cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Superwoman and Other Writings by Miriam Michelson

Miriam Michelson’s 40-year career began in San Francisco where she wrote for several major daily newspapers. At a time when the few women who did have newspaper jobs generally covered the “Women’s ...
Survey Experiments in International Political Economy: What We (Don't) Know About the Backlash Against Globalization

This article reviews the cumulation of evidence from survey experiments in the field of international political economy (IPE) and discusses their strengths and weaknesses in explaining the backlash...
Epigenomic control of gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone neurone development and hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism

Mammalian reproductive success depends on gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurones to stimulate gonadotrophin secretion from the anterior pituitary and activate gonadal steroidogenesis and gametogenesis. Genetic screening studies in patients diagnosed with Kallmann syndrome (KS), a congenital form of hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (CHH), identified several causal mutations, including those in the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) system. This signalling pathway regulates neuroendocrine progenitor cell proliferation, fate specification and cell survival. Indeed, the GnRH neurone system was absent or abrogated in transgenic mice with reduced (ie, hypomorphic) Fgf8 and/or Fgf receptor (Fgfr) 1 expression, respectively. Moreover, we found that GnRH neurones were absent in the embryonic olfactory placode of Fgf8 hypomorphic mice, the putative birthplace of GnRH neurones. These observations, together with those made in human KS/CHH patients, indicate that the FGF8/FGFR1 signalling system is a requirement for the ontogenesis of the GnRH neuronal system and function. In this review, we discuss how epigenetic factors control the expression of genes such as Fgf8 that are known to be critical for GnRH neurone ontogenesis, fate specification, and the pathogenesis of KS/CHH.
AI Down on the Farm

Agriculture has become an information-intensive industry. In the production of crops and animals, precision agriculture approaches have resulted in the collection of spatially and temporally dense datasets by farmers and agricultural researchers. These big datasets, often characterized by extensive nonlinearities and interactions, are often best analyzed using machine learning (ML) or other artificial intelligence (AI) approaches. In this article, we review several case studies where ML has been used to model aspects of agricultural production systems and provide information useful for farm-level management decisions. These studies include modeling animal feeding behavior as a predictor of stress or disease, providing information important for developing precise and efficient irrigation systems, and enhancing tools used to recommend optimum levels of nitrogen fertilization for corn. Taken together, these examples represent the current abilities and future potential for AI applications in agricultural production systems.
Millimeter wave monolithic transceivers

A significant program Is currently underway 1n the United States to Investigate, develop, and produce a variety of GaAs analog circuits for use 1n microwave and millimeter wave sensors and systems. This represents a “new wave” of RF technology which promises to significantly change system engineering thinking relative to RF Architectures. At millimeter wave frequencies, we look forward to a relatively high level of critical component integration based on MESFET and HEMT device Implementations. These designs will spawn more compact RF front ends with colocated antenna/transceiver functions and innovative packaging concepts which will survive and function 1n a typical military operational environment which includes challenging temperature, shock, and special handling requirements.
Tet2 at the interface between cancer and immunity

Keeping a balance between DNA methylation and demethylation balance is central for mammalian development and cell function, particularly in the hematopoietic system. In various mammalian cells, Tet methylcytosine dioxygenase 2 (Tet2) catalyzes oxygen transfer to a methyl group of 5-methylcytosine (5mC), yielding 5-hydroxymethylcytocine (5hmC). Tet2 mutations drive tumorigenesis in several blood cancers as well as in solid cancers. Here I discuss recent studies that elucidate mechanisms and biological consequences of Tet2 dysregulation in blood cancers. I focus on recent findings concerning Tet2 involvement in lymphoid and myeloid cell development and its functional roles, which may be associated with tumorigenesis. I also discuss how Tet2 activities are modulated by microRNAs, metabolites, and other interactors, including vitamin C and 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG), and review the clinical relevance and potential therapeutic applications of Tet2 targeting. Finally, I propose key unanswered hypotheses regarding Tet2 in the cancer-immunity cycle.
Latino Male Community College Students’ Perceptions of Course-Related Interactions: A Critical Race Analysis

This paper explores Latino male community college students’ perceptions of their course-related interactions with faculty at a Hispanic Serving Institution in California. Using a Critical Race Theo...
Community-Based Strategies for Harm Reduction Among Sex Workers in Kolkata, India

