cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Two Tetrahymena G-DNA-binding proteins, TGP1 and TGP3, share novel motifs and may play a role in micronuclear division

G-DNA is a four-stranded DNA structure with diverse putative biological roles. We have previously purified and cloned a novel G-DNA-binding protein TGP1 from the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila. Here we report the molecular cloning of TGP3, an additional G-DNA-binding protein from the same organism. The TGP3 cDNA encodes a 365 amino acid protein that is homologous to TGP1 (34% identity and 44% similarity). The proteins share a sequence pattern that contains two novel repetitive and homologous motifs flanking an extensively hydrophilic and basic region. A nuclear fractionation experiment showed that TGP1 and TGP3 activities are localized predominantly in the nuclear fraction. To further investigate the biological roles of the proteins in vivo, we have generated separate macronuclear gene knockout (KO) strains (TGP1KO and TGP3KO) for each of the two genes. Southern blot analysis demonstrated that the macronuclear copies of each gene were completely disrupted. Mobility shift assays showed that the corresponding G-DNA-binding activity for each protein was abolished in the KO strains. Growth analysis showed that both KO strains grew at near wild-type rates, indicating that neither of the genes is essential for cell growth. Nevertheless, nuclear staining analysis revealed that both TGP1KO and TGP3KO cells have an increased occurrence (more than 2-fold) of extra micronuclei, implying faulty control of micronuclear division in the KO cells.
Stability and accuracy analysis of outer loop dynamics in real‐time pseudodynamic testing of SDOF systems

Real-time pseudodynamic (PSD) testing is an experimental technique for evaluating the dynamic behaviour of a complex structure. During the test, when the targeted command displacements are not achieved by the test structure, or a delay in the measured restoring forces from the test structure exists, the reliability of the testing method is impaired. The stability and accuracy of real-time PSD testing in the presence of amplitude error and a time delay in the restoring force is presented. Systems consisting of an elastic single degree of freedom (SDOF) structure with load-rate independent and dependent restoring forces are considered. Bode plots are used to assess the effects of amplitude error and a time delay on the steady-state accuracy of the system. A method called the pseudodelay technique is used to derive the exact solution to the delay differential equation for the critical time delay that causes instability of the system. The solution is expressed in terms of the test structure parameters (mass, damping, stiffness). An error in the restoring force amplitude is shown to degrade the accuracy of a real-time PSD test but not destabilize the system, while a time delay can lead to instability. Example calculations are performed for determining the critical time delay, and numerical simulations with both a constant delay and variable delay in the restoring force are shown to agree well with the stability limit for the system based on the critical time delay solution. The simulation models are also used to investigate the effects of a time delay in the PSD test of an inelastic SDOF system. The effect of energy dissipation in an inelastic structure increases the limit for the critical time delay, due to the energy removed from the system by the energy dissipation. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Influence of Second Language Experience and Accent Familiarity on Oral Proficiency Rating: A Qualitative Investigation

This study investigates whether raters' knowledge of test takers' first language (L1) affects how the raters orient themselves to the task of rating oral speech. The authors qualitatively investigated the effects of accent familiarity on raters' score assignment processes. Twenty-six trained raters with a second language of Mandarin Chinese, Korean, or Spanish rated English speech samples from 72 English language learners from three L1 backgrounds (Mandarin Chinese, Korean, and Spanish). Afterward, raters watched videos of themselves rating and discussed their rating processes. Analyses of data, assisted by the qualitative analysis software package QSR NVivo 8, revealed that some raters attended to and were influenced by test-taker accent and L1. Raters who were heritage language learners discussed how their personal heritage status influenced how they thought about the speech samples from speakers whose L1 matched their heritage language. Although sensitivity to test-taker accents seemed to occur naturally in the rating process, findings suggest that when raters have learned or know, to varying degrees, the test takers' L1, they tend to orient themselves to the speech in a biased way, compromising test reliability.
Illusion of reperfusion. Does anyone achieve optimal reperfusion during acute myocardial infarction

Thrombolytic therapy significantly improves the natural history of acute myocardial infarction, but recent data suggest that current reperfusion strategies have yet to realize the maximum potential for reduction of mortality and salvage of ventricular function. Coronary patency rates as high as 85% assessed by angiography 90 minutes after initiation of treatment greatly overestimate the efficacy of thrombolytic regimens, as this conventional angiographic "snapshot" view does not satisfactorily reflect the dynamic processes of coronary artery recanalization and reocclusion or the adequacy of myocardial perfusion. In fact, only the unusual patient appears to achieve optimal reperfusion for acute myocardial infarction, with a substantial deterioration of benefit in many patients due to insufficiently early or rapid recanalization, incomplete patency with TIMI grade 2 flow or critical residual coronary stenoses, absence of myocardial tissue reflow despite epicardial artery patency, intermittent coronary patency, subsequent reocclusion, or reperfusion injury. Recently developed techniques to critically assess the quality of reperfusion, coupled with the introduction of novel pharmacological agents and an improved understanding of the roles and mechanisms of existing thrombolytic and adjunctive drugs, have provided the opportunity to overcome many of the present limitations of reperfusion therapy. Emerging strategies to achieve optimal reperfusion are directed at enhancement of the velocity and quality of thrombolysis, amelioration of the adverse effects of reperfusion, and use of alternative pathways to myocardial salvage.
Modern external beam radiation therapy for refractory dissecting cellulitis of the scalp.

