cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bim as a predictive T-cell biomarker for response to anti-PD-1 therapy in metastatic melanoma (MM).

9013 Background: Given the variability in response to novel immunotherapeutic agents such as anti-PD1/PD-L1 therapies and the desire to extend their long-term benefit to more patients (pts), there is an increased need for the development of biomarkers that can help predict treatment outcomes and ensure that these treatments, which may have significant toxicities, are offered to pts more likely to benefit. We evaluated Bim (BCL-2-interacting mediator of cell death) in peripheral blood (PB) tumor-reactive CD11ahighPD-1+CD8+cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) as a marker of the status of PD-1 engagement and T-cell reversibility to identify pts with MM who are more likely to benefit from anti-PD-1. Methods: MM patients treated with Pembrolizumab (pembro) 2 mg/kg every 3 weeks through an Expanded Access Program (EAP) had PB collected at baseline and at radiographic tumor evaluation through a separate biomarker sub-study. Frequencies of Bim+ T cells and Bim median fluorescence intensity (MFI) were measured by flow cy...
Optimal Periodic Control: A Solution Set Theory of Necessary and Sufficient Conditions 1

Abstract The paper reviews, in a simplified form, recent research [8] concerning the role of first order necessary conditions in a general optimal periodic control problem (OPC). Three notions of optimality are considered: solutions of OPC; solutions of OPC which are steady-state (constant); solutions of OSS, a steady-state optimization problem subsumed in OPC. The three types of optima and the corresponding necessary conditions are studied by introducing a theory of solution sets. This puts earlier research into a comprehensive framework and establishes certain limits to what can be proved. A principal topic is tests for proper (time-dependent control is better than steady-state control). Some sufficient conditions for global optima of OPC are given and related to the necessary conditions. These results are new and generate an interesting class of OPC problems which are not proper.
Guidelines for reporting meta-epidemiological methodology research

Published research should be reported to evidence users with clarity and transparency that facilitate optimal appraisal and use of evidence and allow replication by other researchers. Guidelines for such reporting are available for several types of studies but not for meta-epidemiological methodology studies. Meta-epidemiological studies adopt a systematic review or meta-analysis approach to examine the impact of certain characteristics of clinical studies on the observed effect and provide empirical evidence for hypothesised associations. The unit of analysis in meta-epidemiological studies is a study, not a patient. The outcomes of meta-epidemiological studies are usually not clinical outcomes. In this guideline, we adapt items from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) to fit the context of meta-epidemiological studies.
DOES HIGH SCHOOL MATTER? An Analysis of Three Methods of Predicting First- Year Grades

This research evaluated the usefulness of 3 approaches for predicting college grades: (a) traditional regression models, (b) high-school-effects models, and (c) hierarchical linear models. Results of an analysis of the records of 8,764 freshmen at a major research university revealed that both the high-school-effects model and the hierarchical linear model were more accurate predictors of freshman GPA than was the traditional model, particularly for lower ability students. Counter to expectations, the hierarchical linear model was not more accurate than the high school effects model.
An immunogenetic approach in chemical spectrum recognition

This chapter describes an immunogenetic approach to recognize spectra for chemical analysis. In particular, an immunological model for chemical reactions is described in which a population of specialists for each of the possible products is evolved using a genetic algorithm. Accordingly, a small well-trained specialist library is established for testing their pattern recognition ability. The model was experimented with several real-world datasets to identify components in chemical spectra (such as IR spectra and Raman spectra). Experimental results exhibit the performance of the approach in finding correct products that correspond to an input spectrum, specifically, for a composite spectrum in which there are multiple products physically mixed. It would be very difficult to interpret otherwise.
Dynamics of Fluorescent Imaging for Rapid Tear Thinning

A previous mathematical model has successfully simulated the rapid tear thinning caused by glob (thicker lipid) in the lipid layer. It captured a fast spreading of polar lipid and a corresponding strong tangential flow in the aqueous layer. With the simulated strong tangential flow, we now extend the model by adding equations for conservation of solutes, for osmolarity and fluorescein, in order to study their dynamics. We then compare our computed results for the resulting intensity distribution with fluorescence experiments on the tear film. We conclude that in rapid thinning, the fluorescent intensity can linearly approximate the tear film thickness well, when the initial fluorescein concentration is small. Thus, a dilute fluorescein is recommended for visualizing the rapid tear thinning during fluorescent imaging.
Transnasal Endoscopy in Unsedated Children With Eosinophilic Esophagitis Using Virtual Reality Video Goggles

