cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pressure-Jump Studies of Ribosomal Subunit Association-Dissociation Kinetics

Ribosomes, the complex nucleoprotein particles on which protein synthesis occurs in all organisms, are formed from two specific subaggregates. The particles are referred to by their Standard Sedimentation coefficients: the Escherichia coli 70S ribosome, molecular weight 2.55 x 106 daltons, is composed of a small, 30S, 0.85 x 106 dalton subunit, and a large, 50S, 1.70 x 106 dalton subunit. The rates and equilibria of the 70S = 30S + 50S reaction depend markedly on the divalent metal ion concentration and less so on the Univalent metal ion concentration, as well as on temperature, etc. [1,2]. The reaction is important because a number of the reactions of protein synthesis require partial, if not total, Separation of the 30S–50S interfaces.
How mixing tetraglyme with the ionic liquid 1-n-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide changes volumetric and transport properties: An experimental and computational study

The viscosity and density of the ionic liquid (IL) 1- n -hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ( [C 6 mim ][ NTf 2 ] [ C 6 mim ] [ NTf 2 ] ), the molecular solvent tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether (tetraglyme or G4) and their binary mixtures were measured experimentally as a function of temperature. The same systems were also studied using classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The viscosities of the [C 6 mim ][ NTf 2 ] [ C 6 mim ] [ NTf 2 ] /G4 mixtures decrease with increasing G4 concentration, though not as much as an ideal mixing model would predict. Detailed analysis of the MD results reveals that G4 preferentially solvates cations, leading to a reduction in the interaction energy between cations and anions and a subsequent enhancement in anion mobility. A similar effect has been reported when glymes are mixed with salts containing alkali metal cations, with the resulting mixtures being called “solvate” ionic liquids. The simulations predict that the ionic conductivity will be maximized when the G4 mole fraction is around 10–20%. The ability of G4 to effectively solvate the cations stems from localized charges on the oxygen. The simulations predict that solvents having large localized positive charges would preferentially solvate anions, leading to enhanced cation mobility.
Alterations of serum lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes during therapy directed at lung cancer.

Abstract The assay of serum LDH isoenzymes during therapy directed at lung cancer may be useful in determining whether or not a chemotherapeutic agent affects the tumor. Increases and decreases in various isoenzymes were noted during therapy, in many instances similar to the isoenzyme content of the patient's cancerous tissue. The observed alterations correlated well with tumor growth or regression during therapy.
The comparative research on detecting performance of two kinds of Vibrio chromogenic culture medium

Objective To assess the performance of domestic Vibrio chromogenic culture medium and evaluate its possibilities in clinical detecting of Vibrio. Methods Inoculate CHROMager vibrio chromogenic culture medium and Auto vibrio chromogenic culture medium with standard strains of Vibrio cholerae,Vibrio vulnificus,Vibrio parahaemolyticus,Vibrio alginolyticus,Escherichia coli,Staphylococcus aureus,Enterococcus faecalis and 24 water samples from the Seven Mile River,Zhengzhou and 108 water samples from fish and seafood in Zhengzhou Hongqi Road farmers market. Compared the differences in the growth and chromogenic reaction of the target bacteria as well the mixed bacterium between the two kinds of medium. Results The results showed that the two kinds of chromogenic culture medium were completely consistent in the performance of detecting vibrios.However,the Auto vibrio chromogenic culture medium was superior in inhibiting Enterococcus faecalis. Neither of the two kinds of chromogenic culture medium detected vibrios in 24 water samples. But it appeared a false positive Vibrio parahaemolyticus on CHROMagar chromogenic plate in the 108 water samples from fish and seafood. The detecting differences of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in clinical samples between the two chromogenic culture medium had statistical significance( P 0. 05). Conclusion As a domestic reagent,the Auto vibrio chromogenic culture medium has an overall advantage over the CHROMager vibrio chromogenic culture medium in the value of clinical application.
Effects of Acculturation on Immigrant Consumers’ Perceptions of Advertisements

The purpose of this study was to compare immigrant consumers' perceptions of ethnic versus American advertisements and to determine if these perceptions varied with the consumers' acculturation. While studies of ethnic minorities indicate that acculturation plays a role in buying, consumption, and media patterns, there has been very little research on their responses to specific advertisements. The immigrant group selected was first-generation Asian-Indian adults coming from India. Their high growth rate and very favorable socioeconomic characteristics provide an opportunity to marketers.
Variation in use of medical care services: higher risk or higher consumption?

