cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hemodynamic Impact of Superior Vena Cava Placement in the Y-Graft Fontan Connection.

Background A Fontan Y-shaped graft using a commercially available aortoiliac graft has been used to connect the inferior vena cava (IVC) to the pulmonary arteries. This modification of the Fontan procedure seeks to improve hepatic flow distribution (HFD) to the lungs. However, patient-specific anatomical restrictions might limit the space available for graft placement. Altering the superior vena cava (SVC) positioning is hypothesized to provide more space for an optimal connection, avoiding caval flow collision. Computational modeling tools were used to retrospectively study the effect of SVC placement on Y-graft hemodynamics. Methods Patient-specific anatomies (N = 10 patients) and vessel flows were reconstructed from retrospective cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) images after Fontan Y-graft completion. Alternative geometries were created using a virtual surgery environment, altering the SVC position and the offset in relation to the Y-graft branches. Geometric characterization and computational fluid dynamics simulations were performed. Hemodynamic factors (power loss and HFD) were computed. Results Patients with a higher IVC return showed less sensitivity to SVC positioning. Patients with low IVC flow showed varied HFD results, depending on SVC location. Balanced HFD values (50% to each lung) were obtained when the SVC lay completely between the Y-graft branches. The effect on power loss was patient specific. Conclusions SVC positioning with respect to the Y-graft affects HFD, especially in patients with lower IVC flow. Careful positioning of the SVC at the time of a bidirectional Glenn (BDG) procedure based on patient-specific anatomy can optimize the hemodynamics of the eventual Fontan completion.
Parameters of the luminous region surrounding deuterium pellets in the Princeton Large Torus tokamak.

The luminous region of the plasma cloud surrounding deuterium pellets injected into a tokamak is studied spectroscopically. At the time of peak luminosity the electron density is 2.4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{17}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ to within 30% and the temperature is at most 2.0 eV. The intensity ratio of the Balmer-alpha and -beta light from the pellets, the total number of emitted photons, and the apparent size of the radiating region are consistent with local thermodynamic equilibrium at this temperature and density.
Optimization of Equipment Replacement: Dynamic Programming-Based Optimization

The purpose of this paper is to present an optimization model formulation based on deterministic dynamic programming (DDP) and to propose both the Bellman and Wagner approaches to solve the problem of equipment replacement optimization (ERO). The developed solution methodology is general and can be used to make optimal keep and replace decisions for new and used vehicles, with and without annual budget considerations. A simple numerical example illustrates and steps through the Bellman DDP solution process and demonstrates how DDP is used to solve the ERO problem through backward recursion. The developed DDP-based ERO software is tested and validated with Texas Department of Transportation vehicle fleet data. Comprehensive numerical results, such as the software computational time and solution quality, are described. Substantial cost savings are estimated with this ERO software. Further research directions are suggested.
Body image in brace treated and untreated patients: preliminary results from BrAIST

Methods Data from 178 BrAIST subjects that chose treatment were used. Subjects that switched treatment during the study were not included in the analyses. Body image constructs, based on cognitive-behavioral perspectives (1), were used to measure the following: how adolescents’ 1) think they look (self-body image), 2) want to look (ideal-body image), and 3) the difference between these constructs (self-ideal body image discrepancy). The Spinal Appearance Questionnaire (SAQ) (2) measures these constructs and scores were compared with largest curve size, BMI, and qualityof-life measures. Wilcoxon ranked sum tests were conducted to test differences in self-body image means, idealbody image means, and self-ideal body image discrepancy means between the treated and untreated groups at baseline and at 6, 12, 18, and 24 month follow-up visits.
Relationship of psychosocial factors to smoking behavior change in an intervention program.

Abstract The relationship of stress and the “psychosocial assets” of adjustment, belief in personal control, and social support to the modification of smoking behavior was studied in a sample of 169 male smokers, aged 35 to 57, enrolled in a heart attack prevention program. Smokers were categorized as Continuing Successes, Recidivists, or Nonstoppers, depending on whether they stopped smoking and maintained cessation, stopped smoking and relapsed, or never stopped during the initial intervention phase. The participants were followed for 2 years. Variations in the following factors were used to significantly discriminate among the groups of smokers: stress, security, social support, number of cigarettes smoked at baseline and when smoking heaviest, and measures of belief in personal control. Discriminant function analysis demonstrated that the likelihood of being a Continuing Success is increased when there are, in combination (in decreasing order of importance): a high expectation of success; few cigarettes smoked upon entry into the program; low stress; ease of prior cessation attempts; a long period of prior abstinence; and a high degree of personal security. The results suggest that it is possible to predict which participants in a smoking control program will have problems with cessation and maintenance of cessation; and that smoking control programs can target intervention toward specific individual needs.
Improved approximations to scaling relationships for species, populations, and ecosystems across latitudinal and elevational gradients