Background & Aims Evaluation and treatment of children with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) requires serial endoscopic, visual, and histologic assessment by sedated esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Unsedated transnasal endoscopy (TNE) was reported to be successful in a pilot study of children. We evaluated video goggle and virtual reality–based unsedated TNE in children with EoE, collecting data on rates of completion, adverse events, and adequacy of visual and histologic findings. Methods We performed a retrospective study of 190 children and young adults (age, 3–22 y) who underwent video goggle or virtual reality–based unsedated TNE from January 2015 through February 2018. We analyzed data on patient demographics, procedure completion, endoscope type, adverse events, visual and histologic findings, estimated costs, and duration in the facility. Esophageal biopsies from the first 173 subjects who underwent TNE were compared with those from previous EGD evaluations. Results During 300 attempts, 294 TNEs were performed (98% rate of success). Fifty-four patients (age, 6–18 y) underwent multiple TNEs for dietary or medical management of EoE. There were no significant adverse events. Visual and histologic findings were adequate for assessment of EoE. TNE reduced costs by 53.4% compared with EGD (TNE $4393.00 vs EGD $9444.33). TNE was used increasingly from 2015 through 2017, comprising 31.8% of endoscopies performed for EoE. The total time spent in the clinic (front desk check-in to check-out) in 2018 was 71 minutes. Conclusions In a retrospective study of 190 children and young adults (age, 3–22 y) who underwent video goggle or virtual reality–based unsedated TNE, TNE was safe and effective and reduced costs of EoE monitoring. Advantages of TNE include reduced risk and cost associated with anesthesia as well as decreased in-office time, which is of particular relevance for patients with EoE, who require serial EGDs.
Micro Cap Assets versus Macro Cap Assets: The Effect of Asset Size on Financial Performance in Real Estate

This study explored the investment thesis that micro assets outperform macro assets. Micro assets include office and industrial real estate assets acquired at a price between $1 – $10 million. An asset acquired at a cost higher than $10 million is a macro asset. The study used a data sample of 1,025 office and industrial real estate asset transactions collected from the databases CompStak and Co-Star. Data were collected from 1993 to 2016, representing approximately 38 cities across different market tiers. The results obtained from the analysis, with a 90% confidence level, showed that micro assets yielded an 8.76% higher IRR than macro assets. Similarly, the study found, with a 99% confidence level, that the change in the value of micro assets is 15.97% higher than macro assets.
THE COAL QUESTION BEFORE JEVONS

In the early nineteenth century, political economists, politicians, and geologists debated the size and duration of the British coal supply. For mineral Malthusians, the argument about a dwindling supply sharpened anxieties about population pressure, fuel demand, and limited resources. They introduced a new sense of geological limits and long-term obligations into the theology of atonement. But for cornucopian liberals, the shift to a mineral energy regime supplied a powerful refutation to the Malthusian forecast. Inexhaustible coal promised growth without end.
Relations of liver fat with prevalent and incident chronic kidney disease in the Framingham Heart Study: A secondary analysis

BACKGROUND & AIMS Prior studies demonstrated an association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and chronic kidney disease (CKD), though data are conflicting. We examined the association between liver fat and prevalent and incident CKD in the Framingham Heart Study (FHS). METHODS We included FHS participants who underwent computed tomography (CT) from 2002 to 2005 (n = 1315). After excluding heavy alcohol use (n = 211) and missing covariates (n = 117), the final sample included 987 participants. For the incident CKD analysis, we excluded 73 participants with prevalent CKD. Liver fat was measured by the average liver attenuation on CT. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was obtained using the CKD Epidemiology Collaboration Creatinine-Cystatin C equation, and CKD was defined as eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 . Microalbuminuria was defined by sex-specific urinary albumin-creatinine ratio cut-offs. Multivariable-adjusted regression models were performed to determine the association between liver fat and CKD. RESULTS The prevalence of hepatic steatosis and CKD were 19% and 14% respectively (55.9% women, mean age 60 ± 9 years). After adjusting for covariates, we observed no significant associations between liver fat and CKD, microalbuminuria or eGFR in cross-sectional analyses. We observed positive associations between liver fat, incident microalbuminuria and reduced eGFR in age- and sex-adjusted models; these relationships were not significant in multivariable-adjusted models. CONCLUSIONS In this community-based cohort study, we did not observe significant associations between liver fat and prevalent or incident CKD with a median follow-up time of 12.5 years. The association between NAFLD and CKD may be accounted for by shared risk factors; confirmatory studies are needed.
Hypothalamic thermosensitivity in mammals.

Hypothalamic thermosensitivities of 21 species of mammals ranging in body size from 15 g to 34 Kg are surveyed. It is concluded that hypothalamic thermosensitivity as measured by the proportionality constant relating rate of metabolic heat production to hypothalamic temperature at a thermoneutral ambient temperature is inversely related to body size according to the relationship αMHP = −1.46 Wt−.37.
The Cultural and Religious Production of Disability Shame and the Saving Power of Heretical Bodies

This paper explores the cultural and religious production of disability shame, and the ways able-bodied people unknowingly perpetuate that shame—to our own detriment. My analysis suggests that nondisabled people benefit from challenging disability shame by embracing the prophetic perspectives of those who refuse to repent for their somatic heresies. The Cultural and Religious Production of Disability Shame and the Saving Power of Heretical Bodies by Michelle M. Lelwica is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Based on a work at https://rdsjournal.org. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at https://www.rds.hawaii.edu.
Surgical management considerations in cystic prolactinomas—a single center case series

The optimal treatment of prolactinomas with a predominantly cystic component remains poorly defined. The cystic tumor component is considered to respond less favorably to medical treatment, thereby advocating surgical management. The purpose of this study was to assess remission rates in surgically treated cystic prolactinomas, and to compare outcomes to similarly treated solid micro- and macroprolactinomas. Clinical and imaging data were retrospectively compiled from 56 patients who underwent transsphenoidal resection, for symptomatic prolactinomas, from 2004 to 2018, at a single academic institution. Pituitary adenomas were subdivided according to tumor size and tumor consistency: cystic prolactinomas (>50% cystic tumor component) n = 17; solid microprolactinomas ( 3, while most cystic prolactinomas (93.8%) and all solid microprolactinomas (100%) had a Knosp grade ≤ 2. Despite their large tumor size (≥10 mm), high remission rates can be expected with surgically treated cystic prolactinomas. This case series of cystic prolactinomas demonstrates the successful use of transsphenoidal surgery as a favorable, and a potentially curative alternative to dopaminergic therapy in this patient population.
The Best of Cases, the Worst of Cases

This consists of my lightly edited contributions to a symposium on the best and worst cases in contract law, to be published in the Florida State University Law Review in 2018. The first short essay explores why Kingston v. Preston, Lord Mansfield’s classic opinion on the constructive conditions of exchange, is so good–even though, strictly speaking, it didn’t actually hold what it is credited with holding. The second essay looks at Pinnel’s Case, generally credited, if credited is the word, as the foundation for the despised pre-existing duty rule. Credited, yes–but only as a result of flagrant misinterpretation by later courts; the decision itself was perfectly sound, if rather trivial. Together they display how the common law deals with the needs of society–though change, on the one hand, and pusillanimity, on the other.
Demographic Comparisons of Syrian Populations

Most Syrians who fled their country starting in 2011 remain in adjacent Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan, but about one in six lived in European countries by 2018. Compared to the 2009 population of Syria, elderly persons were less likely to be included in these migrant populations. Children were also under-represented among Syrians in European countries, but over-represented in Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan. Sex ratios are closest to a normal balance in the adjacent Middle Eastern countries, and more unbalanced towards a masculine ratio (particularly in the prime working ages) in European destinations. The Syrian newcomers are less educated than the native populations of nearly all destination countries, but actually are more educated on average than the population in Syria that they left behind. A tendency for more Syrians to flee to countries where more Syrians already lived before 2011 suggests some degree of path dependence in these population movements, but this pattern cannot explain the disproportionate concentration of Syrians in some countries, notably Turkey and Germany.
The National Student Neurosurgical Research Conference: A Research Conference for Medical Students.

Objective Medical students interested in neurosurgery are increasingly involved in research, and research conferences have proven valuable for developing medical research experience and exposure. A research conference was designed for medical students interested in neurosurgery to present research. Methods Our team designed an annual research conference at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University in conjunction with the Neurosurgery and Neurology Departments. In February 2019, we hosted the first Student Neurosurgical and Neurological Research Conference (SNRC), the first national research conference, to our knowledge, designed for medical students to present neurosurgical research in the United States. The conference consisted of student poster/oral presentations, keynote speeches from clinical faculty, and surgical skills workstations. In February 2020, we hosted the second SNRC. After each conference, participants (n = 55) completed a survey to assess student perspectives of the conference. Results Fifty-five medical students from around the nation attended the conferences to present their research. One hundred percent of participants affirmed that the conference fulfilled their primary reason for attending, which for most (54.5%) was the opportunity to present research. Thematic analysis revealed that students especially appreciated the “lower stress environment” and “opportunity to get feedback on their research.” Notably, 97.6% of students felt the conference strengthened or increased their interest in neurosurgery. Conclusions Participants felt that the SNRC was a valuable opportunity to present research in an environment conducive for practice and improvement. Research conferences primarily for medical students may support the development of young researchers while increasing and strengthening interest in the field of neurosurgery.
The Impact of Employee Performance on Service Quality

The major aim of the research paper is to measure the impact of employee performance on service quality in commercial banks. Primary data has been collected from the bank employees in Manmunai North and Kattankudy divisional secretariat areas in Batticaloa District. Stratified random sampling was used to obtain 225 responses from employees. The collected data were used to test the model using regression methodology.
Induction Chemotherapy Plus Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation for Esophageal and Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with concurrent radiotherapy (nCRT) is an accepted treatment regimen for patients with potentially curable esophageal and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether induction chemotherapy (IC) before nCRT is associated with improved pathologic complete response (pCR) and overall survival (OS) when compared with patients who received nCRT alone for esophageal and GEJ adenocarcinoma. Using the National Cancer Database (NCDB), patients who received nCRT and curative-intent esophagectomy for esophageal or GEJ adenocarcinoma from 2006 to 2015 were included. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy start dates were used to define cohorts who received IC before nCRT (IC + nCRT) versus those who only received concurrent nCRT before surgery. Propensity weighting was conducted to balance patient, disease, and facility covariates between groups. 12,460 patients met inclusion criteria, of whom 11,880 (95%) received nCRT and 580 (5%) received IC + nCRT. Following propensity weighting, OS was significantly improved among patients who received IC + nCRT versus nCRT (HR 0.82; 95% CI 0.74–0.92; p < 0.001) with median OS for the IC + nCRT cohort of 3.38 years versus 2.45 years for nCRT. For patients diagnosed from 2013 to 2015, IC + nCRT was also associated with higher odds of pCR compared with nCRT (OR 1.59; 95% CI 1.14–2.21; p = 0.007). IC + nCRT was associated with a significant OS benefit as well as higher pCR rate in the more modern patient cohort. These results merit consideration of a sufficiently powered prospective multiinstitutional trial to further evaluate these observed differences.
Upper-Extremity Phlegmasia Cerulea Dolens with Compartment Syndrome in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Sepsis.

