cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chromosome-scale scaffolds for the Chinese hamster reference genome assembly to facilitate the study of the CHO epigenome.

The Chinese hamster genome serves as a reference genome for the study of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, the preferred host system for biopharmaceutical production. Recent re-sequencing of the Chinese hamster genome resulted in the RefSeq PICR meta-assembly, a set of highly accurate scaffolds that filled over 95% of the gaps in previous assembly versions. However, these scaffolds did not reach chromosome-scale due to the absence of long-range scaffolding information during the meta-assembly process. Here, long-range scaffolding of the PICR Chinese hamster genome assembly was performed using high-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C). This process resulted in a new "PICRH" genome, where 97% of the genome is contained in 11 mega-scaffolds corresponding to the Chinese hamster chromosomes (2n = 22) and the total number of scaffolds is reduced by three-fold from 1,830 scaffolds in PICR to 647 in PICRH. Continuity was improved while preserving accuracy, leading to quality scores higher than recent builds of mouse chromosomes and comparable to human chromosomes. The PICRH genome assembly will be an indispensable tool for designing advanced genetic engineering strategies in CHO cells and enabling systematic examination of genomic and epigenomic instability through comparative analysis of CHO cell lines on a common set of chromosomal coordinates.
An Evaluation of Statin Use Among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes at High Risk of Cardiovascular Events Across Multiple Health Care Systems.

BACKGROUND: Patients with more than one chronic condition often receive care from several providers and facilities, which may lead to fragmentation of care. Poor care coordination in dual health ca...
Consumer Assent to Standard Form Contracts and the Voting Analogy

Standard form contract are ubiquitous, whether signed in the real world or clicked in the online world. Consumers are constantly entering into standard form contracts with the merchants they transact with in order to buy goods or services. Consumers, however, are usually aware of only the basic terms in the form like price, subject matter, and quantity. Consumers otherwise rarely read the form contracts that they sign. However, traditional contract law and the duty to read provide that the consumer is bound to all the terms contained in the form contract, both the known terms and the unread and unknown terms. Academic commentary is largely critical of the phenomenon of binding a consumer to the unknown and unread terms in the form contract, because it cuts against the paradigmatic conception of contracting as a quintessentially consensual activity. However, when the process of consumer assent to form contracts is compared to voting for a political representative in an election, the legitimacy and conceptual propriety of consumer assent to the unknown terms becomes more tolerable. Consumers who “vote” for a merchant to “represent” them in the performance of a transaction entrust the merchant to look after the state of affairs of the parties’ contract, much like voters essentially entrust the governmental administration of policy matters to their elected representatives. Consumers who assent to a form contract with a merchant cannot escape the binding effect of the form just because they are later confronted with disappointed expectations in the form of undesirable contract terms (such as an arbitration term), just as a voter who votes for a candidate ordinarily cannot prematurely terminate the official’s term in office after being confronted with disappointed expectations in the form of undesirable legislation or enactment of policy. In both instances, concerns of stability dictate the need for the assent to be binding for the duration of the originally contemplated commitments. However, a consumer can ultimately choose whether to transact with the merchant subsequently in the marketplace, just as a voter may choose whether to re-elect the political candidate after his initial term in office. In this way, consumer autonomy is vindicated, and the binding nature of assent to form contracts seems more defensible.
A Program to Improve Digital Access and Literacy Among Community Stakeholders: Cohort Study.

Background: For many research teams, the role of community stakeholders is critical. However, community stakeholders, especially those in low-income settings, are at risk of being excluded from research and community engagement initiatives during and after the COVID-19 pandemic because of the rapid transition to digital operations. Objective: We aimed to describe the implementation and feasibility of a program called Addressing the Digital Divide to Improve Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, which was designed to address barriers to technology use, and to examine changes in participants’ perceived comfort with digital technology before and after the program. Methods: To promote full engagement, we worked with 20 existing community leaders to cocreate a training course on using digital technology. We assessed the frequency of technology use and comfort with technology through an adapted 8-item version of the Functional Assessment of Comfort Employing Technology Scale and used the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for survey analysis. We also conducted a focus group session with 10 participants and then performed reflective journaling and content analysis to determine emergent themes. Results: We found that the program was feasible to implement and worthwhile for participants (15/16, 94%). After the program, the participants perceived an increase in the frequency of technology use (z=2.76, P=.006). The participants reported that the program was successful because of the technology training program, but recommended that the program have a slower pace and include a helpline number that they could call with questions. Conclusions: Future programs should consider that populations with low literacy view technology training as a core element to decreasing technology disparity. This study demonstrates that through low-cost input, community members can be provided the resources and training needed to virtually participate in research studies or community engagement initiatives. Trial Registration:
Circulating Ceramides and Sphingomyelins and Risk of Mortality: The Cardiovascular Health Study