Background Dissecting cellulitis of the scalp can be an extremely painful and disfiguring dermatological condition. The associated pain can be severe enough in some cases to require opioid analgesics, and this pain in conjunction with the disfigurement can induce significant emotional distress. Conservative treatments often fail to provide relief. Radiation therapy has been successfully used in the past but with outdated equipment and techniques. Objectives To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of modern external beam radiation therapy techniques for the treatment of dissecting cellulitis of the scalp. Methods Four patients with intractable dissecting cellulitis of the scalp were treated with electrons or a combination of electrons and photons to the entire scalp. Daily fraction sizes were 2.5 or 3 Gy and initially prescribed to 15-21 Gy. Patients were re-evaluated 3-4 weeks after completion of therapy. Any residual hair growth was treated with additional radiation treatments to ensure full epilation, up to a maximum dose of 35 Gy. Results Rapid resolution of pain was seen in all patients with pain. Regression of nodules and decreased discharge was seen in all patients following treatment and cosmesis was subjectively improved. No long-term toxicity has been observed. Conclusions Using modern techniques and equipment, radiation therapy appears to be a reasonable option for patients with severe/refractory dissecting cellulitis of the scalp. Acute effects are mild and well tolerated. Aside from alopecia, which was present to some extent in all patients before treatment, no long-term complications have been observed.
Aerosol synthesis and application of folded graphene-based materials

Graphene oxide colloid has been widely used in the synthesis of various graphene-based materials. Graphene oxide sheets, with a low bending rigidity, can be folded when assembled in aqueous phase. A simple but industrial scalable way, aerosol processing, can be used to fabricate folded graphene-based materials. These folded materials can carry various cargo materials and be used in different applications such as time-controlled drug release, medical imaging enhancement, catalyst support and energy related areas. The aerosol synthesis of folded graphene-based materials can also be easily extended to fabricate hybrid nanomaterials without any complicated chemistries.
Predicting target detectability in acoustic elastography

The clinically relevant task of visually detecting low-contrast targets in noisy strain images is studied. Detectability is measured quantitatively using contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) analysis. Contrast in strain images is generated by a complex interaction between the soft tissue elasticity shear modulus distribution, target shape and location in the stress field, and external boundary conditions. While large strain variation is preferred for enhancing the contrast, this also increases the noise in strain estimates in a nonlinear fashion. Therefore, understanding the tradeoffs between contrast and noise is necessary for improving the diagnostic performance of strain imaging. In this paper, targets having slab, cylindrical and spherical geometries are studied. Strains in the target and background and the precision of their estimates are described in terms of the corresponding shear modulus values for each geometry. These results are then incorporated into the CNR expression to investigate the changes in target detectability with the shear modulus variation, signal parameters (echo signal-to-noise ratio (SNR/sub i/) and fractional bandwidth Y), and signal processing variables (time-bandwidth product W and fractional window overlap /spl Delta/T/spl tilde/T). The results include: 1) formulas describing target and background strains for the three geometries as a function of the applied compression, boundary conditions and shear modulus values; 2) mathematical description of the consequences that nonuniformities in tissue elasticity and variations in strain contrast with the target geometry impose upon detectability; and 3) demonstration of the need to carefully choose values for signal processing variables.
Do Specialty Drugs Offer Greater Value for Money Than Traditional Drugs

All drugs Specialty drugs Traditional drugs Number 102 58 44 QALY gain compared to preexisting treatments Median 0.031 0.183 0.002 Interquartile range (0.31) (0.48) (0.06) Mean 0.17 0.25 0.08 Standard deviation (0.88) (1.15) (0.22) Additional costs compared to preexisting treatments (2013$) Median 2,950 12,238 784 Interquartile range (19,732) (35,248) (3,572) Mean 42,561 72,917 3,237 Standard deviation (371,831) (494,678) (6,341) Aggregate cost-effectiveness ratios (cost per QALY gained) Dominant (more effective & less costly) 7 2 5
A model for composite laminate bend-forming under arbitrary curvature distribution and extensive interlaminar sliding