A 54-year-old woman with leukemia presented with coronavirus disease 2019 and a right upper-extremity indwelling peripherally inserted central catheter line for chemotherapy administration. On hospital admission day 9, she developed acute right upper-extremity edema and pain. Ultrasound demonstrated complete superficial and deep venous thrombosis up to the proximal subclavian vein. Her examination result was consistent with acute phlegmasia cerulea dolens and compartment syndrome, but respiratory instability prevented transfer and vascular surgery intervention. Instead, we performed bedside fasciotomies and administered therapeutic heparin, and the limb was salvaged. This case underscores the potential for successful limb salvage in patients with phlegmasia in the setting of coronavirus disease 2019 via compartment release and therapeutic anticoagulation.
Morphologic and synergistic effects of GNP/NS binary-filler-based multifunctional coatings with robust anti-corrosion and hydrophobic properties

Abstract Traditional protective coatings used for metallic structures, such as oil/gas metallic pipelines and bridges, often suffered from premature damage due to either low corrosion resistance or weak mechanical performance. Thus, this study proposed a new nanocomposite coating that reinforced by binary nanofillers with graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) and nano-silica (NS) with multiple functionalities, striving for superior corrosion resistance and hydrophobic properties, as well as promising mechanical damage tolerances. A comprehensive experiment was conducted to characterize their mechanical, electrical, and tribological properties of the new developed nanocomposite coatings. The corrosion protection performance of the coatings was evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and long-term accelerated salt spray test. Tribological properties were evaluated using abrasion test. Test result demonstrated that the new composite with the combination of GNP with NS exhibited significantly improved corrosion protection performance, mechanical strength, and abrasion resistance. The GNP/NS hybrid filler nanocomposites remarkably enhanced the barrier and corrosion protection properties against environmental attack. Enhanced mechanical properties and wear resistance of the composite coatings allows high damage tolerance for engineering applications.
Optimization of SOFC Electrode Microstructures with Long Term Performance Modeling and Machine Learning

To understand the relationship between SOFC electrode microstructure and long-term performance, we developed a fully resolved 4D model for simulating microstructural and performance changes over 1,000 hours of cell operation by combining a phase-field coarsening model with spatially resolved microstructural analysis and continuum-level multiphysics performance modeling. This framework was used to simulate the long-term performance of hundreds of LSM-YSZ cathodes and Ni-YSZ anodes. These electrode microstructures were synthetically generated to intentionally span an 11-dimensional space of initial microstructural parameters. These high-dimensional results were analyzed with a machine learning model using a novel figure of merit that accounts for both the initial and long-term performance. This demonstrated that e.g. the LSM/YSZ ratio was the most impactful parameter in the cathode microstructure, with lower LSM/YSZ ratios generally being beneficial. The trained model also produces tailored recommendations for improvements to existing electrodes, providing a valuable tool for SOFC electrode developers and manufacturers.
Fuzzy Cognitive Maps of Social-Ecological Complexity: Applying Mental Modeler to the Bonneville Salt Flats

Abstract Although often limited in terms of extent or accuracy, mental models—i.e., explanations of the surrounding world and how things work within it—provide confidence and frameworks to navigate life's uncertainties. Unfortunately, differing and yet similar mental models held collectively by groups can lead to problematic behavior, misunderstandings, and conflict on large scales. Such challenges are likely familiar to natural resource managers who, in the course of their work, must consider issues that are neither simple nor exclusively ecological or social in nature. Building mental models of various groups’ understanding of a complex natural resource may help managers address the impacts of resource-related behaviors but can be a difficult task when collecting modeling data from large and diverse user groups. Using a sequential, exploratory approach, our study addresses the utility of surrogate mental modeling to explore (a) mental models held by key players from six stakeholder groups associated with Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats (US), and (b) whether these key players were confident that their personal subjective models represented their own group's thinking about Bonneville. We sought to illuminate and compare stakeholder groups’ mental models of subjectively important social and ecological concepts related to Bonneville through the use of fuzzy cognitive maps (FCMs; i.e., semi-quantitative representations of mental models) constructed in Mental Modeler. Analysis revealed differences among groups’ FCMs and levels of perceived complexity, as well as areas of agreement regarding the strength, direction, and character of certain social-ecological relationships. Intersections and divergences in stakeholder mental models may provide logical starting points for communal knowledge-building that can perhaps lessen tension among groups attributable to conceptual misunderstandings of resource-specific complexity.
BEPS Primer: Past, Present, And Future, Part 2

