cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The tRNAAGYSer and tRNACGYArg genes form a gene cluster in yeast mitochondrial DNA

Abstract Yeast mitochondrial DNA-pBR322 recombinant DNA molecules screened for tRNA genes were used as a source of DNA for mitochondrial tRNA gene sequence analysis. We report here the sequences of yeast mitochondrial tRNA genes coding for a tRNA AGY Ser and a tRNA CGY Arg . The tRNA AGY Ser sequence deduced from the gene is the first reported sequence of a yeast tRNA AGY Ser . It is also the second yeast mitochondrial tRNA Ser gene to be sequenced, and demonstrates unequivocally the presence of mitochondrial encoded serine tRNA isoacceptors. The tRNA CGY Arg sequence deduced from the gene is the most AT-rich (82%) tRNA sequence ever reported. Whereas all the mitochondrial genes sequenced to date exist singly on the genome and are separated by long stretches of AT-rich DNA, the tRNA AGY Ser and tRNA CGY Arg genes exist in tandem, separated by only 3 bp. This gene arrangement strongly suggests that mitochondrial tRNA genes may be transcribed into multicistronic precursors.
Covalent cross-linking of polymers through ionene formation and their thermal de-cross-linking

Quaternization and dequaternization of tertiary amines were employed to generate thermally reversible covalent ionene networks. Chlorine or tertiary amine containing polymers were cross-linked with ditertiary amines and dihalide compounds, respectively, to generate ionene networks. The cross-linking reactivity of the dihalide decreased with decreasing carbonium ion character of its alkyl, and the reactivity of the ditertiary amine was dependent on the steric effect of its alkyl groups and the flexibility of the alkyl connecting the two nitrogen atoms of its molecule. IR and NMR tests, reactive solubility experiments and conductivity, differential scanning calorimetry, and flowability (at 215 °C) determinations have been carried out to investigate the thermal reversibility of cross-linked polymers. The thermal de-cross-linking/re-cross-linking was markedly affected by the nature of the tertiary amine and halide that took part in quaternization. Poor reversibility was found when the Cl-containing polymer wa...
Efficacies and Second-Year Effects of SPLAT GM™ and SPLAT GM™ Organic Formulations

Mating disruption is the primary control tactic used against the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) under the gypsy moth Slow the Spread (STS) program. In this paper, we present the results of the multiyear study designed to evaluate a new liquid SPLAT GM™ (ISCA Tech, Riverside, CA, USA) Organic formulation, which is approved by the USDA to meet National Organic Program Standards for use in organic certified farms, for its ability to disrupt gypsy moth mating, and to evaluate the environmental persistence of SPLAT GM™ and SPLAT GM™ Organic formulations. Environmental persistence of the pheromone beyond the year of application is a significant concern since STS relies on trap catch data to evaluate treatment success. The study was conducted in 2007–2012 in forested areas in Virginia and Wisconsin, USA. We observed that SPLAT GM™ Organic reduced gypsy moth trap catch by ≥90% for 10 weeks in a similar manner as SPLAT GM™ and Hercon Disrupt® II (Hercon Environmental, Emigsville, PA, USA). Although we observed persistent effects in all products one year after application, the persistence observed in SPLAT GM™ and SPLAT GM™ Organic was significantly lower than that of Hercon Disrupt® II plastic laminated flakes.
Response to selection for early and late development of sexual maturity in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract Selection for early and late development of sexual maturity (switch-on) in Drosophila melanogaster was successful. There was greater response for late than for early maturity. Furthermore, only females showed a response for early development of sexual maturity, whereas both sexes responded to selection for late development of sexual maturity. Four correlated responses appeared consistently across replicates: flies selected for late development of sexual maturity were slower to mate as mature flies, slower to mate a second time, had lower fecundity, and had shorter egg-to-adult development time. The selection response is consistent with the interpretation of past natural selection for rapid development of sexual maturity, particularly in males. The coordinated response of sexual maturity, mating speed and fecundity suggests the involvement of juvenile hormone in the selection response.
Analysis and Design of Charge Pump-Assisted High Step-Up Tapped Inductor SEPIC Converter With an “Inductorless” Regenerative Snubber

This paper introduces a SEPIC-derived converter suited for alternative energy generation applications. The proposed converter utilizes tapped inductor and charge pump techniques to achieve high step-up gain and a passive regenerative snubber to attain high efficiency. Compared with earlier counterparts, the proposed converter has the advantage of continuous input current, which can be helpful in attaining accurate tracking of maximum power point of solar panels. The paper presents principle of operation, theoretical analysis, and design guidelines. Theoretical expectations were confirmed by simulation and experimental results.
Low PAPR preamble for improved channel estimation