Background Recent studies suggest that associations of ceramides (Cer) and sphingomyelins (SM) with health outcomes differ according to the fatty acid acylated to the sphingoid backbone. The purpose of this study was to assess associations of Cer and SM species with mortality. Methods The study population included participants from the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS), a community-based cohort of adults aged ≥65 years who were followed from 1992-2015 (n = 4612). Associations of plasma Cer and SM species carrying long-chain (i.e., 16:0) and very-long-chain (i.e., 20:0, 22:0, 24:0) saturated fatty acids with mortality were assessed using Cox proportional hazards models. Results During a median follow-up of 10.2 years, 4099 deaths occurred. High concentrations of Cer and SM carrying fatty acid 16:0 were each associated with an increased risk of mortality. Conversely, high concentrations of several ceramide and sphingomyelin species carrying longer fatty acids were each associated with a decreased risk of mortality. The hazard ratios for total mortality per 2-fold difference in each Cer and SM species were: 1.89 (95% CI), 1.65-2.17 for Cer-16, 0.79 (95% CI, 0.70-0.88) for Cer-22, 0.74 (95% CI, 0.65-0.84) for Cer-24, 2.51 (95% CI, 2.01-3.14) for SM-16, 0.68 (95% CI, 0.58-0.79) for SM-20, 0.57 (95% CI, 0.49-0.67) for SM-22, and 0.66 (0.57-0.75) for SM-24. We found no association of Cer-20 with risk of death. Conclusions Associations of Cer and SM with the risk of death differ according to the length of their acylated saturated fatty acid. Future studies are needed to explore mechanisms underlying these relationships.
Jurisprudence as an Integral Part of Philosophy

PHILOSOPHY OF LAW AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF PHILOSOPHY: Essays on the Jurisprudence of Gerald J.Postema. Edited by Thomas Bustamante and Thiago Lopes Decat. Hart Publishing Co, Dec 2020. This edited collection considers the work of one of the most important legal philosophers of our time, Professor Gerald J Postema. It includes contributions from expert philosophers of law. The chapters dig deep into important camps of Postema’s rich theoretical project including: the value of the rule of law; the ideal of integrity in adjudication; his works on analogical reasoning; the methodology of jurisprudence; dialogues with Ronald Dworkin, Joseph Raz, Frederick Schauer and HLA Hart. The collection includes an original article by Professor Postema, in which he develops his conception of the rule of law and replies to some objections to previous works, and an interview in which he provides a fascinating and unique insight into his philosophy of law.
Inhibiting ATR Modulates Response to Radiation and Stimulates Immune Responses.

Purpose/Objective(s) Radiotherapy (RT) has been shown, albeit rarely, to stimulate anti-tumor immune responses. Recent evidence suggests this can, in part, be attributed to the accumulation of cytoplasmic DNA in the form of micronuclei (MN) following RT, which can stimulate IRF3 and NF-κB immune signaling that recruits various immune components to the tumor microenvironment. We hypothesized this effect is increased by combining RT with AZD6738, an inhibitor of ATR, which is a key protein in DNA repair and cell cycle regulation. Furthermore, we propose that the more clustered DNA damage caused by protons results in a higher level of MN than photons when these radiation types are combined with AZD6738. Materials/Methods H1299 and PANC-1 cells were treated with 6 MV x-rays and 9.9 keV/mm (dose-weighted LET in water) protons alone or with AZD6738 (1 µM) to assess DNA repair, cell cycle distribution, MN and c-GAS positive MN (MN-cGAS+) 1 to 72 h after RT+AZD6738. We then irradiated a syngeneic 4T1 tumor model in BALB/c (hind leg tumors) with 6 MV x-rays to 3 × 6 Gy fractions with and without AZD6738 to assess tumor growth delay and the status of tumor infiltrating immune cells and immune cells in the draining lymph nodes (DLN). Results Protons+AZD6738 and photons+AZD6738 increased gH2AX foci, abrogated G2 arrest and amplified MN and MN-cGAS+ compared to photons or protons alone for both cell lines (H1299 and PANC-1). Compared to photons or AZD6738 alone, photons+AZD6738 delayed tumor growth, increased survival time and decreased the number of metastatic lung nodules. Photons+AZD6738 and photons alone increased T-regs and decreased T helper 1 cells in the tumor compared to vehicle and ATRi alone. Photons+AZD6738 increased and decreased CD8+ T cells in the tumor and DLN compared to the other treatments, respectively. Photons alone increased CD8+ PD-1+ T cells and photons+AZD6738 decreased that population back to baseline for both tumor and DLN. CD8+ GranzB+ T cells increased for photons+AZD6738 and photons alone in the tumor. Photons+AZD6738 and AZD6738 alone increased type 1 macrophages (M1) and decreased M2. Photons+AZD6738 increased the total population of dendritic cells (DCs) and non-significantly increased type 1 and 2 classical DCs compared to other treatments. Conclusion Our data show that RT+AZD6738 initiates intracellular immune signaling, likely attributable to disruption of DNA repair and abrogation of cell cycle arrest. We also observed this effect was amplified with proton RT. Our findings of increased immune signaling were corroborated in vivo with the observation that RT+AZD6738 increased CD4+, CD8+ and macrophage populations within the tumor, however after an initial delay, tumors continued to progress. Additional investigation is warranted to determine the balance of regulatory elements such as T-regs, immune checkpoints, and antitumor immune signaling.
Protocol for the measurement of the absorbed dose rate to water for a planar 32P beta emitting brachytherapy source: A multi-institutional validation.