This is a mid-2020 Update of my 2016 BEPS Primer article. This 2020 Update is in two parts. Part 1 focused on the initial two-year BEPS project and developments concerning it since the release of the October 5, 2015 Final Reports. This Part 2 focuses on Pillars One and Two of the currently ongoing BEPS 2.0 OECD-led process. Governments throughout the world have been losing many billions of dollars of tax revenues over the past two decades from tax avoidance conducted by many multinational groups (MNEs). These MNEs have aggressively structured their operations and transactions in manners that often lack economic reality so as to divorce their profits from the activities that earn those profits, thereby recording excessive profits in group members that are subjected to zero or low-taxation. The success of this tax avoidance motivated the G-20 and the OECD to begin the initial two-year Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) OECD-led project, which took place from 2013 to 2015. Following the initial two-year project were several years of continued developments with an acceleration of activity beginning in 2019, which has been termed BEPS 2.0. This BEPS 2.0 project is described in this Part 2 in some detail with editorial thoughts on its potential effects and how it may proceed. BEPS 2.0 includes two “Pillars”, the first of which would provide for limited taxation by market countries and the second of which would create a minimum tax to discourage profit shifting. This discussion of the BEPS project is intended to give the reader an understanding of the project’s origin, its objectives, and how it may proceed in the future. It does not provide details of the specific results of the work on the initial project’s 15 Action Plan items. Rather, only some brief comments are made on them to give the reader a flavor of the BEPS work undertaken by the OECD and the others who participated in this project. It is more detailed regarding the currently on-going BEPS 2.0 Pillars One and Two. More specifically, the Primer includes: — Examples of MNE BEPS activities, — Description of how the environment strongly motivates BEPS behavior including both systemic issues and developments occurring over past decades, — Participants in the BEPS process, — Brief comments on the initial BEPS Project 15 Action Plan Items, — Results of the initial BEPS Project and possible future developments, and — Description, comments, and editorial reflections on both Pillars One and Two of BEPS 2.0.
Recent Advances in Multiple-Stage Centrifugal Compressors

Multiple-Stage compression through the use of two or more centrifugal compressors operating in series has been the approach to achieving high-pressure ratios. The complexity, inefficiency and cost of such systems are not ideal for most applications. We discuss here three recent innovations in centrifugal compressor multiple-stage systems in series. The first two are my patents, US 6,589,013 B2 [1] and US 7600961 B2 [2] and the third patent is Honeywell US7,568,883 B2 [3]. Our approach is to draw parallels between centrifugal and axial compressors flow paths and relate them to the threepatent theories. Although axial and centrifugal compressors differ in many ways, they have many characteristics in common. The three patents have explored the advantages of the two systems to improve the efficiency of centrifugal multiple-stage systems. In both axial and centrifugal flow compressors, the flow enters axially, but then exits differently. In axial compressors the flow exits axially, while it exits radially in centrifugal compressors. In other words the flow enters and exits at about the same radius in axial compressors, while it enters at a small radius and exits at large radius in centrifugal compressors. Using that viewpoint, a centrifugal impeller could be converted to an axial compressor rotor by reducing its exit radius to be equal to the inlet radius and vice-versa.
Dynamics of Cluster Reactions and Ionization: From Semiconductor to Hydrogen-Bonded/Van Der Waals Systems

Matter of nanoscale dimensions often displays properties unlike that of isolated gas-phase molecules, liquids or solids. Sometimes this is due to the bonding, structure and morphology, while in other cases it is because the small dimensions bring with it new phenomena arising from solvation effects or quantum confinement [1-4]. Work in our group is devoted to investigating the changing properties of matter at differing degrees of aggregation to provide a physical basis for interpreting the unique behavior of such systems. Studies deal with matter comprised of van der Waals (weakly bound) and hydrogen bonded (moderate interactions), as well as metallic and metal compound systems comprised of semiconductor-like materials. The general theme of our work is to elucidate the role of solvation phenomena and, where appropriate, to ascertain when discrete molecular properties begin to coalesce and display collective behavior characteristic of the condensed state [3-6].
Federal Policy Making for Biotechnology, Congress, EPA

Introduction The History of EPA's Involvement in Biotechnology EPA as Regulator of Biotechnology Pesticides Pesticide Residues “Toxic Substances” Not Otherwise Regulated Miscellaneous Other Statutory Authorities EPA as Promoter of Biotechnology Problems Incoherent and Incomplete Regulatory Programs Scientific Uncertainties that Complicate Regulation Keywords: federal policy; biotechnology
Thermal Inactivation of a Deep-Sea Barophilic Bacterium, Isolate CNPT-3

