cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A “Smart” Heart Failure Sheet: Using Electronic Medical Records to Guide Clinical Decision Making

p r i t c c s s CLINICAL SUMMARY The patient is a 76-year-old smoker with diabetes, prior myocardial infarction, and atrial fibrillation. He takes aspirin, metformin, and atorvastatin. He recently gained 10 lbs and now has dyspnea with exertion. The doctor obtains an echocardiogram, which demonstrates a left ventricular ejection fraction of 35%, left ventricular dilatation, and moderate-to-severe mitral regurgitation. The doctor opens the heart failure smart sheet, into which all of the patient’s clinical data have been automatically uploaded, and interactive alerts suggest that he or she treat the patient with a beta-blocker, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, and an aldosterone antagonist, and to provide smoking cessation counseling. The alerts recommend considering implantation of a defibrillator and a mitral valve repair or replacement. The patient’s CHADS2 score and the percent annual stroke risk (with and without warfarin) are calculated automatically and displayed, together with an alert to prescribe warfarin. Understanding that these alerts are based on class Ia recommendations of the American Heart Association (AHA), the doctor prescribes carvedilol, lisinopril, and warfarin. The doctor downloads smoking cessation materials from the sheet and requests a cardiology consultation for consideration of mitral valve surgery, defibrillator implantation, and initiation of aldosterone antagonist therapy.
Reconfigurable Micro-Camera Array With Panoramic Vision for Surgical Imaging

We present a prototype of a micro-panoramic vision system that includes four micro-cameras controlled simultaneously by mechanical arm-like actuators, structurally similar to umbrella ribs. Each camera rests on an arm that can be oriented at an angle simultaneously with the other three arms. This arrangement offers reconfigurable angle of view and depth perception. Stitching of the images from the four cameras in any one configuration yields a horizontal field of view (FoV) of approximately 45°. Dynamic stitching of panoramas from different configurations can increase the composite horizontal FoV to up to 130° . This micro-camera set is configured in the context of laparoscopic surgery and single-port surgery. Our prototype yields a significantly larger FoV as compared to a commercial laparoscopic camera.
Dyadic effects of fear of recurrence on the quality of life of cancer survivors and their caregivers

Background Although the 5 years cancer survival rate has increased to 66%, fear of cancer recurrence (FOR) continues to be a major concern for both cancer survivors and their family caregivers. It remains unknown, however, to what extent cancer severity is associated with the level of FOR reported by each individual in the survivor–caregiver dyad, which, in turn, is also associated with their quality of life (QOL).
Protein modifications in transcription elongation

Posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of proteins play essential roles in regulating signaling, protein-protein modifications and subcellular localization. In this review, we focus on posttranslational modification of histones and RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) and their roles in gene transcription. A survey of the basic features of PTMs is provided followed by a more detailed account of how PTMs on histones and RNAPII regulate transcription in the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We emphasize the interconnections between histone and RNAPII PTMs and speculate upon the larger role PTMs have in regulating protein function in the cell.
Methods of reducing loss of efficiency due to discreteness of distributions

All models of this paper involve R × C contingency tables in which the total frequency is fixed (full multinomial model), or in which the row totals are fixed (product multinomial model). For the most part, we assume that the column categories are ordered. For the full multinomial model the null hypothesis of interest is independence, i.e., the (ij)th cell probability is the product of the marginal probabilities of the ith row and jth column. In the product multinomial model the null hypothesis is that the R multinomial distributions have the same vector of cell probabilities.Our review includes (1) a careful listing of two-sided and one-sided alternatives, and (2) methodology to reduce the loss of efficiency of tests because of the discreteness of the model (The methodologies discussed are efficient in several senses. Tests are exact. Tests have very favorable and robust power properties. Tests make use of back-up statistics, thereby providing a finer grid of p-values. In some special cases, e.g., a 2 × ...
Right ventricular pulsus alternans during acute increase in afterload during balloon pulmonic valvuloplasty.

Abstract Pulsus alternans is characterized by a regular rhythm with alternation of strong and weak contractions. It is a phenomenon generally ascribed to severe myocardial dysfunction and occurs most commonly in patients with heart failure secondary to increased resistance to left ventricular ejection. It has also been described in coronary artery disease and in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Although pulsus alternans has more often been described in advanced myocardial disease, it has also been described in acute, transient ischemia.1 Right ventricular (RV) alternans has been described previously, but usually in patients with congestive heart failure or severe RV dysfunction, or both.2,3 The present report describes RV pulsus alternans that occurred acutely during balloon pulmonary valvotomy.
Distinct Functional and Temporal Requirements for Zebrafish Hdac1 during Neural Crest-Derived Craniofacial and Peripheral Neuron Development