While thermoplastic matrix composites are of increasing interest for a variety of applications, methods of forming these materials are still under development. One way of hastening their development and utilization is to develop models which predict the material response to processing. One such model is under development and will predict the response of a consolidated laminate which is being formed to a singly-curved shape. The model accounts for the unique features of thermoplastic composites, namely the continuous inextensible fibers and the need for extensive relative ply sliding. At this stage in model development, it treats a laminate as a series of alternating layers of elastically hard and elastically soft material. The hard layers can slide over each other because of the soft shearable layers between them. In its present stage, the model predicts, for any arbitrarily complex singly-curved shape, the extent of relative ply sliding, the stresses generated, and the array of point forces that are required to produce the specified shape. The behavior of a beam with extensive ply sliding is very different from that described by classical beam theory. First, the ply normal stresses depend not only on the local curvature and distance from the neutral axis, but also on the position along the laminate. Second, the relative ply sliding and the bending stresses occur not only in bent sections of the laminate, but also in nearby straight sections. Thus, the response of a given element of material depends not only on local conditions, but also on the curvature distribution throughout the laminate.
A new 'shift and ratio' method for MOSFET channel-length extraction

A shift-and-ratio method for extracting MOSFET channel length is presented. In this method, channel mobility can be any function of gate voltage, and high source-drain resistance does not affect extraction results. It is shown to yield more accurate and consistent channel lengths for deep-submicrometer CMOS devices at room and low temperatures. It is also found that, for both nFET and pFET, the source-drain resistance is essentially independent of temperature from 300 to 77 K. >
Genetic ablation reveals that the roof plate is essential for dorsal interneuron specification

During neural development in vertebrates, a spatially ordered array of neurons is generated in response to inductive signals derived from localized organizing centres. One organizing centre that has been proposed to have a role in the control of neural patterning is the roof plate. To define the contribution of signals derived from the roof plate to the specification of neuronal cell types in the dorsal neural tube, we devised a genetic strategy to ablate the roof plate selectively in mouse embryos. Embryos without a roof plate lack all the interneuron subtypes that are normally generated in the dorsal third of the neural tube. Using a genetically based lineage analysis and in vitro assays, we show that the loss of these neurons results from the elimination of non-autonomous signals provided by the roof plate. These results reveal that the roof plate is essential for specifying multiple classes of neurons in the mammalian central nervous system.
NOS2A and the modulating effect of cigarette smoking in Parkinson's disease.

Objective Inducible nitric oxide synthase, a protein product of NOS2A, generates nitric oxide as a defense mechanism, but excessive levels threaten cellular survival. NOS2A is a candidate gene for Parkinson's disease (PD) that potentially interacts with cigarette smoking. We examined NOS2A for association with PD risk and age at onset (AAO) and for interaction with smoking. Methods We genotyped 13 NOS2A single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 466 singleton families and in a validation set of 286 multiplex families. We tested allelic and haplotypic association using the association in the presence of linkage test, genotypic associations using the genotype pedigree disequilibrium test, AAO effects using the quantitative transmission disequilibrium test, and interactions using generalized estimating equations. Results Among the pooled earliest onset families, rs2255929 and rs1060826 generated significant allelic (p = 0.000059 and 0.0062, respectively) and genotypic (p = 0.0039 and 0.0014, respectively) associations with risk and AAO (p = 0.00070 and 0.0073, respectively); the two-SNP haplotype generated even stronger association with PD (p = 0.000013). Significant interactions with smoking (p = 0.0015 for rs 2255929 and p < 0.0001 for rs 1060826) were detected in a subset of the families; smoking was inversely associated with PD among risk allele noncarriers, but significance diminished among carriers. Interpretation Our findings support NOS2A as a genetic risk factor in PD, potentially by influencing AAO and by modifying the inverse association between PD and smoking. Ann Neurol 2006
Automated text classification using a multi-agent framework

Automatic text classification is an important operational problem in digital library practice. Most text classification efforts so far concentrated on developing centralized solutions. However, centralized classification approaches often are limited due to constraints on knowledge and computing resources. In addition, centralized approaches are more vulnerable to attacks or system failures and less robust in dealing with them. We present a de-centralized approach and system implementation (named MACCI) for text classification using a multi-agent framework. Experiments are conducted to compare our multi-agent approach with a centralized approach. The results show multi-agent classification can achieve promising classification results while maintaining its other advantages.
Enhancement by interleukin 4 of interleukin 2- or antibody-induced proliferation of lymphocytes from interleukin 2-treated cancer patients.