Orthogonal Frequency Division Modulation (OFDM) is an efficient multi-carrier modulation scheme. It is used in many wireless communication systems due to its robustness towards fading channel behavior and a relative ease of implementation coming from computationally efficient Inverse Fast Fourier Transforms (IFFT) on the transmitter and Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) on the receiver. However, the OFDM waveform has a large Peak-to-Average Power Ratio (PAPR). To avoid clipping and nonlinear distortion, the transmitter's Power Amplifier (PA) needs to be operated at a significantly lower power level than its peak rating (i.e. "backed off"). This paper proposes a novel low PAPR preamble for channel estimation. This solution yields a preamble with PAPR of approximately 2.6 dB, regardless of the number of subcarriers. The subcarriers are evenly spaced and equal amplitude, ideal for channel sounding. The result is a preamble construction that operates over a variable number of subcarriers, improves SNR, and is easy to implement. The theoretical basis for the technique is presented, and a particular implementation of the technique in FPGA hardware is discussed. Both simulations and measurements demonstrate significant benefits of the proposed technique in long-range wireless communications applications that use an OFDM waveform.
Human serum precipitins to human dental plaque and oral bacteria.

Abstract Naturally occurring precipitins with 2 different specificities were found in 45 per cent of human sera from male and female subjects whose average age was 24.6 yr. One specificity was for a factor from Actinomyces species and strains (A + ) and the other for a factor from streptococci, staphylococci and lactobacilli (S + ). Serologically identical factors were found in soluble extracts of dental plaque. The S, but not the A factor, was rendered inactive by treatment with mild alkali. The serum precipitins, uncharged at pH 8.2, were four times less reactive after IgG had been removed with Staphylococcal Protein A.
Monoarticular gout following trauma : MR appearance

We report a case of gout with monoarticular tophaceous involvement of the proximal interphalangeal joint of the middle finger, emphasizing MR findings. To the best of our knowledge, the MR appearance of gout is not commonly known.
Tertiary structure and energy coupling in Ca2(+)-pump system.

Europium luminescence from europium bound to sarcoplasmic reticulum (Ca2+ Mg2+)-ATPase indicates that there are two high affinity calcium binding sites. Furthermore, the two calcium ions at the binding sites are highly coordinated by the protein as the number of H2O molecules surrounding the Ca2+ ions are 3 and 0.5. In the presence of ATP, calcium ions are occluded even further down to 2 and zero H2O molecules, respectively. The Ca2+ - Ca2+ intersite distance is estimated to be 8–9 A and the average distance from the Ca2+ sites to CrATP is about 18 A. Digestion of the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase at the T2 site (Arg 198) causes uncoupling of Ca2+-transport from ATPase activity while calcium occlusion due to E1-P formation remains unchanged. Further tryptic digestion beyond T2 and in the presence of ATP diminishes Ca2+ occlusion to zero while 50% of the ATPase hydrolytic activity remains. Tryptic digestion beyond T2 and in the absence of ATP diminishes ATPase hydrolytic activity to 50% of normal while Ca2+ occlusion remains intact. These data are consistent with a mechanism in which the functional enzyme must be in the dimeric form for occlusion and calcium uptake to occur, but each monomer can hydrolyze ATP.
Effect of Textbook Study Guides on Student Performance in Introductory Psychology

We experimentally investigated the effect of required textbook study guides on undergraduates' multiple-choice exam performance for introductory psychology. Students in 2 sections participated. Students required to complete the study guide performed significantly better than students in the control section. Students who reported completing 75% or more of the study guide did not perform significantly better than students who completed 25% or less. Results offer support for the effectiveness of study guides in courses that use multiple-choice exams; however, more exercises may not enhance performance compared to fewer exercises. Students who used the study guide had a positive perception of the usefulness of the study guide, and most stated that they would voluntarily use one in the future.
The Derivation of the Liquidity Ratio in the EMS: Reply to Arnold

N HIS COMMENT, Ivo Arnold makes some forceful statements about alleged departures from the "correct" procedure in our use of purchasing power parity (PPP) exchange rates to construct aggregate monetary data for the countries participating in the exchange rate mechanism (ERM) of the European Monetary System (EMS). The comment's clarity unfortunately does not match its forcefulness: most of the comment is in the form of claims that the author does not state precisely and makes little attempt to justify. The waters are further muddied by an important misstatement by Arnold (1992) about the procedures that we follow in our paper: he states that we "convert into deutsche mark using the contemporaneous PPP rates, the national real income series, and the national nominal money series" (p. 199). This is not factual. Actually, we used base-period (1985) PPP rates to aggregate both real income and nominal money. Given Arnold's misapprehension about the procedures we followed, his claim that deviations between this reconstruction and our series are the result of errors on our part is obviously unfounded, and his empirical results based on these incorrectly reconstructed data have no bearing on our work. In order to restore some clarity to the discussion, let us explain and justify the approach we used in aggregating using PPP exchange rates.
Genetics and biology of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

