cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Going with the Electron Flow: Heme Electronic Structure and Electron Transfer in Cytochrome c

Heme is an essential and functionally versatile cofactor. Our understanding of how the environment of a heme in a protein tunes its function has benefited from spectroscopic and functional investigations of heme proteins and their variants with altered heme environments. Two properties of current interest are the conformation of the heme and hydrogen bonding to heme propionates. By combining nuclear magnetic resonance experiments and density functional theory calculations, both of these characteristics have been shown to influence the distribution of the singly occupied molecular orbital on the heme of ferricytochrome c, which affects coupling to redox partners and electron-transfer rates. In addition, heme conformation has been shown to tune reduction potential. These results reveal that subtle variations in heme conformation and in interactions with its propionates can have significant impacts on electron-transfer activity.
Intratumoral delivery of tumor antigen-loaded DC and tumor-primed CD4+ T cells combined with agonist α-GITR mAb promotes durable CD8+ T-cell-dependent antitumor immunity

ABSTRACTThe progressive tumor microenvironment (TME) coordinately supports tumor cell expansion and metastasis, while it antagonizes the survival and (poly-)functionality of antitumor T effector cells. There remains a clear need to develop novel therapeutic strategies that can transform the TME into a pro-inflammatory niche that recruits and sustains protective immune cell populations. While intravenous treatment with tumor-primed CD4+ T cells combined with intraperitoneal delivery of agonist anti-glucocorticoid-induced TNF receptor (α-GITR) mAb results in objective antitumor responses in murine early stage disease models, this approach is ineffective against more advanced tumors. Further subcutaneous co-administration of a vaccine consisting of tumor antigen-loaded dendritic cells (DC) failed to improve the antitumor efficacy of this approach. Remarkably, these same three therapeutic agents elicited significant antitumor benefits when the antitumor CD4+ T cells and tumor antigen-loaded DC were co-injecte...
Drinking While Driving and Other Risky Motor Vehicle Behaviors Among US High School Students

Background In 2015, the United States experienced 35,092 fatalities and 2.44 million injuries from motor vehicle crashes (MVCs). Alcohol-impaired driving accounted for 29% of these fatalities. In 2014, MVCs were the leading cause of death for those ages 15 to 24. From 2014 to 2015, the number of young drivers ages 15 to 20 involved in a fatal crash increased by 9.7%. There is limited research on the prevalence of drinking while driving among young drivers, and its effect on other risky motor vehicle (MV) behaviors. This study assesses the prevalence of driving while drinking (DWD) and association of DWD with other risky MV behaviors among US high school students. Methods Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2015 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey assessed DWD among 8386 students ages ≥15 years. DWD frequency was coded into dichotomous and polychotomous variables. Chi-square tests examined bivariate associations between DWD, sex, age, and race. Logistic regression assessed the association between DWD and other risky driving behaviors, controlling for demographic variables. Results The prevalence of DWD on ≥1 days during the 30 days before the survey was 7.9%. A significantly higher proportion of males experienced DWD (9.6% v. 5.9%, p Conclusions Alcohol is a major risk factor in young driver fatalities, contributing directly to impaired-driving crashes and other risky driving behaviors. Students who drink and drive, or who engage in multiple risky driving behaviors, may put themselves and others at higher risk for injury or death resulting from a crash. Research and policy should focus on ways to reduce the prevalence and frequency of drinking and driving among young drivers.
Epidemiological Characteristics and Risk Factors of the Pertussis in Infants < 12 Months of Age in Tianjin, China

The epidemiologic characteristics of 631 infant pertussis cases < 12 months, which accounted for 57.42% of the total cases, were analyzed by descriptive epidemiology in Tianjin, between 2010 and 2015. The incidence of infants was 104.66/100,000, which was 118 times higher than in other age groups (P < 0.001). The primary type of pertussis simultaneously presented in households was adult-to-infant (70.51%). The parents were identified as the source of infection in 80.18% of cases for infants. The positive rate of placental antibody transfer was 31.06% and 3.13% for 3-month-old infants. Infants presented the highest age-specific pertussis incidence. The most important reason was parents were the important sources of infection, and secondly the lower level of antibodies in neonates and the rapid waning of maternal antibody titer.
Alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) based distributed approach for wide-area control

Inter-connected power systems exhibits inter-area oscillations which limit power transfer capability between two areas. These inter-area oscillations can be damped using optimal wide-area control loop. In this paper a novel method is proposed for wide-area input-output signal selection based control using ADMM. In this approach, first interconnected power system is divided into areas. Then using measured data, a black-box transfer function model is estimated locally for each area based on Lagrange multipliers. The local area controllers communicate with the central controller to estimate a global transfer function model of the power system. Based on the estimated global transfer function, the residue corresponding to inter-area mode is calculated. This provides information of optimal wide area control loop. Residue and corresponding eigenvalue information is used for wide-area damping controller design. The performance of the selected optimal wide-area controller design is validated using Kundur two area test system on RTDS/RSCAD® and MATLAB® co-simulation platform.
Single-Family Rental Securitizations: Residential Wine in a Commercial Bottle