Abstract Purpose This is a multi-institutional report on inter-observer and inter-instrument variation in the calibration of the absorbed dose rate for a planar 32P beta emitting brachytherapy source. Measurement accuracy is essential since the dose profile is steep and the source is used for the treatment of tumors that are located in close proximity to healthy nervous system structures. Methods and Materials An RIC-100 32P source was calibrated by three institutions using their own equipment and following their standard procedures. The first institution calibrated the source with an electron diode and EBT3 film. The second institution used an electron diode. The third institution used HD810 film. Additionally, each institution was asked to calibrate the source using an electron diode and procedure that was shared among all institutions and shipped along with the radiation source. The dose rate was reported in units of cGy*min−1 at a water equivalent depth of 1 mm. Results Close agreement was observed in the measurements from different users and equipment. The variation across all diode detectors and institutions had a standard deviation of 1.8% and maximum difference of 4.6%. The observed variation among two different diode systems used within the same institution had a mean difference of 1.6% and a maximum variation of 1.8%. The variations among film and diode systems used within the same institution had a mean difference of 2.9% and a maximum variation of 4.3% Conclusions The absorbed dose rate measurement protocol of the planar beta-emitting 32P source permits consistent dosimetry across three institutions and five different electron diode and radiochromic film systems. The methodologies presented herein should enable measurement consistency among other clinical users, which will help ensure high quality patient treatments and outcomes analysis.
Mass Transfer Verifications of Tidal Froude Models

Hydraulic models are of limited value unless they have been verified i.e., unless pertinent model and prototype parameters have been compared and found to be in agreement. If such agreement exists, the model is said to have achieved similitude. This paper summarizes the writers. finding and other published research concerning the existence of similitude of mass transfer in tidal froude models.
A national center of excellence for infectious disease informatics: project summary

In this project summary, we briefly present the technical objectives and accomplishments of our Infectious Disease Informatics project. We describe the inter-agency, interdisciplinary, and academia-government partnerships critical to project success and discuss the broader application context for this research.
Fungal Transformations of Triparanol

Fungal transformations of triparanol, a hypercholesterolemic drug, were studied in Lagenidium giganteum and Lagenidium callinectes. The products were identified by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Two metabolites were observed from each organism; only one of the metabolites was found in both organisms.
An Exact Algorithm to Identify Motifs in Orthologous Sequences from Multiple Species

et al. (1998), Chu et al. (1998), Fraenkel et al. The identification of sequence motifs is a fundamental method for suggesting good candidates for biologically functional regions such as promoters, splice sites, binding sites, etc. We investigate the following approach to identifying motifs: given a collection of orthologous sequences from multiple species related by a known phylogenetic tree, search for motifs that axe well conserved (according to a parsimony measure) in the species. We present an exact algorithm for solving this problem. We then discuss experimental results on finding promoters of the rbcS gene for a family of 10 plants, on finding promoters of the adh gene for 12 Drosophila species, and on finding promoters of several chloroplast encoded genes.
Some Closed Form Results for Circuit Switching in a Hypercube Network

We consider circuit switching in a hypercube network where each session has to establish a dedicated connection (or circuit) to a destination node for a random length of time. We first obtain an expression for the steady-state probability that a session successfully establishes a circuit, and then obtain analytic expressions for various delay parameters, such as the time between the arrival of a session and the time it is completed (including input queueing delays). The analytic expressions allow the delay parameters to be calculated without performing costly fixed-point iterations, and show how these parameters depend on the session arrival rate and the hypercube dimension.
Learning through Case Analysis

Case-based reasoning is a process for reasoning by remembering prior experiences and adapting their lessons to new circumstances. Cognitive science research on case-based reasoning has developed computational models of how humans learn from experience, and suggests principles for providing more effective support for human learning. Keywords: analogy; artificial intelligence; education; learning; memory
Women in Cairo

Development, Change, and Gender in Cairo:. View from the Household. Diane Singerman and Homa Hoodfar. eds. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1996. 189 pp. Tomorrow, God Willing: Self-Made Destinies in Cairo. Unni Wikan. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996. 333 pp.
Dexterous telemanipulation with four fingered hand system

The paper briefly describes the semi-anthropomorphic telemanipulation system and discusses the advanced capabilities that were demonstrated in the initial performance evaluation. The system's terminus devices are anthropomorphic: an exoskeleton sixteen degree of freedom (DOF) glove controller that senses human finger forces and backdrives slave motions to every joint of its four instrumented fingers; and a four fingered sixteen DOF anthropomorphic slave hand-wrist-forearm. The master glove is attached to a non-anthropomorphic six DOF universal force-reflecting hand controller (FRHC). The mechanical forearm is mounted to an industrial robot (PUMA 560), replacing its standard forearm. Active electromechanical compliance (AEC) systems for each finger and the wrist provide adjustable compliance, enabling human-like soft grasping. The system is controlled by a high performance distributed control system. Initial performance evaluations focused on tool handling capabilities and astronaut equivalent task executions. Results reveal that the combination of a fingered hand and active compliance enables unprecedented task executions. But it also became evident that complex manipulations require a dual arm robot.
IDENTIFYING CURRENT-SHEET–LIKE STRUCTURES IN THE SOLAR WIND