Abstract Systemic interleukin 2 (IL-2) and IL-2-activated lymphocytes have induced tumor regression in some cancer patients. The IL-2-activated cells have usually been generated by obtaining peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from cancer patients shortly after systemic IL-2 therapy and culturing them with IL-2 in vitro . In an effort to augment the ex vivo generation of such cells preactivated in vivo , we examined the proliferative responses of PBMC from IL-2-treated cancer patients to several proliferative signals including IL-2, interleukin 4 (IL-4), and mitogenic antibodies to CD3 and CD28. Although much is known about the response of normal PBMC to these signals, the possibility was considered that the response of lymphocytes preactivated by IL-2 in vivo might differ from that of normal PBMC. Accordingly, PBMC obtained from ten normal, healthy controls and from 17 patients with advanced cancer 1 to 3 days after systemic IL-2 therapy were cultured for 4 days with IL-4 (1000 units/ml) and/or IL-2 (10 units/ml or 1000 units/ml) or with combinations of IL-4 and anti-CD3 ± anti-CD28, and they were then tested for proliferation by [ 3 H]thymidine incorporation. IL-4 failed to induce proliferation of normal PBMC and inhibited IL-2-induced proliferation, whereas IL-4 alone induced proliferation in PBMC from five of 11 IL-2-treated patients and did not inhibit but augmented the proliferation induced by IL-2 (10 units/ml and 1000 units/ml) in PBMC from six of nine patients and five of 11 patients, respectively. Anti-CD3 induced proliferation in PBMC from eight of nine patients, and the proliferation was consistently augmented by coculture with anti-CD28. Finally, IL-4 significantly augmented the proliferative responses of PBMC from IL-2-treated patients to anti-CD3, as well as to the combination of anti-CD3 and anti-CD28. Thus, in PBMC from IL-2-treated cancer patients, IL-4 enhanced the in vitro proliferation induced by IL-2 or by anti-CD3 ± anti-CD28. The results suggest that IL-4 and/or mitogenic antibodies may be useful in augmenting the ex vivo generation of lymphocytes for clinical adoptive immunotherapy.
Computation of the quantum effects due to a four-dimensional pseudoparticle

A detailed quantitative calculation is carried out of the tunneling process described by the Belavin-Polyakov-Schwarz-Tyupkin field configuration. A certain chiral symmetry is violated as a consequence of the Adler-Bell-Jackiw anomaly. The collective motions of the pseudoparticle and all contributions from single loops of scalar, spinor, and vector fields are taken into account. The result is an effective interaction Lagrangian for the spinors.
2‐(4‐Methoxybenzyloxy)‐4‐methylquinoline

[937184-70-8] C18H17NO2 (MW 279.33) InChI = 1S/C18H17NO2/c1-13-11-18(19-17-6-4-3-5-16(13)17)21-12-14-7-9-15(20-2)10-8-14/h3-11H,12H2,1-2H3 InChIKey = NZVDQMQUHTVZAH-UHFFFAOYSA-N (reagent for the conversion of alcohols into p-methoxybenzyl (PMB) ethers1, 2) Alternative Names: PMBO-lepidine, PMBO-L. Physical Data: mp 73–78°C. Solubility: soluble in organic solvents. Form Supplied in: crystalline solid, commercially available. Analysis of Reagent Purity: 1H NMR. Preparative Methods: prepared by heating a mixture of 4-methoxybenzyl alcohol, 2-chloro-lepidine, p -methoxybenzyl chloride, and 18-crown-6 in toluene. Purification: silica gel chromatography. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: possible sensitizer. Routine safety precautions should be employed.
GVB–RP: A reliable MCSCF wave function for large systems

. ABSTRACT: We have developed a version of generalized valence bond GVB that overcomes the major weakness of the perfect pairing approximation without requiring a full transformation of the integrals at each step of the self-consistent orbital optimization. . The method, called generalized valence bond)restricted pairing GVB)RP , describes properly the dissociation of up to triple bonds and provides smooth potential energy surfaces for most chemical reactions. The wave functions obtained are a good starting point for more sophisticated computational techniques. The applicability of the method is illustrated with a few simple examples including multiple-bond dissociations, transition states for symmetry allowed, symmetry forbidden, and radical reactions, as well as reactions at a transition-metal center. The cost of the method compares well with other self-consistent correlated techniques. Q 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 73: 1)22, 1999
Automated computer vision inspection system for quick turnaround manufacturing

Automated visual inspection promises to play an important role in the factory of the future. A prototype automatic computer vision inspection system was developed for the Quick Turnaround Cell (QTC) at Purdue University. The objective of the QTC project is to integrate design, process planning, cell control, and inspection functions into a manufacturing system that quickly produces parts using little operator knowledge and intervention. This paper focuses on the vision inspection module of the QTC project. To achieve a truly flexible automated visual inspection system, an interface between computer vision processes and CAD databases is an essential step. A design-feature based representation which includes dimensions and tolerances of the part is introduced as the part specification. A 3-D boundary representation CAD model is generated from the high level description. An interface system that understands the geometric shape of the part based on the CAD model generates a vision data base which serves as a front end to the inspection planning system. This planning system automatically generates inspection and recognition procedures from the design data. The recognition planning subsystem uses rules to select the important vision features from the given CAD data base, generates a list of simultaneously visible features, and suggests appropriate matching constraints. The inspection planning subsystem interprets each engineering specification of the part and provides proper inspection procedures. The on-line inspection subsystem executes programs based on the planning results and returns information about the part based on all the dimensions which are measured to subpixel accuracy. Thus, after the design cycle, parts can be throughly inspected with no technical decisions or programming required. Finally, results of experiments produced by the current implementation of the system are illustrated.
A hierarchical methodology for verifying microprogrammed microprocessors

To date, several microprocessors have been verified using formal methods. The only successful verification efforts, however, have been on relatively simple microprocessor architectures (fewer than 32 words of micro instruction store, small instruction set, limited features for supporting operating systems, etc.). The goal of the research reported is to develop methodologies for verifying much larger architectures and demonstrate their applicability verifying such a microprocessor. A hierarchical methodology is presented for decomposing microprocessor verifications which reduces the necessary effort by more than an order of magnitude. A secondary result of the research is a verified microengine that can be used to quickly implement verified microprocessors with varied architectures. >
Strain dependent effects of sex hormones on hepatocarcinogenesis in mice

In order to study the interaction of genetic and hormonal factors during murine hepatocarcinogenesis, we compared the number of liver tumors induced by treatment of 12-day-old mice with N,N-diethylnitrosamine (DEN) (0.05 mumol/g body wt) in intact mice and animals gonadectomized at 8 weeks of age from the three inbred strains, C3H/HeJ (C3H), C57BL/6J (B6), and C57BR/cdJ (BR). At 50 weeks of age, the mean liver tumor multiplicity in intact BR females was 28 +/- 13, while that for intact female C3H and B6 mice was 1.4 +/- 4.7 and 0.5 +/- 1.0, respectively. In ovariectomized mice, the yield of liver tumors was approximately 8-fold higher than in intact C3H (10.3 +/- 7.5) and B6 (4.1 +/- 6.6) females. Only a slight increase (35 +/- 14) was seen in ovariectomized BR females compared to intact BR females. Castration resulted in lower mean tumor multiplicities at 32 weeks of age in the males of all three strains. Intact male C3H, B6, and BR mice had mean liver tumor multiplicities of 61 +/- 34, 7.4 +/- 13, and 26 +/- 18, respectively, while the mean tumor multiplicities in castrated C3H, B6, and BR mice were 24 +/- 14, 0.5 +/- 0.9, and 6.1 +/- 10 tumors per mouse, respectively. The apparent rate of growth of glucose-6-phosphatase-deficient, preneoplastic foci in DEN-treated BR females was significantly higher than in B6 females. The growth rates of hepatic foci in BR and B6 males were similar but foci in BR males were 5-fold more numerous than in B6 males. The high sensitivity of BR females may be due, at least in part, to the failure of ovarian hormones to inhibit the growth of preneoplastic foci and the subsequent development of liver tumors. Since BR males had a larger number of hepatic foci, it is likely that androgens increase the rate of focus formation in BR males.
Filhos de imigrantes nos Estados Unidos

This article summarizes a research program on new second-generation immigrants in the USA, begun at the start of the 1990s and completed in 2006. The four waves involved in the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study (CILS) are described and the main theoretical models emerging from this study are presented and summarized in graphic form. After considering the critical approaches to these theories, we present the most recent findings from this longitudinal research: (i) in the area of quantitative models, anticipating a downward assimilation at the beginning of adulthood; and (ii) in the area of qualitative interviews, identifying ways in which children of immigrants in a situation of social disadvantage manage to escape this condition. The quantitative results provide strong support for the effects of exogenous variables anticipated by the theory of segmented assimilation, and highlight the factors intervening during adolescence that mediate the influence of these variables during adult life. Qualitative evidence accumulated during the study's final phase point to three factors that may lead to exceptional educational performance among socially disadvantaged young people.
Reinitialized versus Continuous Simulations for Regional Climate Downscaling

The methodology for dynamical climate downscaling is studied using the second-generation regional climate model (RegCM2). The question addressed is, in order to simulate high-resolution details as accurately as possible, what strategy should be taken: continuous long-term integration in climate prediction mode or consecutive shortterm integrations in weather forcasting mode? To investigate this problem, the model was run for 5 months in three different ways: 1) a 5-month continuous simulation, 2) monthly reinitialized simulations, and 3) 10-day reinitialized simulations. Compared to the observed precipitation, the 10-day reinitialized simulation results in the smallest error, while the continuous run shows larger error. Analysis shows that the long-term continuous simulation is contaminated by the systematic errors associated with the steep Andes Mountains and the uncertainties in the moisture processes in the planetary boundary layer near the coast. The method of 10-day reinitialization effectively mitigates the problem of systematic errors and makes a difference in the subtle precipitation processes in the regional climate model, therefore improving the accuracy in dynamic downscaling.
Garcinia xanthochymus Benzophenones Promote Hyphal Apoptosis and Potentiate Activity of Fluconazole against Candida albicans Biofilms

Xanthochymol and garcinol, isoprenylated benzophenones purified from Garcinia xanthochymus fruits, showed multiple activities against Candida albicans biofilms. Both compounds effectively prevented emergence of fungal germ tubes and were also cytostatic, with MICs of 1 to 3 μM. The compounds therefore inhibited development of hyphae and subsequent biofilm maturation. Xanthochymol treatment of developing and mature biofilms induced cell death. In early biofilm development, killing had the characteristics of apoptosis, including externalization of phosphatidyl serine and DNA fragmentation, as evidenced by terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) fluorescence. These activities resulted in failure of biofilm maturation and hyphal death in mature biofilms. In mature biofilms, xanthochymol and garcinol caused the death of biofilm hyphae, with 50% effective concentrations (EC50s) of 30 to 50 μM. Additionally, xanthochymol-mediated killing was complementary with fluconazole against mature biofilms, reducing the fluconazole EC50 from >1,024 μg/ml to 13 μg/ml. Therefore, xanthochymol has potential as an adjuvant for antifungal treatments as well as in studies of fungal apoptosis.
Moisture and temperature controls on nitrification differ among ammonia oxidizer communities from three alpine soil habitats

Climate change is altering the timing and magnitude of biogeochemical fluxes in many highelevation ecosystems. The consequent changes in alpine nitrification rates have the potential to influence ecosystem scale responses. In order to better understand how changing temperature and moisture conditions may influence ammonia oxidizers and nitrification activity, we conducted laboratory incubations on soils collected in a Colorado watershed from three alpine habitats (glacial outwash, talus, and meadow). We found that bacteria, not archaea, dominated all ammonia oxidizer communities. Nitrification increased with moisture in all soils and under all temperature treatments. However, temperature was not correlated with nitrification rates in all soils. Site-specific temperature trends suggest the development of generalist ammonia oxidzer communities in soils with greater in situ temperature fluctuations and specialists in soils with more steady temperature regimes. Rapidly increasing temperatures and changing soil moisture conditions could explain recent observations of increased nitrate production in some alpine soils.
RKKY range function of a one-dimensional noninteracting electron gas

We show that the pitfalls encountered in earlier calculations of the RKKY range function for a noninteracting one-dimensional electron gas at zero temperature can be unraveled and successfully dealt with through a proper handling of the impurity potential.
Near-road measurements for nitrogen dioxide and its association with traffic exposure zones

Abstract Near-road measurements for nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) using passive air samplers were collected weekly in traffic exposure zones (TEZs) in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina (USA) during Fall 2014. Land use regression (LUR) analysis and pairwise comparisons of TEZs showed NO 2 concentrations were associated with TEZs. Greater NO 2 levels occurred in delay, high volume, and bus route sections versus higher signal light density, urbanized, and “remainder of study” areas. Comparison of near-road passively sampled NO 2 concentrations by TEZ agreed with previous real-time on-road comparisons for NO 2 in these TEZs.
From emergency to sustainability: shifting objectives in the US Government's HIV response in Tanzania

The US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) was originally designed as an emergency initiative, operating with considerable funds, immediate roll-out, fast scale-up, and top-down technocratic administration. In a more recent iteration, PEPFAR shifted its focus from an emergency response to more closely account for healthcare sustainability. This transition came on the heels of the 2008 financial crisis, which threatened to stall the 'marvellous momentum' of the 2000's boom in donor aid for global health overall. Now many programmes are having to do more with less as funding flattens or decreases. This paper examines how this transition took shape in Tanzania in 2011-2012, and the successes and challenges associated with it, using participant observation and interview data from 20 months of fieldwork in rural and urban healthcare settings. In particular, I discuss (1) efforts to increase sustainability and country ownership of HIV programmes in Tanzania, focusing on the shift from PEPFAR-funded American non-governmental organisations to Tanzanian partner organisations; (2) principal challenges stakeholders encountered during the transition, including fragmented systems of healthcare delivery and a weakened healthcare workforce; and (3) strategies informants identified to better integrate services in order to build a stronger, more equitable, and sustainable health system in Tanzania.
Influence of Short Term Fasting on Chicken Alimentary Canal Mucosa

Little is known about the physiological effects of short-term fasting in avian species. The present study was developed to examine the alimentary mucosal changes in fasted birds by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Chickens of various ages were fasted for periods of 3, 5, and 7 days. Water was provided ad libitum. At the end of the fasting periods the birds were sacrificed along with ad libitum fed controls. Tissue samples from crop, duodenum, and ileum were processed by standard methods for scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM). The SEM samples were prepared by vacuum drying methods. The TEM samples were embedded in Spurrs embedding medium. Mucosal sloughing was observed in the crop and small intestine with SEM only in fasted birds. With TEM, separation was observed between the mucosal cells of fasted birds with membranous whorls in these spaces. Sloughed cells may be an endogenous protein source for the fasting bird.
Tools of Reason: Truncation Through Judicial Experience and Economic Learning

In 1979, the Supreme Court began departing from strict rule of reason/per se categorization and by 1999 the Court made clear that the rule of reason was a continuum. With the Court providing little guidance on the details of the conduct for which truncated analysis is warranted, the FTC has attempted to fill this gap, focusing not on questions of market power but on the restraint itself. The Commission provided a basic structure for truncated analysis in 1988 Massachusetts Board, later modified in 2003 in Polygram. More recently, the federal antitrust agencies have sought to expand the class of conduct for which truncated analysis should apply in recent enforcement actions by the FTC involving real estate brokers and by the DOJ involving agreements between Silicon Valley tech companies not to cold-call each other’s employees. We argue that the agencies’ approach in these cases is not grounded on a reasoned analytical framework but instead relies on flawed reasoning through analogy. Truncation remains an important tool, both to promote efficient antitrust enforcement against those few restraints that can be condemned based on prior judicial experience and current economic learning without detailed and expensive consideration of market issues and to prohibit restraints that are shown through unambiguous direct evidence to cause substantial anticompetitive effects. Full consideration of the benefits and costs of challenged conduct remains the antitrust norm, and the government’s recent attempts to expand the scope of truncated analysis through reasoning by analogy should be dismissed as aberrations that do not warrant judicial recognition.
Application value of two-dimensional and three-dimensional ultrasound in prenatal diagnosis of hemivertebrae

Objective: To investigate the clinical value of two-dimensional and three-dimensional ultrasound in prenatal diagnosis of hemivertebrae. Methods: To analyze two-dimensional and three-dimensional ultrasonography imaging features in hemivertebrae. Results: Two-dimensional ultrasound has many characteristics of hemivertebrae. Three-dimensional ultrasound can be used to visualize the degree of scoliosis. Accurate positioning of the vertebrae, is important for performing two-dimensional ultrasound technique. Among the 12 fetuses, 5 fetuses had single vertebral deformity, 7 fetuses had multiple vertebral deformities, 6 cases occurred in the thoracic spine, 3 cases in the lumbar spine, 1 case in the sacral segment, 1 case in the cervical and thoracic, 1 case in the thoracic and lumbar. Besides the vertebral defect, 8 fetuses had additional anomalies, of which 4 fetuses had cardiac malformations, 2 fetuses had urinary tract abnormalities, 2 fetuses had abnormal limb development, 2 fetuses had central nervous system malformations, 2 fetuses had oligohydramnios. Conclusion: We found that hemivertebrae has typical ultrasonic features, ultrasound had significant clinical value.
Improving dissolution kinetics of pharmaceuticals by fluidized bed impregnation of active pharmaceutical ingredients

Investigational drugs are increasingly becoming less soluble in aqueous media, thus, presenting real challenges during development. Previous work has successfully demonstrated the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals using fluidized bed (FB) impregnation of APIs onto porous carriers. This study demonstrates the usefulness of FB impregnation in formulating poorly soluble drugs. We show that dissolution of Fenofibrate is greatly improved by FB impregnation onto Neusilin® (Fuji Health Science Inc, Burlington, NJ USA), a synthetic amorphous form of magnesium alumino-metasilicate. We impregnate Neusilin® for range of loadings and examine Fenofibrate's physical state. Dissolution of impregnated formulations is drug loading dependent and loadings below 40% show great improvement (decrease) in release time compared to physical blend. Release times are further improved by milling. We also examine feasibility of coimpregnating Fenofibrate with additives and observe stability (1.5 years) of the amorphous form of Fenofibrate inside Neusilin®. This stabilization significantly improves Fenofibrate's dissolution kinetics, making our formulation comparable to one of the current market formulations, TriCor® tablets (AbbVie Inc, North Chicago, IL USA). © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2016
Remission of symptoms in community-based psychosocial rehabilitation services for individuals with schizophrenia.

Objective The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of remission in individuals with schizophrenia at baseline and 6 months after admission to community-based psychosocial rehabilitation and whether baseline intrapersonal and environmental resources predicted remission at 6 months, controlling for relevant demographic and clinical variables. Method The sample featured 187 individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorder. To determine remission status, consensus-based criteria proposed by the Remission in Schizophrenia Working Group were adapted to identify predictors of remission outcomes, direct binary logistic regression analysis was performed. Results Findings indicated that 34.57% and 55.61% of the sample was in remission at baseline and 6 months, respectively. Remission at 6 months was predicted by shorter length of illness and being in remission at admission. Conclusions Remission of schizophrenia is an achievable outcome in community psychosocial rehabilitation settings. Clinical characteristics exerted a significantly stronger influence on remission outcomes compared with psychosocial factors.
Abstract P176: Predicting Preeclampsia Using Copeptin in Women at Low Risk of Disease

Preeclampsia annually kills 76,000 mothers and 500,000 babies worldwide often due to delay in diagnosis secondary to the lack ofsimple, early gestation tests. Elevated circulating copeptin (CPP), the pro-segment of vasopressin, is associated with preeclampsia (PreE). We have demonstrated that CPP is robustly predictive of PreE as early as the 6 th week of gestation in all mothers. Development of PreE is increased 3 fold by a history of PreE. Currently, no test robustly predicts PreE in women without a history of PreE. To evaluate if CPP is predictive in this low risk setting when a predictor is most needed, a nested case-control study was performed to evaluate the predictive characteristics of CPP of women with and without a history of PreE. Maternal plasma CPP concentrations throughout gestation were measured by ELISA. Univariate comparisons were performed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC curves were constructed to determine sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for particular cutoffs. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to control for confounding to examine if CPP was significantly predictive of PreE. Apart from a difference in prior history of PreE, no significant demographic or clinical differences were observed between groups. In all trimesters, CPP predicted PreE similarly or better in women with no history of PreE as evidenced by an elevated ROC Area Under the Curve in comparison to values of women with a history of Pre (1 st trimester: 0.96 vs. 0.85; 2 nd trimester: 0.95 vs. 0.94 ; 3 rd trimester: 0.82 vs. 0.67; p
More Than a Left Hand

