cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rapamycin inhibits the secretory phenotype of senescent cells by a Nrf2-independent mechanism.

Summary Senescent cells contribute to age-related pathology and loss of function, and their selective removal improves physiological function and extends longevity. Rapamycin, an inhibitor of mTOR, inhibits cell senescence in vitro and increases longevity in several species. Nrf2 levels have been shown to decrease with aging and silencing Nrf2 gene induces premature senescence. Therefore, we explored whether Nrf2 is involved in the mechanism by which rapamycin delays cell senescence. In wild-type (WT) mouse fibroblasts, rapamycin increased the levels of Nrf2, and this correlates with the activation of autophagy and a reduction in the induction of cell senescence, as measured by SA-β-galactosidase (β-gal) staining, senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), and p16 and p21 molecular markers. In Nrf2KO fibroblasts, however, rapamycin still decreased β-gal staining and the SASP, but rapamycin did not activate the autophagy pathway or decrease p16 and p21 levels. These observations were further confirmed in vivo using Nrf2KO mice, where rapamycin treatment led to a decrease in β-gal staining and pro-inflammatory cytokines in serum and fat tissue; however, p16 levels were not significantly decreased in fat tissue. Consistent with literature demonstrating that the Stat3 pathway is linked to the production of SASP, we found that rapamycin decreased activation of the Stat3 pathway in cells or tissue samples from both WT and Nrf2KO mice. Our data thus suggest that cell senescence is a complex process that involves at least two arms, and rapamycin uses Nrf2 to regulate cell cycle arrest, but not the production of SASP.
The Europeanization of Prehispanic tradition: Bernardino de Sahagún’s transformation of Aztec priests (tlamacazque) into classical wise men (tlamatinime)

The Nahua wise men known as tlamatinime have been treated as core figures of Prehispanic indigenous culture in Mexico. Most scholars, basing their opinions heavily on the works of Bernardino de Sah...
The Cost of Doing Business: Congressional Requests, Cost, and Allocation of Presidential Resources:

Executive-legislative interactions operate with cost-benefit trade-offs. Presidents possess several material options in granting Congressional requests to leverage Congressional support but must al...
Development and Validation of a Long-Term, Global, Terrestrial Sensible Heat Flux Dataset

AbstractSensible heat flux is a turbulent flux driving interactions between the Earth’s surface and the atmosphere, propelling local and regional climate. While turbulent fluxes are measured in-situ, global scales require estimates at larger spatial scales which can be made using remotely-sensed satellite data. This study uses a first-order approximation to calculate the un-constrained hourly, terrestrial, 0.5°-resolution sensible heat flux using a land surface temperature consistent with the High-Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder (HIRS) retrievals, six reanalysis-based air temperature products, and a dataset of Zilitinkevich empirical constant (Czil) values. This sensible heat flux dataset is constrained using the daily Bowen ratio and available energy to produce nine constrained, daily products. All resulting global, terrestrial averages are within the uncertainty range of +/- 6.3 W/m2 from the 38.8 W/m2 global annual average previously reported in the literature. The product constrained with the ne...
Technology Underlying Cryptocurrencies and Types of Cryptocurrencies

This chapter explores the advent of blockchain technology which is the basis for almost all of the many types and formats of virtual currencies. We review the types, uses, and the many ways in which blockchain is transforming the world of business as well as society. Among them are management tools, financial services, tourism, legal and accounting services, and the innumerable other uses due to blockchain’s impenetrability to hacking, its protection of privacy, and many other advantages afforded.
Spontaneous temperature-sensitive mutants of Pseudomonas cepacia : Isolation and utilization

Pseudomonas cepacia strain 224c was subjected to treatment with two alternating cycles of penicillin andd-cycloserine in order to isolate spontaneous temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants. Of 150 surviving clones tested, ten were ts mutants; these were partially characterized, and one, Pcp-5, was chosen for experiments to determine the in vivo growth rate of the wild-type (wt) and clearance from the peritoneal cavities of mice. This mutant ceases growth almost immediately after transfer from 29°C to the nonpermissive (36°C) temperature and has a reversion rate of 10−8. In vivo experiments were performed by inoculating mixtures of Pcp-5 and wt into the peritoneal cavities of ICR mice. The ts mutant was cleared quantitatively (90% by 4 h), and the mean generation time (MGT) of the wt in the murine peritoneal cavity was 94 min.
Excess mortality due to diabetes in Mississippi and the estimated extent of underreporting on death certificates.

