cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Portable SDN Testbed Prototype

Software Defined Networking (SDN) is a fieldof research that promises to change the landscape oftraditional network topology and management. Researchers and early adopters need adequate SDNtesting facilities. Industry is responding with embeddedsupport for SDN in their enterprise grade networkhardware, but is cost prohibitive for many research testenvironments. An alternative is to use software simulatednetwork topology tools that arguably do not emulate realworldbehavior. Our solution is to build a low cost, portable, standaloneSDN testbed. Called SDN On-The-Go (OTG), the testbedsupports many configurations for pseudo real-world SDNexperiments. SDN OTG is a self-contained testbed thatcan also be used as a portable teaching device, moved fromclassroom to classroom or taken home for privateresearch. We achieved repeatability factor 10 timesgreater than simulation based testing. Our SDN OTGphysical testbed weighs about twenty pounds, costs aroundone thousand US dollars, provides repeatable data, andcan be setup as a fully functional SDN testbed in a coupleof minutes.
Partition based hash tree — An efficient certificate revocation system

A critical check in the certificate validation process is to determine whether a certificate has been revoked or not. Revocation of a certificate is the objective of invalidation of a certificate before its operational lifetime, which was set during its creation. Traditional certificate revocation systems include Certificate Revocation List (CRL) which requires all users to download the list of revoked certificates and store it locally that is subsequently used, to check the revocation status of the certificate prior to usage of the certificate. Another more modern approach is Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP) that allows for an online check of a certificate status from a well-known server before a certificate is processed. Searching for the revocation status of a certificate is commonly done with a Merkle hash tree algorithm, in which revoked certificates are arranged in the form of binary tree and binary searching algorithm is used to search for the target certificate. Existing approaches based on the Merkle Hash tree have their own drawbacks and, in this paper, we propose a different type of search algorithm, the partition based hash tree, to improve searches for revoked certificates. We also identify how this proposed approach improves efficiency and scalability issues over traditional approaches of certificate search.
Development of red blood cell autoantibodies following treatment with checkpoint inhibitors: a new class of anti-neoplastic, immunotherapeutic agents associated with immune dysregulation.

CONCLUSIONS Ipilimumab, nivolumab, and pembrolizumab represent a new class of immunotherapeutic drugs for treating patients with advanced cancer. Known as checkpoint inhibitors, these drugs act to upregulate the cellular and humoral immune response to tumor antigens by inhibiting T-cell autoregulation. As a consequence, they can be associated with immune-related adverse events (irAEs) due to loss of self-tolerance, including rare cases of immune-related cytopenias. We performed a retrospective clinical chart review, including serologic, hematology, and chemistry laboratory results, of two patients who developed red blood cell (RBC) autoantibodies during treatment with a checkpoint inhibitor. Serologic testing of blood samples from these patients during induction therapy with ipilimumab and nivolumab, respectively, showed their RBCs to be positive by the direct antiglobulin test (IgG+, C3+) and their plasma to contain panreactive RBC autoantibodies. Neither patient had evidence of hemolysis. Both patients developed an additional irAE during treatment. A literature review for patients who had developed immune-mediated cytopenia following treatment with a checkpoint inhibitor was performed. Nine other patients were reported with a hematologic irAE, including six with anemia attributable to autoimmune anemia, aplastic anemia, or pure RBC aplasia. Hematologic irAEs tend to occur early during induction therapy, often coincident with irAEs of other organs. In conclusion, checkpoint inhibitors can be associated with the development of autoantibodies, immune-mediated cytopenias, pure RBC aplasia, and aplastic anemia. Immunohematology reference laboratories should be aware of these agents when evaluating patients with advanced cancer and new-onset autoantibodies, anemia, and other cytopenias.
Assessment and Perception of Information Literacy Skills Among Teacher Education Students

This study aims to assess the information literacy skills of a sample of undergraduate teacher education students and explore their perceptions about those skills. Participants completed iS...
COSTS AND PRODUCER DECISIONS

A class in economics would be a success if students gained from it an understanding of the meaning of cost in all its many aspects. [ J. M. Clark, 1923 ]
Einordnung (Classification) von Personenvereinigungen zu Zwecken der Besteuerung in den USA

Die Frage, wie ein Rechtsgebilde zu Zwecken der Besteuerung eingeordnet wird, wird im US-Steuerrecht als classification 1 bezeichnet2. Ziel dieses Vorgangs ist, festzustellen auf welche Art und Weise ein Rechtsgebilde vom Steuerregime behandelt werden soll.
Cooperative Control of Multi-robot Nonholonomic Systems with Dynamics Uncertainties and Control Time-Delays

