cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Housing submarkets and the impacts of foreclosures on property prices

Abstract The dramatic rise in the number of foreclosed properties since 2006 has come to assume the proportions of a national crisis. It is widely acknowledged that foreclosures hurt neighborhoods by devaluing the nearby properties through various channels. This paper offers a new way of conceptualizing and then estimating the potential effects of foreclosures on property values. Housing stock heterogeneity in the central city old neighborhood allows for the possibility that the impacts of nearby foreclosures may differ across types of housing. This study uses a dataset that covers twenty years of housing values from the City of Worcester (MA), and finds evidence that foreclosures of multi-family houses in close proximity influence the sales price of surrounding single-family properties after controlling for impact from foreclosure of nearby single-family houses. The most preferred estimate suggests that each multi-family foreclosure that occurs between 660 and 1320 feet away from the sale lowers the predicted sales price by approximately 3%. Nearby multi-family spillover impacts also persist over time. In addition, a new approach advocating for an alternative definition of housing submarket suggests that a distant foreclosure within the same submarket also lower sales price of a single-family home by 0.1%.
Outcomes after repeat transsphenoidal surgery for recurrent Cushing's disease.

Objective To systematically analyze patient outcomes after repeat transsphenoidal (TS) surgery for recurrent Cushing's disease. Methods We retrospectively reviewed records of all patients with recurrent Cushing's disease who underwent repeat TS surgery for resection of a pituitary corticotroph adenoma at the University of Virginia Medical Center from 1992 to 2006. Remission at follow-up was defined as a normal postoperative 24-hour urine free cortisol, or continued need for glucocorticoid replacement after repeat TS surgery. Recurrence of the disease was defined as an elevated 24-hour urine free cortisol with clinical symptoms consistent with Cushing's disease while not receiving glucocorticoid replacement. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to evaluate the effect of potential predictors on remission. Recurrence rates, subsequent treatments, and the final endocrine status of the patients are presented. Results We identified 36 patients who underwent repeat TS surgery for recurrent Cushing's disease. The mean age of the patients was 40.3 years (range, 17.1-63.0 yr), and 26 were women. The median time to recurrence after initial successful TS surgery was 36 months (range, 4 mo-16 yr). Remission after repeat TS surgery was observed in 22 (61%) of the 36 patients. During the same time period, of the 338 patients who underwent first-time TS surgery for Cushing's disease, remission was achieved in 289 (85.5%). The odds of failure (to achieve remission) for patients with repeat TS surgery for recurrent Cushing's disease were 3.7 times that of patients undergoing first-time TS surgery (odds ratio, 3.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.8-7.8). Two of the 22 patients with successful repeat TS surgery had a second recurrence at 6 and 11 months, respectively. Complete biochemical and clinical remission after stereotactic radiosurgery, adrenalectomy, and ongoing ketoconazole therapy was achieved in 30 (83.3%) of the 36 patients, and active disease continued in 6 patients (16.7%). Conclusion Although the success of repeat TS surgery for recurrence of Cushing's disease is less than that of initial surgery, a second procedure offers a reasonable possibility of immediate remission. If the operation is not successful, other treatments, including pituitary radiation, medical therapy, and even bilateral adrenalectomy, are required.
Quarkonium physics in CMS

The CMS experiment is collecting and analyzing collision data from LHC. In the first few months of LHC operation, the CMS experiment has placed considerable emphasis on quarkonium measurements, profiting from affordable dimuon trigger rates, even with relatively loose trigger requirements. Some preliminary results will show the performance capability of CMS for investigating quarkonium physics in the dimuon channel, particularly in the J / ψ and ϒ mass windows, from pp interactions at s = 7 TeV .
The determination of 2'-O-methylnucleosides in RNA.

Abstract A rapid and sensitive procedure is described for determining the 2′- O -methylnucleoside methylnucleoside composition of an RNA sample. The RNA is enzymatically hydrolyzed to nucleosides and the 2′- O -methylnucleoside fraction is isolated by DEAE-cellulose (borate) column chromatography. Boric acid is removed as its methyl ester and the 2′- O -methylnucleosides are resolved by liquid chromatography in the presence of ethylene glycol. The sensitivity of this method is sufficient to distinguish RNA samples which differ only 2–3% in 2′- O -methylnucleoside composition.
Student perspectives on learning through developing software for the real world

From a student's perspective, the standard computer science curriculum can effectively develop fundamental software design principles and techniques, but may struggle to fully prepare students for professional practice. Real-world projects require many skills that are challenging to foster in the classroom, including the ability to implement large applications, interact professionally with others, and independently learn new concepts. Undergraduate programs have attempted to develop these abilities through capstone classes and by encouraging participation in co-ops and internships. At Ohio State University, nearly a dozen students have attempted to foster these abilities by doing long-term, real-world, large-scale, commercial-grade software development projects. The first such project recently released an iPhone-based, stadium-centric infotainment application to end-users in time for the 2010 football season. This paper, whose first author is an undergraduate computer science student, captures, from a student's perspective, the educational benefits of ongoing and real-world projects over the more traditional approaches. Following an examination of the educational impacts of these projects relative to the impacts of co-ops, internships and capstone classes, results suggest that long-term, real world projects are a valuable and synergistic component of an undergraduate education in computer science.
Host-pathogen dynamics in experimental populations of Silene alba and Ustilago violacea.I.Ecological and genetic determinants of disease spread.