The single family rental (SFR) securitization is a recent invention that rose from the ashes of the last housing market crash. The sector has some characteristics of both residential and commercial real estate sectors. As the housing market evolves into one with a higher proportion of renters, the SFR securitizations are playing a role in providing funding for the housing market. This article addresses the differences between single and multi-borrower deals and the risks and relative value in SFR securitizations.
Gas-Particle Distribution and Atmospheric Deposition of Semivolatile Organic Compounds

In the last two decades it has become clear that atmospheric deposition is a major input route of contaminants to the oceans, lakes, and remote continental regions of the world. “Acid rain” is now in school textbooks, but the public is less well acquainted with the aerial transport of metals and toxic organic chemicals. Popular accounts of this problem have appeared in “Discover” magazine (Brown, 1987), as part of a “National Geographic” feature on the Great Lakes (Cobb, 1987), and in the “Toronto Globe and Mail” (Fisher, 1988).
Progressive Low-tension Glaucoma: Treatment to Stop Glaucomatous Cupping and Field Loss When These Progress Despite Normal Intraocular Pressure

Our thesis, inspired by the experience and teaching of Paul A. Chandler, is that after the optic discs have developed cupping and atrophy from elevated intraocular pressure they tend to become abnormally vulnerable and, in some cases, may continue to deteriorate even if the intraocular pressure is brought to the teens. At this stage they behave the same as in eyes with so-called low-tension glaucoma, which have developed progressive cupping and atrophy with pressures always in the teens. In either case, we find that the progression of cupping and field loss can be stopped by reducing the intraocular pressure to lower levels, preferably to 10 mm Hg or less. We have found that such low pressures are most reliably attained by surgery, using a special technique we call the shell tamponade filtration procedure, which involves the use of a glaucoma shell in conjunction with standard (full-thickness sclerostomy) filtration operations and certain specific operative and perioperative maneuvers. We present nine case reports illustrating our thesis. Glaucomatous cupping and loss of visual field were progressing relentlessly at normal pressures in each case. This progressive deterioration was shown to be arrested by reduction of the pressure to less than 12 mm Hg in 13 eyes.
Average and variance of a quasi-parallel family of surfaces

Abstract We provide theoretical foundations and practical computational tools for the statistical analysis of the local disparity between a family of situated surfaces. We do not mean statistics on discrete measures, such as pairwise Hausdorff distance, of these surfaces, but instead local, shape-variability statistics for all points on these surfaces in a manner that generalizes the mean and variance of numbers. Given a family F of n input surfaces B i , we wish to compute a surface, B , that is the average of the surfaces in F and to associate, with each point p of B , a variance value, v ( p ) , which is the average of its squared distances to the input surfaces and hence measures the local disparity between the surfaces of the family. We choose B k as any one of the input surfaces in F . We define B as union of all points p , each resulting from ‘snapping’ a different point p k of B k . Snapping followed by closest projections may be used to establish pointwise correspondence between all input surfaces. When this correspondence defines a homeomorphism between B and each B i , and hence between each pair of input surfaces, we say that F is a quasi-parallel family of surfaces and that B is their average. In such valid configurations, B exhibits properties that one would expect from an average of surfaces and the resulting variance field over B may be used for analysis, optimization, and visualization. A sufficient condition for this validity is to require that each pair of surfaces in F be projection-homeomorphic. In practice, we only snap the vertices of a triangulation T k that approximates B k . The snap produces a triangulation T that approximates B . We obtain a triangulation T i of an input surface B i by projecting the vertices of T onto it. We propose a practical, although partial validity test that compares T to each T i .
Morphologic and Genetic Variation among Breeding Colonies of the Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica)

AI•STRACT.--Atlantic Puffins (Fratercula arctica) exhibit clinal variation in body size. Taxohomists have used this variation to differentiate three subspecies (F. a. grabae, F. a. arctica, F. a. numanni). I collected morphological data and blood samples from five Atlantic Puffin colonies to assess differences in body size and allozyme patterns over large geographical distances. I analyzed differences within and among colonies and between F. a. grabae and F. a. arctica. Body size among all but the two most southerly colonies differed significantly. Isoelectric focusing of serum proteins revealed that 5 of 32 loci studied were polymorphic. An average measure of heterozygosity within a colony relative to the total population studied (FsT = 0.0031) indicated genetic differentiation among colonies was low and similar. Nei's (0.0005) and Rogers' (0.0096) average genetic distances also indicated the colonies were similar genetically. Body sizes of puffins generally increased with latitude but not on a cline predicted by ocean temperature alone. I speculate that variation in body sizes among colonies of the Atlantic Puffin is due to the combined environmental effects of ocean temperature and food quality. Received 23 July 1990, accepted 18 April 1991.
Overwintering habitat selection by the mummichog, Fundulus Heteroclitus , in a Cape Cod (USA) salt marsh