In practical applications,multi-robot systems may have to simultaneously deal with several tasks: collision-free maneuvers in dynamic environments; tracking certain desired trajectories; forming suitable patterns or geometrical shapes, and/or varying the pattern when necessary. These important issues are addressed in this paper. First a dynamic model for a robot prototype is presented. By appropriate coordinate transformation, this class of time-varying nonlinear systems, subject to modeling uncertainties and input time-delays, is further linearized into classical singularly perturbed systems. A robust compensation tracking controller is then developed and justified based on Lyapunov stability theorem. The compensated system effectively suppresses the perturbation effects to guarantee robust stability and tracking errors exponentially convergent to a bounded residual set. To achieve these typical complex formation missions, a previously developed two-layer hierarchical architecture for multi-robot nonholonomic systems is employed. In the upper layer, task specifications are assigned along with the desired behaviors in the task space and a null-space method is then utilized to integrate and prioritize these tasks and generate reference trajectories. In the lower layer, the local robust control scheme guarantees asymptotical tracking of the desired trajectories. A realistic case study illustrates the effectiveness of the modeling and robust control design.
Thermodynamics of Oxide Systems Relevant to Alternative Gate Dielectrics

AbstractsMater. Res. Soc. 2003 Fall Meeting 146 (2003).133. N.K. Adam, The Physics and Chemistry of Surfaces (Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1938).134. A.W. Adamson, A.P. Gast, Physical Chemistry of Surfaces (John Wiley and Sons,New York, 1997).135. A.W.Adamson, Physical Chemistry of Surfaces (JohnWileyandSons,NewYork,1976).136. R.J. Good, Surface free energy of solids and liquids: thermodynamics molecular forcesand structure, J. Colloid Interface Sci. 59 ,3(1977).137. M.J. Jaycock, G.D. Parﬁtt, Chemistry of Interfaces (John Wiley and Sons, New York,1981), p. 279.138. J.N.Israelachvili, Intermolecular and Surface Forces. With Applications to Colloidal andBiological Systems (Academic Press, New York, 1985), p. 296.139. K.N.Tu,J.W.Mayer,L.C.Feldman, ElectronicthinFilmScience:ForElectricalEngineersand Materials Scientists (Macmillan Publishing Company, New York, 1992), p. 428.140. E.D.Shchukin,A.V.Pertsov,E.A.Amelina,A.S.Zelenov, Colloid and Surface Chemistry (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2001), pp. 57–58.141. E.Orowan,Surfaceenergyandsurfacetensioninsolidsandliquids,
Conclusion and Future Trends

New assisted-conception technologies such as IVF are changing the context of human reproduction. Many people now experience new hopes of overcoming infertility and having children. However, these new possibilities also create important ethical and policy problems and have the potential to cause conflicts among different parties and interests. Some of the issues related to reproductive procedures have reached the public policy agenda (e.g., licensing of clinics, regulations about embryo research and frozen embryos), but many other important matters (e.g., informed consent issues, social impacts of IVF and related techniques) are still unexplored.
An Analysis of the Impact of TRIPS' Special Exemption for LDCs on the Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Industry

Following the enforcement of the WTO's Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), all WTO members were required to introduce a "TRIPS compatible patent law (including product patents)" in their countries. However, a grace period was granted to LDCs, including Bangladesh, in this regard. Today, Bangladesh is exempted from introducing product patents until 2033 owing to TRIPS' special treatment. Different from other LDCs, Bangladesh has a strong pharmaceutical industry, and domestic pharmaceutical companies occupy the majority of Bangladesh's pharmaceutical market. This study will analyze the impact of TRIPS' special treatment for LDCs on the Bangladesh pharmaceutical industry. The special exemption of TRIPS allows Bangladesh's pharmaceutical companies to imitate brand name drugs that are patent-protected in other countries, and to sell these drugs in both domestic and overseas markets. However, the level of technology in many Bangladesh pharmaceutical companies is not advanced. Only a few Bangladesh's firms can export their products to advanced markets. Moreover, rapid economic development of the Bangladesh economy might cause a reconsideration of LDC status of Bangladesh in the future. Based on statistical data analysis and a series of interviews with stakeholders in Bangladesh, this study will first observe the current status of Bangladesh's pharmaceutical industry, and thereafter analyze the impacts of TRIPS on the market.
Autoregulation and repair in microtubule homeostasis

Even in the face of damaging insults, most cells maintain stability over time through multiple homeostatic pathways, including maintenance of the microtubule cytoskeleton that is fundamental to numerous cellular processes. The dynamic instability-perpetual growth and shrinkage-is the best-known microtubule regulatory pathway, which allows rapid rebuilding of the microtubule cytoskeleton in response to internal or external cues. Much less investigated is homeostatic regulation through availability of α-β tubulin heterodimers-microtubules' main building blocks-which influences total mass and dynamic behavior of microtubules. Finally, the most recently discovered is microtubule homeostasis through self-repair, where new GTP-bound tubulin heterodimers replace the lost ones in the microtubule lattice. In this review we try to integrate our current knowledge on how dynamic instability, regulation of tubulin mass, and self-repair work together to achieve microtubule homeostasis.
Racial Disparities in Incidence of Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer and Patient Survival.