ABSTRACT: The issue of variation in use of medical care is important in Florida and in other regions of the country. It is difficult to disaggregate the effects of differences in health risk of Med...
Validation of a substance and alcohol use assessment instrument among orphans and vulnerable children in Zambia using Audio Computer Assisted Self-Interviewing (ACASI)

BACKGROUND: Substance and alcohol misuse is a global problem that increases the risk of HIV infection. This is a concern among orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in sub-Saharan Africa who may have elevated substance use rates. The Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) is a reliable and valid instrument of substance use among adults in primary care high-income settings. This study examined psychometric properties of the ASSIST among OVC in Zambia using Audio Computer Assisted Self-Interviewing (ACASI). METHODS: Baseline data from an ongoing randomized trial of interventions to reduce HIV risk behaviors were analyzed. The analysis included 502 OVC ages 13-17 living in low-income, high-density neighborhoods in Lusaka, Zambia. Internal consistency of the ASSIST was assessed and discriminant validity was measured using items from the Youth Self Report as criterion variables. RESULTS: Internal reliability was strong with a Cronbach's alpha of ≥0.80 for each of the specific substance scales and total substance involvement. For all substances except tobacco and sedatives, discriminant validity was demonstrated in distinguishing between low risk use and moderate use. Sensitivity and specificity analysis indicated adequate area under the curve across substance types (AUC range: 0.68-0.80). Discrimination between moderate and high risk was demonstrated for alcohol and total substance involvement. CONCLUSIONS: ASSIST administered via ACASI is a reliable instrument and an appropriate tool for distinguishing between low and hazardous substance use among adolescent OVC populations in sub-Saharan Africa. Additional examination is warranted to determine its ability to measure gradations of severity within hazardous use.Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. Language: en
Effect of Deep Drying and Torrefaction Temperature on Proximate, Ultimate Composition, and Heating Value of 2-mm Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta) Grind

Deep drying and torrefaction compose a thermal pretreatment method where biomass is heated in the temperature range of 150–300 °C in an inert or reduced environment. The process parameters, like torrefaction temperature and residence time, have a significant impact on the proximate, ultimate, and energy properties. In this study, torrefaction experiments were conducted on 2-mm ground lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) using a thermogravimetric analyzer. Both deep drying and torrefaction temperature (160–270 °C) and time (15–120 min) were selected. Torrefied samples were analyzed for the proximate, ultimate, and higher heating value. The results indicate that moisture content decreases with increases in torrefaction temperature and time, where at 270 °C and 120 min, the moisture content is found to be 1.15% (w.b.). Volatile content in the lodgepole pine decreased from about 80% to about 45%, and ash content increased from 0.77% to about 1.91% at 270 °C and 120 min. The hydrogen, oxygen, and sulfur content decreased to 3%, 28.24%, and 0.01%, whereas the carbon content and higher heating value increased to 68.86% and 23.67 MJ/kg at 270 °C and 120 min. Elemental ratio of hydrogen to carbon and oxygen to carbon (H/C and O/C) calculated at 270 °C and a 120-min residence time were about 0.56 and 0.47. Based on this study, it can be concluded that higher torrefaction temperatures ≥230 °C and residence time ≥15 min influence the proximate, ultimate, and energy properties of ground lodgepole pine.
Key elements of networking in life sciences: collective creative thinking and team work.

In 2006, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (CSMC) with eleven Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) universities and academic organizations from six countries (Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, and Ukraine) formed the Regional Cooperation for Health, Science and Technology Consortium. In 2012, CSMC converted the Consortium into the Association for Regional Cooperation in the Fields of Health, Science and Technology (RECOOP HST). Members of the Association are from nine countries (Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic, Ukraine, and USA). The challenge of the construction of the Association was the integration of individual research goals into team research strategies. Building collaborative research work demands comprehensive knowledge of the economic and cultural environment, even the actual political climate, and foremost the funding mechanism that the participating organizations are challenging and utilizing. Also it is very important to have resources for face-to-face and networking meetings, annual scientific review conferences, and project management. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center provided such a support for RECOOP HST Association and that was the key to success (1).
Compliance Issues and Recourse

We have earlier explained that verification is a means to determine whether a State is complying with its disarmament or non-proliferation obligations under a particular agreement. Compliance issues are, therefore, our first area for specific attention. Compliance measures become necessary only if the verification process detects significant violations. They result from a thorough evaluation of information at different stages: the analysis of information from declarations and other sources, from ongoing technical monitoring, from import/export monitoring and, ultimately, from on-site inspections.
Estimation of k-ε parameters using surrogate models and jet-in-crossflow data

