cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Guide to clinical preventive services: a challenge to physician resourcefulness

The physician's degree of resourcefulness, i.e., the ability to deal skillfully and promptly with new situations, is important for changing the health behaviors of patients within the constraints of a brief office visit. This quality, however, was in short supply among 15 primary care physicians selected for their interest in preventive medicine. The physicians tended to rely on a single approach for changing specific health behaviors of patients, restricted referrals to community services and other health specialists, relied almost exclusively on fear for motivating patients and expressed considerable pessimism about changing the health behaviors of older patients. The physicians uniformly reported that their inadequate education and the lack of reimbursement influenced how they counseled their patients. A good place to begin to rectify this situation is the required reading of the Guide to Clinical Preventive Services for medical students and residents, and continuing education opportunities for practic...
Chromosomal aberrations in solid tumors

Ever since the identification of the exact number of human chromosomes in 1956, several cancer-specific chromosomal abnormalities have been identified in different tumors. Among the various genetic changes, such as alterations in oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and microRNA genes, recurrent chromosome translocations have been identified as an important class of mutations in hematological malignancies, soft tissue sarcomas, and more recently in prostate cancer and lung cancer. Recurrent gene fusions are used for cancer classification and as diagnostic markers, and some have been successfully targeted for drug development. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing technology and the ambitious undertaking of "The Cancer Genome Atlas" (TCGA) project will help drive the identification of the underlying genetic aberrations in most of the solid cancers. This chapter presents an overview on the current status of the knowledge on chromosome aberrations in solid cancers, cytogenetic and noncytogenetic methods for the characterization of changes at the DNA and RNA levels, technological advancements in high-throughput characterization of the cancer genome and transcriptome, and the current understanding of the molecular mechanism involved in the formation of gene fusions in solid cancer.
Intention-to-Treat Analysis

The intention-to-treat principle developed from concerns that analysis of a subset of subjects into randomized a clinical trial may provide a severely biased comparison of the study treatments, and it may not describe the expected outcome in all subjects for whom a treatment might be administered. The intention-to-treat analysis includes all subjects randomized into the study to provide a pragmatic assessment of the effects of therapy in general use, regardless of other considerations such as drug tolerability or compliance. This approach is contrasted with subset analyses, such as the “efficacy subset” that only includes the subset that tolerated the assigned agent, who were largely compliant and who completed follow-up. However, a true intention-to-treat analysis requires that all those randomized should complete follow-up and outcome assessments to the extent possible, even if no longer taking the drug, and that their outcome data should be employed in the analysis. This design is termed an intention-to-treat design. Many statistical methods provide an unbiased comparison of treatment effects when all missing observations are ignorable, assuming that no bias is introduced. However, this assumption is inherently unverifiable. Thus, the only incontrovertibly unbiased study is one in which all randomized patients are evaluated and included in the analysis, assuming that other features of the study are also unbiased. This design is the essence of the intent-to-treat philosophy. Keywords: intention-to-treat analysis; Intention-to-treat design; missing data; subset selection bias
Laying It on the Line: A Dialogue on Line Item Vetoes and Separation of Powers

In this Dialogue, constitutional pundits Confident and Doubtful debate the Line Item Veto Act of 1996. They wrangle about the application of the Article I, § 7 process to the Act, the relevance of the legislative bargaining process to its constitutionality, and the merits of formalism and functionalism. As Confident becomes No-Longer-SoConfident, Doubtful proposes a way to reconcile the seemingly irreconcilable “formalist” and “functionalist” Supreme Court decisions. Marshalling the constitutional text for support, Doubtful argues that the Court should take a checks and balances approach to congressional delegations of power to the executive, while maintaining a rigorous separation of powers review of Article I powers.
Complexity, Muddling Through, and Sustainable Forest Management

I distinguish two stories that economists have in their mind when they think of economics— one is a story of efficiency and control; the other story is of complexity and muddling through. I argue that the new work in economics of sustainable forest management that is being discussed in this volume is part of a broader trend that is occurring in economics—switching from the efficiency and control story to a complexity and muddling through story. As such it is associated with current changes going on at the cutting edge of economics.
Gendered Innovations in Energy and Environmental Media

Despite great progress in raising awareness about the green movement, there remains a substantial discrepancy between belief and action, which can partly be traced to a gender divide in the media. Through an analysis of gender roles in the media, we find that the green movement has fostered a chasm between “feminine” environmentalism and “masculine” energy authority. This paper proposes two Gendered Innovations to bridge this gender divide and more effectively tackle climate change. Much research and work remains to be done in analyzing the complex interactions between gender, media, and energy. We strongly believe, however, that the green movement’s gender divide is one of the primary barriers to advancing both environmentalism and alternative energy, and we detail two viable and concrete measures to address this challenge.
Steganalysis of Images Created Using Current Steganography Software