Research conducted with diverse groups of sex workers in India as well as around the globe have shown that decriminalizing sex work can promote the health, safety, and security of sex workers. Nonetheless, in many countries, including India, legislations criminalizing buying of sex—that is punishing clients of sex workers—have gained momentum with the accompanying rationale of rescuing/saving women trapped in sex work. Such legislations ignore the reality that sex work is an economically viable vocation for a majority of women, men, and transgender people in India—especially when compared to low-paying jobs with long, fixed hours of work. Consequently, such legislations have also not deterred people from choosing sex work as a livelihood option. In addition, little information is available about the community-based harm reduction responses. We as scholars—who have separately conducted field-based ethnographic research with diverse groups of brothel- and non-brothel-based sex workers in Kolkata India between 2009 and 2016–-share our findings about the impact of criminalization on varied groups of sex workers in India. In addition, we provide a critical analysis of the several community-based strategies—ranging from self-regulatory boards, stakeholders-NGOs negotiations, NGO-police partnership, and drop-in-centers—adopted by the sex worker organizations to mitigate the harms associated with sex work in Kolkata, India.
Cooled Radiofrequency Ablation of the Articular Sensory Branches of the Obturator and Femoral Nerves using Fluoroscopy and Ultrasound Guidance: A Large Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND We previously reported on a combined technique and initial data of hip denervation using an anterior approach and cooled radiofrequency. OBJECTIVES A large retrospective study to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of cooled radiofrequency ablation (CRFA) in the general chronic hip pain population. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective electronic chart review. SETTING A single specialty private practice. METHODS Retrospective chart review of 235 consecutive (CRFA) in 136 patients with chronic hip pain. RESULTS Out of 235 CRFA, 178 (96 initial procedures and 82 repeats) were performed in 84 patients with 12 or more months follow-up. The average decrease in visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores was 7.3 ± 1.3 to 2.3 ± 1.5 and 2.48 ± 1.5 for the first and second diagnostic block, respectively, and was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Similarly, the average decrease in VAS pain scores at 6 and 12 months after CRFA denervation was 3.44 ± 2.5 and 4.23 ± 2.5, respectively; P < 0.001. Out of the 96 initial procedures in 84 patients, 66 procedures (69%) provided more than 50% relief at 6 months, and 50 (52%) at 12 months. There were 82 repeat denervations in 36 patients. Repeated procedures in the same patients provided a similar degree of pain relief with no statistically significant difference in the median pain scores (2.8 ± 2.1 cm vs 3.1 ± 1.7 cm ; P = 0.197) or time interval of pain relief (12.7 ± 10.9 vs 10.3 ± 4.7; P = 0.508). There were 3 minor complications. LIMITATIONS Retrospective nature of the study. CONCLUSION Improvements in pain scores and longevity of pain relief from chronic hip pain using a simple, anterior approach to radiofrequency denervation of the lateral obturator and lateral femoral nerves justifies further randomized prospective trials. Repeated CRFAs demonstrated consistency in pain relief and absolute safety of repeated denervation.
Comparison & Analysis of Local Environmental Metagenomics and Diversity Sequencing Data Sets

Metagenomics is the rapidly advancing field that studies genetic material extracted directly from environmental samples. Recent advances in computational and sequencing methodologies now give an array of options to biologists who seek to analyze their samples; however, these new technologies are often run independently with little comparison of the results obtained between methods on the same sample. Prior to this study, field work by local biology instructors in conjunction with the labs of Drs. Marisa Pedulla and Alysia Cox made use of two such techniques to analyze the DNA of a locally-obtained soil sample. One technique, “shotgun,” or metagenomic sequencing, sequenced all of the DNA molecules in the sample; the second technique, “diversity” sequencing, only sequenced the molecules amplified from a single gene, the 16S ribosomal subunit rRNA gene, of the prokaryotic DNA in the sample. Because the 16S gene is highly recognizable and species-specific, the latter method also provided a count of the occurrences of each prokaryotic species. Due to this feature, the use of the 16S diversity sequencing approach is commonly utilized for studies aiming to understand prokaryotic species representation in samples. When metagenomics DNA sequences are known, represented species and their number of occurrences in a sample may also be derived computationally by comparison to procured databases of known sequences of organisms. This exploratory study compared the commercially obtained results of bacteria proportions in our sample by the diversity method, along with two experimental computational methods using these sequences compared to the public databases. Our hypothesis was that metagenomics data would provide the most accurate portrayal of bacteria in the sample at the phylum taxon. Results found significant disparities in results between each method, with implications in microbiome studies of the environment and human gut.
Spectral operators generated by bending–torsion vibration model with two-end energy dissipation

This research is devoted to the asymptotic and spectral analysis of a coupled Euler-Bernoulli and Timoshenko beam model. The model is governed by a system of two coupled hyperbolic partial differential equations and a four-parameter family of the boundary conditions modeling the action of self-straining actuators. The aforementioned system of equations of motion together with the boundary conditions is equivalent to a single operator evolution equation in the energy space. That equation defines a semigroup of bounded operators. The dynamics generator of the semigroup is our main object of interest. For each set of boundary parameters, the dynamics generator has a compact inverse. If all four boundary parameters are not purely imaginary numbers, then the dynamics generator is a nonself-adjoint operator in the energy space. We present two main results in this research. As the first one, we calculate the spectral asymptotics of the dynamics generator. We find that the complex spectrum lies in a strip parallel to the real axis, and is asymptotically close to the axis. The latter fact means that the system is stable, but is not uniformly stable. As the second main result, we prove that the set of the root vectors of the dynamics generator forms a Riesz basis in the energy space. The results obtained in the present paper allow us to conclude that the dynamics generator is a Riesz spectral operator in the sense of N. Dunford.
Effect of core shell morphology on dielectric properties of Zr doped BaTiO/sub 3/

The core-shell grains and lattice structure in Zr-modified BaTiO/sub 3/ were characterized. Through TEM (transmission electron microscopy), CBED (convergent-beam electron diffraction), and EDS (dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) techniques, the shells were identified as diffuse regions of pseudocubic structure surrounding a tetragonal BaTiO/sub 3/ core. Grain morphology and developed internal stresses in BaTiO/sub 3/-based high dielectric materials are shown to be a dominant factor in the development and stability of the high dielectric properties. Core-shell grains were formed in BaTiO/sub 3/ with ZrO/sub 2/ doping, upon sintering in the range 1300 degrees C-1320 degrees C. A diffused boundary phase led to high internal stresses, suppression of T/sub c/, a distribution of Curie points, and a flattened permittivity peak. The internal stress was found to be an accurate basis for estimating the permittivity response to temperature. The stability of these highly stressed samples was also found to be improved as the concentration of core-shell grains increased. Under controlled processing parameters, therefore, significantly enhanced dielectric properties can be achieved. >
Robust distributed name service

This paper suggests a method called Trust-but-Verify that, under certain simplifying assumptions, provides robust distributed name service even under massive adversarial attacks.
Pricing-Based Control of Large Networks

In this work we study pricing as a mechanism to control large networks. Our model is based on revenue maximization in a general loss network with Poisson arrivals and arbitrary holding time distributions. In dynamic pricing schemes, the network provider can charge different prices to the user according to the current utilization level of the network. We show that, when the system becomes large, the performance of an appropriately chosen static pricing scheme, whose price is independent of the current network utilization, will approach that of the optimal dynamic pricing scheme. Further, we show that under certain conditions, this static price is independent of the route that the connections take. This result has the important implication that distance-independent pricing that is prevalent in current domestic telephone networks in the U.S. may in fact be appropriate not only from a simplicity, but also a performance point of view. We also show that in large systems prior knowledge of the connection holding time is not important from a network revenue point of view.
Estimate of the partial width for X ( 3872 ) into p p

We present an estimate of the partial width of $X(3872)$ into $p\overline{p}$ under the assumption that it is a weakly bound hadronic molecule whose constituents are a superposition of the charm mesons ${D}^{*0}{\overline{D}}^{0}$ and ${D}^{0}{\overline{D}}^{*0}$. The $p\overline{p}$ partial width of $X$ is therefore related to the cross section for $p\overline{p}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{D}^{*0}{\overline{D}}^{0}$ near the threshold. That cross section at an energy well above the threshold is estimated by scaling the measured cross section for $p\overline{p}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{K}^{*\ensuremath{-}}{K}^{+}$. It is extrapolated to the ${D}^{*0}{\overline{D}}^{0}$ threshold by taking into account the threshold resonance in the ${1}^{++}$ channel. The resulting prediction for the $p\overline{p}$ partial width of $X(3872)$ is proportional to the square root of its binding energy. For the current central value of the binding energy, the estimated partial width into $p\overline{p}$ is comparable to that of the P-wave charmonium state ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{c1}$.
The Machiavellian Legacy: Origin and Outcomes of the Conflict Between Politics and Morality in Modernity

The interpretation I offer of Machiavelli calls for a redefinition of the terms in which his legacy to modernity has been understood to date. I take as my starting point Strauss’s interpretation of this legacy because he proposes one of its strongest version, and one which is adopted, in its central points, even by thinkers who wish to defend, rather than reject, the project of modernity. Stated baldly, Strauss argues that modern political thought, from Machiavelli and Hobbes, through Rousseau, Kant and Hegel, culminating in Nietzsche, is thoroughly historicist,1 by which he means that it cannot “answer the question of right and wrong or of the best social order in a universally valid manner, in a manner valid for all historical epochs, as political philosophy requires.”2
Lack of Healthy Food in Small-Size to Mid-Size Retailers Participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, 2014.

Introduction The US Department of Agriculture has stocking criteria for healthy foods among Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program (SNAP)-authorized retailers. Increased access to healthy food could improve diet quality among SNAP participants, which has implications for chronic disease prevention. The objective of this study was to quantify healthy foods stocked in small-size to mid-size retailers who are authorized under SNAP but not under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
Networked active sensing of structures

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) focuses on developing technologies and systems for detecting and locating damages in structures such as buildings, bridges, and aerospace structures. SHM techniques typically analyze changes in the structural response induced in a structure (from before and after possible damage) due to ambient (such as heavy winds or passing vehicles) or forced (shakers and impact hammers) excitation sources to detect and locate damages. Untethered wireless sensor network-based structural sensing can significantly drive down cabling installation and maintenance costs while allowing flexible, dense, deployments. Use of wirelessly controlled actuators at various locations in the structure, capable of delivering deterministic excitations can lead to automated SHM sensor-actuator networks that allow for very low-duty cycle operations. We envision autonomous sensor-actuator networks that test structures by periodically exciting them at pre-determined locations and analyzing the structural responses. Such sensor-actuator networks promise to bring about a fundamental paradigm shift in SHM.
Modeling Morphological Subgeneralizations

Exceptions to morphological regularities often pattern together phonologically. In the English past tense, exceptions to the regular ‘Add /-d/’ rule frequently inhabit ‘Islands of Reliability’ (Albright & Hayes, 2003), in which a group of words take the same irregular past and also pattern together on a set of phonological characteristics. Adults seem to have implicit knowledge of both the overall pattern (the regular past) and the ‘subgeneralizations’. We model this knowledge of subgeneralizations through the interaction of a structured lexicon and a Maximum Entropy grammar. Words that pattern together with respect to a particular morphological process are grouped into a ‘bundle’, which is indexed to a constraint expressing the change that these words undergo to realize the morpheme. These ‘operational constraints’ compete with markedness and faithfulness in the phonological component. The phonological regularity of a bundle is represented by the average of constraint violations for members. Novel words are assigned a bundle on the basis of similarity to these averages. Our model shows promising correspondence with human data, including biases toward regularity and Island of Reliability effects. The model’s joint learning approach to phonology and morphology, as well as an inclusive concept of `context’, show promise for future application.
A juggling fountain clock and distributed cavity phase shifts

We have demonstrated a juggling /sup 87/Rb fountain clock. The juggling frequency shift is a particularly interesting measurement. We expect to report measurements of the Ramsey fringe contrast and a comparison to calculations that include photon recoils. We will also present results of calculations of distributed cavity phase shifts.
Application of partial-response channel coding to magnetic recording systems

A magnetic recording channel can be regarded as a "partial-response" channel because of its inherent differentiation in the readback process. The conventional NRZI method of recording is shown to be equivalent to the "precoding" of this particular partial-response channel, the purpose of which is to limit the propagation of error in the channel output. Using this new viewpoint, one can readily adopt an error detection scheme (developed for general partial-response channels) that takes full advantage of the inherent redundancy in the three-level channel output. The detection scheme is optimum in the sense that it detects all detectable errors with minimum delay. The paper also describes a new high-density recording method, named the "Interleaved NRZI," which is obtained by molding an ordinary recording channel into a different type of partial-response channel, resulting in a potential increase in information density. Implementation of the corresponding optimum error detection scheme is also presented. Finally, performance of these error detection schemes is evaluated in terms of probabilities of detecting single and double errors within a certain finite delay.
Take-or-pay contract valuation under price and private uncertainty

Abstract A take-or-pay contract for ethylene is valued for a chemical manufacturing facility. The private uncertainty of production, storage, and consumption requirements associated with the complex are coupled to the price uncertainty of the ethylene spot market. A Monte Carlo simulation is employed to model the private uncertainty and the dynamics of the stochastic ethylene prices is expressed through a binomial lattice. The take-or-pay contract is evaluated in terms of the maximum price payable for a marginal increase in the contract quantity, and the effect of the system parameters of storage capacity, liquefaction rate, and evaporation rate on the contract valuation is examined. The advantages and limitations of the model are also discussed.
OFDM and compressive sensing based GPR imaging using SAR focusing algorithm

This paper presents a new ground penetrating radar (GPR) design approach using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) and compressive sensing (CS) algorithms. OFDM technique is applied to leverage GPR operating speed with multiple frequency tones transmission and receiving concurrently, and CS technique allows utilizing reduced frequency tones without compromising data reconstruction accuracy. Combination of OFDM and CS boosts the radar operating efficiency. For GPR image reconstruction, a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technique is implemented.
Motion Planning of a Group of Agents Using the Homotopy Approach

In this paper motion planning of a group of agents is done to move the group from an initial configuration to a final configuration through obstacles in 2-D. Also we introduce a new homotopy approach which uses potential fields to find paths in polynomial space. We use the homotopy approach for changing the group shape of the mobile agents and at the same time treat the group as a single agent by finding a bounding disc for it to plan the motion of the group through obstacles. A time varying polynomial is constructed, the roots of which represent the current positions of the mobile agents in a frame attached to the bounding disc. The real and imaginary parts of the roots of this polynomial represent the x and y coordinates of the mobile agents in this frame. This polynomial is constructed such that it avoids the discriminant variety or the set of polynomials having multiple roots. This is equivalent to saying that the mobile agents do not collide with each other at all times. The bounding disc is then used to plan the motion of the agents through obstacles such that the group avoids the obstacles at all times.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
The aperiodic ballistocardiogram as a function of age.

Abstract 1. 1. A modification of the Wittern “aperiodic” ballistocardiograph, capable of quantitative registration of force in 2 degrees of freedom is described in detail. 2. 2. The records of seventy-three normal subjects ranging in age from 2 1 2 to 87 years comprise the material for this report. 2.1. A. The wave form of the “aperiodic” ballistocardiogram varies with age and force direction, though the shape of the record for any single individual is a unique and highly reproducible characteristic. 2.2. B. Progressive shift of the frontal plane vector toward the transverse axis of the body begins at approximately age 40. Bidirectional recordings are therefore essential in the age group of primary clinical interest. 2.3. C. Respiratory variation cannot be explained on the basis of change in force direction. Though reversed respiratory variation is highly significant in subjects under 40, it may be entirely normal beyond age 50. 3. 3. The most important fact elucidated by this study is that reaction force remains constant throughout adult life. The hemodynanic alterations responsible for constant force output despite progressive decrease in stroke volume and contractility are discussed. 4. 4. Though the “aperiodic” ballistocardiogram has proved to be a valuable clinical and investigative technique, the complexity of instrumentation and interpretation precludes its use as a “service” diagnostic procedure in its present state of development.
On a scaling of electron capture by fully ionized heavy ions in light gas targets at low MeV energies

Abstract A scaling property is discussed for electron capture by bare heavy ions in the low MeV energy range.
Elastic and thermoelastic properties of “inorganic rubber”

Abstract Polymerization of cyclic phosphonitrilic chloride trimer was carried out at sufficiently high temperatures and for sufficiently long periods to cause gelation of the poly(dichlorophosphazene) formed. The resulting crosslinked material, called “inorganic rubber”, was found to be stable enough in the absence of moisture to permit reliable stress-strain and stress-temperature (thermoelastic) measurements in elongation. The stress-strain isotherms at low and moderate values of the elongation, α, showed that the networks had relatively low degrees of crosslinking; at high α and low temperature, they underwent strain-induced crystallization. The thermoelastic data confirmed the occurrence of crystallization at high α and low T . Thermoelastic values of the fraction f e / f of the force that is of energetic origin were negative and generally large, with a magnitude that increased with increase in α, presumably because of the crystallization. In any case, the experimental values of f e / f are in at least qualitative agreement with rotational isomeric state theory, which predicts this ratio to be large and negative.
Experimental investigation of gas phase ions of the form [c-CnH2nS?ICH3]+ where n = 2, 3, 4, and 5. Metastable and collision-induced dissociation results

We report an experimental study of the metastable and collision-induced dissociation spectra of association adducts with the suggested general formula [c-C n H 2 n S?ICH 3 ] + where n = 2, 3, 4, and 5. These association adducts are examples of gas-phase cations which may contain 2c-3e sulfur-iodine bonding interactions. Metastable cleavage of the sulfur-iodine bonds result in predominately one reaction, [c-C n H 2 n S?ICH 3 ] + → c-C n H 2 n S . + + CH 3 I; this reaction cleaves the proposed 2c-3e bond. The product ion for each adduct exhibits a small average kinetic energy release implying a fragmentation with a small or no reverse activation barrier. Fragmentation by collision-induced dissociation yields two intense product peaks and numerous weaker peaks. These metastable and collision-induced dissociation results support hypervalent S?I bonding within the ionic adducts. The spectra also suggest that the sulfur-containing moieties in the adducts are ring-closed.
On the size of the galactic centre compact radio source: diameter <20 AU

The existence of a compact nonthermal radio source at the galactic centre was first suggested by Lynden-Bell and Rees1 as the possible signature of a black hole. Such a source was detected unambiguously by Balick and Brown2.Very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations of the structure of this source, hereafter referred to as Sgr A*, have been made for several years3,4. In all previous experiments, the visibility amplitudes, measured over a restricted (U, V) range, could be fitted only to the simplest model of brightness distribution, that is, to a circular gaussian. We have re-observed Sgr A* at λ3.6 cm and λ 1.35 cm with many baselines, using the more sensitive receivers and VLBI recording terminals now available. These observations set an upper limit of 20 AU (3 × l014 cm) to the diameter of Sgr A* at λ 1.35 cm and reveal for the first time an elongated structure at λ 3.6 cm, with the position angle of the long axis almost parallel to the rotation axis of the Galaxy. Sgr A* is unique in our Galaxy, but resembles most closely the compact radio sources at the centre of external galaxies. Observations of the central 4 arc s (0.2 pc) at radio and other wavelengths are best explained by a single massive collapsed object at the galactic centre.
Theory of the electron distribution in compressed atoms at high temperatures

To calculate atom-atom interactions at high temperatures, one needs the electron densities of the interacting atoms. The present paper outlines an approach by which the temperature-dependent electron densities of compressed atoms may be obtained. The approach suggested makes use of the temperature-dependent Thomas-Fermi (TF) equation, and a variational principle by which this equation may be solved approximately.
Response of species of gastrin to calcium infusion in ZES

was subsequently confirmed at laparotomy and total gastrectomy performed. Samples were individually assayed for total gastrin immunoreactivity by a sensitive radioimmunoassay. Synthetic human gastrin (SHG) was monoiodinated by a modification of the method of Hunter and Greenwood [12] and purified on DEAE Sephadex by column chromatography to yield pure monoiodogastrin [2]. Bound and free hormones were separated by an anion exchange resin (IRP-58M, Rohm and Haas, Philadelphia) after a 72-hr incubation at 4°C. Synthetic human gastrin (SHG) was used as reference standard. One-milliliter aliquots of serum from each time period were applied to a 200
Manufacture of porous polymer nerve conduits by a novel low-pressure injection molding process

Abstract A method to fabricate porous, biodegradable conduits using a combined injection molding, thermally induced phase transition technique was developed which produced conduits with dimensionally toleranced, longitudinally aligned channels. The geometry of the channels was designed to approximate the architecture of peripheral nerves and to support the monolayer adherence of physiologically relevant numbers of Schwann cells. The channel configuration could be varied from a single 1.35 mm diameter channel up to 100 0.08 mm diameter channels. A conduit with 100 channels has approximately 12.5 times the lumenal surface area of a single channel conduit and supports the adherence of five times the number of Schwann cells in the native peripheral nerve. In this study, poly( dl -lactide- co -glycolide) ( dl -PLGA) was dissolved in acetic acid and injected into a cold mold which induced solid–liquid phase separation and, ultimately, solidification of the polymer solution. The acetic acid was removed by sublimation and the resulting foam had a macrostructure of high anisotropy. Semi-permeable skins formed on the outer and lumen diameters of the conduit as a consequence of rapid quenching. Macropores were organized into bundles of channels, up to 20 μm wide, in the dl -PLGA matrix and represented remnants of acetic acid that crystallized during solidification.
Photoaffinity labeling of cottonseed microsomal N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine synthase protein with a substrate analogue, 12-[(4-azidosalicyl) amino]dodecanoic acid

Abstract N -Acylphosphatidylethanolamine (NAPE), an unusual acylated derivative of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), is synthesized from free fatty acids and PE in cotton seedlings (Chapman and Moore (1993) Plant Physiol. 102(3), 761–769). Here we use a photoreactive dodecanoic acid analogue, [12-(4-azidosalicyl)amino]dodecanoic acid (ASD), and its 125 I-labeled derivative to identify a protein subunit which corresponds to this cottonseed NAPE synthase activity. Dodecylmaltoside (DDM)-solubilized microsomal NAPE synthase enzyme was irreversibly and progressively inactivated by adding increasing concentrations of ASD and illuminating with UV 254 light. Protection from this photoinactivation was afforded by the natural substrate, palmitic acid. In low light, microsomal NAPE synthase utilized ASD as a substrate to synthesize NAPE; palmitic acid competed for this activity. NAPE synthase activity was measured directly in gel slices following nondenaturing PAGE of DDM-solubilized microsomal membrane proteins. Two-dimensional electrophoresis (nondenaturing PAGE, followed by SDS-PAGE) of photoaffinity-labeled, DDM-solubilized microsomal proteins revealed a 64 kDa polypeptide that was associated with the active NAPE synthase enzyme. Also, a 64 kDa protein was photoaffinity labeled in all NAPE synthase isozyme fractions isolated by preparative isoelectric focusing; photoaffinity labeling of this 64 kDa polypeptide was diminished in the presence of exogenously supplied palmitic acid. Collectively, our results demonstrate that ASD specifically interacts with NAPE synthase in a manner analagous to its fatty acid substrate and indicate that a 64 kDa polypeptide is a component of cottonseed microsomal NAPE synthase. ASD will be a useful molecular probe in future studies aimed at understanding the physiological role of this NAPE synthase enzyme in membranes of plant cells.
Multinucleon phenomena and proton spectra characterizing antiproton annihilation at rest in nuclei

Spectra of protons with momenta greater than 500 MeV/c following antiproton annihilation at rest in carbon and uranium nuclei have been measured. They are compared to recent results from other experiments and to predictions of an intranuclear cascade model. Evidence is presented for a substantialB>0 component in the annihilation process, and an estimate of the magnitude of that component is made.
Amylin and its analogs: a friend or foe for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease?

Amylin, a gut-brain axis hormone, and amyloid-beta peptides (Aβ), a major component of the Alzheimer’s disease (AD) brain, share several features, including similar β-sheet secondary structures, binding to the same receptor and being degraded by the same protease, insulin degrading enzyme (IDE). However, while amylin readily crosses the blood brain barrier (BBB) and mediates several activities including improving glucose metabolism, relaxing cerebrovascular structure, modulating inflammatory reaction and perhaps enhancing neural regeneration, Aβ has no known physiological functions. Thus, abundant Aβ in the AD brain could block or interfere with the binding of amylin to its receptor and hinder its functions. Recent studies using AD animal models demonstrate that amylin and its analog reduce the AD pathology in the brain and improve cognitive impairment in AD. Given that, in addition to amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, perturbed cerebral glucose metabolism and cerebrovascular damage are the hallmarks of the AD brain, we propose that giving exogenous amylin type peptides have the potential to become a new avenue for the diagnosis and therapeutic of AD. Although amylin’s property of self-aggregation may be a limitation to developing it as a therapeutic for AD, its clinical analog, pramlintide containing 3 amino acid differences from amylin, does not aggregate like human amylin, but more potently mediates amylin’s activities in the brain. Pramlintide is an effective drug for diabetes with a favorable profile of safety. Thus a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial should be conducted to examine the efficacy of pramlintide for AD. This review summarizes the knowledge and findings on amylin type peptides and discuss pros and cons for their potential for AD.
Interaction of Isotropic Light with a Compact Plant Leaf

Diffuse isotropic light interaction with compact corn leaf, using transparent plate model with rough plane-parallel surfaces
A rational function approximation to the effectiveness factor for multi-particle interactions in dense-phase dry milling

Abstract Non-linear population balance models (PBMs) have recently been shown to be superior to their linear counterparts for quantifying the breakage kinetics in dense-phase dry milling processes, where mechanical multi-particle interactions are significant. At the particle ensemble scale, particles of different sizes interact causing a population dependence of the specific breakage rate function. Non-linear PBMs explicitly account for these multi-particle interactions through a population-dependent functional called the effectiveness factor. Due to the inherent difficulty and complexity of proposing and selecting an appropriate form of the effectiveness factor, a general and systematic approach is desired to assess breakage kinetics in an unbiased manner. In this study, toward addressing the need for a general form of the effectiveness factor, we propose a rational function approximation. First, computer generated effectiveness factor was approximated by a rational function. Then, evolution of the particle size distribution during batch dry milling of quartz in a tumbling ball mill was fitted with various forms of the effectiveness factor in the context of linear and non-linear PBMs. Goodness-of-fit and statistical significance of the parameters estimated were evaluated to discriminate various forms of the effectiveness factor. The statistical analysis suggests that a rational function may replace specific forms of the effectiveness factor for a less restrictive analysis of the multi-particle interactions. Additionally, fitting a non-linear PBM using the rational function approximation allowed us to describe the dense-phase dry milling data accurately. Accordingly, this study enables experimenters to quantify the impact of the multi-particle interactions in a robust, systematic, and unbiased manner via the rational function approximation to the effectiveness factor within the context of the non-linear PBM.
Applying for a sub-specialty fellowship: some tips and advice from a former program director.

Successfully completing an internal medicine residency is a great accomplishment. With the great need for primary care physicians, many residents are considering entering the field of general medicine where one can care for the whole patient. However, for those who have a drive to become an expert in one particular organ system, the path to the completion of training is only half over. Though you may think you have figured out the “application process” after successfully gaining admission to college, medical school and residency, there is one more hurdle which stands between you and your ultimate goal of sub-specialization …the fellowship application process. Unfortunately, this last application may be the most difficult of all. As a former cardiology program director, I have trained over 100 fellows and reviewed over 3000 applications. Here's some practical advice from the “inside” on how to be successful at this process.
On parameter estimation using level sets [plasma etching]

Consider the problem of selecting the member of a parametrized family of curves that best matches a given curve. This is a key step in determining proper values for adjustable parameters in low-order plasma etching and deposition models. Level set methods offer several attractive features for treating such problems. This paper presents a parameter estimation scheme that exploits the level set formulation. The method is completely geometric; there is no need to introduce an arbitrary coordinate system for the curves.
Comparison of the predicted population coverage of tuberculosis vaccine candidates Ag85B-ESAT-6, Ag85B-TB10.4, and Mtb72f via a bioinformatics approach.

The Bacille-Calmette Guerin (BCG) vaccine does not provide consistent protection against adult pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) worldwide. As novel TB vaccine candidates advance in studies and clinical trials, it will be critically important to evaluate their global coverage by assessing the impact of host and pathogen variability on vaccine efficacy. In this study, we focus on the impact that host genetic variability may have on the protective effect of TB vaccine candidates Ag85B-ESAT-6, Ag85B-TB10.4, and Mtb72f. We use open-source epitope binding prediction programs to evaluate the binding of vaccine epitopes to Class I HLA (A, B, and C) and Class II HLA (DRB1) alleles. Our findings suggest that Mtb72f may be less consistently protective than either Ag85B-ESAT-6 or Ag85B-TB10.4 in populations with a high TB burden, while Ag85B-TB10.4 may provide the most consistent protection. The findings of this study highlight the utility of bioinformatics as a tool for evaluating vaccine candidates before the costly stages of clinical trials and informing the development of new vaccines with the broadest possible population coverage.
The long-term mental health effects of nuclear trauma in recent Russian immigrants in the United States.

The long-term mental health sequelae (15 years) of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster in the former Soviet Union (FSU) were assessed in survivors migrated to the United States, as part of an ongoing study. Using a retrospective, cross-sectional design with standardized Russian mental health measures, a sample of 261 Russians residing in the New York tristate area were tested for multiple domains of mental health functioning. Multivariate analyses pointed to aspects of the accident and its negative repercussions as reliable predictors of current psychological distress. Russians who had lived closer to the disaster, and had greater exposure to it, currently experience higher levels of anxiety (p < .0004) and posttraumatic reactions (p < .03) than those who had lived at a further distance. These findings are consistent with reports of long-term sequelae in Chernobyl survivors migrated to Israel (Remennick, 2002), as well as those remaining in the FSU (Havenaar et al., 1997). Implications of long-term traumatic sequelae, especially in the complex perimigration context, are discussed.
Scattering length of the ground-state Mg+Mg collision

We have constructed the $X{}^{1}{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}_{g}^{+}$ potential for the collision between two ground-state Mg atoms and analyzed the effect of uncertainties in the shape of the potential on scattering properties at ultracold temperatures. This potential reproduces the experimental term values to $0.2 {\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ and has a scattering length of $+1.4(5) \mathrm{nm}$ where the error is predominantly due to the uncertainty in the dissociation energy and the ${C}_{6}$ dispersion coefficient. A positive sign of the scattering length suggests that a Bose-Einstein condensate of ground-state Mg atoms is stable.
Use of a guide plane for maintaining the residual fragment in partial or hemi-mandibulectomy

Abstract A simple guide plane constructed from a presurgical impression and designed to maintain a functioning occlusal relationship can be of significant value as a post-surgical splint. Such a splint compensates for uncontrolled muscular contraction and preserves upper and lower mid-line continuity when partial or hemi-mandibulectomy with disarticulation is performed. The procedures involved in construction of a guide plane for these purposes were described.
Vacuum energy density of QCD with n f =3 quark flavors

An equivariant BRST-construction is used to define the continuum SU(3) gauge theory on a finite torus. I corroborate previous results using renormalization group techniques by explicitly computing the measure on the moduli-space of the model with 3 quark flavors to two loops. I find that the correction to the maximum of the one-loop effective action is indeed of order $g^2$ in the critical covariant gauge. The leading logarithmic corrections from higher loops are also shown to be suppressed by at least one order of $g^2$. I therefore am able to relate the expectation value of the moduli to the asymptotic scale parameter of the modified minimal subtraction scheme. An immediate consequence is the determination of the non-perturbative proportionality constant in the relation between the vacuum expectation value of the trace of the energy momentum tensor and $\Lambda_{QCD}$ for the modified minimal subtraction scheme with three quark flavors. The result compares favorably with phenomenological estimates of the gluon condensate from QCD sumrules for the charmonium system and $\Lambda_{QCD}$ from $\tau$-decay.
New Theoretical Support for Density-Functional Theory as Commonly Applied

The Kohn-Sham equations are derived from the diagrammatic structure of many-body perturbation theory for the exact exchange-correlation energy, ${E}_{\mathrm{xc}}$, without explicit recourse to a minimum or extremal principle, thus providing new support for this implementation of density-functional theory in a most common situation. Furthermore, it is shown that for a large class of approximate expressions for ${E}_{\mathrm{xc}}$, there exist approximate Kohn-Sham equations which give the same density and energy as other means of calculation within the same diagrammatic approximation.
Manganese superoxide dismutase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae acquires its metal co-factor through a pathway involving the Nramp metal transporter, Smf2p.

Eukaryotes express both copper/zinc (SOD1)- and manganese (SOD2)-requiring superoxide dismutase enzymes that guard against oxidative damage. Although SOD1 acquires its copper through a specific copper trafficking pathway, nothing is known regarding the intracellular manganese trafficking pathway for SOD2. We demonstrate here that in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells delivery of manganese to SOD2 in the mitochondria requires the Nramp metal transporter, Smf2p. SOD2 activity is greatly diminished insmf2Δ mutants, even though the mature SOD2 polypeptide accumulates to normal levels in mitochondria. Treatingsmf2Δ cells with manganese supplements corrected the SOD2 defect, as did elevating intracellular manganese through mutations in PMR1. Hence, manganese appears to be inaccessible to mitochondrial SOD2 in smf2 mutants. Cells lacking SMF2 also exhibited defects in manganese-dependent steps in protein glycosylation and showed an overall decrease in steady-state levels of accumulated manganese. By comparison, mutations in the cell surface Nramp transporter, Smf1p, had very little impact on manganese accumulation and trafficking. Smf2p resides in intracellular vesicles and shows no evidence of plasma membrane localization, even in anend4 mutant blocked for endocytosis. We propose a model in which Smf2p-containing vesicles play a central role in manganese trafficking to the mitochondria and other cellular sites as well.