We demonstrate a Bayesian method that can be used to calibrate computationally expensive 3D RANS (Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes) models with complex response surfaces. Such calibrations, conditioned on experimental data, can yield turbulence model parameters as probability density functions (PDF), concisely capturing the uncertainty in the parameter estimates. Methods such as Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) estimate the PDF by sampling, with each sample requiring a run of the RANS model. Consequently a quick-running surrogate is used instead to the RANS simulator. The surrogate can be very difficult to design if the model’s response i.e., the dependence of the calibration variable (the observable) on the parameter being estimated is complex. We show how the training data used to construct the surrogate can be employed to isolate a promising and physically realistic part of the parameter space, within which the response is well-behaved and easily modeled. We design a classifier, based on treed linear models, to model the “well-behaved region”. This classifier serves as a prior in a Bayesian calibration study aimed at estimating 3 k− e parameters (Cμ,Ce2,Ce1) from experimental data of a transonic jet-in-crossflow interaction. The robustness of the calibration is investigated by checking its predictions of variables not included in the calibration data. We also check the limit of applicability of the calibration by testing at off-calibration flow regimes. We find that calibration yield turbulence model parameters which predict the flowfield far better than when the nominal values of the parameters are used. Substantial improvements are still obtained when we use the calibrated RANS model to predict jet-in-crossflow at Mach numbers and jet strengths quite different from those used to generate the experimental (calibration) data. Thus the primary reason for poor predictive skill of RANS, when using nominal values of the turbulence model parameters, was parametric uncertainty, which was rectified by calibration. Post-calibration, the dominant contribution to model inaccuraries are due to the structural errors in RANS.
Macromolecule Synthesis and Wall Extensibility in Relation to the Mechanism of Auxin-induced Cell Elongation

Despite extensive investigations, the mechanism of auxin-induced cell elongation remains a mystery. Yet certain facts about the progress are clear. Cell extension requires constant synthesis of RNA and protein (Key, 1969). The extension itself must consist of a continual series of extension events, each of which is composed of a biochemical modification of the wall (wall loosening) followed by a small amount of turgor-driven wall extension (Cleland, 1968).
A nomogram for testosterone recovery following combined androgen deprivation therapy and radiation therapy for prostate cancer.

67Background: Combined androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and radiation therapy (RT) is a frequently used localized prostate cancer (PC) treatment. Testosterone recovery (TR) after combined ADT-RT is not well-characterized. We studied TR in men who received RT and either short-term (ST) ADT or long-term (LT) ADT with LHRH agonists. Methods: We identified consecutive localized PC patients treated with ADT-RT at the Durham VA Medical Center (DVAMC) from 1/2011-10/2016. All patients had a documented baseline testosterone (T) level. Individual patient records were reviewed. TR was defined as time from last ADT injection to T normalization ( > 240 ng/dL). The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate time to TR. Cox proportional hazards models were generated to identify TR predictors with a nomogram built based on a parsimonious multivariate model. Results: 252 patients were identified. Median follow-up was 26.7 months. Median age was 65. Prior to treatment, 69% had a normal baseline T. 67% were treated with ST...
Eyelid: Lateral Canthotomy

Patients should be evaluated and deemed appropriate for such surgical intervention. Patients with orbital compartment syndrome due to hemorrhage, pneumo-orbita, or other causes of increased intraorbital pressure, who are at risk for optic nerve compression or hypoperfusion, are candidates for this procedure. Experimental studies demonstrate that permanent ischemic changes can occur within 90 min, so this procedure is performed emergently in appropriate patients, without waiting for radiographic studies. Additional therapeutic measures, such as the administration of ocular hypotensive drops or systemic osmotic diuretics, may also be indicated. The technique can also be utilized on an elective basis in conjunction with other procedures for horizontal lid tightening or reconstruction. Patients should be educated about the risks and benefits of the procedure, including alternatives.
Learning algorithms and formal verification

This tutorial is on applications of computational learning theory to verification of systems. Computational learning theory deals with algorithmic models for learning formally representable concepts using either positive and negative samples or by access to an oracle that can answer certain queries about the concept. The problem of learning formal languages has been particularly useful in verification applications. We will introduce Angluin's algorithm, a learning algorithm that learns regular languages efficiently using an oracle that can answer membership and equivalence queries. We will also survey results on learning regular languages in other learning models. We will give an account of how learning has been used to solve a variety of problems in verification, spanning compositional verification, parameterized model-checking, synthesis of interfaces, machines with unbounded queues, and program testing. In all these examples, a crucial property that is exploited is the simplicity of certain concepts that underlie real-world systems, the learning of which yields a a simple mechanism to prove the correctness of the system. We will also lay out general arguments on why learning algorithms can play a crucial role in the design of verification algorithms, and list some open research directions that work towards this goal.
Actual Past and Historical Past

The evolving history of the universe is normally regarded as being divided into three parts: past, present, and future. The present instant “now” separates the past that has already happened from the future that has not yet happened. One idea of the nature of things is described by the phrase “closed past, open future”.
Defining coronary artery calcium concordance and repeatability - Implications for development and change: The Dallas Heart Study.

