cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mortgage Discrimination and Racial/Ethnic Concentration Are Associated with Same-Race/Ethnicity Partnering among People Who Inject Drugs in 19 US Cities

Racial/ethnic homophily in sexual partnerships (partners share the same race/ethnicity) has been associated with racial/ethnic disparities in HIV. Structural racism may partly determine racial/ethnic homophily in sexual partnerships. This study estimated associations of racial/ethnic concentration and mortgage discrimination against Black and Latino residents with racial/ethnic homophily in sexual partnerships among 7847 people who inject drugs (PWID) recruited from 19 US cities to participate in CDC's National HIV Behavioral Surveillance. Racial/ethnic concentration was defined by two measures that respectively compared ZIP code-level concentrations of Black residents to White residents and Latino residents to White residents, using the Index of Concentration at the Extremes. Mortgage discrimination was defined by two measures that respectively compared county-level mortgage loan denial among Black applicants to White applicants and mortgage loan denial among Latino applicants to White applicants, with similar characteristics (e.g., income, loan amount). Multilevel logistic regression models were used to estimate associations. Interactions of race/ethnicity with measures of racial/ethnic concentration and mortgage discrimination were added to the final multivariable model and decomposed into race/ethnicity-specific estimates. In the final multivariable model, among Black PWID, living in ZIP codes with higher concentrations of Black vs. White residents and counties with higher mortgage discrimination against Black residents was associated with higher odds of homophily. Living in counties with higher mortgage discrimination against Latino residents was associated with lower odds of homophily among Black PWID. Among Latino PWID, living in ZIP codes with higher concentrations of Latino vs. White residents and counties with higher mortgage discrimination against Latino residents was associated with higher odds of homophily. Living in counties with higher mortgage discrimination against Black residents was associated with lower odds of homophily among Latino PWID. Among White PWID, living in ZIP codes with higher concentrations of Black or Latino residents vs. White residents was associated with lower odds of homophily, but living in counties with higher mortgage discrimination against Black residents was associated with higher odds of homophily. Racial/ethnic segregation may partly drive same race/ethnicity sexual partnering among PWID. Future empirical evidence linking these associations directly or indirectly (via place-level mediators) to HIV/STI transmission will determine how eliminating discriminatory housing policies impact HIV/STI transmission.
Radiation pneumonitis in lung cancer patients treated with chemoradiation plus durvalumab.

Introduction Durvalumab after concurrent chemoradiation (cCRT) is now standard of care for unresected stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, there is limited data on radiation pneumonitis (RP) with this regimen. Therefore, we assessed RP and evaluated previously validated toxicity models in predicting for RP in patients treated with cCRT and durvalumab. Methods Patients treated with cCRT and ≥ 1 dose of durvalumab were evaluated to identify cases of ≥ grade 2 RP. The validity of previously published RP models was assessed in this cohort as well a reference cohort treated with cCRT alone. The timing and incidence of RP was compared between cohorts. Results In total, 11 (18%) of the 62 patients who received cCRT and durvalumab developed ≥ grade 2 RP a median of 3.4 months after cCRT. The onset of RP among patients treated with cCRT and durvalumab was significantly longer vs the reference cohort (3.4 vs 2.1 months; P = .01). Numerically more patients treated with cCRT and durvalumab developed RP than patients in the reference cohort (18% vs 9%, P = .09). Among patients treated with cCRT and durvalumab, 82% (n = 9) were responsive to treatment with high-dose glucocorticoids. Previously published RP models widely underestimated the rate of RP in patients treated with cCRT and durvalumab [AUC ~ 0.50; p(Hosmer-Lemeshow): 0.98-1.00]. Conclusions Our data suggest a delayed onset of RP in patients treated with cCRT and durvalumab vs cCRT alone, and for RP to develop in a greater number of patients treated with cCRT and durvalumab. Previously published RP models significantly underestimate the rate of symptomatic RP among patients treated with cCRT and durvalumab.
Improved Recognition of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D2 by 2 Automated Immunoassays.

Background Despite recommendations to limit vitamin D testing to specific clinical scenarios, test volume remains high in many clinical laboratories. Automated total vitamin D immunoassays frequently under- or over-recover 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 [25(OH)D2], making accurate assessment of vitamin D status difficult in patients taking high-dose 25(OH)D2 supplements. Mass spectrometry-based methods offer excellent recovery of 25(OH)D2 but are not practical for use in all laboratories. In this study, we evaluated 2 automated immunoassays against an LC-MS/MS method performed at a national reference laboratory. Methods A method comparison against LC-MS/MS was performed for the Roche Elecsys Vitamin D total II assay and the IDS-iSYS 25 VitDS immunoassays using 49 patient specimens submitted for clinical 25(OH)D measurement. Mean bias was calculated, and vitamin D status was determined for each specimen according to the 2011 Endocrine Society clinical practice guidelines. Results Theil-Sen regression lines relative to LC-MS/MS were y = 0.88x + 2.94 for Roche and y = 1.03x + 2.48 for IDS. Mean bias (±SD) in samples with 25(OH)D2 concentrations less than 5 ng/mL was -0.25 ng/mL (±6.30) for Roche and -1.45 ng/mL (±6.82) for the IDS. Mean bias (±SD) in samples with 25(OH)D2 concentrations greater than 5 ng/mL was -3.19 ng/mL (±6.61) for Roche and 5.52 ng/mL (±6.36) for IDS. Median percentage recovery of 25(OH)D2 was 87.1% (interquartile range 76.0-111.3) for Roche and 120.6% (interquartile range: 105.3-133.4) for IDS. Vitamin D status was misclassified in 7 samples by the Roche assay and 3 by the IDS assay. For all but one of the discordant pairs, the immunoassay result was within 1.7 ng/mL of the diagnostic cutoff. Conclusions The automated immunoassays evaluated here demonstrate improved recovery of 25(OH)D2 relative to previous generations. Both are acceptable for use in the determination of vitamin D status.
Dumb and Predictable Bots Make Largescale Communication More Complex and Unpredictable

