cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sensor-Based Air Pollution Prediction Using Deep CNN-LSTM

The devastating impacts of air pollution have be-come more and more evident in recent years. As our measurement technologies improve, we gain better insight into the true impact of this deadly, yet often ignored, threat. The first step in reducing the damages caused by this problem is being able to analyze and predict its patterns. The problem of predicting air quality and the presence of particulate matter lies in the nature of the data needed to create an accurate system. The sheer number of factors affecting air quality mean that previously proposed approaches often utilize a great many sources of data, aiming to incorporate images, wind graphs, traffic information, and more. Yet in truth, most areas outside large metropolises lack ready access to high-quality data, preventing them from ever implementing an effective system. We propose a system utilizing a 1-D deep convolutional neural network to analyze past sensor readings and predict air pollutant concentrations up to a day in the future at a 3-hour resolution. We specifically developed this model for predicting PM2.5 values. The system receives PM2.5 sensor values and discovers temporal pattern in the data, which will be later used for prediction. By removing the dependency on complex data inputs, the system becomes accesible and easily implementable for any region. Despite this simplified approach, the results are comparable to — and often better than — any current state-of-the-art predictive systems in this domain.
Molecular sequencing patterns for stage I serous endometrial carcinoma tumors with early recurrence versus those without early recurrence

Objectives: Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecologic malignancy in developed countries and serous endometrial carcinoma (SEC) makes up 5-10% of all EC. SEC is a more aggressive subtype of EC, often more advanced at diagnosis, with increased recurrence risk. SEC had frequent p53 mutations and higher copy number alterations in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) analysis, and we hypothesize a different mutational burden exists among SECs varying by time of recurrence. This is a pilot study to evaluate the mutational burden and molecular profile of stage 1 SECs in patients who experienced an early recurrence (less than 2 years) compared with those without early recurrence. Methods: Serous carcinoma diagnosis was made based on hematoxylin and eosin stained tissue section identification and/or immunohistochemical staining consistent with TP53 mutation. Cases were identified among patients treated at our institution from 2010 to 2017 with a new diagnosis of SEC. Tumors from four patients without early recurrence (followed for 40-62 months) and three patients with early recurrence (17-22 months from staging surgery) were analyzed. NexGen molecular sequencing was performed from paraffin-embedded tissue from each case. Total numbers of mutations found per tissue block were identified as well as individual mutations. The numbers of mutations, molecular profile, as well as other patient characteristics were compared between the two groups using Wilcoxon rank-sum test for continuous variables and Chi square test for categorical variables. Results: The two groups were similar in age, ethnicity, smoking status and tumor size. A statistically significantly higher mutational burden among the group without early recurrence was found, both when comparing number of mutations and Mutations/Mb (Table). The SETD2 mutation was found to only occur in cancers without recurrence and was not present in any of the cancers with early recurrence. The patients who experienced an early recurrence had a statistically significantly higher BMI than patients without recurrence. Download : Download high-res image (197KB) Download : Download full-size image Conclusions: This pilot study found a statistically significantly lower mutation burden in SECs from patients who had early recurrence compared to those without early recurrence. This suggests that the higher mutational burden allows the immune system to better identify and attack the cancer cells whereas the tumors with a lower mutational burden escape the patient's immune system resulting in an early recurrence. More data with larger sample size is needed. This study also found SETD2 mutation to occur only in cancers without recurrence. SETD2 is a novel area of research for endometrial cancer.
Psychometric properties of two instruments measuring self-efficacy and outcome expectations of providing inhaler technique education to patients.

INTRODUCTION Both the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) asthma practice guidelines recommend that providers routinely check inhaler technique and correct any mistakes that patients may make when using these devices. Providers, however, rarely check inhaler technique during asthma visits. The objectives of this study were to: (1) describe the development of an instrument to measure self-efficacy and outcome expectations regarding inhaler technique patient education, (2) evaluate the internal consistency reliability of the new scales, and (3) provide preliminary evidence of construct validity. Methods: First- and second-year physician assistant (PA) students at two institutions completed an anonymous and voluntary survey evaluating two new instruments, the Teaching Inhalers to Patients: Self-efficacy (TIP-SE) and the Teaching Inhalers to Patients: Outcome Expectations (TIP-OE) scales and sociodemographic characteristics. The data were analyzed using Principal Components Analysis (PCA), Cronbach's α, and multivariable logistic regression. Results: We had usable responses from 146 PA students (71.9% participation rate). The PCA identified one factor for the TIP-SE and TIP-OE, respectively. The internal consistency of the TIP-SE and TIP-OE was α = 0.96 and α = 0.92, respectively. The logistic regression found that second-year PA students who had higher mean TIP-SE scores were significantly more likely to report teaching patients to use inhalers during rotations (OR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.1, 2.9). There was not a statistically significant relationship between reporting teaching patients to use inhalers during rotations and mean TIP-OE scores. Conclusion: The TIP-SE and TIP-OE show preliminary evidence of reliability and validity. Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/02770903.2021.2008428 .
The Impact of Adverse Weather on Freeway Bottleneck Performance