Abstract Background Development and change of coronary artery calcium (CAC) are associated with coronary heart disease. Interpretation of serial CAC measurements will require better understanding of changes in CAC beyond the variability in the test itself. Methods Dallas Heart Study participants (2888) with duplicate CAC scans obtained minutes apart were analyzed to determine interscan concordance and 95% confidence bounds (ie: repeatability limits) for each discrete CAC value. These data derived cutoffs were then used to define change above measurement variation and determine the frequency of CAC development and change among 1779 subjects with follow up CAC scans performed 6.9 years later. Results Binary concordance (0 vs. >0) was 91%. The value of CAC denoting true development of CAC by exceeding the 95% confidence bounds for a single score of 0 was 2.7 Agatston units (AU). Among those with scores >0, the 95% confidence bounds for CAC change were determined by the following formulas: for CAC≤100AU: 5.6√CAC + 0.3*CAC – 3.1; for CAC>100AU: 12.4√CAC – 67.7. Using these parameters, CAC development occurred in 15.0% and CAC change occurred in 48.9%. Although 225 individuals (24.9%) had a decrease in CAC over follow up, only 1 (0.1%) crossed the lower confidence bound. Compared with prior reported definition of CAC development (ie: >0), the novel threshold of 2.7AU resulted in better measures of model performance. In contrast, for CAC change, no consistent differences in performance metrics were observed compared with previously reported definitions. Conclusion There is significant interscan variability in CAC measurement, including around scores of 0. Incorporating repeatability estimates may help discern true differences from those due to measurement variability, an approach that may enhance determination of CAC development and change.
The Impact of Organizational Culture and Climate on Outcomes in Child Welfare: A Modified Systematic Review

ABSTRACTThis systematic review explores findings from eight articles that assess how culture and climate within child welfare organizations impact outcomes for children and families who come into contact with these systems. Systematic methods for search, identification, and analysis of each study were utilized in this review. The review revealed inconsistent results across studies; however, some consistency was found with specific dimensions of culture and climate. The findings suggest that intervening at the client level alone might not be sufficient for achieving desired outcomes, and organizational factors warrant further exploration. The review identified methodological considerations organizational researchers should consider in future studies.
Path planning for mobile articulated robots based on the improved A* algorithm:

Mobile articulated robots system composed of tractor and multiple articulated trailers is a nonlinear and underactuated system subject to nonholonomic constraints. The significant achievements of p...
How to design battery-assisted photovoltaic switched-inductor CMOS charger-supplies

Wireless microsensors can sense and share data that can save lives, energy, and money. Recharging or replacing thousands of tiny, easily exhaustible batteries, however, is too costly. Fortunately, photovoltaic (PV) cells can generate 100x more power from sunlight than other transducers can from motion, heat, or radiation. But since PV cells cannot supply the milliwatts that microsystems can at times require, this paper shows how to design battery-assisted PV-sourced CMOS charger-supplies that supply PV power to the system, excess PV power to the battery, and battery power to the system when PV power is insufficient. The design process proposed accounts for power losses and silicon area. This way, simulations show that 10% of losses are from switches when inductor resistance Resr is 2.2 Ω and silicon area can be 80% smaller when Resr is 5.5 Ω.
Central line-associated bloodstream infection in a patient with vascular Ehlers–Danlos syndrome

Vascular Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome (vEDS) is a familial orphan disease inherited in autosomal dominant pattern. The prevalence of vEDS is estimated to be about 1 in 200,000. We report a case of central line-associated blood stream infection, infective endocarditis, and pulmonary septic emboli in a 21-year-old female with vEDS. Our patient was also found to have intracranial Chiari I Malformation (CIM). This case highlights the importance of screening for infective endocarditis in patients with vEDS and supports possible genetic locus homogeneity between EDS and CIM.
Palladium-Catalyzed C–O Cross-Coupling of Primary Alcohols

Two catalyst systems are described, which together provide mild and general conditions for the Pd-catalyzed C–O cross-coupling of primary alcohols. For activated substrates, such as electron-deficient aryl halides, the commercially available ligand L2 promotes efficient coupling for a variety of alcohol nucleophiles. In the case of unactivated electrophiles, such as electron-rich aryl halides, the new ligand L8 was developed to improve these challenging C–O bond-forming reactions.
Improving Functional Status in African Americans With Cancer Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial

OBJECTIVES To determine the efficacy of the Power Over Pain-Coaching (POP-C) intervention to improve functional status among African American outpatients with cancer pain. . SAMPLE A SETTING 310 African American patients were recruited from an urban comprehensive cancer center. The study took place in the patients' homes. . METHODS A VARIABLES A two-group randomized design with repeated measures was used. Data were analyzed with linear mixed effects regression analysis and structural equation change score models. Variables were pain, pain-related distress, functional status, perceived control over pain, and the following antecedents to control. RESULTS Functional status was improved in POP-C participants relative to control group participants (p < 0.05). Distress also was differentially decreased (p < 0.05). Pain intensity ratings decreased significantly in all patients (p < 0.05). The largest intervention effects were observed in the living with pain component. . IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Perceived control over pain was strongly related to functional status and is amenable to interventions using the POP-C intervention components described in this article.
X-Ray Measurements of Long-Range Strains: A Bridge Between Micromechanics and Macromechanics