Background & Aims Increasing rates of young-onset colorectal cancer (CRC) have attracted substantial research and media attention, but we know little about racial disparities among younger adults with CRC. We examined racial disparities in young-onset CRC by comparing CRC incidence and relative survival among younger ( Methods Using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program of cancer registries, we estimated CRC incidence rates (per 100,000 persons 20–49 years old) from 1992 through 2014 for different periods (1992–1996 vs 2010–2014) and races (white vs black). Relative survival was calculated as the ratio of observed survival to expected survival in a comparable cancer-free population. Results From 1992–1996 to 2010–2014, CRC incidence increased from 7.5 to 11.0 per 100,000 in white individuals and from 11.7 to 12.7 per 100,000 in black individuals. The increase in rectal cancer was larger in whites (from 2.7 to 4.5 per 100,000) than in blacks (from 3.4 to 4.0 per 100,000); in the 2010–2014 period, blacks and whites had similar rates of rectal cancer. Compared with whites, blacks had smaller increases in relative survival with proximal colon cancer but larger increases in survival with rectal cancer (from 55.3% to 70.8%). Conclusion In an analysis of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, we found racial disparities in incidence of young-onset CRC and patient survival for cancer of the colon but minimal difference for rectal cancer. Well-documented and recent increases in young-onset CRC have largely been due to increases in rectal cancer, especially in whites.
Fully automated preparation of 68Ga-PSMA-11 at curie level quantity using cyclotron-produced 68Ga for clinical applications.

Abstract 68Ga-PSMA-11 is currently one of the most investigated PET agents for imaging both recurrent prostate cancer and relevant metastases; however, the production and distribution of 68Ga-PSMA-11 is limited to a supply of only a few daily doses when using a commercially available 68Ge/68Ga generator. 68Ge/68Ga generators deliver only a modest amount of activity, up to 1850 MBq (50 mCi), when new, but it decreases with time. Additionally, the production of 68Ga/68Ge generators has not been able to meet the increasing demand of 68Ga radiotracers. In response to the need for a more economically viable alternative, the focus of this study was to provide a simple and efficient method for producing 68Ga-PSMA-11, using cyclotron-produced 68Ga that is ready for routine clinical practice.
The Unique Impact of Blood Type O on Gastrointestinal Bleeding with Left Ventricular Assist Systems

Purpose Acquired von Willebrand syndrome is implicated in the pathology of gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) after implantation of continuous-flow left ventricular assist systems (CF-LVAS). Adults with blood type (BT) O have lower circulating levels of von Willebrand factor. In this analysis, we sought to explore the association between BT O and GIB following CF-LVAS implantation. Methods We performed a single center, retrospective, observational cohort study in 200 consecutive adults implanted with a durable CF-LVAS over a 10-year period (2008-2018). Patients were grouped according to BT O (N = 97) vs Non-O (N = 103), and further stratified by the HAS-BLED score. Cumulative Kaplan-Meier event curves were constructed. Results Patients with at least 1 GIB event were generally older (60.8±10.1 vs 53.0±13.9 years, P ;=3 (N = 87) the rates of GIB were significantly higher for BT O (HR, 2.36; 95% CI, 1.06-5.27; P = 0.036) (Figure). Conclusion Our study suggests an important association of BT O with higher rates of GIB in CF-LVAS patients at high baseline risk for bleeding complications (HAS-BLED >;=3). These findings suggest that in this specific population characterized by BT O, a greater vigilance and targeted anticoagulation strategies may need to be investigated.
Tailoring lifestyle programmes for diabetes prevention for US South Asians.

Objective The purpose of this study was to develop and test the feasibility of a culturally tailored Diabetes Prevention Programme (DPP) for US South Asians, a large population with high diabetes risk. Design The South Asian Health and Prevention Education (SHAPE) study included: (1) focus group discussions with South Asian adults to understand views of lifestyle behaviours and diabetes prevention; (2) modification of the US DPP for South Asians and (3) a pilot, pre–post study to test the feasibility and impact of delivering the culturally tailored programme. Setting The study was conducted in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Focus group discussions and intervention classes were held at locations within the community (eg, South Asian restaurants, a public library, university classrooms, a South Asian owned physical therapy studio). Participants The focus group discussions (n=17 with 109 individuals) included adults aged 25 years of older who self-identified as South Asian. Groups were stratified by age (25–40 years or older than 40 years) and sex. The SHAPE pilot study included 17 (76.5% male with a mean age of 46.9±12 years) South Asian adults aged 25 years or older with pre-diabetes and body mass index (BMI) >22 kg/m2. Results Formative data from 17 focus group discussions and a community board guided the modification of the DPP curriculum to reflect cultural food preferences and include tools to leverage social support, create a stronger foundation in exercise and overcome culturally specific barriers. The SHAPE pilot study included 17 South Asian adults with pre-diabetes and BMI >22 kg/m2. There were positive changes in participants’ weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, plasma lipids, HbA1c and other cardiometabolic markers postintervention and 55% of participants regressed to normoglycaemia. Conclusion These results provide important information on the barriers faced by US South Asians in participating in ‘standard’ lifestyle change programs, indicate the feasibility of culturally tailored programmes and show positive impact of a culturally tailored programme for diabetes prevention in the South Asian population.
La consolidación de los dispositivos móviles para el consumo de información en España