In past years, measurements of the solar wind plasma have advanced our understanding of MHD turbulence tremendously. At small scales, the solar wind is believed to be very multifractal with nonlinear interactions causing an intermittent energy dissipation, leading to possible current-sheet structures. In this Letter, we propose a systematic data analysis procedure to examine the existence of current sheets in the solar wind. We show that by studying the integrated distribution function F(v, z) of the angle between two unit magnetic fields b(t) and, as well as its z-dependence, one can unambiguously identify the existence of current-sheet–like structures b(t z) in the solar wind. Using this procedure, we analyze magnetic field data from the VHM/FGM instrument on board the spacecraft Ulysses for two periods, one in solar maximum and the other in solar minimum. In both cases, current sheets are clearly inferred. Furthermore, we also outline a procedure that allows the identification of the actual locations of these current sheets. Results from our analysis and the implications of the existence of current sheets in the solar wind are discussed.
Derivatives of a vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain isolated at Hershey Medical Center.

Antimicrobial susceptibilities and genetic relatedness of the vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain (VRSA) isolated at Hershey, Pa. (VRSA Hershey), and its vancomycin-susceptible and high-level-resistant derivatives were studied and compared to 32 methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains (MRSA) isolated from patients and medical staff in contact with the VRSA patient. Derivatives of VRSA were obtained by subculturing six VRSA colonies from the original culture with or without vancomycin. Ten days of drug-free subculture caused the loss of vanA in two vancomycin-susceptible derivatives for which vancomycin MICs were 1 to 4 μg/ml. Multistep selection of three VRSA clones with vancomycin for 10 days increased vancomycin MICs from 32 to 1,024 to 2,048 μg/ml. MICs of teicoplanin, dalbavancin, and oritavancin were also increased from 4, 0.5, and 0.12 to 64, 1, and 32 μg/ml, respectively. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing analysis indicated that VRSA Hershey was the vanA-acquired variety of a common MRSA clone in our hospital with sequence type 5 (ST5). Three of five vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus strains tested from geographically different areas were also ST5, and the Michigan VRSA was ST371, a one-allele variant of ST5. Derivatives of VRSA Hershey had differences in PFGE profiles and the size of SmaI fragment that carries the vanA gene cluster, indicating instability of this cluster in VRSA Hershey. However induction with vancomycin increased glycopeptide MICs and stabilized the resistance.
Reasons for Recurrent Ventricular Tachycardia After Catheter Ablation of Post-Infarction Ventricular Tachycardia

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the determinants of ventricular tachycardia (VT) recurrence in patients who underwent VT ablation for post-infarction VT.Background: The factors ...
Preliminary experiments with ionized air in asthma.

Abstract A two-hour exposure of fifteen symptom-free patients to artificially ionized air of concealed polarity, followed by a repeat experiment with the opposite charge, revealed no difference in the biologic effect of positive and of negative atmospheric ions. To our surprise, the negative (like the positive) ions did not appear to influence the patient's typical pattern of wheezing and of remission. Dryness of the nose or throat was also a frequent side effect, regardless of charge. Contrary to expectations, wheezing in symptom-free asthmatic subjects seemed to occur with negative ionization of the air in some instances. No amelioration of this symptom once present was noticed when subjects were similarly exposed. Being essentially a double-blind study, it is unlikely that psychogenic influences colored these results. These findings discouraged us from further pursuit of the alleged therapeutic benefits of negative ionization in asthmatic patients.
Improved sphincter contractility after allogenic muscle-derived progenitor cell injection into the denervated rat urethra.

Abstract Objectives To study the physiologic outcome of allogenic transplant of muscle-derived progenitor cells (MDPCs) in the denervated female rat urethra. Methods MDPCs were isolated from muscle biopsies of normal 6-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats and purified using the preplate technique. Sciatic nerve-transected rats were used as a model of stress urinary incontinence. The experimental group was divided into three subgroups: control, denervated plus 20 μL saline injection, and denervated plus allogenic MDPCs (1 to 1.5 × 10 6 cells) injection. Two weeks after injection, urethral muscle strips were prepared and underwent electrical field stimulation. The pharmacologic effects of d-tubocurare, phentolamine, and tetrodotoxin on the urethral strips were assessed by contractions induced by electrical field stimulation. The urethral tissues also underwent immunohistochemical staining for fast myosin heavy chain and CD4-activated lymphocytes. Results Urethral denervation resulted in a significant decrease of the maximal fast-twitch muscle contraction amplitude to only 8.77% of the normal urethra and partial impairment of smooth muscle contractility. Injection of MDPCs into the denervated sphincter significantly improved the fast-twitch muscle contraction amplitude to 87.02% of normal animals. Immunohistochemistry revealed a large amount of new skeletal muscle fiber formation at the injection site of the urethra with minimal inflammation. CD4 staining showed minimal lymphocyte infiltration around the MDPC injection sites. Conclusions Urethral denervation resulted in near-total abolishment of the skeletal muscle and partial impairment of smooth muscle contractility. Allogenic MDPCs survived 2 weeks in sciatic nerve-transected urethra with minimal inflammation. This is the first report of the restoration of deficient urethral sphincter function through muscle-derived progenitor cell tissue engineering. MDPC-mediated cellular urethral myoplasty warrants additional investigation as a new method to treat stress urinary incontinence.
Laser-Induced Temperature Jump Electrochemistry on Gold Nanoparticle-Coated Electrodes