Long-range, elastic strains emanating from stress raisers, such as notches, holes and inclusions were investigated in bent silicon crystals which functioned as a model material. The strains and strain interactions were characterized by x-ray pendellosung fringe topography and were quantitatively evaluated by x-ray intensity measurements of traverse-oscillation topographs. The experimental results were compared to calculations based on continuum mechanics and satisfactory agreement was obtained. The x-ray analysis of long-range plastic strains and deformation gradients in technological polycrystalline materials by a computer-aided rocking curve analyzer (CARCA) was described. It was shown how CARCA can be used in alloys to obtain aggregate information of the defect structure of a large grain population and to isolate regions of intense deformation. Applications of the method were given to determine prefracture damage in fatigued and corrosion fatigued aluminum alloys and in stress corroded steel.
9.10 Organic Synthesis Using Microwave Heating

Microwave heating is proving to be a transformational technique in preparative chemistry. Using modern scientific microwave apparatus, it is possible to access elevated temperatures in an easy, safe, and reproducible way. By using microwave heating, reaction times can often be decreased, product yields increased, and purity enhanced as compared with conventional heating methods. The origins of the rate enhancements observed have been a topic of considerable debate over the years. It is now accepted, however, that microwave heating is just that – heating. In this chapter the key tenets of microwave-assisted organic chemistry are explored in the context of particular classes of reaction. The chapter discusses topics such as metal catalysis, reactions involving gases as reagents, combinatorial chemistry, monitoring reactions in real-time, and reaction scale-up, as well as giving an overview of the concepts behind microwave heating.
Toward Ensemble Assimilation of Hyperspectral Satellite Observations with Data Compression and Dimension Reduction Using Principal Component Analysis

AbstractSatellite-based hyperspectral radiometers usually have thousands of infrared channels that contain atmospheric state information with higher vertical resolution compared to observations fro...
Nanoparticle surface charge influences translocation and leaf distribution in vascular plants with contrasting anatomy

Root uptake and translocation of engineered nanoparticles (NPs) by plants are dependent on both plant species and NP physicochemical properties. To evaluate the influence of NP surface charge and differences in root structure and vasculature on cerium distribution and spatial distribution within plants, two monocotyledons (corn and rice) and two dicotyledons (tomato and lettuce) were exposed hydroponically to positively-charged, negatively-charged, and neutral ∼4 nm CeO2 NPs. Leaves were analyzed using synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence microscopy to provide lateral Ce spatial distribution. Surface charge mediated CeO2 NP interactions with roots for all plant species. Positively charged CeO2 NPs associated to the roots more than the negatively charged NPs due to electrostatic attraction/repulsion to the negatively charged root surfaces, with the highest association for the tomato, likely due to higher root surface area. The positive NPs remained primarily adhered to the roots untransformed, while the neutral and negative NPs were more efficiently translocated from the roots to shoots. This translocation efficiency was highest for the tomato and lettuce compared to corn and rice. Across all plant species, the positive and neutral treatments resulted in the formation of Ce clusters outside of the main vasculature in the mesophyll, while the negative treatment resulted in Ce primarily in the main vasculature of the leaves. Comparing leaf vasculature, Ce was able to move much further outside of the main vasculature in the dicot plants than monocot plants, likely due to the larger airspace volume in dicot leaves compared to monocot leaves. These results provide valuable insight into the influence of plant structure and NP properties on metal transport and distribution of NPs in plants.
Cytoplasmic components of apoptosis by irofulven revealed by cell-free apoptotic systems

