cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
γ-Glutamyl transpeptidase from kidney bean fruit I. Purification and mechanism of action

Abstract 1. 1.|A γ-glutamyl transpeptidase from kidney bean fruit has been further purified and its properties have been studied. The purified material seems to consist of one component, as judged by its behavior in the ultracentrifuge and its elution pattern from an acrylamide-gel column. The preparation catalyzes the transfer of the γ-glutamyl moiety of glutathione, γ-glutamylaniline, and γ- glutamyl -p- nitroaniline to suitable acceptor molecules, usually amino acids. 2. 2.|The same preparation was found to catalyze the hydrolytic cleavage of the γ-glutamyl peptide linkage of these compounds. Evidence, based on purification, gel filtration and activation, is presented that the two activities are associated with the same enzyme. 3. 3.|From kinetic studies, it is concluded that a basic nitrogen of an imidazole group and a phenolic group of tyrosine constitute a part of the catalytic site of the enzyme molecule. On the basis of these findings a mechanism for the transfer and the hydrolytic reactions is proposed based on a nucleophilic attack of imidazole nitrogen on substrates. 4. 4.|It is suggested that the enzyme is involved in the degradation of glutathione.
Political tolerance hypotheses and white opposition to a Martin Luther King holiday in Arizona

Abstract On November 2, 1983, President Reagan signed into law national legislation designating the third Monday in January a national holiday in memory of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK). At the end of 1992, except for New Hampshire that had a Civil Rights Day that did not mention MLK specifically, every state and the District of Columbia (including the U.S. territories of Guam, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands) had established some form of a MLK holiday. However, only Arizona voters decided the holiday issue via a statewide ballot initiative. Voters finally approved an initiative in 1992 after rejecting a similar one in 1990. Rejection of the 1990 proposal evoked national condemnation and provoked sanctions from organizations ranging from the National Football League to the National League of Cities. While the white community provided excuses, the black community reacted with charges of racism. Building on the traditional literature which links white contributions to black political gains to white political tolerance, this study explores the extent to which data gathered from white voters on the holiday support hypotheses drawn from the political tolerance model. Analysis indicate results that conform to the expectations of the model. Less educated, older, politically conservative, LDS, and rural white Arizonas are less likely to voice approval for such a holiday.
Termination of supraventricular tachycardia with intravenous adenosine in a pregnant woman with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

Background Pregnancy is associated with an increased frequency of arrhythmias in women with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. We describe the use of intravenous (IV) adenosine for the acute termination of a narrow complex tachycardia in a pregnant patient with this syndrome. Case A 26-year-old woman with known Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome presented with dizziness, palpitations, and a narrow complex supraventricular tachycardia. We used IV adenosine to convert the arrhythmia to a normal sinus rhythm. During labor, the patient again developed a narrow complex supraventricular tachycardia, and fetal monitoring revealed recurrent deep variable decelerations. Intravenous adenosine resulted in conversion to sinus rhythm and restoration of the fetal heart rate to normal. Cesarean delivery produced a healthy male infant. Conclusions Adenosine is effective in rapidly terminating maternal narrow complex tachyarrhythmias before and during delivery in women with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. It can also treat fetal bradycardia resulting from the maternal arrhythmia.
Conserving approximations for strongly fluctuating electron systems. I. Formalism and calculational approach

Abstract We discuss the solution of nontrivial conserving approximations for electronic correlation functions in systems with strong collective fluctuations. The formal properties of conserving approximations have been well known for over twenty years, but numerical solutions have been limited to Hartree-Fock level. We extend the formal analysis of Baym and Kadanoff in order to derive the simplest self-consistent approximation based on exchange of fluctuations in the particle-hole and particle-particle channels. We then describe a practical technique for calculating self-consistent single-particle Green's functions and solving the finite-temperature Bethe-Salpeter equation for electrons on a lattice.
Interactions between mesenchymal stem cells, adipocytes, and osteoblasts in a 3D tri-culture model of hyperglycemic conditions in the bone marrow microenvironment

Recent studies have found that uncontrolled diabetes and consequential hyperglycemic conditions can lead to an increased incidence of osteoporosis. Osteoblasts, adipocytes, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are all components of the bone marrow microenvironment and thus may have an effect on diabetes-related osteoporosis. However, few studies have investigated the influence of these three cell types on each other, especially in the context of hyperglycemia. Thus, we developed a hydrogel-based 3D culture platform engineered to allow live-cell retrieval in order to investigate the interactions between MSCs, osteoblasts, and adipocytes in mono-, co-, and tri-culture configurations under hyperglycemic conditions for 7 days of culture. Gene expression, histochemical analysis of differentiation markers, and cell viability were measured for all cell types, and MSC-laden hydrogels were degraded to retrieve cells to assess their colony-forming capacity. Multivariate models of gene expression data indicated that primary discrimination was dependent on the neighboring cell type, validating the need for co-culture configurations to study conditions modeling this disease state. MSC viability and clonogenicity were reduced when mono- and co-cultured with osteoblasts at high glucose levels. In contrast, MSCs showed no reduction of viability or clonogenicity when cultured with adipocytes under high glucose conditions, and the adipogenic gene expression indicates that cross-talk between MSCs and adipocytes may occur. Thus, our unique culture platform combined with post-culture multivariate analysis provided a novel insight into cellular interactions within the MSC microenvironment and highlights the necessity of multi-cellular culture systems for further investigation of complex pathologies such as diabetes and osteoporosis.
Examining the Conceptualizations, Perceptions, and Practices of Adolescent Writers