AbstractCongestion on freeways occurs when demand exceeds the available capacity. Common causes of recurring congestion, also known as freeway bottlenecks, include lane drops, on-ramp merges, and w...
Corrosion Behavior of VN20 Alloy Doped with Graphite or Chromium and Vanadium Carbides

We study the corrosion properties of a composite material based on tungsten carbide on a nickel binder and doped with graphite or chromium and vanadium carbides. It is shown that the introduction of graphite in the VN20 composite decreases its corrosion resistance in a 3-% NaCl solution. The addition of 2 and 4% graphite makes the corrosion current densities 2 and 2.5 times higher, respectively. Doping of the composite with vanadium carbide in amounts of 0.15 and 1% increases the corrosion currents, whereas the introduction of 1% of chromium carbide weakens these currents by about an order of magnitude.
Chapter 46 – Passive Immunization: Systemic and Mucosal

The transfer of systemic immunity (IgG) from mother to offspring occurs prenatally via the placenta or yolk sac, and after birth via the colostrum. Species vary in the contribution each route makes—to the transfer of immunity and can be grouped into three categories: prenatal transfer, combined prenatal and postnatal transfer, and postnatal transfer. Mother's milk provides passive protection of the mucosal surfaces it contacts. This protection can be mediated either by specific immunity or by nonspecific factors found in milk—such as lactoferrin, lysozyme, fatty acids, and complement. The use of specific serum antibody (IgG) to transfer protection to nonimmune individuals is a standard medical practice in—for example, the postexposure prophylaxis for rabies and tetanus and the treatment of snakebite, while intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) treatment is known to lower the incidence of pneumonia in patients with common variable immunodeficiency. Studies of the passive transfer of local immunity can be classified into two categories. In the first are those studies in which the antibody is introduced into the local secretions exogenously or mixed with the target pathogen prior to host challenge. The second category includes those studies in which systemically administered pIgA must be physiologically transported by a pIgR-mediated mechanism to its site of activity.
Science and human behavior

The psychology classic-a detailed study of scientific theories of human nature and the possible ways in which human behavior can be predicted and controlled-from one of the most influential behaviorists of the twentieth century and the author of Walden Two. "This is an important book, exceptionally well written, and logically consistent with the basic premise of the unitary nature of science. Many students of society and culture would take violent issue with most of the things that Skinner has to say, but even those who disagree most will find this a stimulating book." -Samuel M. Strong, The American Journal of Sociology "This is a remarkable book-remarkable in that it presents a strong, consistent, and all but exhaustive case for a natural science of human behavior...It ought to be...valuable for those whose preferences lie with, as well as those whose preferences stand against, a behavioristic approach to human activity." -Harry Prosch, Ethics
Automated program recognition: a feasibility demonstration

Abstract The recognition of familiar computational structures in a program can help an experienced programmer to understand a program. Automating this recognition process will facilitate many tasks that require program understanding, e.g., maintenance, translation, and debugging. This paper describes a prototype recognition system which demonstrates the feasibility of automating program recognition. The prototype system automatically identifies occurrences of stereotyped algorithmic fragments and data structures, called cliches, in programs. It does so even though the cliches may be expressed in a wide range of syntactic forms and may be in the midst of unfamiliar code. Based on the known behaviors of these cliches and the relationships between them, the system generates a hierarchical description of a plausible design of the program. It does this systematically and exhaustively, using a parsing technique. This work is built on two previous advances: a graphical, programming-language-independent representation for programs, called the Plan Calculus, and an efficient graph parsing algorithm.
Next generation WDM networks with multi-channel protection, recovery and equalization

The next generation WDM optical network, in addition to link protection includes fast channel protection and service restoration. For this to be accomplished, high-bandwidth channels that transport in excess of 2.5 Gbps, need be continuously monitored for performance parameters. Performance may be degraded for a number of reasons, such as attenuation, dispersion, insertion loss and others that depend by en large on temperature variations and other non-linear interactions in the fiber medium. As a consequence, the speed of detecting severe degradations or failures, determines the speed of protecting a channel. In several cases however, channel equalization may be adequate thus avoiding switching to protection. In WDM networks, because of the multiplicity of optical channels in a fiber, It may be needed to switch to protection or equalize multiple channels in parallel. To date, this parallel and simultaneous channel remedy has not been done; only one channel at a time in a serial manner. In this paper we present a novel in-service performance monitoring method, which in conjunction with a fast and intelligent protocol lends itself to multiple channel self-restoration or multiple channel equalization. Performance parameters such as power, BER, SNR and Q-factor are monitored in-service and in real-time so that fast remediation action is taken as performance approaches a low acceptable threshold level.
Technology and Skill Demand in Mexico

The author investigates the effects of technology on the employment and wages of differently skilled Mexican manufacturing workers using firm panel data from 1992-99. She analyzes the relationship between technology and skill demand. Findings support the skill-biased technical change hypothesis. She then examines the temporal relationship of technology adoption to firm productivity and worker wages. The author finds that skilled labor increases after technology adoption. And wages of both skilled and semi-skilled workers exhibit markedly increased growth rates compared with the growth rate of low-skilled workers. The results show that investment in human capital improves technology-driven productivity gains.
Fecal Shedding of Salmonella spp. by Dairy Cows on Farm and at Cull Cow Markets