1 To investigate the influence of within and among season factors on spread of anther-smut disease (Ustilago violacea), experimental populations of susceptible and resistant plants of (Silene alba) were established in a natural setting. 2 Frequency and density of diseased plants were both important predictors of percentage infection at the end of the growing season, but their relative importance varied across years. 3 Host families that were the progeny of relatively susceptible parents had consistently higher infection levels than families derived from more resistant parents. 4 Late flowering individuals or those producing fewer flowers were at lower risk of becoming infected. Male plants experienced a higher rate of infection because they initiated flowering earlier and produced more flowers than females. 5 There was greater over-wintering mortality of diseased plants than healthy plants in years when overall mortality was low but not in years in which mortality was high. 6 Host plants infected late in the season were more likely to recover than hosts infected early. 7 We conclude that detailed knowledge of within season environmental and genetic factors influencing disease spread does not adequately describe host-pathogen dynamics; epidemiological studies must also consider across season dynamic processes such as disease-induced mortality, host recovery, and recruitment.
Vasopressin content in select brain regions during extinction of a conditioned taste aversion.

Previous studies have shown that low levels of vasopressin during extinction of conditioned taste avoidance are associated with a faster extinction, that fluid deprivation differentially alters vasopressin levels in various neural areas, and that extinction of conditioned taste avoidance is accelerated in fluid deprived male rats. The following study was designed to identify areas of the brain in which vasopressin levels are different in fluid deprived and nondeprived males during extinction of conditioned taste avoidance. Arginine vasopressin content was determined by radioimmunoassay in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), medial amygdala (AMe), bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS), medial septum (MS), lateral septum (LS), and insular cortex (IC) of unconditioned nondeprived males and conditioned males that were maintained on a 23-h fluid deprivation schedule or that were nondeprived. Vasopressin content in the PVN of deprived and nondeprived males differed during extinction. Based on comparisons with unconditioned nondeprived males, this difference was due to an elevation in the vasopressin content of the nondeprived but not the deprived males. These results raise the possibility that a vasopressinergic system in the PVN plays a critical role in the differential extinction rate of fluid deprived and nondeprived males, which will need to be verified by manipulating vasopressin levels in this brain site during extinction of a conditioned taste avoidance.
Intestinal Migrating Myoelectric Complexes in Rats with Acute Pancreatitis and Bile Duct Ligation

Abstract Intestinal migrating myoelectric complexes (MMC) were studied in rats subjected to common bile duct ligation. Four pairs of bipolar electrodes were implanted on the jejunum and the ileum of 21 rats. Animals were allowed to recover 7 days before electrical recordings were made. Bile duct ligation at the entrance to the duodenum (low) or above the pancreas (high) or sham operation was performed. MMCs were recorded before and 48 and 72 hr after the operation in each animal. MMC intervals were unchanged following high ligation or sham operation. However, 48 hr after low bile duct ligation, the MMC interval (20.6 ± 2.5 min) was significantly prolonged compared with that before ligation (14.0 ± 1.2 min). Further prolonged intervals (28.4 ± 4.2 min) were observed 72 hr after the ligation. There were no significant differences among the slow wave frequencies in any group of animals, being in the range of 34.1 ± 1.1 to 36.3 ± 1.0 cycles/min. Thus, the MMC pattern in this rat model may be affected by the development of acute pancreatitis. The mechanism(s) responsible for altering the MMC pattern are not known; however, hepatic biliary secretion alone does not appear to play a primary role.
Adeno-Associated Virus Capsid Proteins May Play a Role in Transcription and Second-Strand Synthesis of Recombinant Genomes

A group of four interacting amino acids in adeno-associated virus type 8 (AAV8) called the pH quartet has been shown to undergo a structural change when subjected to acidic pH comparable to that seen in endosomal compartments. We examined the phenotypes of mutants with mutations in these amino acids as well as several nearby residues in the background of AAV2. We found that three of the mutations in this region (Y704A, E562A, and E564A) produce normal titers of mature capsids but are extremely defective for transduction (>10(7)-fold). The remaining mutants were also defective for transduction, but the defect in these mutants (E563A, E561A, H526A, and R389A) is not as severe (3- to 22-fold). Two other mutants (Y700A and Y730A) were found to be defective for virus assembly. One of the extremely defective mutants (Y704A) was found to enter the cell, traffic to the nucleus, and uncoat its DNA nearly as efficiently as the wild type. This suggested that some step after nuclear entry and uncoating was defective. To see if the extremely defective mutants were impaired in second-strand synthesis, the Y704A, E562A, and E564A mutants containing self-complementary DNA were compared with virus containing single-stranded genomes. Two of the mutants (Y704A and E564A) showed 1-log and 3-log improvements in infectivity, respectively, while the third mutant (E562A) showed no change. This suggested that inhibition of second-strand synthesis was responsible for some but not most of the defect in these mutants. Comparison of Y704A mRNA synthesis with that of the wild-type capsid showed that accumulation of steady-state mRNA in the Y704A mutant was reduced 450-fold, even though equal genome numbers were uncoated. Our experiments have identified a novel capsid function. They suggest that AAV capsids may play a role in the initiation of both second-strand synthesis and transcription of the input genome.
Determinants of Success in the National Football League’s Postseason How Important Is Previous Playoff Experience?