The regulation of gene expression is accomplished by both genetic and epigenetic means and is required for the precise control of the development of the neural crest. In hdac1b382 mutants, craniofacial cartilage development is defective in two distinct ways. First, fewer hoxb3a, dlx2 and dlx3-expressing posterior branchial arch precursors are specified and many of those that are consequently undergo apoptosis. Second, in contrast, normal numbers of progenitors are present in the anterior mandibular and hyoid arches, but chondrocyte precursors fail to terminally differentiate. In the peripheral nervous system, there is a disruption of enteric, DRG and sympathetic neuron differentiation in hdac1b382 mutants compared to wildtype embryos. Specifically, enteric and DRG-precursors differentiate into neurons in the anterior gut and trunk respectively, while enteric and DRG neurons are rarely present in the posterior gut and tail. Sympathetic neuron precursors are specified in hdac1b382 mutants and they undergo generic neuronal differentiation but fail to undergo noradrenergic differentiation. Using the HDAC inhibitor TSA, we isolated enzyme activity and temporal requirements for HDAC function that reproduce hdac1b382 defects in craniofacial and sympathetic neuron development. Our study reveals distinct functional and temporal requirements for zebrafish hdac1 during neural crest-derived craniofacial and peripheral neuron development.
Fabrication and spectroscopic properties of transparent Nd3+:MgO and Er3+:MgO ceramics

We present the results of the development and comprehensive characterization of fully densified Er3+:MgO and Nd3+:MgO transparent ceramics fabricated from specially formulated nanopowders. Also presented are the spectroscopic characterization results (absorption, fluorescence and emission lifetimes) of Er3+ and Nd3+ dopant ions in MgO in the temperature range 10 to 300 K. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported successful demonstration of bulk MgO host material doped with rare earth (RE) ions. Spectroscopic results are indicative of a single-site RE ion incorporation with a nearly perfect single crystalline environment within the MgO ceramic grains. The results are presented with major emphasis on potential laser application and the outlook for substantially improved laser power scaling at room temperature based on the unique thermal properties of the host material.
A Rating Scale for the Functional Assessment of Patients with Familial Dysautonomia (Riley Day Syndrome)

Objective To develop a reliable rating scale to assess functional capacity in children with familial dysautonomia, evaluate changes over time, and determine whether severity within a particular functional category at a young age affected survival. Study design Ten functional categories were retrospectively assessed in 123 patients with familial dysautonomia at age 7 years ± 6 months. Each of the 10 Functional Severity Scale categories (motor development, cognitive ability, psychological status, expressive speech, balance, oral coordination, frequency of dysautonomic crisis, respiratory, cardiovascular, and nutritional status) were scored from 1 (worst or severely affected) to 5 (best or no impairment). Changes over time were analyzed further in 22 of the 123 patients who were also available at ages 17 and 27 years. Results Severely impaired cardiovascular function and high frequency of dysautonomic crisis negatively affected survival ( P P P = .01), and expressive speech improved ( P = .045). From age 17 to 27 years, balance worsened markedly ( P = .048). Conclusion The Functional Severity Scale is a reliable tool to measure functional capacity in patients with familial dysautonomia. The scale may prove useful in providing prognosis and as a complementary endpoint in clinical trials.
GENOME RELATIONS OF AGROPYRON SERICEUM, HORDEUM JUBATUM AND THEIR HYBRIDS

Cytogenetic investigation of microsporogenesis in Agropyron sericeum, Hordeum jubatum, their spontaneous hybrid, Agrohordeum pilosilemma, its amphiploid, and the backcross of the amphiploid to A. sericeum, B1, elucidated the genome relationships of A. sericeum and H. jubatum. The tetraploid parental species share a partially homologous genome which affects the pairing relationships evidenced in their hybrids. The genome formulae assigned to these plants are: A. sericeum, A"A"BB; H. jubatum, AAA'A'; Agrohordeum pilosilemma, AA'A"B; the amphiploid, AAA'A'A"A"BB; and B, AA'A"A"BB. Observed pairing configurations were compatible with the expected maximum pairing configurations predicted under the assumption of genetic control of pairing with dosage effects. This is interpreted as further support for the hypothesis that pairing in the hybrids of H. jubatum is controlled by the A genome, one dose of A allowing homeologous pairing and two doses of A promoting homeologous association.
Gene-environment interactions in a mutant mouse kindred with native airway constrictor hyperresponsiveness.

We mutagenized male BTBR mice with N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea and screened 1315 of their G3 offspring for airway hyperresponsiveness. A phenovariant G3 mouse with exaggerated methacholine bronchoconstrictor response was identified and his progeny bred in a nonspecific-pathogen-free (SPF) facility where sentinels tested positive for minute virus of mice and mouse parvovirus and where softwood bedding was used. The mutant phenotype was inherited through G11 as a single autosomal semidominant mutation with marked gender restriction, with males exhibiting almost full penetrance and very few females phenotypically abnormal. Between G11 and G12, facility infection eradication was undertaken and bedding was changed to hardwood. We could no longer detect airway hyperresponsiveness in more than 37 G12 offspring of 26 hyperresponsive G11 males. Also, we could not identify the mutant phenotype among offspring of hyperresponsive G8–G10 sires rederived into an SPF facility despite 21 attempts. These two observations suggest that both genetic and environmental factors were needed for phenotype expression. We suspect that rederivation into an SPF facility or altered exposure to pathogens or other unidentified substances modified environmental interactions with the mutant allele, and so resulted in disappearance of the hyperresponsive phenotype. Our experience suggests that future searches for genes that confer susceptibility for airway hyperresponsiveness might not be able to identify some genes that confer susceptibility if the searches are performed in SPF facilities. Experimenters are advised to arrange for multigeneration constancy of mouse care in order to clone mutant genes. Indeed, we were not able to map the mutation before losing the phenotype.
A stability index for detonation waves in Majda’s model for reacting flow