Steganography is the art of passing information in a manner that the very existence of the message is unknown. The goal of steganography is to avoid drawing suspicion to the transmission of a hidden message. If suspicion is raised, then this goal is defeated. Steganalysis is the art of discovering and rendering useless such covert messages. In this paper, we identify characteristics in current steganography software that direct the steganalyst to the existence of a hidden message and introduce the ground work of a tool for automatically detecting the existence of hidden messages in images.
Expression of aquaporins in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

Background Several studies reported altered expression of the water channels, aquaporins (AQPs), in brains of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) but the relevance of the observed changes with respect to the neuropathology of AD is poorly understood. Because aberrant processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) to amyloid beta-peptide (A-beta), the principle component of amyloid plaques, is central to the pathogenesis of AD, we sought to determine the temporal and spatial expression of AQPs in the cortex and hippocampus of the triple transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease (3xTg-AD) and to elucidate whether AQPs contribute directly to the aberrant processing of APP into A-beta.
The control network of Rhea

A control network of the Saturnian satellite Rhea has been established photogrammetrically from pictures taken by the two Voyager spacecraft. Coordinates of 288 control points on Rhea have been computed and listed; some of these are identified on the preliminary U.S. Geological Survey map of Rhea and many of the control point features have been named. Pixel measurements of these points were made on 81 Voyager 1 and 3 Voyager 2 pictures. The longitude system on Rhea is defined by the crater Tore; the 340 deg meridian passes through the center of this crater. The mean radius of Rhea has been determined at 764 + or - 4 km.
Mycotic aneurysm presenting as Pancoast's syndrome in an injection drug user

Injection drug users frequently present to emergency departments with fever. A careful history and physical examination with attention to anatomic localization of symptoms and signs are often necessary to unmask unusual underlying medical conditions. We report a case of a woman with recent injection drug use who presented with fever, a palpable neck mass, and Pancoast's syndrome. She had been seen recently at the ED of another hospital and discharged with oral antibiotics for presumed cellulitis. A mycotic aneurysm of the subclavian artery causing Pancoast's syndrome was later diagnosed by using computed tomography and angiography. A high index of suspicion for anatomically localized infective processes should always be maintained with febrile injection drug users.
Dysbiosis in the inflamed intestine: Chance favors the prepared microbe

The bacterial microbiota of the human large bowel is a complex ecosystem consisting of several hundred, mostly anaerobic, species. To maintain colonization of the gut lumen and maximize growth in the presence of nutritional competitors, highly diverse metabolic pathways have evolved, with each microbe utilizing a different “winning strategy” for nutrient acquisition and utilization. Conditions and diseases leading to intestinal inflammation are accompanied by a severe disruption the microbiota composition characterized by an expansion of facultative anaerobic Enterobacteriaceae. Here, we review evidence that the local inflammatory response creates a unique nutritional environment that is conducive to a bloom of bacterial species whose genomes encode the capability of utilizing inflammation-derived nutrients.
Reduce, reuse, recycle scientific reviews

A throw-away mentality in the industrialized world has placed a strain on natural resources and the environment. To lessen this strain, societies worldwide now promote the so-called three Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle. There is also strain on the scientific review process, a service crucial to science and society but reliant on a laborious system of reciprocal altruism ([1–3]; Nature's peer review debate, http://www.nature.com/nature/peerreview/debate/; Peerage of Science, http://www.peerageofscience.org/).
Use of over-sized mature pulmonary lower lobe grafts results in superior pulmonary function

Background. Mature lobar transplantation will increase the pediatric donor organ pool; however, issues regarding size discrepancy between donor grafts and recipient lungs remain unresolved. We hypothesized that an oversized mature pulmonary lobar allograft implanted into an immature recipient would provide adequate longterm pulmonary function versus a size-matched mature lobar graft or an immature whole lung. Methods. We investigated our hypothesis in a porcine orthotopic left lung transplant model in which 19 immature animals made up one control and three recipient groups. Group I underwent sham left thoracotomy (control, n=4). Group II received age- and size-matched immature whole left lung transplant (n = 6). Group III received mature size-matched left upper lobe transplants (n = 4). Group IV received mature over-sized left lower lobe transplants (n = 5). Twelve weeks after implantation, data were collected after the native right lung was excluded. Results. Graft weight was significantly elevated in group IV as compared with the explanted lung (72.4 ± 6.8 versus 38.3 ± 4.5 g; p = 0.003). Pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance were significantly elevated in group III as compared with the over-sized mature lower lobe transplants (51.8 ± 2.2 versus 40.4 ±2.5 mm Hg [ p −5 [ p Conclusions. Over-sized mature lobar grafts provide improved hemodynamics as compared with sizematched grafts. Mature left lower lobe grafts are superior to size-matched upper lobe grafts in this model, probably as a result of an augmented vascular bed.
Performance Comparison of Survival Routing Mechanisms in Wireless Mesh Networks

This paper addresses the fault-tolerant mechanisms in Wireless mesh networks (WMNs), and designs a C++ based simulation platform to measure the performance of different fault-tolerant mechanisms. A comprehensive performance evaluation of network coding tree algorithm (NCT), 1+1 scheme and 1: N scheme in WMNs is conducted. Performance metrics, such as packet delivery ratio, resource redundancy degree, end-to-end delay, and useful throughput ratio, are investigated. The simulation results and performance analysis reveal that how wireless channel quality can influence the performance of WMNs and how different fault-tolerant mechanisms can be efficient and effective for latency-sensitive applications in WMNs. The results can also provide the enlightening insights for efficient design of fault-tolerant routing protocols for many-to-one traffic pattern in WMNs.
Decreased brain copper due to copper deficiency has no effect on bovine prion proteins.

