly cancers, has been a topic of interest since the 1960s [4]. This debate has intensified during the past decade because several groups of investigators, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification methodology, have detected SV40 genomic sequences in a number of human cancers. These investigators have suggested that the virus contributes to the development of mesothelioma, osteosarcoma, pediatric and adult brain tumors, and non-Hodgkin lymphomas [5–8]. The reported presence of SV40 in tumors in individuals born after 1963 would seem to imply that SV40 is now established as a human infection circulating in communities via person-to-person contact [8]. Other investigators have been skeptical of these claims [9–12]; several groups have not been able to detect SV40 sequences in the aforementioned tumors [13–20], and epidemiologic studies have not revealed an increased risk of these cancers in populations exposed to SV40-contaminated poliovaccines or adenovirus vaccines [21– 23]. In addition to a large number of scientific publications, the controversy has spawned a report by the Institute of Medicine [24], a book in the popular press [25], and litigations. The evidence for the pathogenicity of SV40 in humans can be conveniently examined in 3 parts: (1) the nature of the human response after exposure to SV40, (2) the evidence that infection with SV40 has become established in humans, and (3) the evidence that infection with SV40 contributes to the development of human cancers.
Performance analysis of semi-blind channel estimation using superimposed training

Channel estimation for single-input multiple-output (SIMO) time-invariant channels is considered using superimposed training. A periodic (non-random) training sequence is arithmetically added (superimposed) at a low power to the information sequence at the transmitter before modulation and transmission. Recently in Meng and Tugnait (2004), an iterative scheme for joint channel estimation and data detection was presented and illustrated via simulation examples, without any analytical performance analysis. In this paper we present a performance analysis of this iterative channel estimation method. An illustrative simulation example is also provided.
Immunodiffusion studies of blood group A antigen.

. Stromata of blood group A1 erythrocytes fragmented by ultrasound were studied by means of double diffusion in gel. In many instances the reactions with immune anti-A sera were composed of two lines. Evidence was presented that group A1 secretor saliva contains all the A antigenic specificities present on the stromata. On the other hand, group A1 secretor serum appeared to be antigenically poorer than stromata. The reaction line with group A1 stromata was stronger than with group A2 stromata. Some evidence for a qualitative antigenic difference between the group A1 and A2 stromata was also obtained. Phaseolus limensis lectin produced a reaction line with group A1 stromata. Data were presented in support of the existence of two populations of stromal particles, one combining with this lectin and anti-A serum and the other with the antiserum only. The first population of particles could be eliminated from the stromal suspension without influencing the reactivity of the sedond population.
Instrumenting the crowd: using implicit behavioral measures to predict task performance

Detecting and correcting low quality submissions in crowdsourcing tasks is an important challenge. Prior work has primarily focused on worker outcomes or reputation, using approaches such as agreement across workers or with a gold standard to evaluate quality. We propose an alternative and complementary technique that focuses on the way workers work rather than the products they produce. Our technique captures behavioral traces from online crowd workers and uses them to predict outcome measures such quality, errors, and the likelihood of cheating. We evaluate the effectiveness of the approach across three contexts including classification, generation, and comprehension tasks. The results indicate that we can build predictive models of task performance based on behavioral traces alone, and that these models generalize to related tasks. Finally, we discuss limitations and extensions of the approach.
Evaluation of gravity leukapheresis and comparison with intermittent centrifugation leukapheresis

Fifteen normal donors underwent gravity leukapheresis using a prototype collection and reinfusion harness after receiving dexamethasone for leukocyte stimulation. A mean of 4.6 units of blood were processed, producing a mean granulocyte yield of 10.8 X 10(9), with an average donation time of 261 minutes. Granulocyte collection efficiency was 79.9 per cent, but yield was only 2.5 X 10(9) granulocytes/hour. Granulocytes obtained by gravity leukapheresis were normal morphologically and had normal bactericidal capacity. Serial determinations showed no changes before and after donation of coagulation profile and serum chemistries in the donors. Seven donors underwent leukapheresis using intermittent centrifugation the day following gravity leukapheresis without further leukocyte stimulation. Mean granulocyte yield (16.1 X 10(9)), and yield/hour (5.37 X 10(9)) of donation were significantly greater for the mechanical method (p less than 0.0005). Gravity leukapheresis required considerable blood bag handling and bag entries, even with the prototype harness. Considering the amount of blood handling, the expense of the sedimenting agent, the probable dose response phenomenon of granulocyte transfusions, and the low yield resulting from the limited volume of blood processed, this technique should not be made widely available, especially where regional centers can provide granulocytes obtained by more productive methods.
Management of anticoagulant-related intracranial hemorrhage: an evidence-based review