In this article, the authors describe a mixed-methods study in which an adapted Motivation to Write Profile (MWP)—the CLMWP—was used to investigate the conceptualizations, perceptions, and practices of adolescent writers. Results of this study suggested that participants held differing conceptualizations of writing, depending on the context. In addition, participants held differing conceptualizations of what constitutes “good writing.” Specifically, other people's writing qualified as good based on reader-reception and holistic qualities of readability; by contrast, their own writing was good based on very specific, often surface-level readability skills such as word choice and spelling. We argue that a deeper understanding of adolescents’ writing practices outside of the school environment is crucial for developing confident, lifelong writers.
Residues of Encapsulated Rabon in Tissues and Eggs of Poultry Manure and Its Larvicidal Activity to House Flies

Three formulations of encapsulated Rabon® (2-chloro-1-(2,4,5-trichlorophenyl) vinyl dimethyl phosphate) were fed to 4 groups of hens by mixing it with poultry mash for a treatment period of 14 days. Then, half the hens was slaughtered; the other half was slaughtered shortly after cessation of treatment. Body tissues extracted after slaughter, and eggs collected during treatment were analyzed. Small amounts of residues were recovered, mostly from the fat of hens fed 800 ppm. Other tissues and egg yolks at this level contained traces or no residues of Rabon, and no detectable amount was recovered from the body tissues and egg yolks of hens receiving dosages lower than 800 ppm. Residues when present were eliminated shortly after termination of treatment.
Abstract 3207: Curcumin induces pancreatic cancer cell death by targeting IAPs

Background Pancreatic cancer has among the highest mortality rates compared to other cancer types, with 94% of patients dying within five years of diagnosis. Contributing to the high mortality rate, patients with pancreatic cancer do not present significant symptoms until the disease is advanced. Moreover, treatment strategies have not improved substantially over the last decade. For this reason, a recent trend has led toward focusing on the use of herb-derived compounds, such as curcumin (turmeric derivative), to explore alternative treatments that will improve current pancreatic cancer therapy. Objective The objectives of this study were (1) to determine the effects of curcumin on pancreatic cancer cell metabolism, viability, cell cycle and morphology, and (2) to determine the mechanism by which curcumin induces cell death in pancreatic cancer cells by analyzing intracellular expression levels of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs). Design/method Pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines (Panc-1 and MiaPaCa-2) were used to assess the effects of curcumin in pancreatic cancer. Effects on metabolism, viability and cell cycle were assayed by Alamar Blue, Trypan Blue and Propidium Iodide (PI) staining/flow cytometry (FACSCalibur). Morphological imaging was performed using Hoffman Modulation microscopy. Apoptosis was detected by Annexin V/PI flow cytometry (MACSQuant) and the expression of IAPs was assessed by Western blot. Results These data show that curcumin decreases pancreatic cancer cell metabolism and viability. Cell cycle stages were arrested in pancreatic cancer cells treated with curcumin compared to the non-treated controls. Apoptotic cells were detected by microscopy and confirmed by Annexin V/PI staining with subsequent flow cytometry analysis. IAPs levels are reduced in pancreatic cancer cell lines treated with curcumin compared to non-treated controls. Conclusion These results demonstrate that pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines are sensitive to curcumin treatment. Moreover, curcumin9s possible mechanism of action is inducing apoptosis by targeting IAPs. Collectively, these data suggest a potential role for curcumin in pancreatic cancer therapy. Citation Format: Carlos J. Diaz Osterman, Malyn May Asuncion Valenzuela, Heather R. Ferguson Bennit, Salma Khan, Nathan R. Wall. Curcumin induces pancreatic cancer cell death by targeting IAPs. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3207. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3207
Substituent effects on the 13C19F coupling constants of substituted benzotrifluorides, aryl trifluoromethyl ethers, and aryl trifluoromethyl sulfides

Abstract The 13C-19F coupling constants of a series of ortho-, meta- and para-substituted benzotrifluorides and of several para-substituted aryl trifluoromethyl ethers and sulfides were found to correlate with substituent electronic effects according to the dual substituent parameter equation of Taft using the σR+ scale.
Ouabain binding sites and the (Na+,K+)-ATPase of brain microsomal membranes