Copper (Cu) is believed to be integral in prion biology and the lack of Cu or replacement by other metal ions on prions may be involved in prion diseases. This theory has not been evaluated in the bovine. Thus, mature cows were used to determine the effects of Cu deficiency on brain Cu concentrations and prion functional characteristics. Two Cu states were induced, Cu-adequate (n = 4) and Cu-deficient (n = 4). Copper deficiency resulted in decreased (44%) brain Cu concentrations but had no effect on prion concentrations. Based on Western blot analysis, the molecular weights, glycoform distributions, and elution profiles of brain prions were not affected by Cu status. Importantly, Cu status did not affect prion proteinase degradability as all prions were completely degraded by proteinase K. In conclusion, Cu status affected bovine brain Cu concentrations but had no detectable effects on brain prion protein characteristics.
Effect of Nucleic Acid Amplification for Mycobacterium tuberculosis on Clinical Decision Making in Suspected Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis

Background Laboratory-based studies have suggested the nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) for Mycobacterium tuberculosis may be useful in diagnosing extrapulmonary tuberculosis. We sought to determine how clinicians in one hospital used results of the NAAT in clinical decision making in cases of suspected extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent the NAAT on at least one nonsputum sample, excluding cerebrospinal fluid, from 1999 to 2001 in one large urban hospital. For these patients, we reviewed the hospital course, with particular attention to date of the NAAT and its influence on days treated with antituberculous medications and days to final diagnosis. Results Thirty-five patients with suspected tuberculosis who had undergone the NAAT on extrapulmonary specimens were identified. From three patients, NAAT results were nondiagnostic because of inhibitors, and they were excluded from the analysis, leaving 32 patients. Tuberculosis was ultimately diagnosed in 14 of these 32 patients. NAAT findings were positive in specimens from 12 of 14 patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis and in 0 of 18 cases in which tuberculosis was excluded (sensitivity, 86%; specificity, 100%; positive predictive value, 100%; negative predictive value, 90%). In only 2 of 19 patients treated with antituberculous medications was the NAAT result used to determine the onset or discontinuation of therapy. In no instance was a negative NAAT result used by clinicians as definitive evidence that a patient did not have extrapulmonary tuberculosis; in all but one case, patients were continued on antituberculous therapy until final culture results were available. Conclusions The NAAT proved to be a sensitive and specific test for detection of M tuberculosis in extrapulmonary specimens but did not weigh heavily in clinical decision making at our hospital. Judicious use of these tests may improve the accuracy and speed of diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, while helping to eliminate unnecessary antituberculous treatment in patients without tuberculosis.
Cerium Oxide Materials for the Solar Thermochemical Decomposition of Carbon Dioxide

We have experimentally investigated the thermochemical decomposition of carbon dioxide using pure cerium oxide fibrous structures. Experiments were conducted on-sun with a solar furnace and include two reaction steps: the thermal reduction of CeOα to CeOβ between 1500°C and 1600°C, and the re-oxidation of CeOβ to produce carbon monoxide under flowing carbon dioxide at temperatures between 800°C and 1200°C. A ceria-based cycle offers some advantages over similar thermochemical cycles including the reduction of sintering and volatility issues during thermal reduction, a stable crystal structure over the range of operating temperatures, and the ability for all of the material to participate in the thermochemical reactions, i.e. there is no inert support. We present experimental results indicating that pure ceria structures perform at a level comparable to ferrite-based structures with respect to material utilization and better than the ferrites with respect to the carbon monoxide production rate during the oxidation step. We also discuss the performance potential of a solar reactor that continuously produces carbon monoxide using ceria in a two-step thermochemical cycle.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Immobilization of Antibodies on Glass Surfaces through Sugar Residues

This work characterizes substrates for immunoassays obtained through the immobilization of vectorially oriented antibodies on glass. The method of preparation is based on the condensation reaction between an aldehyde group on the F(c) portion of antibodies and the hydrazide group on the modified glass surface. Light microscopy and AFM imaging in height and phase modes were used to assess the properties of the modified surface. Both techniques are consistent with a fairly uniform antibody coverage on the micrometer and submicrometer scales. ELISA tests were used to evaluate the activity and surface distribution of immobilized antibodies as well as nonspecific binding to surfaces after various modification steps. It was shown that exposure of the surfaces to a BSA solution minimized nonspecific binding to undetectable levels.
A Novel Multi-Layer Poro-Elastic Model of Lung Deformation