Automated communication bots follow deterministic local rules that either respond to programmed instructions or learned patterns. On the micro-level, their automated and reactive behavior makes certain parts of the communication dynamic more predictable. To the contrary, on the macro-level we find that the overall emergent communication process among humans and bots in Wikipedia becomes both more complex and less predictable. The presence of bots is the main explanatory variable for these seemingly contradictory tendencies. In short, individuals introduce bots to make communication more simple and predictable and end up making the largescale dynamic more complex and more uncertain. We also find evidence that bots make the dynamical signature of communication processes more homogeneous. We explain our results with the information processing nature of complex systems. Measures from dynamical systems theory are used to showcase a methodology that naturally lends itself to assess changes in communication dynamics provoked by algorithms.
The Link Between Responsive Classroom Training and Student–Teacher Relationship Quality in the Fifth Grade: A Study of Fidelity of Implementation

The Responsive Classroom (RC) approach is an instructional delivery and social–emotional learning intervention designed to provide teachers with skills needed to create caring, well-managed classro...
Launching Social Work with Groups

In this presentation, the author reports on the progress she and her coeditor have made in creating a new journal for social work with groups. She describes how the journal was built and how it will be structured. The authors of the articles and book reviews in the first two issues are named, and they are a veritable “Who’s Who” of leaders in the world of social work with groups. In closing, the author presents the Editorial Policy of the journal.
From Sharecroppers to Landowners: Paving the Way for West Bengal's Bargadars

West Bengal's sharecroppers, known as bargardars, have benefited enormously from the State's land reforms and legislation-implementation programs like Operation Barga. The success of West Bengal's efforts is evident in its villages: the economic and social status of many bargadars has been significantly enhanced. So much so, in fact, that many bargadars have taken the success a step further: on their own initiative, they are negotiating for, and obtaining ownership of, the land they cultivate as bargadars. West Bengal's Land Reform Act, however, did not fully contemplate the prospect of bargadar transactions in barga land and landowners are paying unnecessarily high prices - both monetary and otherwise - for these voluntary transactions. In order to obtain land ownership, bargadars often must engage in inefficient and costly two-step transactions with their landowners, which doubles administrative costs and requires significant time. Parties that attempt to avoid the additional costs by electing a more streamlined, one-step process may save extra stamp duty and fees, but often create a cloud on the title of the land. In both cases, the parties are paying more (or obtaining less) than necessary, and the cumbersome nature of the process likely has a deterrent effect on other potential transactions.
The reassociation of factor Va from its isolated subunits.

Abstract Factor Va is an essential cofactor for the activation of prothrombin catalyzed by factor Xa. The cofactor is a heterodimer composed of a light chain and a heavy chain that are associated noncovalently in the presence of divalent metal ions. The kinetics of the formation of factor Va from the isolated and separated subunits was examined by the time-dependent regain in cofactor activity using direct assays of prothrombin activation catalyzed by prothrombinase. The rate of reassociation at saturating concentrations of calcium ions was slow with a strong temperature dependence. The product of the association reaction was indistinguishable from native factor Va on the basis of activity. The second order rate constant for the process at 37 degrees C in the presence of 2 mM CaCl2 was 1.58 X 10(5) M-1.min-1. Manganese ion increased the rate of regain of activity without influencing the extent of the reaction. The previous identification of a single reactive sulfhydryl in each subunit of factor Va permitted the modification of the separated subunits with sulfhydryl-directed fluorophores. Subunit reassociation was directly measured by fluorescence energy transfer using light chain modified with 6-acryloyl-2-dimethylaminonaphthalene (fluorescence donor) and heavy chain modified with fluorescein 5-maleimide (fluorescence acceptor). Fluorescence measurements indicate that the heavy and light chains associate tightly (Kd = 5.9 x 10(-9) M) and reversibly with a stoichiometry of 1:1. The dissociation of the subunits from the cofactor is first order with a rate constant of 1.03 X 10(-3) min-1. These interpretations were confirmed by physical measurements of subunit reassociation by sedimentation velocity studies.
Introduction: Spallation Reactions and their Occurrences