Objective To develop alternative estimates of the excess mortality attributable to diabetes in Mississippi. Methods For each age/sex group, the total (all cause) mortality rate in the population was partitioned into the mortality rates for diabetics (M1) and non-diabetics (M0), using age- and sex-specific mortality rate ratios for diabetics from the Verona Diabetes Study. M1 and M0 were used, respectively, to calculate the predicted number of deaths and the 'usual' number of deaths (the number expected if diabetics had the same mortality rates as non-diabetics) in diabetics. The difference between predicted and 'usual' deaths is the number of excess deaths in diabetics--that is, deaths attributable specifically to diabetes. This was compared to the number of deaths in which diabetes was registered on death certificates as an underlying and/or contributory cause. Results In Mississippi in 1998-2000, 2,322 male and 3,436 female deaths in diabetics were calculated to be excess. These numbers are approximately three times the numbers of deaths in which diabetes was registered on the death certificate as the underlying cause of death. The excess numbers of deaths are much closer to the total numbers of deaths due to diabetes (that is, where diabetes is listed as either an underlying or a contributory cause of death). Conclusions When reporting diabetes mortality numbers, public health agencies should consider reporting total registered diabetes deaths, not just registered underlying deaths. Better education of providers and others to increase the awareness of the importance of listing diabetes on the death certificate would help to increase concern and make diabetes a priority for public health action. Persons with diabetes have higher mortality rates and excess premature mortality, and diabetes ranks consistently among the leading causes of death in Mississippi and the U.S. Yet it has long been known that mortality attributable to diabetes is underestimated. Cause-of-death statistics are unreliable due to underreporting of diabetes on death certificates, and estimates based on attributable risk calculations do not take into account competing risks for mortality. In view of the public health importance of diabetes, it would be useful to develop alternative estimates of the burden of excess mortality attributable to it. In this paper I estimate the excess mortality attributable to diabetes for the diabetic population of Mississippi using epidemiologic data on the prevalence of diabetes and the relative risk of mortality among persons with diabetes.
PL-Tree: An Efficient Indexing Method for High-Dimensional Data

The quest for processing data in high-dimensional space has resulted in a number of innovative indexing mechanisms. Choosing an appropriate indexing method for a given set of data requires careful consideration of data properties, data construction methods, and query types. We present a new indexing method to support efficient point queries, range queries, and k-nearest neighbor queries. Our method indexes objects dynamically using algebraic techniques, and it can substantially reduce the negative impacts of the "curse of dimensionality". In particular, our method partitions the data space recursively into hypercubes of certain capacity and labels each hypercube using the Cantor pairing function, so that all objects in the same hypercube have the same label. The bijective property and the computational efficiency of the Cantor pairing function make it possible to efficiently map between high-dimensional vectors and scalar labels. The partitioning and labeling process splits a subspace if the data items contained in it exceed its capacity. From the data structure point of view, our method constructs a tree where each parent node contains a number of labels and child pointers, and we call it a PL-tree . We compare our method with popular indexing algorithms including R*-tree, X-tree, quad-tree, and iDistance. Our numerical results show that the dynamic PL-tree indexing significantly outperforms the existing indexing mechanisms.
Natural Language Generation for Intelligent Tutoring Systems: a case study

To investigate whether Natural Language feedback improves learning, we developed two different feedback generation engines, that we systematically evaluated in a three way comparison that included the original system as well. We found that the system which intuitively produces the best language does engender the most learning. Specifically, it appears that presenting feedback at a more abstract level is responsible for the improvement.
Cytoplasmic Inheritance of Rutamycin Resistance in Mammalian Cells

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has proven the most informative model organism for the study of mitochondrial biogenesis and genetics. This is attributed to its ability to grow anaerobically and therefore without mitochondrial respiration. It was its ability to grow in the absence of mitochondrial protein synthesis that initially led Slonimski and colleagues (Coen et al., 1970) to seek mutants resistant to inhibitors of this process. In the last 10–15 years a rich library of information on mitochondrial genetics has been accumulated, so that the mitochondrial genome has probably become the best understood of eukaryotic genomes. The yeast mitochondrial genome is 70–76 kb in size and codes for the two ribosomal RNAs, 24 tRNAs, cytochrome b, three cytochrome oxidase peptides, and at least two ATPase peptides, as well as at least one ribosomal (Var) protein (Schatz and Mason, 1974; Borst and Grivell, 1978; Locker and Rabinowitz, 1979; Tzagoloff et al., 1979). The vast majority of the mitochondrial proteins are specified by the nuclear genome, are synthesized in the cytoplasm, in some cases as larger precursors, and are specifically imported into the mitochondria (Schatz, 1979). Several but not all of the yeast mitochondrial genomes contain intervening sequences (Bos et al., 1978; Haid et al., 1979; Bonitz et al., 1980). Indeed the complete nucleotide sequence of most of these genes has now been determined. A substantial portion of the yeast mitochondrial genome appears to consist of spacer DNA, whose role, if any, is unclear. Recombination between mitochondrial DNA molecules has been unequivocally demonstrated (Lewin et al., 1979).
Developing Core Capabilities for Local Health Departments to Engage in Land Use and Transportation Decision Making for Active Transportation.

