cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Long-term pulmonary sequelae after inhalation injury: A retrospective case-control study.

Inhalation injury (INHI) has strong associations with increased rates of in-patient mortality and pneumonia. This study's aim is to review long-term pulmonary outcomes in inhalation injury patients. We present a retrospective cohort of burn patients admitted to an ABA certified burn unit. Burn patients with or without medically confirmed INHI who were admitted were studied. The control groups were ventilated patients with (V) and non-ventilated patients (NV). Primary study outcomes were rates of post-discharge pulmonary sequelae, including ineffective airway clearance, infections, shortness of breath, and malignancy. Secondary outcomes included rates of post-discharge surgeries and readmission, post-discharge non-pulmonary sequelae, and post-discharge days to pulmonary/non-pulmonary sequelae. The study population included 33 INHI, 45 V, and 50 NV patients. There were no significant differences in age (P=.98), sex (P=.68), % TBSA (P=.18), pulmonary comorbidity (P=.5), or smoking status (P=.92). Outpatient pulmonary sequelae were significantly higher for both INHI and V groups as compared to NV (21% and 17% vs 4%, P=.023, .043). The number of days from discharge to pulmonary sequelae was significantly shorter in the INHI group versus the V group (162±139 days vs 513±314 days, P=.024). All other measures were not significant when comparing INHI to V or NV (P>.05). Both INHI and V groups resulted in higher rates of outpatient pulmonary sequelae independent of inpatient course as compared to NV. While outpatient pulmonary sequelae were not significantly different between INHI and V, the INHI patients presented with complaints earlier.
Sequential Monitoring of Aberrant Test-Taking Behaviors Based on Response Times

In psychological measurement, response time data have been found to be a useful source of information for understanding test-taking behaviors. In this study, we present sequential procedures that monitor examinee response times to detect abnormalities in real time. The study draws on two sequential analysis schemes for the online detection: a cumulative sum control (CUSUM) chart and a sequential generalized likelihood ratio test (SGLRT). We also suggest an optimal sampling strategy to facilitate sensitive detection. Performance of the suggested methods is evaluated via simulated data as well as empirical data. The simulation study results suggest that the proposed methods can detect aberrant examinees in a timely manner with adequate power rates. The real data analysis demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed methods for real-world applications with process data.
INTERNET GOVERNANCE FOR WHOM? CIVIL SOCIETY, REPRESENTATION, AND DIGITAL RIGHTS

Internet governance institutions embrace a multistakeholder approach, which calls for civil society organizations (CSOs) to represent community interests. How well do digital rights CSOs fulfill these expectations of “community representation”? Through a case study of the Internet Freedom Foundation, an Indian digital rights organization, this paper evaluates community engagement mechanisms through the lens of equity and democratization, and identifies a gap between expectations and observed practices. It concludes that evaluating representation in digital-native CSOs should account for both socioeconomic and technological dynamics in both transnational and national contexts. This paper offers a contribution to an emergent understanding of civil society’s role in internet governance, grounded in a postcolonial critique of representation and legitimacy, in order to understand whose voices are heard, and whose are still excluded, from internet governance processes.
Risk Factors for Deliberate Self-harm and Suicide Among Adolescents and Young Adults With First-Episode Psychosis

Little is known about the risk factors for deliberate self-harm (DSH) and suicide among adolescents and young adults with first episode psychosis (FEP) and the longitudinal course of DSH following the initial onset of illness. This study identifies risk factors for DSH and suicide death among Medicaid-covered adolescents and young adults with FEP along with the periods of greatest risk for DSH after diagnosis. A retrospective longitudinal cohort analysis was performed using Medicaid claims data merged with death certificate data for 19 422 adolescents and young adults (aged 15-24 years) diagnosed with the onset of FEP between 2010 and 2017. DSH per 1000 person-years and standardized mortality rates for suicide were determined. Hazard ratios of DSH and suicide were estimated by Cox proportional hazard models. During follow-up, 2148 (11.1%) individuals had at least one self-harm event and 22 (0.1%) died by suicide. The hazards of DSH were significantly higher for those with a previous DSH, suicidal ideation, child abuse and neglect, comorbid medical and psychiatric diagnoses, and prior mental health care. The median follow-up time for those who had DSH was 208.0 days (SD: 526.5 days) in adolescents and 108.0 days (SD: 340.0 days) in young adults. Risk of DSH was highest in the first 3 months following FEP. Individuals with FEP are at high risk for self-harm and suicidal behavior, and recognition of who among these individuals and when following illness onset they are at greatest risk may guide more precise clinical recognition and intervention.
Justice: 1850s San Francisco and the California Gold Rush

Using stories from the 1848-1851 California gold miners, the 1851 San Francisco vigilante committees, Nazi concentration camps of the 1940s, and wagon trains of American westward migration in the 1840s, the chapter illustrates that it is part of human nature to see doing justice as a value in itself — in people’s minds it is not dependent for justification on the practical benefits it brings. Having justice done is sufficiently important to people that they willingly suffer enormous costs to obtain it, even when they were neither hurt by the wrong nor in a position to benefit from punishing the wrongdoer.This is Chapter 4 from the general audience book Pirates, Prisoners, and Lepers: Lessons from Life Outside the Law (Potomac Books 2015). Included is a table of contents for the book and a summary of the line of argument of all of its chapters. (Chapter 3 of the book is also available on SSRN at http://ssrn.com/abstract=2413875.)
Supernucleophiles—I : The alpha effect

Abstract A possible explanation of the alpha effect, i.e. enhanced reactivity of nucleophiles possessing a lone pair adjacent to the reactive center is offered, based on the theory of charge and frontier controlled reactions. The enhanced reactivity results from an orbital splitting that raises the energy of the highest filled orbital of the nucleophile and increases the frontier controlling effect. Accordingly, it should be observed only in reactions involving a large covalent bond formation component in the rate determing step. Experimental data seem to confirm these conclusions.
The Discriminatory Effects of Protecting America's Children

The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) has the unequivocal power to regulate indecent broadcasting consisting of “any obscene, indecent, or profane language by means of radio communications.” Recently, indecency regulation has inspired much debate between the public, broadcasters, courts, and the FCC. Indecency regulation exists to protect only one distinct group of people children. Yet, current indecency enforcement is not prosecuted on behalf of the interests of children. FCC indecency investigations are fueled almost exclusively by complaints submitted by watchdog groups with politically conservative agendas. Consequently, instead of protecting children and facilitating diversity in the media, the FCC’s policing of public airwaves has effectuated cultural and political homogeneity of public airwaves. This Article exposes current inconsistencies in the stated policy aims of indecency regulation and the statutory requirement that the FCC facilitate diverse media broadcasts. First, this Article discusses FCC indecency regulation generally. Second, this Article describes the stated policy aims of indecency regulation and the inconsistencies of indecency enforcement in advancing those aims. Lastly, this Article discusses the discriminatory impact current indecency regulation has on broadcast media.
Effect of Sera from Control and Overfed Rats on Preadipocyte Growth in Culture

Increased body lipid was induced in 4-wk-old rats through oral gavage. Rats were either fed ad libitum, tube-fed 100% or tube-fed 150% of the ad libitum intake. After 1 wk of tube-feeding animals were killed and sera collected. Sera were used to support the growth of rat stromal-vascular cells in culture. Sera were also analyzed for growth hormone and insulin concentrations. In rats that were tube-fed, levels of adiposity were greater but sera from these rats decreased stromal-vascular and preadipocyte proliferation in culture when compared with sera from ad libitum-fed rats. Sera from tube-fed animals promoted an increase in preadipocyte differentiation as revealed by esterase staining. Results indicate that overfeeding in juvenile rats causes sera changes that support fat cell differentiation but not fat cell hyperplasia.
Advanced Low Language Proficiency–An Achievable Goal?

The author discusses the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) standard of language proficiency expected of foreign language teachers in the U.S., particularly addressing the fairness of using an Advanced Low rating as the benchmark for proficiency. It addresses prospective teacher scores on the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) and the Writing Proficiency Test (WPT), the two main examinations for assessing proficiency. Topics explored include preservice teacher education, setting high standards for both language students and language teachers in the U.S., and teachers' use of the target language in the classroom.
Towards a better understanding of memory-based reasoning systems

Abstract We quantify both experimentally and analytically the performance of memory-based reasoning (MBR) algorithms. To start gaining insight into the capabilities of MBR algorithms, we compare an MBR algorithm using a value difference metric to a popular Bayesian classifier. These two approaches are similar in that they both make certain independence assumptions about the data. However, whereas MBR uses specific cases to perform classification, Bayesian methods summarize the data probabilistically. We demonstrate that a particular MBR system called PEBLS works comparatively well on a wide range of domains using both real and artificial data. With respect to the artificial data, we consider distributions where the concept classes are separated by functional discriminants, as well as time-series data generated by Markov models of varying complexity. Finally, we show formally that PEBLS can learn (in the limit) natural concept classes that the Bayesian classifier cannot learn, and that it will attain perfect accuracy whenever Bayes does.
Sites of alcohol and volatile anesthetic action on glycine receptors.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the effects of alcohols and volatile anesthetics on glycine receptors, with emphasis on the specific positions involved with drug action and potential candidates for further study. Comparisons between the current data known for drug binding and accessibility in the glycine receptor and other members of the ligand‐gated ion channel family serve to elucidate the components of alcohol and volatile anesthetic drug binding cavities. The alcohol and volatile anesthetic binding site in the glycine receptors (GlyR) is becoming clearer with mutagenesis, cross‐linking, and probing with sulfhydryl-specific reagents. The interface between TM2 and TM3 is located and better defined by cross‐linking two amino acids known to be critical for volatile anesthetic and alcohol action, and water‐accessible positions are identified in all four transmembrane segments by reaction with sulfhydryl‐specific probes. Additionally, conformational changes, as demonstrated by changes in reactivity to MTS reagents, are observed for positions in all four transmembrane segments with channel gating. With respect to the newly identified water‐accessible positions in the N-terminal and transmembrane domains, it would be useful to create double mutants to determine whether cross‐linking occurs between other pairs of transmembrane segments, or between the N‐terminal domain and the transmembrane segments. Not only would this provide information on the alcohol and anesthetic binding cavity, but cross‐linking (through disulfide reaction, or cross‐linking reagents) would provide structural data to position the transmembrane segments more definitively.
Subwavelength nanolithography using surface plasmons

We have investigated the novel plasmonic nanolithography by exposing a photoresist layer through a plasmonic mask, which is an opaque metal film with subwavelength hole arrays in it. The hole arrays of various diameters are fabricated by using focused ion beam (FIB). Through the lithography, the hole array patterns are transferred to negative photoresists. As a result, high contrast dot arrays with the smallest diameter of 120 nm, equivalent to /spl sim//spl lambda//3, are observed by atomic force microscope (AFM).
Adanson, Michel (1727–1806)

This article has no abstract. Keywords: Adanson, Michel (views on spontaneous generation)
Evaluation of Narrow Row Soybeans

Introduction Producers continue to look at different management practices to increase corn and soybean yields. One area of interest is planting corn and soybeans in narrow rows. Traditionally, these crops have been planted in row widths of 30 to 38 in. Planters on the market today have the capability to plant corn and soybeans in 15and 20-in. rows, as well as in twin rows that are spaced eight inches apart. This study was set up to evaluate the yield impact of planting soybeans in 15-in. rows versus the traditional 30-in. row spacing.
Institutional assessment tools for sustainability in higher education

This paper analyzes recent efforts to measure sustainability in higher education across institutions. The benefits of cross‐institutional assessments include: identifying and benchmarking leaders and best practices; communicating common goals, experiences, and methods; and providing a directional tool to measure progress toward the concept of a “sustainable campus”. Ideal assessment tools identify the most important attributes of a sustainable campus, are calculable and comparable, measure more than eco‐efficiency, assess processes and motivations and are comprehensible to multiple stakeholders. The 11 cross‐institutional assessment tools reviewed in this paper vary in terms of stage of development and closeness to the “ideal tool”. These tools reveal (through their structure and content) the following critical parameters to achieving sustainability in higher education: decreasing throughput; pursuing incremental and systemic change simultaneously; including sustainability education as a central part of curricula; and engaging in cross‐functional and cross‐institutional efforts.
Toppling Qaddafi: Libya and the Limits of Liberal Intervention

1. Libya and the light footprint 2. Precipitous crisis 3. The pivots of war 4. Crippling Qaddafi and infighting over NATO 5. Stalemate 6. Grinding away 7. Sudden success 8. The impact of the war and its implications.
Nutritional Modulation of the Somatotropin/Insulin-Like Growth Factor System: Response to Feed Deprivation in Lactating Cows

Mid-lactation Holstein cows (n = 4) were used to evaluate the effects of complete feed deprivation on circulating insulin-like growth factors (IGF) and their binding proteins (IGFBP). Comparisons were made between cows in fed and unfed conditions and included response to a single injection of bovine somatotropin (bST). Two days of feed deprivation decreased milk yield 66%. Concentrations of bST nearly doubled during feed deprivation, whereas glucose and insulin steadily decreased. Circulating concentrations of IGF-I decreased nearly 50%, IGF-II decreased 28% and IGFBP-2 increased 49% during the 2 d of feed deprivation. In contrast, IGFBP-3 was not affected. Eighteen to 24 h after the bST challenge, circulating concentrations of IGF-I rose 100% during the fed period, but there was no response during the unfed period. Blood concentrations of IGF-II decreased 17% after bST challenge in the fed period but were unchanged in the unfed period. More moderate undernutrition (80% of requirements) did not affect circulating IGFBP-2 but did alter the response of IGFBP-2 to bST. A conceptual model was developed that illustrates that nutritional regulation of the ST/IGF system represents a key component signaling the appropriate use of nutrients. Overall, results demonstrate that nutritional modulation of the ST/IGF system plays a key role in animal performance and well-being over a wide range of physiological situations.
Hemispheric lateralization in reasoning

A growing body of evidence suggests that reasoning in humans relies on a number of related processes whose neural loci are largely lateralized to one hemisphere or the other. A recent review of this evidence concluded that the patterns of lateralization observed are organized according to two complementary tendencies. The left hemisphere attempts to reduce uncertainty by drawing inferences or creating explanations, even at the cost of ignoring conflicting evidence or generating implausible explanations. Conversely, the right hemisphere aims to reduce conflict by rejecting or refining explanations that are no longer tenable in the face of new evidence. In healthy adults, the hemispheres work together to achieve a balance between certainty and consistency, and a wealth of neuropsychological research supports the notion that upsetting this balance results in various failures in reasoning, including delusions. However, support for this model from the neuroimaging literature is mixed. Here, we examine the evidence for this framework from multiple research domains, including an activation likelihood estimation analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging studies of reasoning. Our results suggest a need to either revise this model as it applies to healthy adults or to develop better tools for assessing lateralization in these individuals.
A Randomized Study Assessing the Effect of Diet in Cats with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Background Diet might influence progression of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Objective To investigate whether diet composition could alter clinical, biochemical, or echocardiographic variables in cats with HCM. Animals Twenty-nine cats with HCM (International Small Animal Cardiac Health Council stage 1b) examined at a university teaching hospital. Methods Randomized, placebo-controlled trial. After physical examination, echocardiogram, and blood collection, cats were randomized to 1 of 3 diets, which varied in carbohydrate and fat content and ingredients. Measurements were repeated after 6 months. Results There were no significant differences among the 3 groups at baseline. After 6 months, there were no significant changes in the primary endpoints, left ventricular free wall (Group A, P = .760; Group B, P = .475; Group C, P = .066) or interventricular septal thickness in diastole (Group A, P = .528; Group B, P = .221; Group C, P = .097). Group A had significant increases in BUN (P = .008) and cholesterol (P = .021), while Group B had significant increases in BUN (P = .008), cholesterol (P = .007), and triglycerides (P = .005), and significant decreases in NT-proBNP (P = .013) and hs-troponin I (P = .043). Group C had significant decreases in body weight (P = .021), left atrial dimension (P = .035), interventricular septal thickness in systole (P = .038), and liver enzymes (P = .034–.038). Conclusions and Clinical Importance These data suggest that diet might influence some clinical, biochemical, and echocardiographic variables in cats with HCM.
A general class of processor interconnection strategies

A new class of general topologies is proposed in this paper for interconnecting a large network of computers in parallel and distributed environment. These structures have been shown to possess small internode distances, fairly low number of links per node, easy message routing and large number of alternate paths that can be used in case of faults in the system. The interconnection is based on a mixed radix number system, presented in this paper. The technique results in a variety of structures for a given number of processors N, depending on the required diameter in the network.A bus oriented structure is also introduced here, based on the same mathematical framework. These structures possess only two I/O ports per processor and are also shown to have small internode distances.
Presence of activated ras correlates with increased cysteine proteinase activities in human colorectal carcinomas

The metastatic potential of ras-transfected cells has been attributed in part to significant ras induction of proteinase expression. To determine whether primary cancers also demonstrate higher cysteine proteinase activities in the presence of activated ras genes or altered ras protein expression, we have analyzed 60 primary human colorectal carcinomas for ras gene or protein changes together with the expression of cathepsins B and L. Cancers containing K-ras mutations (47% of 60 carcinomas) demonstrated greater increases in cathepsin L activity than cancers without K-ras mutations (p = 0.029), with particularly significant correlations for earlier stage cancers (Dukes' A and B carcinomas, p = 0.006). Western blots used to characterize ras protein patterns in the same cancer/normal pairs have demonstrated that N-ras protein is more highly expressed in colon tissues than H- or K-ras proteins and that N-ras overexpression occurs in almost 70% of colorectal cancers, with or without a concurrent change in electrophoretic mobility of N-ras protein. Our current study has now shown that N-ras protein overexpression alone does not significantly induce cathepsin B or L activity levels in colon cancers. However, carcinomas demonstrating altered N-ras protein forms, in the absence of any K- or N-ras mutations, expressed significantly higher levels of cathepsin B and L activities compared with carcinomas with normal N-ras protein banding patterns. Our data suggest that colorectal carcinomas with either K-ras mutations or altered forms of N-ras protein may increase their tumorigenic potential via the induction of cathepsin L or B expression levels. Our results also confirm that ras oncogene up-regulation of cathepsin B and L activities, previously reported in cultured cells, is a frequent event in primary human colorectal carcinomas.
Effect Of Diffuse Reflectivity On Photoresist Linewidth Control

Recent studies in our laboratory have shown that the diffuse reflectivity of sputtered A1/1% Si films plays a significant role in the lot to lot control of photoresist linewidth for 2.0 m features on our 16K SRAM device. The exposure energy required to produce 2.0 m resist lines on product wafers at this level was monitored and correlated with both the total and diffuse reflectivity as measured on control wafers included with the product wafers during Al/Si deposition. Fourteen product lots were monitored over a period of several months. The results show a strong correlation between changes in the diffuse reflectivity and the exposure energy. An increase of 64% in the diffuse reflectivity of the Al/Si film is accompanied by an increase of 80% in the exposure energy required to produce 2.0 m lines in positive resist. For these same lots, the total reflectivity varies by less than ±3%, usually taken as an indication of good process control at metal deposition, with no apparent correlation to the exposure energy. Several different resist processes were investigated to control the effects of changes in the diffuse reflectivity. The most promising of these has been a new dyed photoresist developed at Sandia. The unbleachable dye has been selected for optimal performance at the exposure and alignment wavelengths used in the Ultratech stepper. The diffuse reflectivity of Al/Si films coated with dyed resist is diminished by a factor of eight over the reflectivity of films coated with our standard resist. The total reflectivity is diminished by a factor of five.
Foot and ankle kinematics in patients with posterior tibial tendon dysfunction

The purpose of this study is to provide a quantitative characterization of gait in patients with posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD), including temporal-spatial and kinematic parameters, and to compare these results to those of a Normal population. Our hypothesis was that segmental foot kinematics were significantly different in multiple segments across multiple planes. A 15 camera motion analysis system and weight-bearing radiographs were employed to evaluate 3D foot and ankle motion in a population of 34 patients with PTTD (30 females, 4 males) and 25 normal subjects (12 females, 13 males). The four-segment Milwaukee Foot Model (MFM) with radiographic indexing was used to analyze foot and ankle motion and provided kinematic data in the sagittal, coronal and transverse planes as well as temporal-spatial information. The temporal-spatial parameters revealed statistically significant deviations in all four metrics for the PTTD population. Stride length, cadence and walking speed were all significantly diminished, while stance duration was significantly prolonged (p<0.0125). Significant kinematic differences were noted between the groups (p<0.002), including: (1) diminished dorsiflexion and increased eversion of the hindfoot; (2) decreased plantarflexion of the forefoot, as well as abduction shift and loss of the varus thrust in the forefoot; and (3) decreased range of motion (ROM) with diminished dorsiflexion of the hallux. The study provides an impetus for improved orthotic and bracing designs to aid in the care of distal foot segments during the treatment of PTTD. It also provides the basis for future evaluation of surgical efficacy. The course of this investigation may ultimately lead to improved treatment planning methods, including orthotic and operative interventions.
A Terrestrial Biotic Ligand Model. 1. Development and Application to Cu and Ni Toxicities to Barley Root Elongation in Soils

A Terrestrial Biotic Ligand Model (TBLM) was developed using noncalcareous soils from Europe based on Cu and Ni speciation and barley (Hordeum vulgare cv. Regina) root elongation bioassays. Free metal ion (M2+) activity was computed by the WHAM VI model using inputs of soil metal, soil organic matter, and alkali and alkaline earth metals concentrations, and pH in soil solution. The TBLM assumes that metal in soil and in the solution are in equilibrium. Metal ions react with the biotic ligand, the receptor site, and inhibit root elongation. Other ions, principally H+, Ca2+ and Mg2+, compete with M2+ and, therefore, affect its toxicity. Toxicity is correlated only to the fraction of the total biotic ligand sites occupied by M2+. Compared to other models using either the soil metal concentration or M2+ activity as the toxic dose, the TBLM provides a more consistent method to normalize and compare Cu and Ni toxicities to root elongation among different soils. The TBLM was able to predictthe EC50 soil Cu and Ni concentrations generally within a factor of 2 of the observed values, a level of precision similar to that for the aquatic Biotic Ligand Model, indicating its potential utility in metals risk assessment in soils.
Scared half to death: The gendered impacts of prolific small arms

Due to their widespread availability, mobility and ease of use, small arms are a very important factor in the flaring up and perpetration of many expressions of trauma, both in times of war and in degraded ‘peacetime’ environments characterized by large-scale violence. They have become central to maintaining social dislocation, destabilization, insecurity and crime in the build-up to war, in wartime and in the aftermath of conflict. Small arms are misused within domestic settings as well as in public spaces, and they impact on everyone in the community. One means to counter their effects, therefore, is to increase our understanding of the role played by prolific small arms and light weapons in reinforcing and maintaining genderspecific violence before, during and after conflict.
Virtually no thoracic lesion inaccessible: a pictorial case review.

Access route considerations in percutaneous intrathoracic biopsy or ablation offers its own unique set of challenges, with special consideration toward reducing the rate of pneumothorax. This review highlights several novel and atypical methods to improve access to intrathoracic lesions through a series of representative cases. These methods include patient positioning, curved needles, hydrodissection, induced/artificial pneumothorax, and use of specialized equipment functions. No intrathoracic lesion should be considered “inaccessible” either for biopsy or treatment by percutaneous approaches without consideration of performing these adjunctive techniques.
Experimental evidence for nuclear deformation parameters

Abstract It is shown that the relationship found by Sheline for even deformed nuclei and the successful account for many energy levels by Davydov-Filippov theory are due to special correlations between assigned values of deformation parameters.
Chemical Aerosol Flow Synthesis of Semiconductor Nanoparticles

Nanometer-sized semiconductor particles (quantum dots) have been the subject of intense research during the past decade owing to their novel electronic, catalytic, and optical properties. Fundamental properties of these nanoparticles (1−20 nm diameter) can be systematically changed simply by controlling the size of the crystals while holding their chemical composition constant. We describe here a new methodology for the continuous production of fluorescent CdS, CdSe, and CdTe nanoparticles using ultrasonically generated aerosols of high boiling point solvents. Each submicron droplet serves as a separate nanoscale chemical reactor, with reactions proceeding as the liquid droplets (which hold both reactants and surface stabilizers) are heated in a gas stream. The method is inexpensive, scalable, and allows for the synthesis of high quality nanocrystals. This chemical aerosol flow synthesis (CAFS) can be extended to the synthesis of nanostructured metals, oxides, and other materials.
‘Musicking’ children from the Bohemian lands: nurtured and hidden musical practices on both sides of the Iron Curtain

Based on an analysis of musical childhood memories from over 80 Germans from the Bohemian lands and historical evidence, this article investigates processes of social and political integration and assimilation of German children and young adults who, in the aftermath of the Second World War, were either expelled to Germany or remained in their Bohemian homelands. Memories of Germans expelled to West Germany disclose the various ways in which musical repertoire and musical practices are able to mitigate both the loss of the homeland and the distressing overall effects of expulsion, as well as reveal how music facilitates the building of a new sense of belonging in the face of geographic displacement and material dispossession. The study further highlights how the reframing and even silencing of musical practices on the other side of the Iron Curtain in Czechoslovakia affected processes of social-identity reconstruction until and after the 1989 fall of Communism. Results of this study foreground that indivi...
Long PCR improves Wolbachia DNA amplification: wsp sequences found in 76% of sixty-three arthropod species

Bacteria belonging to the genus Wolbachia are associated with a variety of reproductive anomalies in arthropods. Allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (= Standard PCR) routinely has been used to amplify Wolbachia DNA from arthropods. While testing the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae and other arthropods known to be infected with Wolbachia, Standard PCR frequently produced false negatives, perhaps because the DNA from the arthropod host interfered with amplification by Taq DNA polymerase. Long PCR, which uses two enzymes (Taq and Pwo), consistently amplified Wolbachia DNA and a sensitivity analysis indicated that Long PCR was approximately six orders of magnitude more sensitive than Standard PCR in amplifying plasmid DNA spiked into insect genomic DNA. A survey indicated that 76% of sixty-two arthropod species and two subspecies in thirteen orders tested positive for the Wolbachia wsp sequence by Long PCR, which is considerably higher than the rate of 16.9% obtained previously for the ftsZ sequence using Standard PCR (Werren, J.H., Windsor, D. and Gao, L. (1995a) Proc R Soc Lond B 262: 197-204). A subsample of Long PCR products from fourteen arthropod species and two subspecies were sequenced, both directly and after cloning. Two A- and eleven B-Wolbachia strains were detected and their wsp sequences displayed a maximum of 23.7% sequence divergence at this locus. Two new groups (named Fus and Ten) were identified in addition to nineteen reported earlier (Zhou, W., Rousset, F. and O'Neill, S.L. (1998) Proc R Soc Lond B 265: 1-7; van Meer, M.M.M., Witteveldt, J. and Stouthamer, R. (1999) Insect Mol Biol 8: 399-408), because they displayed more than 2.5% sequence divergence from other Wolbachia wsp sequences. PCR products from seventeen of twenty-nine (59%) arthropod species analysed could not be sequenced directly due to apparent infection by multiple Wolbachia strains. The wsp sequences cloned from two such species (Plutella xylostella and Trichoplusia ni) indicated both A- and B-Wolbachia were present in a single individual. Hence, superinfection also may be more widespread than the 1.2% incidence previously estimated.
Novel visualization method for biological sequence similarity reports

Previously, we presented a system called Alignment Viewer that uses information visualization techniques to visualize similarities between a single DNA sequence and a large database of other sequences [Chi et al., IEEE Visualization ’95, pp. 44–51, IEEE CS (1995); Chi et al., IEEE Visualization ’96, pp. 133–140 and 477, IEEE CS (1996)]. In this paper, we extend, summarize, and describe the system using several interesting case studies. We present our comb glyph technique for visualizing alignments between sequences. In this paper, we also extend the original system by incorporating computational steering, and the visualization of differences between data sets. The case studies and the new extended system present our approach of extracting significant relationships in the biological data set.
Optical-fibre tap with low insertion loss

We report a fibre-tapping element which uses part of the insertion loss of a fibre connector or splice as useful optical signal power. A tapping fraction of up to 70% has been measured with a total insertion loss of 0.22 dB.
the moral imagination of the Kaguru: some thoughts on tricksters, translation and comparative analysis

This essay questions some of the ways anthropologists employ the comparative method to understand the meaning of collective representations. To illustrate the argument, the category of trickster is examined for one East African people. Such anomalous figures serve didactically to stimulate the imagination which is essentially involved in moral rather than epistemological questions. It is argued that order and disorder, and indeed meaning, can be safely analyzed sociologically only within the terms of a particular system of beliefs and symbols, consequently posing serious problems for comparative study. [East Africa, Kaguru, trickster, epistemology, symbolism, comparative method]
Microwave background anisotropy in a toroidal universe

Large-scale cosmic microwave background temperature fluctuations are calculated for a universe with the topology of a 3-torus. In such a universe only perturbations which are harmonics of the fundamental mode are permitted. By comparison with data from the Cosmic Background Explorer satellite, we find that the minimum (comoving) scale of a cubic toroidal universe is 2400${\mathit{h}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ Mpc for an n=1 inflationary model. This is approximately an order of magnitude greater than previous limits and 80% of the horizon scale, implying that a topologically ``small'' universe is no longer an interesting cosmological model.
New electronically black neutron detectors

Two neutron detectors are described that can function in a continuous radiation background. Both detectors identify neutrons by recording a proton recoil pulse followed by a characteristic capture pulse. This peculiar signature indicates that the neutron has lost all its energy in the scintillator. Resolutions and efficiencies have been measured for both detectors.
Tuning collective communication for Partitioned Global Address Space programming models

Partitioned Global Address Space (PGAS) languages offer programmers the convenience of a shared memory programming style combined with locality control necessary to run on large-scale distributed memory systems. Even within a PGAS language programmers often need to perform global communication operations such as broadcasts or reductions, which are best performed as collective operations in which a group of threads work together to perform the operation. In this paper we consider the problem of implementing collective communication within PGAS languages and explore some of the design trade-offs in both the interface and implementation. In particular, PGAS collectives have semantic issues that are different than in send-receive style message passing programs, and different implementation approaches that take advantage of the one-sided communication style in these languages. We present an implementation framework for PGAS collectives as part of the GASNet communication layer, which supports shared memory, distributed memory and hybrids. The framework supports a broad set of algorithms for each collective, over which the implementation may be automatically tuned. Finally, we demonstrate the benefit of optimized GASNet collectives using application benchmarks written in UPC, and demonstrate that the GASNet collectives can deliver scalable performance on a variety of state-of-the-art parallel machines including a Cray XT4, an IBM BlueGene/P, and a Sun Constellation system with InfiniBand interconnect.
Novobiocin analogues with second-generation noviose surrogates.

Abstract Hsp90 is a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of cancer. Novobiocin is the first Hsp90 C-terminal inhibitor ever identified and recent structure–activity relationship studies on the noviose sugar identified several commercially available amines as suitable surrogates. In an effort to further understand this region of the molecule, analogues containing various N′-amino substituents were prepared and evaluated against two breast cancer cell lines for determination of their efficacy. Compound 37j manifested the most potent anti-proliferative activity from these studies and induced Hsp90-dependent client protein degradation at mid nano-molar concentrations.
Bioequivalence of two lansoprazole delayed release capsules 30 mg in healthy male volunteers under fasting, fed and fasting-applesauce conditions: a partial replicate crossover study design to estimate the pharmacokinetics of highly variable drugs.

An open-label, 2-treatment, 3-sequence, 3-period, single-dose, partial replicate crossover studies under fasting (n=48), fed (n=60) and fasting-applesauce (n=48) (sprinkled on one table spoonful of applesauce) modalities were conducted in healthy adult male volunteers to evaluate bioequivalence between 2 formulations of lansoprazole delayed release capsules 30 mg. In all the 3 studies, as per randomization, either test or reference formulations were administered in a crossover manner with a required washout period of at least 7 days. Blood samples were collected adequately (0–24 h) to determine lansoprazole plasma concentrations using a validated LC-MS/MS analytical method. To characterize the pharmacokinetic parameters (Cmax, AUC0–t, AUC0–∞, Tmax, Kel and T1/2) of lansoprazole, non-compartmental analysis and ANOVA was applied on ln-transformed values. The bioequivalence was tested based on within-subject variability of the reference formulation. In fasting and fed studies (within-subject variability>30%) bioequivalence was evaluated with scaled average bioequivalence, hence for the pharmacokinetic parameters Cmax, AUC0–t and AUC0–∞, the 95% upper confidence bound for (μT−μR)2−θσ2 WR was ≤0, and the point estimates (test-to-reference ratio) were within the regulatory acceptance limit 80.00–125.00%. In fasting-applesauce study (within-subject variability
Cloning and expression of the ARO3 gene encoding DAHP synthase from Candida albicans

Abstract In Saccharomyces cerevisiae , the primary step in the aromatic (ARO) amino acid (aa) biosynthetic pathway is catalyzed by two isozymes of 3-deoxy- d -arabinoheptulosonate-7-phosphate synthase (DAHPS). The activity of one DAHPS isozyme (encoded by the ARO3 gene) is feedback inhibited by phenylalanine, whereas the other (encoded by the ARO4 gene) is inhibited by tyrosine. The expression of these genes is also regulated at the transcriptional level by the general control activator GCN4. We took advantage of the high degree of aa sequence homology between DAHPSs from several species to isolate ARO3 homologues from the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans . An ARO3/ARO4-specific sequence was generated from C. albicans genomic DNA by polymerase chain reaction amplification and used as a probe to screen a C. albicans cDNA library. A 1.3-kb cDNA clone was isolated and sequenced. The cDNA contains a long open reading frame predicting a 368-aa protein with significant homology to known DAHPSs, including both the S. cerevisiae ARO3 and ARO4 products (68.5% and 58.5% identity, respectively). Northern analysis of yeast and mycelial poly(A) + RNA revealed equivalent expression of a 1.3-kb transcript in both cell types. A genomic clone was isolated by crosshybridization, and analysis of the 5' untranslated region revealed the presence of a putative GCN4-binding site. This clone complemented an aro3 mutation in S. cerevisiae ; functional complementation was inhibited by the presence of excess phenylalanine (but not tyrosine) in the growth medium, confirming that the cloned gene is the C. albicans homologue of ARO3 .
Psoriatic Sera Decrease Responses of Stimulated Granulocytes from Normal and Psoriatic Subjects

Previous studies have demonstrated alterations in polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) function in patients with psoriasis, but results have been variable. In this study we attempted to determine whether functional changes in PMNL from psoriatics represented an intrinsic cellular defect or a response to factors in serum. We evaluated the effect of the continuous presence of autologous and heterologous serum on lysozyme release and superoxide anion (O 2 - ) generation by psoriatic and normal PMNL exposed to a soluble or particulate phagocytic stimulus. There were no differences in O 2 - generation or lysozyme release between normal and psoriatic PMNL without serum. However, in the presence of 10% autologous serum, these responses were significantly decreased for psoriatic PMNL ( p
Designing a mobile health tool for preterm infant wellness

Preterm infants have significantly higher rates of functional limitations and are at risk for delays in cognitive, motor, and other skills. In this paper, we present the results of a qualitative design study to understand the needs of these families and their professional caregivers. These findings informed the design of Estrellita, a mobile wellness tool to support caregivers of preterm infants. We discuss several features of Estrellita that are designed to encourage flexible and consistent data monitoring. We also discuss our strategy for evaluating Estrellita in a long-term deployment study.
Fibronectin Lacking the ED-B Domain Is a Major Structural Component of Tracheal Cartilage

Fibronectin is a highly conserved dimeric glycoprotein found in high concentrations in plasma and widely distributed in low concentrations in the extracellular matrix of tissues. The protein is the product of a single gene, but multiple splicing variants are expressed that show tissue specificity. Three exons (IIIA, IIIB, and V) can be alternatively spliced to produce different fibronectin isoforms. We report here that fibronectin is a remarkably abundant component of the extracellular matrix of bovine tracheal cartilage, increasing with age to more than 20% of the tissue, dry weight. This matrix form of fibronectin is inextractable by 4 M guanidine HCl, indicating that it is a covalently cross-linked structural component. By protein sequence analysis, the main molecular form of fibronectin in bovine tracheal cartilage was shown to lack the ED-B domain encoded by exon IIIB.
Aversion to low doses of mercuric chloride in rats

In contrast to the detrimental influence of low mercury doses observed in prior research, mercuric chloride had no significant effect on either emotional behavior in the open field or on aversive conditioning in the one-way shuttlebox. Results also show that mercuric chloride had no obvious physiological effect as indicated by the absence of significant differences between experimental and control rats. However, the present research indicated that adult male and female rats are capable of reducing their intake of a solution containing mercury. This aversion to low doses of mercury develops in the apparent absence of any gross physiological and behavioral impairment. Juvenile rats appear to be able to develop an aversion to sugar water containing mercury but exhibit a difficulty in maintaining their aversion.
A no-touch technique protocol to diminish cerebrospinal fluid shunt infection

BACKGROUND Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunts become infected primarily by bacterial organisms indigenous to the patient's skin flora, but bacteria from the operating room environment, hospital, or no obvious source may also infect a shunt. To decrease the incidence of shunt infection, a no-touch technique protocol was developed and utilized in a prospective manner. METHODS A before-after trial analysis was performed to compare the infection rates between patients who had CSF shunts placed using the no-touch technique protocol versus patients who had surgery without the protocol. Patients were stratified by age, etiology of hydrocephalus, type of shunt surgery, and presence of a contaminated skin wound, namely, tracheostomy, gastrostomy-jejunostomy, colostomy, or halo. The differences in infection rates were analyzed with the Fisher exact test with midpoint value correction, and standard statistical methods were used to calculate the 90% confidence interval odds ratio and number to treat. RESULTS The no-touch technique protocol resulted in a clinically significant threefold decrease in shunt infection rate from 9.1% to 2.9% (p = 0.058 at 0.10 level, odds ratio 0.305, confidence interval 0.084-1.11), and a near threefold decrease in the infection rate per patient from 11.3% to 3.9% (p = 0.032 at 0.10 level, odds ratio 0.243, confidence interval 0.065-0.906). CONCLUSIONS The no-touch technique protocol as described herein is a useful method to decrease shunt infection. A larger prospective, randomized, multicenter clinical trial is encouraged to stringently assess the efficacy of the protocol.