The increased use of anticoagulants for the prevention and treatment of thromboembolic diseases has led to a rising incidence of anticoagulant-related intracranial hemorrhage (AICH) in the aging western population. High mortality accompanies this form of hemorrhagic stroke, and significant and debilitating long-term consequences plague survivors. Although management guidelines for such hemorrhages are available for the older generation anticoagulants, they are still lacking for newer agents, which are becoming popular among physicians. Supportive care, including blood pressure control, and reversal of anticoagulation remain the cornerstone of acute management of AICH. Prothrombin complex concentrates are gaining popularity over fresh frozen plasma, and reversal agents for newer anticoagulation agents are being developed. Surgical interventions are options fraught with complications, and are decided on a case-by-case basis. Our current state of understanding of this condition and its management is insufficient. This deficit calls for more population-based studies and therapeutic trials to better evaluate risk factors for, and to prevent and treat AICH.
Dissection of the pathway of molecular recognition by calmodulin.

Amide hydrogen exchange has been used to examine the structural dynamics and energetics of the interaction of a peptide corresponding to the calmodulin-binding domain of smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase (smMLCKp) with calcium-saturated calmodulin. Heteronuclear NMR 15 N- 1 H correlation spectroscopy was used to quantify amide proton exchange rates of the uniformly 15 N-labeled domain bound to calmodulin. A key feature of a proposed model for molecular recognition by calmodulin (Ehrhardt et al. (1995) Biochemistry 34, 2731-2738) is tested by examination of the dependence of amide hydrogen exchange on applied hydrostatic pressure. Hydrogen exchange rates and corresponding protection factors (1/Kop) for individual amide protons of the bound smMLCKp domain span 5 orders of magnitude at ambient pressure. Individual protection factors decrease significantly in a linear fashion with increasing hydrostatic pressure. A common pressure dependence is revealed by a constant large negative volume change across the residues comprising the core of the bound helical domain. The pattern of protection factors and their response to hydrostatic pressure is consistent with a structural reorganization that results in the concerted disruption of ion pairs between calmodulin and the bound domain. These observations reinforce a model for the molecular recognition pathway where formation of the initial encounter complex is followed by helix-coil transitions in the bound state and subsequent concerted formation of the extensive ion pair network defining the intermolecular contact surface between CaM and the target domain in the final, compact complex structure.
Postharvest nitrogen application effect on ovule longevity of ‘cornice’ pear trees

Abstract Low fruit set and cropping are common characteristics of ‘Cornice’ pear (Pyrus communis L.) trees in spite of a high bloom density. An experiment was conducted to study the effect of late season nitrogen (N) application on ovule longevity of this cultivar. Mature trees were given a single foliar application of 0% (control), 5%, or 10% (w/v) aqueous urea immediately after harvest. Ovule senescence was detected by fluorescence microscopy. Ovule longevity was extended and fruit set was increased by fall urea. Flower density and fruit fresh weight were not affected.
Surgical Treatment of Infected Aortofemoral Grafts: A Fifteen-Year Experience

During the last fifteen years, we performed a total of 855 aortofemoral re constructions. Fifteen (1.75%) grafts were surgically removed (completely or partially) owing to a severe infection (Szilagyi: Grade 3) at a mean of 66.3 months (SD ± 37.9) after their implantation. Diagnosis was always clinically evident. In 10 patients, the graft was partially removed (one or two limbs). In 3 of the 10, graft infection progressed requiring complete graft removal after a mean of 18.6 days. In the other 5 patients, the graft was removed "in toto" at the time of the first operation. In 9 cases, revascularization was accomplished by means of a "remote" takeoff reconstruction (thoracic aorta or axillary ar tery), whereas in 8 cases (3 recurred) reconstruction was performed with a "local" takeoff reconstruction (stump or aortoiliofemoral arteries). One patient was not revascularized, because the limb was already amputated.Recurrence of infection was higher in the patients treated by partial removal of the graft (p < 0....
NAPman: network-assisted power management for wifi devices