Abstract Beef brain microsomes bound approximately 180–220 pmoles of [ 3 H]ouabain per mg of protein in the presence of either MgCl 2 and inorganic phosphate or ATP, MgCl 2 and NaCl. The ouabain-binding capacity and the ouabain-membrane complex were more stable than the (Na + ,K + )-ATPase activity to treatment with agents known to affect the membrane integrity, such as, NaClO 4 , sodium dodecyl sulfate, p- chloromercuribenzoate , urea. ultrasonication, heating, pH and phospholinase C. The presence of binding sites that were normally inaccessible to ouabain in brain microsomes was demonstrated. These sites appeared after disruption of microsomes with 2 M NaClO 4 as evidenced by increased binding of [ 3 H]ouabain. These sites may be buried during the subcellular fractionation procedure and could be accessible in the intact cell.
Heavy Metals and Selenium in Grebe Feathers from Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge in Northern Minnesota

Metal levels in feathers can often be used as an indicator of exposure and of potential effects in birds. In previous work at Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge, northwestern Minnesota, pied-billed grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) eggs had significantly higher levels of manganese and mercury and significantly lower levels of selenium than eared (Podiceps nigricollis) or red-necked grebes (Podiceps grisegena), but in 1999, pied-billed grebes had significantly higher levels of mercury, but lower levels of selenium and tin than the other grebes. This led us to examine whether these patterns held up in feathers of grebes as a function of age. The feathers of young birds represent local exposure. We collected feathers of flightless young and adult grebes from 1997 to 1999 in the marshes at Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge. Regression models indicated that year, age, or species were significant factors accounting for variations in the levels of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, mercury, and selenium, depending on the metal. Overall, there were significant intraspecific differences for all metals. Pied-billed grebes had the highest levels of arsenic, chromium, and selenium, and eared grebes had the highest levels of cadmium, manganese, and mercury. Pied-billed and western grebes (Aechmophorus occidentalis) had the highest levels of lead. There were significant age-related differences in cadmium, chromium, and mercury for both eared and red-necked grebes, for arsenic in eared grebes, and for lead and manganese in red-necked grebes. Adults had higher levels of all metals, except young had higher levels of chromium. Mercury in the feathers of eared grebes were higher than found from other studies with a wide range of aquatic and marine birds and were above those known to cause adverse effects in laboratory studies, suggesting some cause for concern.
TRANSCENDENTAL DIVISION ALGEBRAS AND SIMPLE NOETHERIAN RINGS

In this paper we prove the following theorem: Let D be a division ring with center the field k, and let k (x 1, …, xn) denote the rational function field in n variables over k. If D contains a maximal subfield which has transcendence degree at least n over k, then D ⊗k k (x1, …, xn) is a simple Noetherian domain of Krull and global dimensions n. Rather surprisingly, the preceding result can be used to determine the maximum transcendence degrees of the commutative subalgebras of several classically studied division rings. Using the theorem we prove, for example, that in the division ring of quotients of the Weyl algebra,A n, every maximal subfield has transcendence degree at mostn over the center.
The Talbot-Plateau law and the brightness of restricted numbers of photic repetitions at CFF.

Abstract Measurements of the brightness and CFF resulting from brief sequences ofintermittent stimulation are reported. Talbot's law does not predict the brightness resulting. It must be restricted to sequences occupying longer periods. Thealternation of response theory is pointed to for explaining the present results; that is to say, the explanation is based upon neurophysiological discoveries showing how the optic pathway operates in relation to temporal and quantitative features of input.
Interrelationships of Selenium, Cadmium, and Arsenic in Mammalian Teratogenesis

Cadmium sulfate and sodium arsenate injected into pregnant hamsters are independently teratogenic. Sodium selenite which is not teratogenic under similar conditions does provide significant protection against the malformations induced by cadmium or arsenic when injected simultaneously with either of these teratogens. The effect of a time interval between the injection of cadmium and selenium revealed that the protective effect of selenium was still marked at a 30-minute interval but decreased markedly at two- to four-hour intervals. At the 30-minute interval the protective effect was more marked when the selenium was injected first rather than the reciprocal method.
Role of glacial Arctic Ocean ice sheets in Pleistocene oxygen isotope and sea level records

Abstract A comparison of the oxygen isotope signal in deep-sea benthic foraminifera with the record of glacio-eustatic sea level for the last 160,000 years reveals that the amplitude of the benthic δ 18 O records predicts more continental ice volume than appears to be reflected in lowered sea level stands. These differences between the benthic δ 18 O ice volume estimates and radiometrically-dated records of eustatic sea level are consistent with the presence of a large floating Arctic Ocean ice mass during glacial intervals. The presence of an Arctic Ocean ice sheet during glacial intervals may account for the two climatic modes observed in oxygen isotope records which span the entire Pleistocene. The early Pleistocene (1.8 to 0.9 Myr B.P.) interval is characterized by low-amplitude, high-frequency δ 18 O fluctuations between glacial and interglacial periods, while the late Pleistocene (0.9 Myr B.P. to present) is characterized by large-amplitude, low-frequency δ 18 O changes. These two climatic modes can be explained by the initiation of earth orbital conditions favoring the co-occurrence of glacial period Arctic Ocean ice sheets and large continental ice sheets approximately 900,000 years before present.
IBD: role of the pathologist in the diagnosis and management of IBD.