Abstract Using Evans function techniques, we develop a stability index for weak and strong detonation waves analogous to that developed for shock waves in [SIAM J. Math. Anal. 32 (2001) 929; Commun. Pure Appl. Math. 51 (7) (1998) 797], yielding useful necessary conditions for stability. Here, we carry out the analysis in the context of the Majda model, a simplified model for reacting flow; the method is extended to the full Navier–Stokes equations of reacting flow in [G. Lyng, One dimensional stability of detonation waves, Doctoral Thesis, Indiana University, 2002; G. Lyng, K. Zumbrun, Stability of detonation waves, Preprint, 2003]. The resulting stability condition is satisfied for all nondegenerate, i.e., spatially exponentially decaying, weak and strong detonations of the Majda model in agreement with numerical experiments of [SIAM J. Sci. Statist. Comput. 7u (1986) 1059] and analytical results of [Commun. Math. Phys. 204 (3) (1999) 551; Commun. Math. Phys. 202 (3) (1999) 547] for a related model of Majda and Rosales. We discuss also the role in the ZND limit of degenerate, subalgebraically decaying weak detonation and (for a modified, “bump-type” ignition function) deflagration profiles, as discussed in [SIAM J. Math. Anal. 24 (1993) 968; SIAM J. Appl. Math. 55 (1995) 175] for the full equations.
Continuity in the Midst of Change: Behaviors of Residents Relocated from a Nursing Home Environment to Small Households:

A time-sampling procedure was used to observe behaviors of 22 long-term-care residents with dementia (Mini-Mental State Exam median, 11.94; range 0-23) in public areas before and after relocation from a traditional nursing home environment to 2 small household units. Two trained observers noted the occurrence of 19 social behaviors (14 verbal, 5 nonverbal) in which the resident intentionally interacted with another person. Another 19 nonsocial behaviors (16 active, 3 passive) were also coded. Analysis by t tests of 6 groupings of behaviors showed no significant differences before and after relocation, with the exception of nonverbal social interactions. Overall, residents showed consistency in both social and nonsocial behaviors. Results are interpreted in light of personal, social, and environmental continuity despite the many changes associated with the relocation.
Modernist Studies and the Bildungsroman: A Historical Survey of Critical Trends

The term Bildungsroman, or “novel of formation,” remains at once one of the most vexing, but also one of the most fruitful contributions that German letters have made to the international vocabulary of literary studies. This article presents a survey of critical trends in Bildungsroman studies, from the early twentieth century to the present, but with an emphasis on scholarship from the last decade. Special attention is paid to work done in modernist studies. The article is divided into three parts. The first presents a broad historical overview and explores the problems raised by diverging critical traditions in Germany and the English-speaking world. The second focuses on the rise of feminist and historicist modes of inquiry between 1980 and 1995. The final part explores some of the most recent contributions to the genre, with special emphasis on colonial and post-colonial studies.
Electronic Preconsultation as a Method of Quality Improvement for Urological Referrals

AbstractIntroduction: Preconsultation exchange is a method to promote expedited care among health care providers through communication between primary care providers and specialists before a clinic visit. We evaluated the efficacy of a preconsultation exchange in streamlining patient visits to the urology clinic with an emphasis on resource efficiency in a safety net hospital.Methods: Between April 1, 2011 and March 31, 2012 there were 1,705 electronic referrals to our urology department. A random sample of 500 referrals was selected for evaluation, of whom 487 patients met study inclusion criteria. Scheduling outcome and preconsultation exchange were evaluated for each chief complaint.Results: Patients with operative or procedural chief complaints, or potential oncologic diagnoses were most likely to be scheduled directly to the urology clinic. Of the 487 patients 36 (7.4%) were treated for benign urological conditions by primary care providers and did not need to be seen in the urology clinic. For 13.5%...
Compression of a sphere with radially varying elastic moduli

Abstract We present the exact solution to the problem of hydrostatic compression of a spherical body whose elastic moduli vary linearly with radius. The solution is developed as a power series in the radius r , and in ϵ, a parameter that quantifies the degree of elastic inhomogeneity of the sphere. In contrast to a homogeneous sphere, the stresses and strains are found to vary with the radius. We also find the effective bulk modulus of the inhomogeneous sphere, and compare it to the predictions of the Voigt, Reuss and Hashin-Shtrikman bounds. This solution should be of use in the analysis of functionally gradient materials.
Quadruple Immunosuppression in a Pig Model of Small Bowel Transplantation