Abstract The barophilic deep-sea bacterium, isolate CNPT-3, was inactivated by exposures to temperatures between 10 and 32°C at atmospheric pressure. Inactivation in samples from warmed cell suspensions was measured as the loss of colonyforming ability (CFA) at 10°C and 587 bars. At atmospheric pressure, there was a slow loss of CFA even at 10°C. The loss of CFA was rapid above 20°C and only slightly affected by high pressures. The first-order rate constants for thermal inactivation fit the Arrhenius equation with an activation energy of 43 kcal (ca. 179.9 kJ)/mol. Light microscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy revealed morphological changes due to warming of the cells. The changes ensued the loss of CFA. The results supported the hypothesis from an earlier work that indigenous (autochthonous) deep-sea bacteria from cold deep seas are both barophilic and psychrophilic. If ultimately sustained, these characteristics may be useful in designing experiments to assess the relative importance of the autochthonous and allochthonous bacteria in the deep sea. The data were used to evaluate how barophilic bacteria may have been missed in many investigations because of warming of the cells during sample retrieval from the sea or during cultivation in the laboratory. The evaluation revealed the need for temperature and pressure data during retrieval of samples and cultivation in the laboratory. Most deep-ocean microbiology may be possible with thermally insulated equipment for retrieval from the sea and with high-pressure vessels for laboratory incubations.
Inductively Coupled Plasma Etching of Ta2 O 5

A number of different plasma chemistries were examined for dry etching of thin film Ta 2 O 5 . Maximum etch rates of ∼1200 A min -1 were achieved with SF 6 or Cl 2 discharges, while CH 4 /H 2 /Ar and N 2 /Ar produced rates an order of magnitude lower. The etch rates of Ta 2 O 5 were always slower than those for Si under the same conditions in each of the different chemistries, and there was no effect of postdeposition annealing of the Ta 2 O 5 on the resultant dry etch rates.
Prolonged nutritional deprivation in pregnancy: Changes in human chorionic somatomammotropin and growth hormone secretion☆

Abstract During prolonged maternal nutritional deprivation in normal early pregnancy, consistent elevations in human chorionic somatomammotropin (HCS) were associated with profound hypoglycemia. Plasma growth hormone (HGH) concentrations varied and were not significantly different from those of control subjects. Fasting in a pregnant dwarf with isolated growth hormone deficiency also provoked a significant elevation in HCS coincident with a rise in free fatty acids. Such findings suggest a possible role for HCS in the dynamic equilibrium of maternal intermediary metabolism.
Molecular and demographic measures of arsenic stress in Daphnia pulex

Environmental exposures to toxic metals result in ecological effects that are difficult to detect and quantify. There is a pressing need for biomarkers that can be used in the field and that are sensitive to the sublethal metal levels that are prevalent in the environment. Using a combination of molecular and demographic techniques, we developed a biomarker to detect arsenic stress in freshwater zooplankton. We measured changes in HSP 83 mRNA levels by RT-PCR analysis in Daphnia pulex adults and juveniles exposed to arsenite and arsenate, and we compared the HSP response to demographic effects on Daphnia survival, reproduction and development. HSP 83 appears promising as a biomarker for arsenic stress given that arsenic exposure induced an increased and sustained expression of mRNA. Both molecular and demographic measures of arsenic stress revealed differences between adult and juvenile responses and toxicity of arsenate and arsenite. The molecular responses are more sensitive than the demographic response of individuals exposed as adults but corroborate the reproductive responses for individuals exposed as neonates.
A supervised neural network layer of continuously adapting, analog floating-gate nodes

We present an LMS node based upon an improved continuously adapting, analog floating-gate synapse that exhibits minimal weight decay. Our approach is based upon a recently developed synapse element based upon our tradition on single-transistor learning synapses with minimal weight decay. We show the transition from a single floating-gate synapse element to a single floating-gate node, demonstrated using results from simple LMS experiments. We present experimental data from ICs fabricated in 0.5 /spl mu/m CMOS process.
Foundations of Statistical Natural Language Processing

Statistical approaches to processing natural language text have become dominant in recent years. This foundational text is the first comprehensive introduction to statistical natural language processing (NLP) to appear. The book contains all the theory and algorithms needed for building NLP tools. It provides broad but rigorous coverage of mathematical and linguistic foundations, as well as detailed discussion of statistical methods, allowing students and researchers to construct their own implementations. The book covers collocation finding, word sense disambiguation, probabilistic parsing, information retrieval, and other applications.
Stereochemistry of nucleic acid constituents: II. A comparative study

Stereochemical results for some nucleic acid constituents are presented in the light of recent studies. In nucleotides, the ring nitrogen atom, N(3) in pyrimidines and N(1) in purines, is protonated. Similarities in certain bond lengths and bond angles occur between protonated cytosine and thymine and between protonated adenine and guanine. In the pyrimidine and purine bases, the substituent atoms may be markedly displaced on either side of the plane determined by the ring atoms. Moreover, the ring atoms may deviate significantly from a plane. Probable values for the molecular dimensions of β- D -ribose and 2-deoxy-β- D -erythro pentose are given for the four possible conformations of the furanose ring; C(3′)-endo, C(2′)-endo, C(3′)-exo and C(2′)-exo. The P−O bond lengths in the phosphate group are dependent on the nature and number of substituents.
Studies on the extracellular alkaline phosphatase of Micrococcus sodonensis. I. Isolation and characterization.