Much understanding of IBD pathology is based on personal experience, anecdotal observations and small case studies. A paper on the histopathology of IBD provides an exhaustive literature review, and attempts to delineate guidelines for pathologists to use by providing evidence for consensus statements developed by a European contingent of gastrointestinal pathologists and clinicians.
The Demonstration of Left Atrial Enlargement by Body Section Radiography

The enlarged left atrium may be poorly demonstrated in conventional rcentgenograms. It can be delineated clearly in such cases by appropriate body section films. Body section radiography may also be helpful in the study of other ill-defined cardiac and vascular contours and in the demonstration of intracardiac calcification.
Effect of dietary modification on urinary stone risk factors

To the Editor: Pak et al. retrospectively studied 951 stone formers and demonstrated reductions in urinary calcium excretion and urinary saturation of calcium oxalate following a diet limited in calcium, oxalate, sodium, and meat products. They suggest that calcium stone formers with urinary calcium >6.88 mmol/day restrict their dietary calcium intake to 10 mmol/day.1
Subacute pulmonary mucormycosis

This report describes two patients with subacute pulmonary mucormycosis who died of pulmonary hemorrhage. Both patients had diabetes mellitus, but neither patient had the typical fulminant illness associated with this infection. The subacute progressive illness seen in these patients is unusual and suggests the need for aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic measures in patients who are at risk for this infection.
Transcatheter Closure of Ventricular Septal Rupture First in Bangladesh - A Case Report

Ventricular septal rupture is a rare complication of acute myocardial infarction with important hemodynamic consequences. Without a rapid diagnosis and correction by surgical intervention, the short-term mortality of these patients is higher than 90%. Early diagnosis is based on clinical examination and transthoracic echocardiography. Transcatheter closure of ventricular septal rupture in selected patients may save lives. We report a patient with ventricular septal rupture in acute myocardial infarction that was closed by an Amplatzer device. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/cardio.v7i2.22264 Cardiovasc. j. 2015; 7(2): 150-152
Perceived gender of a Pastor's name and ratings of vocational success

Undergraduate students (16 men and 16 women) from a Christian university read a 1-page description of a pastor named either "Carl Anderson" or "Carol Anderson." Students rated each named pastor on four items summed for a measure of vocational success. We predicted, based on role congruity, that students would rate a female-named pastor lower than a male-named pastor on the measure, but women's ratings of pastoral vocational success were significantly higher. Men's ratings did not differ significantly for the male- and female-named pastors. Power was low so further research is appropriate.
Developing VISO: Vaccine Information Statement Ontology for patient education

To construct a comprehensive vaccine information ontology that can support personal health information applications using patient-consumer lexicon, and lead to outcomes that can improve patient education. The authors composed the Vaccine Information Statement Ontology (VISO) using the web ontology language (OWL). We started with 6 Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) documents collected from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. Important and relevant selections from the documents were recorded, and knowledge triples were derived. Based on the collection of knowledge triples, the meta-level formalization of the vaccine information domain was developed. Relevant instances and their relationships were created to represent vaccine domain knowledge The initial iteration of the VISO was realized, based on the 6 Vaccine Information Statements and coded into OWL2 with Protege. The ontology consisted of 132 concepts (classes and subclasses) with 33 types of relationships between the concepts. The total number of instances from classes totaled at 460, along with 429 knowledge triples in total. Semiotic-based metric scoring was applied to evaluate quality of the ontology.
Caps in the projective geometry PG(n ,4)

We construct a cap C"n in PG(n,4) of size 12(2^n^-^2-1)+5. In the cases when n=3 and 4, this yields geometric constructions of the well-known ovoid in PG(3,4) and the Tallini cap in PG(4,4).
Research Note: Differential Chemotaxis of Physarum polycephalum to Salmonella gallinarum and Salmonella pullorum

Abstract The chemotactic and chemotropic responses of the plasmodial stage of the slime mold Physarum polycephalum were used to distinguish Salmonella gallinarum and Salmonella pullorum from 10 Salmonella serovars are commonly isolated from domestic poultry. Utilizing an in vitro plasmodium agar plate assay method, P. polycephalum was attracted to S. gallinarum and S. pullorum, but the organism was repelled by Salmonella derby, Salmonella dublin, Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella heidelberg, Salmonella minnesota, Salmonella montevideo, Salmonella newington, Salmonella newport, Salmonella reading, and Salmonella typhimurium.
Structure of principal eigenvectors and genetic diversity

Abstract The main concern of this paper is long-term genotypic diversity. Genotypes are represented as finite sequences ( s 1 , s 2 , … , s n ) , where the entries { s i } are drawn from a finite alphabet. The mutation matrix is given in terms of Hamming distances. It is proved that the long time behavior of solutions for a class of genotype evolution models is governed by the principal eigenvectors of the sum of the mutation and fitness matrices. It is proved that the components of principal eigenvectors are symmetric and monotonely decreasing in terms of Hamming distances whenever the fitness matrix has those properties.
Two-photon-induced fluorescence.