Rejection remains a major obstacle to successful small bowel transplantation in humans, irrespective of the immunosuppressants. Previous large animal studies have not used quadruple immunosuppression (with high-dose intravenous cyclosporine A [CSA]) for induction, followed by triple immunosuppression for maintenance therapy. Nor have immunosuppressive doses been comparable to clinical solid organ transplants. We studied, in 78 nonrelated outbred pigs, the effect of quadruple immunosuppression (including horse anti-pig thymocyte globulin [ATG] and high-dose intravenous CSA) on the incidence and severity of rejection in the early, critical posttransplant period. Group A (n = 19) pigs were nonimmunosuppressed. Group B (n = 20) received quadruple immunosuppression: pig ATG (10 mg/kg/day x 10 days), intravenous CSA (3.0 mg/kg/day), prednisolone (2 mg/kg/day), and azathioprine (2.5 mg/kg/day); prednisolone and azathioprine were each reduced by 50% on posttransplant Days 8 and 15. Trough CSA levels were > or = 400 ng/ml for the first 7 days posttransplant, > 200 ng/ml thereafter. Recipient pigs underwent resection of large and small bowel; orthotopic transplants (proximal duodenojejunostomy, distal ileostomy) were done with systemic vein drainage. We developed a scoring system (no, mild, moderate, severe rejection) to grade the extent of both interstitial and vascular rejection: biopsies were obtained daily from the ileostomy. Rejection-free graft survival at posttransplant Days 7, 10, and 14 was 32, 26, and 16% in the nonimmunosuppressed group versus 95, 90, and 85% in the immunosuppressed group (P < 0.0001). Rejection grades were significantly better over the whole observation period in immunosuppressed pigs: interstitial rejection was not present in up to 67% of all daily biopsy specimens. Rejection was present in all specimens of nonimmunosuppressed pigs. Vascular rejection was uncommon (incidence < 10%) in both groups. Isolated vascular rejection without interstitial rejection was not found. Graft-versus-host reaction was noted in both groups in the skin only; liver and native bowel were not involved. We conclude that quadruple immunosuppression with pig ATG and high-dose intravenous CSA for induction effectively prevents moderate and severe rejection in this model. Since clinical transplant complications (rejection, lymphomas) have persisted under FK 506 treatment, our immunosuppressive regimen should be considered an alternative for bowel transplantation in humans to prevent early rejection.
Neural net classification of x-ray pistachio nut data

Classification results for agricultural products are presented using a new neural network. This neural network inherently produces higher-order decision surfaces. It achieves this with fewer hidden layer neurons than other classifiers require. This gives better generalization. It uses new techniques to select the number of hidden layer neurons and adaptive algorithms that avoid other such ad hoc parameter selection problems; it allows selection of the best classifier parameters without the need to analyze the test set results. The agriculture case study considered is the inspection and classification of pistachio nuts using x- ray imagery. Present inspection techniques cannot provide good rejection of worm damaged nuts without rejecting too many good nuts. X-ray imagery has the potential to provide 100% inspection of such agricultural products in real time. Only preliminary results are presented, but these indicate the potential to reduce major defects to 2% of the crop with 1% of good nuts rejected. Future image processing techniques that should provide better features to improve performance and allow inspection of a larger variety of nuts are noted. These techniques and variations of them have uses in a number of other agricultural product inspection problems.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Serological and cytological evidence for increased Y-chromosome related material in Sxr, XY (sex-reversed carrier, male) mice

Abstract In order to define the nature of the genetic lesion which gave rise to Sxr , the sex-limited autosomal dominant sex reversal condition in the mouse,
A research note on certain loading directions in rate independent plasticity

Abstract Starting with the strain space formulation of rate independent elastic-plastic materials, the notion of “work-instability”, i.e. the possibility of an elastic plastic material undergoing spontaneous plastic deformation in a workless manner, is discussed. Some simple criteria for a material to be work stable are presented. An example of a material that satisfies Prandtl-Reuss type equations with strain softening is presented and it is demonstrated that for plane homogeneous deformations, the material shows the possibility of spontaneous plastic flow even if the in-plane strains are held fixed, if it softens beyond a critical amount.
WIC Program Participants in Rural Appalachia may be Prone to Food Insecurity

Abstract The WIC Program may help to alleviate food insecurity among its participants through provision of supplemental foods, referrals, and nutrition education. The objectives of this pilot study were to: 1) assess the levels of food security among subjects; and 2) determine factors that may contribute to food security. Thirty-four women currently participating and 3 qualified ones starting participation completed a 56-item questionnaire adapted from the USDA Guide to Implementing the Core Food Security Module. Data were analyzed using SPSS [version 8.0, Chicago, EL 1998]. Twenty-three families (62%) were food secure, 11 (30%) were food insecure with hunger, 2 (5%) experienced food insecurity with moderate hunger, and 1 (3%) experienced food insecurity with severe hunger. No differences in level of food security were observed among current participants and those starting their participation in WIC. Families participated in 1.8 ±1.1 food assistance programs; however, this was not correlated with level of food security. Family income or size, availability of transportation, presence of a working stove or refrigerator, planting a garden, receiving food from friends and family, successful hunting or fishing, and employment outside the home, did not influence level of food security. However, canning or freezing produce was positively correlated with food security (r=0.463, p=0.004). This pilot study may indicate that participants in the WIC program, especially those who reside in poor, rural areas, may be prone to food insecurity, compared to national levels, and should be further explored. WIC dietetics professionals could help alleviate this problem through development of education programs related to food resource management and/or referrals to community agencies.
A biological assessment of best management practice effectiveness during intensive silviculture and forest chemical application