Abstract An orthophosphate-repressible extracellular alkaline phosphatase has been isolated from cultures of Micrococcus sodonensis. The enzyme is pure as judged by molecular sieve chromatography, disc gel electrophoresis, and ultracentrifugation, and possesses the following properties: (a) molecular weight, 80,000; (b) pH optimum, pH 9 to 9.5; (c) competitive inhibitors, orthophosphate, arsenite, and arsenate; (d) substrate specificity, hydrolyzes a wide variety of phosphorylated compounds including phosphomonoesters, nucleotide mono-, di-, and triphosphates, and inorganic pyrophosphate. Enzymatic activity is dependent upon the presence of free sulfhydryl group(s); derivatization of the enzyme with 1 eq of p-chloromercuribenzoate results in the loss of approximately 75% of its catalytic activity. Activity of the enzyme exhibits an absolute requirement for divalent cation with the following relative reactivations of ethylenediaminetetraacetate-inactivated enzyme: Ca++, 90; Mn++, 22; Co++, 15; Sr++, 13; and Cu++, Mg++, Zn++, l1. The Km for Ca++ was estimated to be 1.5 x 10-5 m and the Kdissociation = 1.5 x 10-5 m as determined by equilibrium dialysis. Assuming a molecular weight of 80,000, the Ca++ content of the enzyme was estimated to be 8 g atoms per mole. Removal of Ca++ from the enzyme resulted in a marked increase in susceptibility of the enzyme to inactivation by heat and proteolytic digestion.
Hard x-ray and microwave flux spectra of the 2 November 1991 solar flare

We analysed the hard X-ray and microwave flux spectra of the solar flare (BATSE No. 1791) on 2 November 1991, which started at 16:11:03 UT and ended at 16:56:10 UT. This flare is particularly interesting because of its deep cyclic intensity modulation. Data are available simultaneously from the 16-channel BATSE/LAD hard X-ray and 45-frequency OVRO microwave database. We quantitatively compare the time variations in profiles of the hard X-ray spectral photon index, the 50 keV X-ray flux, and microwave spectral indices (at both high and low frequency ends). As expected, the X-ray photon spectral index decreases as the hard X-ray flux increases. This pattern appears in all the sub-peaks. This is consistent with previous observations that hard X-ray emission hardens at the emission peak. However, the behaviour of the high-frequency microwave index is unexpected. We observe an anti-correlation between the high-frequency microwave index and the hard X-ray photon index during the course of the flare. Finally, we study the arrival time of microwave flux peaks as a function of frequency and find that the microwave peak at a higher frequency comes earlier than that at a lower frequency. A maximum delay of 72 s is found among the main peaks at different frequencies. Shorter delays are found for the other five sub-peaks.
Loving All Your Neighbors: Why Community Colleges Need the Academic Study of Religion.

This chapter explains how the study of world religions prepares the community college student to become a better citizen, worker, and neighbor. The effective middle between the pitfalls of religious relativism and religious dominance in a world religions classroom is central to this discussion of teaching critical thinking, empathy, and cross-cultural communication.
Protective Effect of Active Immunization with Purified Escherichia coli Heat-Labile Enterotoxin in Rats

The protective effect of active immunization by different routes with a purified preparation of the polymyxin-release form of Escherichia coli heat-labile toxin was evaluated in rats. Immunized animals were challenged by placing toxin into ligated ileal loops at dosages which produced either 50% or the maximum secretory response in unimmunized rats. Immunization exclusively by the parenteral route yielded significant protection. Rats were also protected when parenteral priming was followed by boosting given either directly into the duodenum or perorally 2 h after intragastric cimetidine, but not when the peroral boosts were given with bicarbonate. Immunization administered entirely by the peroral route with cimetidine yielded protection but only when the immunizing dosage was fivefold greater than that found effective in the parenteral-peroral approach. Rats immunized exclusively by the parenteral route and those boosted perorally with cimetidine were also tested, and found to be protected, against challenge with viable organisms of strains that produce either heat-labile toxin alone or both heat-labile and heat-stable toxin, but they were not protected against a strain which produces just heat-stable toxin. Geometric mean serum antibody titers were increased by 16-fold or more over control values in those groups of rats in which protection was achieved, with the exception of those immunized exclusively by the peroral route. These observations demonstrate that (i) active immunization with purified E. coli heat-labile toxin results in significant protection against both this toxin as well as viable organisms which produce it, but not against viable strains which produce heat-stable toxin only, and (ii) concomitant ablation of gastric secretion by the use of cimetidine renders the peroral route of immunization effective. They suggest that prophylactic immunization against diarrheal disease caused by heat-labile toxin-producing strains of E. coli may be feasible in humans.
The methionine salvage pathway in Klebsiella pneumoniae and rat liver. Identification and characterization of two novel dioxygenases.