5185 The potent induction of apoptosis in various types of tumor cells, contrasted to largely reversible non-apoptotic effects in normal cells is one of the hallmarks of a novel dual-action DNA- and protein-alkylating drug, irofulven (hydroxymethylacylfulvene). Previous studies suggested the contribution of both nuclear and cytoplasmic signaling to apoptosis by irofulven. To better understand the nature of the differential responses of tumor and normal cells, we used a cell-free apoptosis mimicking system consisting of isolated nuclei and cytosolic extracts. We examined homologous and heterologous mixes of nuclei and cytosols from cancer cells (CEM and LNCaP-Pro5), which initiate apoptosis in response to irofulven, and from normal cells (NCM 460), which display a non-apoptotic cytostatic response. Cytosols were obtained either from untreated or drug-treated cells. In the latter case, irofulven concentrations were adjusted to provide equal levels of intracellular drug-macromolecule adducts in each cell line. Nuclei from all three cell types incubated in the presence of cytosols from untreated cells retained their morphologic integrity for several hours as evaluated by fluorescence microscopy following Hoechst 333421 staining. However, incubation of nuclei with cytosols from irofulven-treated CEM and LNCaP-Pro5 cancer cells resulted in characteristic apoptotic changes: partial chromatin condensation, nuclei breakage, and the release of small chromatin fragments. These changes were observed with nuclei from both apoptosis-prone cancer cells and apoptosis-resistant normal cells. In striking contrast, cytosols from irofulven-treated normal NCM 460 cells did not change the morphology of nuclei from any of the three cell lines. In addition, exposure of cytosols from untreated cancer cells to irofulven (prior to incubation with nuclei) resulted in apoptosis in both cancer and normal nuclei. However, the preincubation of cytosols from normal cells with the drug had marginal effects on the nuclear morphology. A similar pattern of responses, although weaker than those of irofulven, was observed for helenalin, an anticancer sesquiterpenoid drug, which reacts only with proteins. These findings demonstrate that irofulven-induced pro-apoptotic changes in cancer cells involve cytosolic factors. Nuclei in normal NCM 460 cells are not inherently resistant to irofulven-induced apoptosis. However, apoptotic signals in these cells are attenuated at the cytoplasmic level. The possibility that cytoplasmic factors influence cell sensitivity to apoptosis is consistent with our hypothesis that apoptotic effects of irofulven originate not only from DNA damage but also from protein damage. (Supported by CA78706, CA80936, and MGI Pharma, Inc).
Creating a Standard of Care: Oral Health in Children Receiving Chemotherapy

Background: Oral Mucositis is a common complication of chemotherapy. With an incidence close to 80% in children undergoing antineoplastic therapy, it accounts for a substantial health burden. Recent outcome-based studies have been published regarding the implementation of a daily oral health care protocol and its positive effects on decreasing the incidence of oral mucositis. Currently at Inova Children’s Hospital there is no standard of care regarding appropriate oral health care for pediatric oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy. Program Goals: The goal of this program is to establish standard oral …
Dialogic essentialism and protecting against stigma within the fat admirer community

Fat Admirers (FAs) represent a group of stigmatized individuals who challenge Western ideals of beauty. Using an internet ethnography, I analyze the sharing of stigmatizing experiences among FAs on...
A MAP/PH/1 Perishable Inventory System with Dependent Retrial Loss

This paper considers a continuous review perishable inventory system with an infinite orbit. The replenishment of items in the inventory is governed by (s, Q) policy. The Markovian Arrival Process characterizes the arrival pattern of primary customers and the service time follows phase-type distribution. Inventoried items are subject to decay with some preassigned linear rate. The items are purchased from an outside source and lead time is exponentially distributed. An unsatisfied primary customer may enter an orbit or exit the system with a predetermined probability. The retrial customers, those who entered into the orbit, try to access the idle server with a linear rate. An unsatisfied retrial customer may enter or exit the orbit with prefixed probability based on the inventory level. Stationary probability vectors are obtained using the Matrix Analytic method. Numerical optimization of the profit function is carried out for different parameter values.
AI on the Edge: Characterizing AI-based IoT Applications Using Specialized Edge Architectures

Edge computing has emerged as a popular paradigm for supporting mobile and IoT applications with low latency or high bandwidth needs. The attractiveness of edge computing has been further enhanced due to the recent availability of special-purpose hardware to accelerate specific compute tasks, such as deep learning inference, on edge nodes. In this paper, we experimentally compare the benefits and limitations of using specialized edge systems, built using edge accelerators, to more traditional forms of edge and cloud computing. Our experimental study using edge-based AI workloads shows that today's edge accelerators can provide comparable, and in many cases better, performance, when normalized for power or cost, than traditional edge and cloud servers. They also provide latency and bandwidth benefits for split processing, across and within tiers, when using model compression or model splitting, but require dynamic methods to determine the optimal split across tiers. We find that edge accelerators can support varying degrees of concurrency for multi-tenant inference applications, but lack isolation mechanisms necessary for edge cloud multi-tenant hosting.
The Lines That Held Us: Assessing Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities in SARS-CoV-2 Testing.