A multi-year study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Florida's Best Management Practices (BMPs) for protecting aquatic ecosystems during intensive forestry operations and forest chemical applications. Five silviculture sites adjacent to stream systems were selected for study from major eco-regions of the state. Replicate stream bioassessments, using a multimetric approach (the Stream Condition Index), were conducted as part of a `before-after, control-impact' (BACI) study design. Bioassessment stations were established above and below the treatment area to determine pre-treatment reference and test conditions. Silviculture treatments of clearcut harvesting, intensive mechanical site preparation and machine planting were then completed, during which all applicable BMPs were adhered to. In addition, two sites received an herbicide application and one site was fertilized. Following the treatments, the sites were re-sampled at the same points both one year, and two years after the first bioassessment. No significant differences in the SCI were observed between the reference and test portions of the streams that could be attributed to the silviculture operations using BMPs. Hence, the study showed that BMPs provided protection to adjacent stream ecosystems, even during intensive silviculture and forest chemical applications.
Calvin and the Reformation: The Political Education of Protestantism.

The purpose of this essay is to draw attention to two aspects of the political ideas of the sixteenth century Reformation which were important to the development of the Western tradition of political theory. First, like all great transformations, the Reformation stimulated the rethinking of much that had been taken for granted. In terms of political ideas, this centered around a developing crisis in the concept of order and in the Western traditions of civility. The criticism of the papacy by the early reformers had really amounted to a demand for the liberation of the individual believer from a mass of institutional controls and traditional restraints which hitherto had governed his behavior. The medieval church had been many things, and among them, a system of governance. It had sought, not always successfully, to control the conduct of its members through a definite code of discipline, to bind them to unity through emotional as well as material commitments, and to direct the whole religious endeavor through an institutionalized power structure as impressive as any the world had seen. In essence, the Church had provided a rationalized set of restraints designed to mould human behavior to accord with a certain image. To condemn it as the agent of the Antichrist was to work towards the release of human behavior from the order which had formed it. This liberating tendency was encouraged by one of the great ideas of the early reformers, the conception of the church as a fellowship bound together by the ties of faith and united in a common quest for salvation. But the Genossenschaft-idea lacked the complementary notion of the church as a corpus regens, a corporate society welded together by a viable structure of power. The inference remaining was that men could be fashioned to live in an orderly community without the serious and consistent application of force.
The senate and justice thomas: A note on ideology, race, and constituent pressures

Several recent studies concluded that constituent preferences have a significant impact on senators' roll call behavior on Supreme Court confirmation votes, but the exact nature of this influence is unclear. In this paper, I analyze the Senate vote on Justice Clarence Thomas using ideological, demographic, and electoral measures of constituent pressures. The fact that both the interactive racial/reelection and the ideology variables remain significant in a combined model confirms the importance of this matter for further research.
Perceptions of family planning and abortion education at a faith-based medical school

Abstract Background Because of religious beliefs against contraception and abortion, family planning education is limited at faith-based institutions. The purpose of this study was to assess medical students' satisfaction with family planning education at a faith-based medical school. Study Design A self-administered anonymous questionnaire was designed and distributed to all second- and fourth-year students ( n =273) at a faith-based medical school during the 2008���2009 academic year. The questionnaire included items on adequacy of and preference for amount and content of family planning preclinical education and clinical training. Results A total of 220 students completed the questionnaire for a response rate of 80.6%. The majority of respondents described the preclinical education as inadequate and preferred increased content on contraception (73.9%), sterilization (68.6%) and abortion (65.2%). The majority of fourth-year students reported appropriate contraceptive clinical training (69.0%), but inadequate sterilization training (54.8%) and abortion training (71.4%) during their third-year OB/GYN clerkship. Approximately half of fourth-year students (51.8%) desired clinical abortion training. Conclusion The majority of students enrolled at a faith-based medical school rated their current family planning education as inadequate and desired additional opportunities.
Improved trimethoprim-resistance cassette for prokaryotic selections

Many of the antibiotic resistance elements used in molecular biology have idiosyncratic limitations. For example, beta-lactam selections rely on antibiotics that are unstable to hydrolysis and allow satellite colonies to form upon extended incubation, and tetracycline selections typically give rise to widely varying colony sizes and lower transformation efficiencies. Although prokaryotic Type II dihydrofolate reductase (dfr) genes have long been considered to have potential utility for the selection of plasmids and mobile elements in bacteria, practical limitations to the quality of those selections, mostly relating to background and inefficiency, have led for the most part to their underuse. I describe here the construction of a Type IIa dfr prokaryotic expression cassette that confers strong resistance against trimethoprim (Tmp), a bactericidal dfr inhibiting antibiotic. The Tmp-resistance cassette provides consistent and efficient selections and plasmid transformation frequencies equivalent to those encountered with beta-lactamases.
Nondestructive Assay System Development for a Plutonium Scrap Recovery Facility

A plutonium scrap recovery facility is being constructed at the Savannah River Plant (SRP). The safeguards groups of the Los Alamos National Laboratory have been working since the early design stage of the facility with SRP and other national laboratories to develop a state-of-the-art assay system for this new facility. Not only will the most current assay techniques be incorporated into the system, but also the various nondestructive assay (NDA) instruments are to be integrated with an Instrument Control Computer (lCC). This undertaking is both challenging and ambitious; an entire assay system of this type has never been done before in a working facility. This paper will describe, in particular, the effort of the Los Alamos Safeguards Assay Group in this endeavor. Our effort in this project can be roughly divided into three phases: NDA development, system integration, and integral testing.
A model for baryon enhancement in ϒ decay

Abstract We present a model based on the three-gluon annihilation of quarkonia which accounts for the baryon enhancement observed in ϒ decays.
Role of Diacylglycerol and Apolipophorin-III in Regulation of the Physicochemical Properties of the Lipophorin Surface: Metabolic Implications†

Manduca sexta adult insects have two defined lipophorin species of densities 1.09 g/mL, [high-density lipophorin (HDLp)] and 1.02 g/mL [low-density lipophorin (LDLp)], respectively, and a continuous broad range of lipophorin particles of intermediate size and density, intermediate-density lipophorin (IDLp). The transformation of HDLp into IDLp and LDLp is the result of the progressive loading of HDLp with diacylglycerol (DG) and an exchangeable apolipoprotein, apolipophorin-III (apoLp-III). In this paper, we describe the physiochemical changes which occur in the lipophorin surface as a result of the transformation of HDLp into LDLp. (1) The increase in apoLp-III content, from 0 to 16 molecules per particle, is accompanied by a gradual increase in the ζ-potential which, at pH 8.6, ranges from +1.02 mV for lipophorins without apoLp-III to −7.76 mV for lipophorins containing 16 molecules of apoLp-III. (2) As judged by the changes in the partition constant for trimethylammonium diphenylhexatriene and oleic ac...
Stock externalities, Pigovian taxation and dynamic stability

Abstract Stock externalities represent a type of consumption externality in which individual consumption of a particular good leads to production of a public bad, such as in the arms race and in the greenhouse effect. Certain of these stock externalities can be regulated by Pigovian taxation of the good that produces the externality. For others, however, depending on an ordinal property of preferences, the equilibrium becomes dynamically unstable, so it is necessary to use direct regulation to support an optimal equilibrium.
Chronic lymphoid leucemia in children.

Summary Chronic lymphoid leucemia in children was reviewed briefly with thesuggestion that the cases reported were probably acute leucemia with a somewhat longer course than usual. Detailed observations were given on a 3 1/2-year-old girl who had had a very large, firm spleen since early infancy and who had a persisting hyperleucocytosis, the majority of the cells being small mature lymphocytes. There was no thrombocytopenia or hemorrhagic diatheses. The bone marrow showed a marked lymphocytic infiltration. In spite of the fact that there was no general enlargement of the lymph nodes, it was felt that this child had sufficiently characteristic findings to classify the case as one of chronic lymphoid leucemia.
Sirolimus Decreases Circulating Lymphangioleiomyomatosis Cells in Patients With Lymphangioleiomyomatosis

Background Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), sporadic or in women with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), is characterized by cystic lung destruction, lymphatic involvement (eg, chylous pleural effusions, lymphangioleiomyomas), and renal angiomyolipomas (AMLs). The multisystem manifestations of LAM appear to result from metastatic dissemination of LAM cells bearing inactivating mutations or having loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of the tumor suppressor genes TSC1 or TSC2 , which leads to hyperactivation of the mammalian target of rapamycin. Sirolimus slows the decline of lung function, reduces chylous effusions, and shrinks the size of AMLs. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of sirolimus on circulating LAM cells. Methods Cells from blood were isolated by a density-gradient fractionation system and from urine and chylous effusions by centrifugation. Blood cells were incubated with anti-CD45-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and anti-CD235a-R-phycoerythrin (PE) antibodies, and urine and chylous effusion cells were incubated with anti-CD44v6-FITC and anti-CD9-R-PE antibodies. Cells were sorted and analyzed for TSC2 LOH. Results LAM cells with TSC2 LOH were identified in 100% of blood specimens and 75% of urine samples from patients before therapy. Over a mean duration of 2.2 ± 0.4 years of sirolimus therapy, detection rates of LAM cells were significantly decreased to 25% in blood ( P P = .003). Following therapy, a greater loss of circulating LAM cells was seen in postmenopausal patients ( P = .025). Conclusions Patients receiving sirolimus had a progressive loss of circulating LAM cells that depended on time of treatment and menopausal status.
Governments, Partisanship, and Foreign Policy: The Case of Dispute Duration:

Do variations in partisanship and political outcomes among democratic states affect the duration of militarized interstate disputes? To answer this question, the author develops a model of partisan competition derived from the government failure literature. The author argues factors associated with government failure determine the ability of governments to contend with the domestic political costs of militarized disputes, specifically the duration of those disputes. The author tests his expectations using hazard analysis on a dataset of 20 democratic governments and militarized disputes between 1945 and 1992. The results suggest the outcome of party competition in the form of a government’s sensitivity to the potential political costs of conflict is an important part of the conflict process. The author concludes that differences in domestic political outcomes influence the duration of militarized interstate disputes. Governments that are politically more secure in their tenure engage in longer disputes. A...
CS-18Src FAMILY KINASES DIFFERENTIALLY INFLUENCE GLIOMA GROWTH AND MOTILITY

We have reported that tumor cells at the invasive front of human glioblastoma (GBM) xenografts exhibit increased activity of Src family kinases (SFKs). We also showed that increased invasion induced by treatment of GBM xenografts with bevacizumab can be suppressed by co-administration of the general SFK inhibitor dasatinib. Additionally, dasatinib significantly retards the growth of GBM cells in vitro. Here, we sought to identify specific SFKs that when targeted can account for the anti-tumorigenic activity of dasatinib. We used a targeted shRNA approach to initially validate and subsequently knockdown the expression of individual SFKs in the context of both conventional and patient derived xenograft cell lines in vitro and in orthotopic xenografts. We focused on Src, Yes, Fyn and Lyn, major SFKs expressed in the central nervous system. In vitro studies examined the conventional glioma cell lines LN229 and SF767, and the xenograft cell line GBM8, while in vivo studies focused on GBM8. All three cell lines express the four SFKs and respond with abrogated cell growth to treatment with dasatinib in vitro. The results revealed cell type specific differences in SFK activities; however, in general, Yes, Fyn and Src all promoted cell growth and migration to a differing degree, while Lyn had no effect in vitro. Surprisingly, Fyn or Src depletion had no effect on tumor growth in orthotopic GBM8 xenografts, while Yes knockdown significantly reduced tumor growth and extended survival. Unexpectedly, depletion of endogenous Lyn had the opposite effect, inducing rapid tumor growth in vivo and decreasing overall survival. The data are consistent with the lack of appreciable benefit of dasatinib treatment on tumor growth and overall survival in GBM8 xenografts, uncover a key tumor suppressive function of Lyn in GBM, and suggest interrogation of Lyn activity in GBM tumors prior to dasatinib therapy.
The Ssu72 phosphatase mediates the RNA polymerase II initiation-elongation transition.

Transitions between the different stages of the RNAPII transcription cycle involve the recruitment and exchange of factors, including mRNA capping enzymes, elongation factors, splicing factors, 3′-end-processing complexes, and termination factors. These transitions are coordinated by the dynamic phosphorylation of the C-terminal domain (CTD) of the largest subunit of RNAPII (Rpb1). The CTD is composed of reiterated heptapeptide repeats (Y1S2P3T4S5P6S7) that undergo phosphorylation and dephosphorylation as RNAPII transitions through the transcription cycle. An essential phosphatase in this process is Ssu72, which exhibits catalytic specificity for Ser(P)5 and Ser(P)7. Ssu72 is unique in that it is specific for Ser(P)5 in one orientation of the CTD and for Ser(P)7 when bound in the opposite orientation. Moreover, Ssu72 interacts with components of the initiation machinery and affects start site selection yet is an integral component of the CPF 3′-end-processing complex. Here we provide a comprehensive view of the effects of Ssu72 with respect to its Ser(P)5 phosphatase activity. We demonstrate that Ssu72 dephosphorylates Ser(P)5 at the initiation-elongation transition. Furthermore, Ssu72 indirectly affects the levels of Ser(P)2 during the elongation stage of transcription but does so independent of its catalytic activity.
Investigation into the Structural Performance of Pervious Concrete

To expand the applications of pervious concrete, additional research and testing must be conducted as to its structural performance. Distress surveys were performed on two field installations of pervious concrete subjected to equivalent traffic stresses as some collector streets in use for 20 years. The results of the distress survey were then used to calculate the pavement condition index (PCI) using the procedure from ASTM D6433. The PCI rating was considered to be a quantification of structural performance. The high PCI ratings of the thicker pervious concrete sections indicated that pervious concrete, when properly designed, is capable of being used for most residential streets and many collector streets for typical design life durations (20–30 years) while exhibiting satisfactory structural performance.
Police and Fire Pensions in Florida: A Historical Perspective and Cause for Future Concerns:

Supplementary contributions to pension plans are predicted to increase for some Florida municipal governments because of the funding source used for police and fire plans. This article examines the...
Saturated-absorption spectroscopy of weak-field Zeeman splittings in rubidium