Los medios de comunicacion viven en una adaptacion constante para hacer frente a un consumo de informacion cada vez mayor desde dispositivos moviles. Esta demanda ha dado origen al periodismo movil, pensado y adaptado especificamente para esta tecnologia, y ha propiciado la aparicion de nuevos formatos publicitarios para fidelizar a nueva audiencia, tambien movil. Para conocer cuales son los habitos de los usuarios respecto del consumo de noticias desde estos dispositivos, sus formatos periodisticos preferidos y como interactuan con la informacion, esta investigacion diseno un estudio de encuesta que se administro en Espana, a consumidores de entre 16 y 65 anos (N=555). Los resultados reflejaron la consolidacion de los dispositivos moviles para el consumo de informacion –84,8% consultaba noticias o contenidos periodisticos en el movil a diario, frecuentemente en el lugar de trabajo y en los tiempos muertos o de espera–, la adaptacion de los medios a esta tecnologia, y una predileccion por las apps de redes sociales para encontrar noticias, en detrimento de las webs de los medios. Tambien pusieron de manifiesto que el video informativo es el formato de mayor exito entre los consumidores, aunque desde aplicaciones nativas de video, como YouTube o Vimeo. Es aqui donde los medios tienen un reto: ofrecer experiencias de consumo de video mas atractivas para que el publico consuma este formato en sus paginas y, por lo tanto, recurra a fuentes de informacion de primera mano
Shear stress-induced pathological changes in endothelial cells occur through Piezo1 activation of TRPV4

Abstract Although the ion channels Piezo1 and TRPV4 have been implicated in high venous pressure- and fluid shear stress-induced vascular hyperpermeability, they have been described as working independently. Moreover, the mechanism by which Piezo1 and TRPV4 channels in endothelial cells execute the same function is poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that Piezo1 regulates TRPV4 channel activation in endothelial cells and that Piezo1-mediated TRPV4 channel opening is a function of the strength and duration of fluid shear stress. Application of the Piezo1 antagonist, GsMTx4, completely blocked the elevation in intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) induced by both fluid shear stress and the Piezo1 agonist, Yoda1. High and prolonged shear stress caused sustained [Ca2+]i elevation which required TRPV4 opening and was responsible for fluid shear stress- and Piezo1-mediated disruption of adherens junctions and actin remodeling. We found that Piezo1’s effects were mediated by phospholipase A2 activation. Blockade of TRPV4 channels with the selective TRPV4 blocker, HC067047, prevented the loss of endothelial cell integrity and actin disruption induced by Yoda1 or shear stress and prevented Piezo1-induced monocyte adhesion to endothelial cell monolayers. These findings demonstrate that Piezo1 activation by fluid shear stress initiates a calcium signal that causes TRPV4 opening which in turn is responsible for the sustained phase calcium elevation that triggers pathological events in endothelial cells.
Unraveling phase and amplitude computationally using frequency combs

Frequency combs are light sources whose lines are perfectly evenly-spaced. We will discuss how computational techniques can be used to elucidate their hidden properties and can be used to create novel sensors based on combs.
Extracting Semantics from Census-based Reference Data

We present preliminary findings in extracting semantics from reference data generated by the United States Census Bureau. US Census reference data is based upon surveys designed to collect demographics and other socioeconomic factors by geographical regions. These data sets contain thousands of variables; this complexity makes the reference data difficult to learn, query, and integrate into analyses. Researchers often avoid working directly with US Census reference data and instead work with census-derived extracts capturing a much smaller subset of records. We propose to use natural language processing to extract the semantics of census-based reference data and to map census variables to known ontologies. This semantic processing reduces the large volume of variables into more manageable sets of conceptual variables that can be organized by meaning and semantic type.
Role Stress and Sense of Control Predict Using Food to Cope With Stress in Midlife Women.

Objective: The current study examined the association between role stress and using food to cope with stress in midlife women and examined sense of control as a potential underlying mechanism. Meth...
“Broken-hearted” carbon bowl via electron shuttle reaction: energetics and electron coupling

Unprecedented one-step CC bond cleavage leading to opening of the buckybowl (π-bowl), that could provide access to carbon-rich structures with previously inaccessible topologies, is reported; highlighting the possibility to implement drastically different synthetic routes to π-bowls in contrast to conventional ones applied for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Through theoretical modeling, we evaluated the mechanistic pathways feasible for π-bowl planarization and factors that could affect such a transformation including strain and released energies. Through employment of Marcus theory, optical spectroscopy, and crystallographic analysis, we estimated the possibility of charge transfer and electron coupling between “open” corannulene and a strong electron acceptor such as 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane. Alternative to a one-pot solid-state corannulene “unzipping” route, we reported a nine-step solution-based approach for preparation of novel planar “open” corannulene-based derivatives in which electronic structures and photophysical profiles were estimated through the energies and isosurfaces of the frontier natural transition orbitals.
Being Social isn't Just About Fun: An Examination of Personal Social Media Usage