Objective To develop a core set of capabilities and tasks for local health departments (LHDs) to engage in land use and transportation policy processes that promote active transportation. Design We conducted a 3-phase modified Delphi study from 2015 to 2017. Setting We recruited a multidisciplinary national expert panel for key informant interviews by telephone and completion of a 2-step online validation process. Participants The panel consisted of 58 individuals with expertise in local transportation and policy processes, as well as experience in cross-sector collaboration with public health. Participants represented the disciplines of land use planning, transportation/public works, public health, municipal administration, and active transportation advocacy at the state and local levels. Main outcome measures Key informant interviews elicited initial capabilities and tasks. An online survey solicited rankings of impact and feasibility for capabilities and ratings of importance for associated tasks. Feasibility rankings were used to categorize capabilities according to required resources. Results were presented via second online survey for final input. Results Ten capabilities were categorized according to required resources. Fewest resources were as follows: (1) collaborate with public officials; (2) serve on land use or transportation board; and (3) review plans, policies, and projects. Moderate resources were as follows: (4) outreach to the community; (5) educate policy makers; (6) participate in plan and policy development; and (7) participate in project development and design review. Most resources were as follows: (8) participate in data and assessment activities; (9) fund dedicated staffing; and (10) provide funding support. Conclusions These actionable capabilities can guide planning efforts for LHDs of all resource levels.
Drug-induced stress responses and addiction risk and relapse

A number of studies have assessed the effects of psychoactive drugs on stress biology, the neuroadaptations resulting from chronic drug use on stress biology, and their effects on addiction risk and relapse. This review mainly covers human research on the acute effects of different drugs of abuse (i.e., nicotine, cannabis, psychostimulants, alcohol, and opioids) on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the autonomic nervous system (ANS) responses. We review the literature on acute peripheral stress responses in naive or light recreational users and binge/heavy or chronic drug users. We also discuss evidence of alterations in tonic levels, or tolerance, in the latter relative to the former and associated changes in the phasic stress responses. We discuss the impact of the stress system tolerance in heavy users on their response to drug- and stress-related cue responses and craving as compared to control subjects. A summary is provided of the effects of glucocorticoid responses and their adaptations on brain striatal and prefrontal cortices involved in the regulation of drug seeking and relapse risk. Finally, we summarize important considerations, including individual difference factors such as gender, co-occurring drug use, early trauma and adversity and drug use history and variation in methodologies, that may further influence the effects of these drugs on stress biology.
Thermophoresis of gold nanorods from surface enhanced Raman scattering and real-time Rayleigh scattering in solution

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) from gold and silver nanoparticles suspended in solution enables a more quantitative level of analysis relative to SERS from aggregated nanoparticles and roughened metal substrates. This is due to the more predictable and consistent near field enhancement regions created by isolated nanoparticles, and to averaging over the many nanoparticles that diffuse through the excitation beam during the measurement. However, we find that localized heating of the solution by the focused excitation leads to thermophoresis which alters the nanorod concentration in the focal volume and therefore impacts quantitative analysis. Since many phenomena may impact the Raman signal, we record both the Rayleigh and Raman scattering from gold nanoparticle solutions. This allows us to distinguish molecular processes from depletion of nanoparticles in the excitation beam. We observe that the concentration of nanorods can deplete to less than 50% of its original value over 100 second timescale, which are consistent with a thermophoretic effect driving nanoparticles from the beam spot. We also find that the particle motion drives convection within the sample cell that further contributes to signal instabilities.
Effect of Early Limited Formula on Breastfeeding Duration in the First Year of Life: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance Breastfeeding through 6 and 12 months are 2 goals of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Healthy People 2020 initiative, but the 6-month goal is met for only 52% of US infants and the 12-month goal for 30% of US infants. Objective To determine whether structured, short-term formula supplementation for at-risk neonates affects the proportion still breastfeeding at 6 and 12 months. Design, Setting, and Participants This randomized clinical trial conducted at 2 US academic medical centers enrolled 164 exclusively breastfeeding mother-infant dyads of mothers who were not yet producing copious milk and infants who were 24 to 72 hours old with newborn weight loss at or above the 75th percentile for age. Participants were enrolled from January 2015 through September 2016. Interventions Early Limited Formula (ELF), a structured formula supplementation protocol (10 mL formula fed after each breastfeeding until mothers produced copious milk), compared with control dyads, who continued exclusive breastfeeding and received a safety teaching intervention. Main Outcomes and Measures The study’s primary outcome was any breastfeeding at 6 months. Secondary outcomes included age at breastfeeding cessation and any breastfeeding at 12 months. All outcomes were assessed by maternal phone survey. Results Eighty-two newborns were randomized to ELF and 82 to the control group. Mean (SD) maternal age was 31.4 (5.9) years, and 114 (69.5%) self-identified as non-Hispanic white; 20 (12.2%), Hispanic; 17 (10.4%), Asian; 5 (3.0%), non-Hispanic black; and 7 (4.3%), other. Compared with controls, mothers randomized to ELF were less likely to be married (n = 53 [64.6%] vs n = 66 [80.5%];P = .03) and had shorter mean (SD) intended duration of breastfeeding (8.6 [3.4] vs 9.9 [4.4] months;P = .049). Median (interquartile range) duration of breastfeeding in the cohort was 9 (6-12) months. At 6 months, 47 (65%) infants randomized to ELF were breastfeeding, compared with 60 (77%) of the control infants (absolute difference, –12%; 95% CI, –26% to 3%;P = .12). At 12 months, 21 of the 71 ELF infants available for analysis (29.6%) were breastfeeding, compared with 37 of the available 77 (48.1%) control infants (risk difference, –18%; 95% CI, –34% to –3%). Marital status and intended breastfeeding duration were both associated with breastfeeding duration; models adjusting for these found a hazard ratio for time-to-event of breastfeeding cessation through 12 months of 0.74 (95% CI, 0.48-1.14) for ELF infants compared with infants in the control group. Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort with high breastfeeding prevalence, ELF was not associated with any improvement in breastfeeding duration. Future research should examine the effect of ELF in populations at higher risk of early cessation. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier:NCT02313181
CFD-DEM Two-Way Coupled Numerical Simulation of Bridge Local Scour Behavior under Clear-Water Conditions:

Bridge local scour involves extremely complex interactions among the flow, the sediments, and the pier. Our understanding of the underlying mechanism, especially at the microscale, is far from comp...
Menstruating women and celibate gods: a discourse analysis of women’s entry into Sabarimala temple in Kerala, India

This paper is a review of the discourses generated in the media after the September 2018 verdict by the Supreme Court of India which ‘allowed’ women of all ages to enter the Sabarimala temple. I an...
Community organizations’ perspectives on the impact of a nursing student-led academic-community partnership program

Academic-community partnerships can have a direct positive impact on community partners and university students. Community Champions, a student-led program, promotes local outreach and engagement with a variety of community initiatives. The purpose of this study was to assess community partners’ perceptions of the Community Champions program to better support the goals of the community and to complement prior research evaluating the impact of the Community Champions program on university students. The study used a 27-item survey, consisting of 20 Likert-scale items and seven open-ended questions. Eighteen community partners were invited via email to complete the online survey. Quantitative responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative responses were reviewed for themes to generate future recommendations. Fourteen of the eighteen community organizations responded to the survey (78% response rate). Assessment of community partners’ perspectives were synthesized across four themes: motivations, benefits, challenges, and general satisfaction. Community partners indicated that sharing labor and resources to enhance community health goals were key factors in creating mutually beneficial partnerships. Building effective academic-community partnerships is essential to increasing student engagement, while also addressing priorities of community organizations. Academic student programs that engage the community can positively impact both the community partners and university students.
Band gap measurement by nano-beam STEM with small off-axis angle transmission electron energy loss spectroscopy (TEELS).

Abstract An energy band gap measurement method based on nano-beam STEM with small off-axis angle valence band transmission electron energy loss spectroscopy (TEELS) is reported. The effect of multiple scattering event is removed by self-convolution method to obtain a single scattering loss function and a dielectric function is calculated from the single scattering valence band energy loss function through Kramers-Kronig (K-K) analysis. Optical band gaps are extracted from energy loss spectra and the imaginary part of the dielectric functions for crystalline and amorphous SiOx, SiNx, and SiON through linear fitting of on-set regions yielding results that are independent of sample thickness. The TEELS band gap data are consistent with those obtained from reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy (REELS) measurements.
Clinically-implementable template plans for multidwell treatments using Leipzig-style applicators in 192Ir surface brachytherapy.

Abstract Purpose Multiple dwell positions (“multidwell”) within a Leipzig-style applicator can be used to increase dose uniformity and treatment area. Model-based dose calculation algorithms (MBDCAs) are necessary for accurate calculations involving these applicators because of their nonwater equivalency and complex geometry. The purpose of this work was to create template plans from MBDCA calculations and present their dwell times and positions for users of these applicators without access to MBDCAs. Methods and Materials The Leipzig-style solid applicator model within our treatment planning system was used to design template plans. Five template plans, normalized to 0.3 cm depth within a water phantom, were optimized using the treatment planning system MBDCA. Each template plan contained unique dwell positions, times, and active lengths (0.5–1.5 cm). A single-dwell distribution was optimized for comparison. The stem of this applicator stops within the shell; therefore, one template plan contained an intrafraction rotation to determine the largest dose distribution achievable. Effects of imperfect applicator rotation were quantified by inserting rotational offsets and comparing the V100%, D95%, and minimum dose coverage for planning target volumes created from 80%/90% isodose lines. Results The 90% (80%) isodose line dimensions at 0.3 cm depth for single-dwell increased from 0.94 × 0.97 (1.53 × 1.57) cm2 to 2.09 × 1.24 (2.75 × 1.88) cm2 in the largest template plan. Manually inserted angular offsets up to ±10° for the template plan requiring rotation preserved V100%, D95%, and minimum dose within 2.0%, 1.9%, and 8.0%, respectively. Conclusion A set of template plans was created to provide accessibility to the multidwell methodology, even for users without access to MBDCAs. Each template plan should be reviewed before clinical implementation.
#MeToo for Whom? Sexual Assault Disclosures Before and After #MeToo

In October 2017, #MeToo became a global hashtag for victims of sexual assault and harassment. In this study, we examine the extent of unwanted sexual experiences and disclosure, as well as perceptions of #MeToo, to assess differences among students who were represented and underrepresented in #MeToo coverage. Using a stratified random sample of students at a private university in the mid-Atlantic region of the U.S., we analyzed data from cross-sectional surveys conducted in March 2017 (n = 1722) and March 2019 (n = 1503). Results suggest that, relative to White students, in 2019 compared to 2017, there was an increase in disclosures among Black students and a decrease among Multiracial students. There was also an increase in undergraduate students who indicated ever experiencing unwanted sexual activity in 2019. Students who believed #MeToo affected how they think about past experiences were more likely to have indicated past experiences with unwanted sexual activity. Results also suggest that cisgender women, LGBQ, white, and multiracial students are at increased risk of unwanted sexual activity. However, Asian students, cisgender men, and non-LGBQ students may be less likely to disclose unwanted sexual activity. Implications for evaluating long-term impacts of #MeToo are discussed, along with suggestions for future research.
THE JET-DRIVEN OUTFLOW IN THE RADIO GALAXY SDSS J1517+3353: IMPLICATIONS FOR DOUBLE-PEAKED NARROW-LINE ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEUS

We report on the study of an intriguing active galaxy that was selected as a potential multiple supermassive black hole merger in the early-type host SDSS J151709.20+335324.7 (z = 0.135) from a complete search for double-peaked [O III] lines from the SDSS spectroscopic quasi-stellar object (QSO) database. Ground-based SDSS imaging reveals two blue structures on either side of the photometric center of the host galaxy, separated from each other by about 5.7 kpc. From a combination of SDSS fiber and Keck/HIRES long-slit spectroscopy, it is demonstrated that, in addition to these two features, a third distinct structure surrounds the nucleus of the host galaxy. All three structures exhibit highly ionized line emission with line ratios characteristic of Seyfert II active galactic nuclei. The analysis of spatially resolved emission-line profiles from the HIRES spectrum reveal three distinct kinematic subcomponents, one at rest and the other two moving at -350 km s{sup -1} and 500 km s{sup -1} with respect to the systemic velocity of the host galaxy. A comparison of imaging and spectral data confirm a strong association between the kinematic components and the spatial knots, which implies a highly disturbed and complex active region in this object. A comparative analysismore » of the broadband positions, colors, kinematics, and spectral properties of the knots in this system lead to two plausible explanations: (1) a multiple active galactic nucleus (AGN) produced due to a massive dry merger, or (2) a very powerful radio jet-driven outflow. Subsequent VLA radio imaging reveals a clear jet aligned with the emission-line gas, confirming the latter explanation. We use the broadband radio measurements to examine the impact of the jet on the interstellar medium of the host galaxy, and find that the energy in the radio lobes can heat a significant fraction of the gas to the virial temperature. Finally, we discuss tests that may help future surveys distinguish between jet-driven kinematics and true black-hole binaries. J1517+3353 is a remarkable laboratory for AGN feedback and warrants deeper follow-up study. In the Appendix, we present high-resolution radio imaging of a second AGN with double-peaked [O III] lines, SDSS J112939.78+605742.6, which shows a sub-arcsecond radio jet. If the double-peaked nature of the narrow lines in radio-loud AGNs are generally due to radio jet interactions, we suggest that extended radio structure should be expected in most of such systems.« less
Albumin Utilization in Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis.

Background:Albumin has been shown to decrease the incidence of mortality and acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP). Albumin administration in SBP is rec...
Descriptive Epidemiology of Adult Dairy Cow Mortalities on a Modern Colorado Dairy

Studies have reported that mortality rates for adult dairy cows have been increasing over the past couple of decades and are now between 4 and 12% at the state level. None of these studies looked closely at the causes or specific risk factors associated with death. The objectives of this study were 1) to determine the causes of death of adult dairy cattle on a modern dairy farm and 2) to identify a classification scheme that facilitates directed management changes to reduce mortality.
Interleaving Semantic Web Reasoning and Service Discovery to Enforce Context-Sensitive Security and Privacy Policies

Abstract : Enforcing rich policies in open environments will increasingly require the ability to dynamically identify external sources of information necessary to enforce different policies (e.g. finding an appropriate source of location information to enforce a location-sensitive access control policy). In this paper, we introduce a semantic web framework and a meta-control model for dynamically interleaving policy reasoning and external service discovery and access. Within this framework, external sources of information are wrapped as web services with rich semantic profiles allowing for the dynamic discovery and comparison of relevant sources of information. Each entity (e.g. user, sensor, application, or organization) relies on one or more Policy Enforcing Agents responsible for enforcing relevant privacy and security policies in response to incoming requests. These agents implement meta-control strategies to dynamically interleave semantic web reasoning and service discovery and access. The paper also presents preliminary empirical results. This research has been conducted in the context of myCampus, a pervasive computing environment aimed at enhancing everyday campus life at Carnegie Mellon University. The framework presented can be extended to a range of other applications requiring the enforcement of context-sensitive policies (e.g. virtual enterprises, coalition forces, homeland security, etc.).
Tense quantifiers, and contexts

This paper describes a compositional semantics for temporal expressions as part of the meaning representation language (MRL) of the JANUS system, a natural language understanding and generation system under joint development by BBN Labs and ISI. The analysis is based on a higher-order intensional logic described in detail in Hinrichs (1987a). Temporal expressions of English are translated into this language as quantifiers over times that bind temporal indices on predicates. The semantic evaluation of time-dependent predicates is defined relative to a set of discourse contexts, which, following Reichenbach (1947), include the parameters of speech time and reference time. The resulting context-dependent and multi-indexed interpretation of temporal expressions solves a set of well-known problems that arise when traditional systems of tense logic are applied to natural language semantics. Based on the principle of rule-to-rule translation, the compositional nature of the analysis provides a straightforward and well-defined interface between the parsing component and the semantic-interpretation component of JANUS.
Investment and income effects of land regularization : the case of Nicaragua

The authors use data from Nicaragua to examine the impact of the award of registered and nonregistered title on land values and on investments attached to land. They find that receipt of registered title increases land values by 30 percent and greatly increases the propensity to invest, bringing investment closer to the optimum. Consistent with descriptive statistics indicating great demand for regularization of land rights, especially from the poor, this finding suggests that titling can have a positive distributional effect. Of overriding importance, however, are the legal validity and official recognition of the titles issued.
The New Police Corps: A Response

number of beneficial effects. First, the proposal would provide a mechanism for the systematic growth of our police forces in order to respond to a nationwide crime problem.1 Second, the proposed funding scheme, though expensive, would be an intelligent and cost-efficient way of expanding our police forces at a time when budgetary constraints preclude more direct methods. Third, the introduction of Corps personnel into traditional police forces should have a positive impact on the educational level of the police "community" overall. Finally, the proposal would provide an additional outlet for those youth who seek temporary or permanent careers in the public sector. Although supportive of the general Police Corps concept, this commentator believes that a number of issues should be carefully considered by policymakers in devising a working program. These issues are raised with the hope that extensive discussion will lead to the development of a more effective plan rather than provide opportunities for dilatory tactics. 1. Policymakers must consider the relevance of empirical studies which question the assumption that hiring more police will necessarily reduce crime.2 It has been suggested that hiring more police will in
I/sup 3/: a Petri-net based specification method for architectural components

As a research based on technology integration, I/sup 3/ (pronounced "I cube") is an executable architectural component description language based on colored Petri-net semantics with the style and understandability of SADT. I/sup 3/ describes architectural components hierarchically in three levels. First, interface net declares services to be provided to other components. Next, interconnection net specifies the services to be acquired from other components. Finally, interoperation net describes the operational behavior of a component. Through its unique interconnection mechanism, I/sup 3/ facilitates the software architect in building an architectural model and formalizing the architectural topology and behavior of each software component as well as the entire system. Implementation of I/sup 3/ can be made CORBA-compliant.
How to protect human pancreatic enzyme activities in frozen duodenal juice

Abstract We determined whether activity of pancreatic enzymes could be maintained in frozen duodenal juice by diluting the specimens or by adding nutrients or a chymotrypsin inhibitor. Human duodenal juice was obtained during cholecystokinin octapeptide IV administration. Trypsin, chymotrypsin, lipolytic, lipase, and colipase activities were measured in fresh undiluted or diluted (1:4 and 1:16 with saline and T-tube bile) duodenal juice as well as after adding CaCl 2 , casein, triolein, or a chymotrypsin inhibitor. Subsequently, the samples were frozen at −20 °C, and enzyme activities were measured at 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, 28, and 56 days. Activities of chymotrypsin and colipase did not change during freezer storage. Trypsin survival was variable in juice from different subjects. By contrast, in duodenal juice to which no nutrient or only CaCl 2 had been added, 90%, 65%, and 40% ( P = 0.05 vs. undiluted) of lipolytic activity was lost by 56 days in undiluted and 1:4 or 1:16 diluted duodenal juice samples, respectively. The loss of lipolytic activity was prevented ( P r = 0.97) but only weakly associated with loss of colipase activity ( r = 0.49). In summary, chymotrypsin and colipase are well preserved in frozen duodenal juice and can be used to accurately assess concentrations of pancreatic enzymes after thawing frozen duodenal samples. If it is necessary to measure lipolytic activity after freezing samples, lipase can be maintained by adding casein or a chymotrypsin inhibitor to juice before freezing.
Computational design of receptor and sensor proteins with novel functions

The formation of complexes between proteins and ligands is fundamental to biological processes at the molecular level. Manipulation of molecular recognition between ligands and proteins is therefore important for basic biological studies1 and has many biotechnological applications, including the construction of enzymes2,3,4, biosensors5,6, genetic circuits7, signal transduction pathways8 and chiral separations9. The systematic manipulation of binding sites remains a major challenge. Computational design offers enormous generality for engineering protein structure and function10. Here we present a structure-based computational method that can drastically redesign protein ligand-binding specificities. This method was used to construct soluble receptors that bind trinitrotoluene, l-lactate or serotonin with high selectivity and affinity. These engineered receptors can function as biosensors for their new ligands; we also incorporated them into synthetic bacterial signal transduction pathways, regulating gene expression in response to extracellular trinitrotoluene or l-lactate. The use of various ligands and proteins shows that a high degree of control over biomolecular recognition has been established computationally. The biological and biosensing activities of the designed receptors illustrate potential applications of computational design.
A new a priori ordering method for sparse systems of equations based on an ordered output set

In the context of solution to the sparse systems of equations arising in computer-aided analysis and design of electrical networks using the Gaussian elimination (GE) process it is well-known that an a priori reordering for equations and unknowns is almost mandatory. In this paper we present a new approach for a priori ordering for the equations and unknowns using the theory of output sets. Our approach yields an ordered output set as the pivot sequence for an associated GE process. Our algorithm is simple and is more general than the existing ones and leads to an s-minimal GE process. An example is presented for illustrating the algorithm and the computational complexity of the new method has been analysed. Additional work needed in the area is indicated.
Collection of magnetic particles from synovial fluid using Nd-Fe-B micromagnets

In this paper, the collection of magnetic particles from synovial fluid using Nd-Fe-B micromagnets is quantitatively studied to determine the influence of fluid viscosity and magnet geometry on the velocity distribution and collection rate. Magnetic capture is validated in highly viscous fluids, such as bovine synovial fluid (η∼ 1 Pa·s). A first-order theoretical model has been developed to predict the particle motion, as well as a numerical multiphysics model. Both models exhibit good agreement with in vitro experimental magnetic collection results. The velocity of the magnetic particles is shown to be inversely proportional to fluid viscosity, and two magnetic structures are compared in term of collection efficiency: a cylindrical Nd-Fe-B permanent magnet and a laser-machined conical Nd-Fe-B permanent magnet.
Temperature dependence of the interference function of liquid cadmium

Abstract The temperature dependence of the interference function (or structure factor) I(K) of liquid cadmium has been measured between 350° and 650°C. The electrical resistivity and the thermo-electric power were calculated and a comparison made with experimental data.
The Sialidases of Clostridium perfringens Type D Strain CN3718 Differ in Their Properties and Sensitivities to Inhibitors

Clostridium perfringens causes histotoxic infections and diseases originating in animal or human intestines. A prolific toxin producer, this bacterium also produces numerous enzymes, including sialidases, that may facilitate infection. C. perfringens type D strain CN3718 carries genes encoding three sialidases, including two large secreted sialidases (named NanI and NanJ) and one small sialidase (named NanH) that has an intracellular location in log-phase cultures but is present in supernatants of death phase cultures. Using isogenic mutants of CN3718 that are capable of expressing only NanJ, NanI, or NanH, the current study characterized the properties and activities of each sialidase. The optimal temperature determined for NanJ or NanH enzymatic activity was 37°C or 43°C, respectively, while NanI activity increased until temperature reached 48°C. NanI activity was also the most resistant against higher temperatures. All three sialidases showed optimal activities at pH 5.5. Compared to NanJ or NanH, NanI contributed most to the sialidase activity in CN3718 culture supernatants, regardless of the substrate sialic acid linkage; NanI also released the most sialic acid from Caco-2 cells. Only NanI activity was enhanced by trypsin pretreatment and then only for substrates with an α-2,3- or α-2,6-sialic acid linkage. NanJ and NanI activities were more sensitive than NanH activity to two sialidase inhibitors (N-acetyl-2,3-dehydro-2-deoxyneuraminic acid and siastatin B). The activities of the three sialidases were affected differently by several metal ions. These results indicated that each C. perfringens sialidase has distinct properties, which may allow these enzymes to play different roles depending upon environmental conditions.
Soybean Effects on Soil Nitrogen Availability in Crop Rotations

Soybean [Glycine mar (L.) Merr.] production contributes significantly to the N supply for a following corn (Zeu mays L.) crop, even though soybean N budget studies indicate that N removed in grain may substantially exceed biological fixation. Information on the N status of cereal crops during the 2nd yr following soybean may help resolve this issue. This study reports on N effects of soybean on yield response of succeeding cereal crops and soil N availability based on data from a LS-yr crop rotation experiment (1977–1991) on a Rozetta silt loam soil (Typic Hapludalfs) at Lancaster, WI. We evaluated the yields of corn and oat (Avena sativa L.) succeeding soybean and alfalfa (Medicago sativu L.) in corn-soybean-corn-oat-alfalfa (CSCOM) and corn-cornoat-alfalfa-alfalfa (CCOMM) crop rotations. Fertilizer N (0, 56, ll2, and 224 kg ha⁻¹) was applied only to corn, but NO₃-N carryover usually affected oat yields as well. The legume fertilizer N replacement values based on check plot yields and the response function of 3rd-yr corn in a corn-corn-corn-alfalfa-alfalfa sequence, were equivalent to 153 and 36 kg N ha⁻¹ for the lst and 2nd yr after alfalfa, respectively, and 75 kg N ha⁻¹ for the Ist yr after soybean. In the 2nd yr after soybean (CSCOM), oat yields were significantly lower than following corn in the CCOMM rotation. Preplant soil NO₃ and oat N uptake (l987–l991) indicated that oat yield differences were due to lower soil N availability in the CSCOM rotation. The average soybean effect on soil N availability in the 2nd yr was equal to a soil N debit of 36 kg N ha⁻¹. This indicates that part of the N contribution of soybean to bt-yr corn is realized at the expense of subsequent reductions in soil N availability 537064299, Research supported by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison through Project 3449
Urticaria pigmentosa associated with bone lesions; a survey and report of eight cases.