Laser-induced temperature jumps (LITJs) at gold nanoparticle-coated indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes in contact with electrolyte solutions have been measured using temperature-sensitive redox probes and an infrared charge-coupled device. Upon irradiation with 532 nm light, interfacial temperature changes of ca. 20 °C were recorded for particle coverages of ca. 1 × 1010 cm-2. In the presence of a redox molecule, LITJ yields open-circuit photovoltages and photocurrents that are proportional to the number of particles on the surface. When ssDNA was used to chemisorb nanoparticles to the ITO surface, solution concentrations as low as 100 fM of target ssDNA-modified nanoparticles could be detected at the electrode surface.
Comparison of infrared spectrophotometric and lead salt‐alcohol methods for determination of trans octadecenoic acids and esters

The scope and limitations of the lead salt-alcohol method (11, 19) have been defined as a result of observations in the authors' laboratories and in others. Trans octadecenoic acids and esters are not determined specifically by this method, and when large amounts of cis acids or esters are present, they are also isolated with the solid acid fraction.
Evaluating the potential of multithreaded platforms for irregular scientific computations

The resurgence of current and upcoming multithreaded architectures and programming models led us to conduct a detailed study to understand the potential of these platforms to increase the performance of data-intensive, irregular scientific applications. Our study is based on a power system state estimation application and a novel anomaly detection application applied to network traffic data. We also conducted a detailed evaluation of the platforms using microbenchmarks in order to gain insight into their architectural capabilities and their interaction with programming models and application software. The evaluation was performed on the Cray MTA-2 and the Sun Niagar.
Mutational Determinants of Epigenetic Instablity in Myeloid Malignancies

Until recently, myeloid neoplasms have been attributed to genomic and genetic instability leading to clonal outgrowth. However, it is now increasingly evident that epigenetic abnormalities also play a fundamental role in development of these malignancies. A growing body of evidence has underlined the involvement of epigenetic machinery in the malignant transformation of hematopoietic cells. Epigenetic dysfunction can lead to genetic alterations, including microsatellite instability, nucleotide changes, and chromosomal alterations. Conversely, putative epigenetic instability may be related to mutations of genes involved in epigenetic regulation. Therefore, this review focuses on epigenetic processes, including DNA methylation, post-translational histone modifications, and RNA interference via small noncoding RNAs, which play a critical role in controlling gene expression and are targets of dysregulation in many hematologic malignancies. Further, recent literature identified somatic mutations in several epigenetic regulators with a high frequency in myeloid malignancies.
Earnings Returns to Occupational Status: Are Asian Americans Disadvantaged?

Abstract While Asian Americans fare well in the U.S. economy by some measures, many argue that this achievement masks the structural constraints to mobility still encountered in the labor market. This study is the first to systematically examine, by Asian ethnicity and gender, whether Asian Americans receive lower earnings returns to their occupational status than non-Hispanic whites. Results here indicate that native-born Asian men and women of various ethnic groups do not earn significantly less than otherwise similar native-born non-Hispanic whites, and they receive equivalent earnings returns to their occupational status. This evidence is not consistent with the racial discrimination hypothesis. Only foreign-born Asian men are disadvantaged relative to native-born non-Hispanic white men, although within this group there is considerable variation by nation of origin. But because a majority of Asians in the United States are immigrants, continued attention needs to be directed as to how subsequent generations of Asian Americans fare in the labor market.
Kinetics and Mechanism of the Condensation of Pyridoxal with Amino Acids

The kinetics and mechanism of the condensation of amino acids with pyridoxal were studied in relation to the amino acid structure, solvent, pH, and temperature. A spectrophotometric study revealed several kinetically discernible reaction steps. The condensation rate as a function of pH passes through a maximum, which is caused by formation of two intermediates of different structures. The final products of the condensation and subsequent hydrolysis are pyridoxamine and α-keto acids. The reaction mechanism was suggested.
A flexible, self-contained germanium spectrometer for the in-situ measurement of gamma-ray emitting radionuclides in and around piping