This paper presents a novel method to simulate flow and deformation of the lung. The lung is assumed to behave as a poro-elastic medium with heterogeneous elastic property. The method uses a flow-structure interaction technique to simultaneously model flow within the airway and deformation of the lung lobes. The 3D lung geometry is reproduced from 4D CT scan dataset obtained on real human subjects at a Cancer Center. The non-linear Young’s modulus is estimated in a parallel study based on similar CT scan dataset. The novelty of the present technique lies in the use of onion-layer grid with distributed spatial permeability. It allows prediction of the spatial lung displacement that could be used for tracking lung tumor during radiotherapy.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
High-yield synthesis of RNA using T7 RNA polymerase and plasmid DNA or oligonucleotide templates

When a large amount (milligram quantities) of RNA is desired (e.g., for making RNAs for RNA interference studies or for structural analyses), it is advantageous to use optimized transcription conditions. The method described here uses high millimolar concentrations of rNTPs, pyrophosphatase, and a specially formulated high-yield transcription buffer. These conditions prevent product (pyrophosphate) inhibition of RNA polymerase, which permits the accumulation of large quantities of RNA.
High-performance liquid chromatographic separation of potato glycoalkaloids

Separations of three glycoalkaloids (a-chaconine, β-chaconine, and a-solanine) have been achieved by using three different columns: μBondapak C18, μBondapak NH2, and a carbohydrate analysis column. These methods have been employed to examine the purity of the potato glycoalkaloids isolated by thin-layer and column chromatographic separations. Also, samples of tubers, peels, blossoms, and sprouts have been analyzed to determine their content of a-chaconine, β-chaconine, and a-solanine by using the carbohydrate and μBondapak NH2 columns.
Visual motion commands for pursuit eye movements in the cerebellum

Eye movements that follow a target (pursuit eye movements) facilitate high acuity visual perception of moving targets by transforming visual motion inputs into motor commands that match eye motion to target motion. The performance of pursuit eye movements requires the cerebellar flocculus, which processes both visual motion and oculomotor signals. Electrophysiological recordings from floccular Purkinje cells have allowed the identification of their firing patterns during generation of the image velocity and image acceleration signals used for pursuit. Analysis with a method based on a behavioral model converted the time-varying spike trains of floccular Purkinje cells into a description of the firing rate contributed by three visual motion signals and one oculomotor input. The flocculus encodes all the signals needed to guide pursuit.
Effective refractive index for determining ray propagation in an absorbing dielectric particle

Abstract The ray-tracing technique can be employed to simulate the scattering of light by a dielectric particle whose characteristic dimension is much larger than the incident wavelength. When a scattering particle is absorptive, a localized electromagnetic wave refracted into the scatterer is inhomogeneous, which requires the use of an effective refractive index to determine the propagation direction of the refracted ray. The effective refractive index for the first-order reflection–refraction event (i.e., the case for the ray-transmission from air into a particle) has been previously derived by the authors. In this study, we further develop recurrence formulae for the effective refractive indices associated with higher-order reflection–refraction events when the ray-transmission is from a particle to air. It is shown from the new formulae that effective refractive indices in this case depend upon ray history. Numerical results indicate that the real and imaginary parts of the effective refractive index are larger and smaller, respectively, than the real and imaginary parts of the inherent complex refractive index of an absorbing particle. Furthermore, if the particle faces associated with two sequential internal reflections are parallel to each other, the corresponding effective refractive indices are the same.
Calculating the Hausdorff dimension of tree structures

The dimension of certain tree structures is of importance in percolation theory, as well as in the theoretical treatment of many other branching processes. We present a method of determining the Hausdorff dimension of such structures by employing the technique of Mauldin and Williams. The dimension is calculated based on the probability of generation of each branch from its parent on the tree representing the process. We use this method to analyze the dimension of tree structures representing two-directional linear bonding between equally weighted monomers, and show how it can be used to model enzymatic reaction pathways.
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast carcinoma: multidisciplinary considerations of benefits and risks.