As part of a national study of the U.S. dairy cow population, fecal samples were collected from representative cows on 91 dairies and 97 cull dairy cow markets in 19 states. Salmonella spp. were recovered from 5.4% of milk cows, 18.1% of milk cows expected to be culled within 7 days, and 14.9% of culled dairy cows at markets. On a premise basis, Salmonella shedding in milk cows was detected on 21.1% of dairies and 66% of cull dairy cow markets. The percentage of herds with at least one cow with detectable Salmonella fecal shedding was higher during the sampling period from May through July, in herds with at least 100 milk cows, and in herds in the South region. The most common Salmonella serogroups isolated were E (30.8% of isolates) and C1 (28.6%); the most common serotypes isolated were Salmonella Montevideo (21.5% of isolates), Salmonella Cerro (13.3%), and Salmonella Kentucky (8.5%). Fecal shedding of Salmonella Typhimurium or Salmonella Typhimurium var. copenhagen was infrequent (2.8% of isolates). M...
Measures of discrepancy between treatment and control

When combining the results of independent studies, the starting point is the choice of an effect size by which to measure the effectiveness of a treatment over a control. The recent discussion on the effectiveness of a tnatninogratn for women between the ages of 40 and 50 is an example of this problem.
High power and high efficiency AlInAs/GaInAs on InP HEMTs

The authors report on the development of AlInAs/GaInAs-on-InP power HEMTs (high electron mobility transistors). Output power densities of more than 730 mW/mm and 960 mW/mm with power-added efficiencies (PAE) of 50% and 40% respectively, were achieved at 12 GHz. When biased for maximum efficiency, a PAE of 59% and an output power of 470 mW/mm with 11.3 dB gain were obtained. These results demonstrate the viability of these HEMTs for power amplification. Considering that these HEMTs have an f/sub max/ of over 200 GHz, they should also have good power performance at millimeter-wave frequencies. >
Con: bulbomembranous anastomotic urethroplasty for pelvic fracture urethral injuries.

Current literature remains controversial regarding whether to treat patients sustaining pelvic fracture urethral injuries (PFUIs) with primary endoscopic realignment (PER) versus suprapubic tube (SPT) placement alone with elective bulbomembranous anastomotic urethroplasty (BMAU). Success rates for PER following PFUI are wide-ranging, depending on various authors’ definitions of what defines a successful outcome. At our institution, for SPT/BMAU patients, the mean time to definitive resolution of stenosis was dramatically shorter compared to PER cases. The vast majority of PER patients required multiple endoscopic urethral interventions and/or experienced various other adverse events which were rarely noted among the SPT/BMAU group. While PER does occasionally result in urethral patency without the need for further intervention, the risk of delay in definitive treatment and potential for adverse events has led to a preference for SPT and elective BMAU at our institution.
The in vitro detection of antigen sensitivity in contact dermatitis by lymphocyte transformation.

Abstract Contact sensitivity induced in rabbits by the topical application of 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB) was evaluated by the in vitro lymphocyte transformation response. The antigen employed to stimulate cultures was a preparation of DNCB conjugated homologous lymphocytes. This antigen preparation specifically stimulated blood lymphocytes from DNCB sensitive animals to transform in vitro . The kinetics of the primary immune response were determined by antigen mediated lymphocyte transformation in rabbits percutaneously sensitized with DNCB. The peak response was reached 12 days following initial exposure to DNCB. Sensitivity decreased but remained at detectable levels through 57 days of the primary response. Skin testing the animals late in the primary response stimulated an increase in the number of circulating sensitive lymphocytes. Serum proteins, conjugated with DNCB, were not suitable antigens for the in vitro detection of contact sensitivity.
Hysteresis in ultrasonic attenuation in UPt3 in low magnetic fields

Abstract Ultrasonic measurements on the heavy fermion superconductor UPt 3 indicate evidence of the possibility of two or more superconducting phases in a magnetic field. At low fields there is a large hysteresis in the attenuation which was interpreted by Muller et al. as a metastable phase. We report on similar measurements, where in addition to a hysteresis in the attenuation there is an associated hysteretic temperature change. We believe the hysteresis in attenuation to be the result of a temperature increase due to flux jumps. A lower critical field of the order of 10 mT is estimated.
Exploring Space: NASA at 50 and Beyond