The 5-methylthio-D-ribose moiety of 5′-(methylthio)-adenosine is converted to methionine in a wide variety of organisms. 1,2-Dihydroxy-3-keto-5-methylthiopentene anion (an aci-reductone) is an advanced intermediate in the methionine salvage pathway present in the Gram-negative bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae and rat liver. This metabolite is oxidized spontaneously in air to formate and 2-keto-4-methylthiobutyric acid (the α-keto acid precursor of methionine). Previously, we had purified an enzyme (E2) from Klebsiella which catalyzes the oxidative degradation of the aci-reductone to formate, CO, and methylthiopropionic acid. To further characterize the reactions of the aci-reductone we used its desthio analog, 1-2-dihydroxy-3-ketohexene anion (III), which was described previously. This molecule undergoes the analogous enzymatic and non-enzymatic reactions of the natural substrate, namely the formation of formate, CO, and butyrate from III. Experiments with 18O2 show that E2 is a dioxygenase which incorporates one molecule of 18O into formate and butyric acid. No cofactor has been identified. We were unable to find an enzyme which catalyzes the conversion of 1,2-dihydroxy-3-keto-5-methylthiopentane to a keto acid precursor of methionine. The keto acid is probably produced non-enzymically in Klebsiella. We have, however, identified and purified an enzyme (E3) from rat liver, which catalyzes the formation of formate and 2-oxopentanoic acid from III. This enzyme has a monomeric molecular mass of 28,000 daltons, and no chromophoric cofactor has been identified. Experiments with 18O2 show that E3 is a dioxygenase which incorporates an 18O molecule into formate and the α-keto acid. In rat liver CO formation was not detected.
Elastic green's function for a bimaterial composite solid containing a crack inclined to the interface

An analytical closed-form expression is derived for the elastic Green's function of a bimaterial composite solid containing a planar interface and a straight crack inclined at an arbitrary angle with the interface. The crack tip is assumed to be at the interface. Both the constituent materials of the composite are assumed to anisotropic. The Green's function satisfies the interfacial boundary conditions of continuous tractions and displacements, and zero tractions at the crack surfaces. The boundary conditions are satisfied by using the virtual force technique. The determination of the virtual forces requires solutions of a Hilbert problem which is obtained by using an orthogonal complex transform. The method is illustrated by applying it to a copper/nickel composite. The Green's function should be useful in the boundary-element method of calculating the stress and the displacement field in the solid.
Role of inorganic phosphate in active hyperemia in skeletal muscle

SummaryThe purpose of this study was to determine the extent of involvement of the inorganic phosphate ion (Pi) in exercise hyperemia. Lymph and venous plasma from resting and contracting muscles of the canine and feline hindlimbs were analyzed for Pi. The vasoactivity of exogenous inorganic phosphate was assessed by close intra-arterial infusion of the sodium monobasic phosphate while blood flow and lymph and venous plasma Pi concentrations were determined. The results showed that there was no increase in venous plasma Pi with muscle contraction, only a small increase in lymph Pi, and that the phosphate ion is very vasoinactive. We therefore conclude that the inorganic phosphate ion may play only a minor role, if any, in active hyperemia in skeletal muscle.
Influence of Go-Like Interactions on Global Shapes of Energy Landscapes in β-Barrel Forming Model Proteins : Inherent Structure Analysis and Statistical Temperature Molecular Dynamics Simulation

Recently, the native-centric, coarse-grained “Go-like” protein model has gained a renewed popularity because of its computational simplicity and successful description of some key aspects of folding thermodynamics and kinetics. In the present paper, the properties of Go-like models are investigated in terms of the potential energy landscape (PEL). The non-native attractions of the β-barrel forming BLN model 46-mer are scaled with a parameter 0 ≤ λ ≤ 1, to make a continuous tuning of the PEL from multi-funneled and energetically frustrated at λ = 1 to a perfect funnel including only topological frustration at λ = 0. The combination of the enhanced sampling of “statistical temperature molecular dynamics”, STMD (Kim, J.; Straub, J. E.; Keyes, T. Phys. Rev. Lett. 2006, 97, 050601), and extensive inherent structure (IS) analysis, clearly demonstrates the evolution of the topography of the PEL. It is shown that a small amount of Go-like interactions brings about a significant modification in the occupation of l...
Spin reorientation effect on magnetization: application to Nd2Fe14B

Abstract Spin reorientation is a phenomenon observed frequently in magnetic materials and is responsible for changes in magnetization as a function of temperature. In this study an analytical model is described which accounts for such changes in magnetization. Three different magnetization vs. temperature measurements are described which confirm the occurence of spin reorientation and indicate the exact temperature at which it occurs (application to Nd2Fe14B intermetallic compound). The analytical solution of the model enables one to determine the K1/K2 ratio of the first- (K1) and second-order (K2) anisotropy constants as a function of temperature. Also, this model clearly demonstrates the effect of crystal orientation (angle between the c-axis and the applied magnetic field) on the magnetization vs. temperature behavior; one can take advantage of this in order to achieve a maximum or a minimum effect. The effect of the presence of the third-order (K3) anisotropy constant is also discussed.