Social media are all around us, dominating the virtual landscape and infiltrating our daily lives. Usage of these primarily hedonic systems continues to expand. Past research on technology adoption and usage has prominently investigated utilitarian systems, though other findings have shown that different characteristics impact the usage of hedonic systems. Given the socio-technical nature of social media and its pervasiveness in our daily lives, this study investigates the impacts that information privacy sensitivity, presenteeism, and sociality have on a user’s attitude towards social media, and from that attitude, the impact on actual usage of the technology. The results from surveys of college student social media users finds that presenteeism and sociality significantly impact attitude, which in turn increases usage. These findings provide groundwork for expanding our understanding of hedonic technologies and the need to continue investigating technology-specific characteristics.
Quinolinic Acid Phosphoribosyltransferase from Castor Bean Endosperm I. PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION

Abstract Quinolinic acid phosphoribosyltransferase was purified 500-fold from the endosperm of etiolated seedlings of Ricinus communis L. Sodium dodecyl sulfate disc gel electrophoresis indicated that the enzyme was homogeneous but on analytical disc gel electrophoresis at pH 7.0 and 8.3 the isolated native protein exhibited three closely migrating bands. The three proteins were of the same molecular weight but differed slightly in charge, determined by Ferguson plots of the Rf values of the proteins in gels having different acrylamide concentrations. The purified enzyme was stable for several months when stored at -90° in 0.05 m potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) which contained 50% sucrose (w/v) and was 0.01 m in dithioerythritol. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated by gel titration and sucrose density gradient centrifugation to be about 68,000 and 72,000, respectively. Electrophoresis on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels demonstrated that the enzyme contained two subunits with a molecular weight of approximately 35,000 each. Quinolinic acid at 0.8 mm gave 50% protection against heat inactivation of the enzyme, but phosphoribosylpyrophosphate at 1.6 mm was ineffective. Inhibition of quinolinic acid phosphoribosyltransferase by several substrate analogues suggested that both the 2- and the 3-carboxyl groups on the pyridine ring were needed for substrate binding to the enzyme. The kinetic data of the reaction are consistent with the formation of a ternary complex among the enzyme, quinolinic acid, and 5-phosphoribosyl 1-pyrophosphate.
Use of a Computer‐Based Reminder to Improve Sedative–Hypnotic Prescribing in Older Hospitalized Patients

OBJECTIVES: To develop a feasible, inexpensive, point-of-care computerized reminder to improve sedative-hypnotic prescribing in hospitalized older people. DESIGN: Pre-postintervention with a computer-based reminder. SETTING: Academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Hospitalized patients aged 65 and older. INTERVENTION: Computer-based reminder directing clinicians to prescribe a nonpharmacological sleep protocol, to minimize the potential for harm with diphenhydramine and diazepam use by choosing an alternative medication (trazodone or lorazepam), or both. MEASUREMENTS: Frequency of prescription of four sedative-hypnotic drugs (diphenhydramine, diazepam, lorazepam, and trazodone) during the 12 months before (n=12,356 patients) and after (n=12,153) the reminder was instituted. RESULTS: Prescribing of sedative-hypnotics decreased from 2,208 per 12,356 (18%) patients preintervention to 1,832 per 12,153 (15%) postintervention (odds ratio for the intervention=0.82, 95% confidence interval=0.76–0.87), an 18% risk reduction. Combined prescription rates for all four drugs fell consistently throughout the postintervention period. Diphenhydramine, diazepam, and lorazepam orders declined overall, with lorazepam prescriptions decreasing 39% during the intervention. Ninety-five percent of patients were successfully directed to a safer sedative-hypnotic drug or a nonpharmacological sleep protocol. CONCLUSION: Using real-time computer-based reminders could lead to improved sedative-hypnotic prescribing for older persons in acute care. This study highlights the potential to address patient safety concerns, and the quality of medication prescribing in particular, in vulnerable hospitalized patients.
Statistics in Ancient History

This paper uses new data to extend the argument that there was an integrated wheat market in the late Roman Republic and early Roman Empire. I explore the meaning of randomness when data are scarce, and I investigate how we recreate the nature of ancient societies by asking new questions that stimulate the discovery of more information. The case for a prosperous Roman society extending the length of the Mediterranean Sea is strong. This paper draws on and extends work reported in my new book: The Roman Market Economy (Princeton, 2013).
Abstract 19106: Diabetes Induced Actin S-glutathiolation Increases Vein Graft Accelerated Atherosclerosis Through Delayed Endothelial Regeneration

Endothelial cell (EC) loss and regeneration are important aspects of the response to vascular injury leading to atherosclerosis in vein grafts (VG). EC regeneration is known to be impaired in diabetes mellitus (DM) leading to an accelerated atherosclerosis, however the mechanism remains unclear. Given the increased oxidative stress in DM, we hypothesized that protein s-glutathiolation, the reversible covalent addition of glutathione to cysteine on target proteins was a candidate mechanism. Overall s-glutathiolation of proteins measured by immunoblot was significantly increased in human DM atherosclerotic plaque compared to non-DM (4-fold, P<0.01; n =10) with the increase in protein intensity at ≈ 40kDa. Mass spectrometry peptide fingerprint screening identified actin (42Kda) and the actin regulatory protein annexin A2 (39Kda) as the s-glutathiolated proteins. In cultured ECs in which s-glutathiolation was induced, proliferation (22%, P<0.05) and motility (37%, P<0.05) were significantly decreased compared...
Intersubunit surfaces in G protein alpha beta gamma heterotrimers. Analysis by cross-linking and mutagenesis of beta gamma

Heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G proteins) are made up of alpha, beta, and gamma subunits, the last two forming a very tight complex. Stimulation of cell surface receptors promotes dissociation of alpha from the beta gamma dimer, which, in turn, allows both components to interact with intracellular enzymes or ion channels and modulate their activity. At present, little is known about the conformation of the beta gamma dimer or about the areas of beta gamma that interact with alpha. Direct information on the orientation of protein surfaces can be obtained from the analysis of chemically cross-linked products. Previous work in this laboratory showed that 1,6-bismaleimidohexane, which reacts with cysteine residues, specifically cross-links alpha to beta and beta to gamma (Yi, F., Denker, B. M., and Neer, E. J. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 3900-3906). To identify the residues in beta and gamma involved in cross-linking to each other or to alpha, we have mutated the cysteines in beta 1, gamma 2, and gamma 3 and analyzed the mutated proteins by in vitro translation in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate. All the mutants were able to form beta gamma dimers that could interact with the alpha subunit. We found that 1,6-bismaleimidohexane can cross-link beta 1 to gamma 3 but not to gamma 2. The cross-link goes from Cys25 in beta 1 to Cys30 in gamma 3. This cysteine is absent from any of the other known gamma isoforms and therefore confers a distinctive property to gamma 3. The beta subunit in the beta 1 gamma 2 dimer can be cross-linked to an unidentified protein in the rabbit reticulocyte lysate, generating a product slightly larger than cross-linked beta 1 gamma 3. The beta subunit can also be cross-linked to alpha, giving rise to two products on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, both of which were previously shown to be formed by cross-linking beta to Cys215 in alpha o (Thomas, T. C., Schmidt, C. J., and Neer, E. J. (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 90, 10295-10299). Mutation of Cys204 in beta 1 abolished one of these two products, whereas mutation of Cys271 abolished the other. Because both alpha-beta cross-linked products are formed in approximately equal amounts, Cys204 and Cys271 in beta are equally accessible from Cys215 in alpha o. Our findings begin to define intersubunit surfaces, and they pose structural constraints upon any model of the beta gamma dimer.
Jewish Stereotypes or Misunderstood Cultural Virtues

If there is one stereotype that has followed the Jews throughout history it is the notion that they stick together. A shallow look into their past will support this claim. However, this study will put forth evidence from the late 17th century that does not entirely agree with this assumption. In fact, while there is support to the claim that Jews genially band together they have encountered a range of conditions throughout their history that is at odds with this stereotypical interpretation. Governments during this period in question oppressively regulated Jewish behavior and thereby contributed to the overall increase or decrease in their cohesiveness. In addition, there were internal factors, such as community pressure, cultural orientation and religious beliefs that influenced Jewish unity, as well as subjected them to collective discord. European governments found it difficult to grant Jews citizenship status often because they feared that the deep rooted prejudices of their subjects would threaten their sovereignty. It is out of this political milieu that this analysis will attempt to illuminate both the factors that drove Jews to band together and the circumstances that split them apart.
Statistical Signal Processing, Higher Order Tools

The sections in this article are 1 Motivation and Overview 2 Basic Background 3 Discerning Non-Gaussianity 4 Recovering Phase Information 5 Checking and Identifying Nonlinearities 6 Separating Multiple Sources 7 Conclusion and Future Directions 8 Acknowledgment
Black cats or black swans? Outliers, seasonality in return distribution properties, and the Halloween effect

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine the extent to which outliers have persisted in augmenting the Halloween effect over time and to offer an econometric test of seasonality in return skewness that might provide a partial explanation for the Halloween effect. Design/methodology/approach – The authors split the Morgan Stanley Capital International data for 37 countries into two subperiods and, using median regression and influence vectors, examine these periods for a possible change in the interplay between outliers and the Halloween effect. The authors perform a statistical assessment of whether outliers are a significant contributor to the overall Halloween effect using a bootstrap test of seasonal differences in return skewness. Findings – Large returns (positive and negative) persist in being generally favorable to the Halloween effect in most countries. The authors find seasonality in return skewness to be statistically significant in many countries. Returns over the May through October...
Organic Transistors Based on Molecular and Polymeric Dielectric Materials

The design and synthesis of new molecular synthons for vapor-phase selfassembled nanodieletrics and silane crosslinkers for crosslinked polymer blend dielectrics is described. These dielectric films exhibit excellent dielectric properties with tunable thicknesses and capacitance values. These new gate dielectric materials are integrated into thin-film transistors based both p- and n-type organic semiconductors.
"Causes" of homelessness: Understanding city- and individual-level data