▪ Abstract Nonresonant two-photon electronic spectroscopy of polyatomic molecules is reviewed for the period since 1979. Emphasis is placed on studies that expose patterns in the two-photon fluorescence (also ionization, optoacoustic) excitation spectra of aromatic hydrocarbons and the effect of vibrations and substitution, particularly within the framework of pseudoparity rules. A section is devoted to biological molecules and the emerging use of two-photon–induced fluorescence anisotropy. Relevant theoretical results are discussed, with emphasis on quantum chemical predictions of vibronic coupling and substituent effects on two-photon absorptivity and tensor properties of individual molecules. This chapter includes higher-order spectroscopy, and a limited number of three- and four-photon studies are discussed.
Appraisal, Agency and Atypicality: Evidence from Manufactured Homes

∗∗∗ ∗∗∗ The appraisal of the “market value” of homes serving as the collateral for mortgages is a fundamental part of the underwriting process. If a loan should default, however, it is not the retail market value that the lender obtains, but rather the “recovery value.” In this research, we show how recovery values differ from market values at origination and explore the reasons for the differences. Using a large sample of chattel mortgages on manufactured homes, we explore the relationship among the selling prices, the book values, and the fitted values from simple hedonic models with spatial autocorrelation. We then address the differences between selling prices at origination and recoveries from repossessed homes. We find that the spread between them varies systematically with home characteristics and especially with “atypicality,” that is, with measures of how unusual a home is. Selling prices both at origination and recovery affect borrower defaults. For decades, property appraisal has been a mainstay of mortgage underwriting and is an essential element of the verification process for lenders. The appraiser provides a professional estimate of the value of the property that can be used to verify that the selling price is representative of current market conditions. The lender uses the appraisal to assess whether the loan will perform, that is, repay in full, and whether the loan will be profitable for the lender. But is the simple point estimate sufficient for assessing the risks associated with the collateral? Can lenders improve loan decisions with information on the expected second moment or with estimates of the likely recovery values from a default? In this research, we explore these issues with a large data set of chattel mortgages on manufactured homes. Manufactured homes, although little researched, are an increasingly important segment of the housing market. The Manufactured Housing Institute reports that 8% of the U.S. population lives in manufactured homes. In 2001, manufactured homes made up about 15% of residential starts.
Light microscope identification of murine B and T cells by means of functional polymeric microspheres

Abstract Covalent bonding of purified antibodies to polymeric microspheres of 0.4 to 0.8 μm diameter yields conjugates which can be used to label lymphocytes in the light microscope. Nonadherent microspheres can be separated by means of a discontinuous density gradient and quantitative measurements of adherent microsphere distributions can be made through examination of Wright's stained dry mounts or through fluorescent microscopic examination of cells in suspension. In general the distributions of adherent microspheres on mouse splenic and thymic lymphocytes in direct or indirect labelling assays show good agreement with results obtained from fluorescent antibody techniques. In comparison to fluorescent antibody the use of these antibody-microsphere conjugates has the advantage of allowing direct correlations between the surface antigens of cells and their histologie morphology.
Block-matching subpixel motion estimation from noisy undersampled frames: an empirical performance evaluation

The performance of block-matching sub-pixel motion estimation algorithms under the adverse conditions of image undersampling and additive noise is studied empirically. This study is motivated by the requirement for reliable sub-pixel accuracy motion estimates for motion compensated observation models used in multi-frame super-resolution image reconstruction. Idealized test functions which include translational scene motion are defined. These functions are sub-sampled and corrupted with additive noise and used as source data for various block-matching sub-pixel motion estimation techniques. Motion estimates computed from this data are compared with the a-priori known motion which enables an assessment of the performance of the motion estimators considered.
Transient and Steady-State Simulation Study of Decoupled d-q Vector Control in PWM Converter of Variable Speed Wind Turbines

Variable-speed wind turbines are attractive to the high performance and are commonly used by the wind turbine industry today. They are based on variable-speed operation with pitch control using either a direct driven synchronous generator (without gearbox) or a doubly-fed induction generator. For both, there is an AC/DC/AC PWM converter that is used for wind turbine control and grid interface. The AC/DC/AC converter usually consists of a machine-side converter and a grid-side converter. In order for effective control and integration of variable-speed wind turbines with the electrical grid, it is important to understand the power control characteristics of the two PWM converters. This paper focuses on the analysis of decoupled d-q vector control approaches applied to the grid-side converter control in variable-speed wind turbines and studies the power control characteristics of the PWM converters through both steady-state and transient simulation techniques. A typical decoupled d-q control concept that has been widely used in the grid-side converter control is reviewed in the paper. Deficiencies of conventional d-q control mechanisms are discovered and analyzed both analytically and through computer simulation. An extensive simulation-based study, in both steady-state and transient, is performed to examine the characteristics of the grid- side converter under different d-q control conditions in variable- speed wind turbines.
The OpenMOC method of characteristics neutral particle transport code

National Science Foundation (U.S.). Graduate Research Fellowship Program ( Grant No. 1122374)
Optimal Motion Planning for Searching for Uncertain Targets

Abstract This paper explores the potential for applying newly available numerical methods in optimal control to solve motion planning problems created by the search for targets with motion uncertainty characterized by constant but unknown parameters. These recent developments enable the efficient computation of numerical solutions for search problems with multiple searchers, nonlinear dynamics, and a broad class of objectives. We demonstrate the efficacy of these methods through implementing a multi-agent optimal search problem. We then derive an expansion of the optimal search modeling framework which facilitates the consideration of multi-agent searching problems with more general strategic objectives and utilize this expanded framework to implement an example combat defense scenario.
Locally advanced (noninflammatory) carcinoma of the breast: results and comparison of various treatment modalities.

Abstract From 1968–1987 237 women with Stage III, noninflammatory breast cancer were treated with various modalities. Ninety-three (39%) had Stage IIIA tumors, and 144 (61%) had Stage IIIB, noninflammatory tumors (AJC, 1983 staging). Median follow-up was 5.4 years (range 2 to 22 years). No patients were lost to follow-up. Thirty-five patients (15%) were treated with irradiation alone, 27 (11%) with irradiation and adjuvant systemic therapy, 80 (34%) with mastectomy and irradiation, and 95 (40%) with combined mastectomy, irradiation, and systemic therapy. Local/regional control by treatment at 5 and 10 years, respectively, was 31% and 31% for irradiation alone, 47% and 47% for irradiation and systemic therapy, 80% and 80% for irradiation and mastectomy, and 93% and 78% for irradiation, mastectomy, and systemic therapy (p ⩽ .0001). Actuarial disease-free survival by treatment was 19% and 12% for irradiation alone, 25% and 18% for irradiation and systemic therapy, 34% and 20% for irradiation and mastectomy, and 41% and 31% for irradiation, mastectomy, and systemic therapy, at 5 and 10 years, respectively ( p = .0001). Patients given systemic therapy and/or irradiation prior to mastectomy had a better local/regional control and DFS and actuarial survival, although not achieving statistical significance ( p = 0.10). Of the triple modality group of patients, there were no chest wall failures with chest wall doses greater than 5040 cGy ( p = 0.3). There were 40237 (17%) grade 2 or greater treatment sequelae. The administration of chemotherapy significantly increased complications.
A new species of Perezia (Microsporida: Pereziidae) from the Argentine grasshopper Dichroplus elongatus (Orthoptera: Acrididae).

The new microsporidium (Microsporida: Pereziidae), Perezia dichroplusae n. sp., infects the epithelial cells of the Malpighian tubules of the Argentine grasshopper Dichroplus elongatus. Characteristics of the pathogen include the following: development in direct contact with the host cell cytoplasm; bi-, tetra-, and sometimes multinucleate diplokaryotic meronts, rounded or elongate in shape; unikaryotic sporonts and sporogonial plasmodia, elongate in shape; sporoblasts and spores uninucleated; spores highly variable in size (1.6–6.7 by 1.0–2.7 μm, x= 3.5 ± 0.09 by 1.5 ± 0.02, n = 100) with eight or fewer polar tube coils and showing a posterior electron-dense inclusion body.
Phosphorylation of calmodulin in the first calcium-binding pocket by myosin light chain kinase

In smooth muscle and specific nonmuscle cells the phosphorylation of the regulatory myosin light chains by myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) is an obligatory step in actin-induced activation of myosin ATPase and subsequent contractile events. We have previously demonstrated that CaM phosphorylated by casein kinase II fails to activate bovine platelet MLCK (Sacks et al. (1992) Biochem. J. 283, 21-24). While myosin light chains are perceived as the only known substrate for MLCK phosphorylation activity, we now show that MLCK phosphorylates CaM. This phosphorylation of CaM is dependent upon the presence of basic peptides such as poly-L-arginine (optimal basic peptide/CaM ratio = 0.08) and is stimulated by saturating [Ca2+] (K0.5 = 16 microM). CaM phosphorylation was inhibited by KT5926, a specific MLCK inhibitor, with a dose-dependency identical to that for inhibition of myosin light chain phosphorylation. Native and MLCK-phosphorylated CaM were indistinguishable in activating MLCK to phosphorylate myosin light chains. Interestingly, MLCK in which the CaM-binding site has been removed is able to phosphorylate CaM in a Ca(2+)-independent manner, suggesting that two CaM molecules bind to intact MLCK simultaneously, one on the inhibitory (pseudosubstrate) domain and one at the catalytic site. CaM phosphorylation by MLCK occurred exclusively on Thr 29 (90%) and Thr 26 (10%) in the first Ca(2+)-binding pocket. In summary, CaM phosphorylation by MLCK differs from CaM phosphorylation catalyzed by other kinases (i.e., the insulin receptor or casein kinase II) in both basic peptide and Ca2+ requirements as well as in the sites of phosphorylation. Further investigations of this model may provide insight into the mechanisms of MLCK activation and substrate recognition.
Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients Discharged from the Opioid Renewal Clinic at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center

The Opioid Renewal Clinic (ORC) is a pharmacist-run program that assists primary care providers in the management of chronic pain patients with aberrant behavior or high risk of prescription opioid abuse. In this study, charts of all discharged patients over a 22-month span (n = 86) were reviewed for outcomes for two years after discharge. The most frequent reason for discharge from the program was recurrent positive urine drug screens for illicit substances (n = 40; 47%). Only 15 (17%) were seen for addiction treatment in the two-year follow-up period. Forty-one percent of patients (n = 35) were prescribed opioids within two years of discharge. There was a positive correlation between length of time in the ORC and receipt of opioids post discharge. These outcomes reveal areas of need in the management of this complex population.
On the disruptive burning of free droplets of alcohol/n-paraffin solutions and emulsions

A systematic experimental study of the low Reynolds number, atmospheric pressure combustion of free droplets of binary n-propanol/n-paraffin solutions and ethanol/n-paraffin solutions and emulsions was performed. Special attention was given to characterizing the disruptive burning phenomena for these fuel systems. The onset of disruptive burning was shown to be a function of both the difference between the normal boiling points and relative concentration of the solution components. Disruptive burning was found to be the result of homogeneous bubble nucleation within the interior of the droplet followed by the expansion and bursting of the gaseous nucleus. All ethanol/n-paraffin emulsions studied exhibited disruptive combustion behavior typical of solutions. This was attributed to dissolution of the dispersed phase during the transient heating period. In addition, similar disruptive behavior was demonstrated for solutions of ethanol in diesel fuel within the concentration range typical of that considered in fuel substitution applications. A simplified theory is proposed to predict the minimum concentration of alcohol required to produce the disruptive burning.
Predictive accuracy and the diagnosis of sexual abuse: a big issue about a little tissue

WHY ARE SO MANY PEDIATRICIANS and others concerned nowadays about small variations in the shape and size of girls’ hymenal orifices? To pose such a question may seem ingenuous, but the answer is not self-evident and deserves careful consideration. The origins of this concern are to be found in pediatricians’ 25year commitment to identifying and caring for abused and neglected children, and in the American legal system’s principal reliance on criminal proceedings, with their attendant high standard of proof, to provide legal remedies for victims of sexual abuse. Historically, physical findings have been hallmarks of child abuse. Physically abused children are identified by a physician’s observation of injuries in a characteristic pattem-fractures, bums, bruises. Neglected children may be identified on the basis of poor growth, measured and documented by a clinician. As reports of child sexual abuse have increased dramatically in the 1980s pediatricians have been called on to evaluate and treat large numbers of victims of this most recently recognized type of abuse. Perhaps because of their customary reliance on physical findings to diagnose abuse and neglect, and certainly in response to expectations by parents. investigating social workers and police officers, prosecutors, defense attorneys, juries, and psychotherapists that physical abnormalities will be detected, physicians have lately come under substantial pressure to discover objective abnormalities that might clarify or corroborate children’s assertions that they have been molested. This is the context for the report by White and her colleagues (1989) of their investigation of the hymenal orifice diameters of sexually abused girls. Their attempt to determine whether certain physical findings can be used to objectify the diagnosis of sexual abuse is admirable. The potential implications of their conclusions, especially when considered in association
Protection of children's rights to self-determination in research.

Federal guidelines require that informed consent be obtained from participants when they are enrolled in a research study. When conducting research with children, the guidelines utilize the term permission to describe parents' agreement to enroll their children in a study. The basic components of consent and permission are well described and identical, with the exception of the person for whom the decision to participate is being made (i.e., oneself as opposed to one's child). Beyond permission, when enrolling minor participants in research, affirmative agreement to participate in research or assent must be obtained from the child participants themselves. The concept of children's assent to research, however, is poorly defined, resulting in inconsistency in its pursuit and consequently, in its utility. The interface between cognitive development, emotional, and social development must be examined as its pertains to this special situation of decision making. For this process to meaningfully protect minors, the assent process must be clarified, decisions regarding parental veto power must be more convincingly justified, and researchers must be better educated and held accountable for the valid execution of this process. Strategies for implementing the assent process more effectively are presented.
Phenotypic and molecular evaluation of cotton hairy roots as a model system for studying nematode resistance

Agrobacterium rhizogenes-induced cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) hairy roots were evaluated as a model system for studying molecular cotton-nematode interactions. Hairy root cultures were developed from the root-knot nematode (RKN) (Meloidogyne incognita [Kofoid and White] Chitwood, race 3)-resistant breeding line M315 and from the reniform nematode (RN) (Rotylenchulus reniformis Linford & Oliveira)-resistant accession GB713 (G. barbadense L.) and compared to a nematode-susceptible culture derived from the obsolete cultivar DPL90. M315, GB713, and DPL90 hairy roots differed significantly in their appearance and growth potential; however, these differences were not correlated with transcript levels of the A. rhizogenes T-DNA genes rolB and aux2 which help regulate hairy root initiation and proliferation. DPL90 hairy roots were found to support both RKN and RN reproduction in tissue culture, whereas M315 and GB713 hairy roots were resistant to RKN and RN, respectively. M315 hairy roots showed constitutive up-regulation of the defense gene MIC3 (Meloidogyne Induced Cotton3) compared to M315 whole-plant roots and DPL90 hairy roots. Our data show the potential use of cotton hairy roots in maintaining monoxenic RKN and RN cultures and suggest hairy roots may be useful in evaluating the effect of manipulated host gene expression on nematode resistance in cotton.
Geiger-mode APD single-photon cameras for 3D laser radar imaging

We describe the design and performance of short-wave infrared 3D imaging cameras with focal plane arrays (FPAs) based on Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes (GmAPDs) with single photon sensitivity for laser radar imaging applications. The FPA pixels incorporate InP/InGaAs(P) GmAPDs for the detection of single photons with high efficiency and low dark count rates. Based on the design of the GmAPD detectors, FPAs have been optimized for source wavelengths near either 1.0 µm or 1.5 µm. We present results and attributes of fully integrated camera sub-systems with 32 × 32 and 128 × 32 formats, which have 100 µm pitch and 50 µm pitch, respectively. We also address the sensitivity of the fundamental GmAPD detectors to radiation exposure, including recent results that correlate detector active region volume to sustainable radiation tolerance levels. For GmAPD detector designs that are compatible with our existing FPA platform, these discrete device results indicate that sensors with our current level of performance can be designed to tolerate radiation exposure of at least 8 krad with acceptable levels of dark count rate elevation.
A history of studies that examine the interactions of Toxoplasma with its host cell: Emphasis on in vitro models

This review is a historical look at work carried out over the past 50 years examining interactions of Toxoplasma with the host cell and attempts to focus on some of the seminal experiments in the field. This early work formed the foundation for more recent studies aimed at identifying the host and parasite factors mediating key Toxoplasma-host cell interactions. We focus especially on those studies that were performed in vitro and provide discussions of the following general areas: (i) establishment of the parasitophorous vacuole, (ii) the requirement of specific host cell molecules for parasite replication, (iii) the scenarios under which the host cell can resist parasite replication and/or persistence, (iv) host species-specific and host strain-specific responses to Toxoplasma infection, and (v) Toxoplasma-induced immune modulation.
"Like Herod's Massacre": Quarantines, Bourbon Reform, and Popular Protest in Oaxaca's Smallpox Epidemic, 1796-1797

At the end of August 1796, Balthasar Ruiz, a weaver from Teotitlan del Valle, departed with his son to sell woven goods in the mountainous region to the south. Over 23 days, he traveled a distance of 45 miles as the crow flies and upon his return was jailed when the boy fell ill with smallpox. The two had made a typical journey in an atypical time: administrators throughout the intendancy of Oaxaca were actively pursuing a program of contagion avoidance as smallpox spread there from Guatemala and Chiapas. What Oaxaca's intendant, Antonio de Mora y Peysal, called the “new project” consisted of regulating travel and commerce and isolating infected residents in casas de curacion. In Teotitlan, textile producers found themselves at the outskirts of their village laboring to build a makeshift infirmary for their children and a camposanto, a consecrated field, for burial of smallpox victims. Months later, some from the village would call the regime a violation “like Herod's massacre.” At the time, quarantined in their village without access to markets or crops, there was little else for the men to do.
Collective Violence: A Research Agenda and Some Strategic Considerations

This paper is based on the premise that current empirical analyses of collective violence are largely inadequate, and takes as its primary objective a detailed specification of alternative methodological strategies. Quantitative research on violence is cited for problems of measurement and causal inference, which stem from attempts to represent important theoretical concepts (relative deprivation, resource mobilization) at levels of analysis other than those at which they are formulated. Alternative strategies for empirical investigation of violence include timeseries analyses of individual perceptions and data on organized groups, as well as studies of crowd dynamics. Methods for linking the latter type of qualitative approach to quantitative ecological analyses are indicated. In general, the conclusions strongly suggest a theoretical and empirical reorientation toward “disaggregated” approaches to collective violence, and away from global conceptual and cross-national methodological efforts. Although co...