In 2008, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, and has been embarked on a mission to put astronauts on the moon, possibly by 2020. Is this goal “back to the future”? Or is it “the way forward” as a prelude to a mission to Mars? An advisory panel to President Obama has recommended alternatives to the moon as routes to Mars. At the time of writing, Obama has yet to decide. Of course, NASA has already arrived on Mars with robots, a tribute to the agency's remarkable technical prowess. However, the ultimate challenge would be to send men and women to Mars. Why? That, of course, is the big question. The answer lies in the human heart rather than in the rational mind. NASA's exploration of this unknown frontier has more in common with the expeditions of Columbus and Magellan than the missions of most other federal agencies. Any list of discretionary expenditures would prioritize space exploration as an extreme example of an unnecessary luxury that can be postponed. So why should NASA continue to explore space? That question takes on an acute meaning during a time of intense domestic economic and foreign policy challenges. But imagine: what would be lost to America if NASA did not exist?
LINEAR GEOMETRICAL MAGNETORESISTANCE EFFECT : INFLUENCE OF GEOMETRY AND MATERIAL COMPOSITION

This work reports theorems on geometrical magnetoresistance effects in simply or multiply connected surfaces. We consider planar or three-dimensional device geometries, and assume that the current/voltage relations are linear. It is shown that the resistance of any two-wire device must be an even function of the magnetic field. We further calculate the magnitude of the highest and lowest second-order geometrical magnetoresistance of a planar two-wire device, for given isotropic material parameters. The largest change in magnetoresistance occurs when the boundaries of the device contain only electrically conducting leads and no insulating components. When the Fermi surface and the mobility tensor are isotropic, as is the case for n-type InAs and InSb, the magnetoresistance obtained in the Corbino geometry is the largest possible, but this conclusion does not generalize to materials with anisotropic conductivity tensors. The presence of multiple ellipsoidal carrier pockets in Bi also explains why the geometrical magnetoresistance effects are much smaller in the trigonal plane of Bi than in InAs, even though these materials have similar mobilities at room temperature, and the conductivity of Bi is isotropic in that plane.
Regulation of androgen receptor transcriptional activity by rapamycin in prostate cancer cell proliferation and survival

The mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) inhibitor rapamycin caused growth arrest in both androgen-dependent and androgen-independent prostate cancer cells; however, long-term treatment induced resistance to the drug. The aim of this study was to investigate methods that can overcome this resistance. Here, we show that rapamycin treatment stimulated androgen receptor (AR) transcriptional activity, whereas suppression of AR activity with the antiandrogen bicalutamide sensitized androgen-dependent, as well as AR-sensitive androgen-independent prostate cancer cells, to growth inhibition by rapamycin. Further, the combination of rapamycin and bicalutamide, but not the individual drugs, induced significant levels of apoptosis in prostate cancer cells. The net effect of rapamycin is determined by its individual effects on the mTOR complexes mTORC1 (mTOR/raptor/GbetaL) and mTORC2 (mTOR/rictor/sin1/GbetaL). Inhibition of both mTORC1 and mTORC2 by rapamycin-induced apoptosis, whereas rapamycin-stimulation of AR transcriptional activity resulted from the inhibition of mTORC1, but not mTORC2. The effect of rapamycin on AR transcriptional activity was mediated by the phosphorylation of the serine/threonine kinase Akt, which also partially mediated apoptosis induced by rapamycin and bicalutamide. These results indicate the presence of two parallel cell-survival pathways in prostate cancer cells: a strong Akt-independent, but rapamycin-sensitive pathway downstream of mTORC1, and an AR-dependent pathway downstream of mTORC2 and Akt, that is stimulated by mTORC1 inhibition. Thus, the combination of rapamycin and bicalutamide induce apoptosis in prostate cancer cells by simultaneously inhibiting both pathways and hence would be of therapeutic value in prostate cancer treatment.
An HVEM for high resolution low-dose studies of biomacromolecules

Abstract A 1 MeV EM-7 TEM has been modified to investigate the possibility that low-dose studies of biomacromolecular crystals might be more effectively carried out in an HVEM. The modifications include a TV viewing system, a deflection-type minimum exposure system, a side-entry, -150°C transfer cold-stage and improvement of the working resolution to 0.2 nm. The advantages of HVEM for this type of study include a possible reduction in radiation damage rate, greater depth of focus on tilted specimens, broader instrumental contrast transfer function and a reduction in dynamical effects on thicker samples. Disadvantages and possible solutions to them are also discussed. Preliminary results on radiation damage in catalase at 400, 600 and 800 kV and images of catalase and squaric acid are included.
The basic relationships between residual stress, white layer, and fatigue life of hard turned and ground surfaces in rolling contact

Abstract The characteristics of residual stress (RS) profiles and their effects on rolling contact fatigue life for precision turned and ground surfaces with a white layer (WL) are very controversial. This study has shown that: (a) Hard turning with a fresh tool generates a “hook” shaped RS profile characterized by surface compressive RS and subsurface maximum compressive RS. While gentle grinding only generates maximum compressive RS at the surface and a shallow subsurface zone of compressive RS. The “hook” shaped RS profile with surface compressive RS contributes to a longer (∼40%) fatigue life of a machined surface. (b) A turned WL surface by a worn tool generates a high tensile stress in the area of the WL, but becomes more highly compressive in the deeper subsurface than the turned one without a WL. The high tensile RS at the surface leads to a much shorter (7.6 times) fatigue life. (c) A ground WL only shifts the RS to tension but hardly affect the basic shape of the profile for a ground fresh surface. The surface tensile RS coupled with near surface peak tensile RS produces the shortest (7.8 times) fatigue life.
On the use of diagonal modes in the elastic identification of thin plates

