cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Patient-specific dose estimation for pediatric chest CT.

Current methods for organ and effective dose estimations in pediatric CT are largely patient generic. Physical phantoms and computer models have only been developed for standard/limited patient sizes at discrete ages (e.g., 0, 1, 5, 10, 15 years old) and do not reflect the variability of patient anatomy and body habitus within the same size/age group. In this investigation, full-body computer models of seven pediatric patients in the same size/protocol group (weight: 11.9-18.2 kg) were created based on the patients' actual multi-detector array CT (MDCT) data. Organs and structures in the scan coverage were individually segmented. Other organs and structures were created by morphing existing adult models (developed from visible human data) to match the framework defined by the segmented organs, referencing the organ volume and anthropometry data in ICRP Publication 89. Organ and effective dose of these patients from a chest MDCT scan protocol (64 slice LightSpeed VCT scanner, 120 kVp, 70 or 75 mA, 0.4 s gantry rotation period, pitch of 1.375, 20 mm beam collimation, and small body scan field-of-view) was calculated using a Monte Carlo program previously developed and validated to simulate radiation transport in the same CT system. The seven patients had normalized effective dosemore » of 3.7-5.3 mSv/100 mAs (coefficient of variation: 10.8%). Normalized lung dose and heart dose were 10.4-12.6 mGy/100 mAs and 11.2-13.3 mGy/100 mAs, respectively. Organ dose variations across the patients were generally small for large organs in the scan coverage (<7%), but large for small organs in the scan coverage (9%-18%) and for partially or indirectly exposed organs (11%-77%). Normalized effective dose correlated weakly with body weight (correlation coefficient: r=-0.80). Normalized lung dose and heart dose correlated strongly with mid-chest equivalent diameter (lung: r=-0.99, heart: r=-0.93); these strong correlation relationships can be used to estimate patient-specific organ dose for any other patient in the same size/protocol group who undergoes the chest scan. In summary, this work reported the first assessment of dose variations across pediatric CT patients in the same size/protocol group due to the variability of patient anatomy and body habitus and provided a previously unavailable method for patient-specific organ dose estimation, which will help in assessing patient risk and optimizing dose reduction strategies, including the development of scan protocols.« less
Females in the Juvenile Justice System: Influences on Delinquency and Recidivism

The role of mental health history and family dysfunction or disruption on female juvenile delinquency was examined. Using large sample archival data from a state juvenile justice agency, we examined the behavioral and demographic predictors of repeat offending for a sample of approximately 34,000 females who had been referred for criminal offenses. Then, after merging these data with those from multiple state agencies, we compared the family and mental health histories of the delinquent females with those of females from a matched control group of the same number, constructed from the records of the state department of education. Drug use, family delinquency, severity of first offenses, and age of first offending were predictors of repeat offending for the females in the delinquent sample. Compared with non-delinquent females, delinquent females were more likely to be eligible for free or reduced lunch, and were more likely to have been in foster care or child protective services. The strongest predictor of membership in the delinquent sample was a DSM-IV diagnosis of a mental health disorder related to aggression or impulse control. All variables associated with delinquency remained significant when other predictors were statistically controlled. Implications for prevention of female juvenile delinquency were addressed.
Mantle-derived Archaean monozodiorites and trachyandesites

Geochemical data on monzodiorites and trachyandesites from the Rainy Lake area in Ontario which are strongly enriched in large-ion lithophile elements (LILE) are presented. It is concluded that they are derived by direct melting of the mantle at depths of less than 50 km in either anhydrous or hydrous conditions. Their rare earth element abundances and initial Nd-143/Nd-144 ratios suggest that their mantle sources were enriched in LILE shortly before melting. The monzodiorites-trachyandesites and their granodioritic derivatives may comprise up to 20 percent of the exposed igneous rocks in the Rainy Lake region and Vermilion District. If these rocks are as abundant in other Archaean terranes, a significant part of the early continental crust could have formed by direct melting of LILE-enriched mantle.
Experimental U.S. Census Bureau Race and Hispanic Origin Survey Questions: Reactions From Spanish Speakers

People of Hispanic origin, including monolingual Spanish speakers, have experienced difficulty identifying with a race category on U.S. demographic surveys. As part of a larger research effort by t...
Peri-ictal QTc changes are not associated with hypoxemia

Summary It has previously been suggested that abnormalities in cardiac repolarization (QTc lengthening and shortening) are more likely to accompany seizures with hypoxemia and may be involved in sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Accordingly, we evaluated for associations between peri-ictal QTc changes and hypoxemia. We performed a reanalysis of cardiac and respiratory data gathered prospectively in our epilepsy monitoring units. The Bazett, Fridericia, Framingham, and Hodges heart rate correction formulas were utilized to calculate QTc in the pre-ictal, ictal, and post-ictal periods. Hypoxemia (defined as a drop in oxygen saturation below 90% for at least four contiguous seconds) was also examined during identical periods. Fifty-eight seizures from 29 patients were analyzed. Peri-ictal hypoxemia was not rare, occurring in 18/58 (31%) seizures. QTc lengthening was more commonly observed than shortening, with 11/58 (19%) seizures demonstrating peri-ictal QTc values ≥ 500 using the Bazett formula. There was no significant difference between the minimum and maximum QTc values in seizures with and without peri-ictal hypoxemia, regardless of the correction formula utilized. All examined parameters of QTc lengthening and shortening were not associated with peri-ictal hypoxemia. This suggests that factors other than hypoxia result in peri-ictal cardiac repolarization abnormalities.
Improving Analog and RF Device Yield through Performance Calibration

As the semiconductor industry continues scaling devices toward smaller process nodes, maintaining acceptable yields despite process variations has become increasingly challenging. Analog and RF circuits are particularly sensitive to process variations. This article discusses the challenges of cost-effective postfabrication performance calibration in such analog and RF devices and introduces a single-test, single-tuning-step method to constrain cost and complexity while reaping the benefits of a tunable design.
HIV Enters Cells via Endocytosis and Dynamin-Dependent Fusion with Endosomes

Enveloped viruses that rely on a low pH-dependent step for entry initiate infection by fusing with acidic endosomes, whereas the entry sites for pH-independent viruses, such as HIV-1, have not been defined. These viruses have long been assumed to fuse directly with the plasma membrane. Here we used population-based measurements of the viral content delivery into the cytosol and time-resolved imaging of single viruses to demonstrate that complete HIV-1 fusion occurred in endosomes. In contrast, viral fusion with the plasma membrane did not progress beyond the lipid mixing step. HIV-1 underwent receptor-mediated internalization long before endosomal fusion, thus minimizing the surface exposure of conserved viral epitopes during fusion and reducing the efficacy of inhibitors targeting these epitopes. We also show that, strikingly, endosomal fusion is sensitive to a dynamin inhibitor, dynasore. These findings imply that HIV-1 infects cells via endocytosis and envelope glycoprotein- and dynamin-dependent fusion with intracellular compartments.
Selective inhibition by a synthetic hirudin peptide of fibrin- dependent thrombosis in baboons

To determine the importance of the thrombin substrate recognition exosite for fibrinogen binding in the formation of both arterial and venous thrombi, we evaluated the antithrombotic effects of the tyrosine-sulfated dodecapeptide from residues 53-64 of hirudin (H peptide) in a nonhuman primate model. This peptide was studied because it inhibits thrombin cleavages of fibrinogen by simple competition without blocking enzyme catalytic-site function. When an exteriorized arteriovenous access shunt model was used in baboons (Papio anubis), thrombus formation was induced by placing a thrombogenic device made of (i) a segment of tubing coated covalently with type I collagen, which generated platelet-rich thrombi under arterial flow conditions, and (ii) two subsequent annular regions of flow expansion that produced fibrin-rich thrombi typically associated with venous valves and veins. Thrombus formation was quantified by measurements of 111In-labeled platelet and 125I-labeled fibrinogen deposition in both arterial-flow and venous-flow portions of the device. Continuous infusion of H peptide (0.5, 15, and 75 mg/kg) proximal to the device for 40 min interrupted, in a dose-response fashion, formation of fibrin-rich thrombus in the regions of disturbed flow and generation of fibrinopeptide A. In contrast, H peptide did not inhibit the capacity of platelets to deposit on the collagen surface (P greater than 0.2 at all doses) or to form hemostatic plugs (as assessed by measurements of bleeding time; P greater than 0.1 at all doses). These findings suggest that, by competitive inhibition of fibrinogen binding to thrombin, fibrin-rich venous-type thrombus formation may be selectively prevented. This strategy may be therapeutically attractive for preserving normal platelet function when conventional anticoagulant therapy is contraindicated.
Flux of palmitate through the peroxisomal and mitochondrial β-oxidation systems in isolated rat hepatocytes

Peroxisomes catalyze the β-oxidation of fatty acids but their quantitative role in fatty acid catabolism in the intact hepatocyte is not yet clarified. In the present study peroxisomal β-oxidation of (1-14C]palmitate was quantitated in hepatocytes without the use of metabolic inhibitors. It was assumed that acetyl-CoA formed by peroxisomal β-oxidation enters the cytosolic pool of acetyl-CoA, whereas that from mitochondrial β-oxidation enters the mitochondrial pool. The labeling of the two acetyl-CoA pools was assessed by measuring the incorporation of radioactivity into cholesterol (from cytosolic acetyl-CoA) and CO2 (from mitochondrial acetyl-CoA). The system was calibrated with [1-14C]acetate and [1-14C]butyrate because butyrate undergoes β-oxidation only in mitochondria, whereas acetate forms acetyl-CoA primarily in the cytosol. The labeling ratio, ([14C]cholesterol × 100)/([14C]cholesterol + [14C]CO2), reflects the site of formation of acetyl-CoA. This ratio was 0.51 for butyrate, 1.39 for acetate and 0.79 for palmitate. The difference between palmitate and butyrate was statistically significant (P < 0.02). This indicates that not all of the palmitate was oxidized in mitochondria. By linear interpolation it was estimated that approximately 32% of the [1-14C]palmitate oxidation began in peroxisomes.
Biological warfare in eighteenth-century North America: beyond Jeffery Amherst.

Did he or didn't he? For generations, the Amherst-smallpox blanket episode has elicited animated debate both within and beyond academic circles. In books, journals, and now in internet discussion groups, historians, folklorists, and lay people have argued the nuances of the case. Some have contended that at Gen. Jeffery Amherst's orders, British subordinates at Fort Pitt in 1763 did indeed infect local Indians with items taken from a nearby smallpox hospital. Others have argued that they did not, that the British lacked the knowledge, the ability, or the desire to do so. Still others have claimed that regardless of intent, the timing is wrong, that the Indians around Fort Pitt came down with smallpox well before the damning exchange of letters between Jeffery Amherst and his subordinate Henry Bouquet, and that in fact they were sick even before they received "two Blankets and an Handkerchief" out of the post's smallpox hospital. Finally, and perhaps predictably, a recent article has focused on the incident's genesis as a highly mutable cross-cultural legend that reflects deep anxieties about encounters with the "other."'
Unreliable electrocardiographic assessment of hemodynamic changes after correction of ventricular septal defect with pulmonary hypertension

Abstract Electrocardiographic findings were correlated with hemodynamic changes after surgery in 21 patients with ventricular septal defect and pulmonary hypertension. The results of the study show a lack of reliability of the electrocardiogram in assessing hemodynamic changes after surgical correction of hypertensive ventricular septal defects. Although the postoperative electrocardiogram may show regression of right ventricular hypertrophy, mean pulmonary arterial pressure may be normal or elevated. Conversely, in spite of increasing right ventricular hypertrophy shown by electrocardiogram, pulmonary arterial pressure decreased in all patients and total pulmonary resistance decreased in the majority. The persistence of right ventricular hypertrophy as indicated by electrocardiogram, in the presence of normal or near normal hemodynamic data in the postoperative period, may reflect hyperreactivity of the pulmonary vascular bed to the stresses of exercise or the hypoxia of sleep, or both.
A GENETIC ALGORITHM APPROACH FOR MACHINE CELL FORMATION

Cellular Manufacturing Systems (CMS) have been the key to the success of manufacturing industries in the recent past. Machine cell design, which involves formation of machine cells and component groups, represents the most important step in the design of CMS. Even though a tremendous amount of research has been conducted in this area, the gap between theoretical research and practice is widening primarily because of the lack of consideration of key production data such as production volumes, operations sequences, machine sequence inside the cells, processing times, setup times, and machine costs during the cell design stage. This paper discuses the development of a Genetic Algorithm Model (GAM), designed to assist in the formation of manufacturing cells. The GAM aims at the minimization of the material handling and the penalty costs while considering the effects of inter-cell, intra-cell, backtracking, and machine skipping movements.
A new chromogenic substrate for angiotensin-converting enzyme

The compound para-nitrobenzyloxycarbonylglycyl-(S-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa- 1,3-diazole)-L-cysteinylglycine [NO2ZGly(S-NBD)CysGly] with an absorption maximum at 423 nm is readily hydrolyzed by angiotensin-converting enzyme (EC 3.4.15.1. peptidlyldipeptide hydrolase) to yield the S-benzfurazan derivative of cysteinylglycine. An internal S-->N shift occurs immediately to yield the N-benzfurazan derivative which in turn reacts with the sulfhydryl reagent 4,4'-dithiodipyridine to produce the mixed disulfide with an intense absorption at 461 nm. The maximum difference in molar absorptivity of 13,000 M-1 cm-1 occurs at 470 nm.
Genuinely collective emotions

It is received wisdom in philosophy and the cognitive sciences that individuals can be in emotional states but groups cannot. But why should we accept this view? In this paper, I argue that there is substantial philosophical and empirical support for the existence of collective emotions. Thus, while there is good reason to be skeptical about many ascriptions of collective emotion, I argue that some groups exhibit the computational complexity and informational integration required for being in genuinely emotional states.
Understanding the Role of Cross-Sector Collaborations on the Success of Florida’s Drug Courts:

Many have lauded the success of the Florida Adult Drug Court Model in terms of recidivism, sobriety, and court processes. Yet, none seems to focus on the cross-sector collaborations. Most studies o...
Estimates of 4.7 μm surface emissivity and their impact on the retrieval of tropospheric carbon monoxide by Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere (MOPITT)

[1] Carbon monoxide (CO) is an important tropospheric trace species. The Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere (MOPITT) instrument uses the 4.7 μm CO band to measure the global CO profile and total column amount in the troposphere from space. In the operational MOPITT CO retrieval algorithm, surface skin temperature (Ts) and emissivity (E) are retrieved simultaneously with the CO profile. However, because both Ts and E are retrieved from the same piece of information from the MOPITT measurements, the accuracy of both variables may be limited, which leads to an increase of uncertainty in the CO retrievals. An accurate specification of the surface skin temperature is required to determine surface emissivity and vice versa. In this study, a method is developed which uses Ts from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and MOPITT radiances to derive an improved 4.7 μm surface emissivity estimate (E) for use in retrievals by the MOPITT instrument. Monthly mean 4.7 μm surface emissivity maps for 1 year are generated and used as the a priori E in the MOPITT Ts and CO retrieval algorithm. We show that the geographical distribution of the 4.7 μm emissivity is very consistent with MODIS normalized difference vegetation index distribution, which is strongly tied to the surface emissivity. This a priori E has a much smaller standard deviation than values currently used in the MOPITT retrieval. As a result, more radiance information tends to be used in the MOPITT Ts and CO retrievals. By using the improved a priori E over the land, the information content of MOPITT radiances increases 15% at night and 5% during the day relative to the current version MOPITT data products. The difference between day and night information content (or diurnal difference) decreases from 0.3 (current version) to 0.21, showing that nighttime retrievals are improved. Over the global ocean the diurnal difference of the MOPITT information content decreases from 0.15 (current version) to 0.06. The differences between the new profile retrievals and those of current profile retrievals are very consistent with their corresponding diurnal and geographical information content distributions. Over the global ocean the new MOPITT CO profile is lower by 3–11% during the night in the lower troposphere. Over the global land the new CO profile is higher by 3.2% in the lower troposphere during the night. The differences between the new profile retrieval and those of current retrieval are small during the day.
Long-acting Reversible Contraception for Adolescents and Young Adults: Patient and Provider Perspectives

Abstract Study Objective To describe and explore provider- and patient-level perspectives regarding long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) for teens and young adults (ages 16-24). Methods Data collection occurred between June and December 2011. We first conducted telephone interviews with administrative directors at 20 publicly funded facilities that provide family planning services. At 6 of these sites, we conducted a total of 6 focus group discussions (FGDs) with facility staff and 48 in-depth interviews (IDIs) with facility clients ages 16-24. Results Staff in the FGDs did not generally equate being a teen with ineligibility for IUDs. In contrast to staff, one-quarter of the young women did perceive young age as rendering them ineligible. Clients and staff agreed that the “forgettable” nature of the methods and their duration were some of LARC's most significant advantages. They also agreed that fear of pain associated with both insertion and removal and negative side effects were disadvantages. Some aspects of IUDs and implants were perceived as advantages by some clients but disadvantages by others. Common challenges to providing LARC-specific services to younger patients included extra time required to counsel young patients about LARC methods, outdated clinic policies requiring multiple visits to obtain IUDs, and a perceived higher removal rate among young women. The most commonly cited strategy for addressing many of these challenges was securing supplementary funding to support the provision of these services to young patients. Conclusion Incorporating young women's perspectives on LARC methods into publicly funded family planning facilities' efforts to provide these methods to a younger population may increase their use among young women.
Linkage group IV of fish of the genus Xiphophorus (Poeciliidae): assignment of loci coding for pyruvate kinase-1, glucosephosphate isomerase-1, and isocitrate dehydrogenase-1.

Electrophoretic variation ascribable to three enzyme loci, coding for a pyruvate kinase (PK1), a glucose phosphate isomerase (GPI1), and an isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH1), was observed in three species of fish of the genus Xiphophorus. Electrophoretic patterns in F1 hybrid heterozygotes confirmed the dimeric structures of GPI and IDH, and indicated a multimeric structure for pyruvate kinase. Variant alleles at the three loci exhibited normal Mendelian segregation in backcross hybrids. Linkage analyses indicate a gene order and estimated recombination of PK1—10%—GPI1—41%—IDH1. No significant interference or sex- or population-specific recombination difference was detected. This group (designated linkage group IV) was shown to assort independently from the nine loci comprising linkage groups I, II, and III and from 23 other informative markers, within the limits of the data. No conclusions with respect to homology of linkage relationships could be reached, due to the presence of presumably duplicated loci in these fish coding for isozymes whose homology with enzymes in other vertebrate species is as yet unestablished.
A formulation of the Fokker-Planck equation in terms of the Riemann-Christoffel tensor

Abstract In this note, a reformulation of the divergence (Landau) form of the Fokker-Planck equation in terms of the fourth order Riemann-Christoffel tensor is presented. It is shown that derivatives of the Rosenbluth potentials of no higher than second order result within the vector components on which the divergence operator acts.
Hibernation Induced in Ground Squirrels by Blood Transfusion

Natural mammalian hibernation was continuously maintained under laboratory conditions throughout spring and summer seasons in a colony of thirteen-lined ground squirrels by serial transfusional passage of blood from hibernations animals to active animals. This procedure successfully produced hibernation in animals until late summer, at which time naturally occurring (spontaneous) hibernations occurred in the colony, thus terminating the experiment.
CONTROL OF TRAFFIC IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS: SOME CONSIDERATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION

The effect of motor vehicles upon older neighborhoods has received increasing attention as residents of these areas seek to preserve the quality of life in their neighborhoods. In order to reduce through traffic in residential neighborhoods, numerous techniques have been developed, ranging from turn prohibitions to physical barriers. Since these measures have negative impacts on previous users of the streets, there has been substantial opposition to them. This paper reviews the major areas of conflict as revealed through court challenges. Nine court cases were identified by the researchers. In four, the court decision supported the control measures; in five, the courts decided against the actions. Six of the nine cases are reviewed in this paper. Major legal issues which are identified include the appropriate use of municipal police power, reasonableness in the exercise of police power, the integration of control measures into an overall transportation plan, appropriate consideration of emergency vehicle needs and the rights of access to property, and public participation in the decision. The authors conclude that properly planned and executed diversion strategies can be implemented and can withstand challenges by negatively affected parties.
Discrete wavelet transform realisation using run-time reconfiguration of field programmable gate array (FPGA)s

Designing a universal embedded hardware architecture for discrete wavelet transform is a challenging problem because of the diversity among wavelet kernel filters. In this work, the authors present three different hardware architectures for implementing multiple wavelet kernels. The first scheme utilises fixed, parallel hardware for all the required wavelet kernels, whereas the second scheme employs a processing element (PE)-based datapath that can be configured for multiple wavelet filters during run-time. The third scheme makes use of partial run-time configuration of FPGA units for dynamically programming any desired wavelet filter. As a case study, the authors present FPGA synthesis results for simultaneous implementation of six different wavelets for the proposed methods. Performance analysis and comparison of area, timing and power results are presented for the Virtex-II Pro FPGA implementations.
Initial treatment of early Parkinson's disease: a review of recent, randomized controlled trials.

Many studies have shown dopamine agonists to significantly improve parkinsonian symptoms compared with placebo in early Parkinson’s disease (PD), but how do agonists compare with the standard treatment of levodopa? Recently, three large, multicenter, randomized controlled studies directly comparing a dopamine agonist with levodopa as initial therapy in early PD have been published. These studies suggest that although both agents effectively ameliorate parkinsonian symptoms, levodopa was superior to dopamine agonists as measured by improvement in Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) scores. However, levodopa was more frequently associated with dopaminergic motor complications, and the dopamine agonists were more commonly associated with adverse events. Until further studies clearly demonstrate the beneficial effects of one therapeutic strategy over another, the decision to initiate treatment in early PD with either an agonist or levodopa will be based on the favorable motor complication profile of agonists versus the more potent antiparkinsonian effects and the favorable side-effect profile of levodopa.
Escherichia coli phosphofructokinase: inhibition by 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonate.

Abstract Phosphofructokinase was purified 1200-fold from extracts of Escherichia coli B. Kinetic studies of the enzyme were carried out in the presence of the fluorescent dye 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonate (1,8-ANS). 1,8-ANS was competitive with ATP and an uncompetitive inhibitor with respect to fructose-6- P . These parabolic inhibitions were accounted for by assuming that at least two molecules of the inhibitor were responsible for decreasing the affinity of the enzyme for ATP. ADP and GDP are both positive effectors for E. coli Phosphofructokinase. Evidence is presented to indicate that 1,8-ANS binding decreases the affinity of a regulatory site for ADP but not the binding site for regulation by GDP.
Kinetics of cell-mediated cytotoxicity: Stochastic and deterministic multistage models☆

One of the body's major defenses against viral diseases and tumors is the killing of abnormal cells by host defense cells, such as T lymphocytes. The mechanism by which killing is accomplished is unknown. Here the authors develop both stochastic and deterministic models for the kinetics of killing in aggregates which contain a single lymphocyte and multiple target cells (LT/sub n/ conjugates), as might be seen early in an immune response and in aggregates containing multiple lymphocytes and a single target cell (L/sub n/T conjugates), which is characteristic of the late phase of successful immune response. Comparing these models with data, the authors rule out the possibility of certain classes of lytic mechanisms and draw attention to the characteristics of likely mechanisms. Their stochastic model can be viewed as a specialized application of queueing theory to cell biology. For certain choices of arrival-time and service-time distributions, the authors find an exact correspondence between the stochastic and deterministic models. 38 references, 3 figures, 2 tables.
Hepatitis C pathogenesis: Mechanisms of viral clearance and liver injury

1. The development of hepatitis C virus (HCV) quasispecies has a number of biological consequences, including the development of escape mutants to humoral or cellular immunity, the generation of "defective" viral particles, variable cell tropism, and the development of drug resistance. 2. Accumulating evidence shows that HCV affects the early innate immune response mediated by natural killer and dendritic cells. 3. Recent data suggest that clearance of HCV bestows antibody to HCV immunity that affords partial protection against persistent infection. However, after spontaneous recovery from HCV infection, titers of HCV-specific antibodies decline and disappear in a subset of patients, whereas viral-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell responses persist for decades. 4. HCV-specific CD8(+) T-cell responses are phenotypically and functionally diverse and may be associated with either viral eradication or chronic hepatic immunopathologic states. 5. Novel HCV genome-wide screening approaches have shown that the breadth of the immune response is considerably greater than was initially appreciated using more conventional assays, but why the majority of patients remain chronically infected despite the presence of viral-specific immune responses remains undefined.
The existence of unique B structures in polynucleotides with alternating purine-pyrimidine sequences

Abstract The infrared spectra of the sodium salts of calf-thymus DNA, poly(dA-dC)·poly(dG-dT), poly(dA-dT) and poly(dG-dC) were measured for the samples as highly hydrated, nonoriented gels. The bands from the sugar-phosphate vibrational modes show that poly(dG-dC) assumes a B-family structure which is different from the B structures of the other samples. Poly(dG-dC) most likely assumes a wrinkled B structure. The other samples retain a smooth B structure. An alternating purine-pyrimidine sequence is not a sufficient condition for the formation of wrinkled B structure in a polynucleotide.
Quantitative approximation by fractional smooth Poisson Cauchy singular operators

In this article we study the very general fractional smooth Poisson Cauchy singular integral operators on the real line, regarding their convergence to the unit operator with fractional rates in the uniform norm. The related established inequalities involve the higher order moduli of smoothness of the associated right and left Caputo fractional derivatives of the engaged function. Furthermore, we produce a fractional Voronovskaya type of result giving the fractional asymptotic expansion of the basic error of our approximation. We finish with applications. Our operators are not in general positive. We are mainly motivated by Anastassiou (submitted for publication) [1].
First report of the Eucalyptus gall wasp, Ophelimus maskelli (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), an invasive pest on Eucalyptus, from the Western Hemisphere

Ophelimus maskelli (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) was found in southern California, USA, on March 17, 2014, in Riverside County, University of California Riverside Campus (UCR), and has been common there since then. It has also been found in other locations in southern California, including San Diego County (San Diego Safari Park on November 1, 2014), and Orange County (Laguna Niguel Regional Park). Specimens collected from UCR were compared with voucher specimens of O. maskelli collected from Lazio, Italy, and were found to be conspecific. This represents the first report of O. maskelli from the Western Hemisphere.
Antirheumatic drug reactions in the lung

Summary Drug-induced lung disease during treatment with antirheumatic drugs should be considered in all patients receiving these agents who develop new pulmonary symptoms. When a potential drug-related reaction is identified, the possible offending agents should be discontinued, appropriate respiratory support initiated, and a thorough investigation for other causes of respiratory disease launched to exclude infection or other pulmonary processes. Lung biopsy may be needed to define the disorder completely. In patients with acute pneumonitis, the use of corticosteroids should be considered. Although significant morbidity and even mortality may occur with drug-induced pulmonary events, proper and prompt evaluation and treatment of these disorders can often result in complete resolution of the pulmonary disease.
In vivo and in vitro activities of the Escherichia coli sigma54 transcription activator, PspF, and its DNA-binding mutant, PspFDeltaHTH.

Abstract Transcription of the phage-shock protein ( psp ) operon in Escherichia coli is driven by a σ 54 promoter, stimulated by integration host factor and dependent on an upstream, cis -acting sequence and an activator protein, PspF. PspF belongs to the enhancer binding protein family but lacks an N-terminal regulatory domain. Purified PspF is not modified and has an ATPase activity that is increased twofold in the presence of DNA carrying the psp cis -acting sequence. Purified mutant His-tagged PspF that lacks the C-terminal DNA-binding motif has a DNA-independent ATPase activity when present at 30-fold the concentration of the wild-type protein. Both proteins oligomerize in solution in an ATP and DNA-independent manner. The wild-type activator protein, but not the DNA-binding mutant, binds specifically to the cis -acting sequence. Analysis of the sequence protected by PspF demonstrates the presence of two upstream binding sites within the sequence, UAS I and UAS II, which together constitute the psp enhancer. Protection at low protein concentrations is more pronounced and more extensive on a supercoiled DNA than on a linear template. Full expression of the psp operon upon hyperosmotic shock depends on wild-type PspF, but only partially requires the presence of the psp enhancer.
Fibronectin and Collagen I Matrixes Promote Calcification of Vascular Cells in Vitro, Whereas Collagen IV Matrix Is Inhibitory

Vascular calcification is a frequent component of atherosclerosis, yet the pathological mechanisms that regulate its formation are poorly understood. Calcification of the vessel wall may represent a process by which cells that normally exhibit a smooth muscle phenotype differentiate into cells that exhibit an osteoblast-like phenotype. One of the determinants of cellular phenotype is extracellular matrix; thus, we undertook the current study to evaluate the influence of extracellular matrix on calcification of vascular cells in vitro. Cell lines derived from bovine aortic media were divided into 1 of 3 groups: those that did not mineralize, those that mineralized slowly, or those that mineralized rapidly. When slowly mineralizing cells were plated onto matrix produced by rapidly mineralizing cells, the time required for mineralization decreased from 33+/-3.0 days to 7.8+/-1.3 days. Matrix produced by rapidly mineralizing cells was found to contain 3 times the amount of collagen I and fibronectin but 70% less collagen IV than nonmineralizing clones. When slowly mineralizing cells were cultured on purified collagen I or fibronectin, mineralized nodule formation, calcium incorporation, von Kossa staining, and alkaline phosphatase activity increased. In contrast, culturing slowly mineralizing cells on purified collagen IV inhibited these mineralization parameters. Furthermore, blocking antibodies to alpha5 integrins significantly inhibited the fibronectin-mediated increases in alkaline phosphatase activity, indicating that integrin-based signaling may be involved. These data suggest that matrix composition can regulate development of arterial calcification and that a subpopulation of vascular cells preferentially produces positively regulating matrix components.
A 384-well cell-based phospho-ERK assay for dopamine D2 and D3 receptors.

Abstract Phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) is linked to activation of many cell surface receptors and kinases. However, phosphorylated ERK has not been used as a biochemical marker to monitor pharmacology of these biomolecules, largely because commonly used methods to detect the phosphoprotein are not quantitative and do not have sufficient throughput. In this article, a high-throughput, 384-well, cell-based functional assay to quantify dopamine agonist-induced ERK phosphorylation in D2- and D3-overexpressed cell lines is described. The assay uses infrared-labeled secondary antibodies to detect phospho-ERK, and the signals in the wells of the microtiter plate are quantified by a LI-COR infrared scanner. Vmax, EC50, and functional Ki values of various D2 and D3 agonists and antagonists determined in this assay are similar to those in the literature. The assay is nonradioactive, is quantitative, and has a good signal-to-noise ratio. In addition, the signal is stable. This assay can be used to monitor the activities of many G protein-coupled receptors and other signaling biomolecules that are linked to phosphorylation of ERK. The methodology can potentially be used to detect the change in level of any cellular protein in which highly selective antibodies are available.
Prenatal Vitamin Use and Vitamin D Status during Pregnancy, Differences by Race and Overweight Status

Prenatal vitamin use and vitamin D status during pregnancy, differences by race and overweight status
Use of ureteral stents after endopyelotomy

Despite the widespread practice of endopyelotomy for the management of ureteropelvic junction obstruction, the optimal conditions for ureteral healing after endoincision remain largely untested. Current recommendations for the use of large-caliber graduated endopyelotomy stents and a 6-week duration of stinting are being challenged by recent reports of successful outcomes with the use of standard, small-caliber ureteral stents and early stent removal. Moreover, improvements in stent design have led to the development of endopyelotomy stents with improved biocompatibility, enhanced ease of insertion, and fewer adverse effects.
Stressful life events, Type A behavior, and the prediction of cardiovascular and total mortality over six years

The relationship between stressful life events and subsequent mortality and morbidity were determined prospectively over 6 years for 12,866 men participating in the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial (MRFIT). Aslo evaluated was the impact of life events on cardiovascular outcomes for persons exhibiting and not exhibiting coronary prone (Type A) behavior. Subjects completed life events checklists at baseline and each of five annual visits. Participants were also administered the Jenkins Activity Survey measure of Type A behavior at baseline and a subsample of 3110 participants was categorized as to behavior type based on the structured interview assessment method. Cox proportional hazard analyses indicated that number of life events experienced during each of 6 years of follow-up was unrelated to risk in the subsequent year of CHD death or fatal plus nonfatal MI and was inversely related to total mortality. The impact of life events on cardiovascular risk did not differ by behavior type category.
Multipotent Adult Progenitor Cells from Swine Bone Marrow

We show that multipotent adult progenitor cells (MAPCs) can be derived from both postnatal and fetal swine bone marrow (BM). Although swine MAPC (swMAPC) cultures are initially mixed, cultures are phenotypically homogenous by 50 population doublings (PDs) and can be maintained as such for more than 100 PDs. swMAPCs are negative for CD44, CD45, and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) classes I and II; express octamer binding transcription factor 3a (Oct3a) mRNA and protein at levels close to those seen in human ESCs (hESCs); and have telomerase activity preventing telomere shortening even after 100 PDs. Using quantitative-reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (Q-RT-PCR), immunofluorescence, and functional assays, we demonstrate that swMAPCs differentiate into chondrocytes, adipocytes, osteoblasts, smooth muscle cells, endothelium, hepatocyte-like cells, and neuron-like cells. Consistent with what we have shown for human and rodent MAPCs, Q-RT-PCR demonstrated a significant upregulation of transcription factors and other lineage-specific transcripts in a time-dependent fashion similar to development. When swMAPCs were passaged for 3-6 passages at high density (2,000-8,000 cells per cm(2)), Oct3a mRNA levels were no longer detectable, cells acquired the phenotype of mesenchymal stem cells (CD44(+), MHC class I(+)), and could differentiate into typical mesenchymal lineages (adipocytes, osteoblasts, and chondroblasts), but not endothelium, hepatocyte-like cells, or neuron-like cells. Even if cultures were subsequently replated at low density (approximately 100-500 cells per cm(2)) for >20 PDs, Oct3a was not re-expressed, nor were cells capable of differentiating to cells other than mesenchymal-type cells. This suggests that the phenotype and functional characteristics of swMAPCs may not be an in vitro culture phenomenon.
Making the Sexual Harassment of Others Self-Relevant: The Roles of Identity Salience and Value Affirmation

In three experiments, female participants were primed to think of themselves as female university students or unique individuals. We predicted that group-primed participants would find reading about the sexual harassment of a female student threatening to their self-concepts. However, if these participants could affirm an important value, the threat to their personal self-esteem might be resolved. Group-primed participants who wrote about an important individual value reported higher personal self-esteem in comparison with group-primed participants who did not. However, when group-primed participants wrote about a value important to their group, they did not report higher personal self-esteem in comparison to group-primed participants who lacked this opportunity. The results suggest that group-primed participants who affirmed an important individual value reported higher personal self-esteem because it allowed them to re-categorize themselves as unique individuals who were different from the female victim.
Diagnostic and therapeutic applications of bentiromide screening test for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in patients with cystic fibrosis. Comparison with other tests of exocrine pancreatic disease.

The bentiromide test for exocrine pancreatic function was carried out in normal volunteers, patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) without clinical evidence of pancreatic dysfunction, and CF patients with clinically significant exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. The test was performed with and without the concomitant administration of a Lundh test meal.p-Aminobenzoic acid was given on a separate occasion to eliminate false positives due to factors unrelated to pancreatic disease. Correct classification of 25 CF patients with pancreatic insufficiency and 9 CF patients without clinical pancreatic dysfunction was possible by interpreting the results of the above three tests. Isoamylase determinations would have misclassified 20% of the CF patients with pancreatic insufficiency, but were able to detect the CF patients without clinical pancreatic dysfunction on the basis of an elevated pancreatic amylase isoenzyme. The bentiromide test results were normal in CF patients without clinical pancreatic dysfunction despite previous findings of decreased bicarbonate secretion in this group. However, the bentiromide test did appear to be useful in the evaluation of therapeutic intervention with exogenous pancreatic enzymes and other adjunctive therapy.
Functions and Institutions: The Roots and the Future of Marketing Channels

From its very beginnings as an academic discipline over a century ago, marketing functions and institutions have been core concepts of marketing. Except for the case of direct marketing channels linking producers directly with final users, all marketing channel structures contain intermediaries involving independent businesses or organizations working together to bring products and services to market. Considering if the functions now being performed by marketing channels may become obsolete in the 21st century, while acknowledging new and changing technologies used to perform these functions, the author concludes that these paradigms of functions and institutions are as relevant now, and for the future, as they ever were.
Beyond the archival model of memory and the affordances and constraints of narratives

In his ‘After the Archive’ article, Brockmeier outlines limitations of the ‘archival model’ of memory, taking into account several dimensions of the burgeoning field of memory studies. In responding to the weaknesses he cites, he introduces ideas about narrative and its role in shaping human thought and memory. While narrative brings important assets to Brockmeier’s effort, it also carries conceptual baggage that is examined here. In particular, the prospects and problems of what philosophers have labeled ‘narrative memory’ are outlined, and narrative tools are presented as having both empowering affordances as well as limiting constraints.
Computer programming and the human thought process

This paper analyses certain human thought processes associated with computer programming and observes some limitations, inherent in the human mind, that affect the writing of good computer programs. The thought processes associated with computer programming fall into two major categories: those associated with the nature of problem solving; and those associated with man/computer communication using conventional programming languages. The questions raised in this paper bring to light the psychological and physiological implications of such programming tools and procedures as structured programming, code walkthroughs and top-down design in support of their use.
An investigation of phase pulse shape diversity to generate parallel branches, increase data rate, and reduce the complexity of CPM modulation

Continuous phase modulation is a well understood modulation scheme which utilizes a constant envelope signal with inherent memory to create a bandwidth efficient waveform. The pulse shapes defined for CPM modulation influence the bandwidth, demodulation complexity, and power efficiency and can be spread across multiple symbols. This paper investigates a novel modulation scheme that is comprised of a family of pulse shapes which add parallel branches to the existing CPM trellis. The resulting modulation scheme maintains the power efficiency of the underlying modulation while increasing the data rate of the waveform. The spectral efficiency is not affected by the increase in data rate while the receiver complexity is reduced. The first part of the paper outlines the standard CPM modulation and a pair of complementary (non-orthogonal) phase pulse shapes is presented. The corresponding effect on bandwidth, power efficiency, and receiver complexity is analyzed and the advantages of this modulation technique are discussed. Then, a novel methodology for generating a family of optimal pulse shapes is discussed and various generation methods are compared. The spectral and power efficiencies of the resulting M-ary waveform are then compared to an equivalent, standard CPFSK modulation.