With 5-year survival rates remaining constant at 6% and rising incidences associated with an epidemic in obesity and metabolic syndrome, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is on track to become the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths by 2030. The high mortality rate of PDAC stems primarily from the lack of early diagnosis and ineffective treatment for advanced tumors. During the past decade, the comprehensive atlas of genomic alterations, the prominence of specific pathways, the preclinical validation of such emerging targets, sophisticated preclinical model systems, and the molecular classification of PDAC into specific disease subtypes have all converged to illuminate drug discovery programs with clearer clinical path hypotheses. A deeper understanding of cancer cell biology, particularly altered cancer cell metabolism and impaired DNA repair processes, is providing novel therapeutic strategies that show strong preclinical activity. Elucidation of tumor biology principles, most notably a deeper understanding of the complexity of immune regulation in the tumor microenvironment, has provided an exciting framework to reawaken the immune system to attack PDAC cancer cells. While the long road of translation lies ahead, the path to meaningful clinical progress has never been clearer to improve PDAC patient survival.
Vasopressors in cardiac arrest: a systematic review.

Abstract Objectives To review the literature addressing whether the use of vasopressors improves outcomes in patients who suffer cardiac arrest. Methods Databases were searched using the terms: "(adrenaline or noradrenaline or vasopressor) and (heart arrest or cardiac arrest) and therapy". Inclusion criteria were human studies, controlled trials, meta-analysis or case series. Exclusion criteria were articles with no abstract, abstract-only citations without accompanying article, non-English abstracts, vasopressor studies without human clinical trials, case reports, reviews, and articles addressing traumatic arrest. Results 1603 papers were identified of which 53 articles were included for review. The literature addressed 5 main therapeutic questions. (1) Outcomes comparing any vasopressor to placebo. (2) Outcomes comparing vasopressin (alone or in combination with epinephrine) to epinephrine. (3) Outcomes comparing high dose epinephrine to standard dose epinephrine. (4) Outcomes comparing any alternative vasopressor to epinephrine. (5) Outcomes examining vasopressor use in pediatric cardiac arrest. Conclusion There are few studies that compare vasopressors to placebo in resuscitation from cardiac arrest. Epinephrine is associated with improvement in short term survival outcomes as compared to placebo, but no long-term survival benefit has been demonstrated. Vasopressin is equivalent for use as an initial vasopressor when compared to epinephrine during resuscitation from cardiac arrest. There is a short-term, but no long-term, survival benefit when using high dose vs. standard dose epinephrine during resuscitation from cardiac arrest. There are no alternative vasopressors that provide a long-term survival benefit when compared to epinephrine. There is limited data on the use of vasopressors in the pediatric population.
Improvement of paradoxical vocal cord dysfunction with integrated psychiatric care.

Background Paradoxical vocal cord dysfunction is associated with a high rate of psychiatric comorbidities, including mood, anxiety, somatoform, and personality disorders, and psychosocial distress. Objective The authors draw attention to this disorder because delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis are common and can contribute to excessive morbidity. Method The authors present a case of paradoxical vocal cord dysfunction. Results The condition improved dramatically with integrated psychopharmacologic and psychotherapeutic intervention. Conclusion Integrated medication management and psychotherapy by a single psychiatrist-provider with relevant medical understanding can achieve a better alliance between patient and physician and, thus, improved outcomes.
Cohabitation and Marriage Rules in State TANF Programs

Examines whether the recent push for marriage initiatives and the discretion afforded to states under welfare reform has translated into rules or regulations that favor marriage and discourage cohabitation.
PROCESSING ENGLISH WITH A GENERALIZED PHRASE STRUCTURE GRAMMAR

This paper describes a natural language processing system implemented at Hewlett-Packard's Computer Research Center. The system's main components are: a Generalized Phrase Structure Grammar (GPSG); a top-down parser; a logic transducer that outputs a first-order logical representation; and a "disambiguator" that uses sortal information to convert "normal-form" first-order logical expressions into the query language for HIRE, a relational database hosted in the SPHERE system. We argue that theoretical developments in GPSG syntax and in Montague semantics have specific advantages to bring to this domain of computational linguistics. The syntax and semantics of the system are totally domain-independent, and thus, in principle, highly portable. We discuss the prospects for extending domain-independence to the lexical semantics as well, and thus to the logical semantic representations.
Social networks and physician adoption of electronic health records: insights from an empirical study.