In order to certify that process and drain lines which had been used for transporting radioactive materials, and their surrounding environments, are now free of residual contamination, it is both desirable and cost effective to make in situ measurements during the decontamination and decommissioning process. A 4.83-cm diameter modular proble consisting of a liquid nitrogen reservoir, a preamplifier, and a high-resolution germanium gamma-ray spectrometer with flexible connections between the modules has been developed for the measurement of gamma rays in and around piping. The assembly is sufficiently flexible to navigate through a “3-inch diameter p-trap.” The probe design and specifications are discussed. Results from an application are presented.
Autoradiographic study of histogenesis in the mouse olfactory bulb. II. Cell proliferation and migration

Cell proliferation and migration in the developing mouse olfactory bulb was studied by autoradiography. Animals were injected with thymidine-H3 at various developmental stages and killed one to 96 hours later. All neurons arise in the germinal zone surrounding the ventricle. Until the fourteenth day of gestation (E14) this zone consists only of a matrix (primitive ependymal) layer. From E14 to E17 both matrix and subependymal layers are found, and from E18 to maturity only the subependymal layer is present. The matrix layer produces the mitral cells and some tufted and granule cells; the subependymal layer gives origin to some tufted cells and most of the granule cells. Mitral cell neuroblasts migrate peripherally to reach the primitive mitral cell layer three days after final DNA synthesis. Tufted cell neuroblasts migrate through the developing mitral cell layer to reach their definitive locations; external granule cell neuroblasts migrate past both developing mitral and tufted cells. Neuroglia arise from scattered proliferating glioblasts, originally derived from the periventricular germinal zone. Time of origin and rate of migration of olfactory bulb neurons was checked against the histological development of the bulb. A good agreement corroborated the autoradiographic method used in this study and in previous studies on time of origin of neurons in the central nervous system.
ACRONYCTA AND TYPES

In his note on p. 191, Dr. Dyar raises an interesting question, concerning which I would like a general expression of opinion for my own guidance.Among the material received for study by M. Guenee from the British Museum, perhaps also from other sources, was a considerable number of specimens and drawings collected, bred or drawn by John Abbott, of Georgia.Not all of the Abbott drawings went to the British Museum, for I saw some in Paris ten years ago, and not all the Abbott drawings have been identified, for I saw in the British Museum many pictures representing insects thet have not been taken since, so far as I know, while I identified a few recently described, among these century-old drawings.
Convection of Stretching

The paper is a study of motions for which the stretching tensor is convected without diffusion. It is shown that the diffusion of the stretching tensor vanishes if and only if the right Cauchy-Green tensor is equal to its value for a rigid motion plus twice the product of the initial stretching with the elapsed time. It is further proved that the only isochoric motions for which the diffusion of the stretching vanishes are rigid motions. Die vorliegende Arbeit untersucht Bewegungen, bei denen sich der Streckgeschwindigkeitstensor ohne Diffusion fortpflanzt. Es wird gezeigt, das die Diffusion des Streckgeschwindigkeitstensors dann und nur dann verschwindet, wenn der rechte Cauchy-Green-Tensor gleich seinem Wert fur eine starre Bewegung, vermehrt um das doppelte Produkt aus dem Anfangswert des Streckgeschwindigkeitstensors und der verstrichenen Zeit, ist. Weiter wird bewiesen, das die einzigen isochoren Bewegungen, fur welche die Diffusion des Streckgeschwindigkeitstensors verschwindet, starre Bewegungen sind.
Viajando através do alfabeto: A Reading and Writing Program for Intermediate to Advanced Portuguese by JOUËT–PASTRÉ, CLÉMENCE, & PATRICIA ISABEL SOBRAL

A review of the book "Viajando atraves do alfabeto: A Reading and Writing Program for Intermediate to Advanced Portuguese," by Clemence Jouet-Pastre and Patricia Isabel Sobral is presented.
SOME INTERACTIONS OF TEMPERATURE, LIGHT INTENSITY, AND NUTRIENT CONCENTRATION DURING THE CONTINUOUS CULTURE OF NITZSCHIA CLOSTERIUM AND TETRASELMIS SP 1

A continuous culture apparatus was used to measure growth rates of Nitzschia closterium and Tetraselmis sp. at different temperatures and light intensities and at two different levels of nitrate and phosphate enrichment of artificial seawater. A set of symmetrical relationships was found between light, temperature, and nutrient concentration in which the interaction of any two of the factors was modified by varying the third. The optimum temperatures yielding maximum growth rates in a daily light-and-dark cycle were lower when a medium with nitrate and phosphate concentrations similar to those found in natural waters was used than when a medium having higher concentrations of these substances was used. The results of batch culture experiments with high nutrient concentrations may not be applicable, therefore, to natural situations.
Effects of food deprivation on subjective responses to d-amphetamine in humans.