This study investigates many commonly purported beliefs by fans and media concerning a team’s likelihood of advancing in the National Football League’s (NFL) postseason, including the impact of a t...
Scepticism and Naturalism in Cavell and Hume

This essay argues that the exploration of scepticism and its implications in the work of Stanley Cavell and David Hume bears more similarities than is commonly acknowledged, especially along the lines of what I wish to call “sceptical naturalism.” These lines of similarity are described through the way each philosopher relates the “natural” and “nature” to the universal, the necessary, and the conventional.
Serum ferritin as a measure of iron stores in adolescents.

ADOLESCENTS ARE particularly susceptible to develop nutritional deficiencies because of their rapid rate of growth and maturational changes. Numerous reports indicate that iron deficiency is a common problem during adolescence~,2; however, limited information is available regarding iron stores in this age group. Ferritin, an iron storage molecule, circulates in plasma in levels directly proportional to body iron stores 3 and is recognized as a useful tool for assessment of iron status? Plasma ferritin levels have rarely been quantified in adolescent population groups. ~ In the present study, plasma ferritin levels were determined as a measure of iron stores in male and female adolescents.
The Saccharomyces Ty5 retrotransposon family is associated with origins of DNA replication at the telomeres and the silent mating locus HMR

Abstract We have characterized the genomic organization of the Ty5 retrotransposons among diverse strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the related species Saccharomyces paradoxus. The S. cerevisiae strain S288C (or its derivatives) carries eight Ty5 insertions. Six of these are located near the telomeres, and five are found within 500 bp of autonomously replicating sequences present in the type X subtelomeric repeat. The remaining two S. cerevisiae elements are adjacent to the silent mating locus HMR and are located within 500 bp of the origin of replication present in the transcriptional silencer HMR-E. Although the S. cerevisiae Ty5 elements no longer appear capable of transposition, some strains of S. paradoxus have numerous Ty5 insertions, suggesting that transposition is occurring in this species. Most of these elements are adjacent to type X telomeric repeats, and regions flanking four of five characterized S. paradoxus insertions carry autonomously replicating sequences. The genomic organization of the Ty5 elements is in marked contrast to the other S. cerevisiae retrotransposon families (Ty1-4), which are typically located within 500 bp of tRNA genes. For Ty3, this association reflects an interaction between Ty3 and the RNA polymerase III transcription complex, which appears to direct integration [Chalker, D. L. & Sandmeyer, S. B. (1992) Genes Dev. 6, 117-128]. By analogy to Ty3, we predict that Ty5 target choice is specified by interactions with factors present at both the telomeres and HMR that are involved in DNA replication, transcription silencing, or the maintenance of the unique chromatin structure at these sites.
The southeast collegiate cyber defense competition

In April 2006, Kennesaw State University (KSU) hosted the first ever Southeast Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition. This event drew student teams from institutions throughout the Southeast US to spend a grueling 48 hour period configuring, updating, protecting and managing a network segment from continuous business request and constant attacks from aggressive penetration testing by commercial "tiger teams". This event, now reoccurring annually, requires diligent preparation by the student teams and extensive planning and organization on the parts of the host institutions. This paper overviews the history of the event and lessons learned in the design, conduct and management of the competition.
Using in situ voltammetry as a tool to identify and characterize habitats of iron-oxidizing bacteria: from fresh water wetlands to hydrothermal vent sites

Iron-oxidizing bacteria (FeOB) likely play a large role in the biogeochemistry of iron, making the detection and understanding of the biogeochemical processes FeOB are involved in of critical importance. By deploying our in situ voltammetry system, we are able to measure a variety of redox species, specifically Fe(II) and O2, simultaneously. This technique provides significant advantages in both characterizing the environments in which microaerophilic FeOB are found, and finding diverse conditions in which FeOB could potentially thrive. Described here are four environments with different salinities [one fresh groundwater seep site, one beach-groundwater mixing site, one hydrothermal vent site (Mid-Atlantic Ridge), and one estuary (Chesapeake Bay)] where in situ voltammetry was deployed, and where the presence of FeOB were confirmed by either culturing methods or molecular data. The sites varied in both O2 and Fe(II) content with O2 ranging from below the 3 μM detection limit of the electrodes at the Chesapeake Bay suboxic zone, to as high 150 μM O2 at the vent site. In addition, a range of Fe(II) concentrations supported FeOB communities, from 3 μM Fe(II) in the Chesapeake Bay to 300 μM in the beach aquifer. In situ electrochemistry provides the means to quickly measure these redox gradients at appropriate resolution, making it possible in real time to detect niches likely inhabited by microaerophilic FeOB, then accurately sample for proof of FeOB presence and activity. This study demonstrates the utility of this approach while also greatly expanding our knowledge of FeOB habitats.
On the Structure of the D 3 Line of Helium

DUE to the position of helium in the periodic table, relative to that of the alkaline earth metals, it has been frequently pointed out that its spectrum should consist of systems of singlets and triplets instead of the observed singlets and doublets. An unsuccessful attempt has been made to resolve the strong component of the doublet into the two expected components with the expected separation of approximately 0.17 A.U., since the separation of the observed components is 0.34 A.U. approximately.
Determination of the Complete ODF of Cubic System Materials by theMaximum Entropy Method

A maximum entropy method (MEM) suitable for determining the complete ODF of cubic system materials is developed. This method treats the cubic system material texture data just as if they were if tegragonal besides introducing the relations among W lmn which characterize the cubic system. As experimental evidence this method has been applied to determine the complete ODF of a cold-rolled deep-drawing steel sheet sample and the result shows that the texture of the sample, as is supposed, consists of a {111} fiber and an incomplete 〈110〉 fiber only while the negative regions and the weak ghosts presented in the incomplete ODF of the same sample are disappeared here.
A comparative study of the glyceryl ether and other lipids of vertebrate lens

Abstract 1. 1. Free alkyl glyceryl ethers were shown to be present in the lens of elevent species of vertebrates, from fish to man, in widely varying concentrations. 2. 2. Only rabbit lens had, in addition, free alkenyl glyceryl ether. 3. 3. The ethanolamine and lyso ethanolamine phosphatides isolated from adult human lens were shown to consist largely of the alkyl analogs. 4. 4. Free ceramides were detectable only in the lens of cat and adult man. 5. 5. Age related changes in phosphatides and other lipids of human lens are described.
Technique for analysing cascaded frequency selective surface screens with dissimilar lattice geometries

The paper presents an efficient technique for analysing cascaded frequency selective surfaces (FSS) with non-commensurate periodicities by using an iterative approach based on the discrete plane wave spectrum (PWS) expansion. In this method, the tangential electric fields at the interfaces of the screens are first expanded in a set of transverse electric and transverse magnetic waves, and the responses of the individual FSS screens are derived for each of these waves. The transmission and reflection characteristics of the composite structure are then computed in an iterative manner, circumventing the need for matrix inversions. Such inversions can be extremely expensive in terms of CPU time and memory for non-commensurate FSS, because the analysis of the structures can no longer be reduced to that of a single cell by invoking Floquet's theorem. Representative numerical examples are presented to illustrate the computational advantage gained by using the proposed approach as apposed to a conventional scattering matrix cascading technique, which is strictly valid only for composites with commensurate periodicities.
Training and instructions in the facilitation of originality

Summary In order to assess the effects on originality of Maltzman's training procedure in contrast to instructions to be original, word-association lists and Guilford's Unusual Uses Test were administered. No differences among experimental groups were indicated on an initial equating association list. On the first administration of a training list, the CO group (instructions—no training) and the XO group (instructions—training) were told to present original associations while customary word-association instructions were given to the C (no instructions—no training) group and the X (no instructions—training) group. The C and CO groups were given no further opportunities to respond to the training list. The X and XO groups responded five additional times to the training list with instructions to give a different association to each stimulus word on each occasion. In addition, the XO group continued to receive instructions to be original. Analysis of responses to a test list indicated significant independent effects of instructions and training in facilitating originality. Training, but not instructions, resulted in significantly more unique, common, and total responses on the Unusual Uses Test. The testlist results are discussed in terms of nonspecific transfer effects and instructionally derived response tendencies. The results of the Unusual Uses Test suggest that the demand for greater productivity during training leads to greater productivity in the transfer task, with increased originality as a secondary effect of productivity.
A quantitative representation of halothane solubility and mobility in brain tissue

Abstract Evers, Berkowitz and d'Avignon [Nature, 328 (1987) 157; Nature, 341 (1989) 766] have recently determined the steady-state concentration of halothane in rat brain tissue as a function of inspired halothane concentration, using a NMR technique. These investigators reported that the dissolved halothane appears to be distributed in two distinct microenvironments in the brain tissue. The halothane concentration in one of these microenvironments increases linearly with inspired halothane concentration, whereas the concentration in the other microenvironment reaches saturation at about 2.5 vol. % inspired halothane. Moreover, the mobility of the halothane molecules appears to be different in the two microenvironments. It is suggested hereby that these results can be quantified in terms of a “dual-mode” sorption model, which was found to be very successful in describing the solution and transport of a variety of gases and vapors in microheterogeneous polymers.
Basalt from Louisiana continental shelf

A basalt outcrop was discovered on Alderdice Bank on the outer Louisiana continental shelf. The basalt shows an age of 76.8 ± 3.3 × 106 years. Textural, mineralogical, and chemical characteristics indicate that it is an alkali basalt of shallow intrusive origin. It was probably brought to the seafloor by salt tectonics and exposed due to salt dissolution.
XPD/ERCC2 EXON 8 Polymorphisms: rarity and lack of significance in risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Abstract Background . Inherited polymorphisms of DNA repair genes may contribute to genetic susceptibility to squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). The objective was to assess whether two polymorphisms in the nucleotide excision repair gene XPD ( ERCC2 ) are markers of SCCHN risk. Methods . We performed a hospital-based case-control study of 180 SCCHN patients and 400 cancer-free controls frequency matched on age, sex, smoking, and alcohol use. All subjects were non-Hispanic whites. XPD alleles 23047 and 23051 were assessed by digestion with the restriction enzymes Xho II and Sph I after PCR amplification. Results . The XPD 23047 G and XPD 23051 T alleles were extremely rare among both the cases and controls (allele frequencies P >0.6). Conclusions . The 23047 and 23051 variants of the DNA repair gene XPD are extremely rare and do not contribute significantly to the risk of SCCHN in the non-Hispanic white population.
Beep Detection Technique for Immediate Documentation of R Wave Sensing by an Implanted Defibrillator

A technique is described for follow-up clinic evaluation and documentation of R wave detection by an implanted defibrillator that emits audible tones upon magnet application whenever an R wave or other signal is sensed. A circuit comprising an electrets microphone, an instrumentation amplifier, a high-pass filter, and an envelope detector is used to generate a signal that may be plotted together with a surface-lead electrocardiogram on a two-channel strip-chart recorder. The resulting plot documents the sensing function of the implanted device and serves as an indication of optimal magnet position. Alternatively, the beep detector output could be used to trigger the inscription of fiduciary markers on a single-channel strip-chart recorder equipped with an auxiliary input for this purpose.
Design and synthesis of substrate and internal standard conjugates for profiling enzyme activity in the Sanfilippo syndrome by affinity chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

We describe the design and synthesis of substrate and internal standard conjugates for application in profiling enzyme activity of the enzymes α-d-2-deoxy-2-N-sulfonamido-glucosamine sulfamidase, α-d-2-deoxy-2-N-acetyl-glucosamine hydrolase, acetyl-coenzymeA:α-d-2-deoxy-2-amino-glucosamine transferase, and α-d-2-deoxy-2-N-acetyl-glucosamine-6-sulfate sulfatase. Deficiency of any one of these enzymes results in a single clinical phenotype known as Sanfilippo syndrome. Such substrates have been proven effective in the confirmation of enzyme deficiency by a combination of affinity chromatography (AC) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESIMS), which forms the foundation for a new analytical technology (ACESIMS) of general interest and application to clinical and biomedical research.
Mediation or mediatisation: The history of media in the study of religion

Several different accounts of ‘mediatisation’ and ‘mediation’ circulate in the literature of media studies. This paper begins with a parsing of them, considering their conceptual distinctions and similarities. The argument developed here is for a general theory of mediation and a more particular view of mediatisation. Although developing a critical assessment of a prevailing notion of mediatisation, the paper does not dismiss it, but regards it as exhibiting a limited usefulness. In order to make its case, the paper relies on the case study of Evangelical ephemeral print in Britain circa 1800, examining the production and circulation of tracts in order to show that arguments for mediatisation need to be strongly qualified by historical evidence. Greater reliance on historical precedents will strengthen studies of mediatisation by chastening the often exorbitant and ahistorical claims made for it.
Isocyanate-Crosslinked Silica Aerogel Monoliths: Preparation and Characterization

Abstract Polymerization of di- and tri-isocyanates can be templated onto the mesoporous surface of a preformed network of sol–gel-derived silica nanoparticles, resulting in a conformal ‘crosslinked’ coating that renders the interparticle neck zone wider. Upon drying, these crosslinked networks yield aerogels which are up to ∼3× more dense than native aerogels based on the underlying silica framework, but also up to 10× less hygroscopic and they may take more than 300× the force to break. These results have been obtained with one-step based-catalyzed sol–gel silica networks, as well as with gels derived through a two-step process involving an acid-catalyzed sol and a based-catalyzed gel. Furthermore, it has been also found that crosslinking increases the dielectric constant only by ∼35% relative to values reported in the literature for native silica aerogels of about the same porosity. Chemical investigations into the polymerization reaction have shown that the process of crosslinking involves reaction of the isocyanate with: (a) OH groups at the surface of silica to form carbamate; and (b) adsorbed water, to form an amine and carbon dioxide. This amine then reacts with additional isocyanates resulting in polymer chain extension and bridging of particles with urethane-terminated polyurea.
Electronic implementation of neuromorphic systems

The electronic implementation of neuromorphic systems requires technologies well matched to the functions of storage and the computation of sums of products. Additional requirements are low-power, high fan-out capability and high-density interconnect. Massive parallelism and redundancy mitigate the accuracy limitations of analog circuits and force consideration of analog and analog-digital components for network realization. Adaptive neuromorphic networks have the potential for self-organization and learning in speech and image understanding systems requiring minimal human intervention. >
Structural modelling and mutagenesis of human cytomegalovirus alkaline nuclease UL98.

Human cytomegalovirus encodes an alkaline nuclease, UL98, that is highly conserved among herpesviruses and has both endonuclease (endo) and exonuclease (exo) activities. This protein is thought to be important for viral replication and therefore represents a potential target for antiviral development; however, little is known about its structure or role in viral replication. Comparative structural modelling was used to build a model of UL98 based on the known structure of shutoff and exonuclease protein from Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus. The model predicts that UL98 residues D254, E278 and K280 represent the critical aspartic acid, glutamic acid and lysine active-site residues, respectively, while R164 and S252 correspond to residues proposed to bind the 5′ phosphate of the DNA substrate. UL98 with an amino-terminal hexahistidine tag was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified by affinity chromatography and confirmed to have exo and endo activities. Amino acid substitutions D254A, E278A, K280A and S252A virtually eliminated exo and endo activities, whereas R164A retained full endo activity but only 10 % of the exo activity compared with the wild-type enzyme. A mutant virus lacking UL98 was viable but severely attenuated for replication, while one expressing UL98(R164A) replicated normally. These results confirm the utility of the model in representing the active-site region of UL98 and suggest a mechanism for the differentiation of endonuclease and exonuclease activities. These findings could facilitate the exploration of the roles of alkaline nucleases in herpesvirus replication and the rational design of inhibitors that target their enzymic activities.
Teaching the Process of Science: Faculty Perceptions and an Effective Methodology

Most scientific endeavors require science process skills such as data interpretation, problem solving, experimental design, scientific writing, oral communication, collaborative work, and critical analysis of primary literature. These are the fundamental skills upon which the conceptual framework of scientific expertise is built. Unfortunately, most college science departments lack a formalized curriculum for teaching undergraduates science process skills. However, evidence strongly suggests that explicitly teaching undergraduates skills early in their education may enhance their understanding of science content. Our research reveals that faculty overwhelming support teaching undergraduates science process skills but typically do not spend enough time teaching skills due to the perceived need to cover content. To encourage faculty to address this issue, we provide our pedagogical philosophies, methods, and materials for teaching science process skills to freshman pursuing life science majors. We build upon previous work, showing student learning gains in both reading primary literature and scientific writing, and share student perspectives about a course where teaching the process of science, not content, was the focus. We recommend a wider implementation of courses that teach undergraduates science process skills early in their studies with the goals of improving student success and retention in the sciences and enhancing general science literacy.
Virtual electrodes in the termination of ventricular fibrillation in protective zones

The authors used high-resolution optical recording technique to study the mechanism of protective zone during electrical induction of ventricular fibrillation (VF). Using programmed-stimulation, VF can be induced and terminated with successive stimuli. "Break activation" in virtual electrode mechanism appeared to be responsible for both the onset and cessation of VF.
Three-dimensional Echocardiography Is Not Essential for Intraoperative Assessment of Mitral Regurgitation

The problem is not what you see on intraoperative echocardiography; it is what you do not see. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography and 3-dimensional (3D) echocardiography provide useful information for the surgeon performing mitral valve surgery, but they are not indispensable. We should consider the outstanding results of the pioneer of mitral valve repair, Professor Alain Carpentier. A report of very late results (>20 years) of the earliest series (1970–1984) of mitral valve repair is informative.1 Even without the availability of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography, the late results were outstanding. At 20 years, freedom from reoperation was 96.9% for patients with posterior leaflet prolapse and 86.2% for patients with anterior prolapse. At the last follow-up (median, 17 years) 15% had moderate or worse mitral regurgitation. An experienced mitral valve surgeon can achieve durable high-quality results without any echocardiography, so 3D echocardiography is not essential. Response by Tsang and Lang on p 658 What is essential for mitral valve surgery? The fundamental elements from the surgical standpoint are the same whether the procedure is performed through a sternotomy or a minimally invasive incision or is robotically assisted. Achieving good surgical exposure is paramount.2 Numerous surgical techniques, including the type and location of venous cannulation, the atrial incision, retraction of the atrial wall, sutures to help rotate the valve and improve visualization, and occasionally the use of an instrument pushing from outside the heart to facilitate exposure of commissures or the anterior leaflet, are routine practice to optimally visualize the valve. Unless the surgeon is expert in the first step of the procedure, results will be compromised. A perfect 3D echocardiography image of the valve will not compensate for poor exposure. Although real-time 3D color echocardiography is useful, there is nothing more realistic than real-time 3D color visualization through 2.5-power loupes by the …
Second harmonic generation of broadband all-fiber Raman source

Summary from only given. We demonstrated second harmonic generation of a 1064 nm CW Yb-doped fiber laser pumped broadband Raman source. The generations of 532 and 793 nm were implemented by 6.5 and 19.6 micrometer periodically poled LiNbO/sub 3/ in the temperature-controlled oven. With broad IR range Raman Stokes, it is possible to generate a broad visible range light source.
The type-token ratio in schizophrenic disorders: Clinical and research value.

Prior research has indicated that the type-token ratio (TTR), a measure of repetition in language, correlates with clinical judgements of thought disorder when spoken language was examined, and differentiates statistically thought-disordered from non-thought-disordered schizophrenics and psychiatric and normal controls. We replicated this finding and examined the clinical sensitivity and specificity of the TTR measure in the diagnosis and in the assessment of thought disorder. The current clinical value of the TTR is limited, but further investigations of the nature of repetition in schizophrenic language are warranted.
Volcanic history of the magdalena District, New Mexico

The Magdalena District in central New Mexico comprises the Magdalena Range and Granite Mountain which are block mountains of the Basin Range type. They consist of Carboniferous sedimentary formations on a pre-Cambrian basement and are covered by Tertiary volcanic rocks. Volcanism in the District was preceded by considerable faulting, tilting, and uplifting very probably in early Tertiary time. The initial volcanic extrusion consisted of latite flows and tuffs now resting unconformably on the Granite Mountain fault-block in the northern part of the District. Subsequent extrusions consisted of alternations of andesites, rhyolites, and latites, and have a minimum thickness of approximately 4,000 feet. Graben faulting, probably in compensation for the effusion of the large volumes of lava, followed and some of the major faults were subsequently the sites of the intrusion of monzonitic and granitic stocks. Late lamprophyre and white rhyolite dikes in large numbers intruded the intrusive as well as earlier extrusive and sedimentary rocks.
Congestion Measures for Organized Markets in the U.S.

Transmission lines deliver electricity that is generated at power plants to loads. When there is not sufficient transmission capacity to schedule or transport all desired electricity transfers, the transmission system is constrained, and the particular line, flow gate or interface is congested. While it is useful to measure congestion for several reasons - to identify where and how much congestion exists and how this changes over time, to determine whether or what to do about it, and to assess the effectiveness of actions taken - it is challenging to measure congestion in a meaningful and consistent way across markets or over time in the same market. This paper examines current public reporting of congestion measures for organized markets in the U.S., and what these measures can and cannot tell us about congestion across regions or over time in the same region.
Constant power loads and negative impedance instability in automotive systems: definition, modeling, stability, and control of power electronic converters and motor drives

Power electronic converters and electric motor drives are being put into use at an increasingly rapid rate in advanced automobiles. However, the new advanced automotive electrical systems employ multivoltage level hybrid ac and dc as well as electromechanical systems that have unique characteristics, dynamics, and stability problems that are not well understood due to the nonlinearity and time dependency of converters and because of their constant power characteristics. The purpose of this paper is to present an assessment of the negative impedance instability concept of the constant power loads (CPLs) in automotive power systems. The main focus of this paper is to analyze and propose design criteria of controllers for automotive converters/systems operating with CPLs. The proposed method is to devise a new comprehensive approach to the applications of power electronic converters and motor drives in advanced automotive systems. Sliding-mode and feedback linearization techniques along with large-signal phase plane analysis are presented as methods to analyze, control, and stabilize automotive converters/systems with CPLs
Torque measurements of an automotive halfshaft utilizing a MEMS resonant strain gauge

This work presents the adaptation of a MEMS double ended tuning fork resonant strain gauge to torque sensing applications. The gauge is oriented to measure torque induced shear strain. The strain gauge is epoxy bonded onto an automotive halfshaft and resonated using a square wave oscillator circuit. For this system, the MEMS resonant sensor has a torque sensitivity of 10.55 Hz/Nm (46 ppm/Nm), which is comparable to other high sensitivity torque transducers [1]. Furthermore, the system may resolve 0.01 μ∈ (0.005 Nm) in a 4 kHz bandwidth.
Normal and glucocorticoid-induced development of the human small intestinal xenograft.

The aim of this study was to determine whether intestinal xenografts could recapitulate human in utero development by using disaccharidases as markers. Twenty-week-old fetal intestine was transplan...
It Comes from the People: Community Development and Local Theology

It Comes from the People: Community Development and Local Theology. MARY ANN HINSDALE, HELEN M. LEWIS, and S. MAXINE WALLER. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1995. xviii + 400 pp., illustrations, appendixes, notes, index.
Cued in: honey bee pheromones as information flow and collective decision-making