WiFi radios in smart-phones consume a significant amount of power when active. The 802.11 standard allows these devices to save power through an energy-conserving Power Save Mode (PSM). However, depending on the PSM implementation strategies used by the clients/Access Points (APs), we find competing background traffic results in one or more of the following negative consequences: a significant increase, up to 300%, in a client's energy consumption, a decrease in wireless network capacity due to unnecessary retransmissions, and unfairness.In this paper, we propose NAPman: Network-Assisted Power Management for WiFi devices that addresses the above issues. NAPman leverages AP virtualization and a new energy-aware fair scheduling algorithm to minimize client energy consumption and unnecessary retransmissions, while ensuring fairness among competing traffic. NAPman is incrementally deployable via software updates to the AP and does not require any changes to the 802.11 protocol or the mobile clients. Our prototype implementation improves the energy savings on a smart-phone by up to 70% under varied settings of background traffic, while ensuring fairness.
Double higher order method of moments for surface integral equation modeling of metallic and dielectric antennas and scatterers

A novel double higher order Galerkin-type method of moments based on higher order geometrical modeling and higher order current modeling is proposed for surface integral equation analysis of combined metallic and dielectric antennas and scatterers of arbitrary shapes. The technique employs generalized curvilinear quadrilaterals of arbitrary geometrical orders for the approximation of geometry (metallic and dielectric surfaces) and hierarchical divergence-conforming polynomial vector basis functions of arbitrary orders for the approximation of electric and magnetic surface currents within the elements. The geometrical orders and current-approximation orders of the elements are entirely independent from each other, and can be combined independently for the best overall performance of the method in different applications. The results obtained by the higher order technique are validated against the analytical solutions and the numerical results obtained by low-order moment-method techniques from literature. The examples show excellent accuracy, flexibility, and efficiency of the new technique at modeling of both current variation and curvature, and demonstrate advantages of large-domain models using curved quadrilaterals of high geometrical orders with basis functions of high current-approximation orders over commonly used small-domain models and low-order techniques. The reduction in the number of unknowns is by an order of magnitude when compared to low-order solutions.
Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG) Thermal Power Model in MATLAB

This paper presents a one-dimensional steady-state mathematical thermal power model of the ASRG. It aims to provide a guideline of understanding how the ASRG works and what can change its performance. The thermal dynamics and energy balance of the generator is explained using the thermal circuit of the ASRG. The Stirling convertor performance map is used to represent the convertor. How the convertor performance map is coupled in the thermal circuit is explained. The ASRG performance characteristics under i) different sink temperatures and ii) over the years of mission (YOM) are predicted using the one-dimensional model. Two Stirling converter control strategies, i) fixing the hot-end of temperature of the convertor by adjusting piston amplitude and ii) fixing the piston amplitude, were tested in the model. Numerical results show that the first control strategy can result in a higher system efficiency than the second control strategy when the ambient gets warmer or the general-purpose heat source (GPHS) fuel load decays over the YOM. The ASRG performance data presented in this paper doesn't pertain to the ASRG flight unit. Some data of the ASRG engineering unit (EU) and flight unit that are available in public domain are used in this paper for the purpose of numerical studies.
Heterozygous mutation of ataxia-telangiectasia mutated gene aggravates hypercholesterolemia in apoE-deficient mice

Individuals with a heterozygous mutation at the ataxia-telangiectasia mutated gene (ATM) have been reported to be predisposed to ischemic heart disease. This report examined for the first time the effect of a heterozygous ATM mutation (ATM+/−) on plasma lipid levels and atherosclerosis intensity using ATM+/−, ATM+/+ (wild type), ATM+/+/LDLR−/− (low density lipoprotein receptor knockout), ATM+/−/LDLR−/−, ATM+/+/ApoE−/− (apolipoprotein E knockout), and ATM+/−/ApoE−/− mice. Our data demonstrated that the plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels in ATM+/− and ATM+/−/LDLR−/− mice were approximately the same as those in ATM+/+ and ATM+/+/LDLR−/− control mice, respectively. In contrast, the plasma cholesterol level was significantly higher in ATM+/−/ApoE−/− mice than in ATM+/+/ApoE−/− control mice. In addition, the ATM+/−/ApoE−/− mice showed higher plasma apoB-48 levels, slower clearance for plasma apoB-48-carrying lipoproteins, and more advanced atherosclerotic lesions in the aorta compared with the ATM+/+/ApoE−/− mice. These novel results suggest that the product of ATM is involved in an apoE-independent pathway for catabolism of apoB-48-carrying remnants; therefore, superimposition of a heterozygous ATM mutation onto an ApoE deficiency background reduces the clearance of apoB-48-carrying lipoproteins from the blood circulation and promotes the formation of atherosclerosis.
Advanced concepts in large-scale network simulation