The primary purpose of this paper is to mention the presence and possible significance of bone lesions in patients with urticaria pigmentosa. Recently, Sagher et al (1) described a generalized cystic osteoporosis of the ribs with a thickening of the bony trabeculae in a patient with urticaria pigmentosa. After six months of investigation, no other cause for the described punched out bone lesions could be found. Accordingly, it was suggested that the bone changes could plausibly be due to mast cell infiltrations.
A paradigm shift to prevent HIV drug resistance.

Standard care for HIV antiretroviral treatment in resource-rich regions of the world includes HIV RNA monitoring every three to four months for viral rebound (i.e., an increase in HIV RNA to detectable levels following suppression). Viral rebound confirmed by two HIV RNA determinations prompts adherence counseling, and a change in regimen based on prior antiretroviral treatment and antiretroviral resistance testing. Because of the prohibitive cost of viral RNA monitoring, standard care for resource-limited regions of the world includes clinical monitoring, together with CD4 monitoring if it is available. A new WHO (World Health Organization) Stage IV opportunistic infection, a 50% decline from peak CD4 level, failure to increase CD4 levels to 50–100 cells/mm3 after one year, or a fall in CD4 cell count to pretreatment levels after one year prompts a change to second-line therapy if available [1]. The major limitation of CD4 and clinical monitoring alone is that clinical deterioration and CD4 decline often occur well after virologic failure and the accumulation of resistance mutations that may compromise the efficacy of limited second-line treatment options [16]. Conversely, CD4 and clinical decline can occur in the absence of virologic failure, which can prompt a premature switch to second-line therapy. This limitation has prompted a search for low-cost approaches to HIV RNA monitoring, including new surrogates of HIV RNA [2]. This search, however, has yet to yield a reliable, inexpensive, and scalable approach for resource-limited regions of the world. Linked Research Article This Perspective discusses the following new study published in PLoS Medicine: Bisson GP, Gross R, Bellamy S, Chittams J, Hislop M, et al. (2008) Pharmacy refill adherence compared with CD4 count changes for monitoring HIV-infected adults on antiretroviral therapy. PLoS Med 5(5): e109. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0050109 Analyzing pharmacy and laboratory records from 1,982 patients beginning HIV therapy in southern Africa, Gregory Bisson and colleagues find medication adherence superior to CD4 count changes in identifying treatment failure.
Randomized controlled trial of mindfulness meditation for generalized anxiety disorder: effects on anxiety and stress reactivity.

Objective Mindfulness meditation has met increasing interest as a therapeutic strategy for anxiety disorders, but prior studies have been limited by methodological concerns, including a lack of an active comparison group. This is the first randomized, controlled trial comparing the manualized Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program with an active control for Generalized Anxiety Disorder, a disorder characterized by chronic worry and physiological hyperarousal symptoms.
660: Uterine rupture in VBAC: Prediction with classification & regression tree analysis

TREE ANALYSIS DAVID STAMILIO, ALISON CAHILL, ANTHONY ODIBO, WILLIAM SHANNON, JEFFREY PEIPERT, GEORGE MACONES, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri OBJECTIVE: To predict uterine rupture in vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) patients using classification & regression tree (CART) analysis. Prior attempts to predict uterine rupture in VBAC using classic logistic regression modelling have been unsuccessful. The CART method can assess more complex risk factor relationships and provide more accurate & practical prediction rules by progressively splitting patients into intuitive risk factor subgroups. STUDY DESIGN: A multi-center retrospective cohort study of pregnant women with at least one prior cesarean between 1995 & 2000. This secondary analysis includes only patients that attempted VBAC. The primary outcome is symptomatic uterine rupture. We used univariate & multivariable methods to identify over 20 candidate risk factors and CART analysis to develop a multivariable prediction model for uterine rupture. RESULTS: Of 13,705 VBAC attempts, 128 cases (0.9%) of uterine rupture occurred. CART analysis identified 5 dominant risk factors applied in 5 specific pathways (or scenarios) to predict uterine rupture (see table). Only scenario 1 had a uterine rupture rate appreciably higher than baseline risk.