This study tracked the seasonal distribution and winter habitat selection of the mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus (Linnaeus), in a Cape Cod, Massachusetts salt marsh. Fish (mean size = 43.1 mm total length, range = 10–93 mm) were collected with a 1 m2 throw trap and by excavating sediments. In fall, F. heteroclitus began migrating upstream in creeks and eventually moved into upstream pools where they remained throughout winter. F. heteroclitus burrowed into the sediments of these pools at a density of 0.5 fish m−2, but was not found burrowed in the sediments of downstream pools or any creeks. Sediments in upstream pools were composed of a higher proportion of fine-grained particles and organic content than other marsh pools and creeks, and winter temperatures in upstream pool sediments remained above 1 °C. Temperatures in the water column and sediments of downstream pools regularly dropped below −1.8 °C, exceeding the lethal limit for F. heteroclitus. These results support other recent work showing that F. heteroclitus migrates upstream in salt marshes in fall and overwinters in salt marsh pools. Moreover, this study demonstrates that F. heteroclitus does not utilize all available pools as overwintering habitat but apparently selects pools with sediments that offer a thermal refuge from lethal winter temperatures.
Cultural Inheritance of Signals

Observational and experimental studies over the last few decades reveal social learning and culture-like influences on the transmission of communicative behavior across generations of nonhuman animals. These social learning influences constrain the signal variation that individuals will develop in their communicative repertoires. In turn, socially learned communicative behavior often constrains gene flow among individuals, because many of the signals in question are closely linked to courtship behavior and mating decisions. To understand better the significance of culture-like processes in signaling, and its absence in some groups of nonhuman animals, future research will need to integrate developmental, ecological, and evolutionary questions.
Committed retreat: controls on glacier disequilibrium in a warming climate

The widespread retreat of mountain glaciers is a striking emblem of recent climate change. Yet mass-balance observations indicate that many glaciers are out of equilibrium with current climate, meaning that observed retreats do not show the full response to warming. This is a fundamental consequence of glacier dynamics: mountain glaciers typically have multidecadal response timescales, and so their response lags centennial-scale climate trends. A substantial difference between transient and equilibrium glacier length persists throughout the warming period; we refer to this length difference as ‘disequilibrium’. Forcing idealized glacier geometries with gradual warming shows that the glacier response timescale fundamentally governs the evolution of disequilibrium. Comparing a hierarchy of different glacier models suggests that accurate estimates of ice thickness and climatology, which control the timescale, are more important than higher order ice dynamics for capturing disequilibrium. Current glacier disequilibrium has previously been estimated for a selection of individual glaciers; our idealized modeling shows that sustained disequilibrium is a fundamental response of glacier dynamics, and is robust across a range of glacier geometries. This implies that many mountain glaciers are committed to additional, kilometer-scale retreats, even without further warming. Disequilibrium must also be addressed when calibrating glacier models used for climate reconstructions and projections of retreat in response to future warming.
Detection of critical antibiotic resistance genes through routine microbiome surveillance

Population-based public health data on antibiotic resistance gene carriage is poorly surveyed. Research of the human microbiome as an antibiotic resistance reservoir has primarily focused on gut associated microbial communities, but data have shown more widespread microbial colonization across organs than originally believed, with organs previously considered as sterile being colonized. Our study demonstrates the utility of postmortem microbiome sampling during routine autopsy as a method to survey antibiotic resistance carriage in a general population. Postmortem microbial sampling detected pathogens of public health concern including genes for multidrug efflux pumps, carbapenem, methicillin, vancomycin, and polymixin resistances. Results suggest that postmortem assessments of host-associated microbial communities are useful in acquiring community specific data while reducing selective-participant biases.
Stenella attenuata (White-dotted dolphin or Slender-beaked porpoise)

Chromosomes were prepared from skin fibroblast cultures of animals killed in the Pacific Ocean and identified by Dr. W. Perrin, La Jolla, California. Stock cultures of the females are frozen, the female karyotype is prepared with ASG technique. Previous Stenella sp. karyotypes studied by Kulu were also 2n=44.
Structure and Magnetic Properties of the Spin‐1/2‐Based Honeycomb NaNi2BiO6‐δ and Its Hydrate NaNi2BiO6‐δ·1.7H2O.

The title compounds are prepared by deintercalation of Na3Ni2BiO6 and characterized by powder XRD, single crystal XRD, and magnetic measurements.
Heat-release equation of state and thermal conductivity of warm dense carbon by proton differential heating

Warm dense carbon is generated at 0.3-2.0 g/cc and 1-7 eV by proton heating. The release equation of state (EOS) after heating and thermal conductivity of warm dense carbon are studied experimentally in this regime using a Au/C dual-layer target to initiate a temperature gradient and two picosecond time-resolved diagnostics to probe the surface expansion and heat flow. Comparison between the data and simulations using various EOSs and thermal conductivity models is quantified with a statistical χ^{2} analysis. Out of seven EOS tables and five thermal conductivity models, only L9061 with the Lee-More model provides a probability above 50% to match all data.
Esophageal Baseline Impedance From High-resolution Impedance Manometry Correlates With Mean Nocturnal Baseline Impedance From pH-impedance Monitoring.

Background/Aims Esophageal baseline impedance (BI) can be extracted from pH-impedance tracings as mean nocturnal baseline impedance (MNBI), and from high-resolution impedance manometry (HRIM), but it is unknown if values are similar between acquisition methods across HRIM manufacturers. We aim to assess correlations between MNBI and BI from HRIM (BI-HRIM) from 2 HRIM manufacturers in the setting of physiologic acid exposure time (AET). Methods HRIM and pH-impedance monitoring demonstrating physiologic AET (< 4%) off proton pump inhibitors were required. BI-HRIM was extracted as the average from 5 cm and 10 cm above the lower esophageal sphincter. Distal BI-HRIM (DBI-HRIM) was also extracted from the most distal channel (Medtronic studies). MNBI was extracted from 6 channels. Concordance between BI-HRIM across manufacturers with MNBI was analyzed. Results Thirty-six patients met the inclusion criteria (59.6 ± 1.7 years; 22% female; body mass index 30.5 ± 0.7; AET 1.6 ± 0.2%). Although MNBI was similar at all channels (P ≥ 0.18), Diversatek BI-HRIM was lower than Medtronic BI-HRIM (P = 0.003). Overall, BI-HRIM correlated with MNBI at corresponding recording sites, 7 cm and 9 cm (P 0.5 were seen at MNBI at 7 cm for both systems, and at 9 cm for Medtronic. DBI-HRIM correlated with MNBI at 3 cm and 5 cm (P 0.1). Conclusions While numeric differences exist between manufacturers, BI-HRIM correlates with MNBI from corresponding channels in patients with physiologic AET. Comparison with AET elevation is needed to determine correlations between pathologic MNBI with BI-HRIM across manufacturers. The optimal HRIM channels from which BI values should be extracted also warrants further study. (J Neurogastroenterol Motil 2020;26:455-462)
Meta-analysis of risk factors of thyroid cancer: base on case-control study

Objective Evaluating the main risk factors of thyroid cancer systematicaly, to provide reference for the further development of thyroid cancer prevention strategies. Methods Such databases as PubMed, Cochrane Library, CBM, CNKI, VIP and WanFang were searched from the date of their establishment to June 10 2016 to collect the case-control studies on thyroid cancer. After study selection, assessment and data extraction was conducted by two reviewers independently, meta-analysis was performed by using the RevMan 5.1 software. Results Nineteen studies involving 4 813 thyroid cancer patients and 6 068 comparions were selected. The results of meta-analysis showed that: the risk factors of thyroid cancer mainly included history of benign thyroid disease [odds ratio (OR)= 7.31, 95% confidence interval (95% CI, 4.37, 12.23)], family history of thyroid cancer [OR= 5.13, 95% CI (3.20, 8.23)], high iodine diet [(marine animal food, OR= 4.15, 95%CI (2.47, 6.99)], CT inspection history [OR= 3.99, 95%CI (2.10, 7.60)], Negative emotions [sulking, OR= 3.31, 95%CI (2.23, 4.91)], BMI greater than 25 [OR= 2.62, 95%CI (1.73, 3.97)], high pressure and anxious [OR= 2.60, 95%CI (1.61, 4.21)], getting along with people not harmoniously [OR= 2.46, 95% CI (1.59, 3.81)], the number of pregnancies of women more than three times [OR= 2.03, 95% CI (1.50, 2.76)], age of menarche less than 13, 14 years old [OR= 1.59, 95% CI (1.06, 2.37)]. Conclusions Thyroid benign disease history, family history of thyroid cancer, high iodine diet, CT examination, BMI greater than 25, bad mood, social interaction, number of pregnancies and other factors are the independent risk factors for thyroid cancer. Corresponding prevention and control measures should be taken according to these risk factors. Key words: Thyroid neoplasms; Risk factors; Case-control study; Meta-analysis
Possible Roles for Basal Levels of (p)ppGpp: Growth Efficiency Vs. Surviving Stress

Two (p)ppGpp nucleotide analogs, sometimes abbreviated simply as ppGpp, are widespread in bacteria and plants. Their name alarmone reflects a view of their function as intracellular hormone-like protective alarms that can increase a 100-fold when sensing any of an array of physical or nutritional dangers, such as abrupt starvation, that trigger lifesaving adjustments of global gene expression and physiology. The diversity of mechanisms for stress-specific adjustments of this sort is large and further compounded by almost infinite microbial diversity. The central question raised by this review is whether the small basal levels of (p)ppGpp functioning during balanced growth serve very different roles than alarmone-like functions. Recent discoveries that abrupt amino acid starvation of Escherichia coli, accompanied by very high levels of ppGpp, occasion surprising instabilities of transfer RNA (tRNA), ribosomal RNA (rRNA), and ribosomes raises new questions. Is this destabilization, a mode of regulation linearly related to (p)ppGpp over the entire continuum of (p)ppGpp levels, including balanced growth? Are regulatory mechanisms exerted by basal (p)ppGpp levels fundamentally different than for high levels? There is evidence from studies of other organisms suggesting special regulatory features of basal levels compared to burst of (p)ppGpp. Those differences seem to be important even during bacterial infection, suggesting that unbalancing the basal levels of (p)ppGpp may become a future antibacterial treatment. A simile for this possible functional duality is that (p)ppGpp acts like a car's brake, able to stop to avoid crashes as well as to slow down to drive safely.
The Hölder continuity of spectral measures of an extended CMV matrix