This tutorial paper reviews existing concepts and future directions in selected areas related to simulation of large scale networks. It covers specifically topics in traffic modeling, simulation of routing, network emulation, and real time simulation.
Proton pump-inhibiting drugs, calcium homeostasis, and bone health

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are commonly used drugs, several of which are available without a prescription. Two recent studies have demonstrated increased hip fracture rates associated with PPI use. Theoretically, PPIs could impair intestinal calcium absorption resulting in increased rates of bone loss and a greater risk of fragility fracture.
Effect of aprotinin on renal dysfunction

Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA; and Child Health Unit, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh (AHB, SEA)1 National Institute of Population Research and Training (NIPORT), Mitra and Associates, ORC Macro. Bangladesh demographic and health survey 1999/2000. Dhaka and Calverton: National Institute of Population Research and Training (NIPORT), Mitra and Associates, and ORC Macro, 2001: 197.2 Donner A, Klar N. Statistical considerations in the design and analysis of community intervention trials.
Recall From Memory

Much information, learned over the years by each of us and somehow stored in our brains, can be brought forward and made available when required. The way in which items are recalled from long-term memory was the subject of a series of experiments conducted by Bousfield and Sedgewick [3]. These authors asked subjects to name, as quickly as possible, as many cities in the U. S. as they can. For each subject, every name was recorded along with the time it was announced. Not surprisingly, responses occur at first rapidly and with relative ease. After a time, recall becomes slower and more difficult and the subject appears to be making an effort to bring forth new responses.
Choline Supplementation in the Diets of Aged White Leghorn Hens Grouped According to Body Weight

A randomized block design experiment was conducted to determine if aged layers require supplemental choline when fed practical corn-soy diets adequate in methionine. Hisex hens (50 weeks old) were divided into four body weight groups containing 120 hens each. Six experimental treatments were prepared by addition of choline to a corn-soy basal diet at 0, 55, 110, 220, 440, and 880 mg/kg of diet. Each diet was fed to four replicates of 5 hens each within each body weight group. The nutrient content in the basal diet formulated for each body weight group was adjusted depending on daily feed intake. The experiment was conducted for four 28-day periods (January 21 to May 13). Hen-day egg production, feed conversion, egg specific gravity, and egg weight did not differ significantly for any level of choline supplementation. Liver lipid content was significantly different at no supplemental choline in extra heavy birds. Results of this experiment support the conclusion that, regardless of body weight, aged laying hens required very little, if any, supplemental choline when they are fed a corn-soy practical diet containing adequate methionine.
A Review of “Evaluating E-Resources (ARL SPEC Kit 316)”

ARL SPEC Kit 316 is a thorough examination of how research libraries evaluate electronic resources. Seventy-three of the 124 Association of Research Libraries (ARL) member libraries (59%) responded...
Dietary Protein and Chlorogenic Acid Effect on Baculoviral Disease of Noctuid (lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Larvae

Author(s): Hoover, Kelli; Alaniz, Susan A.; Yee, Julie L.; Rocke, David; Hammock, Bruce D.; Duffey, Sean S. | Abstract: Insecticidal pathogens such as baculoviruses are currently under intensive development as biorational agents for the control of lepidopteran pests. However, because the efficacy of these orally infective viruses is influenced by host diet, our ability to use baculoviruses effectively in an integrated pest management program requires understanding the influence of dietary components on the disease process. Nutritional stress caused by differences in the quality (casein or soy) or quantity (0-8%) of dietary protein altered the postinfectional course of disease caused by Autogropha californica M nucelopolyhedrovirus in 2 species of noctuids, Heliothis virescens (F.) and Tnchoplusia ni (Hubner). Lethal times of larvae infected with either the wild-type virus or a recombinant expressing a scorpion toxin (AaIT) derived from this parent virus were similarly affected by dietary protein. In general, the higher the level of dietary protein the shorter the lethal times. However, the influence of protein quality on lethal times depended on the insect species tested. The effect of chlorogenic acid on disease depended on dietary protein levels. At high protein concentrations, chlorogenic acid decreased speed of kill; whereas, at low protein levels, the phenolic had the opposite effect. The common factor among all treatments was that the faster larvae grew, the faster they died from viral infection. We suggest that insects that grow faster may support faster rates of viral replication in infected hosts. From an ecological perspective, it is possible that plants of higher protein content may increase the potential for the development of baculoviral epizootics in insect populations.
Consumerism and the Liturgical Act of Worship