Background Racial disparities in SARS-CoV-2 prevalence are apparent. Race is a sociocultural construct, necessitating investigation into how sociocultural factors contribute. Methods This cross-sectional study linked laboratory data of adult patients between February 29 and May 15, 2020 with socio-demographics variables from the 2018 American Community Survey (ACS). Medical sites included healthcare organizations in Michigan, New York, North Carolina, California, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Washington. Race was treated as a proxy for racism and not biological essentialism. Laboratory data included patient age, sex, race, ethnicity, test result, test location, and residential ZIP code. ACS data included economic and educational variables contributing to an SES Index, population density, proportion Medicaid, and racial composition for corresponding ZIP code. Associations between race/socioeconomic variables and test results were examined using odds ratios (OR). Results Of 126 452 patients [mean (SD) age 51.9 (18.4) years; 52 747 (41.7%) men; 68 856 (54.5%) White and 27 805 (22.0%) Black], 18 905 (15.0%) tested positive. Of positive tests, 5238 (SD 27.7%) were White and 7223 (SD 38.2%) were Black. Black race increased the odds of a positive test; this finding was consistent across sites [OR 2.11 (95% CI 1.95-2.29)]. When subset by race, higher SES increased the odds of a positive test for White patients [OR 1.10 (95% CI 1.05-1.16)] but decreased the odds for Black patients [OR 0.92 (95% CI 0.86-0.99)]. Black patients, but not White patients, who tested positive overwhelmingly resided in more densely populated areas. Conclusions Black race was associated with SARS-CoV-2 positivity and the relationship between SES and test positivity differed by race, suggesting the impact of socioeconomic status on test positivity is race-specific.
Optimization of ventilation and heat dispersion for split type of indoor transformer

The three-dimensional ventilation and heat dissipation model of a 110kV indoor transformer substation was established to investigate the effects of the critical natural ventilation temperature, the mechanical exhaust rate, and the size and the position of the vents in the transformer room. Meanwhile, this paper also compared the flow characteristics of the original design and optimized design of the transformer room. Results show that in the original design, the critical temperature of natural ventilation is twenty-two degrees centigrade. As the outdoor temperature rises, the indoor transformer is prone to generate heat accumulation near the bottom area during natural ventilation, causing the heat generated by the transformer unable to be discharged in time, thereby endangering the safe and stable operation of the transformer. When the natural ventilation critical temperature is twenty-two degrees centigrade, the minimum mechanical exhaust rate is two and a half meters per second. Increasing the area of the air vents and reducing the height of the air outlet is beneficial to enhance the heat dissipation effect in the transformer room, and the exhaust temperature is decreased significantly at the same time. Additionally, when the locations of the axial fans are lowered, the average temperature at the exhaust outlet can be reduced by about one to two degrees Celsius. Compared with the original design, the optimized design can meet the ventilation and heat dissipation requirements of the transformer room, thereby achieving the purpose of optimizing air volume and reducing noise.
Stable isotope analysis of an aberrant Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) feather suggests post-molt movements

We present the first record of plumage color aberration and the occurrence of slow-growing feather tissue in the Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris), a colorful songbird breeding in the southern United States during summer and migrating to Central America in winter. We took advantage of this rare sampling opportunity and performed hydrogen stable isotope analysis on 12 cross-sections of 2 primary feathers to compare isotopic values in normal and aberrant tissue sampled from the same individual. We used feather hydrogen stable isotope variation as an informative environmental marker to track the movements of the bird across its annual cycle. Spatial probability density estimates suggest further movements after this bunting arrived at molting stopover sites in northern coastal Mexico, either migrating toward southern coastal latitudes or toward higher elevations. Although we are unable to definitively assign a cause to the aberrant feather and its slow growth rate, we highlight how combining the observation of an atypical morphological trait with a modern molecular approach offers an opportunity to advance our understanding of avian movement behavior.
Effects of morphine and related drugs on the corticotrophin (ACTH)-stress reaction.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the inhibitory effect of morphine and related drugs on the corticotrophin (ACTH)-stress reaction. Selye found that high doses of morphine and certain other drugs and procedures produced a decrease in weight of the thymus and enlargement of the adrenal cortex in rats. Morphine and the other stimuli, denominated “stressors” by Selye, lost their endocrine effects after hypophysectomy or adrenalectomy, leading to the conclusion, still valid, that the stressor acts to increase the secretion of ACTH and in turn the glucocorticoids, which then act on the thymus and other target tissues. The effects of morphine and related drugs on the ACTH-stress reaction are reviewed with emphasis on morphine. The controversy over whether the inhibitory effect of chronic morphine or reserpine treatment on the pituitary-adrenal axis is primarily neural in character or is merely because of depletion of pituitary ACTH is evaluated. The utility of morphine in the bioassay of ACTH-releasing factor is discussed and a practical suggestion for the simplification of this assay problem is also presented in the chapter.
Hardware acceleration in commercial databases: a case study of spatial operations