Studies of homelessness that use city-level observations get systematically different results from studies that use individual-level data. I explain why. The findings are consistent with a model of homelessness as a condition requiring a conjunction of unfortunate circumstances. ∗Department of Economics. Department of International and Public Affairs. Columbia University. New York, New York 10027. Email: bo2@columbia.edu. I am grateful to Edgar Olsen, Steve Cameron, and Eugene Smolensky for helpful advice and suggestions. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the Goldman School of the University of California at Berkeley. Two different kinds of empirical cross-section studies of modern American homelessness have arrived at apparently contradictory conclusions. Studies that take as their unit of observation homelessness rates in different cities have generally found that housing market conditions have large effects, while population composition—the size of the mentally ill population outside of state psychiatric facilities, for instance, or the or the extent of poverty–uusally does not. By contrast, studies that take individuals as their unit of observation find effects for housing market conditions of the cities where the individuals find themselves, and strong effects for personal personal characteristics. The two types of studies seem to contrasting policy advice: city-level studies say reduce rents and increase vacancies, individual-level studies say work on pathology and poverty. I will argue that the two sets of results are complementary, not contradictory, by showing a very simple model of homelessness that implies both kinds of results (and also implies that both varieties of regression are misspecified).
THE HARD WORK OF SOFTWARE HISTORY

A few years ago, the literary and media historian Friedrich Kittler opened an essay called “There Is No Software” with, in his own words, a “rather sad statement.” In his view, “the bulk of written texts—including this text—do not exist anymore in perceivable time and space but in a computer memory’s transistor cells.” From a scholar who, until then, had situated the cultural meaning of literary texts in discourse networks dependent on technologies of inscription (writing, gramophone, typewriter, computer) and the materiality of communication, this remark captures the essence of a significant cultural shift. At the end of the twentieth . . .
Influence of Stress Intensity Level during Fatigue Precracking on Results of Plane-Strain Fracture Toughness Tests

One of the more troublesome parts of conducting a plane-strain fracture toughness test in accordance with ASTM Test for Plain Strain Fracture Toughness of Metallic Materials (E 399-72) is producing a satisfactory fatigue crack in the specimen prior to fracturing it. The 1968 version of ASTM E 399 indicated that the stress intensity during the last stage of fatigue cracking should not exceed 0.0012 in. 1 /2 E (modulus of elasticity) or 0.5 K I c but that has been gradually eased so that the current limits are 0.002 in. 1 /2 E or 0.6 K I c . Data for four aluminum alloys support the fact that it is satisfactory to use stress intensities up to 0.002 in. 1 /2 E and suggest that the other limit could be increased to 80 percent of K I c . This may be unique to aluminum alloys, and additional data should be generated for other metals to determine whether or not this is generally true.
Quality of life assessment comes of age in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy.

There are questions about the treatment of HIV/AIDS that can only be answered by asking the patient. Some of the questions are clinically important, such as: among treatments that are equivalent in terms of virologic and immunologic outcome, which are best tolerated? How can we identify unsuspected symptoms? Other questions are important to policy makers, such as: what is the extent of need in communities? What is the natural history of disability? Answering these questions requires collecting patient-reported data on quality of life. In research, when we refer to ‘quality of life’, we usually mean health-related quality of life. At a minimum, this includes several dimensions: physical function and symptoms, performance of social roles, emotional status, cognitive functioning, and how the patient feels about his or her health [1]. All of these concepts can be measured adequately using sets of questions which are deployed in standardized questionnaires.
Impact of a theory-based video on initiation of long-acting reversible contraception after abortion

Objective Adoption of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) (ie, the intrauterine device or the contraceptive implant) immediately after abortion is associated with high contraceptive satisfaction and reduced rates of repeat abortion. Theory-based counseling interventions have been demonstrated to improve a variety of health behaviors; data on theory-based counseling interventions for postabortion contraception are lacking. Study Design Informed by the transtheoretical model of behavioral change, a video intervention was developed to increase awareness of, and dispel misconceptions about, LARC methods. The intervention was evaluated in a randomized controlled trial among women aged 18-29 years undergoing surgical abortion at a clinic in Chicago, IL. Participants were randomized 1:1 to watch the intervention video or to watch a stress management video (control), both 7 minutes in duration. Contraceptive methods were supplied to all participants free of charge. Rates of LARC initiation immediately after abortion were compared. Results Rates of LARC initiation immediately after abortion were not significantly different between the 2 study arms; 59.6% in the intervention and 51.6% in the control arm chose a LARC method ( P = .27). Conclusion This study resulted in an unexpectedly high rate of LARC initiation immediately after abortion. High rates of LARC initiation could not be attributed to a theory-based counseling intervention.
Fine structure of the human menstrual corpus luteum at its stage of maximum secretory activity