BACKGROUND The majority of patients with breast carcinoma receive chemotherapy as a component of multimodality treatment. Over the past decade, it has become increasingly more common to deliver chemotherapy first, but this has raised new questions within all disciplines of cancer management. METHODS The authors reviewed published studies on the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast carcinoma on the practice of medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, pathology, and radiology. RESULTS Treating breast carcinoma with neoadjuvant chemotherapy has several advantages, such as providing the earliest possible treatment against preexisting micrometastases, offering selected patients breast conservation therapy, and allowing for measurement of disease response, which can then be used to customize subsequent chemotherapy. However, neoadjuvant chemotherapy affects the practice not only of medical oncology, but also has important implications for the specialties of surgery, radiology, pathology, and radiation oncology. The current review addressed the new opportunities and challenges within the multidisciplinary care of breast carcinoma provided by neoadjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS The complexity of the issues led the authors to conclude that patients who receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy are likely to benefit from a coordinated multidisciplinary approach to their care. Cancer 2003;98:1150–60. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11603
Constraining Recovery Observations for Trans-Neptunian Objects with Poorly Known Orbits

We present a simple method for constraining the possible future positions of distant solar system objects observed twice over only a very short time span. The method involves taking two positions and then determining a large number of possible orbits compatible with the observed motion across the sky for an object with unknown (but constrainable) distance from Earth. A key advantage of this approach is that it assumes only that the object is bound and distant. Monte Carlo techniques are used to incorporate astrometric uncertainty and map out the allowed orbital parameter space. The method allows us to compute the object's position on the selected recovery date for each potential orbit, assisting the selection of fields for recovery observations. Examples are shown, and usage of the code is discussed.
Synthesis of PLLA‐MPEG Diblock Copolymers by Microwave‐Assisted Copolymerization of L‐Lactide and Methoxy Poly(ethylene glycol)

PLLA-MPEG diblock copolymers with a controlled number-average molar mass ranging from 7 330 to 117 610 g · mol−1 and an L-lactide conversion ranging from 65.1 to 97.3% were synthesized effectively in 20 min at 100 °C by MPEG-initiated ROP of L-lactide under microwave irradiation. Prolonged microwave irradiation time led to the degradation of the copolymers because the ROP reaction and the thermal degradation reaction occurred simultaneously at the later stage of the reaction process. The differential scanning calorimetric and thermogravimetric study indicated that higher melting temperatures and thermal stability were obtained for PLLA-MPEG diblock copolymers with longer PLLA segments.
Design, synthesis, and immunologic evaluation of vaccine adjuvant conjugates based on QS-21 and tucaresol.

Immunoadjuvants are used to potentiate the activity of modern subunit vaccines that are based on molecular antigens. An emerging approach involves the combination of multiple adjuvants in a single formulation to achieve optimal vaccine efficacy. Herein, to investigate such potential synergies, we synthesized novel adjuvant conjugates based on the saponin natural product QS-21 and the aldehyde tucaresol via chemoselective acylation of an amine at the terminus of the acyl chain domain in QS saponin variants. In a preclinical mouse vaccination model, these QS saponin–tucaresol conjugates induced antibody responses similar to or slightly higher than those generated with related QS saponin variants lacking the tucaresol motif. The conjugates retained potent adjuvant activity, low toxicity, and improved activity–toxicity profiles relative to QS-21 itself and induced IgG subclass profiles similar to those of QS-21, indicative of both Th1 cellular and Th2 humoral immune responses. This study opens the door to installation of other substituents at the terminus of the acyl chain domain to develop additional QS saponin conjugates with desirable immunologic properties.
Evaluation of an avirulent strain of Pseudomonas solanacearum for biological control of bacterial wilt of potato

An avirulent strain ofPseudomonas solanacearum, B82, was tested for its ability to protect the potato cultivar, Ontario, from bacterial wilt caused by virulent strains of this bacterium. Strain B82 was not antagonistic to 124 virulent strains ofP. solanacearum and was not bacteriocinogenic. When potato seedpieces were soaked for 5 hr in suspensions of B82 (108 to 109 cfu/ml), reduction in disease severity (up to 50%) was noted in some experiments. The treated plants, grown in the greenhouse or growth room for 4–5 wk, were challenged by stem inoculation, soil drenching, or root-to-root infection with virulent strains (276 or Br5) of the bacterium. Protection was not obtained consistently, however, and much of the variability could be attributed to differences in ambient temperature and light conditions in the greenhouse between experiments. In general, high ambient temperatures and/or reduced sunlight resulted in no protection. Protection appeared to depend on the ability of strain B82 to multiply in the vascular system in the crown region and to colonize the rhizosphere of treated plants. Soil temperatures above 24 C affected the ability of strain B82 to survive in the rhizosphere. The close dependence of protection on environmental conditions suggests that this method of control may not be practical under field conditions.
Monodisperse porous polymer particles: Formation of the porous structure

Monodisperse porous styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer particles were prepared via seeded emulsion polymerization using a mixture of linear polymer (polystyrene seed) and non-solvent as inert diluent. Experimental evidence was presented to describe the mechanism of formation of porous polymer particles during the copolymerization and solvent extraction stages, in which porosity was a consequence of phase separation in the presence of diluents. Pore structure formation was investigated by changes in copolymerization kinetics, gel content, crosslinking density, particle morphology, surface area, pore volume, and pore size distribution. The process of copolymerization was presented, based on the concepts of production, agglomeration, and fixation of the interior gel microspheres of polymer particles. A portion of linear polymer used as diluent was found to participate in the network structure while the porous matrix was built-up. The influence of the removal of the linear polymer from the matrix pores during the solvent extraction process on the porous structure was also discussed.
Balanced design criterion for a three dimensional filament-matrix composite

Abstract The criterion is established which defines a balanced design in an orthogonal three dimensional composite. (A balanced design being one which is no stronger in a given direction than is required.) The analysis is applicable to a cylindrical shell with a zero longitudinal strain environment. Results are presented for a shell with various amounts of radial fibers and porosity.
A second-generation sensor network processor with application-driven memory optimizations and out-of-order execution

In this paper we present a second-generation sensor network processor which consumes less than one picoJoule per instruction (typical processors use 100's to 1000's of picoJoules per instruction). As in our first-generation design effort, we strive to build microarchitectures that minimize area to reduce leakage, maximize transistor utility to reduce the energy-optimal voltage, and optimize CPI for efficient processing. The new design builds on our previous work to develop a low-power subthreshold-voltage sensor processor, this time improving the design by focusing on ISA, memory system design, and microarchitectural optimizations that reduce overall design size and improve energy-per-instruction. The new design employs 8-bit datapaths and an ultra-compact 12-bit wide RISC instruction set architecture, which enables high code density via micro-operations and flexible operand modes. The design also features a unique memory architecture with prefetch buffer and predecoded address bits, which permits both faster access to the memory and smaller instructions due to few address bits. To achieve efficient processing, the design incorporates branch speculation and out-of-order execution, but in a simplified form for reduced area and leakage-energy overheads. Using SPICE-level timing and power simulation, we find that these optimizations produce a number of Pareto-optimal designs with varied performance-energy tradeoffs. Our most efficient design is capable of running at 142 kHz (0.1 MIPS) while consuming only 600 fJ/instruction, allowing the processor to run continuously for 41 years on the energy stored in a miniature 1g lithium-ion battery. Work is ongoing to incorporate this design into an intra-ocular pressure sensor.
Mechanism of Sequential Swallowing During Straw Drinking in Healthy Young and Older Adults

Recent research has revealed differences between isolated and sequential swallowing in healthy young adults; however, the influence of normal aging on sequential swallowing has not been studied. Th...
Rates of change of the earth's magnetic field measured by recent analyses

Typical rates of change of the earth's magnetic field are presented as a function of the earth's spherical harmonics. Harmonics up to the eight degree are analyzed. With the increase in the degree of the harmonics an increase in the relative rate of change can be observed. For higher degrees, the rate of change can be predicted. This enables a differentiation between harmonics originating in the core and harmonics caused by crustal magnetization. The westward drift of the magnetic field depends on the longitudinal gradient of the field. In order to determine the longitudinal motions, harmonics up to degree 20 can be utilized. The average rate of secular acceleration increases with the degree of harmonics from 0.001 deg/sq yr for a dipole term to an average of 0.05 deg/sq yr for degree eight harmonics.
Computational Studies of the Farnesyltransferase Ternary Complex Part II: The Conformational Activation of Farnesyldiphosphate

Studies aimed at elucidating the reaction mechanism of farnesyltransferase (FTase), which catalyzes the prenylation of many cellular signaling proteins including Ras, has been an active area of research. Much is known regarding substrate binding and the impact of various catalytic site residues on catalysis. However, the molecular level details regarding the conformational rearrangement of farnesyldiphosphate (FPP), which has been proposed via structural analysis and mutagenesis studies to occur prior to the chemical step, is still poorly understood. Following on our previous computational characterization of the resting state of the FTase ternary complex, the thermodynamics of the conformational rearrangement step in the absence of magnesium was investigated for the wild type FTase and the Y300Fβ mutant complexed with the peptide CVIM. In addition, we also explored the target dependence of the conformational activation step by perturbing isoleucine into a leucine (CVLM). The calculated free energy profil...
An experimental investigation of the effects of covert sensitization in an analogue eating situation

Covert sensitization (CS) was compared to an attention—placebo group and a no treatment control group in a controlled outcome study with obese college students as subjects. In addition to weight loss, the dependent measures included quantity of food consumed in an analogue eating situation, and a salivary response measure of the palatability of the target food. The results showed no differential effect among the three treatment groups on any of these three objective behavioral measures. However, both CS and attention-placebo groups reported significantly greater treatment-produced negative subjective reactions to the taste and odor of the target food than the no treatment control group. These findings seriously call into question the purported efficacy of CS as an aversive conditioning technique.
The cornified envelope of terminally differentiated human epidermal keratinocytes consists of cross-linked protein