Using an external cavity-tuned diode laser in Doppler-free saturation spectroscopy, we are able to resolve the weak-field Zeeman splittings in the hyperfine levels of the rubidium D1 line. The number of lines observed in the Zeeman structure of rubidium and their measured energy-level splittings are as expected from theory. The measured amplitudes of the saturated-absorption signals, crossover resonances, and velocity-selective optical pumping signals are used in the analysis of various theories concerning saturated-absorption spectroscopy.
Recovery of fly ash carbon by carbochlorination via phosgene route

Abstract Coal fly ash consists mainly of unburned carbon and minerals. It also contains phosphorus with a concentration much higher than that acceptable for the metallurgical coke or boiler fuel. By flotation process, a large portion of the inorganic materials can be separated. However, further treatment is necessary before the fly ash carbon can be reused as a fuel or metallurgical coke. In our study, chlorination method was attempted using phosgene as a chlorinating agent. Our thermodynamic simulation shows that, by using phosgene, the minerals can be converted completely already at the temperature 200 °C. However, the experimental results showed that the reactivity of minerals with phosgene depends strongly on the reaction temperature; the reactivity is high in the first 10 min. Within 10 min, 80% of the minerals can be extracted from the fly ash at 1050 °C. Chlorination is also effective in removing phosphorus from fly ash. At 1000 °C, the content of phosphorus can be reduced from 2100 to 24 ppm in 10 min.
Phosphorylated form of MacMARCKS is essential to LFA‐1‐dependent cell–cell adhesion of U937 monocytic cells

MacMARCKS (MRP, F52), a protein kinase C (PKC) substrate, is involved in the activation of beta2-integrin. To determine the role of the PKC-mediated phosphorylation of MacMARCKS in this process, human U937 monocytic cells were transfected with cDNAs encoding wild type or mutant MacMARCKS. We observed that the expression of the exogenous wild type MacMARCKS greatly enhanced LFA-1-mediated cell-cell adhesion in U937 cells treated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). This MacMARCKS-stimulated adhesion depended on the phosphorylation status of MacMARCKS: whereas phosphorylated MacMARCKS enhanced adhesion, unphosphorylated MacMARCKS inhibited it. However, phosphorylated MacMARCKS alone could not induce LFA-1-mediated cell-cell adhesion unless phorbol esters were added, suggesting that the phosphorylation of other proteins might also be involved. Okadaic acid, a phosphatase inhibitor, induced LFA-1-mediated cell-cell adhesion only in the cells expressing wild type or phosphorylated MacMARCKS and not in the cells expressing unphosphorylated MacMARCKS. Therefore, we conclude that the phosphorylated form of MacMARCKS is essential to LFA-1-mediated cell-cell adhesion.
An algorithm for monitoring the traffic on a less-travelled road using multi-modal sensor suite

We conducted an experiment to correlate the information gathered by a suite of hard sensors with the information on social networks such as Twitter, Facebook, etc. The experiment consisting of monitoring traffic on a well- traveled road and on a road inside a facility. The sensors suite selected mainly consists of sensors that require low power for operation and last a longtime. The output of each sensor is analyzed to classify the targets as ground vehicles, humans, and airborne targets. The algorithm is also used to count the number of targets belonging to each type so the sensor can store the information for anomaly detection. In this paper, we describe the classifier algorithms used for acoustic, seismic, and passive infrared (PIR) sensor data.
Si ejection and regrowth during the initial stages of Si(001) oxidation

The initial stages of oxidation of the Si(001)‐2×1 surface have been studied using scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy. Among the new sites generated by the exposure of this surface to O2 are 1.4 A high bumps on top of the surface. Upon annealing the O2‐exposed surface, or upon O2 exposure at an elevated temperature, these bumps form highly anisotropic islands. Evidence is presented that these bumps and islands are made up of silicon ejected from the surface by the oxidation reaction.
Visualization of Micro-Scale Bubble Dynamics in Pure Liquids and Aqueous Surfactant Solutions

Growth and departure of a single adiabatic bubble in pure liquids and aqueous surfactant solutions is visualized. High-resolution photographic records are obtained that characterize the micro-scale bubble dynamics (shape, size, and post-departure translation), the mean bubble diameter at different time periods of its growth and departure, and the bubble surface age (the time interval from the newly formed interface to the attainment of departure diameter). This pre- and post-departure dynamics of air bubbles is visualized in water, N, N dimethyl-formamide (DMF), and ethyl alcohol (all pure liquids), and aqueous surfactant solutions of SDS (1250 wppm, 2500 wppm, and 5000 wppm), CTAB (200 wppm), and Triton X-305 (1000 wppm). The evolution of different bubble shapes, sizes, and departure frequencies is presented to highlight the effects of surface-active forces. In the case of surfactant solutions, the dynamic effects of the molecular-scale adsorption-desorption dynamics of the additive at the liquid-air interface that manifests in the dynamic surface tension is also delineated.Copyright © 2004 by ASME