We prove results about the Holder continuity of the spectral measures of the extended CMV matrix, given power law bounds of the solution of the eigenvalue equation. We thus arrive at a unitary analogue of the results of Damanik, Killip, and Lenz [“Uniform spectral properties of one-dimensional quasicrystals, III. α-continuity,” Commun. Math. Phys. 55, 191–204 (2000)] about the spectral measure of the discrete Schrodinger operator.
Relating AdS(6) solutions in type IIB supergravity

Author(s): Chen, Kevin; Gutperle, Michael | Abstract: Abstract In this note we show that the IIB supergravity solutions of the form AdS6 ×M 4 found by Apruzzi et al. in [1] are related to the local solutions found by D’Hoker et al. in [2]. We also discuss how the global regular solutions found in [3, 4] are mapped to the parameterization of [1].
Systemic Disorders Affecting the Heart

A multitude of systemic diseases can have significant effects on the heart (Table 18.1). Importantly, cardiac manifestations can be the first sign of the underlying systemic disease or represent a complication secondary to the primary systemic disorder. This chapter will focus on the most prevalent systemic autoimmune, inflammatory, infiltrative, infectious, and endocrinological diseases with common cardiac manifestations. These group of diseases are important to recognize as treatment of the underlying disease can often alleviate its cardiovascular manifestations.
Mechanical Circulatory Support in Pediatric Myocarditis: Utilization and Patient Outcomes

Purpose Myocarditis is a common cause of pediatric heart failure and may require treatment with mechanical circulatory support (MCS). The purpose of this study is to describe the frequency of MCS use in pediatric myocarditis, types of MCS used, and outcomes of patients who receive MCS. Methods This study utilized the administrative Kids’ Inpatient Database (KID), a nationally representative sample of discharge data. Five years of KID admissions (2003, 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2016) were queried using ICD-9/10 codes to identify those with a diagnosis of myocarditis. MCS strategies and outcomes were calculated and compared using logistic regression. Results Of 5,661 admissions for myocarditis, MCS was used in 194 (3.4%). ECMO was used in 82 (42.3%), a temporary ventricular assist device (tVAD) in 38 (19.6%), a durable VAD (dVAD) in 53 (27.3%) and combination MCS (cMCS) in 22 (11.3%). Half of admissions (n=2854, 50.4%), occurred in patients age 13-18 years, however teenagers were less likely than children Conclusion MCS is used in 1 in 30 pediatric myocarditis cases and patients who require MCS have higher morbidity and mortality. ECMO is the most commonly used MCS modality in pediatric myocarditis but there is no significant difference in mortality based on MCS modality.
Proposing a Normative Basis for the S-Shaped Value Function

The S-shaped value function is pervasive in its occurrence in preference tasks and prospect theory is based on the view that all preference tasks are comprehensively captured by an S-shaped value function which is concave in gains and convex for losses. In this work, we propose a normative basis for the ubiquitous S-shaped value function of Kahneman and Tversky’s prospect theory (1979, 1992). We argue that it is best accommodated within the paradigmatic context of evolutionary theory. Proceeding from this paradigm, we show that the S-shaped value or utility function must necessarily result from rational actions by the decision agent. The value function, ν(x) for changes in wealth is normally concave above the reference point i.e., ν ′′(x) 0 and often convex below it i.e., ν ′′(x)> 0, for x< 0 (Kahneman & Tversky, 1979). These bounds imply that the value function is S-shaped. Kahneman and Tversky have summarized the properties of the S-Shaped value function as being: (a) generally concave for gains and convex for losses; (b) steeper for losses than for gains, and (c) defined on deviations from the reference point. Although the pervasive occurrence of the S-shaped value function has been confirmed in the field (Collins, Musser, & Mason, 1991; Fishburn & Kochenberger, 1979; Galanter & Pliner, 1974), there is as yet no satisfactory normative explanation
Forces, Powers, Aethers, and Fields

Despite the large literature, no satisfactory account has yet been provided of the dynamics of conceptual change involved in the development of the physics of continuous media and fields.1 The present paper will not consider that rather intractable problem directly, but will restrict itself to a more modest and preliminary consideration. What are the historical stages of conceptual development in the historical emergence of views concerning the propagation of physical action in electrical, magnetic or optical media? Little familiarity with this question is necessary for a realization of the differences between eighteenth-century natural philosophies which regard space as filled with intensive powers, and the elastic aethers of early nineteenth-century optics. Again, both these views are distinguishable from post-Maxwellian concepts of the continuous field. Yet these approaches came together to form part of an important nexus of ideas from which arose interpretations of the physical field as they developed until the end of the nineteenth century. Unless we are able to characterize these similarities and differences, little understanding will be possible of interactions over time between these domains of concepts. As we shall see, the thought of Faraday and Maxwell is somewhat differently related to eighteenth-century doctrines of substantive powers. And Lorentz’s work bears a different relationship to the Maxwellian corpus than the ideas of Lord Kelvin. In general, unless we get clearer about descriptive problems of this sort, it will be difficult to give dynamic and historical explanations of the change over time in the refinement and legitimation of concepts.
Improving genome understanding

The cost of genome sequencing has fallen drastically, says George Church, so why are so few people opting to have their genetic secrets revealed?
Inhibition of Glutamate Transport in Synechococcus cedrorum by Glutamine

The absence of glutamate transport in glutamine-grown cells of Synechococcus cedrorum R7 was due to feedback inhibition and not repression of transport activity.
Factors Affecting Fluoride Evolution from Hall-Heroult Smelting Cells

Measurements of Hall cell primary fluoride evolution were made over a nine-month period from 1975 December to 1976 August on two smelting pots at Alcoa’s Badin, N.C. Works. Observation of primary pot fluoride evolution was made for thirteen 18-hour periods and correlated with process operating parameters, ambient conditions, and raw material composition. Variations in those parameters which are controllable were intentionally introduced and parameters which were not controllable were measured. The resulting equation relating total primary fluoride evolution to operating and raw material parameters for blended alumina and aluminum fluoride feed was as follows: (total primary F evolution, kg/tonne Al) = -158.5 – 54 (bath NaF/AlF3 weight ratio) + 0.244 (bath temperature, C) + 3.77 (ambient partial pressure of water, kPa) + 3.62 (alumina water content, %) − 1.29 (bath alumina content, %) + 0.35 (bath calcium fluoride content, %) + 13.5 (anode effect) − 2.6 (track) + 3.79 (hand fluoride addition) + 9.64 (average anode hydrogen content, %) in which (anode effect) is 1 if an anode effect is occurring and 0 otherwise, (track) is 1 if a track (interruption of alumina feed for feed rate adjustment) is occurring and 0 otherwise, and (hand fluoride addition) is 1 if aluminum fluoride is being added by hand and 0 otherwise.
Evidence for electron transfer reactions involved in the Cu2+ -dependent thiol activation of fat cell glucose utilization.

Abstract Previous studies indicated that the ability of thiols to mimic insulin action on fat cell glucose oxidation and lipolysis was dependent on Cu2+. Evidence now presented indicates that H2O2 formed by the reaction of thiols, Cu2+, and O2 mediates the effects of these agents on isolated fat cells. Oxidation of thiols to the respective disulfides in the presence of Cu2+ accompanied the stimulatory effects on glucose metabolism. Diphenyl-1, 10-phenanthroline, which binds tightly to Cu+ but not Cu2+, blocks copper-catalyzed thiol oxidation and the stimulatory effect on fat cell glucose utilization, indicating that reduction of Cu2+ is an obligatory step for thiol action. The thiol-Cu2+ effect on fat cells is readily reversible since stimulated rates of glucose oxidation returned to control levels following addition of the chelator. Catalase inhibited the stimulatory effect of thiols but not insulin on fat cell glucose oxidation, whereas H2O2 mimicked the action of thiols and insulin on this process. As little as 10 µm H2O2 stimulated glucose utilization, whereas 1 mm H2O2 was maximally effective. Higher concentrations were less effective. The stimulatory effect of various mercaptoethanol and Cu2+ concentrations on labeled CO2 production from d-[1-14C]glucose by fat cells paralleled the peroxide formed under these conditions. Other oxidants such as MnO4= and diamide were also effective in enhancing fat cell glucose oxidation. The stimulatory effect of all three oxidants, as well as insulin, was inhibited by phlorizin and cytochalasin B, known glucose transport inhibitors. Fat cells enhanced the decomposition of added H2O2 or that generated by cysteine, Cu2+, and O2. These data are consistent with the concept that an electron transfer reaction between a fat cell component or components and oxidants results in stimulated glucose transport or metabolism or both.
Effectiveness of Foliar Fungicides by Timing on Hybrid Corn

Fungicide use on hybrid corn has increased considerably in the past several growing seasons, primarily due to reports of increased yields, even in the absence of disease and higher corn prices. A number of fungicides are registered for use on corn. The objectives of this project were to 1) assess the effect of timing of application of fungicides on standability, 2) evaluate the yield response of hybrid corn to foliar fungicide application, and 3) to discern differences, if any, between fungicide products.
The Student-Managed Fund: A Case Study of Portfolio Properties

This case provides students with an in-depth look at various risk measurements in portfolio management. The primary issues examined in this case are: 1) Review pertinent concepts of describing and summarizing a bath of numerical data in the context of identifying portfolio properties. Although these concepts have been covered in basic statistics courses, it is important enough to go over again so that students may be better prepared for discussions regarding various risk measurements in portfolio management; 2) A distinction between use of geometric and arithmetic return data; 3) How risk is measured in investments, and what some of the measures of risk are used. In particular, it is recommended that a spreadsheet model be used to compute these various risk measurements. Differentiate between different types of risk; namely, total risk, systematic risk, and nonsystematic risk; 4) Demonstrate that the true betas tend to move toward 1.0 over time. With more advanced students, it is recommended that they use the Excel spreadsheet, (or some other statistical software, i.e., SAS or Minitab), to run the single-index regression model and verify these beta estimates. This case has a difficulty level appropriate for senior or first year MBA students. It is designed to be taught in a single class period (60 to 80 minutes). With more advanced students, the case can be assigned as a team project. The team presents their findings and conclusions to the class. If the case is used as a team presentation project, approximately 2 to 3 hours of student preparation time should be adequate for most students depending on their computational ability.
High Voltage/High Power for Airborne Applications

The Air Force has requirements for large amounts of electrical power at high voltage (up to hundreds of kilovolts) for certain airborne applications. Because of the severe weight and volume constraints, these systems cannot be realized using conventional technology. The Air Force, therefore, has been heavily involved in the development of lightweight power generation and conditioning equipment. Programs have been undertaken to reduce the weight of rotating machines, transformers, switches, inverters, and capacitors. The advances made in these areas are described, and some aspects of the use of these components in the design of lightweight systems are discussed.
Generating Jacobi Forms

In this paper we explore the relationship between vector-valued modular forms and Jacobi forms and give explicit relations over various congruence subgroups. The main result is that a Jacobi form of square-free index on the full Jacobi group is uniquely determined by any of the associated vector components. In addition, an explicit construction is given to determine the other vector components from this single component. In other words, we give an explicit construction of a Jacobi form from a subset of its Fourier coefficients. This leads to results about how the transformation properties are affected by congruence restrictions on the Fourier expansion.
Illness episodes and cortisol in healthy older adults during a life transition.

Alterations in neuroendocrine functioning and in the neuroendocrine response to stress have been observed in older adults. Stressful life events have also been associated with increased illness vulnerability. However, effects of natural life stressors on neuroendocrine functioning and health of the elderly have not been well characterized. This research examines relationships among cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), distress, and illness episodes in an elderly population experiencing the life transition of housing relocation. Thirty older adults moving to congregate living facilities were assessed in their homes 1 month premove and 2 weeks postmove. Twenty-eight nonmoving comparison participants were assessed at similar time points. Assessments included measures of intrusion, cortisol, DHEA-S, and self-reported infectious illness episodes. Movers reported more illness episodes between the two assessments than controls. Significant alterations in neuroendocrine measures were not observed among movers at either time point. Individuals with more intrusive thoughts had higher cortisol levels concurrently and prospectively, but these relationships did not vary by group. Greater intrusion at premove was associated with a greater likelihood of reported illness episodes between the two assessments, but there were no relationships between neuroendocrine factors and illness episodes, and intrusion did not mediate the relationships between group and likelihood of illness. In healthy elders, a temporary life stressor may increase vulnerability to illness but does not appear to pose a risk for sustained alterations in neuroendocrine hormones. However, the presence of intrusive thoughts may be a risk factor for elevations in cortisol.
A survey of solid state devices for control and information handling systems

Summary form only given, as follows. A review is made of the present solid state deviees used for handling digital information. Semiconductor diodes and the unique properties of the transistor are briefly discussed. A more detailed discussion of magnetics includes the random ac cess memory ar rays, of cores, of holes in a plate, or of islands of evaporated films; various types of magnetic decoding and encoding switches; shut registers; current and voltage driven circuits; the principle of current steering; transistor coupled circuits; the principle of the transfluxor; transfluxor logic circuits; transfluxor current steering; and non-destructive read-out memories. The potentialities of a numberofphenomenaas yet not widely exploited are discussed. This includes ferroelectric, electro-optical, and magneto-resistive effects.
In vivo oxygen sensing using lifetime based photoacoustic measurements

Hypoxia is a condition where a region of tissue has less than adequate oxygen. It is of particular importance in tumor biology, as the hypoxic core of tumors has been shown to impede the effectiveness of many therapies. We demonstrate a novel method for oxygen sensing in vivo, based on the photoacoustic lifetime measurement of an oxygen sensitive probe. The experimental results derived from the main artery in the rat tail indicated that the lifetime of the probe, quantified by the photoacoustic measurement, shows a good linear relationship with the blood oxygenation level in the targeted artery.
Pitting Behavior of Aluminum Ion Implanted with Nitrogen

Abstract Ion implantation of ≈ 2 at% N into aluminum increased the pitting potential in 0.1 M sodium chloride (NaCl) by an average of 0.35 V. Surface analysis by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed implanted nitrogen was present as several species: NH4+, NO or NH3 (as a ligand), AIN, and weakly bound or interstitial nitrogen. With anodic polarization, there was an increase in the total amount of nitrogen in the near-surface region, a decrease in the relative amount of nitride, and an increase in the relative amount of NO or NH3. These changes resulted from migration of implanted nitrogen from the substrate into the near-surface region with partial conversion of the AIN species to NO or NH3. It was suggested that the effect of implanted nitrogen on pitting behavior of aluminum is similar to that in nitrogen-containing stainless steels (SS), where nitrogen at the metal surface inhibits the dissolution kinetics or aids the repassivation process in the pit by forming NH4+ ions that buffer the pit el...
ENSO, seasonal rainfall patterns and simulated maize yield variability in Zimbabwe

Abstract A correlation between ENSO (El Nino/Southern Oscillation) and rainfall in southern Africa has been recognized for at least a decade. This recognition has led to the expectation that ENSO-based climate predictions will have significant applications in agricultural management. This study is an analysis of the potential for using ENSO predictions to reduce risk in agricultural production associated with rainfall variability at the site level. Records of sea-surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific during November, December and January were used to define El Nino, La Nina and neutral years. Climate data from four sites in four of the five agroecological zones (AEZ) in Zimbabwe were analyzed with respect to ENSO phases and used to drive a maize growth simulation model parameterized for soil conditions typical of each area, using two nitrogen fertilizer treatments and three planting dates. The four sites (Karoi, AEZ II; Gweru, AEZ III; Masvingo, AEZ IV; and Beitbridge, AEZ V) all showed a decrease in seasonal precipitation associated with the El Nino phase, compared to both neutral and La Nina years. At sites in zones II and III, within-season rainfall variability increased for both El Nino and La Nina years relative to neutral years. While average simulated maize yields were generally lowest in El Nino years, variability in rainfall pattern and standard deviation of yields at the site level was high within each ENSO phase, indicating that more precise seasonal climate predictions would be necessary for forecasts to be valuable in crop management decisions in Zimbabwe. However, simulation results point towards the relative importance of predicting favorable cropping seasons as opposed to poor ones with respect to better nitrogen management and yield improvement for the more marginal sites.
Protein–protein interactions in transcription: A fertile ground for helix mimetics

Designed ligands that inhibit protein-protein interactions involved in gene expression are valuable as reagents for genomics research and as leads for drug discovery efforts. Selective modulation of protein-protein interactions has proven to be a daunting task for synthetic ligands; however, the last decade has seen significant advances in inhibitor design, especially for helical protein interfaces. This review discusses examples of transcriptional complexes targeted by designer helices.
Surgical outcomes research: a progression from performance audits, to assessment of administrative databases, to prospective risk-adjusted analysis - how far have we come?

Purpose of review This review focuses on how the assessment of surgical quality and safety has evolved from individual performance audits and morbidity and mortality reviews, to assessment of large administrative databases, to the current practice of prospective risk-adjusted analysis by a National Surgical Quality Improvement Program for children's surgical care. This evolution follows the natural availability of surgical outcome data and a national call for improved hospital care safety and quality. Recent findings Two new advances in children's surgical care include the comparative use of national health record data compiled in administrative datasets and the use of a risk-adjusted assessment of children's surgical morbidity and mortality as assessed by a newly developed National Surgical Quality Improvement Program for children's operative care. The value and application of these two datasets are presented. Summary The evolution of the assessment of surgical quality and safety will equip the surgeon with an optimal array of outcome assessment tools to assure the best in surgical quality and safety for the pediatric patient.
AcrA is a highly asymmetric protein capable of spanning the periplasm.

AcrA protein is a component of the multi-drug efflux complex AcrAB-TolC of Escherichia coli. Judged by the hypersusceptibility phenotype of acrA mutants, the AcrAB-TolC system pumps out an extraordinarily wide variety of antibiotics, chemotherapeutic agents, detergents and dyes. This complex traverses both the inner and outer membranes of E. coli and catalyzes efflux of the drugs directly into the medium. The coordinated operation of the inner membrane transporter AcrB and outer membrane channel TolC is thought to be mediated by AcrA. The latter is a lipoprotein located in the periplasmic space. We show here that a lipid-deficient derivative of AcrA is functionally active as demonstrated by the complementation of the hypersusceptibility phenotype of the acrA mutant. Purified non-lipidated and intact forms of AcrA were able to restore, with similar efficiency, the activity of AcrA-dependent efflux of erythromycin in Ca2+-sucrose-treated E. coli cells. Using analytical ultracentrifugation and dynamic light scattering techniques we determined hydrodynamic properties of the non-lipidated AcrA and found that AcrA exists in solution as a highly asymmetric monomeric molecule with an axial ratio of 8. This elongated shape of AcrA is compatible with the hypothesis that this protein spans the periplasmic space coordinating the concerted operation of inner and outer membrane components of the complex.
Rotational dependence of collisional quenching of OH fluorescence from 2E+(v'=0) levels due to water molecules near room temperature

Using a narrow band, frequency-doubled output of a pulsed- dye-amplifier, simultaneous absorption and laser-induced fluorescence measurements of OH have been performed to study the rotational dependence of the collisional quenching of the OH fluorescence emission from 2(Sigma) + levels due to water molecules. In these studies, the OH was produced in a low pressure water vapor microwave discharge cell. The microwave power was varied in the range between 30 to 50 Watts in order to investigate variations in the quenching rate, translational, and rotational temperatures with microwave power. From the absorption lineshape data, it was determined that, for a given microwave setting, the OH molecules in the region of excitation are in both rotational and transnational thermal equilibrium. The quenching results indicate a slight variation with increasing microwave power. They also show a variation with the excited rotational level. For K > 4, the quenching rate decreases as the rotational level excitation increases. This is in agreement with previously observed trends. Finally, the quenching rate data obtained in this study are compared to those available in the literature and discrepancies are discussed.
The strong-inference protocol: not just for grant proposals

The strong-inference protocol puts into action the important concepts in Platt's often-assigned, classic paper on the strong-inference method (10). Yet, perhaps because students are frequently perf...