Historically, allometric equations relate organismal traits, such as metabolic rate, individual growth rate, and lifespan, to body mass. Similarly, Boltzmann or Q(10) factors are used to relate many organismal traits to body temperature. Allometric equations and Boltzmann factors are being applied increasingly to higher levels of biological organization in an attempt to describe aggregate properties of populations and ecosystems. They have been used previously for studies that analyse scaling relationships between populations and across latitudinal gradients. For these kinds of applications, it is crucial to be aware of the "fallacy of the averages", and it is often problematic or incorrect to simply substitute the average body mass or temperature for an entire population or ecosystem into allometric equations. We derive improved approximations to allometric equations and Boltzmann factors in terms of the central moments of body size and temperature, and we provide tests for the accuracy of these approximations. This framework is necessary for interpreting the predictions of scaling theories for large-scale systems and grants insight into which characteristics of a given distribution are important. These approximations and tests are applied to data for body size for several taxonomic groups, including groups with multiple species, and to data for temperature at locations of varying latitude, corresponding to ectothermic body temperatures. Based on these results, the accuracy and utility of these approximations as applied to biological systems are assessed. We conclude that approximations to allometric equations at the species level are extremely accurate. However, for systems with a large range in body size, evaluating the skewness and kurtosis is often necessary, so it may be advantageous to calculate the exact form for the averaged scaling relationships instead. Moreover, the improved approximation for the Boltzmann factor, which uses the average and standard deviation of temperature, is quite accurate and represents a significant improvement over previous approximations.
An algorithm for the rapid computation of boundaries of run-length encoded regions

Abstract A finite state machine-based algorithm for the rapid extraction of boundaries of run-length encoded regions is presented. The algorithm operates directly on the run data structure contained in run-length encoding, and yields boundaries in the form of four- or eight-connected point lists describing closed positively directed countours of four- or eight-connected regions. The algorithm differentiates between external and internal (boundaries of holes in the region) boundaries, and can handle multiple external and internal boundaries for each run-length encoded region. The four state finite state machine can be reduced to a two-state machine. A state transition occurs as the boundary traverses each run. The transition predicates can be implemented as a simple decision tree. Run-length encoding is a common image/region encoding techniques. This algorithm complements the existing operators which work directly on such region descriptors, making them more attractive as a representation for region manipulation.
Malaria epidemiology and economics in a pharmacist-managed international travel clinic.

With high rates of travel and low adherence to malaria prophylaxis, targeting educational efforts to high-risk travelers is vital. We assessed risk factors for acquiring malaria, and resource use and outcomes of these patients in a managed care environment. Patients were identified from January 1, 1994, to December 31, 1997, using microbiology and pharmacy databases, chart reviews, and interviews. Sixteen patients acquired malaria during the study, although only 50% contacted the travel clinic. Only 31% (5) of them had documented adherence. Fifty percent were hospitalized at a cost of $3881/patient. Travelers at greatest risk for nonadherence appear to be expatriates and those visiting Africa. Providers should target these groups with more intensive counseling in an effort to improve therapy adherence and reduce the risk for malaria.
Cluster-variational calculations for extended nuclear systems

Abstract The energy as a function of density is calculated for neutron matter and for symmetrical nuclear matter, based on Jastrow trial wave functions. The energy expectation value is truncated in low cluster order. A detailed analysis of the two- and three-body cluster contributions and a special portion of the four-body contribution is given. Variation of a parameterized two-body correlation function is subjected to constraints designed to confine the trial wave function to the domain corresponding to rapid cluster convergence. Results are presented for a variety of model central potentials containing hard cores, for different sets of constraints, and for two- and three-parameter correlation functions. Calculations constrained by the “average Pauli condition” are found to yield results very close to those constrained by the “normalization” or “unitarity” condition, and the two-parameter correlation function appears to be quite adequate. The convergence of the cluster expansion, as reflected in the low orders, is good except at the highest densities considered. The three-body cluster contribution displays, in all cases, a remarkable internal cancellation between its “two-correlation-line” addends.
Operators not positive with respect to any basis

In this paper we use an equivalent form of Titchmarsh's Convolution theorem to show that the Volterra operator is an example of a quasi-nilpotent operator on a Hilbert space that is not positive with respect to any basis of L 2 (0, 1). In proving this, it then becomes clear how to generalize this to any operator T with the property that if M is an invariant subspace of T and Tx &#8712 M then x &#8712 M . Keywords: invariant subspaces, positive operators Quaestiones Mathematicae 23(2000), 489–494
OMEGA LIMIT SETS IN POSITIVE CONES

The omega limit sets of a nonlinear operator $T$ which is defined on a positive cone and satisfies certain ray-contractive type conditions are discussed. Under the assumption that the restriction of $T$ to a compact subset is surjective, the following alternatives are proved: the omega limit set of a point in the cone either consists of a fixed point or forms a 2-cycle. In addition, new proofs and extensions to relevant results are given.
Games decision makers play

This piece focuses on the microprocesses of decisions. It distills the complex cognitive processes inherent in decision making into pragmatic utility by articulating several “games”. These games, as they are described in the article, routinely undermine the best‐intentioned proposals, initiatives, strategies and good ideas as they are played in ways that elude most participants. The cognitive decision processes (dubbed “games” here) are described as: Framing; Criteria setting; Misuse of analogy; Misuse of rationality; and Commitment building. The key purpose of the article is to distill complex processes into manageable dialect to improve awareness. Argues that awareness and understanding of these processes is essential to achieve influence in decision making, to avoid the pitfalls of fuzzy choice, and to promote mastery over the decision‐making process.
The UL4 protein of equine herpesvirus 1 is not essential for replication or pathogenesis and inhibits gene expression controlled by viral and heterologous promoters.

Defective interfering particles (DIP) of equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) inhibit standard virus replication and mediate persistent infection. The DIP genome is comprised of only three genes: UL3, UL4, and a hybrid gene composed of portions of the IR4 (EICP22) and UL5 (EICP27) genes. The hybrid gene is important for DIP interference, but the function(s) of the UL3 and UL4 genes are unknown. Here, we show that UL4 is an early gene activated solely by the immediate early protein. The UL4 protein (UL4P) was detected at 4 hours post-infection, was localized throughout the nucleus and cytoplasm, and was not present in purified virions. EHV-1 lacking UL4P expression was infectious and displayed cell tropism and pathogenic properties in the mouse model similar to those of parental and revertant viruses. Reporter assays demonstrated that the UL4P has a broad inhibitory function, suggesting a potential role in establishing and/or maintaining DIP-mediated persistent infection.
Identification and Characterization of an MGSA/GRO Pseudogene

Three linked genes for the CXC-chemokine melanoma growth stimulatory activity/growth related protein (MGSA/GRO) have been previously characterized and mapped to chromosome 4ql2-ql3. We have isolated and characterized a pseudogene, MGSA/GROδ, which is 83% similar to the MGSA/GROα gene in the region spanning the 5′ UTR, first and second exons, and the first intron. The 5′ upstream sequence for the MGSA/GROδ gene, which is also very similar to the MGSA/GROα, β, γ genes, contains a conserved NF-KB motif, a TATA box, and a transcription initiation site. However, the sequence becomes markedly divergent after the second exon and hybridization studies indicate that sequences similar to the third and forth exons of other MGSA/GRO genes are not present in this gene. Additional sequence differences include alteration of the MGSA/GROδ translation initiation codon and a one base insertion resulting in an apparent frame shift and early termination within exon 2. Multiple mutations such as these are characteristic of ps...
Case study: Pepperdine University Libraries’ migration to OCLC’s WorldShare

In this case study the authors describe Pepperdine University Libraries’ migration to OCLC's WorldShare Management Services. They elaborate on the rationale for the decision, review some of the challenges and lessons encountered along the way, and briefly discuss some effects of the new system on our libraries. The focus is on technical services and systems, and examples of issues encountered during migration are accompanied by screenshot illustrations. The article concludes with a wish list of desired features.
Humanism within Globalization.

The complexity of adult learning connects it to almost all other facets of human endeavor. Consequently, the future of adult education depends, to a large extent on who participates and the quality of such participation. Quality participation, when teamed with environments committed to a concern for humanity, launches opportunities for varied distribution of power and is thus a catalyst for individual growth, change, and development. Analyzing who participates in adult learning, why they can or cannot participate, and what happens when they actually do, offers an examination of factors that ultimately contribute to overall participation in adult learning environments.
Radiative lifetimes of the 2p2 2D levels of B I and the 2p2 1D levels of B II

Abstract The ion beam — gas target method has been used to measure the radiative lifetimes of the 2p2 2D levels of B I and the 2p2 1D levels of B II. The lifetimes obtained were 22.5 ± 1.3 ns and 16.4 ± 0.4 ns, respectively.
Multilevel control and optimization using generalized gradients technique

A unified approach to multilevel control and optimization of interactive dynamic systems based on the generalized gradients technique is fully analysed. Through this approach the variables involved are divided into two basic distinct sets : a dependent set which is handled on the first level and an independent set which is manipulated on the second level of the proposed structure. Depending on the choice of both sets of variables several two-level structures could result. An appropriate candidate is thus selected in which the co-state variables are updated successfully at the coordination level. The developed structure possesses the principal advantages of solution feasibility, avoiding singular arcs and bypassing the difficulties of two-point boundary value problems.
Zinc is a potent inhibitor of osteoclastic bone resorption in vitro

It is well established that zinc, an essential trace element, plays an important role in growth and stimulates bone formation. However, the effects or zinc on bone resorptiion have received little attention. We studied its effects on isolated rat osteoclasts. Unexpectedly, osteoclasts were exquisitely sensitive to zinc, with a significant decrease in bone resorption occurring at concentrations as low as 10 -14 M. This effect was specific for zinc and was not observed with the other transitional or alkaline metals studied. There was no evidence of toxicity at concentrations up to 10 -4 M. Zinc also completely abolished the stimulatory effect of parathyroid hormone. Zinc is therefore a highly potent and selective inhibitor of osteoelastic bone resorption in in vitro. The mode of action remains to be established and may represent a novel inhibitory mechanism in the osteoclast
Unmanned moored station systems for oceanography and meteorology

During the past decade there has been much interest and activity in the development, testing, and use of unmanned moored stations, but little information has been disseminated. The 8th EPOC (Eastern Pacific Oceanic Conference) passed the following resolution on September 29, 1961: “In view of the fact that requirements for unmanned buoys have increased markedly in meteorology and oceanography, and that various agencies are working independently on the developments of buoys of differing capabilities, be it resolved that: (1) EPOC form a committee to study the problem related to meteorological-oceanographic buoy development, with the purpose in mind of making such recommendations deemed necessary to fulfill the maximum number of requirements of the scientific community for research and operational uses. (2) The committee should also explore the requirements for buoys in terms of numbers, types, and locations in the eastern Pacific. (3) The committee should report its findings and recommendations to the 9th Eastern Pacific Oceanic Conference.”
Enhancing the Biomechanical Properties of Self-Assembled, Costochondral Cell Neocartilage Through Modulation of Seeding Density and Expansion Media

Disorders of the soft tissues of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), including the TMJ disc and cartilages, have elicited work in engineering tissue replacements; these must be able to function within the joint’s mechanically demanding environment. Such efforts are met with the challenges of 1) identifying a suitable source of donor cells and 2) expanding these cells while maintaining a phenotype that generates mechanically robust tissue.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
The Hirota’s direct method and the tanh–coth method for multiple-soliton solutions of the Sawada–Kotera–Ito seventh-order equation

Abstract In this work, the Sawada–Kotera–Ito seventh-order equation is studied. The tanh–coth method is applied to obtain soliton solution of this equation. The Hirota’s direct method combined with the simplified Hereman’s method are applied to determine the N-soliton solutions for this equation. The study highlights the significant features of the employed methods and its capability of handling completely integrable equations.
Implementing personalized cancer care

Implementing personalized cancer care requires a sound understanding of cancer genomics, familiarity with the analytical methods used to study cancer, knowledge of the mechanisms of action of targeted drugs, and ways to assimilate and understand complex data sets. Perhaps the greatest challenge is obtaining the drugs predicted to be beneficial based on the genomic profile of a patient's tumour. A potential solution is creation of a national facilitated access programme and registry for off-label use of targeted anti-cancer drugs. Within such a programme, patients could receive the targeted agent matched to the genomic profile of their tumour. Physicians would receive guidance in interpretation of complex genomic tests and access to drugs. Pharmaceutical companies, payers and regulators would receive data on off-label drug and test use and clinical outcomes to inform their research and development plans and coverage decisions and to track real-world safety. Although recently launched prospective clinical trials will determine the true benefit of matching drugs to genomic alterations, the approach proposed here will facilitate delivery of personalized medicine services to participating patients while at the same time making observations that allow us to learn from each patient to inform clinical care and future research initiatives.
Industrial growth in Czechoslovakia 1971–1985: Total factor productivity and capital-labor substitution

Abstract A CES production function with a low elasticity of substitution and a steady rate of growth of total factor productivity emerges as the dominant model to explain the output growth retardation in Czechoslovak industry when official data are used. The main cause of the output growth retardation is the sharp decrease in the marginal productivity of capital, accelerated somewhat by the decreasing rate of growth of inputs. The rate of growth of total factor productivity is the main growth factor in Czechoslovak industry.
Fermion correlation function in multiple field configurations.

A simple quantum-mechanical example is used to analyze the effect of field configuration copying on a fermion correlation function. It is shown that the copying procedure may result in a large correction to the fermion effective mass except for short-time correlations in the low-temperature regime. This correction possibly explains the oscillatory behavior of meson effective masses in a recent lattice QCD calculation.
Effects of PPV Attack on Thermal Conditions in a Compartment Downstream of a Fire

There have been relatively few technical studies conducted on the effects of PPV on compartments downstream of the fire. Live fire tests in an acquired house were conducted in order to study the effect of PPV attack on the thermal environment downwind of the fire. Temperature measurements were made using 40 thermocouples located in a fire room, hallway, and downstream room referred to as “the victim room”. Video camera and infrared camera images were taken in several locations to visually record the progress of the fire and firefighting. A total of eleven cases are reported in this study. These cases correspond to three different fan configurations: no fan, a 45.7 cm (18″) diameter fan with a volumetric output of 3.06 m3/s (6,500 CFM), and a 61 cm (24″) diameter fan with a volumetric output of 4.31 m3/s (9,130 CFM). Two venting strategies were used: venting the fire room and venting the victim room. Fluctuations in environmental factors such as wind and the inherent statistical variation common in fire testing made it difficult to draw many absolute conclusions. In general, however, we found that cases with fire room venting and fan application had somewhat higher fire room or hallway temperatures when compared to cases without fan application. We also found that cases with victim room venting and fan application resulted in higher gas temperatures in the victim room at the higher elevations than both fire room vented cases and cases without fan application.
Search for fractionally charged nuclei in high-energy heavy-ion collisions

An experiment was performed to search for fractionally charged nuclei with charge $Z$, $14l~Zl~18$, produced as projectile fragments of 1.8-GeV/nucleon $^{40}\mathrm{Ar}$. Analysis of 1.75 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{5}$ projectile fragments yielded no fragments with charges differing from integer values by more than $\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}\frac{1}{3}e$. This experiment places limits (90% C.L.) on the relative abundance of fractionally charged projectile fragments with residual charge $+\frac{1}{3}e(\ensuremath{-}\frac{1}{3}e)$ of less than 1.8 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$ (2.3 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$.
Auto recall crisis, framing, and ethical response: Toyota's missteps

This study employs a content analysis to examine news coverage concerning Toyota's recall crises from January 16, 2009, through November 21, 2012, in the following media: The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and the news releases listed on the Toyota official website. We examine how the media frame Toyota's crises and responses, and whether the news coverage varied between mass media and Toyota's releases. The findings shed light on the crisis communication in terms of response strategy selection. In tracking the ethics of the Toyota crisis in the years since its inception, combined with a content analysis conducted in this paper, the authors attempted to integrate the literature of crisis management with that of ethics in public relations. Ethics should be foremost among the considerations of an organization's reputation and a primary factor of successful crisis management. The Toyota case has far reaching implications for ethical crisis management and recall strategy in the auto industry as a whole.
Do all programmed cell deaths occur via apoptosis

Abstract During development, large numbers of cells die by a nonpathological process referred to as programmed cell death. In many tissues, dying cells display similar changes in morphology and chromosomal DNA organization, which has been termed apoptosis. Apoptosis is such a widely documented phenomenon that many authors have assumed all programmed cell deaths occur by this process. Two well-characterized model systems for programmed cell death are (i) the death of T cells during negative selection in the mouse thymus and (ii) the loss of intersegmental muscles of the moth Manduca sexta at the end of metamorphosis. In this report we compare the patterns of cell death displayed by T cells and the intersegmental muscles and find that they differ in terms of cell-surface morphology, nuclear ultrastructure, DNA fragmentation, and polyubiquitin gene expression. Unlike the T cells, which are known to die via apoptosis, we find that the intersegmental muscles display few of the features that characterize apoptosis. These data suggest that more than one cell death mechanism is used during development.
On being one's own programming self

"Structured programming" has become the name of a popular movement toward better programming in the past two years. Among the popular interpretations of the advice advanced by the masters, are many strong proclamations that anyone, by following a few simple prescribed rules, can be transformed into a programmer of top grade, and the productivity of programming shops everywhere can be multiplied. Experience, particularly with students in programming courses, leads to the tentative conclusion that some (but not all) will be helped by the "rules of structured programming;" and that the quality of their products will rise, though not to the extent one might expect from the inflated claims of some structuralists.
An Elementary Notion of Gauge Equivalence

An elementary notion of gauge equivalence is introduced that does not require any Lagrangian or Hamiltonian apparatus. It is shown that in the special case of theories, such as general relativity, whose symmetries can be identified with spacetime diffeomorphisms this elementary notion has many of the same features as the usual notion. In particular, it performs well in the presence of asymptotic boundary conditions.
X-Ray Crystal Structure of trans-PdCl2(PPh2C12H7S3)2, a New Morphology

Herein we report the crystal structure of trans-PdCl2(PPh2C12H7S3)2, 1, in a different morphology than has previously been reported [Stott et al. (Dalton Trans (4):652–653, 2005]. This structure crystallizes in a P-1 space group with a = 9.4249(19) A, b = 11.540(2) A, c = 12.559(3) A, α = 79.07(3)°, β = 78.04(3)°, γ = 69.44(3)°, Z = 1. The earlier structure possessed a P21/n space group. Additionally the terthienyl moieties of 1 demonstrate the anti orientation exclusively while the P21/n space group structure has some syn and even syn/anti mixed geometries included.
Pentameric complex of viral glycoprotein H is the primary target for potent neutralization by a human cytomegalovirus vaccine

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) can cause serious morbidity/mortality in transplant patients, and congenital HCMV infection can lead to birth defects. Developing an effective HCMV vaccine is a high medical priority. One of the challenges to the efforts has been our limited understanding of the viral antigens important for protective antibodies. Receptor-mediated viral entry to endothelial/epithelial cells requires a glycoprotein H (gH) complex comprising five viral proteins (gH, gL, UL128, UL130, and UL131). This gH complex is notably missing from HCMV laboratory strains as well as HCMV vaccines previously evaluated in the clinic. To support a unique vaccine concept based on the pentameric gH complex, we established a panel of 45 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) from a rabbit immunized with an experimental vaccine virus in which the expression of the pentameric gH complex was restored. Over one-half (25 of 45) of the mAbs have neutralizing activity. Interestingly, affinity for an antibody to bind virions was not correlated with its ability to neutralize the virus. Genetic analysis of the 45 mAbs based on their heavy- and light-chain sequences identified at least 26 B-cell linage groups characterized by distinct binding or neutralizing properties. Moreover, neutralizing antibodies possessed longer complementarity-determining region 3 for both heavy and light chains than those with no neutralizing activity. Importantly, potent neutralizing mAbs reacted to the pentameric gH complex but not to gB. Thus, the pentameric gH complex is the primary target for antiviral antibodies by vaccination.
Browser-Based Accessibility Evaluation Tools for Beginners

There are hundreds of Web accessibility software options out in the world that serve many different functions. Not surprisingly, many of them are designed for users with a wide range of abilities, ...
Delay and power optimization with TSV-aware 3D floorplanning

3D technology facilitates reduction in wirelength by vertically stacking dies. Through-silicon-vias (TSVs) are used to connect inter-die signals, and the RC value of a single TSV depends on TSV dimensions, technology and used materials. The impact of TSVs on the delay also depends on the interaction between neighboring TSVs, on the length of wires connected to TSVs, and physical parameters of metal layers the wires are assigned to. Wire length reduction and number of TSVs influences the number of needed buffers. The dynamic power consumption of 3D-interconnects includes power consumption in wires, TSVs and buffers. Therefore, it is crucial to consider RC values of TSVs early in the design phase to evaluate and optimize electrical performance of 3D ICs. We use TSV-aware 3-D floorplanning tool that concurrently places TSV islands with circuit blocks. During the optimization we take into account TSV contribution to area, delay and power. TSVs are arranged in the islands with given dimension and pitch. Including TSV contribution into cost function during optimization reduces peak and total delay in interconnects by 32% and 20% respectively as compare to TSV delay-unaware floorplanning. It also allows for more accurate estimation of the number of buffers and reduction in interconnect dynamic power consumption by 7%-11%.
SUSCEPTIBILITY OF VARIOUS STAGES OF DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER TO GAMMA RADIATION.

All stages of Drosophila melanogaster Meigen were exposed to gamma radiation from a cobalt-60 source. The sensitivity, in descending order, was: eggs, 1-day-old larvae, 1-day-old pupae, 3-day-old larvae, 3-day-old pupae, and adults. Exposure of eggs to 0.9 kr or more caused a high mortality rate in the egg and larval stages after exposure to 0.4 or 0.6 kr; death occurred in the pupal stage. Irradiation of larvae resulted in a high rate of pupal mortality. Adult females exposed to as much as 35 kr lived as long as untreated females. Adult males were shorter lived than untreated males after exposure to 21 kr or more.
Educational attainment, MRI changes and cognitive function in older postmenopausal women from the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study

The relationship between neuropathology and clinically manifested functional and cognitive deficits is complex. Clinical observations of individuals with greater neuropathology who function better than some individuals with less neuropathology are common and puzzling. Educational attainment, a proxy for "cognitive reserve," may help to explain this apparent contradiction. The objective of this study is to determine if educational attainment is correlated with cognitive decline, brain lesion volume, and total brain atrophy. One thousand three hundred ninety of the 7,479 community-dwelling women 65 years of age and older enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study, two parallel randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials comparing unopposed and opposed postmenopausal hormone therapy with placebo, were studied. Study participants received annual assessments of global cognitive function with the Modified Mini Mental State exam. One thousand sixty-three participants also received supplemental neurocognitive battery and neuroimaging studies. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to calculate total ischemic lesion and brain volumes. Incident cases of probable dementia and mild cognitive impairment were centrally adjudicated. After adjustment for total lesion and total brain volumes (atrophy), higher educational attainment predicted better cognitive performance (p < 0.001). Following conversion to dementia/MCI, higher education predicted steeper declines in cognitive function (p < 0.001). Thus, higher educational attainment was associated with a delay in diagnosis of dementia/MCI in the face of a growing neuropathological load.
CCDs at Lick Observatory

Improved sensitivity to light and uniformity of response has been obtained using various surface treatments of thinned CCDs. Procedures are described and some results are shown. The Lick Observatory data acquisition system is briefly described. A new thermoelectrically-cooled CCD camera for telescope guiding has been designed and built. The camera is described and preliminary results at the telescope are given.
Optimal Three-Dimensional Placement of Heat Generating Electronic Components

This work introduces an algorithm that uses simulated annealing to perform electronic component layout while incorporating constraints related to thermal performance. A hierarchical heat transfer analysis is developed which is used in conjunction with the simulated annealing algorithm to produce final layout configurations that are densely packed and operate within specified temperature ranges. Examples of three-dimensional component placement test cases are presented including an application to embedded wearable computers.
Interaction of lead and chromium with chitin and chitosan

The interaction of the natural marine polymer chitin and its deacetylated derivative chitosan with lead and chromium has been investigated. The uptake of lead and chromium was determined from changes in concentration as measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy. A significant uptake of Pb(II) on both chitosan and chitin was observed. However, the uptake of Pb(II) on chitin was approximately 21% of that on chitosan. The number of Natoms in chitin and chitosan and per number of Pb(II) ions sorbed was 115 and 29, respectively. The number density of flakes observed in the scanning electron microscope and characterized by an intense Pb signal in energy dispersive analysis of x rays (EDAX) was greater on the surface of chitosan [containing 1.7 × 10−4 mole Pb(II)/g chitosan] than chitin [containing 3.5 × 10−5 mole Pb(II)/g chitin] after equilibration with Pb(II) solution. The bonding state of lead on chitosan as determined by electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) is similar to the bonding of lead in PbO based on the Pb 4f7/2 binding energy. A significant shift in the O 1s binding energy from 532.2 to 531.4 eV was observed for chitosen after equilibration with Pb(II) solution. The caculated values of the N/Pb ratio from ESCA spectra were 0.5 and 11, for chitosan and chitin, respectively. A significant uptake of Cr(III) on chitosan was observed and a significant increase in the pH of solutions of Cr(III) on equilibration with chitosan occurred. A high number density of nodules characterized by an intense Cr signal in EDAX was observed in chitosan [containing 2.5 mole Cr(III)/g chitosan] after equilibration with Cr(III) solution. The calculated values of the N/Cr ratio from ESCA spectra was 18 for chitosan.
Dynamics of unconditionally deleterious mutations: Gaussian approximation and soft selection

This paper studies the influence of two opposite forces, unidirectional unconditionally deleterious mutations and directional selection against them, on an amphimictic population. Mutant alleles are assumed to be equally deleterious and rare, so that homozygous mutations can be ignored. Thus, a genotype is completely described by its value with respect to a quantitative trait chi, the number of mutations it carries, while a population is described by its distribution p(chi) with mean M[p] and variance V[p] = sigma(2)[p]. When mutations are only slightly deleterious, so that M > 1, before selection p(chi) is close to Gaussian with any mode of selection. I assume that selection is soft in the sense that the fitness of a genotype depends on the difference between its value of chi and M, in units of sigma. This leads to a simple system of equations connecting the values of M and V in successive generations. This system has a unique and stable equilibrium, M = U/delta)2(2--rho) and V = (U/delta)2, where U is the genomic deleterious mutation rate, delta is the selection differential for chi in units of sigma, and rho is the ratio of variances of p(chi) after and before selection. Both delta and rho are parameters of the mode of soft selection, and do not depend on M or V. In an equilibrium population, the selection coefficient against a mutant allele is s = delta2[U(2--rho)]-1. The mutation load can be tolerable only if the genome degradation rate v = U/sigma is below 2. Other features of mutation-selection equilibrium are also discussed.
Inhibition of mushroom tyrosinase by 3-amino-L-tyrosine: molecular probing of the active site of the enzyme.

We report the ability of 3-amino-L-tyrosine to act as a fully reversible competitive inhibitor of mushroom tyrosinase. The inhibition is linked to the ortho-aminophenol structure, and a coppe bridging mechanism in the active site is proposed.
Tannic acid tracer analysis of permeability pathways in the capillaries of the rete mirabile: demonstration of the discreteness of endothelial vesicles.

The venous and arterial capillaries of the rete mirabile of the eel swim bladder were perfused with tannic acid both during and immediately following perfusion—fixation with glutaraldehyde. Tannic acid was also introduced into the interstitial spaces through cut faces of the capillary bed. Perfused tannic acid did not permeate the arterial capillary wall because it labeled only luminal membranes and attached vesicles. Tight junctions prevented the movement of tannic acid through arterial interendothelial clefts. The venous capillaries were permeable to perfused tannic acid because both luminal and abluminal surfaces exhibited enhanced electron density. Open endothelial junctions and possibly fenestrae provided direct routes of passage across the venous capillary walls. In arterial capillaries surface caveolae of both luminal and abluminal membranes and apparently free vesicles in the peripheral regions of the cytoplasm contained tannic acid. The greater proportion of internalized vesicular profiles, however, was devoid of tannic acid and no thoroughfare channels of vesicles were observed to conduct tannic acid across the capillaries. More vesicles in venous capillaries were labeled with tannic acid but unlabeled vesicles were also evident. This provides evidence that most capillary endothelial vesicles are discrete entities that lie totally enclosed in the cytoplasm. Fixative-induced fusion of vesicles with the plasma membrane may result in branched clusters and chains of vesicles labeled with tannic acid. This effect would be most pronounced in thin endothelial cells where a greater proportion of the total vesicle population lies closely apposed to the plasma membrane.
Letter by Antonopoulos et al Regarding Article, “Carotid Artery Stenting Versus Carotid Endarterectomy: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis of Short-Term and Long-Term Outcomes”

To the Editor: The conclusions of the meta-analysis recently published in your distinguished journal by Economopoulos et al1 regarding the comparison of carotid artery stenting (CAS) and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) seem fairly robust. The authors reported a thoughtfully designed and executed meta-analysis, one that synthesizes the results from the literature and provides useful clinical information in a debatable field. Interestingly enough, the authors have found that both short- and long-term stroke and death or stroke were more frequently observed in CAS, compared with CEA, whereas the opposite was true for short-term myocardial infarction and cranial nerve injury. To expand the clinical implications of this meta-analysis, we have calculated a clinically and epidemiologically meaningful index that is commonly used in assessing the effectiveness of a healthcare intervention and communicating results among studies: number needed to treat/number needed to …
Conducting Clinical Research with Prescription Opioid Dependence: Defining the Population

Most treatment studies of opioid-dependent populations have focused predominantly on heroin users, despite a recent increase in those dependent upon prescription opioids. A key methodological challenge involved in studying the latter group involves defining the population. Specifically, researchers must decide whether to include (1) concurrent heroin users and (2) individuals with pain. The multi-site Prescription Opioid Addiction Treatment Study is examining treatments for this population. This paper describes various inclusion criteria considered by the study team related to heroin use and pain. The goal was to recruit a distinct but generalizable population of individuals dependent upon prescription opioids. (Am J Addict 2010;00:1-6).
Mutant p53 protein overexpression in women with ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence following lumpectomy and radiation therapy

Background The p53 tumor suppressor gene encodes a nuclear phosphoprotein that is thought to be important to cell cycle regulation and DNA repair and that also may regulate induction of apoptosis by ionizing radiation. Somatic p53 gene mutations occur in 30-50% of breast carcinomas and are associated with poor prognosis. Mutations in the p53 gene result in prolonged stability of the protein that can be detected by immunohistochemical techniques. In a matched case-control study of breast carcinoma patients with ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) following lumpectomy and radiation therapy, the authors investigated the frequency and prognostic significance of somatic p53 mutations as well as the clinical characteristics of patients with these mutations. Methods Between 1973 and 1995, there were 121 breast carcinoma patients with IBTR following lumpectomy and radiation therapy, and the authors identified 47 patients in whom the paraffin embedded tissue blocks from the primary breast tumors were available for further molecular analysis. Forty-seven control breast carcinoma patients from the breast carcinoma data base were individually matched to the index cases who did not have IBTR for age, treatment date, follow-up, histology, margin status, radiation dose, and adjuvant treatment. Immunohistochemistry using a monoclonal antibody to mutant p53 protein was used to determine mutant p53 protein overexpression in breast tumors and appropriately scored. Results A total of 12 of 47 tumor specimens (26%) from index patients with breast tumor relapses demonstrated mutant p53 protein overexpression, whereas only 4 of 47 specimens from controls (9%) demonstrated high mutant p53 immunoreactivity (P = 0.02). The authors found that 9 of 23 patients (39%) with early breast tumor recurrences (recurrences within 4 years of diagnosis) had overexpression of mutant p53 protein, whereas only 1 of 23 control cases (4%) had high mutant p53 protein immunoreactivity (P = 0.003). In contrast, index cases from patients with late breast tumor relapses (more than 4 years after diagnosis), which are more likely to represent de novo breast tumors, and control cases from the breast carcinoma data base without IBTR had similar levels of mutant p53 protein overexpression (P = not significant). The 10-year distant disease free survival for patients with mutant p53 protein was 48%, compared with 67% for breast carcinoma patients without detection of mutant p53 protein (P = 0. 08). The authors found that 13 of 14 primary breast tumors (93%) with mutant p53 protein overexpression were estrogen receptor negative (P = 0.01) and 11 of 14 (79%) were progesterone receptor negative (P = not significant). Conclusions In a matched case-control study, overexpression of mutant p53 protein has prognostic significance with respect to IBTR following lumpectomy and radiation therapy. Breast tumors with p53 mutations are generally estrogen receptor negative and are associated with compromised distant disease free survival.
Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance Spectroscopy near Molecular Resonances

The peak location of the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of noble metal nanoparticles is highly dependent upon the refractive index of the nanoparticles' surrounding environment. In this study, new phenomena are revealed by exploring the influence of interacting molecular resonances and nanoparticle resonances. The LSPR peak shift and line shape induced by a resonant molecule vary with wavelength. In most instances, the oscillatory dependence of the peak shift on wavelength tracks with the wavelength dependence of the real part of the refractive index, as determined by a Kramers−Kronig transformation of the molecular resonance absorption spectrum. A quantitative assessment of this shift based on discrete dipole approximation calculations shows that the Kramers−Kronig index must be scaled in order to match experiment.