Abstract The effects of 24 hours of food deprivation on the subjective response to 10 mg oral d -amphetamine were studied in 12 healthy normal volunteers. A within-subjects design was used in which subjects ingested amphetamine and placebo capsules in both a fed and a fasting state. Each of the four experimental conditions—FED/DRUG, FED/PLACEBO, FAST/DRUG, FAST/PLACEBO—was enacted twice according to a randomized block design. Three subjective effects questionnaires, the Profile of Mood States, the Addiction Research Center Inventory, and the Visual Analogue Scale, were completed prior to and 1, 3 and 6 hr after the early morning capsule ingestion. Typical elevations in such subjective effects as elation and vigor were obtained after amphetamine ingestion in both feeding conditions, but fasting neither potentiated nor attenuated the drug response. Subjects at the end of the session, however, were more likely in the FAST/DRUG condition than in the FED/DRUG condition to label the capsule they had ingested at the beginning of the session as a stimulant.
The moderating effect of organizational commitment on burnout in information systems professionals

The study examines the moderating role of organizational commitment on the relationship between role stressors and burnout in information systems (IS) professionals. Two role stressors are examined in this study – role ambiguity and role conflict. In addition, two dimensions of organizational commitment – affective and continuance commitment – are examined for their moderating influence. The emotional exhaustion subscale of the Maslach Burnout Inventory is used to measure burnout in 312 IS professionals. Both role stressors were found to correlate positively with burnout. In addition, affective commitment was found to moderate the relationship between role stressors and burnout. Therefore, in employees with high affective commitment, role stressors had a lesser effect on burnout. This study, therefore, supports the argument that commitment acts as a buffer against stress and its antecedents.
A trivariate version of ‘Lévy's equivalence’

Abstract It is shown that the trivariate stochastic processes {( M t − W t , M t , Θ t ), t ≥ 0} and {(| W t |, L t , T t ), t ≥ 0} have the same distributions when: W = { W t , t ≥ 0} is a Wiener process, M t is the maximum value attained by W over the time interval [0, t ], Θ t is the time the maximum value is attained, L t is the local time of W at level zero and time t , and T t is the last time W is zero in the time interval [0, t]. A straightforward proof, based on ‘Tanaka's formula, establishes this result by deriving an almost sure version of the equivalence.
The electronic structure of transition metal disilene complexes

Abstract The electronic structure of disilene complexes, MCl2(Si2H4), with M = Ti, Zr, Mo and W, are studied using ab initio wavefunctions. The complexes of disilene with PtCl3− and Pt(PH3)2 are also investigated. The results reveal a picture of the disilene complexes which is qualitatively similar to the of their olefin analogues, in particular for the well-studied zero- and di-valent platinum olefin complexes. The bis-phosphino and tris-chloro platinum disilenes prefer the same orientations relative to the metal fragment for the disilene fragment as do their olefin analogues. The preference for these orientations in Pt-olefin complexes has been rationalized on the basis of the Dewar-Chatt-Duncanson model. One difference between olefin and disilene complexes is that platinum(0) and platinum(II) disilenes are more similar (electronically and geometrically) than are their olefin analogues, suggesting that the two types of disilene complex have similar contributions from the π-complex and three-membered ring resonance structures.
Development of a pediatric Level 1 trauma center at a freestanding children's hospital: staff attitudes and perceptions before and after trauma designation.

Abstract Background Despite research correlating survival or better outcomes with pediatric trauma care at pediatric hospitals, almost 90% of injured children are treated at predominantly adult facilities. Although the reasons are likely multifactorial, attitudes of pediatric hospital staff may play a role in the development of a pediatric trauma center. Methods A survey of hospital staff was conducted to measure the attitude of staff on the effects of becoming a pediatric trauma center. The instrument was administered before and 6 months after trauma center designation. Major topic areas were staffing, organizational impact, education, safety, and financial issues. Attitudes were measured by Likert scale and compared between phases. Results A total of 404 staff participated before and 447 staff participated 6 months after designation. Nonphysician respondents dominated the survey respondent pool. Areas of concern included staffing, education, patient volume and acuity, and order and flow. Positive attitudes were seen in areas including quality of care, skill development, and recruitment. Overall improvement in attitudes was observed in several areas. Conclusions Hospital staff consistently agreed on the positive impact on quality of care and overall employee benefit. Concerns were mostly diminished at follow-up. A persistent concern of adequate staffing mismatched actual needs. The findings of this study indicate that the staff perceive many measurable benefits to pediatric trauma center development, which have never previously been described.
Development of a reverse transcription-PCR assay to detect porcine circovirus type 2 transcription as a measure of replication

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is a non-enveloped, single-stranded, circular DNA virus. In situ hybridization and PCR assays have detected PCV2 DNA in multiple organs and cell types from infected pigs; however, it is not clear if this represents replicating virus or virion DNA. We describe the development of a single-tube RT-PCR assay to differentiate PCV2 replication products and virus DNA. Primers targeted to the open-reading frame 2 (ORF2) of PCV2 were designed to amplify both virus DNA (984 bp) and the spliced Cap mRNA (594 bp). The 984 bp fragment, but not the 594 bp fragment, was amplified from PCV2 stock, confirming that the spliced Cap mRNA was not present in the PCV2 stock. The 594 bp fragment was amplified from DNase-treated RNA extracted from PCV2-infected PK-15 cells, and was detected as early as 14 h post-infection. No products were amplified from either the PCV1 stock or PCV1-infected PK-15 cells, or from cells infected with UV-inactivated PCV2. Therefore, the presence of the 594 bp fragment is specific for PCV2 replication. This assay will be useful in assessing cell populations that support PCV2 replication in vivo or in vitro and advance the understanding of PCV2 replication and pathogenesis.
A new strategy for global climate protection

This essay proposes an innovative institutional strategy for global climate protection, quite distinct from but ultimately complementary to the UNFCCC climate treaty negotiations. Our “building block” strategy relies on a variety of smaller-scale transnational cooperative arrangements, involving not only states, but also subnational jurisdictions, firms, and civil society organizations, to undertake activities whose primary goal is not climate mitigation but which will achieve greenhouse gas reductions as a byproduct. This strategy avoids the problems inherent in developing an enforceable, comprehensive treaty regime by mobilizing other incentives—including economic self-interest, energy security, cleaner air, and furtherance of international development— to motivate a range of actors to cooperate on actions that will also produce climate benefits. The strategy uses three specific models of regime formation (club, linkage, and dominant actor models) which emerge from economics, international relations, and organizational behavior, to develop a variety of transnational regimes that are generally self-enforcing and sustainable, avoiding the free rider and compliance problems endemic in collective action to provide public goods. These regimes will contribute to global climate action not only by achieving emissions reductions in the short term, but also by creating global webs of cooperation and trust, and by linking the building block regimes to the UNFCCC system through greenhouse gas monitoring and reporting systems. We argue that the building blocks regimes would thereby help secure eventual agreement on a comprehensive climate treaty.
Simulation requirements to support a large-scale development program

ABSTRACT The Air Force has defined a hierarchy of models that describes the scope and level of fidelity of simulations. This"Hierarchy of Models" begins at Level I, Engineering Analysis, and progresses to Level V Campaign results. Sep-aration of simulations into these levels was perfectly adequate to describe the purpose and use of a simulation andits characteristics relative to another simulation of the same system. Simulation, however, can be used to supporttwo general types of activities: Analysis and Development. In Analysis, we are trying to understand a system orenvironment so we can answer a question or test a hypothesis. The "Hierarchy of Models" was developed to cate-gorize Analytical Simulations. In Development, we are trying synthesize a system that meets certain requirements,build the components of the system, integrate the components, and then verify that the system meets requirements.In a development effort, simulation supports: requirements analysis, functional analysis and allocation, preliminarydesign, detailed design, build (code), integrate, and test. The Hierarchy of Models does not provide a solid basis forestablishing simulation characteristics (requirements) to support a large scale development and integration effort.
Shock propagation and damage in tungsten cubes subjected to explosive loading

Abstract A combined experimental and numerical study was performed on the dynamic response behavior of cubical specimens of a tungsten alloy. The locations of the first and second (incipient) spall planes were determined as a function of the height of explosive charge acting on one of the faces of the specimen. In the experimental program, the damaged specimens were soft recovered and post-test observations were performed. One-dimensional computer simulations using the WONDY program related the position of the first spall plane to the dynamic fracture strength in order to estimate the dynamic fracture strength of the alloy. A second, incipient spall fracture was observed in the recovered specimens. Detailed examination of the micrographs indicated that the damage occurred by void nucleation and growth. Based on the fracture strength inferred from the depth of the first spall plane, the one-dimensional analysis provided predictions for the incipient second fracture plane location that were in reasonable agreement with the experimental observations.
Functional analysis and the optimal control of linear discrete systems

The optimal regulation of a linear discrete system in which one wishes to use either the minimum amount of fuel, energy or amplitude in the control has received much attention. It is readily shown that each of these control problems can be equated to that of finding a specific solution to a system of consistent linear equations in the control variables. Various algorithms have been developed which will yield an optimal control ; however, they tend to be computationally inefficient (for the minimum fuel and amplitude problems) and are therefore of little practical value. In this paper, a number of important properties related to the solution of a consistent system of linear equations will be developed. These properties are proven by appealing to same basic theorems from functional analysis and will be directly applicable to the above control problems. Algorithmic procedures for solving the minimum fuel (minimum l∞ solution) and minimum amplitude (minimum l;∞ solution) are then developed. These algorithmic ...
Simultaneous excision of two transgene flanking sequences and resolution of complex integration loci

In planta excision techniques have proven useful both for basic biology and applied biotechnology. In this report, we describe a simple site-specific recombination (SSR) strategy that simultaneously removes pre-defined DNA sequences from both sides of a transgenic “gene of interest,” leaving only the desired gene and short sequences from the recombinase recognition site. We have used the FLP/FRT SSR system to provide a proof of concept, though any of several other SSR systems could be used in the same way. The frequency of double excision ranged from 33% to 83% in different transgenic lines. We show that a single SSR reaction can simultaneously carry out double excisions and resolve complex transgene loci at high frequency. The method has direct biotechnological application and provides a useful tool for basic research.