Objective To study how social interactions influence physician adoption of an electronic health records (EHR) system. Design A social network survey was used to delineate the structure of social interactions among 40 residents and 15 attending physicians in an ambulatory primary care practice. Social network analysis was then applied to relate the interaction structures to individual physicians' utilization rates of an EHR system. Measurements The social network survey assessed three distinct types of interaction structures: professional network based on consultation on patient care-related matters; friendship network based on personal intimacy; and perceived influence network based on a person's perception of how other people have affected her intention to adopt the EHR system. EHR utilization rates were measured as the proportion of patient visits in which sentinel use events consisting of patient data documentation or retrieval activities were recorded. The usage data were collected over a time period of 14 months from computer-recorded audit trail logs. Results Neither the professional nor the perceived influence network is correlated with EHR usage. The structure of the friendship network significantly influenced individual physicians' adoption of the EHR system. Residents who occupied similar social positions in the friendship network shared similar EHR utilization rates (p<0.05). In other words, residents who had personal friends in common tended to develop comparable levels of EHR adoption. This effect is particularly prominent when the mutual personal friends of these ‘socially similar’ residents were attending physicians (p<0.001). Conclusions Social influence affecting physician adoption of EHR seems to be predominantly conveyed through interactions with personal friends rather than interactions in professional settings.
Bidirectional expression of CUG and CAG expansion transcripts and intranuclear polyglutamine inclusions in spinocerebellar ataxia type 8

We previously reported that a (CTG)n expansion causes spinocerebellar ataxia type 8 (SCA8), a slowly progressive ataxia with reduced penetrance. We now report a transgenic mouse model in which the full-length human SCA8 mutation is transcribed using its endogenous promoter. (CTG)116 expansion, but not (CTG)11 control lines, develop a progressive neurological phenotype with in vivo imaging showing reduced cerebellar-cortical inhibition. 1C2-positive intranuclear inclusions in cerebellar Purkinje and brainstem neurons in SCA8 expansion mice and human SCA8 autopsy tissue result from translation of a polyglutamine protein, encoded on a previously unidentified antiparallel transcript (ataxin 8, ATXN8) spanning the repeat in the CAG direction. The neurological phenotype in SCA8 BAC expansion but not BAC control lines demonstrates the pathogenicity of the (CTG-CAG)n expansion. Moreover, the expression of noncoding (CUG)n expansion transcripts (ataxin 8 opposite strand, ATXN8OS) and the discovery of intranuclear polyglutamine inclusions suggests SCA8 pathogenesis involves toxic gain-of-function mechanisms at both the protein and RNA levels.
Letter interactions in brief visual displays.

Three experiments were conducted to examine the influence of non-target letters on target detection performance. It was hypothesised that letters which are similar would exert a stronger masking influence on each other than letters which have a low level of feature similarity. The results indicate, however, that every letter has the same inhibitory potential regardless of its similarity rating to other letters. The highly significant letter interactions which did occur in the study were interpreted as evidence for an additive, rather than a subtractive, influence by the non-targets. It is proposed that when a target has an ambiguous identity, due to an impoverished representation, it may be disambiguated by the addition of feature information from the immediate letter context. The effect of filling in the target representation with a feature value from a non-target letter will be to weight the final representation towards the target which has the value most similar to the one substituted. In a sense, then...
2009 H1N1 and seasonal influenza immunization among pregnant women: a comparison of different sources of immunization information.

Validity of prenatal immunization data from different sources has not been assessed. We evaluated prenatal 2009 H1N1 and seasonal influenza (FLU) data obtained from state immunization information systems (IIS), medical record abstraction (MRA), and participant recall using medical care logs (NCS–MCL). 2009 H1N1 and FLU data were obtained from IIS and MRA for 325 pregnant women participating in the National Children’s Study at three locations (SD/MN, NC, WI). Women recalled immunizations at first pregnancy visit and at 16–17 and 36 weeks’ gestation (NCS–MCL). The proportion of women with vaccine information obtainable from each data source was determined, and proportions immunized as determined using different data sources were compared. IIS data were available for 82 %, MRA for 97 %, and NCS–MCL for 93 % of women. No mention of either vaccine occurred in 29 % (range 4–48 %) of IIS, 40 % of MRA (25–59 %), and 59 % (43–82 %) in NCS–MCL. Best agreement between sources was 2009 H1N1 vaccine in MRA versus IIS [kappa (95 % CI) of 0.44 (0.32–0.55)], with poorest agreement for FLU in IIS versus NCS–MCL [0.11 (−0.03 to 0.25)]. IIS was the most sensitive method for identifying women receiving 2009 H1N1 vaccine (92 %); MRA was most sensitive for FLU vaccine (81 %). IIS provided the most complete and sensitive data for 2009 H1N1 immunizations and MRA the most complete and sensitive data for FLU; IIS data were available for a smaller percent of population than MRA. NCS–MCL was the least sensitive method for identifying vaccinated women.
AFM-TIP-INDUCED AND CURRENT-INDUCED LOCAL OXIDATION OF SILICON AND METALS