Handedness is not the only form of lateral (side) preference. Foot, eye and ear preferences also exist. Overall, lateral preferences are defined as the consistent use of one of a paired limb or sense organ to perform tasks requiring only one member of the pair to complete. For example, writing is best done with one hand and kicking a ball requires only the use of one foot. From a population perspective, handedness is the most right-biased with 90% of individuals preferring the right hand, while eye and ear preference are the least right-biased with about 60–70% of individuals preferring to use the right eye or ear. The side of the preferred hand and foot are likely to be on the same side of the body but mixed lateral preference patterns are also common. Males are more likely to be left-sided than females and younger people are more left-sided than those who are older. Lateral preferences are likely caused by multiple biological and genetic factors that may differ for the specific types of limb or sense organ preference. Handedness and footedness can be associated with a single controlling contralateral hemisphere, while the eyes and the ears have neural projections to both hemispheres. It is more difficult to establish a connection to a single controlling hemisphere for the sense organ preferences.
A Plateau of Exceptionality, 2007–2011

In Chapter 7, we argued that particular discourses of identity enabled an amplification of exceptional counterterrorism through the early years of the 21st century, with new permanent laws passed, strategy formed, and offices introduced. In this chapter, we discuss how such outcomes enabled a sustained normalization of the exception from 2007 to 2011, concluding with the introduction of TPIMs (Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Act) in late 2011, replacing the 2005 Prevention of Terrorism Act’s (PTA) control orders. Insecurity was not entirely absent in this period, and a thwarted 2006 liquid explosives airliner plot was significant, but even so, how counterterrorism became normalized was not predetermined to unfold in the way that it did. As in prior decades, constructions of self and other continued to play a significant role in regard to what measures were considered necessary and appropriate. Affirmations in debate that “terrorists … really are scary people” whose release “back in society” from prison means “the threat is always there”.1 and statements that the “best place for a terrorist is a prison cell; I think we all agree on that”.2 continued to position counterterrorism laws as the key to effective strategies at countering terror. The significance of intersections of identity and security in such a context is helpfully explained by McAdam et al. in the context of contentious politics in that “[r]egimes … differ momentously in which kinds of organization, identity, and collective interaction they prescribe, tolerate, and forbid.
When to Interrupt: A Comparative Analysis of Interruption Timings Within Collaborative Communication Tasks

This study seeks to determine if it is necessary for a software agent to monitor the communication channel between a human operator and human collaborators to effectively detect appropriate times to convey information or “interrupt” the operator in a collaborative communication task. The study explores the outcome of overall task performance and task time of completion (TOC) at various delivery times of periphery task interruptions. A collaborative, goal-oriented task is simulated via a dual-task where an operator participates in the primary collaborative communication task and a secondary keeping track task. User performance at various interruption timings: random, fixed, and human-determined (HD) are evaluated to determine whether an intelligent form of interrupting users is less disruptive and benefits users’ overall interaction. There is a significant difference in task performance when HD interruptions are delivered in comparison with random and fixed timed interruption. There is a 54 % overall accuracy for task performance using HD interruptions compared to 33 % for fixed interruptions and 38 % for random interruptions. These results are promising and provide some indication that monitoring a communication channel or adding intelligence to the interaction can be useful for the exchange.
Intrinsic 3-linkedness is not preserved by Y∇ moves

This paper introduces a number of new intrinsically 3-linked graphs through five new constructions. We prove that intrinsic 3-linkedness is not preserved by Y∇ moves. We will see that the graph M, which is obtained through a Y∇ move on (PG)∗∗(PG), is not intrinsically 3-linked.
Lorin Hollander: The Prodigy as Pioneer of Human Development

World-class musician, Lorin Hollander is now in the fifth decade of a career that commenced with his professional concert debut at Carnegie Hall at eleven years of age. He has performed with virtua...
Competitive Growth of Sewage Organisms

A Warburg study demonstrates the effects of low temperature, chloride ion concentration, and ultraviolet irradiated asphalt on the growth of activated sludge and sewage fungus Geotrichum candidum . An adverse environment resembling a salted snow melt gaining its way into a sewage treatment plant could make Geotrichum candidum highly competitive with sewage bacteria and could lead to the overgrowth of the fungus in activated sludge processes.
Reprogram Murine Epiblast Stem Cells by Epigenetic Inhibitors

Pluripotent stem cells in the naive state are highly useful in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. A robust reprogramming of the primed murine Epiblast Stem Cells (EpiSCs) to naive pluripotency is feasible via chemical-only approach. This protocol described a method to reprogram murine EpiSCs by MM-401 treatment, which blocks histone H3K4 methylation by MLL1/KMT2A.