This paper relates a further development of an earlier work by the first author and others, in which they presented a method of deriving the elastic constants of composite materials from resonance data obtained from the modal analysis of freely-supportea plates made out of orthotropic or isotropic materials. In the present work, the diagonal modes are included in the optimized Rayleigh three-term displacement representation for the square isotropic or almost isotropic composite plates. The use of sensitivity analysis of the frequencies including the diagonal modes to each elastic constant is also investigated in the procedure of the identification of elastic properties. Comparison of results obtained using diagonal-inclusive modes with those excluding the diagonal modes suggest that lower diagonal modes have relatively higher sensitivities to the elastic constants and can significantly improve accuracy when included in the elastic identification method applied here to square isotropic or almost isotropic plates.
IN MEMORY: JOHN L. FALK

I was privileged to be a close friend of John L. Falk from the early 1960s when we met at the University of Michigan Medical School as young faculty members, until his death at the age of 81 on March 23, 2009. In 2001 John retired after 31 years as Professor of Psychology at Rutgers University where he taught and developed a well funded laboratory for research in the psychopharmacology of drug abuse. His expertise as a behavioral pharmacologist was complemented by his colleague of many years, Dr. C.E. Lau, a highly skilled pharmacokineticist. Together they published many articles linking pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics (e.g., Lau et al., 1999, 2000).
111indium bone marrow scintigraphy as an aid in selecting marrow biopsy sites for the evaluation of marrow elements in patients with lymphoma

One hundred and two previously treated lymphoma patients were studied with 111Indium bone marrow scans and bone marrow biopsies. The biopsies were considered to represent sampling errors when the cellularity of the biopsy did not reflect the general state of the marrow organ cellularity as demonstrated by the scan. In each instance the accuracy of the scan was confirmed by either another biopsy or the subsequent clinical course of the patient. Sampling errors were infrequent (1/51) in patients with normal peripheral blood counts and whose marrow had never been involved with tumor. Errors were especially likely (17/51) in patients who had had marrow involvement or those who had anemia, leukopenia, or thrombocytopenia. The 111Indium bone marrow scan allows the clinician to avoid selecting a biopsy site with a high risk for sampling error.
Reverse Computational Modeling: From Muscle Mechanics to the Function of Sarcomeric Proteins

Spatially-explicit mathematical models of muscle sarcomeres (e.g. Daniel et al., 1998, Smith et al., 2008) incorporate information about the position of each molecule in the myofilament lattice and are useful because they can reproduce geometrical effects due to filament architecture and the variable alignment of actin binding sites and myosin heads. Their main disadvantage is that they have many more parameters (for example, filament stiffness values, Ca2+ binding affinities, etc.) than conventional Huxley-type models. As a result, most spatially-explicit models to date have been used to make ‘forward predictions’. That is, investigators have assigned a plausible value to each model parameter and then run simulations to predict contractile function (tension-pCa curves, measurements of tension recovery, etc.) under various conditions. This can determine the impact on muscle function of altering the biophysical properties of a selected sarcomeric protein. We have developed our own spatially-explicit model (FiberSim) and are currently using it in the alternative ‘reverse’ direction. Our aim is to predict the functional behavior of many sarcomeric proteins by adjusting the values of the parameters that describe their biophysical behaviors until the resulting simulations match real experimental data records. We have recently succeeded in reproducing tension-recovery (ktr) records obtained at different levels of Ca2+ activation using permeabilized myocardial samples from diabetic rats. These samples only contain the slow β isoform of myosin heavy chain and the simulations thus predict a complete kinetic scheme for this isoform's interactions with actin. We are currently extending our work to predict the fast α isoform's kinetic scheme as well by optimizing the fit between the simulations and ktr records obtained from control myocardial samples which contain 30% α and 70% β myosin.
Intraoral radiographic errors

The purpose of this investigation was to investigate intraoral radiography in regards to the frequency of errors, the types of error necessitating retakes, and the relationship of error frequency to the teeth area examined and type x-ray cone used. The present study used 283 complete mouth radiographic surveys made, and 890 radiographs were found to be clinically unacceptable for one or more errors in technique. Thirteen and one-tenth errors per one hundred radiographs were found in this study. The three major radiographic errors occurring in this study were incorrect film placement (49.9 percent), cone-cutting (20.8 percent), and incorrect vertical angulation (12.5 percent).
Discovery, synthesis, and structure-based optimization of a series of N -(tert -Butyl)-2-(N -arylamido)-2-(pyridin-3-yl) acetamides (ML188) as potent noncovalent small molecule inhibitors of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) 3CL protease