Here we discuss two different processes that can be used to locally oxidize silicon or metals and are promising for the fabrication of model nanoelectronic devices. The first in- volves oxidation induced by a negatively biased conducting atomic force microscope (AFM) tip. We examine the kinet- ics and mechanism of this process and how factors such as the strength of the electric field, thickness of the oxide, and ambient humidity affect its rate and resolution. Weak ionic currents are detected, pointing to the electrochemical charac- ter of the process. Very fast initial oxidation rates are found to slow down dramatically as a result of the build up of stress and the reduction of the electric field strength. The lateral resolution is found to be largely determined by the defocus- ing of the electric field by a water film, surrounding the tip, whose extent is a function of ambient humidity. The second approach involves local oxidation induced by high current densities generated by forming constrictions in the current- carrying sample. This novel local oxidation process can be used to generate thin oxide tunneling barriers of 10- 50 nm.
uWave: Accelerometer-based personalized gesture recognition and its applications

The proliferation of accelerometers on consumer electronics has brought an opportunity for interaction based on gestures or physical manipulation of the devices. We present uWave, an efficient recognition algorithm for such interaction using a single three-axis accelerometer. Unlike statistical methods, uWave requires a single training sample for each gesture pattern and allows users to employ personalized gestures and physical manipulations. We evaluate uWave using a large gesture library with over 4000 samples collected from eight users over an elongated period of time for a gesture vocabulary with eight gesture patterns identified by a Nokia research. It shows that uWave achieves 98.6% accuracy, competitive with statistical methods that require significantly more training samples. Our evaluation data set is the largest and most extensive in published studies, to the best of our knowledge. We also present applications of uWave in gesture-based user authentication and interaction with three-dimensional mobile user interfaces using user created gestures.
Accelerated Humidity Tests for Plastic Encapsulated Devices

This late news paper presents the results of the examination of the screening effectiveness of steam pressure and boiling water stresses for rapidly evaluating potential failures on long term, accelerated humidity life testing. Studies such as these should allow the development of standard accelerated evaluation tests for assessing device design capabilities on a periodic basis and for acceptance of groups of devices. Also, it could be possible to determine the relationship between these accelerated tests and application environments.
Effects of sand and silica fume on the vibration damping behavior of cement

The addition of sand to cement paste was found to degrade the vibration damping ability, as shown by decreases in both loss tangent and storage modulus under flexure. However, further addition of silica fume more than restored the vibration damping ability, due to the silica fume causing increases in both loss tangent and storage modulus. Silica fume increased the loss modulus of mortar by as much as three orders of magnitude.
The Effect of a Graduate-Level Course on Health Care for the Urban Underserved on Student Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceptions

The “Health Care for the Urban Underserved” course was developed to prepare students to provide services to underserved populations. Student knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions were assessed. This graduate-level course improved knowledge about the problems of the underserved and improved self-efficacy with respect to working with the underserved.
Translating the transcriptome into tools for the early detection and prevention of lung cancer

Despite advances in the management of lung cancer, this disease remains a significant global health burden with survival rates that have not significantly improved in decades. The mortality reduction achieved by low-dose helical CT (LDCT) screening of select high-risk patients is challenged by the high false positive rate of this screening modality and the potential for morbidity associated with follow-up diagnostic evaluation in patients with high risk for iatrogenic complications. The diagnostic dilemma of the indeterminate nodule incidentally identified on diagnostic or screening CT has created a need for reliable biomarkers capable of distinguishing benign from malignant disease. Furthermore, there is an urgent need to develop molecular biomarkers to supplement clinical risk models in order to identify patients at highest risk for having an early stage lung cancer that may derive the greatest benefit from LDCT screening, as well as identifying patients at high-risk for developing lung cancer that may be candidates for emerging chemopreventive strategies. Evolving bioinformatic techniques and the application of these algorithms to analyse the transcriptomic changes associated with lung cancer promise translational discoveries that can bridge these large clinical gaps. The identification of lung cancer associated transcriptomic alterations in readily accessible tissue sampling sites offers the potential to develop early diagnostic and risk stratification strategies applicable to large populations. This review summarises the challenges associated with the early detection, screening and chemoprevention of lung cancer with an emphasis on how genomic information encapsulated by the transcriptome can facilitate future innovations in these clinical settings.
Habitat Use and Home Range of the Laysan Teal on Laysan Island, Hawaii

Abstract The 24-hour habitat use and home range of the Laysan Teal (Anas laysanensis), an endemic dabbling duck in Hawaii, was studied using radio telemetry during 1998-2000. Radios were retained for a mean of 40 days (0-123 d; 73 adult birds radio-tagged). Comparisons of daily habitat use were made for birds in the morning, day, evening, and night. Most birds showed strong evidence of selective habitat use. Adults preferred the terrestrial vegetation (88%), and avoided the lake and wetlands during the day. At night, 63% of the birds selected the lake and wetlands. Nocturnal habitat use differed significantly between the non-breeding and breeding seasons, while the lake and wetland habitats were used more frequently during the non-breeding season. Most individuals showed strong site fidelity during the study, but habitat selection varied between individuals. Mean home range size was 9.78 ha (SE ± 2.6) using the fixed kernel estimator (95% kernel; 15 birds, each with >25 locations). The average minimum con...
Treatment of Extraocular Retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma is the most common primary eye tumor in children worldwide. The presentation of disease in higher-income countries is almost universally intraocular in nature with highly favorable survival rates. This is due in part to the availability of multi-modality treatment options including enucleation, chemotherapy, local therapies, and external beam radiation therapy. In contrast, retinoblastoma most commonly presents as extraocular disease in lower-income nations often with poor prognostic outcomes. This chapter reviews the diagnosis and management options for the various stages of extraocular retinoblastoma.
At the Bedside: Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) as targets for biomarkers and therapies in autoimmune diseases