This volume of collected articles deals with the type of nuclear reactions commonly called “spallation reactions” and with their occurrence in astrophysics, geophysics, radiotherapy, and radiobiology. There is no generally accepted definition of the term “spallation reaction” usage differs somewhat from discipline to discipline. Astrophysicists, who have little interest in the mechanism of the reaction but great interest in its outcome, tend to use the term with more abandon than the nuclear chemists, who over the years have done most of the systematic research on the process at high-energy accelerators. Cosmicray physicists, who have dealt with spallation reactions for decades, continue to refer to such reactions suffered by cosmic rays as “fragmentations”, to the dismay of nuclear chemists who reserve that term for a very specific and poorly understood aspect of spallation. But this lack of uniformity in terminology need not worry us here. For all practical purposes, spallation reactions are inelastic nuclear reactions in which at least one of the two collision partners is a complex nucleus and in which the energy available well exceeds the interaction energy between nucleons in the nucleus. Thus, a nucleon-nucleus or pionnucleus or nucleus-nucleus reaction in which the incident energy exceeds something like 50 or 100 MeV per a.m.u. is generally referred to as a spallation reaction. The term comes from the verb “to spall”, meaning to chip with a hammer, but actual usage has never required that there be wholesale chipping away of nucleons before a reaction can be called a spallation.
Performance Comparisons of Geographic Routing Protocols in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

Geographic routing protocols greatly reduce the requirements of topology storage and provide flexibility in the accommodation of the dynamic behavior of mobile ad hoc networks. This paper presents performance evaluations and comparisons of two geographic routing protocols and the popular AODV protocol. The tradeoffs among the average path reliabilities, average conditional delays, average conditional numbers of hops, and area spectral efficiencies and the effects of various parameters are illustrated for finite ad hoc networks with randomly placed mobiles. This paper uses a dual method of closed-form analysis and simple simulation that is applicable to most routing protocols and provides a much more realistic performance evaluation than has previously been possible. Some features included in the new analysis are shadowing, exclusion and guard zones, distance-dependent fading, and interference correlation.
Requirement for vascular endothelial growth factor in wound- and inflammation-related corneal neovascularization.

Purpose Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is required for vascular development and for ischemia-related tumor, iris, and retinal neovascularization. The role of VEGF in inflammatory corneal neovascularization is unknown and was investigated in these studies. Methods A rat model was used in which removal of the corneal and limbal epithelium resulted in circumferential neovascularization. Corneal VEGF mRNA levels were quantified with ribonuclease protection assays, and VEGF protein was studied in situ using immunohistochemical analysis. Controlled-release pellets containing anti-VEGF antibodies were implanted into the corneal stroma and were used to determine the requirement for VEGF in corneal neovascularization. Results VEGF mRNA and protein were induced to high levels after corneal injury and were temporally and spatially correlated with inflammation and neovascularization. VEGF immunoreactivity was localized primarily to the inflammatory cells invading the wounded cornea. The specific inhibition of VEGF bioactivity with neutralizing antibodies potently suppressed corneal neovascularization. Conclusions These data are the first to demonstrate that VEGF may be required for inflammatory neovascularization of the rat cornea and to identify VEGF as a functional endogenous corneal angiogenic factor.
Online, Real-Time Tracking Using a Category-to-Individual Detector

A method for online, real-time tracking of objects is presented. Tracking is treated as a repeated detection problem where potential target objects are identified with a pre-trained category detector and object identity across frames is established by individual-specific detectors. The individual detectors are (re-)trained online from a single positive example whenever there is a coincident category detection. This ensures that the tracker is robust to drift. Real-time operation is possible since an individual-object detector is obtained through elementary manipulations of the thresholds of the category detector and therefore only minimal additional computations are required. Our tracking algorithm is benchmarked against nine state-of-the-art trackers on two large, publicly available and challenging video datasets. We find that our algorithm is 10% more accurate and nearly as fast as the fastest of the competing algorithms, and it is as accurate but 20 times faster than the most accurate of the competing algorithms.
Quantitative analysis of the effects of the exotic Argentine ant on seed-dispersal mutualisms

Although it is increasingly clear that exotic invasive species affect seed-dispersal mutualisms, a synthetic examination of the effect of exotic invasive species on seed-dispersal mutualisms is lacking. Here, we review the impacts of the invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) on seed dispersal. We found that sites with L. humile had 92 per cent fewer native ant seed dispersers than did sites where L. humile was absent. In addition, L. humile did not replace native seed dispersers, as rates of seed removal and seedling establishment were all lower in the presence of L. humile than in its absence. We conclude that potential shifts in plant diversity and concomitant changes in ecosystem function may be a consequence of Argentine ant invasions, as well as invasions by other ant species. Because very few studies have examined the effects of non-ant invasive species on seed-dispersal mutualisms, the prevalence of disruption of seed-dispersal mutualisms by invasive species is unclear.
Block play: Building a foundation for literacy

The role of block play in the development of reading and writing is presented and discussed. A literacy-enriched block-play center is described, and accompanying tables identify books and additional literacy materials suggested for integration into a block-play area. Additionally, children's use of literacy props in a block-play area is presented through observations made in two preschool classrooms. Samples of children's writing produced during spontaneous block-play sessions are included to support examples given in the text.
Strong-coupling expansion for a Kondo-lattice model

We consider a single tight-binding band of electrons interacting with localized spin-\textonehalf{} magnetic moments at every lattice site. We assume that in zeroth order the system is well described by noninteracting Kondo singlets, and discuss an expansion in the electron-hopping matrix element. To second order, the bandwidth is renormalized by a factor of 2, and an effective interaction between the singlets results. We discuss the properties of the model as a function of band filling, Kondo coupling, and Hubbard electron-electron interaction. In particular, we find that the system could exhibit a charge-density-wave ground state or triplet superconductivity for certain ranges of parameters.
World-wide occurrence of nonallelic genes for the -chain of human foetal haemoglobin in newborns.

THE γ-chain of human foetal haemoglobin (Hb-F) in newborns is chemically heterogeneous1. This conclusion is based on structural analyses of residues 134 to 146 inclusive at the carboxy-terminal end of the γ-chain. This part, termed the γCB-3 peptide, can be isolated by chromatography from the mixture of peptides which is formed when globin F is cleaved with cyanogen bromide. Peptide γCB-3 has the sequence 135 140 145 Val-Thr-Gly(orAla)-Val-Ala-Ser-Ala-Leu-Ser-Ser-Arg-Tyr-His The presence of two types of chain was detected by means of amino-acid analysis of this peptide. Instead of integral numbers of residues for each amino-acid, glycine and alanine gave nonintegral values. Sequence analysis of γCB-3 showed that the third residue of yCB-3 (or residue 136 of the γ-chain) may be occupied either by a glycyl or an alanyl residue. The heterogeneity therefore consists in the presence of two kinds of γ-chains, one of which has a glycyl and the other an alanyl residue at position 136. These are termed the Gγ and Aγ-chains.
Effect of oestradiol on mouse uterine epithelial cell tumour necrosis factor-α release is mediated through uterine stromal cells

Oestradiol-17beta (Oe(2)) stimulates uterine epithelial cell proliferation and is critical for normal uterine differentiation and secretory function. Oe(2) can act directly on the epithelium via the epithelial oestrogen receptor (OR) or indirectly via the OR-positive underlying stroma. A primary role for epithelial-stromal interactions has been established for mediating steroid hormone action in the uterus. This study was undertaken to determine the mode of Oe(2) action in regulating epithelial cell cytokine release in the uterus. Mouse uterine epithelial and stromal cells were isolated and cultured separately. Transepithelial resistance (TER) was monitored with an EVOM voltohmmeter to determine monolayer polarity and integrity. Epithelial cells grown alone or in coculture with stromal cells were treated with Oe(2). Supernatants collected were assayed for transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) by bioassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. While Oe(2) treatment of epithelial cells led to a significant decrease in TER, the amount of TNF-alpha released was not altered. However, when epithelial cells were cocultured with stromal cells and treated with Oe(2), apical TNF-alpha release was significantly decreased, compared to cells not treated with hormone. As determined by oestrogen receptor antagonist studies, Oe(2) primed epithelial cells for the action of the stromal paracrine factor(s). In contrast, TGF-beta release by epithelial cells was not affected by Oe(2) when grown alone or in the presence of stromal cells. These studies indicate that Oe(2) has both direct and indirect effects on the uterine epithelium. While epithelial monolayer integrity is directly influenced by Oe(2), TNF-alpha release in response to Oe(2) is dependent on the presence of stromal cells, indicating that paracrine communication is necessary for steroid regulation of some but not all cytokines.
The Adsorption and Reaction of HCl on Pd(111)

HCl adsorbed onto clean Pd(111) produces three distinct HCl desorption states in thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS), all of which are populated simultaneously, even at exposures as low as 0.33 L. One desorption state emanates from molecularly adsorbed HCl (220 K), while the other two (300 and 470 K) emanate from recombination of H plus Cl atoms. The lowest temperature recombinative peak (β at ∼300 K) belongs to recombination of chlorine adatoms with surface hydrogen. This reaction is competitive with the recombinative desorption of H2. Finally, the highest temperature peak with an onset at 470 K (α) is the recombination of the remaining Cl with hydrogen dissolved in the Pd crystal, which emerges from the bulk onto the surface at approximately 470 K. Some of the chlorine adatoms order on the Pd surface to yield a √3 × √3 R 30° overlayer structure at coverages as low as θ = 0.13 ML. This structure persists through a range of temperatures from 100 to 320 K, when initially adsorbed at 100 K. The order−diso...
Benthic foraminiferal trends, Pacific-Antarctic basin

Abstract Benthic foraminiferal communities, living in depths of about 3000–5100 m in the Pacific-Antarctic Basin, consist mostly of cosmopolitan abyssal species. The assemblages are generally over 85% arenaceous in composition; a few, however, from depths of 3000 to 4000 m, are predominantly calcareous. Correlative with the uniformity of the environment, faunal trends, if present, are poorly developed. Four bathymetric foramineral groups can be distinguished considering the upper depth limits (UDL) of occurrence of prominent species: 1. 1. Hyperammina subnodosa Brady , UDL ≥ 4000 m; 2. 2. Reophax pauciloculatus Rhumbler, UDL ≥ 3800 m; 3. 3. Hormosina robusta Pearcy, UDL ≥ 3000 m; 4. 4. Cyclammina pusilla Brady, UDL ≥ 3000 m. Frequency changes in the above groups define two faunal boundaries: one at 3500 m, and a second, weaker one, at 4800–5000 m. Among ten species selected because of their abundance in western Antarctic seas, Recurvoides contortus Earland has the widest depth range (20–6200 m), and Hormosina robusta Pearcy has the narrowest one (3000–5100 m). Cribrostomoides subglobosus (Sars) and Cyclammina pusilla Brady are most abundant in the bathyal and abyssal zones of the western Antarctic sector.
A generalized data-driven speech enhancement framework for bilateral cochlear implants

This paper examines environment-adaptive noise suppression algorithms for computationally efficient or real-time implementation in bilateral cochlear implants using a single processor. A generalized framework is introduced that allows one to train suppression and head-related transfer function gain tables not only for different noise environments but also for different distortion measures. This generalization incorporates any differentiable measure with unilateral data-driven enhancement methods becoming its special cases. Specifically, the solutions for three distortion measures of Weighted-Euclidean, Log-Euclidean and Weighted-Cosh are provided. These solutions are evaluated in six commonly encountered noise environments for a wide range of directionalities.
Serum Pepsinogen I(Pgi) in Children With Gastritis 64

Gastritis, associated or not by Helicobacter Pylori (HP) infection, consists a common cause of upper gastrointestinal symptomatology in children. The aim of the present study was to investigate a possible correlation of serum PGI levels to gastritis in children. The studv comprised 98 symptomatic and 41 asymptomatic children divided in 5 groups. A: 54(10.5±2yrs) with HP gastritis, B: 13(11±1.2yrs) after eradication of HP, C: 25 (10±2.2yrs) with gastritis without HP, D: 19 (9.4±2yrs) with normal gastric biopsy and E: 41 asymptomatic (9.1±1.5yrs). Children of groups A, B, C, D underwent upper endoscopy and HP detection by histology, CLO test and serum antibodies to HP. Serum PGI was estimated once in all groups, while it was repeated in group B. Statistics were performed by analysis of variance. Results are as follow:Table
Determination of the partial reactions of rotational catalysis in F1-ATPase

Steady-state ATP hydrolysis in the F1-ATPase of the F(O)F1 ATP synthase complex involves rotation of the central gamma subunit relative to the catalytic sites in the alpha3beta3 pseudo-hexamer. To understand the relationship between the catalytic mechanism and gamma subunit rotation, the pre-steady-state kinetics of Mg x ATP hydrolysis in the soluble F1-ATPase upon rapid filling of all three catalytic sites was determined. The experimentally accessible partial reactions leading up to the rate-limiting step and continuing through to the steady-state mode were obtained for the first time. The burst kinetics and steady-state hydrolysis for a range of Mg x ATP concentrations provide adequate constraints for a unique minimal kinetic model that can fit all the data and satisfy extensive sensitivity tests. Significantly, the fits show that the ratio of the rates of ATP hydrolysis and synthesis is close to unity even in the steady-state mode of hydrolysis. Furthermore, the rate of Pi binding in the absence of the membranous F(O) sector is insignificant; thus, productive Pi binding does not occur without the influence of a proton motive force. In addition to the minimal steps of ATP binding, reversible ATP hydrolysis/synthesis, and the release of product Pi and ADP, one additional rate-limiting step is required to fit the burst kinetics. On the basis of the testing of all possible minimal kinetic models, this step must follow hydrolysis and precede Pi release in order to explain burst kinetics. Consistent with the single molecule analysis of Yasuda et al. (Yasuda, R., Noji, H., Yoshida, M., Kinosita, K., and Itoh, H. (2001) Nature 410, 898-904), we propose that the rate-limiting step involves a partial rotation of the gamma subunit; hence, we name this step k(gamma). Moreover, the only model that is consistent with our data and many other observations in the literature suggests that reversible hydrolysis/synthesis can only occur in the active site of the beta(TP) conformer (Abrahams, J. P., Leslie, A. G. W., Lutter, R., and Walker, J. E. (1994) Nature 370, 621-628).
Quantitation of elastin through measurement of its pentapeptide content

Digestion of insoluble porcine elastin with thermolysin produces a number of discrete small peptides. That present in highest concentration is the pentapeptide valyl-glycyl-valyl-prolyl-glycine (VGVPG) derived from the portion of the polymer containing extensive repeats of this sequence. Among eukaryotes, this sequence appears to be found only in elastin and its precursor tropoelastin. In the pig this is represented by peptide W4 of a tropoelastin tryptic digest (Sandberg, L.B., et al. Path. Biol. 33, 266-274, 1985). Quantitation of this peptide by HPLC separation, monitoring its absorption at 212 nm, offers a simple reliable means of measuring purified insoluble elastin as well as non-purified elastin in fat-free tissue samples. Digestion times and incubation temperatures are discussed. The method is sensitive enough to accurately quantitate elastin at the 2 to 3 microgram level.
Proton NMR study of the [d(ACGTATACGT)]2-2echinomycin complex: conformational changes between echinomycin binding sites

The interactions of echinomycin and the DNA decamer [d(ACGTATACGT)]2 were studied by proton NMR. Echinomycin binds cooperatively as a bisintercalator at the CpG steps. The terminal A.T base pairs are Hoogsteen base paired, but none of the four central A.T base pairs are Hoogsteen base paired. However, binding of the drug induces unwinding of the DNA which is propagated to the central ApT step. All four central A.T base pairs are destabilized relative to those in the free DNA. Furthermore, based on these and other results from our laboratory, we conclude that the formation of stable Hoogsteen base pairs may not be the relevant structural change in vivo. The structural changes propagated between adjacent ACGT binding sites are the unwinding of the duplex and destabilization of the base pairing between binding sites.
The Kinetic Formulation of Electrodynamics and Implications for Optical Manipulation

The leading formulations for the kinetic subsystem of electrodynamics will be reviewed along with arguments put forward to distinguish a unique form. Implications for modeling optical dynamics will be discussed along with simple examples.
Total synthesis of 7-iodo-2′,3′-dideoxy-7-deazapurine nucleosides, key intermediates in the preparation of reagents for the automated sequencing of DNA

Abstract Practical syntheses of 7-iodo-2′,3′-dideoxy-7-deazaadenosine and 7-iodo-2′,3′-dideoxy-7-deazaguanosine are described. These iodonucleosides can be converted into fluorescence-tagged chain-terminating substrates for DNA polymerases.
SU-E-T-231: Measurements of Gold Nanoparticle-Mediated Proton Dose Enhancement Due to Particle-Induced X-Ray Emission and Activation Products Using Radiochromic Films and CdTe Detector

Purpose: There have been several reports of enhanced cell-killing and tumor regression when tumor cells and mouse tumors were loaded with gold nanoparticles (GNPs) prior to proton irradiation. While particle-induced xray emission (PIXE), Auger electrons, secondary electrons, free radicals, and biological effects have been suggested as potential mechanisms responsible for the observed GNP-mediated dose enhancement/radiosensitization, there is a lack of quantitative analysis regarding the contribution from each mechanism. Here, we report our experimental effort to quantify some of these effects. Methods: 5-cm-long cylindrical plastic vials were filled with 1.8 mL of either water or water mixed with cylindrical GNPs at the same gold concentration (0.3 mg Au/g) as used in previous animal studies. A piece of EBT2 radiochromic film (30-µm active-layer sandwiched between 80/175-µm outer-layers) was inserted along the long axis of each vial and used to measure dose enhancement due to PIXE from GNPs. Vials were placed at center-of-modulation (COM) and 3-cm up-/down-stream from COM and irradiated with 5 different doses (2–10 Gy) using 10-cm-SOBP 160-MeV protons. After irradiation, films were cleaned and read to determine the delivered dose. A vial containing spherical GNPs (20 mg Au/g) was also irradiated, and gamma-rays from activation products were measured using a cadmium-telluride (CdTe) detector. Results: Film measurements showed no significant dose enhancement beyond the experimental uncertainty (∼2%). There was a detectable activation product from GNPs, but it appeared to contribute to dose enhancement minimally (<0.01%). Conclusion: Considering the composition of EBT2 film, it can be inferred that gold characteristic x-rays from PIXE and their secondary electrons make insignificant contribution to dose enhancement. The current investigation also suggests negligible dose enhancement due to activation products. Thus, previously-reported GNP-mediated proton dose enhancement/radiosensitization needs to be attributed to one or more of the other mechanisms listed earlier. Supported in part by NIH/NCI grant R01CA155446;This investigation was supported in part by NIH/NCI grant R01CA155446.
Using Complex Event Processing (CEP) and vocal synthesis techniques to improve comprehension of sonified human-centric data

The field of sonification, which uses auditory presentation of data to replace or augment visualization techniques, is gaining popularity and acceptance for analysis of “big data” and for assisting analysts who are unable to utilize traditional visual approaches due to either: 1) visual overload caused by existing displays; 2) concurrent need to perform critical visually intensive tasks (e.g. operating a vehicle or performing a medical procedure); or 3) visual impairment due to either temporary environmental factors (e.g. dense smoke) or biological causes. Sonification tools typically map data values to sound attributes such as pitch, volume, and localization to enable them to be interpreted via human listening. In more complex problems, the challenge is in creating multi-dimensional sonifications that are both compelling and listenable, and that have enough discrete features that can be modulated in ways that allow meaningful discrimination by a listener. We propose a solution to this problem that incorporates Complex Event Processing (CEP) with speech synthesis. Some of the more promising sonifications to date use speech synthesis, which is an "instrument" that is amenable to extended listening, and can also provide a great deal of subtle nuance. These vocal nuances, which can represent a nearly limitless number of expressive meanings (via a combination of pitch, inflection, volume, and other acoustic factors), are the basis of our daily communications, and thus have the potential to engage the innate human understanding of these sounds. Additionally, recent advances in CEP have facilitated the extraction of multi-level hierarchies of information, which is necessary to bridge the gap between raw data and this type of vocal synthesis. We therefore propose that CEP-enabled sonifications based on the sound of human utterances could be considered the next logical step in human-centric "big data" compression and transmission.
Literature links: Expanding ways of knowing

Those familiar with the saying “Truth is stranger than fiction” can add another truth and fiction statement to their list. Fact enriches fiction, and fiction makes fact memorable. Facts enrich fiction by providing information about such things as history, places, scientific concepts, or people. This information adds to a narrative because the reader becomes more familiar with facts used in the story. Well-written books delight and entertain even as they teach, and they often generate a desire to know more. Fiction makes historical events come to life and paints word pictures of animals, places, and things within an interesting story. Why not reap these benefits by reading companion texts from fiction and nonfiction in all of their various genres? After all, a good story makes readers want to learn more facts, and vice versa. In addition, why not encourage intertextual connections by drawing on the rich sources of information that carefully selected Internet sites provide to build background, elaborate, extend, and complement selected books? As we consider the literary interests of readers, particularly those in the intermediate grades and middle school, we note that they are beginning to sense their place in time and to better understand the chronology of past events. They are interested in problems of the world; therefore, historical fiction and fact provide opportunities to examine issues from different viewpoints. Pairing fiction and nonfiction, or other complementary sources, can build reader interest, present multiple invitations to engage with story, and expand ways of knowing.
Integration of System and Detailed CFD Models for IC Engine Applications

Stringent IC engine tailpipe emission regulations are being enforced worldwide. To meet the emission norms various emission reduction strategies are explored in conjunction with the fuel consumption improvements. To achieve these goals, modeling of engine system for combustion and emission plays a major role in minimizing the development cost and time. The successful application of combustion and emission modeling depends on the response, accuracy and run-time of the models being used. System level models are generally used to study and optimize the full IC engine system. These models have low runtime (2–10 mins) but are limited in their ability to describe and respond to the geometry and physics of complex fluid dynamics, combustion and emissions. Detailed CFD models are used for these areas but have long runtimes (8–40 hours). The procedure for developing and calibrating commercially available system and in-cylinder CFD software models are explained. Also the integration of these models to minimize the overall runtimes is described in detail.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Biologic characteristics of long-term autogenous vein grafts: A dynamic evolution

Abstract Purpose: The venous conduit as an arterial substitute has dynamic biologic properties that affect its durability. This study evaluated the morphologic and physiologic characteristics of 72 lower extremity vein grafts functioning at 4.5 to 21.6 years (median 6.6 years). Methods: The entire graft was imaged with use of color duplex ultrasonography and then classified as normal (class I), abnormal but not graft-threatening (class II), or abnormal and graft-threatening (class III) for the proximal, middle, and distal thirds. Thirty-one grafts (43%) were classified as normal, whereas 41 (57%) were classified as abnormal, with 58 class II and 15 class III segments. Results: Three types of abnormalities were found by duplex imaging: nonstenotic wall plaques, discrete stenoses, and aneurysmal dilation. Aneurysms developed in five of seven grafts that had required thrombectomy in the distant past (mean of 40 months). There were 70 postoperative revisions in 38 limbs (53%). In 23 (60%) the conduit was revised, in 11 (29%) the revisions corrected progression of native artery atherosclerotic disease, and in 4 (11%) both types of revisions were required. Eleven grafts were revised in the first 30 days to correct technical errors. Eighteen limbs were revised between 1 and 24 months, with 12 (67%) of the revisions correcting stenotic lesions in the conduit or at one of the anastomoses. After 24 months 12 (67%) of 18 limbs were revised to correct progression of occlusive disease in the inflow or outflow vessels. At the time of this study 18 (67%) of the 27 conduits revised for intrinsic lesions were abnormal by color duplex imaging, and they harbored 12 (80%) of the 15-graft-threatening lesions. Conclusions: Autogenous vein remains the most durable arterial conduit, but vigilant surveillance is essential because the atherosclerotic environment continually produces lesions that may imperil the longevity of the graft. (J VASC SURG 1993;17:207-17.)
Estrual rise in body temperature in the bovine I. Temporal relationships with serum patterns of reproductive hormones

Identification and characterization of biological changes which occur near the time of ovulation may eventually provide improved means for determining the timing of this event. A rise in internal body temperature is associated with estrus in dairy cows, but temporal relationships between this temperature rise and other periovulatory events require further investigation. The objectives of this study were: (1) to determine the temporal relationships among changes in serum concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol, progesterone, and changes in body temperature that occur during the periovulatory period, and (2) to assess the consistency among individuals of these temporal relationships by comparing variabilities among cows of intervals between periovulatory events. Vaginal temperature was monitored in eight, nonpregnant, lactating dairy cows using temperature-sensing radiotransmitters. Serum concentrations of progesterone, LH, and estradiol were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Temperature spikes were defined as sustained increases in temperature of ≥ 0.3°C. Intervals between various periovulatory events were calculated (e.g., LH peak to onset of temperature spike, estradiol peak to LH peak, etc.). Variances of these intervals among cows were then compared using an F-test and were considered significantly different if P was <0.05. The duration of elevated temperature averaged 8.14 ± 3.48 h (x ± s.d., n = 7). When variances of intervals were compared, the interval with the lowest variation among cows was the interval between peak LH and the onset of the temperature spike (s.d. = 4.54 h). The variation in this interval, as indicated by s.d., was significantly lower than the variation of the interval from the decline in serum progesterone to peak LH (4.54 h vs. 14.10 h, P < 0.005) and the variation of the interval from peak LH to peak estradiol (4.54 h vs. 11.51 h, P < 0.025). As such, the relationship between the LH surge and the onset of the temperature spike was the most consistent relationship examined. Thus, the temperature spike is a better predictor of the LH surge than the other physiological parameters investigated. Since ovulation occurs within a consistent interval after the LH surge, the temperature spike may be a good predictor of ovulation as well.
Acetate as a precursor of amino acids of casein in the intact dairy cow.

Five lactating dairy cows were injected intravenously with acetate-I-14C or acetate-2-14C. Eight amino acids, recovered from casein collected at 3, 10, 22, and 34 hours after acetate-14C injection, were assayed for carbon-14. Carbon from acetate was transferred most efficiently to glutamic and aspartic acids and in lesser amounts to alanine, serine, glycine, proline, and arginine. Lysine did not contain significant amounts of 14C. The labeling of amino acids from acetate-14C differed markedly from that previously observed for glucose-14C. Carbon from uniformly labeled glucose was transferred most efficiently to alanine and serine and in smaller amounts to glutamic and aspartic acids, glycine, proline, and arginine. The specific activities of alanine, serine, and lactose were quite similar after acetate-14C injection suggesting a close relationship between the precursors of the three carbon amino acids and lactose. The distribution of 14C among the amino acids formed by the intact cow was consistent with results that would be expected if the TCA cycle and the glycolytic pathway were the pathway for transfer of carbon from acetate to amino acids of casein.
Dual Inhibition Of Sodium-Mediated Proton And Calcium Efflux Triggers Non-Apoptotic Cell Death In Malignant Gliomas

Malignant glioma cells maintain an elevated intracellular pH (pH(i)) within hypoxic-ischemic tumor microenvironments through persistent activation of sodium-proton transport (McLean et al., 2000). Amiloride has been reported to selectively kill human malignant glioma cell lines but not primary astrocytes (Hegde et al., 2004). While amiloride reduces pH(i) of malignant gliomas by inhibiting isoform 1 of sodium-proton exchange (NHE1), direct acidification was shown to be cytostatic rather than cytotoxic. At cytotoxic concentrations, amiloride has multiple drug targets including inhibition of NHE1 and sodium-calcium exchange. Amiloride's glioma cytotoxicity can be explained, at least in part, by dual inhibition of NHE1 and of Na(+)-dependent calcium efflux by isoform 1.1 of the sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX1.1), which increases [Ca(2+)](i) and initiates glioma cell demise. As a result of persistent NHE1 activity, cytosolic free levels of sodium ([Na(+)](i)) in U87 and C6 glioma cells are elevated 3-fold, as compared with normal astrocytes. Basal cytosolic free calcium levels ([Ca(2+)](i)) also are increased 5-fold. 2', 4'-dichlorobenzamil (DCB) inhibits the sodium-dependent calcium transporter (NCX1.1) much more potently than NHE1. DCB was employed in a concentration-dependent fashion in glioma cells to selectively inhibit the forward mode of NCX1.1 at ≤1μM, while dually inhibiting both NHE1 and NCX1.1 at ≥20μM. DCB (1μM) was not cytotoxic to glioma cells, while DCB (20μM) further increased basal elevated levels of [Ca(2+)](i) in glioma cells that was followed by cell demise. Cariporide and SEA0400 are more selective inhibitors of NHE1 and NCX1.1 than amiloride or DCB, respectively. Individually, Cariporide and SEA0400 are not cytotoxic, but in combination induced glioma cell death. Like amiloride, the combination of Cariporide and SEA0400 produced glioma cell death in the absence of demonstrable caspase activation.
Reflections on the 1982 SIGUCCS newsletter contest

What is the secret of a successful newsletter? Is it a secret, or rather does success merely requires of us the same attention that the late English grammarian Henry Fowler gave when he never forgot that "pestilent fellow the critical reader"? By recognizing outstanding newsletters through its annual newsletter contests, SIGUCCS is decidedly on the side that says success can be cultivated, that newsletters in computing may be improved through the identification of models and by emulating newsletter techniques that critical readers appreciate.
Correlation between membrane expansion and temperature-induced membrane fusion

For each phospholipid membrane, there is a characteristic phase transition temperature, and for each phospholipid spherical membrane, there is a specific 'fusion' temperature. In order to examine the possible correlation between temperature-induced membrane fusion and membrane expansion, the relationship between the physical states of phospholipid membranes at both temperatures have been investigated by the use of the monolayer system. Monolayer expansion studies have indicated that the increase in area per lipid molecule, caused by increasing the temperature from the phase transition to the fusion temperature, is approximately the same for five different phospholipids used. With the same temperature increase, phospholipid monolayers containing cholesterol did not expand appreciably. This correlates qualitatively with the greater inhibition of membrane fusion seen in the spherical phospholipid membrane systems when cholesterol was incorporated in the membrane. The effect of pH on the expansion of phosphatidylserine monolayers was also studied in relation to membrane fusion phenomena. The shift in fusion temperature of the spherical phospholipid membranes due to the change of pH is explained by the shift in phase transition temperatures of lipid membranes. The expanded area per molecule in the monolayer caused by increasing the temperature from the phase transition to the fusion temperature was approximately the same irrespective of surface charge densities.