A small proportion of the protein of stratum corneum of human epidermal callus is insoluble even when boiled in solutions containing sodium dodecylsulfate and a reducing agent. This protein is present in the cornified envelope, a structure located beneath the plasma membrane. When cornified envelopes were dissolved by exhaustive proteolytic digestion and the products analyzed by chromatography, approximately 18% of the total lysine residues were found as the cross-linking dipeptide epsilon-(gamma-glutamyl) lysine. Labeled cornified envelope protein was synthesized by human epidermal keratinocytes allowed to differentiate terminally in culture. The extent of cross-linking, determined from the proportion of radioactive lysine in epsilon-(gamma-glutamyl) lysine after exhaustive proteolysis, was similar to that in stratum corneum. The properties of the cornified envelopes (insolubility in detergent and reducing agents, and solubility following proteolytic digestion) are readily explained by a structure consisting of a cross-linked protein lattice.
The formation mechanism of textured YBa2Cu3O7-δ

Abstract The formation of textured YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-δ (123) from a liquid phase according to the peritectic reaction Y 2 BaCuO 5 (211) +liquid→123 was analyzed using real-time analysis techniques of high-temperature X-ray diffraction, high-temperature optical microscopy, and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). Results were coupled with conventional “post-mortem” SEM analysis of processed samples at various stages of microstructural development. Observations of 123 formation and growth from the peritectic melt permit the conclusion that the presence of crystalline 211 primarily acts as a source of yttrium. The slow dissolution of 211 into the yttrium deficient liquid phase is the rate controlled step in the formation and growth of the textured 123, rather than its acting as a nucleation site for 123 grains as has been widely assumed.
Phosphatidylserine is a marker of tumor vasculature and a potential target for cancer imaging and therapy.

Abstract Purpose: ( 1 ) To determine whether exposure of phosphatidylserine (PS) occurs on vascular endothelium in solid tumors in mice. ( 2 ) To determine whether PS exposure can be induced on viable endothelial cells in tissue culture by conditions present in the tumor microenvironment. Methods and Materials: Externalized PS in vivo was detected by injecting mice with a monoclonal anti-PS antibody and examining frozen sections of tumors and normal tissues for anti-PS antibody bound to vascular endothelium. Apoptotic cells were identified by anti-active caspase-3 antibody or by TUNEL assay. PS exposure on cultured endothelial cells was determined by 125 I-annexin V binding. Results: Anti-PS antibody bound specifically to vascular endothelium in six tumor models. The percentage of PS-positive vessels ranged from 4% to 40% in different tumor types. Vascular endothelium in normal organs was unstained. Very few tumor vessels expressed apoptotic markers. Hypoxia/reoxygenation, acidity, inflammatory cytokines, thrombin, or hydrogen peroxide induced PS exposure on cultured endothelial cells without causing loss of viability. Conclusions: Vascular endothelial cells in tumors, but not in normal tissues, externalize PS. PS exposure might be induced by tumor-associated oxidative stress and activating cytokines. PS is an abundant and accessible marker of tumor vasculature and could be used for tumor imaging and therapy.
When Sensor and Actuator Networks Cover the World

The technologies for wireless communication, sensing, and computation are each progressing at faster and faster rates. Notably, they are also being combined for an amazingly large multiplicative effect. It can be envisioned that the world will eventually be covered by networks of networks of smart sensors and actuators. This fact will give rise to revolutionary applications. However, to make this vision a reality, many research challenges must be overcome. This paper describes a representative set of new applications and identifies several key research challenges. Keywords: Wireless, communications, sensors, networks, knowledge creation, robustness, openness, security, privacy.
Research on Oil Mist Condensation in Lubrication Pipe Based on CFD

Oil mist lubrication is currently widely used as a lubrication method now. It has some advantages as follows: low fuel consumption, uniform lubrication and high efficiency. In job site, oil mist condensation occurs in the pipeline, and this will not only reduce the efficiency, but also lead to accidents. Nowadays, CFD numerical simulation software has been widely applied in design, but the research of oil mist condensation in the transmission process based on CFD is very fare. In this paper, to choose the right the working parameters and a reasonable pipeline layout in job site, the oil mist condensation in the pipeline was simulated based on CFD. And it was found that, the diameter of oil mist particle is mainly influenced by temperature, and the best temperature range is made out.
A modified microrespirometer

A simple device sensitive to 0.0001 c. c. for measuring oxygen consumption of a few milligrams of tissue is described. It incorporates a compensation chamber of large ratio (300∶1) to the respiration chamber, and a side arm with mercury piston to manipulate the dimethylaniline droplet and serve as a built-in calibrating device. The apparatus is compact, easy to clean, and the readings are directly translatable into volume without correction formulae.
Pathology and ultrastructure of Hz-2V infection in the agonadal female corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea

The pathology and ultrastructure of the reproductive tract of Hz-2V-infected female corn earworm moths, Helicoverpa zea, were studied. The identity of malformed reproductive tissues found in virus-infected moths was determined by examining these tissues in moths that were infected with the virus at different life stages. Malformation of reproductive tissues in the progeny of virus-infected female moths was first observed by 3 days post-pupation (dpp), indicating that virus replication had altered the differentiation of these tissues very early on in their development. The ultrastructure of the grossly malformed agonadal reproductive tissues from insects aged 3–10 dpp revealed the absence of the cuticular lining found in the oviducts of normal moths, and the proliferation of epithelial cells in these infected oviduct tissues. In addition, large quantities of virus were found aggregated into a large mass in the lumen of the malformed cervix bursa of 10 dpp agonadal female pharate adult moths. Prior to eclosion, the virus in the cervix bursa was observed separated into spherical masses, which are thought to exude through the ductus bursa and collect over the vulva, forming a viral “waxy plug” that is likely to play an important role in virus transmission.
MECHANISM FOR COUPLING FREE ENERGY IN ATPASE TO THE MYOSIN ACTIVE SITE

Acrylamide quenching of tryptophan 510 (Trp510) fluorescence in rabbit skeletal myosin subfragment 1 (S1) indicates the conformation of the probe binding cleft, containing the highly reactive thiol (SH1) and Trp510, in the presence of nucleotides or nucleotide analogs trapped in the active site of S1 [Park et al. (1996) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1296, 1-4]. The Trp510 quenching efficiency shows that the probe binding cleft closes slightly in the presence of beryllium fluoride trapped MgADP (MgADPBeFx-S1) and most tightly in the presence of vanadate trapped MgADP (MgADPVi-S1) with aluminum fluoride and scandium fluoride trapped MgADP (MgADPA1F4-S1 and MgADPScFx-S1) falling in between in the order MgADPBeFx > MgADPA1F4 > MgADPScFx > MgADPVi. These nucleotide analogs are identified with sequential structural changes in MgATP during hydrolysis in the same order with beryllium fluoride occurring earliest in the ATPase cycle. Correlation of the separation distance of the gamma-phosphate analog metal from the oxygen connecting it to the beta-phosphate in ADP, to the extent of cleft closure, suggests that this distance in the nucleotide transition state determines the conformation of the probe binding cleft. Trp510 quenching efficiency was also measured as a function of the base moiety of the vanadate trapped Mg-nucleotide diphosphate (MgNDPVi-S1). The extent of cleft closure is largest in the presence of the natural substrate NDP and follows the order MgADPVi > MgCDPVi > MgUDPVi > MgIDPVi > MgGDPVi with very little difference between MgADPVi and MgCDPVi. These data follow the order of the effectiveness of the corresponding nucleotide triphosphates to support force production in muscle fibers [Pate et al. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 10046-10053]. In both the fiber and S1, it appears that the 6-position amino group of the bases of ADP and CDP is required to properly anchor the nucleotide in the active site, possibly at tyrosine 135 as suggested by X-ray crystallographic studies [Fisher et al. (1995) Biochemistry 34, 8960-8972]. Finally, the Trp510 quenching efficiency was measured as a function of the size of the divalent cation trapped in the active site of S1 with ADPVi. These data failed to show a correlation suggesting that the divalent cation is not involved with the propagation of influence from the active site to the probe binding cleft. The forgoing experiments suggest that the changing conformation of ATP during hydrolysis, parameterized by the increasing distance between the beta- and the gamma-phosphate, stresses the active site of S1 through protein-nucleotide contacts at the gamma-phosphate and nucleotide base. The stress-induced strain in the cross-bridge may be the mechanism by which energy in ATP is transferred to the myosin structure.
The interaction of DNA mismatch repair proteins with human exonuclease I.

Exonucleolytic degradation of DNA is an essential part of many DNA metabolic processes including DNA mismatch repair (MMR) and recombination. Human exonuclease I (hExoI) is a member of a family of conserved 5′ → 3′ exonucleases, which are implicated in these processes by genetic studies. Here, we demonstrate that hExoI binds strongly to hMLH1, and we describe interaction regions between hExoI and the MMR proteins hMSH2, hMSH3, and hMLH1. In addition, hExoI forms an immunoprecipitable complex with hMLH1/hPMS2in vivo. The study of interaction regions suggests a biochemical mechanism of the involvement of hExoI as a downstream effector in MMR and/or DNA recombination.
Numerical modeling of reactive polymer flow in porous media

Abstract This paper presents a new numerical model of reactive polymer flow in heterogeneous porous media. A moment representation of the log–normal polymer molecular weight distribution is used to model polymer as a multi-component species. Three leading moments are used to simulate the polymer transport and reaction processes in a two-dimensional porous medium. The 2D, multi-phase polymer flow model is based on a mass-transport equation for multi-component species and is coupled with kinetic models of the gelation process using an operator splitting scheme. The sensitivity of various parameters and constitutive equations is presented.
Determination of trace elements in beach asphalts by neutron activation analysis

The feasibility of using trace multielement data obtained from neutron activation analysis to identify the source of crude oil residues was recently demonstrated. This paper presents the concentrations of Br, Co, Cr, Sb, Sc, Zn, and V/Ni, for 30 crude oil residues collected from beaches (beach asphalt), using 1 g samples. The method does not require chemical separation or post-irradiation concentration. The average standard deviation for the V/Ni ratio was ±0.39.