Neutrophil extracellular traps are associated with a unique form of cell death distinct from apoptosis or necrosis, whereby invading microbes are trapped and killed. Neutrophil extracellular traps can contribute to autoimmunity by exposing autoantigens, inducing IFN-α production, and activating the complement system. The association of neutrophil extracellular traps with autoimmune diseases, particularly systemic lupus erythematosus, will be reviewed. Increased neutrophil extracellular trap formation is seen in psoriasis, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Neutrophil extracellular traps may promote thrombus formation in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. In systemic lupus erythematosus, increased neutrophil extracellular trap formation is associated with increased disease activity and renal disease, suggesting that neutrophil extracellular traps could be a disease activity marker. Neutrophil extracellular traps can damage and kill endothelial cells and promote inflammation in atherosclerotic plaques, which may contribute to accelerated atherosclerosis in systemic lupus erythematosus. As neutrophil extracellular traps induce IFN-α production, measuring neutrophil extracellular traps may estimate IFN-α levels and identify which systemic lupus erythematosus patients have elevated levels and may be more likely to respond to emerging anti-IFN-α therapies. In addition to anti-IFN-α therapies, other novel agents, such as N-acetyl-cysteine, DNase I, and peptidylarginine deiminase inhibitor 4, target neutrophil extracellular traps. Neutrophil extracellular traps offer insight into the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases and provide promise in developing disease markers and novel therapeutic agents in systemic lupus erythematosus. Priority areas for basic research based on clinical research insights will be identified, specifically the potential role of neutrophil extracellular traps as a biomarker and therapeutic target in systemic lupus erythematosus.
Using adjuvants and environmental factors to modulate the activity of antimicrobial peptides

The increase in antibiotic resistant and multi-drug resistant bacterial infections has serious implications for the future of health care. The difficulty in finding both new microbial targets and new drugs against existing targets adds to the concern. The use of combination and adjuvant therapies are potential strategies to counter this threat. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a promising class of antibiotics (ABs), particularly for topical and surface applications. Efforts have been directed toward a number of strategies, including the use of conventional ABs combined with AMPs, and the use of potentiating agents to increase the performance of AMPs. This review focuses on combination strategies such as adjuvants and the manipulation of environmental variables to improve the efficacy of AMPs as potential therapeutic agents. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Antimicrobial peptides edited by Karl Lohner and Kai Hilpert.
New Guidance on Annual Exclusion Gifts of Entity Interests

Professor Elaine Hightower Gagliardi of the University of Montana, discusses the Seventh Circuit's decision in the Hackl case, which provides guidance on how to obtain the federal gift tax annual exclusion for gifts of closely held entity interests.
The Fate of Bush's Regulatory Reforms

The federal regulatory process changed more during the George W. Bush presidency than at any time since the beginning of the Reagan administration. President Obama has criticized these Bush changes and declared his intention to reverse many of them. However, some of the Bush changes may help the new president achieve his policy goals by increasing his control over the federal regulatory process. This article examines the major Bush changes and considers which ones the Obama administration is likely to retain.
Reutilization and Legal Protection of Non-Copyrightable Database Contents

The availability of data on the web and the improvement of technologies have made it increasingly easy to reuse existing data to create new databases and provide valueadded services. Meanwhile, initial database creators have been seeking legal protection for their data. After presenting a brief history of legislation related to legal protection for non-copyrightable database contents, we discuss challenging issues to be considered in formulating a database protection regulation. These issues can be addressed from the perspective of economics. Results from a preliminary economic analysis are presented. The findings indicate that depending on investment required to create the initial database and the level of differentiation between the initial database and the reuser database, the choice of a social welfare-enhancing regulation can allow for no reuse, free reuse, or fee-paying reuse.
Complex-formation between cytochrome c and cytochrome c peroxidase. Kinetic studies.

1. The kinetics of ferrocytochrome c peroxidation by yeast peroxidase are described. Kinetic differences between the older and more recent preparations of the enzyme most probably arise from differences in intrinsic turnover rates. 2. The time-courses of cytochrome c peroxidation by the enzyme follow essentially first-order kinetics in phosphate buffer. Deviations from first-order kinetics occur in acetate buffer, and are due to a higher enzymic turnover rate in this medium accompanied by a greater tendency to autocatalytic peroxidation of cytochrome c. 3. The kinetics of ferrocytochrome c peroxidation by yeast peroxidase are interpreted in terms of a mechanism postulating formation of reversible complexes between the peroxidase and both reduced and oxidized cytochrome c. Formation of these complexes is inhibited at high ionic strengths and by polycations. 4. Oxidized cytochrome c can act as a competitive inhibitor of ferrocytochrome c peroxidation by peroxidase. The Ki for ferricytochrome c is approximately equal to the Km for ferrocytochrome c and thus probably accounts for the observed apparent first-order kinetics even at saturating concentrations of ferrocytochrome c. 5. The results are discussed in terms of a possible analogy between the oxidations of cytochrome c catalysed by yeast peroxidase and by mammalian cytochrome oxidase.
Abstract 2623: The role of polymorphisms in DNA repair genes and HPV 16 integration status in cervical dysplasia

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of death in women worldwide, and yet, little is understood about why some HPV-infected women develop cancerous lesions while others are able to clear the infection with no sequelae. Previous evidence has indicated that HPV integration status may be associated with cervical cancer development and progression. However, host genetic variation within genes that may play important roles in the viral integration process has been understudied. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between both HPV 16 viral integration status and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) DNA repair pathway genes on cervical dysplasia, comparing women with no dysplasia to those with low-grade or high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions. METHODS: A total of 765 women were selected from two large trials designed to evaluate optical technologies for cervical cancer, being conducted at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Lyndon B Johnson General Hospital, and the British Columbia Cancer Agency. Genotyping was conducted using the Illumina Golden Gate platform; individuals with call rates Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2623. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-2623
The Effect of Ecologically Relevant Information on Detergent Sales

Shares of market for brands of detergent were changed in the predicted direction by informing consumers of phosphate content. Results indicated a relative loss for brands high in phosphate and a ga...
Theory and Calculation of the Thermal Conductivity of Amorphous Si

Vibrations of amorphous Si are represented by three available 216 atom models and the forces of Stillinger and Weber. It is shown how the Kubo formula for thermal conductivity can be evaluated “exactly” assuming harmonic vibrations, making only finite system-size errors. The results are rather insensitive to the particular model for the coordinates of the atoms and support a “shunt resistor model” for the thermal conductivity which fits data for glasses very well.
Recovery of Pupillary Function in Cut Optic Nerves of Cats and Monkeys.

The question of structural and functional recovery of central nervous system tissue in mammals is still a moot point. There are many experiments dealing with regeneration of the optic nerve in fish but practically none in higher forms. Sugar and Gerard1 studied regeneration of the spinal cord in the rat and found that “true anatomical and physiological regeneration can occur in the rat spinal cord.”We studied the recovery of the pupillary light reflex after sectioning the optic nerves in 3 cats and 4 monkeys by the pupillographic method as developed by Lowenstein.2 The recordings were made in the dark with infra-red sensitive film. The film was then projected on a screen and pupillary diameter measurements made in tenths of mm. The time intervals were in tenths and seconds.From 16 to 17 months after the (right) optic and ciliary nerves were severed just behind the globe, direct (of the operated eye) and consensual (of the normal eye) constriction was found when a light of 60 watts at a distance of 1 meter...
Confirmation of Leucogentian Violet in Chicken Fat by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

A gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric (GC/MS) procedure for confirming the identity of leucogentian violet (LGV) in chicken fat was developed for regulatory application. The unused portion of the extract remaining from a determinative procedure was back-extracted into an organic phase, concentrated, and analyzed by GC/MS. Confirmation of the identity of LGV was based on matching the retention times and relative abundances of 6 ions in the extract to corresponding values obtained for the LGV standard. The procedure was validated by replicate analyses of negative control, fortified control, and residue-incurred chicken fat. The presence of LGV was confirmed by the GC/MS procedure in all samples found to contain LGV by prior liquid chromatographic analyses. There were no interferences in the control samples.
Witchdoctors Drive Sports Cars, Science Takes the Bus: An Anti-Superstition Alliance Across a Divided Germany

Superstition was a central category of negative self-definition in the communist world: the thing we are not. It was the capitalist West, communists argued, that gave succor to ‘superstitious’ ideas and practices and used them as tools of obscurantist oppression. Yet at the height of the Cold War, opponents of behavior deemed superstitious in both East and West Germany made common cause across the iron curtain. Their alliance was influenced as much by the legacies of Nazism and the Holocaust as by East/West rivalry.
ARMAX-Based Transfer Function Model Identification Using Wide-Area Measurement for Adaptive and Coordinated Damping Control