Human corpora lutea from the period of maximum progesterone secretion during the menstrual cycle were examined with the electron microscope. Both the granulosa lutein and theca lutein cells contain abundant tubular smooth endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria with tubular cristae, lipid droplets and numerous free ribosomes. Cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum occur in stacks and as scattered profiles in the lutein cells. Golgi elements are seen throughout the granulosa lutein cell cyoplasm and are associated with multivesicular bodies, lysosome-like granules, coated vesicles and microtubules. The coated vesicles apparently arise from the Golgi cisternae. Unlike the granulosa lutein cells, theca lutein cells are generally smaller and darker, exhibit a wider range of cell densities, have a Golgi complex clustered at one nuclear pole, and their lipid droplets are extracted by tissue preparation. Patches of microvilli that protrude into the perivascular spaces and a peripheral, fibrillar terminal web are unique to the granulosa lutein cells. The perivascular macrophages correspond to the “K” cells of light microscopy. No cells in the theca externa or the central coagulum exhibit the fine structure of steroid-secreting cells. The correlation of fine structure with function in human lutein cells is probably similar to that established for other steroid-secreting cells. The role of the theca lutein cells in steroidogenesis by the human corpus luteum remains unresolved.
A Three‐Dimensional Coordination Polymer with an Expanded NbO Structure

The connection of square-planar [Ni(CN)4]2− ions with Ph3Sn+ ions results in 1, a noninterpenetrated three-dimensional coordination polymer with an expanded NbO structure. The (Ph3Sn)2Ni(CN)4 framework (shown schematically without phenyl groups and solvent molecules) displays a large central cavity that is occupied by Ph3SnOH, acetonitrile, and water molecules.
Optimal aspiration volume of vertebral bone marrow for use in spinal fusion.

Abstract Background context Bone marrow aspirate (BMA) has shown promise as a bone graft option in spinal fusion. The vertebral body is a convenient source for marrow aspirate as it is accessed in routine course of pedicle screw instrumentation. Studies have relied on data from the iliac crest to determine optimal aspiration volume from the vertebral body. Purpose This study is designed to determine the optimal aspiration volume for BMA taken from the vertebral body. Study design Prospective clinical study. Patient sample Data are drawn from 18 pedicles and 180 aspirations. The average age of the subjects was 50.3 years, and the subject pool comprised five men and seven women. Outcome measures Nucleated cell count and alkaline phosphatase staining colony forming units. Methods Ten 1 mL aliquots of BMA were incrementally aspirated through a cannulated pedicle tap for each instrumented vertebral body. The numbers of nucleated cells per mL of BMA were analyzed with a hemocytometer, and the percentage of osteoprogenitor cells per mL aspirate were estimated by an alk phos production assay. The study was funded through departmental funds, and none of the authors have any conflicts of interest to report related to the study. Results Nucleated cell count decreased with increasing aspirate number (p Conclusions The 2 mL aspirate volume has been defined as ideal for the iliac crest, but there has been no analogous assessment of the effect of aspiration volume for other sources such as the vertebral body. This information is important for the clinical implementation of vertebral body aspirations if volume, cells, and presumably performance, of this potential bone graft option are to be optimized for spine cases. Our data show a direct relationship between increasing aspiration number and decreasing osteoprogenitor cellular concentration, with a drop to 50% of the original aspirate cell count by the 4th mL aspirate. The vertebral body is a potentially exciting source of osteoprogenitor cells that can be implemented for a variety of spinal uses.
Solid-State 15N NMR Chemical Shift Anisotropy of Histidines: Experimental and Theoretical Studies of Hydrogen Bonding†

The principal values of the 15 N chemical shift tensors of crystalline histidine and histidine-containing peptides have been measured to document for the first time the systematic trends in values of imidazole CSA with changes in hydrogen bonds. NMR measurement of imidazole groups, both 15 N and 1 H, is a key method for studying strong and pKa-matched hydrogen bonds and their roles in enzymes, but appropriate model compound data and calculations are largely lacking in the literature. On the basis of this database of experimental values for imidazole groups interacting with carboxylate hydrogen-bonding partners, and of ab initio calculations for similar structures, a correlation was found between the 15 N ‰22 tensor value and the hydrogen bond length for cationic species. As the hydrogen bond distance decreases, the ‰22 tensor value shifts downfield. No correlation was found between the 15 N CSA tensor elements of neutral imidazole and the corresponding hydrogen bond distance, probably because the range of hydrogen-bonding distances in our compounds is limited (0.05 A) and because this functionality is not involved in nearly pKa-matched hydrogen bonds. Ab initio 15 N shielding calculations for an imidazolium acetate (cationic) model showed general agreement with the trends in the experimental results, although the breadths of the calculated CSA tensors are systematically larger than those determined experimentally, and the variation in the calculated CSA tensor values is somewhat smaller than that obtained experimentally. Histidine is a key residue in enzymatic catalysis. It can act as a general acid or base to protonate or deprotonate the substrates; it apparently also participates in hydrogen bonding to stabilize transition states for several enzymes such as serine proteases, enolizing enzymes (triosephosphate isomerase and citrate synthase as examples), and hydrolytic enzymes (such as ribonuclease A). It has been proposed that neutral imidazole acts as general acid to protonate the substrate, and becomes transiently anionic in the case of triosephosphate isomerase, 1