This paper selects three aspects of consumerism (individualism, the chronically reinvented self, and viewing nearly everything as a product or commodity) and assesses how they pose a challenge to liturgical worship, which is properly grounded in a Christian indentity that is fundamentally communal. When consumerism takes the form of shopping for a parish, it threatens to undermine this communal identity. At the same time, parish-shopping may well be an expression of a sincere search for a vital Christian community. This paper thus neither condemns nor condones parish shopping but stresses rather that there is work to be done to build up the sense of community in Roman Catholic parishes. Liturgical worship is an essential element in that process, but liturgy by itself cannot build or sustain community.
Control strategy of dispatchable distributed generation based on hybrid energy storage

A control strategy of dispatchable distributed resource composed of battery /super capacitor hybrid energy storage system is presented,in which the state of charge( SOC) of energy storage devices and the cycle life of battery is considered. When the SOC of energy storage devices are within the limits,MPPT control is adopted in renewable energy generation system,and the reference power of battery is determined by low pass filtering algorithm with compensating filtering coefficient and constant voltage control is adopted in super capacitor. When the SOC of energy storage devices reaches the limits,a novel mode switch control based on different voltage zones of DC bus is presented to guarantee the stable operation of DC bus. To avoid the transient shock brought by frequent switching between various control modes,super capacitor terminal voltage pre-control is proposed to prevent the SOC of super capacitor reaching its limits. Finally,the performance of the proposed control strategy is verified by digital time-domain simulation studies in PSCAD / EMTDC software environment.
Study on antioxidant effect of Buxuhuayuqutanyin for pneumoconiosis

Objective To investigate the antioxidant mechanism of Buxuhuayuqutanyin for pneumoconiosis.Methods 120 patients with pneumoconiosis diagnosed by the diagnostic standard were randomly assigned to the treatment group(60 cases) and the control group(60 cases).With the biochemical and the molecular biological techniques,superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity,lipid peroxide(LPO) level and mRNA expression level of manganese-containing superoxide dismutase(MnSOD) gene in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients in two groups pre and post treatment were determined.Results In the control group,there was no significant difference on serum levels of SOD and lipid peroxide(LPO) between pre and post treatment(P0.05).While in the treatment group,the activities of SOD increased significantly and the levels of LPO decreased obviously(P0.01) post treatment.The results also indicated mRNA expression of mononuclear cell MnSOD gene in the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control(P0.01).Conclusion The results show that Buxuhuayuqutanyin can induce the expression of MnSOD gene of mononuclear cell,enhance the activity of SOD but decrease the level of LPO.It indicates that Buxuhuayuqutanyin can maintain the balance of oxidant /antioxidant,block the chain reaction of lipid peroxidation and interfere in the production of free radical and enhance the function of eliminating oxygen free radical.Antioxidation may be one of the mechanisms for this prescription to effectively treat pneumoconiosis.
Physiological Impacts of Short-Term UV Irradiance Exposures on Cultivars of Glycine Max

Solar ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation affects the growth and physiology of different cultivars of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) in different ways. Consequently chronic exposure studies of various cultivars have indicated the full range of biomass productivity sensitivities to UV exposure: from highly sensitive and detrimental to tolerant and advantageous. Since most current and future exposures to UV radiation in mid-latitudes come as alternating periods of intense UV followed by periods of low UV, soybean sensitivity to UV should be studied as transient events. The effects of transient UV exposure on stomatal conductance (g s), UV-B absorbing compounds, pigment concentrations, photosynthesis (A), transpiration (E), and photosystem II efficiency on two soybean cultivars were evaluated. Soybean cultivars “Essex” and “Williams 82” were studied in a number of experiments under greenhouse conditions and in one study that was conducted in the field. Essex and Williams 82 cultivars responded differently to transient UV-B effects. In Essex, UV exposure initially resulted in increased g s and E, which over time became a decreased g s and E. Ultraviolet exposure initially resulted in decreased g s, which over time resulted in no change or increase in g s in Williams 28 after the first day. The UV exposure of Williams 82 plants had no statistically-supported effect on E. UV exposures and changes in g s did not affect A for either cultivar. The concentrations of carotenoids and chlorophyll a were not influenced by UV exposure in Essex, but increased significantly in Williams 82 in a short term exposure. UV-B absorbing compounds were substantially higher in Essex compared to Williams 82. After the initial responses to UV exposure, both Williams and Essex had reduced responses to additional UV exposures. This suggests that the overall long-term plant response to UV exposure is triggered by high levels of short term UV exposure.
Communication with the Past

One way to communicate with the past is to ‘simply’ live backwards in time. Philosophers and other writers of speculative fiction were the first to wonder what things might be like in a world where the time asymmetry is reversed—that is, in a world where time ‘runs backward.’ Indeed, fascination with the idea of time reversal actually dates back thousands of years, long before science fiction, as it can be found in Plato’s dialogue Statesman, written (most probably) 15 years before Plato’s death in 347 B.C.
Statistical evaluation of the scaled criterion for drug interchangeability.

As more and more generic drug products become available in the marketplace, it is a concern whether these generic drug products can be used interchangeably in terms of their quality, safety, and ef...
The Time Decay Constants in Neutron Thermalization

We examine herein the decay constants, λk which appear in the modal expansion of the neutron density in a study of the time-dependent thermalization of neutrons. A study of the proton gas moderator...
Utilization of Air-Launched Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) for Pavement Condition Assessment

Abstract Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is an electromagnetic-based nondestructive geophysical tool that is widely used for pavement investigations, including the differentiation of pavement layers, the mapping of layer thicknesses, and the assessment of pavement condition. This paper presents a case study in which an air-launched GPR system consisting of two truck-mounted GSSI antennae driven at near-highway speeds was used to investigate two segments of asphalt paved roadway in central Missouri. The acquired data were interpreted; pavement layers were differentiated, the variable thicknesses of the pavement layers were mapped, bulk pavement condition were assessed, and optimum acquisition and processing parameters were developed. Core control, visual assessments, and limited ground-coupled GPR data were used to constrain and verify the reliability of the interpretations of the acquired air-launched GPR data.
Social Tolerance of Rape in India: An Analysis of the Case of Jyothi Singh

This chapter presents a thesis of the social tolerance of rape in India in the context of the gang rape of Joythi Singh in New Delhi on December 16, 2012. Ending gender-based violence is a global movement and it is presently spreading across the world particularly in the context of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) of 1979 and the Beijing Plan of Action of 1995. In India, after the Jyothi Singh Case in 2012, renewed debates and discourses began to grow about how to modernize the rape laws in particular, and how to change the culture of violence against women in general. The global movement for ending violence against women became a local movement for major legal and cultural transformations in India in the context of the tragedy of the Jyothi Singh Case. In response to the new debates and discourses, India enacted a new rape law—the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act in 2013. The new act amended the India Penal Code of 1860, the Indian Evidence Act of 1872, the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1973, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act of 2012. It has criminalized many facets of violence against women, made provisions for tougher sentencing and penalties, and brought many legal reforms for effective investigation and prosecution of rape and other cases of violence against women. The impact of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act of 2013, however, remains to be seen. Pervasive violence against women in India is not a matter of law alone; it is also deeply cultural in nature. There is a culture of social tolerance of rape in India, and at the core of this culture is the perspective of victim blaming which is both external and internal in nature. Externally, it is characterized by negative reactions, and internally, victim blaming leads to the internalization of a sense of guilt and shame in the mind of the victims. It is this culture that limits the role of law in ending rape and violence against women. Reforms in law and legislations are needed to end rape and violence against women in India. But changes in the worldview and the cultural paradigm of the social tolerance of rape will probably need far more fundamental social and cultural transformations.
Soma-Deep as a Marker for Idealized Experience

New haptic technologies have presented the field of modern design practice with new opportunities for body based interactions. In the following paper the author presents a case for a new focus of study, Soma Literacy, centered in the fields of Interaction Design and Experience. Pulling from the fields of somaesthetics (Shustermann), performance as practice (Schwiebert), and pragmatic philosophy (Dewey), the author presents a tier of experience, understood at the soma-level as the center of perception and action. The author proposes a study in soma-literacy, where the participant would be skilled to analyze, interpret, reveal, and make meaning through the bodied content present in all experience. The author then presents initial research in presenting the agenda in a participatory, body-in-motion, course format.
A new paradigm for understanding management technology: a research agenda for "technocologists"

This article focuses on developing a conceptual framework for understanding management as technology. A three–dimensional model design is introduced representing management core, enabling, and supporting technologies. The key characteristics of the new management paradigm are discussed. An application of the new paradigm to the area of management of technical professionals is presented. Some research directions for management of technology as an emerging discipline are also explored.
Berunda Polypeptides: Multi-Headed Fusion Proteins Promote Subcutaneous Administration of Rapamycin to Breast Cancer In Vivo

Recombinant Elastin-Like Polypeptides (ELPs) serve as attractive scaffolds for nanoformulations because they can be charge-neutral, water soluble, high molecular weight, monodisperse, biodegradable, and decorated with functional proteins. We recently reported that fusion of the FK-506 binding protein 12 (FKBP) to an ELP nanoparticle (FSI) reduces rapamycin (Rapa) toxicity and enables intravenous (IV) therapy in both a xenograft breast cancer model and a murine autoimmune disease model. Rapa has poor solubility, which leads to variable oral bioavailability or drug precipitation following parenteral administration. While IV administration is routine during chemotherapy, cytostatic molecules like Rapa would require repeat administrations in clinical settings. To optimize FKBP/Rapa for subcutaneous (SC) administration, this manuscript expands upon first-generation FSI nanoparticles (Rh ~ 25 nm) and compares them with two second-generation carriers (FA and FAF) that: i) do not self-assemble; ii) retain a hydrodynamic radius (Rh ~ 7 nm) above the renal filtration cutoff; iii) increase tumor accumulation; and iv) have either one (FA) or two (FAF) drug-binding FKBP domains per ELP protein. Methods: The carriers were compared and evaluated for temperature-concentration phase behavior by UV-Vis spectrophotometry; equilibrium binding and thermodynamics by Isothermal Titration Calorimetry; drug retention and formulation stability by Dialysis and Dynamic Light Scattering; in vitro efficacy using a cell proliferation assay; in vivo efficacy in human MDA-MB-468 orthotopic breast cancer xenografts; downstream target inhibition using western blot; tissue histopathology; and bio-distribution via optical imaging in the orthotopic xenograft mouse model. Results: Named after the two-headed bird in Hindu mythology, the 'Berunda polypeptide' FAF with molecular weight of 97 kDa and particle size, Rh ~ 7 nm demonstrated polypeptide conformation of a soluble hydrated coiled polymer, retained formulation stability for one month post Rapa loading, eliminated toxicity observed with free Rapa after SC administration, suppressed tumor growth, decreased phosphorylation of a downstream target, and increased tumor accumulation in orthotopic breast tumor xenografts. Conclusion: This comprehensive manuscript demonstrates the versatility of recombinant protein-polymers to investigate drug carrier architectures. Furthermore, their facilitation of SC administration of poorly soluble drugs, like Rapa, may enable chronic self-administration in patients.
Immigrants’ labor supply response to Food Stamp access

Abstract Welfare reform in 1996 created a new, large disparity in Food Stamp eligibility between documented non-citizen immigrants and natives. Subsequent policies restored eligibility for most of these immigrants at different times in different states, and I use these changes to estimate the effect of program access on the labor supply of immigrants–a policy-relevant population. The Food Stamp program is one of the largest safety net programs today, and my analysis provides one of the first quasi-experimental estimates of the effects of the modern Food Stamp program on adult labor supply. I find strong evidence of labor supply disincentives, and the magnitude and margin of this response varies across demographic groups. Access to the program reduces the employment rates of single women by about 6%, whereas married men continue to work but reduce their hours of work by 5%. These findings confirm the predictions of traditional labor supply theory regarding the response to a means-tested program.