One of the main drawbacks of the existing oscillation damping controllers that are designed based on offline dynamic models is adaptivity to the power system operating condition. With the increasing availability of wide-area measurements and the rapid development of system identification techniques, it is possible to identify a measurement-based transfer function model online that can be used to tune the oscillation damping controller. Such a model could capture all dominant oscillation modes for adaptive and coordinated oscillation damping control. This paper describes a comprehensive approach to identify a low-order transfer function model of a power system using a multi-input multi-output (MIMO) autoregressive moving average exogenous (ARMAX) model. This methodology consists of five steps: 1) input selection; 2) output selection; 3) identification trigger; 4) model estimation; and 5) model validation. The proposed method is validated by using ambient data and ring-down data in the 16-machine 68-bus Northeast Power Coordinating Council system. The results demonstrate that the measurement-based model using MIMO ARMAX can capture all the dominant oscillation modes. Compared with the MIMO subspace state space model, the MIMO ARMAX model has equivalent accuracy but lower order and improved computational efficiency. The proposed model can be applied for adaptive and coordinated oscillation damping control.
Macronutrients Association with Change in Waist and Hip Circumference Over 9 Years

Objective: The calorie distribution of macronutrients affects individuals' health. Quantity and source of macronutrients may play major roles in waist circumference (WC) and hip circumference (HC). This study's purpose is to investigate the association between the quantity and source of macronutrients and the change in WC and HC over 9 years.Methods: Participants (N = 11,343) were from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Community Study. Those diagnosed with cancer or a decrease in WC or HC of 15 cm or more over 9 years were excluded. Change scores were created for anthropometrics between clinic visits over 9 years. Macronutrient intakes were assessed by a food frequency questionnaire at visit 1 and presented as a percentage of energy intake. Linear regressions were performed with quartiles of dietary components on change scores for WC and HC with controlling cofactors. Gender subgroup analysis was performed.Results: A larger increase in WC was associated with higher intakes of total carbohydrates, dietary fiber,...
Religious beings in fashionable bodies: the online identity construction of hijabi social media personalities:

A ‘hijabista’ – from the terms hijabi and fashionista – is a Muslim woman who dresses ‘stylishly’ while still adhering to the rules governing ‘modest’ apparel that coincides with Islamic dress code...
Cardiac Biomarkers Predict for Ability To Tolerate and Complete Therapy with Lenalidomide ± Dexamathosone in AL Amyloidosis.

Background: Primary systemic amyloidosis (AL) is an incurable plasma cell disorder. Lenalidomide, especially in conjunction with dexamethasone, has been shown to be highly active in patients with multiple myeloma. Methods: We studied the toxicity and efficacy of lenalidomide in patients with symptomatic AL. Patients received single agent lenalidomide. If progression by 3 months or no evidence of hematologic response after 3 cycles, dexamethasone was added. Originally, twenty-three patients (Cohort 1) were enrolled according to study design. Because of a significant early drop out rate and notable activity of the regimen, the trial was modified to include an additional 15 patients (Cohort 2). Baseline characteristics and adverse events are available for all enrolled patients, but at the time of this writing, response data are available for Cohort 1 patients due to short follow-up of Cohort 2, but will be updated by the time of the meeting. Results: Median age was 64 years, with 69% male. Twenty-three were previously treated. Organ involvement was cardiac (67%), renal (64%), hepatic (17%), nerve (17%). Thirty-three, twenty-two, and forty-four percent of patients were cardiac biomarker stage 1, 2, and, 3 respectively. Of the 37 patients, one was a cancel, and 6 have not yet made it through 3 months of protocol treatment and event monitoring. The respective median follow-ups for Cohorts 1 and 2 are 17 and 3.4 months. Of the remaining, 30 patients, within the first 3 cycles of therapy fifteen patients discontinued treatment: 7 early deaths and 8 adverse events or other causes. Three additional patients died 0.5 to 2 months after stopping treatment. The best predictor for early withdrawal and/or death was baseline NT-proBNP and cardiac biomarker staging system (cut-offs for serum troponin T Of the twenty 22 patients assessed for response ten patients responded to treatment for an overall response rate of 45%, including 23% organ responders. Among the patients with organ responses, there were four renal responses, two cardiac responses and two liver responses. All but one of the responders had dexamethasone added to their treatment program. The most common grade 3−4 adverse events at least possibly attributable to lenalidomide were neutropenia (38%), thrombocytopenia (21%), fatigue (15%), and rash (12%). Conclusions: Lenalidomide and dexamethasone has significant activity in patients with AL with an overall response rate of 45%. Baseline NT−proBNP may be an effective eligibility screening strategy for subsequent trials.
Let Freedom Reign: A Case Study Exploring the Extent to which H.E. Students Choose ‘New’ Forms of Pedagogy and Technology in a Student-led Project

This case study explores what happens when a cohort of second year undergraduates on a BA in Education Studies are given open access to create a learning object using any technology, and any pedagogical approach they choose. The focus of the project is on establishing the extent to which technology leads to transformative approaches to pedagogy. A Taoist perspective demonstrates the tension of a ‘yin’ approach to collaborative learning with yang reflecting teacher-led instruction. Back Channel learning highlights behind the scenes use of technology that suggests study practices have altered despite, not because of, institutional influence.