Traditional databases have focused on the issue of reducing I/O cost as it is the bottleneck in many operations. As databases become increasingly accepted in areas such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Bioinformatics, commercial DBMS need to support data types for complex data such as spatial geometries and protein structures. These non-conventional data types and their associated operations present new challenges. In particular, the computational cost of some spatial operations can be orders of magnitude higher than the I/O cost. In order to improve the performance of spatial query processing, innovative solutions for reducing this computational cost are beginning to emerge. Recently, it has been proposed that hard-ware acceleration of an off-the-shelf graphics card can be used to reduce the computational cost of spatial operations. However, this proposal is preliminary in that it establishes the feasibility of the hardware assisted approach in a stand-alone setting but not in a real-world commercial database. In this paper we present an architecture to show how hardware acceleration of an off-the-shelf graphics card can be integrated into a popular commercial database to speed up spatial queries. Extensive experimentation with real-world datasets shows that significant improvement in the performance of spatial operations can be achieved with this integration. The viability of this approach underscores the significance of a tighter integration of hardware acceleration into commercial databases for spatial applications.
Strengthening On-Campus Relationships via an Annual Student Art Commission

Reed Library developed an annual student art competition in partnership with the Art Department at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. The partnership provided students with a real-world art commission experience, increased collaboration between the Library and Art Department, raised awareness of the Library across campus, and created a system to exhibit new art in the Library.
A herpesvirus antigen in human premalignant and malignant cervical biopsies and explants

Abstract Cervical biopsies and explant cultures from patients with squamous metaplasia, various grades of dysplasia, carcinoma in situ (CIS), and invasive squamous cell carcinoma were screened for VP143, an early nonstructural polypeptide of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), VP143 was identified in 31% of biopsies exhibiting severe dysplasia, 29% with CIS, and 41% with invasive squamous cell carcinoma. Similar results were obtained when explants derived from these biopsies were examined for VP 143. The expression of the protein persisted in passaged subcultures in four of five invasive carcinomas which originally contained VP 143. Staining for VP 157, the major capsid protein of HSV-2, was absent. Furthermore, virus structures were not seen by electron microscopy and infectious virus was not isolated from cell cultures inoculated with biopsy extracts. These results suggest that VP 143 was expressed in the premalignant amd malignant cervical cells in the absence of productive viral infection. Thus, a fragment of the HSV02 genome was retained within the cells, the expression of which resulted in the production of VP 143.
Wrong Medicine: Doctors, Patients, and Futile Treatment

Too often, patients in American hospitals are subjected to painful, expensive, and futile treatments because of a physician's notion of medical duty or a family's demands. Lawrence J. Schneiderman and Nancy S. Jecker renew their call for common sense and realistic expectations in medicine in this revised and updated edition of Wrong Medicine. Written by a physician and a philosopher-both internationally recognized experts in medical ethics- Wrong Medicine addresses key topics that have occupied the media and the courts for the past several decades, including the wrenching Terry Schiavo case. The book combines clear descriptions of ethical principles with real clinical stories to discuss the medical, legal, and political issues that confront doctors today as they seek to provide the best medical care to critically ill patients. The authors have added two chapters that outline theoretical, legislative, judicial, and clinical developments since the first edition. Based on the latest empirical research, Wrong Medicine continues to guide a broad range of health care professionals through the challenges of providing humane end-of-life care.
Statistical Design of a 10 bit Current Division Network

The statistical design of the 10 bit current division network is presented in this paper. The quantitative measure of the effect of mismatch between the transistors in the circuit is provided. Optimization of transistor W and L values, and yield enhancement are demonstrated. The circuit is fabricated through the MOSIS 2\ \mu {\rm m} process using MOS transistor Level-3 model parameters. Experimental results are included in the paper.
Training image collection at CECOM's Center for Night Vision and Electro-Optics

Imagery is a critical need for ATh development. Real world scenes collected for ATh training and testing typically attempt to sample various target types, contrasts, backgrounds, depression angles, and ranges. These data sets are limited by the variability of the real world. ATh development is greatly enhanced by a data set that voids some of the real world problems. The Terrain Board test facility of CECOM's Center for Night Vision and Electro-Optics (C2NVEO) has the resources to obtain such an image training set that voids some of these real world problems. As part of the Balanced Technology Initiative Program (BTI), an extensive digital imagery set was recently collected at the facility, controlling some of the variables of the real world and systematically varying others.
Weaving a tapestry of relational assistance: A qualitative investigation of interpersonal support among reservation‐residing Navajo teenage mothers

The social context of teenage parenting among reservation-residing, Navajo Native Americans was examined. Intensive interviews were conducted with Navajo adolescent mothers who described their primary agents of support, types of support received, and experiences with interpersonal conflict. The teenagers’mothers were interviewed and provided additional information regarding the mother-daughter relationship and their role in the provision of support. Interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed, and then analyzed using Phenomonological Descriptive Analysis (Colaizzi, 1978). Variability in support provided by grandmothers was observed and examined relative to relationship histories and other life experiences. Relationships with male partners were described as tenuous; they provided little support to the teenage mothers. Peers, too, were reported as minimal providers of support and maternity as disruptive in the maintenance of adolescent friendships. Grandmother reports concurred with those of their teenage parenting daughters. Implications for policy and intervention are described.