A high-throughput screen of the NIH molecular libraries sample collection and subsequent optimization of a lead dipeptide-like series of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) main protease (3CLpro) inhibitors led to the identification of probe compound ML188 (16-(R), (R)-N-(4-(tert-butyl)phenyl)-N-(2-(tert-butylamino)-2-oxo-1-(pyridin-3-yl)ethyl)furan-2-carboxamide, Pubchem CID: 46897844). Unlike the majority of reported coronavirus 3CLpro inhibitors that act via covalent modification of the enzyme, 16-(R) is a noncovalent SARS-CoV 3CLpro inhibitor with moderate MW and good enzyme and antiviral inhibitory activity. A multicomponent Ugi reaction was utilized to rapidly explore structure-activity relationships within S(1'), S(1), and S(2) enzyme binding pockets. The X-ray structure of SARS-CoV 3CLpro bound with 16-(R) was instrumental in guiding subsequent rounds of chemistry optimization. 16-(R) provides an excellent starting point for the further design and refinement of 3CLpro inhibitors that act by a noncovalent mechanism of action.
Effect of adrenalectomy on the response of rat liver polyribosomes to whole-body gamma radiation

L'adrenalectomie supprime le net deplacement, cause par l'irradiation, vers les especes de polyribosomes plus lourdes observees chez les rats normaux irradies. Ces results font supposer que l'action de l'irradiation sur les polyribosomes du foie est reglee au moins en partie, par la glande surrenale.
Dialysis session length (“t”) as a determinant of the adequacy of dialysis

Several studies have shown an association between the hemodialysis session length (the t of Kt or Kt/V) and favorable outcomes for patients on maintenance hemodialysis. In a single randomized controlled trial that systematically varied hemodialysis session length, shorter session length was associated with an increased risk for morbidity and mortality, independent of the time-averaged concentration of urea. Observational studies of dialysis session length have yielded conflicting results, although virtually all studies have confounded hemodialysis session length with hemodialysis efficiency or dose. Limited observational data from nocturnal hemodialysis programs more strongly suggest an independent beneficial effect of longer session length. In aggregate, data on the effects of hemodialysis session length are inconclusive. Future studies should evaluate hemodialysis session length independent of efficiency, and should consider the evaluation of dose by using other clearance parameters and the adequacy of ultrafiltration in addition to solute kinetics.
Team staffing modes in organizations: Strategic considerations on individual and cluster hiring approaches

Abstract Team-based work structures are increasingly used in organizations as a viable means of improving performance. However, there is relatively little research on the practices of staffing teams and the implications of such practices with regard to a firm's competitive advantage. In this paper, we evaluate methods of team staffing from a strategic human resource management perspective. Included in this discussion is an extrapolation of individual approaches to team staffing, which include staffing individuals to build a team, and cluster hiring, which refers to organizational efforts to acquire and fit a pre-existing team with a new role. In particular, we evaluate how individual and cluster hiring modes influence the competitive advantage of organizations, linking human resource management practices with strategic outcomes, and presenting testable propositions to guide future research and practice in team staffing.
Probing the Effect of Mutations of Asparagine 181 in the D1 Subunit of Photosystem II

Efficient proton removal from the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) of photosystem II (PSII) and activation of substrate water molecules are some of the key aspects optimized in the OEC for high turnover rates. The hydrogen-bonding network around the OEC is critical for efficient proton transfer and for tuning the position and pKa values of the substrate water/hydroxo/oxo molecules. The D1-N181 residue is part of the hydrogen-bonding network on the active face of the OEC. D1-N181 is also associated with the chloride ion in the D2-K317 site and is one of the residues closest to a putative substrate water molecule bound as a terminal ligand to Mn4. We studied the effect of the D1-N181A and D1-N181S mutations on the water oxidation chemistry at the OEC. PSII core complexes isolated from the D1-N181A and D1-N181S mutants have steady-state O2 evolution rates lower than those of wild-type PSII core complexes. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicates slight perturbations of the hydrogen-bonding network in D...
A “gender blind” relationship of lean body mass and blood pressure in the Tecumseh study*

Background: Body size correlates positively with blood pressure (BP) but there is controversy about the roles of obesity versus muscularity in this relationship. Methods: We examined the BP relationship with overweight, lean body mass (LBM), and muscle performance in 231 adolescents (17.25 ± 3.07 years, 123 males). The skinfold thickness (SKINT) was used to measure overweight, as this was a growing population. Results: Maximal foot torque, a measure of muscle strength, correlated strongly (r = 0.51, P < .001) to LBM attesting to the validity of the calculated LBM. Anthropometric measurements were available also in 944 adults (29.9 ± 5.5 years, 461 men). Correlations of LBM to systolic (adolescents r = 0.52, adults r = 0.19, both P < .001) and diastolic (adolescents r = 0.47, adults r = 0.20, both P < .001) BP were highly significant. SKINT also correlated significantly to systolic and diastolic BP in adolescents and in adults, respectively. In both genders and populations an increasing SKINT was associated with a similar increase in BP, but this effect was superimposed on an average 10 mm Hg between-gender BP difference. The LBM in both groups and genders related to the BP in an identical fashion; the men were on the high and the women on the low end of the same BP/LBM correlation line. Thus, the amount of LBM erased categoric BP differences between the genders. Conclusions: The gender-related BP differences appear to reflect the inherent gender differences in muscle bulk.
Lessons from the Field: An Essay on the Crisis of Leadership in Contemporary Organizations:

A consensus is emerging that contemporary organizations are in critical need of leadership with compelling vision. Often this leads to an overemphasis on the personality or character of the leader....
Structural and electronic properties of three aqueous-deposited films: CdS, CdO, ZnO, for semiconductor and photovoltaic applications

Abstract This study shows that CdS. CdO and ZnO films can be deposited on glass, aluminum, copper, nickel, molybdenum, steel, tin and zinc substrates from aqueous solution using reagent grade chemicals. Their structural properties were investigated and these values found compared well with values for the bulk form showing that equilibrium phase was being deposited. The properties of solar cells prepared from multiply deposited CdS films are reported. A short-circuit current of 2.7 mA and an open-circuit voltage of 0.2 V was obtained for the best cell under an illumination of AM-1 and an area of 1 cm2. The characteristic curve is a straight line showing that improvements could possibly be made in these devices to obtain greater efficiencies. The best cell was measured in the sun at an efficiency of 0.13%. The solution method offers an intriguing and inexpensive possibility for the deposition of semiconducting films.
A reformulation of Field Theory

An alternative formulation is given for the quantum theory of fields in which the charge on a particle is introduced as an operator rather than as a number. In addition to the advantage of mathematical simplicity, this formulation allows the fundamental properties of charge quantization and charge conservation to be deduced from the one hypothesis introduced to replace that of gauge invariance of the first kind. Systems of particles of different mass and charge may be treated more elegantly by this method, which is identical with the usual one for particles of spin zero, but which leads to a generalized Dirac equation which could be applied, for instance, to a mixed electron and neutrino field. This equation is very simply expressible in terms of modified field-dependent Dirac operators, and leads to oscillations of the specific charge of a particle analogous to the zitterbewegung.
An organismal view of cellular aging

Summary This paper reviews the general biological phenomenon of aging as it applies to cells. Philosophical concepts of aging arising from radiation and evolutionary biology are used as a historical context for our understanding of how cells age. The development of multicellularity, and with it, an extracellular matrix is discussed in order to reveal that the biological consequences of aging extend beyond the borders of a cell. The argument is made that an integration of knowledge across levels of biological organization and a unification of theories on aging is needed in order to progress toward a greater understanding of organismal and cellular aging. It is further suggested that complexity theory and a systems level approach provides the means by which that integration can be achieved. The consequences of aging have been observed at virtually every level of biological organization, from molecules to populations. Although explanations of aging are dominated by a few theories (e.g., Kirkwood's (1977) disposable soma theory [1] and Harman's (1956) free radical hypothesis [2] ), countless others have been proffered as well (see Rattan (2006) [3] and Weinert and Timiras (2003) [4] for reviews). This proliferation reflects not only the intricacies of aging but also the need for a theory that integrates information across multiple interacting levels of biological organization. Contrary to reductionist expectation, the number of theories increases rather than decreases at progressively lower levels of biological organization. Nowhere is this more evident than at the cellular level. Thus, it is fitting to devote a special issue to the challenges inherent in understanding the dynamics of cellular aging. There are, however, several obstacles that complicate a discussion of cellular aging. Foremost among them is the term “aging” (or “senescence”) itself. What does it mean? How do you distinguish aging from non-aging? When did it arise? Is it universal, or can some organisms escape it? Is it reversible? Is it a monolithic process or a mixture of processes? What is the fundamental unit of aging: a molecule, a cell, a tissue, an organ, the organism, or all of these? Does multicellularity affect the complexity of aging? Did aging evolve? In other words, does it have a genetic basis? Is there a difference between replicative senescence, organismal senescence, and phenotypic plasticity? These are some of the questions that we hope to address in this article.
Distinct FAK Activities Determine Progenitor and Mammary Stem Cell Characteristics

Mammary stem (MaSCs) and progenitor cells are important for mammary gland development and maintenance and may give rise to mammary cancer stem cells (MaCSCs). Yet there remains limited understanding of how these cells contribute to tumorigenesis. Here we show that conditional deletion of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in embryonic mammary epithelial cells (MaECs) decreases luminal progenitors (LPs) and basal MaSCs, reducing their colony-forming and regenerative potentials in a cell autonomous manner. Loss of FAK kinase activity in MaECs specifically impaired LP proliferation and alveologenesis, whereas a kinase-independent activity of FAK supported ductal invasion and basal MaSC activity. Deficiency in LPs suppressed tumorigenesis and MaCSC formation in a mouse model of breast cancer. In contrast to the general inhibitory effect of FAK attenuation, inhibitors of FAK kinase preferentially inhibited proliferation and tumorsphere formation of LP-like, but not MaSC-like, human breast cancer cells. Our findings establish distinct kinase dependent and independent activities of FAK that differentially regulate LPs and basal MaSCs. We suggest that targeting these distinct functions may tailor therapeutic strategies to address breast cancer heterogeneity more effectively.
The Distribution and General Biology of Hyloniscus Riparius (Koch) (Isopoda, Oniscoidea) in North America

[Die Verbreitung von Hyloniscus riparius in Nordamerika wird diskutiert und deren allgemeine Biologie erortert. Die Art wurde bisher in Neufundland, Kanada und im Staate New York gefunden, und jetzt auch in New Jersey, Pennsylvania und Nordcarolina. Sie war hier haufig und unterhielt offenbar wohlfundierte Populationen. Die Biologie aller Populationen wird besprochen und eine Studie uber die Populationsstruktur der New Jersey Tiere prasentiert. Die H. riparius Population von New Jersey bestand aus Zweit-Saison-Individuen im Fruhling und aus Erst- und Zweit-Saison-Individuen im Herbst, wobei die Moglichkeit der Anwesenheit von Dritt-Saison-Individuen im Fruhling nicht vollig auszuschliessen ist. Der Prozentsatz tragender Weibchen, das Zahlenverhaltnis Mannchen zu Weibchen und die Korperlange wurden registriert., Die Verbreitung von Hyloniscus riparius in Nordamerika wird diskutiert und deren allgemeine Biologie erortert. Die Art wurde bisher in Neufundland, Kanada und im Staate New York gefunden, und jetzt auch in New Jersey, Pennsylvania und Nordcarolina. Sie war hier haufig und unterhielt offenbar wohlfundierte Populationen. Die Biologie aller Populationen wird besprochen und eine Studie uber die Populationsstruktur der New Jersey Tiere prasentiert. Die H. riparius Population von New Jersey bestand aus Zweit-Saison-Individuen im Fruhling und aus Erst- und Zweit-Saison-Individuen im Herbst, wobei die Moglichkeit der Anwesenheit von Dritt-Saison-Individuen im Fruhling nicht vollig auszuschliessen ist. Der Prozentsatz tragender Weibchen, das Zahlenverhaltnis Mannchen zu Weibchen und die Korperlange wurden registriert.]
Bacterial penicillin amidase.

Sakaguchi and Murao1 reported on the presence of an enzyme in the mycelium of Penicillium chrysogenum and Aspergillus oryzae which would split penicillin G (I) into phenylacetic acid (II) and ‘penicin’ (III) :
The impact of advanced maternal age (≥40 years) on birth outcomes among triplets: a population study

The objective was to determine the impact of advanced maternal age on the birth outcomes of triplet gestations. A retrospective cohort study on 15,795 triplets born in the United States from 1995 to 1997. The generalized estimating equations framework was used to generate relative risks after capturing the effect of sibling correlations within triplet clusters. There was a 40% higher likelihood for stillbirths among older gravidas (≥40 years) as compared to younger mothers (20–29 years) although this was statistically non-significant. By contrast, we noted a significantly lower level of neonatal mortality (OR=0.36, 95% CI=0.19–0.67), perinatal mortality (OR=0.53; 95% CI=0.32–0.89) and infant mortality (OR=0.37; 95% CI=0.20–0.67) among older mothers. Our findings demonstrate a “shifting phenomenon” whereby a higher level of intra-uterine demise was compensated by a higher rate of extra-uterine survival among triplets born to older mothers.
Orbital blow-out fractures: surgical timing and technique.

To recommend a tailored approach to surgical timing in the repair of orbital blow-out fractures, and to offer suggestions for improved functional and aesthetic surgical outcomes. Traditional guidelines for surgical timing are reviewed. An evidence-based approach that considers soft-tissue disruption relative to bone-fragment separation is presented. The author's techniques for repair of isolated orbital floor, isolated medial wall, and combined floor–medial wall fractures are presented. As demonstrated previously, greater degrees of soft-tissue incarceration or displacement, with presumably greater intrinsic damage and subsequent fibrosis, result in poorer motility outcomes despite complete release of soft tissues. There is a suggestion that earlier intervention for such injuries might improve outcomes. Lower fornix and transcaruncular incisions, careful extrication of incarcerated tissue, and thin alloplastic implants have proven successful in the author's hands. The degree of soft-tissue displacement relative to bone fragment distraction, as depicted in preoperative computed tomography (CT) scans, should be considered in the timing of surgery. Incisions, soft-tissue handling, and implant material, thickness, and positioning can all affect the functional and aesthetic outcomes.
The Treatment of Urinary-Tract Infections with an Oral Carbenicillin

An orally absorbed indanyl ester of carbenicillin was investigated in 26 patients with bacteriuria. The 26 patients, who were treated with 2.0 or 4.0 g of drug per day for 14 days, included 15 with Escherichia coli, five with Proteus, five with Pseudomonas, and one with Klebsiella bacteriuria. No serious adverse reactions to the drug were encountered although most patients noted a bitter taste. Bacteriuria was eradicated during therapy in 19 patients, including three infected with Pseudomonas. Concentrations of drug were determined in serum and urine of five subjects after administration of 500 or 1,000 mg of antibiotic. Although peak concentrations in the serum were low (less than 10 tg/ml), concentrations in the urine generally exceeded the minimal inhibitory concentrations for many Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas.