cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
History and temporality in Bronze Age Anatolia: the King of Battle narrative in archaeological and historical tradition

Recent developments in Anatolian studies modify our understanding of one of the earliest stories said to have taken place in Anatolia: the sar tamḫari narrative, or ‘King of Battle’. On the one han...
Normative roles, conceptual variance, and ardent realism about normativity

In Choosing Normative Concepts, Eklund considers a “variance thesis” about our most fundamental (and seemingly most “authoritative”) normative concepts. This thesis raises the threat of an alarming...
Handling effects on survival and growth of plain pocketbook Lampsilis cardium (Rafinesque, 1820) freshwater mussels

Handling freshwater mussels may have negative impacts on their survival, growth, or reproduction, and this may affect our interpretation of how mussels respond to research and conservation actions. The goal of this study was to investigate how repeated dislodgement and emersion during handling affects survival and growth of plain pocketbook Lampsilis cardium. Sixty mussels were exposed to one of the four handling rates: (1) control (no handling), (2) handled every other week, (3) handled once per week, or (4) handled twice per week, during an 85-day laboratory experiment in 2017. Absolute daily growth rates were compared among control and treatment group mussels. Growth rates were positive for > 98% of mussels and no mortality occurred. A likelihood ratio test indicated that growth rates did not differ among treatment groups (χ2 (3) = 1.32, P = 0.72). The best growth rate model was an intercept-only model which predicted that an average mussel grew 0.0088 mm/day (95% confidence interval 0.0070–0.0106). Our results suggest that L. cardium survival and growth is not compromised by short-term, repeated handling as often as twice per week, but consideration of handling procedures and mussel characteristics is necessary to fully understand how handling may affect other mussels.
Rapid and sustained response to immune checkpoint inhibition in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma after allogenic hematopoietic cell transplant for sézary syndrome.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is not uncommon in association with indolent malignancies that were treated with prior radiotherapy and after allogenic bone marrow transplantation. On the other hand, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is a subtype of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma which is characterized by an indolent course, with relative refractoriness to conventional chemotherapies and radiotherapy, and occasionally referred for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). Recently, the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors has gained attention in the treatment of both cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and hematological malignancies. However, many patients with hematological malignancies eventually undergo allo-HCT, raising the concern of potential adverse events (graft versus host disease) due to manipulation of the immune system with use of checkpoint inhibitors. We describe a patient with relapsed refractory CTCL (Sezary Syndrome) who underwent allo-HCT with persistence of disease post-transplant. The patient additionally developed a progressively worsening lesion on the right shoulder which was biopsied and showed poorly differentiated carcinoma (cSCC). Pembrolizumab was started for the treatment of cSCC. After second cycle of treatment, the cSCC lesion responded dramatically to the use of immune checkpoint inhibitor. Also, the patient experienced significant resolution of pruritus and generalized erythema. During 24 months of follow up after initial treatment with checkpoint inhibition immunotherapy, the patient showed durable response of both cSCC and CTCL, as well as restoration of full donor chimerism, without obvious worsening of graft versus host disease (GVHD). This is the first case to our knowledge of rapid and durable response of both cSCC and CTCL to immune checkpoint inhibition after allo-HCT. Although this report highlights the potential for significant response to this class of medication, further studies are required to confirm the efficacy and safety of this approach in patients with CTCL after allo-HCT given the potential concern of GVHD.
1,2-Dihydro-9H-carbazole-4(3H)-thione.

The crystal structure of the title compound, C(12)H(11)NS, features parallel chains of alternating N-H⋯S hydrogen-bonded mirror-image conformers along [10[Formula: see text]]. The mol-ecular conformation is that of an envelope, with all of the framework atoms except one close to a mean plane (rms deviation 0.054 A); one C atom of the cyclo-hexene-thione ring forms the envelope flap, which makes a dihedral angle of 48.6 (1)° with the rest of the mol-ecule. There is a π-π* inter-action between pairs of enanti-omers in adjacent chains; the distance between parallel planes is 3.466 (1) A.
Association of Diagnosis Coding With Differences in Risk-Adjusted Short-term Mortality Between Critical Access and Non-Critical Access Hospitals

Importance Critical access hospitals (CAHs) provide care to rural communities. Increasing mortality rates have been reported for CAHs relative to non-CAHs. Because Medicare reimburses CAHs at cost, CAHs may report fewer diagnoses than non-CAHs, which may affect risk-adjusted comparisons of outcomes. Objective To assess serial differences in risk-adjusted mortality rates between CAHs and non-CAHs after accounting for differences in diagnosis coding. Design, Setting, and Participants Serial cross-sectional study of rural Medicare Fee-for-Service beneficiaries admitted to US CAHs and non-CAHs for pneumonia, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, arrhythmia, urinary tract infection, septicemia, and stroke from 2007 to 2017. The final date of follow-up was December 31, 2017. Exposure Admission to a CAH vs non-CAH. Main Outcomes and Measures Discharge diagnosis count including trends from 2010 to 2011 when Medicare expanded the allowable number of billing codes for hospitalizations, and combined in-hospital and 30-day postdischarge mortality adjusted for demographics, primary diagnosis, preexisting conditions, and with vs without further adjustment for Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) score to understand the contribution of in-hospital secondary diagnoses. Results There were 4 094 720 hospitalizations (17% CAH) for 2 850 194 unique Medicare beneficiaries (mean [SD] age, 76.3 [11.7] years; 55.5% women). Patients in CAHs were older (median age, 80.1 vs 76.8 years) and more likely to be female (58% vs 55%). In 2010, the adjusted mean discharge diagnosis count was 7.52 for CAHs vs 8.53 for non-CAHs (difference, −0.99 [95% CI, −1.08 to −0.90];P Conclusions and Relevance For rural Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized from 2007 to 2017, CAHs submitted significantly fewer hospital diagnosis codes than non-CAHs, and short-term mortality rates adjusted for preexisting conditions but not in-hospital comorbidity measures were not significantly different by hospital type in most years. The findings suggest that short-term mortality outcomes at CAHs may not differ from those of non-CAHs after accounting for different coding practices for in-hospital comorbidities.
The striatal medium spiny neurons: what they are and how they link with Parkinson's disease

Abstract Constituting over 90% of the striatal neuronal population, medium spiny neurons (MSNs) are the projection neurons of the striatum. A distinct feature of MSNs is their rich dendritic spines, in which cortical and thalamic glutamatergic synaptic inputs are received and excite the normally silent MSNs. Another distinct feature of MSNs is their dense dopamine innervation and their high levels of dopamine (DA) D1 (D1R) and D2 (D2R) receptor expression. Equally striking is the segregation of the main DA receptors in which D1Rs are expressed in direct pathway MSNs [dMSNs] and D2Rs are expressed only in indirect pathway MSNs (iMSNs). D1R activation increases dMSN output whereas D2R activation reduces iMSN output; both of these two effects are motor-promoting. In Parkinson's disease (PD), MSNs and their D1Rs and D2Rs experience a severe lack of DA and undergo compensatory and dysregulatory changes; consequently, dMSNs and iMSNs are the key locations where abnormal neural signals for parkinsonism are initiated. The highly expressed D1Rs and D2Rs in dMSNs and iMSNs are also the primary targets of current dopaminergic anti-PD drugs.
Multi-time Scale Stochastic Model Predictive Control for Cooperative Distributed Energy Scheduling of Smart Homes

In this chapter, a multi-time scale stochastic model predictive control (MPC) approach is applied to solve the cooperative distributed energy scheduling problem of smart homes. In this problem, a variety of energy resources are considered for each smart home, and every smart home has a capability of power transaction with the retailer through the electrical grid as well as with the other connected smart homes. The challenges of the problem include modeling the technical and economic constraints of the energy resources and addressing the variability and uncertainty issues of renewables’ power that change the optimization problem to a stochastic, dynamic (time-varying), and mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) problem. To deal with the variability and uncertainty issues, a multi-time scale stochastic MPC is applied. Applying the multi-time scale approach in the stochastic MPC is able to simultaneously consider the precise resolution for the problem variables and the vast vision for the optimization time horizon. In addition, linear programming (LP) and genetic algorithm (GA) are combined (GA-LP) and applied in the problem as an effective and fast optimization technique. The numerical studies about the small and large systems demonstrate the competences of the proposed approach.
SEQRA's Siblings: Precedents from Little NEPA's in the Sister States

Recurring patterns of new land uses and development exist throughout the United States. It is only natural, therefore, that state legislatures have sought to regulate and control these developments in similar ways. The environmental impact assessment process at its best is a technique not just to protect environmental.quality, but also to promote the ordered growth of society. The courts do much to advance both wise use of natural resources and social and economic development by reinforcing the legislative judgment that environmental impact analysis shall be a part of all governmental decision-making in the federal government and in states such as New York, California and Washington.Just as the experiences under the Massachusetts' little NEPA gave the Council on Environmental Quality the idea of "scoping" to narrow an EIS, and the NEPA regulations now include a requirement for scoping, so also the NEPA process can guide the states' little NEPA's. An evolving and symbiotic relationship exists between NEPA and the comparable state laws, just as there is one among the state enactments.
The Kinetics and Mechanism of Iron (III) Exchange between Chelates and Transferrin IV. THE REACTION OF TRANSFERRIN WITH IRON(III) NITRILOTRIACETATE

The reaction of iron(III)-nitrilotriacetate (NTA) with transferrin was studied with a stopped flow spectrophotometer. In the presence of bicarbonate ion the time course of the reaction is biphasic. The first phase is complete within a few tenths of a second, while the second phase requires some 10 s. Although the first phase does not follow second order kinetics, the initial velocity is dependent on both the transferrin and iron(III)-NTA concentrations. The fraction of the absorbance change of the total reaction contributed by the first phase is about 60%, and is relatively constant. The second phase follows first order kinetics. Addition of excess NTA or bicarbonate has little effect on either phase of the reaction. In the absence of bicarbonate the reaction time course becomes monophasic. The absorbance change of the reaction is greater in the absence of bicarbonate, and corresponds closely with static spectra obtained under anaerobic conditions. Based on the data presented, a reaction sequence is proposed. In the presence of bicarbonate, the first phase represents the reaction of iron(III)-NTA with a transferrin binding site to form an intermediate complex involving NTA, iron(III), and transferrin. In the second phase the breakdown of this complex frees the NTA and results in the formation of the specific iron(III)-transferrin-bicarbonate product. In the absence of bicarbonate a stable complex of NTA, iron(III), and transferrin is formed. Possible structures for the kinetic intermediate and the bicarbonate-free complex are discussed.
Salmon Poisoning Disease in Dogs: 29 Cases

Background: Salmon poisoning disease (SPD) is a trematode-borne disease of dogs caused by Neorickettsia helminthoeca. Objectives: To determine risk factors and spatial epidemiology of SPD in dogs from northern California; to describe the clinicopathologic, microbiologic, and imaging findings of SPD in these dogs; and to evaluate treatments and outcomes for SPD. Animals: Twenty-nine dogs with SPD based on the finding of trematode ova in the feces, or organisms consistent with N. helminthoeca in specimens submitted for microscopic examination. Methods: Information regarding signalment, fish exposure, clinical signs, diagnostic evaluation, treatments, and outcomes was obtained for each dog. Archived lymph node aspirates and histopathology specimens were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for Neorickettsia spp. Results: Labrador Retrievers and intact male dogs were overrepresented. Exposure locations were often distant from the dogs' residence. Some dogs had neurologic signs, including twitching and seizures. Dogs lacking peripheral lymphadenomegaly had abdominal lymphadenomegaly on ultrasound examination. A combination of centrifugation fecal flotation and sedimentation had greatest sensitivity for finding fluke ova. N. helminthoeca DNA was amplified by PCR from 4/10 dogs. Penicillins, cephalosporins, and chloramphenicol did not appear to be effective treatments. Mortality rate was 4/29 (14%). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: SPD should be suspected in dogs with inappetence, gastrointestinal, or neurologic signs, with or without fever or peripheral lymphadenomegaly in the appropriate geographical setting. Diagnosis is facilitated by a combination of fecal sedimentation and centrifugal flotation, abdominal ultrasonography, and PCR-based assays on lymphoid tissue. The treatment of choice is tetracycline antimicrobials.
Of Apes and Men: Baka and Bantu Attitudes to Wildlife and the Making of Eco-Goodies and Baddies

In this essay particular local attitudes to wildlife are compared with western representations of such engagement with the natural environ­ment. The ethnographic focus is on Baka (Pygmies) and their Bantu-speaking neighbours living side by side in the rainforest of the north-western Republic of Congo (Brazzaville). Their current attitudes to gorillas and chimpanzees, both CITES-protected species, seem to confirm western stereotypes of Pygmy hunter-gatherers living in tune with their environment and caring for it, and of Bantu farmers as invading the forest with little or no conservation ethic. How did these moral tales of proto-ecologists versus 'eco-baddies' develop and what is the history of such polarising ideology? How have these ideas been appropriated and used in environmental discourse, and how do they map onto current perceptions and attitudes on the ground? Heeding these ques­tions a specific history of representations is discussed, starting from an as­sumed Pygmy aboriginality and a Bantu status as late-coming forest colonisers and leading to a pervasively dichotomous view of their cultures and socio-ecological relations. A closer, anthropologically informed look at contemporary Baka and Bantu perceptions and attitudes to wildlife, however brings home the need for historical contexts and in-depth research both into social and cultural configurations and into situated ecological and economic knowledges and practices to uncover subtle distinctions within local models and the complexities of behaviour.
Cell motility mediates tissue size regulation in Dictyostelium

Little is known about how organisms regulate the size of multicellular structures. This review condenses some of the observations about how Dictyostelium regulates the size of fruiting bodies. Very large fruiting bodies tend to fall over, and one of the ways Dictyostelium cells prevent this is by breaking up the aggregation streams when there is an excessive number of cells in the stream. Developing cells simultaneously secrete and sense counting factor (CF), a 450 kDa complex of proteins. Diffusion calculations showed that as the number of cells in a stream or group increases, the local concentration of CF will increase, allowing the cells to sense the number of cells in the stream or group. Computer simulations predicted that a high level of CF could trigger stream breakup by decreasing cell-cell adhesion and/or increasing cell motility, effectively causing the stream to dissipate and begin to fall apart. The prediction that adhesion and motility affect group size is supported by observations that decreasing adhesion by adding antibodies that bind to adhesion protein causes the formation of smaller groups, while increasing adhesion by overexpressing adhesion proteins, or decreasing motility with drugs that disrupt actin function both cause the formation of larger groups. CF both decreases adhesion and increases motility. CF increases motility in part by increasing actin polymerization and myosin phosphorylation, and decreasing myosin polymerization. New observations using a fusion of a green fluorescent protein to a protein fragment that binds polymerized actin show that in live cells CF does not affect the distribution of polymerized actin. CF increases the levels of ABP-120, an actin-bundling protein, and new observations indicate that very low levels of CF cause an increase in levels of myoB, an unconventional myosin. Our current understanding of group size regulation in Dictyostelium is thus that motility plays a key role, and that to regulate group size cells regulate the expression of at least two proteins, as well as regulating the polymerization of both actin and myosin.
A new algorithm to construct parallel adder for high density codes

A new method is presented for high-speed parallel addition. The method is shown to be highly efficient both in terms of silicon area consumption and speed. Here the addition is essentially performed by multiple but simultaneous incrementing procedure, called position-incrementing. The method also utilizes operand partitioning, much similar to the method implemented in carry select addition. The operands, after some initial treatments, are partitioned into small (4-bit) groups, and group additions are then performed independently and concurrently for both cases, one with input carry 1 and the other with 0. Next, the appropriate partial sums are selected based on the actual group carries which are separately processed in a multi-stage multiplexer structure. By implementing a recently developed incrementing circuit, and applying the carry select procedure it is shown that the operational delay is relatively small and it almost increases by O(log/sub 2/ n), where n is the word size. The algorithm is implemented for a 64-bit adder. The simulation results show high efficiency both in hardware as well as the speed (gate delays). For the 64-bit adder it is shown that the total hardware used is equivalent to 1186 gates (2 input NAND gates) and the maximum operational delay is about 7.5 unit gate delays. >
Bridging the Gap between Risk Analysis and Security Policies

In the IT security management process, a methodological gap exists between the results of a risk analysis, the development of adequate security policies and the selection of appropriate operational controls. We believe that a number of methods and techniques developed by the Requirement Engineering community, and goal requirements modelling in particular, can be useful to bridge this gap by providing modelling frameworks that might support those processes.
The 55 kDa tissue transglutaminase cross-linking active isoform TG induces cell death

Transamidations are calcium-dependent reactions catalyzed by transglutaminase enzymes. Tissue transglutaminase (TG2 or TGC) is a multifunctional protein with a controversial role in apoptosis. The cross-linking function of transglutaminase enzymes has been shown to play a role in cell death. Human breast cancer cell lines (MCF7 and T47D), which express low endogenous levels of transglutaminase, were transiently transfected with the cross-linking 55 kDa active TG isoform or its precursor the 80 kDa full-length TGC. The increased frequency of apoptosis correlated with the increase in transglutaminase expression and the highest rates of apoptosis were found in cells transfected with the potent TG isoform as compared to the full length TGC. The calcium ionophores A231827 and maitotoxin, which are known to induce transamidation, were found to promote apoptosis, whereas cystamine, an active transglutaminase inhibitor, blocked apoptosis due to the over-expression of the active TG isoform. This is the first time that TG has been used in cellular transfections and the results presented show that TG is a potent inducer of cell death. This finding may help to clarify the conflicting functions of TG in the induction of cell death. The TG-dependent irreversible cross-linking of intracellular proteins, a function previously assigned to TGC, represents an important biochemical event in the induction of the structural changes present in cells during apoptosis. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Political Science and Its Audience

I start a course on Politics and Policy by asking 100 or so students from several dozen countries to say what comes to mind when they hear the word “science.” Terms mentioned are objectivity, truth-seeking, hypothesis testing, experiments, data, logic, and the like. I write them on the blackboard. I then ask what comes to mind to mind when they hear the word “politics.” Here they mention power, manipulation, ambition, conflict, partisanship, spin, ideology, and, less often, vision and purpose. This list is put on the blackboard. Then, with two word lists before us, I comment that because they have just joined a school of public policy they must have a view of what goes into thinking up, arguing about, designing, and implementing policy. After a bit of discussion it gradually it sinks in. Policy is the meeting ground of science and politics. It is where the two word-lists on the blackboard come together and thrash it out, neither side ever quite vanishing the other.
Thin Polyimide Films Prepared by Ionic Self-Assembly

Layer-by-layer electrostatic deposition of polyelectrolytes was used to modify a gold substrate with polydiallyl dimethylammonium chloride and an Ultem-type poly(amic acid) salt. Following deposition, heat treatment converted the poly(amic acid) salt into a polyimide. A decrease in the thin film thickness and a substantial increase in the interfacial contact angle accompanied thermal treatment. Results from cyclic voltammetry measurements also show that the imidized surface had a decreased dielectric constant relative to an unmodified or a poly(amic acid)-modified interface. Each of these results is consistent with formation of the polyimide. Infrared spectra of the thin films formed by the electrostatic deposition were virtually identical with spectra obtained when the polyimide was formed by the normal spin casting procedure. These results suggest that the electrostatic method for depositing precursors of polyimides followed by heat treatment produces thin films that have structural and physical propert...
Evidence that Benzo(a) pyrene-resistant, aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase-deficient variants of mouse hepatoma line, Hepa-1, are mutational in origin.

Treatment of Hepa-1 with N -methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, ethyl methanesulfonate, UV light, or ICR-191G, increased the frequency of benzo(a)pyrene-resistant (BPr) clones. The relative efficacies of the mutagens at increasing the frequency of BPr clones correlated with their efficacies at inducing 6-thioguanine-resistant clones. Evidence was obtained that the mutagens induced the BPr variants rather than selecting for BPr cells that preexisted in the treated cultures. All variants tested had reduced AHH activities and phenotypes that were stable over time in culture. Certain “leaky” variants with residual AHH activities and low cloning efficiencies in BP were further selected in BP and subclones isolated. Half the subclones were indistinguishable from their parents, while the majority of the remainder retained at least half of their parents' AHH activity. The marked stability of the phenotype of the variants, and their induction by mutagens, suggests that they are bona fide mutants.
Theoretical study on shape control of thin cross-ply laminates using piezoelectric actuators

Abstract This paper investigates the application of a piezoelectric actuator to control deformation of thin unsymmetric cross-ply composite laminates. A theoretical model based on Rayleigh–Ritz principle is developed to predict laminate deformation and the effect of the piezoelectric actuator layer. Several stacking sequences are studied using the model. It is found that two stable shapes still exist for laminates with larger dimensions but the two shapes are not symmetric as in traditional cross-ply laminates. The bifurcation dimension increases when the thickness of piezoelectric layer increases. Laminate curvatures are in a perfectly linear relationship with an electric field applied to the piezoelectric actuator layer. Snap-through from one stable shape to the other can occur by applying an electric field. FEA results match model prediction fairly well. This model can be used as a guide to design piezocomposite laminates.
Stimulation of Drosophila mitochondrial DNA polymerase by single-stranded DNA-binding protein.

Mitochondrial DNA polymerase from Drosophila embryos has been characterized with regard to its mechanism of DNA synthesis in the presence of single-stranded DNA-binding protein from Escherichia coli. The rate of DNA synthesis by DNA polymerase γ was increased nearly 40-fold upon addition of single-stranded DNA-binding protein. Processivity of mitochondrial DNA polymerase was increased ∼ 2-fold, while its intrinsic rate of nucleotide polymerization was unaffected. Primer extension analysis showed that the rate of initiation of DNA strand synthesis by DNA polymerase γ was increased 25-fold in the presence of single-stranded DNA-binding protein. Our results indicate that the stimulation of Drosophila DNA polymerase γ by single-stranded DNA-binding protein results primarily from an increased rate of primer recognition and binding. Concurrent achievement of maximal activity and processivity by mitochondrial DNA polymerase in the presence of binding protein suggests that DNA polymerase γ , like other replicative DNA polymerases, associates with accessory factors in vivo to catalyze efficient and processive DNA synthesis.
CALCULATED POLARIZABILITIES OF INTERMEDIATE-SIZE SI CLUSTERS

We have used a first-principles, density-functional-based method to calculate the electric polarizabilities and dipole moments for several low-energy geometries of Si clusters in the size range $10l~Nl~20$. The polarizability per atom is found to be a slowly varying, nonmonotonic function of N. Over this size range the polarizability appears to be correlated most strongly to cluster shape and not with either the dipole moment or the highest occupied--lowest unoccupied molecular-orbital gap. The calculations indicate that the polarizability per atom for Si clusters approaches the bulk limit from above as a function of size.
Economical simulation in particle filtering using interpolation

Sampling from the importance density is often a costly aspect of particle filters. We present a method by which to replace the most computationally expensive component of the importance density with an efficient approximation, thus allowing for the propagation of a large number of particles at reduced cost. The modification is implemented within auxiliary and regularized particle filters in a numerical example based on the Kraichnan-Orszag system.
Luria, Aleksander Romanovich (1902–77)

Aleksander Romanovich Luria, known best as a pioneering neuropsychologist, conducted basic research on human cognitive and emotional functions between the early 1920s and the mid-1970s. His scientific career is reviewed; special emphasis is placed on the ways in which Luria's approach to neuropsychology is best understood in light of his lifelong quest to create a unified approach to understanding human development as a biocultural, social process.
Compressive estimation for signal integration in rendering

In rendering applications, we are often faced with the problem of computing the integral of an unknown function. Typical approaches used to estimate these integrals are often based on Monte Carlo methods that slowly converge to the correct answer after many point samples have been taken. In this work, we study this problem under the framework of compressed sensing and reach the conclusion that if the signal is sparse in a transform domain, we can evaluate the integral accurately using a small set of point samples without requiring the lengthy iterations of Monte Carlo approaches. We demonstrate the usefulness of our framework by proposing novel algorithms to address two problems in computer graphics: image antialiasing and motion blur. We show that we can use our framework to generate good results with fewer samples than is possible with traditional approaches.
A DIRECT SYNTHESIS OF 1-CYCLOALKENYLPHOSPHONATES

Abstract A series of 1-cycloalkenylphosphonate diesters has been synthesized starting with the corresponding vinylic chlorides. This has been accomplished using the Cu(I) complexes of triethyl phosphite in a direct reaction with the vinylic chlorides. This represents a convenient method for the synthesis of this class of compounds previously requiring multi-step routes.
Colocated surface sound interaction

We present three related schemes for colocating sensing and sound actuation on flat surfaces. One uses conductive paper to create a musical instrument, another uses magnets mounted in gloves and printed conductors to form planar loudspeaker arrays. Finally we show how conductive and resistive fabrics can be integrated with loudspeaker drivers.
A matrix-form GSM---CFD solver for incompressible fluids and its application to hemodynamics

A GSM---CFD solver for incompressible flows is developed based on the gradient smoothing method (GSM). A matrix-form algorithm and corresponding data structure for GSM are devised to efficiently approximate the spatial gradients of field variables using the gradient smoothing operation. The calculated gradient values on various test fields show that the proposed GSM is capable of exactly reproducing linear field and of second order accuracy on all kinds of meshes. It is found that the GSM is much more robust to mesh deformation and therefore more suitable for problems with complicated geometries. Integrated with the artificial compressibility approach, the GSM is extended to solve the incompressible flows. As an example, the flow simulation of carotid bifurcation is carried out to show the effectiveness of the proposed GSM---CFD solver. The blood is modeled as incompressible Newtonian fluid and the vessel is treated as rigid wall in this paper.
The preparation and surface chemistry of polystyrene colloids stabilized by thiosulfate surface groups

Abstract Thiosulfate ion in the presence of certain transition metal cations has been found to be an efficient initiator for the emulsion polymerization of styrene. The relative catalytic efficiencies of various metal ions are Cu(II) > Fe(III) > Ag(I) > others. Emulsifier-free polystyrene latexes could be made especially easily by the Cu(II)/thiosulfate redox system. Conductometric titration showed that only strong acid surface groups are present on the particles. The surface charge densities of these emulsifier-free latexes decreased upon heating or treating with cyanide ions. Thiosulfate free-radical ions, ∗S2O3−, are believed to be the most probable initiating species. By means of IR spectroscopy, the end-groups of polymer chains initiated by the thiosulfate free radicals were found to be S-alkylated rather than O-alkylated.
Variation in infectivity of Saint Louis encephalitis viral strains for Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae).

Only 6 isolations of Saint Louis encephalitis (SLE) virus have been made from Argentina. These include 2 from patients with undifferentiated fever, 2 from rodents (CorAn-9124 and CorAn-9275), and 2 from mosquitoes (78V-6507 and 79V-2533). The infectivity of the last 4 strains for colonized Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus from Argentina was determined following intrathoracic inoculation of virus or by feeding mosquitoes on virus-laden suspensions. Comparison of the replication and dissemination of viral strains CorAn-9275 and 79V-2533 was made by serially dissecting orally infected mosquitoes and by testing heads, alimentary tracts, and body remnants separately. Each of the 4 viral strains replicated to high titer in Cx. p. quinquefasciatus following intrathoracic inoculation; however, day-20 infection rates never exceeded 5.1% in groups of mosquitoes fed on suspensions of CorAn-9124 and CorAn-9275. In contrast, infection rates were 90.9 and 87.5% in mosquitoes fed on suspensions of 78V-6507 and 79V-2533, and oral ID50's were 103.5 and 102.9 Vero cell PFU, respectively. Further, CorAn-9275 did not replicate well in Cx. p. quinquefasciatus alimentary tracts (avg. titers 102.1 and 102.5 PFU/ml on days 10 and 13) and rarely passed the mesenteronal barrier. In contrast, 79V-2533 readily infected mosquitoes by the oral route, replicated to high titer (avg. 104.8 PFU/ml) in the alimentary tract, and began disseminating by day 5. Widespread dissemination of virus occurred by day 10 but virus spread and multiplication continued at least through day 13, by which time viral antigen was detectable in head squashes of practically all mosquitoes tested. The infectivity of the 4 viral strains for Cx. p. quinquefasciatus correlates well with published reports on the virulence characteristics of these viral strains in vertebrates.
Structural analysis of a salt-cored transfer zone in the South Timbalier Block 54, offshore Gulf of Mexico: Implications for restoration of salt-related extensional structures

The style of faulting in offshore Louisiana, Gulf of Mexico, is characterized by short, arcuate regional and counterregional growth faults, which commonly form complex transfer zones above shallow, Miocene level salt bodies. South Timbalier Block 54 (ST54) constitutes one such area where a basinward-dipping regional and a landward-dipping counterregional growth fault form a convergent transfer zone. Structural interpretation using three-dimensional (3-D) seismic and well data reveals that the eastern and western flanks of the structure contain salt in the footwalls of the main regional and counterregional faults. The salt rises to a much shallower stratigraphic level in the central part of the transfer zone, forming a symmetric salt diapir. Secondary antithetic and synthetic faults adjacent to the two main faults and extending into the transfer zone accommodate slip between the main faults. Kinematic restoration of a series of north–south-trending cross sections across the structure show that upslope evacuation of salt is the result of sediment loading and growth fault movement, and the location of the transfer zone is possibly controlled by the allochthonous salt. The entire area is characterized by down-to-basin movement, with the major regional and counterregional faults displaying footwall and hanging-wall fixed deformation, respectively. The presence of the crestal graben above the salt high and the timing of maximum salt evacuation from the flanks suggest that active or reactive diapirism occurred during part of the deformation history. A 3-D structural model using depth-converted horizons, balanced cross sections, and well tops accurately portrays the subsurface structure. Understanding the evolution of the structure in ST54 provides insight on similar structures in other areas in offshore Louisiana and the relationship between salt evacuation and transfer zone development.
Percutaneous Balloon-Expandable Aortic Valve Implantation: Transfemoral

While surgical aortic valve replacement has been an extraordinarily effective treatment for symptomatic aortic stenosis, it has been estimated that over 40% of patients with this condition go untreated. 1 Many of these face prohibitive operative risk, due to a number of factors such as porcelain aorta, cirrhosis, severe emphysema, and other comorbidities. Recently, transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has demonstrated clinical benefit in a patient population at prohibitively high risk for complications following traditional surgical valve implantation. 2 The initial application of this technology in human patients utilized an antegrade approach via the femoral vein, a transseptal puncture, and guidance of the prosthesis across the mitral valve and out through the left ventricular outflow tract. 3 Although this approach avoids the complications associated with large-bore access of the iliofemoral arterial system, it proved cumbersome for most operators and was associated with a high risk of other major complications, includingcardiacperforationandmajorstructuraldamageto the mitral valve. In recent years, TAVI procedures with a balloon-expandable system have been performed retrograde either through a transfemoral arterial approach (TF) or through a transapical approach involving a limited left thoracotomy and exposure of the apex of the heart. For the purposes of this article, we focusontheTFtechniqueusingtheEdwardsSapienballoonexpandable platform (Fig. 1; Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA). This device is not currently approved for marketing in the United States and is limited to investigational use; it is currently the only device in clinical trial in the United States, although it has been Conformite European (CE) mark approved for use in Europe since September 2007. Another transcatheter aortic valve device, the Medtronic Corevalve (Medtronic, Inc, Minneapolis, MN), has impending clinical trials in the United States and has also received CE mark approval. A number of other innovative transcatheter valve devices are in various stages of preclinical and clinical testing internationally. Because our experience has been solely with the Edwards Sapien device, we limit our discussion to this system. The preoperative steps of this procedure, other than general patient selection, include proper evaluation of iliofemoral and aortic access for retrograde device deployment and accurate annulus sizing. The critical procedural steps include the following: reassessment of annular size, vascular access, accurate valve positioning, reliable rapid ventricular pacing, valve deployment, valve assessment, and control of vascular access and closure. The procedural steps of retrograde valve positioning and deployment have been well described 4 and we focus much of this discussion on our technique for total percutaneous device placement. These techniques can also prove useful for other largebore arterial access systems, such as endovascular aortic stent-graft placement.
Brainstem auditory evoked potentials in very-low-birth-weight neonates with intracranial hemorrhage

Abstract A study was conducted in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) neonates to correlate structural damage to the central nervous system due to intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) with electrophysiological function of the lower auditory system as measured by brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP). BAEP testing of 61 VLBW neonates was completed at 36 weeks conceptional age. BAEP Wave III and V latencies significantly increased with increasing severity of ICH. Although significant at conventional levels (P 2 the correlation between ICH and BAEP was reduced in magnitude and no longer significant. Thus, there is little evidence that ICH shortly after birth affected functioning of the auditory brainstem pathways in VLBW neonates at 36 weeks conceptional age.
A Correlation-based Timing Calibration and Diagnostic Technique for Fast Digitizing ASICs

Abstract A general procedure for precision timing calibration of waveform digitizing systems is presented. Application speciﬁc integrated circuits (ASICs) implementing this functionality are increasingly used in high-energy physics as replacements for stand-alone time-to-digital and analog-to-digital modules. However, process variations cause such ASICs to have irregularly spaced timing intervals between samples, so careful calibration is required to improve the timing resolution of such systems. The procedure presented here exploits correlations between nearby samples of a sine wave of known frequency to obtain the time difference between them. As only the correlations are used, the procedure can be performed without knowledge of the phase of the input signal, and converges with smaller data samples than other common techniques. It also serves as a valuable diagnostic tool, allowing a fast, visual, qualitative check of gain mismatches between sampling cells and other ADC artifacts. Work is continuing to extend the procedure to ﬁt for timing intervals in the face of such non-idealities. We present both the algorithm and example calibration results from a commercial oscilloscope and the PSEC-3 ASIC. For the latter, we have also applied the calibration to improve timing resolution in the readout of a prototype microchannel plate photomultiplier tube with a stripline anode conﬁguration.
Molecular microscopy — probing biological structure

Abstract Light microscopy and electron microscopy are familiar analytical techniques in food science. The resolving power of these methods is proportional to the lens aperture and inversely proportional to the illuminating wavelength. Typical resolutions are ∼200 nm for light microscopy and ∼1 nm for electron microscopy. However, electron microscopy involves harsh conditions, including high vacuum and high electron energies, which damage specimens. Shadowing or coating of samples is often required for the production of three-dimensional images. Newly developed probe microscopy techniques, of which scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) are the most advanced, offer the prospects of obtaining higher resolution than available using electron microscopy, and of observing biological macromolecules under near-native conditions.
A behavioral intervention reduces HIV transmission risk by promoting sustained serosorting practices among HIV-infected men who have sex with men.

Objective—To examine factors that explain the effect of a cognitive-behavioral intervention on reductions in HIV transmission risk among HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM). Method—Of the 1,910 HIV-infected MSM screened, 616 participants considered to be at risk of transmitting HIV were randomized to a 15-session, individually delivered cognitive-behavioral intervention (n = 301) or a wait-list control (n = 315). Results—Consistent with previous intent-to-treat findings, there was an overall reduction in transmission risk acts among MSM in both intervention and control arms, with significant intervention effects observed at the 5, 10, 15, and 20 month assessments (Risk Ratios = .78, .62, .48, and .38, respectively). These intervention-related decreases in HIV transmission risk acts appeared to be partially due to sustained serosorting practices. MSM in the intervention condition reported a significantly greater proportion of sexual partners who were HIV-infected at the 5 and 10 month assessments (Risk Ratio = 1.14 and 1.18). Conclusions—The Healthy Living Project, a cognitive-behavioral intervention, is efficacious in reducing transmission risk acts among MSM. This appears to have been due in large part to the fact that MSM in the intervention condition reported sustained serosorting practices.
C2 Domains of Protein Kinase C Isoforms α, β, and γ: Activation Parameters and Calcium Stoichiometries of the Membrane-Bound State

The independently folding C2 domain motif serves as a Ca(2+)-dependent membrane docking trigger in a large number of Ca(2+) signaling pathways. A comparison was initiated between three closely related C2 domains from the conventional protein kinase C subfamily (cPKC, isoforms alpha, beta, and gamma). The results reveal that these C2 domain isoforms exhibit some similarities but are specialized in important ways, including different Ca(2+) stoichiometries. In the absence of membranes, Ca(2+) affinities of the isolated C2 domains are similar (2-fold difference) while Hill coefficients reveal cooperative Ca(2+) binding for the PKC beta C2 domain but not for the PKC alpha or PKC gamma C2 domain (H = 2.3 +/- 0.1 for PKC beta, 0.9 +/- 0.1 for PKC alpha, and 0.9 +/- 0.1 for PKC gamma). When phosphatidylserine-containing membranes are present, Ca(2+) affinities range from the sub-micromolar to the micromolar (7-fold difference) ([Ca(2+)](1/2) = 0.7 +/- 0.1 microM for PKC gamma, 1.4 +/- 0.1 microM for PKC alpha, and 5.0 +/- 0.2 microM for PKC beta), and cooperative Ca(2+) binding is observed for all three C2 domains (Hill coefficients equal 1.8 +/- 0.1 for PKC beta, 1.3 +/- 0.1 for PKC alpha, and 1.4 +/- 0.1 for PKC gamma). The large effects of membranes are consistent with a coupled Ca(2+) and membrane binding equilibrium, and with a direct role of the phospholipid in stabilizing bound Ca(2+). The net negative charge of the phospholipid is more important to membrane affinity than its headgroup structure, although a slight preference for phosphatidylserine is observed over other anionic phospholipids. The Ca(2+) stoichiometries of the membrane-bound C2 domains are detectably different. PKC beta and PKC gamma each bind three Ca(2+) ions in the membrane-associated state; membrane-bound PKC alpha binds two Ca(2+) ions, and a third binds weakly or not at all under physiological conditions. Overall, the results indicate that conventional PKC C2 domains first bind a subset of the final Ca(2+) ions in solution, and then associate weakly with the membrane and bind additional Ca(2+) ions to yield a stronger membrane interaction in the fully assembled tertiary complex. The full complement of Ca(2+) ions is needed for tight binding to the membrane. Thus, even though the three C2 domains are 64% identical, differences in Ca(2+) affinity, stoichiometry, and cooperativity are observed, demonstrating that these closely related C2 domains are specialized for their individual functions and contexts.