Recent studies using diverse disciplines ranging from classical behavioral assays to quantitative trait locus mapping, have revealed that chemical communication in honey bees is generally complex. Pheromones that are blends of multiple components are the rule rather than the exception. Subsets of multiple component blends regulate common and different systems. Reviewed are recent studies in pheromone regulation of colony defense, foraging ontogeny, and retinue behavior. Honey bee chemical communication is discussed as an emergent property of a complex system with dynamic properties calling for a complex systems approach of analysis. Apis mellifera / pheromone / chemical communication / social regulation / emergent property / complex system
American Society of Echocardiography/Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Recommendations and Guidelines for Continuous Quality Improvement in Perioperative Echocardiography

Joseph P. Mathew, MD, FASE, Kathryn Glas, MD, FASE, Christopher A. Troianos, MD, Pamela Sears-Rogan, MD, FASE, Robert Savage, MD, Jack Shanewise, MD, FASE, Joseph Kisslo, MD, FASE, Solomon Aronson, MD, FASE, and Stanton Shernan, MD, FASE, for the Council for Intraoperative Echocardiography of the American Society of Echocardiography, Durham, North Carolina, Atlanta, Georgia, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Washington, DC, Cleveland, Ohio, New York, New York, and Boston, Massachusetts
Streptococcus pyogenes cytolysin‐mediated translocation does not require pore formation by streptolysin O

Bacterial toxin injection into the host cell is required for the virulence of numerous pathogenic bacteria. Cytolysin-mediated translocation (CMT) of Streptococcus pyogenes uses streptolysin O (SLO) to translocate the S. pyogenes nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-glycohydrolase (SPN) into the host cell cytosol, resulting in the death of the host cell. Although SLO is a pore-forming protein, previous studies have shown that pore formation alone is not sufficient for CMT to occur. Thus, the role and requirement of the SLO pore remains unclear. In this study, we constructed various S. pyogenes strains expressing altered forms of SLO to assess the importance of pore formation. We observed that SLO mutants that are unable to form pores retain the ability to translocate SPN. In addition, SPN translocation occurs after inhibition of actin polymerization, suggesting that CMT occurs independently of clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Moreover, despite the ability of mutants to translocate SPN, their cytotoxic effect requires SLO pore formation.
The impact of exposure technique on perioperative complications in patients undergoing elective open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of exposure technique on perioperative complications in patients undergoing elective open abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. Methods Using the Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Quality Initiative database, the study identified patients subjected to open AAA repair from January 2003 to July 2014 and divided them into two aortic exposure groups, retroperitoneal (RP) and transperitoneal (TP). Multivariable analysis was performed to compare the incidence of cardiac events (myocardial infarction, dysrhythmia, heart failure), prolonged intubation, renal dysfunction, and mortality, adjusting for between-group differences identified on univariate analysis. Results Open AAA repair was performed in 3530 patients, using RP in 26% and TP in 74%. The RP group had a higher rate of suprarenal aortic clamp (60.9% vs 30.2%; P P = .038), and lower rate of iliac aneurysms (18.0% vs 31.2%; P P = .009) and renal dysfunction (13.3% vs 16.5%; adjusted odds ratio, 0.65; 95% confidence interval, 0.46-0.97; P = .011). No difference in respiratory complications or mortality was identified. Conclusions Despite increased utilization of suprarenal aortic clamp during elective open AAA repair, the RP technique was associated with a lower risk-adjusted incidence of cardiac and renal complications compared with the TP technique.
Use of organic acids for the control of Clostridium perfringens in cooked vacuum-packaged restructured roast beef during an alternative cooling procedure.

This study was conducted to determine how well Clostridium perfringens spores germinate and grow in restructured roast beef treated with different commercial organic salts during an alternative chilling procedure. The meat was prepared according to an industrial recipe (10% water, 1.5% sodium chloride, and 0.5% sodium triphosphate). The base meat was treated with sodium citrate at 2 or 4.8% (wt/wt), buffered to a pH of 5.6, 5.0, or 4.4 (six treatments); a 60% (wt/wt) solution of sodium lactate at 2 or 4.8% (wt/wt); sodium acetate at 0.25% (wt/wt); or sodium diacetate at 0.25% (wt/wt). Untreated meat was used as a control. Meat samples were inoculated with a three-strain cocktail of C. perfringens spores (strains ATCC 10388, NCTC 8238, and NCTC 8239). Meat was vacuum packaged in bags and cooked in a stirred water bath to an internal temperature of 75 degrees C for 20 min, and then the bags were cooled from 54.4 to 4.4 degrees C within 18 h. Samples were taken after inoculation, after cooking, and after chilling. Spore and vegetative cell counts were obtained after incubation at 37 degrees C for 8 to 10 h in Fung's Double Tubes containing tryptose sulfite agar without egg yolk enrichment. Cooking was not sufficient to eliminate C. perfringens spores. Over the 18-h cooling period, sodium citrate, sodium lactate, and sodium diacetate reduced the growth of C. perfringens to or = 2% (wt/wt) inhibited C. perfringens growth over the 18-h cooling period.
Taxpayer Advocacy Panel: An Opportunity for Taxpayer Input

In a practice article, Philip Harmelink and William VanDenburgh, both professors at the University of New Orleans, look at the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel.