cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Asbestos-induced lung disease.

This review attempts to deal with two major questions concerning asbestos-induced lung disease: How does inhaled asbestos cause cell proliferation and fibrosis? and Will there continue to be risk from exposure to asbestos in schools and public buildings? The first is a scientific question that has spawned many interesting new experiments over the past 10 years, and there appear to be two hypothetical schemes which could explain, at least in part, the fibroproliferative effects of asbestos fibers. One supports the view that toxic oxygen radicals generated on fiber surfaces and/or intracellularly are the central mediators of disease. The second hypothesis is not mutually exclusive of the first, but, in my opinion, may be integral to it, i.e., the cellular injury induced by oxygen radicals stimulates the elaboration of multiple varieties of growth factors and cytokines that mediate the pathogenesis of asbestosis. There is increasing evidence that molecules such as platelet-derived growth factor and transforming growth factor beta, both synthesized and secreted by activated lung macrophages, are responsible, respectively, for the increased interstitial cell populations and extracellular matrix proteins that are the hallmarks of asbestos-induced fibrosis. The challenge today is to establish which combinations of the many factors released actually are playing a role in disease pathogenesis. The issue of continued risk currently is more a question of policy and perception than science because a sufficient database has not yet been established to allow full knowledge of the circumstances under which asbestos in buildings constitutes an ongoing health hazard. The litigious nature of this question does not help its resolution. In as much as public policy statements and risk assessment are not within my purview, I have focused on the state-of-the-art of asbestos as a complete carcinogen. It appears to be generally nongenotoxic, but all asbestos fiber types can induce chromosomal mutations and aneuploidy, perhaps through their ability to disrupt normal chromosome segregation.
Strengths of the SF6 transitions pumped by a CO2 laser

Abstract The absolute intensities of the SF 6 transitions from the ground state to ν 3 =1 that fall within ±1.5 GHz of the CO 2 P(14), P(18) and P(20) laser lines have been calculated. Good agreement has been found between these theoretical results and the available experimental values, especially for the firm assignments of R(28) A 0 2 and P(33) A 1 2 for SF 6 absorption nearest the CO 2 P(14) and P(18) laser emissions, respectively.
Fc receptor but not complement binding is important in antibody protection against HIV

Many effective vaccines act by inducing neutralizing antibodies, and this approach is a top priority in work on HIV vaccines. But a new study suggests that anti-HIV antibodies are most effective when they act in two ways: through neutralization — killing the virus outright and blocking its entry into T cells — and by killing infected cells. The use of engineered versions of a neutralizing human antibody that protects against HIV in a monkey model shows that protection is dependent not only the antibody's neutralizing activity, but also on its interaction with Fc receptors on effector cells, which may act to reduce virus yield from infected cells. This work suggests that the best results might be achieved with vaccines that recruit both neutralizing antibodies and cell-mediated immunity via agents such as macrophages and cytokinins, rather than antibodies. Passively administered neutralizing antibodies have been shown to protect macaques against challenge by the HIV/SIV chimeric SHIV. The antiviral effects of the monoclonal antibody b12 are crucially dependent on antibody effector mechanisms. Most successful vaccines elicit neutralizing antibodies and this property is a high priority when developing an HIV vaccine1,2. Indeed, passively administered neutralizing antibodies have been shown to protect against HIV challenge in some of the best available animal models. For example, antibodies given intravenously can protect macaques against intravenous or mucosal SHIV (an HIV/SIV chimaera) challenge and topically applied antibodies can protect macaques against vaginal SHIV challenge3,4. However, the mechanism(s) by which neutralizing antibodies afford protection against HIV is not understood and, in particular, the role of antibody Fc-mediated effector functions is unclear. Here we report that there is a dramatic decrease in the ability of a broadly neutralizing antibody to protect macaques against SHIV challenge when Fc receptor and complement-binding activities are engineered out of the antibody. No loss of antibody protective activity is associated with the elimination of complement binding alone. Our in vivo results are consistent with in vitro assays indicating that interaction of Fc-receptor-bearing effector cells with antibody-complexed infected cells is important in reducing virus yield from infected cells. Overall, the data suggest the potential importance of activity against both infected cells and free virus for effective protection against HIV.
Fracture of multilayer oxide composites

Abstract Ceramics with high strength and damage tolerance have been realized in the well-recognized non-oxide systems, e.g. silicon carbide/graphite and silicon carbide/boron nitride laminates. All-oxide systems without compliant materials functioning as do graphite and boron nitride are still facing the problem of catastrophic failure. In this study, ten kinds of multilayered, all-oxide laminates fabricated by a low-cost tape casting technique were evaluated. These materials were yttrium phosphate (YPO4)- and lanthanum phosphate (LaPO4)-containing zirconia (ZrO2) laminates, and aluminum phosphate (AlPO4)-containing alumina (Al2O3) laminates. A YPO4-containing ZrO2 laminate demonstrated excellent strength and improved damage tolerance. A LaPO4-containing ZrO2 laminate also displayed a satisfactory result. An AlPO4/Al2O3 laminate was weak. The AlPO4/Al2O3 laminate was strengthened by reinforcing AlPO4 layers with Al2O3, while retaining non-brittle fracture. Different flexural behaviors in different oxide laminates were discussed.
Teaching forensic odontology in a dental school.

Abstract There is a growing need for dentists who have had experience in forensic odontology. Law enforcement agencies and medical examiner's offices frequently turn to local dental practitioners for help in the identification of bodies. In order to provide dental students with some experience in the field, a miniprogram in forensic odontology has been created. This program includes lectures, reading references and a mock airplane crash with the students identifying the crash “victims”. Seminars concerning the problems encountered are also given.
Psychogenic Parasitosis: A Case Series and Literature Review

About 100 years ago, psychogenic parasitosis was first described in the literature. This peculiar symptom may complicate medical and psychiatric conditions or indicate the presence of a delusional disorder (somatic type). By using the authors' case series of 12 patients, which are reported in the article, and a review of the literature, an historical perspective and the authors' clinical orientation to evaluation and treatment of psychogenic parasitosis are presented.
Effects of entanglement concentration on Tg and local segmental motions.

The process of spin-coating to fabricate thin polymer films with high molecular weight can produce samples with entanglement concentrations that are far below the equilibrium value. It is not clear whether or not such low entanglement concentrations are responsible for the depression of the glass temperature in thin polymer films. In this work, we measure the calorimetric glass temperature and viscoelastic response of polystyrenes with molecular weights ranging from 3×103 to 43.7×106 g/mol, for both bulk material and for samples freeze-dried from dilute solution. We conclude that the reduction of the glass temperature observed in thin polymer films cannot be due to the reduced entanglement concentration in the samples.
Cholinergic neurons in tunicates: an appraisal of the evidence.

Abstract 1. 1. Isolated longitudinal muscles of Ciona intestinalis contract in response to applied cholinesters. Of several esters tried, ACh is the most effective; the threshold concentration is about 10 −7 g/ml. No consistent potentiation of the ACh occurs when eserine is applied. 2. 2. The action of ACh is blocked by banthine, atropine, scopolamine, and by d -tubocurarine. Hexamethonium chloride was found ineffective. 3. 3. ACh was detected in extracts of innervated muscle strips. 4. 4. Stimulated nerve-muscle preparations gave off an ACh-like agent into the perfusion medium; the amount was equivalent to 10 12 molecules of ACh per impulse. 5. 5. d -tubocurarine effectively, and reversibly, blocked the effect of motor nerve stimulation. 6. 6. Applied ACh causes a sharp increase in electrical activity of the muscles. The effect is reversed by d -tubocurarine. 7. 7. In view of the already established presence of ACh in the ganglion from which the motor nerves emerge it is concluded that the longitudinal muscles in the body wall of Ciona are cholinoceptive and that they receive a cholinergic motor innervation.
In vivo quantification of blood flow and wall shear stress in the human abdominal aorta during lower limb exercise.

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging techniques and a custom MR-compatible exercise bicycle were used to measure, in vivo, the effects of exercise on hemodynamic conditions in the abdominal aorta of eleven young, healthy subjects. Heart rate increased from 73±6.2 beats/min at rest to 110±8.8 beats/min during exercise (p < 0.0001). The total blood flow through the abdominal aorta increased from 2.9±0.6 L/min at rest to 7.2±1.4 L/min during exercise (p < 0.0005) while blood flow to the digestive and renal circulations decreased from 2.1±0.5 L/min at rest to 1.6±0.7 L/min during exercise (p < 0.01). Infrarenal blood flow increased from 0.9±0.4 L/min at rest to 5.6±1.1 L/min during exercise (p < 0.0005). Wall shear stress increased in the supraceliac aorta from 3.5±0.8 dyn/cm2 at rest to 6.2±0.5 dyn/cm2 during exercise (p < 0.0005) and increased in the infrarenal aorta from 1.3±0.8 dyn/cm2 at rest to 5.2±1.3 dyn/cm2 during exercise (p < 0.0005). © 2002 Biomedical Engineering Society.
Minimum Technical Competencies for Distance Learning Students

AbstractThe technical requirements for students have increased dramatically as the use of the Internet and the World Wide Web has grown as an instructional tool (Mory, Gambill, & Browning, 1998; Schuster, Collins, Hall, & Griffen, 1999). Without solid technical skills, students may have a difficult time succeeding in Web-based learning environments. Through a survey of faculty at a midsize regional commuter campus in the midwestern United States, an inventory has been established of the minimum technical competencies faculty members believe students should possess to be successful in Web-based instruction. Additionally, students at the same university were surveyed to determine how well they thought they met the minimum competencies outlined by the faculty. What was found confirmed the faculty’s concerns (L. Hopp, D. Camin, & E. Wignall, personal communication, November 1999) that students often did not possess the technical skills required to be successful in a Web-based course.
Multiport antenna system matching using Network Characteristic Mode analysis

Antenna matching networks (MN) have been developed intensively over the past years. One purpose of antenna impedance matching is to maximize the transfer of power from source to load (antenna) by transforming a complex load to match a resistive or complex source impedance over a desired frequency band. However, in multi-antenna systems such as antenna arrays or MIMO systems, we need to consider different criteria to insure that the power from the source has been radiated and not transferred to the other antenna(s). In this paper, we discuss unique criteria using Network Characteristic Modes (NCM), where the goal is to optimize the multi-antenna system to obtain the best possible radiation of each antenna and minimize the coupling between them. This can be done by optimizing the system simultaneously considering the criteria provided by NCM.
Prevention of IDDM: a public health perspective

Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) poses a large social and economic burden on society. There are now methods for identifying persons at risk for IDDM and increasing evidence suggest that it may be possible to delay or even prevent the clinical presentation of the disease. This raises the question of whether a prevention program for IDDM should be initiated through public health channels. Review of the literature suggests that in spite of the considerable societal burden associated with diabetes, there are currently no broadly applicable, effective methods for identifying persons at increased risk of developing IDDM nor are there proven strategies for its prevention when risk is established. Until strategies to identify persons at risk of IDDM and methods to prevent the onset of disease are established, a better use of limited resources may be the secondary and tertiary prevention of complications of the disease.
Measured and estimated air concentrations of chloroform in showers: Effects of water temperature and aerosols

Abstract Air concentrations of chloroform (CHCl3) in an experimental shower chamber were compared with estimates predicted by determining CHCl3 loss between the shower nozzle and drain and treating the shower chamber as a single, well-mixed compartment. CHCl3 water-to-air transfer efficiencies for experimental nozzles producing droplets of 1800 and 300 μm diameters were 0.90 and 0.80, respectively, and 0.65 for a standard domestic shower nozzle. Significant differences were observed in the transfer efficiencies when the experimental nozzles were operated at 35 and 45°C but not when the standard nozzle was operated in either jet or spray flow at 40°C. Aerosol concentrations were measured continuously with a hot-wire probe and ranged between 3000 and 17,000 aerosols/cm3 for the three nozzles. Measured air concentrations showed variable agreement with predicted values; under certain conditions, air concentrations were between 10 and 50% less than the predicted values. These discrepancies were observed at the highest aerosol concentrations and when peak aerosol concentrations occurred between 2 and 4 min of the 10 min shower.
Analysis of Graphs by Connectivity Considerations

Discrete sequential systems, such as sampled data systems, discrete Markov processes, linear shift register generators, computer programs, sequential code generators, and prefixed comma-free codes, can be represented and studied in a uniform manner by directed graphs and their generating functions. In this paper the properties of the generating functions are examined from certain connectivity considerations of these graphs.
Perimetric Findings in Pseudotulor Cerebri Using Automated Techniques

The authors obtained automated static threshold visual fields in 44 eyes of 22 patients with pseudotumor cerebri. Severe defects were found in 9% and moderate defects in 68%. The pooled incidence of three recent studies using manual kinetic techniques also demonstrated 9% severe defects, but only 34% of eyes demonstrated moderate loss. In 20 of 44 eyes, the papilledema was felt to be severe or atrophic. In none of these eyes was a normal field obtained. Visual field defects in pseudotumor cerebri appear to be more common than previously thought.
Cell cycle: how, when and why cells get rid of cyclin A

Abstract Sequences outside the ‘destruction box' direct the degradation of cyclin A to completion before the metaphase—anaphase transition; cyclin A that escapes timely degradation can block the metaphase–anaphase transition, impede anaphase and telophase, and impair a cell's ability to arrest in G1 of the next cell cycle.
Statistical characterization of bimodal behavior

Recently a variety of materials subjected to rather diverse loading conditions have exhibited bimodal behavior for damage accumulation and failure. Traditional statistical modeling for such data has been relatively simplistic. Usually a mixtures or competing risks model is selected as the appropriate way in which to characterize bimodal data. With the development of advanced experimental testing procedures, more situations and more statistically complicated bimodal characteristics have been observed. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the use of standard and innovative statistical modeling methodologies for bimodal damage growth and failure in materials. Building upon classical methods, illustrations for modeling bimodal behavior are developed from data from diverse materials used in various applications. The damage mechanisms primarily result from fatigue crack growth; however, other loading conditions are presented as well. The main focus in this effort is on investigating standard and alternative cumulative distribution functions (cdfs) for bimodal statistics. While the methodology for constructing appropriate cdfs is applicable for all classes of underlying cdfs, the examples that are investigated will utilize of the two-parameter Weibull cdf for subpopulations.
Trihydrogen cation with neon and argon: structural, energetic, and spectroscopic data from quartic force fields.

The argonium cation, ArH+, has been previously detected in nature for the first time. This cation is believed to form through the gas-phase reaction of Ar+ and H2. In this work, quantum chemical techniques show that the reaction of Ar and H3+ may be a viable alternative or contributor to the creation of ArH+ corroborating previous analysis. In order to further evaluate this claim, highly accurate quartic force field computations are used to produce spectroscopic data and anharmonic vibrational frequencies for ArH3+ in its 18 isotopologues. NeH3+ is also analyzed but has a low Ne–H3+ dissociation barrier. Therefore, it less likely to be observed. Consequently, NeH+ is also unlikely to be formed from NeH3+ as it was also not from NeH2+.
Infinite Rings with Planar Zero-Divisor Graphs

For any commutative ring R that is not a domain, there is a zero-divisor graph, denoted Γ(R), in which the vertices are the nonzero zero-divisors of R and two distinct vertices x and y are joined by an edge exactly when xy = 0. Smith (2007) characterized the graph structure of Γ(R) provided it is infinite and planar. In this article, we give a ring-theoretic characterization of R such that Γ(R) is infinite and planar.
Phosphorylation of Sic1p by G1 Cdk Required for Its Degradation and Entry into S Phase

G_1 cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk)–triggered degradation of the S-phase Cdk inhibitor Sic1p has been implicated in the transition from G_1 to S phase in the cell cycle of budding yeast. A multidimensional electrospray mass spectrometry technique was used to map G_1 Cdk phosphorylation sites in Sic1p both in vitro and in vivo. A Sic1p mutant lacking three Cdk phosphorylation sites did not serve as a substrate for Cdc34p-dependent ubiquitination in vitro, was stable in vivo, and blocked DNA replication. Moreover, purified phosphoSic1p was ubiquitinated in cyclin-depleted G_1 extract, indicating that a primary function of G_1 cyclins is to tag Sic1p for destruction. These data suggest a molecular model of how phosphorylation and proteolysis cooperate to bring about the G_1/S transition in budding yeast.
Assessing hypertension management: the role of 24-hour blood pressure monitoring.

BACKGROUND The first fully automatic portable invasive blood pressure recorder was developed 30 years ago. Today, portable noninvasive ambulatory blood pressure devices are capable of measuring blood pressure intermittently for periods of 24 to 48 hours. OBJECTIVE To discuss the utility of automatic ambulatory blood pressure recording in assessing antihypertensive therapy. SUMMARY Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is helpful in assessing the pharmacodynamics and the clinical efficacy of an-tihypertensive drugs. It is superior to office blood pressure measurement in predicting hypertensive end-organ disease. In clinical trials, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring permits a more varied population to enter a study, the number of subjects required is often reduced, and a placebo control group may be unnecessary. CONCLUSIONS The various methods of analyzing ambulatory blood pressure data should be used in a complementary fashion to evaluate antihypertensive drug therapy. We believe that this technique will soon become much more commonly used for hypertension management. The best way to evaluate antihypertensive drug therapy may be to use, in a complementary fashion, the various methods of analyzing ambulatory blood pressure data.
Characterization of Protistan Assemblages in the Ross Sea, Antarctica, by Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis†

The diversity of protistan assemblages has traditionally been studied using microscopy and morphological characterization, but these methods are often inadequate for ecological studies of these communities because most small protists inherently lack adequate taxonomic characters to facilitate their identification at the species level and many protistan species also do not preserve well. We have therefore used a culture-independent approach (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis [DGGE]) to obtain an assessment of the genetic composition and distribution of protists within different microhabitats (seawater, meltwater or slush on sea-ice floes, and ice) of the Ross Sea, Antarctica. Samples of the same type (e.g., water) shared more of the same bands than samples of different types (e.g., ice versus water), despite being collected from different sites. These findings imply that samples from the same environment have a similar protistan species composition and that the type of microenvironment significantly influences the protistan species composition of these Antarctic assemblages. It should be noted that a large number of bands among the samples within each microhabitat were distinct, indicating the potential presence of significant genetic diversity within each microenvironment. Sequence analysis of selected DGGE bands revealed sequences that represent diatoms, dinoflagellates, ciliates, flagellates, and several unidentified eukaryotes.
Nocturnal emergence of juvenile rainbow trout from winter concealment relative to light intensity

This study examined the relationship between light intensity and the number of juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) visible to a snorkeler during February in the Henrys Fork of the Snake River, Idaho, USA. Fish were concealed in the substratum during daylight. Emergence from concealment was observed from 30 to 80 min after real sunset time and began when stars were first visible (pyranometric irradiance, 4.5 × 10−3 W−2). Densities of visible fish were negatively correlated with light intensity (r 2=0.81,P<0.001). Later at night, densities decreased in the presence of moonlight and artificial light. Fish were observed to feed at night.
ACCLIMATION IN MOLLUSCS

The coastal areas of the tropical seas sup? port a rich and varied invertebrate infauna and epifauna. These animals live at temperatures approaching 40? C. Along the arctic shores the invertebrate epifauna is extremely poor, but the infauna is as rich and diverse as in the tropics (Thorson, 1957). Here, the animals live at temperatures close to and below 0? C. No species has an arc? tic to tropic distribution, but many have a wide latitudinal distribution and thus may live under extreme temperature conditions. Poikilotherms, as contrasted with homiotherms, do not regulate their body tempera? ture; their body temperature changes with that of the environment. Biological proc? esses are determined by temperature, yet we are presented with the improbable situa? tion that arctic poikilotherms metabolize and grow rapidly in icy waters while tropi? cal poikilotherms often metabolize and grow at a more leisurely pace. The pos? sibility of the existence of compensatory mechanisms in poikilotherms living in colder and warmer seas, was suggested by August Krogh many years ago. In 1916 (p. 101), he wrote, "It would be interesting to compare the respiratory exchange in such cases, because it would appear unlikely from a teleological point of view that it should differ as much as would be ordinar-
Different levels of performance with equivalent weights of reward

One group of Ss was run to a reward of 22 45-mg pellets, then shifted to one 1000-mg pellet. A second group ran to the reverse of this reward situation. A Crespi-like effect was obtained. The results pose a problem of interpretation in reward magnitude studies. Some possible approaches to the problem are considered.
Bifurcations of One- and Two-Dimensional Maps

We study the qualitative dynamics of two-parameter families of planar maps of the form F^e(x, y) = (y, -ex+f(y)), where f :R -> R is a C 3 map with a single critical point and negative Schwarzian derivative. The prototype of such maps is the family f(y) = u —y 2 or (in different coordinates) f(y) = Ay(1 —y), in which case F^ e is the Henon map. The maps F e have constant Jacobian determinant e and, as e -> 0, collapse to the family f^. The behaviour of such one-dimensional families is quite well understood, and we are able to use their bifurcation structures and information on their non-wandering sets to obtain results on both local and global bifurcations of F/ ue , for small e . Moreover, we are able to extend these results to the area preserving family F/u. 1 , thereby obtaining (partial) bifurcation sets in the (/u, e)-plane. Among our conclusions we find that the bifurcation sequence for periodic orbits, which is restricted by Sarkovskii’s theorem and the kneading theory for one-dimensional maps, is quite different for two-dimensional families. In particular, certain periodic orbits that appear at the end of the one-dimensional sequence appear at the beginning of the area preserving sequence, and infinitely many families of saddle node and period doubling bifurcation curves cross each other in the ( /u, e ) -parameter plane between e = 0 and e = 1. We obtain these results from a study of the homoclinic bifurcations (tangencies of stable and unstable manifolds) of F /u.e and of the associated sequences of periodic bifurcations that accumulate on them. We illustrate our results with some numerical computations for the orientation-preserving Henon map.
Magnetic properties of iron-doped layer-structure dichalcogenides

Magnetic-susceptibility measurements have been made on dilute excess Fe alloys of the layer-structure crystals Ta${\mathrm{Se}}_{2}$, Nb${\mathrm{Se}}_{2}$, and Ta${\mathrm{S}}_{2}$. The $2H$ selenides show local-moment formation and obey a Curie-Weiss law in the range 300-30 K with effective moments in the range (2.5-4.5)${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\mu}}}_{\mathrm{B}}$. For $2H\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{x}\mathrm{Ta}{\mathrm{Se}}_{2}$ a strong susceptibility maximum is observed at low temperature and at low fields the maximum has a cusplike shape characteristic of a "spin-glass" type transition. The temperature of the maximum scales approximately linearly with Fe concentration and reaches 13 K for $x=0.10$. The presence of the magnetic impurities decreases the onset temperature of the charge-density wave and smears the transition. At the same time the magnetic impurities can stabilize a spin-density wave and the data are reviewed in terms of such a possibility. Crystals of $2H\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{x}\mathrm{Ta}{\mathrm{S}}_{2}$ do not show local-moment formation and the susceptibility measurements show a smearing of the charge-density wave but no depression of the onset temperature up to $x=0.05$. The Fe-doped $4Hb$ phases of Ta${\mathrm{S}}_{2}$ and Ta${\mathrm{Se}}_{2}$ show distinctly different behavior with $4Hb\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{x}\mathrm{Ta}{\mathrm{S}}_{2}$ showing a strong-local-moment formation and a susceptibility maximum while $4Hb\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{x}\mathrm{Ta}{\mathrm{Se}}_{2}$ shows only a weak-local-moment formation and no magnetic anomalies. The susceptibility behavior of the various phases also correlates with magnetic anomalies observed in the transport properties of the Fe-doped layer structures and these correlations will also be reviewed.
The use of low cost portable microcontrollers in teaching undergraduate Computer Architecture and Organization

This paper presents our experiences in teaching undergraduate Computer Architecture and Organization using a low cost portable microcontroller, MSP 430 manufactured by Texas Instrument Inc. This microcontroller is hosted on a USB dongle along with necessary hardware interfaces for system configuration. The microcontroller, though simple, covers basic fundamentals of computer systems, and indeed is a great platform for beginners to start with. This low cost portable device makes it possible for students to conduct labs and projects at anytime and anywhere.
Fine specificity mapping of autoantigens targeted by anti-centromere autoantibodies

Autoantibodies to centromeric proteins are commonly found in sera of limited scleroderma and other rheumatic disease patients. To better understand the inciting events and possible pathogenic mechanisms of these autoimmune responses, this study identified the common antigenic targets of CENP-A in scleroderma patient sera. Utilizing samples from 263 anti-centromere immunofluorescence positive patients, 93.5% were found to have anti-CENP-A reactivity and 95.4% had anti-CENP-B reactivity by ELISA. Very few patient samples exclusively targeted CENP-A (2.7%) or CENP-B (4.2%). Select patient sera were tested for reactivity with solid phase overlapping decapeptides of CENP-A. Four distinct epitopes of CENP-A were identified. Epitopes 2 and 3 were confirmed by additional testing of 263 patient sera by ELISA for reactivity with these sequences constructed as multiple antigenic peptides. Inhibition CENP-A Western blots also confirmed the specificity of these humoral peptide immune responses in a subset of patient sera. The first three arginine residues (aa 4-6) of CENP-A appear essential for antibody recognition, as replacing these arginines with glycine residues reduced antibody binding to the expressed CENP-A protein by an average of 93.2% (range 80-100%). In selected patients with serial samples spanning nearly a decade, humoral epitope binding patterns were quite stable and showed no epitope spreading over time. This epitope mapping study identifies key antigenic targets of the anti-centromere response and establishes that the majority of the responses depend on key amino-terminal residues.
Influence of glucosinolate content of Brassica (Cruciferae) roots on growth of vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

SUMMARY We tested the hypothesis that failure to establish symbiosis with vesicular-arbuscular (VA) mycorrhizal fungi is correlated with glucosinolate concentrations in Brassica, a representative genus of the Capparales. Brassica campestris and B. napus cultivars (brassica) with a range of glucosinolate concentrations (7–524 μmol g1 f. wt in roots) were grown together with the VA mycorrhizal fungi Glomus mosseae and Gigaspora gigantea in agar. Fungal growth was observed in situ but fungi did not penetrate brassica roots. However, normal germ tube growth of the VA mycorrhizal fungi occurred near brassica roots when compatible hosts grew nearby. These compatible hosts developed normal mycorrhizal infections. These results suggest that brassica roots do not produce a diffusable inhibitor of VA mycorrhizal fungi, but lack a diffusable growth stimulus present near roots of compatible hosts.
ALTERNATIVE FORAGING TACTICS OF JUVENILE GOPHER TORTOISES (GOPHERUS POLYPHEMUS) EXAMINED USING CORRELATED RANDOM WALK MODELS

Most animals forage under the risk of predation. An animal may balance the benefits gained from obtaining adequate nutritious forage with the risk of falling prey to a predator by employing alternative, adaptive foraging tactics. We examined the foraging tactics employed by a central place forager, Gopherus polyphemus, as it foraged away from a refuge. We directly observed foraging paths of juvenile G. polyphemus and analyzed them using correlated random walk models. We also compared the sinuosity of foraging paths to the sinuosity of an optimal central place forager. Observed net squared displacement was greater than expected for outbound foraging paths and inbound return paths, but these paths could not be distinguished statistically from a correlated random walk. Sinuosity was less than expected for an optimal central place forager. Juvenile tortoises direct movement away from their burrows while foraging. Juveniles may give up the security of remaining near their burrows to forage until satiation.
Characterization and structure of DhpI, a phosphonate O-methyltransferase involved in dehydrophos biosynthesis

Phosphonate natural products possess a range of biological activities as a consequence of their ability to mimic phosphate esters or tetrahedral intermediates formed in enzymatic reactions involved in carboxyl group metabolism. The dianionic form of these compounds at pH 7 poses a drawback with respect to their ability to mimic carboxylates and tetrahedral intermediates. Microorganisms producing phosphonates have evolved two solutions to overcome this hurdle: biosynthesis of monoanionic phosphinates containing two P-C bonds or esterification of the phosphonate group. The latter solution was first discovered for the antibiotic dehydrophos that contains a methyl ester of a phosphonodehydroalanine group. We report here the expression, purification, substrate scope, and structure of the O-methyltransferase from the dehydrophos biosynthetic gene cluster. The enzyme utilizes S-adenosylmethionine to methylate a variety of phosphonates including 1-hydroxyethylphosphonate, 1,2-dihydroxyethylphosphonate, and acetyl-1-aminoethylphosphonate. Kinetic analysis showed that the best substrates are tripeptides containing as C-terminal residue a phosphonate analog of alanine suggesting the enzyme acts late in the biosynthesis of dehydrophos. These conclusions are corroborated by the X-ray structure that reveals an active site that can accommodate a tripeptide substrate. Furthermore, the structural studies demonstrate a conformational change brought about by substrate or product binding. Interestingly, the enzyme has low substrate specificity and was used to methylate the clinical antibiotic fosfomycin and the antimalaria clinical candidate fosmidomycin, showing its promise for applications in bioengineering.
Racial disparity in analgesic treatment for ED patients with abdominal or back pain

Abstract Objective Research on how race affects access to analgesia in the emergency department (ED) has yielded conflicting results. We assessed whether patient race affects analgesia administration for patients presenting with back or abdominal pain. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study of adults who presented to 2 urban EDs with back or abdominal pain for a 4-year period. To assess differences in analgesia administration and time to analgesia between races, Fisher exact and Wilcoxon rank sum test were used, respectively. Relative risk regression was used to adjust for potential confounders. Results Of 20 125 patients included (mean age, 42 years; 64% female; 75% black; mean pain score, 7.5), 6218 (31%) had back pain and 13 907 (69%) abdominal pain. Overall, 12 109 patients (60%) received any analgesia and 8475 (42%) received opiates. Comparing nonwhite (77 %) to white patients (23%), nonwhites were more likely to report severe pain (pain score, 9-10) (42% vs 36%; P P P P = .004). Conclusions After controlling for potential confounders, nonwhite patients who presented to the ED for abdominal or back pain were less likely than whites to receive analgesia and waited longer for their opiate medication.
Large left atrial thrombus formation despite warfarin therapy after device closure of a patent foramen ovale.

Appropriate anticoagulation after transcatheter device placement is controversial. Patients with no history of thromboembolism or neurologic event typically receive antiplatelet therapy for several months while the device endothelializes. For patients with a history of stroke, there are no established guidelines for postdevice anticoagulation. Most patients receive warfarin, antiplatelet therapy, or a combination. Thrombus formation after transcatheter device placement has been reported for most commercially available devices. We describe a patient who developed a left atrial thrombus after closure of a patent foramen ovale with a CardioSEAL device. The patient had a normal hypercoaguable laboratory evaluation prior to device placement. Thrombosis occurred despite warfarin therapy before and after device placement. The patient's international normalized ratio was checked every 2 weeks after device placement and ranged between 2.0 and 2.8. She had no clinical arrhythmia during this time period. The left atrial thrombus was detected on routine follow-up transthoracic echocardiogram performed 6 months after device deployment. A subsequent transesophageal echocardiogram demonstrated no residual shunt, appropriate positioning of the device, flat against the septum, and a 1 x 2 cm thrombus attached to the superior and posterior left atrial arm near the junction with the native septum. A fluoroscopic image demonstrated no arm fractures. The device and thrombus were subsequently removed at surgery without complication. This case is perplexing in that the patient received appropriate anticoagulation had a negative hypercoaguable work-up, no residual shunt, and a well-positioned device.
Example-based learning in computer-aided STEM education

Example-based reasoning techniques developed for programming languages also help automate repetitive tasks in education.
Uncertainty and Decision Making for Residents with Dementia

Uncertainty is a significant barrier confronting surrogate decision makers(SDMs) who make treatment decisions for nursing home (NH) residents with dementia. The study purpose is to describe uncertainty among SDMs of NH residents with dementia and to identify factors associated with greater Uncertainty. We employed a nonexperimental, cross-sectional design using mailed survey and recruited 155 SDM participants from eight NHs in New England. The survey contained the Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale For Family Members. Independent variables included resident and SDM sociodemographic characteristics, Advance Directives, Credible Authority, Social Support, and Perceived Self-Efficacy for Surrogate Decision Making. Results of a simultaneous multiple regression analysis identified Perceived Self-Efficacy,Social Support, and Close Relative explained 22% of the Uncertainty variance.These findings suggest that close family relatives who serve as SDMs for NH residents with dementia may benefit from increasing social support and enhancing SDMs’ self-efficacy for decision making.
Effect of Growth Rate and Glucose Concentration on the Activity of the Phosphoenolpyruvate Phosphotransferase System in Streptococcus mutans Ingbritt Grown in Continuous Culture

Streptococcus mutans Ingbritt was grown anaerobically in a chemostat with a glucose limitation, as well as with an excess of glucose (amino acid limitation) at dilution rates (D) between 0.05 and 0.4 h(-1) (mean generation time = 12 to 1.5 h). The glucose-limited culture produced cells having 1.5- to 6.0-fold greater glycolytic activity than the cells from the glucose-excess culture. The preferred substrate for these cells was glucose, with the glycolytic rate for sucrose being only slightly lower; the rate for fructose was half that of glucose. The glycolytic rate of the glucose-limited cells was maximum at D = 0.1 h(-1), with a decline in rate as the growth rate approached D = 0.4 h(-1). A comparison of the activity of phosphoenolpyruvate phosphotransferase system (PTS) in the two types of cells showed that the glucose-limited cells had 1.7- to 5.6-fold greater PTS activity for the three sugars than the glucose-excess-grown cells. Whereas little difference was seen between the three sugars with the latter cells, the glucose-PTS had the greatest activity with glucose-limited cells, with the maximum in cells grown at D = 0.1 h(-1). Comparison of the rate of sugar uptake in the chemostat with the rate of PTS transport activity in the cells at each growth rate demonstrated that only under conditions of slow growth with a glucose limitation was the PTS system capable of supporting growth on glucose. Furthermore, PTS activity in cells grown with an excess of glucose was insignificant when compared with glucose uptake during growth in the chemostat. This evidence supports the observation that S. mutans possesses at least one other system, in addition to the PTS, for the transport of glucose into the cell. The organism was, however, devoid of glucose-proton symport transport activity.
IMMUNOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON THE ANTIGENIC DETERMINANTS REQUIRED TO ELICIT DELAYED AND IMMEDIATE HYPERSENSITIVITY REACTIONS

Hartley and strain 2 guinea pigs were sensitized to chemically defined α-DNP(Lys)n-BuAm, α-DNP(Lys)n-, and (Lys)n-BuAm peptides and skin tested with individual members of these homologous series, related peptides and hapten-substituted proteins. The immediate skin response (Arthus) could be elicited with hapten-substituted tetra-, penta-, or hexamers, whereas both immediate and delayed skin responses could be provoked by the octamer or nonamer. The hapten is an integral part of the determinant for both immediate and delayed skin reactivity, since poly-L-lysine was unable to elicit either delayed or immediate reactions in sensitized animals. Arthus type cross-reactions occurred only when the sensitizing and test antigen shared a common haptenic determinant. In contrast to this, in this system, delayed type cross-reactions occurred only when the test antigen and the sensitizing antigen contained both a large oligo-L-lysine carrier as well as the same haptenic determinant. These observations imply that the mediation of the delayed response requires a larger determinant than is necessary to elicit the immediate response. The role of high affinity antibody as the mediator of the delayed response is discussed in terms of the size of the antigenic determinants required to elicit this response. It was found that the ability to elicit the delayed response paralleled the immunogenic capacity of these peptides, whereas the immediate response could be elicited by nonimmunogenic peptides. This finding suggests that the delayed response may require the continued biosynthesis of antibody and may be analogous to a local in vivo secondary response.
Allopurinol safely and effectively optimizes tioguanine metabolites in inflammatory bowel disease patients not responding to azathioprine and mercaptopurine.

Summary Background : Many non-responders to azathioprine or mercaptopurine (6-mercaptopurine) have high normal thiopurine methyltransferase activity and preferentially metabolize mercaptopurine to produce 6-methylmercaptopurine instead of the active 6-tioguanine (6-tioguanine) metabolites. Aim : To describe the use of allopurinol in mercaptopurine/azathioprine non-responders to deliberately shunt metabolism of mercaptopurine towards 6-tioguanine. Methods : Fifteen thiopurine non-responders whose metabolites demonstrated preferential metabolism towards 6-methylmercaptopurine are described. Subjects were commenced on allopurinol 100 mg po daily and mercaptopurine/azathioprine was reduced to 25–50% of the original dose. Patients were followed clinically and with serial 6-tioguanine and 6-methylmercaptopurine metabolite measurements. Results : After initiating allopurinol, 6-tioguanine levels increased from a mean of 185.73 ± 17.7 to 385.4 ± 41.5 pmol/8 × 108 red blood cells (P < 0.001), while 6-methylmercaptopurine decreased from a mean of 10 380 ± 1245 to 1732 ± 502 pmol/8 × 108 RBCs (P < 0.001). Allopurinol led to a decrease in white blood cell from a mean of 8.28 ± 0.95 to 6.1 ± 0.82 × 108/L (P = 0.01). Conclusions : The addition of allopurinol to thiopurine non-responders with preferential shunting to 6-methylmercaptopurine metabolites appears to be an effective means to shift metabolism towards 6-tioguanine.
The residual humanism of hybridity: retaining a sense of the earth

The concept of hybridity has become an influential theoretical tool for examining and reconsidering relations between society and nature. Although benefits have accrued from this school of thought, this paper contends the deployment of hybridity within the geographic discipline falls short of its reconstitutional claims. These shortcomings are a consequence of the original sources used to develop the language and logic of hybridity. Although the concept of hybridity has a long history in the biological sciences, the utilisation of hybridity in the geographic discipline has predominantly relied upon evolving theories developed in science and technology studies. This paper indicates how Haraway’s cyborg and Latour’s Middle Kingdom limit the scope of hybridity by portraying humanity as central to hybridity. The pervasive centrality of humans within the literature on hybridity (1) limits the ability of geographers to embrace poststructuralism in its entirety and (2) diminishes the discipline’s claim to credibly represent the (natural) landscape. This paper argues for a thicker hybridity by borrowing from emergent theories in the biological sciences, wherein hybridity is conceived as a common occurrence that frequently takes place outside the direct purview of society. Rather than reifying nature, thick hybridity forces society to embrace environmental uncertainty more than it has heretofore.
Large moduli multipliers

In this work we present a new table look-up storage scheme and a class of table look-up multipliers capable of working with exact (modular) numbering systems. Memory savings associated with the new look-up multiplier, when compared to contemporary methods, are shown to be on the order of 2/N where N=2^{n} , n =input wordlength. Throughput is shown to be equal to that obtained using VLSI and classic architectures.
Using Cultural Narratives to Positively Transform Pre-service Teachers' Attitudes towards Diversity Appreciation

In the United States, most current and future teachers are White females from suburban areas. These teach- ers are or will be called to successfully educate children from a wide array of cultural and racial backgrounds. Teacher education programs do a disservice if teachers are not prepared to handle such diversity in the classroom. Pre-service teachers need the opportunity to engage in meaningful work that allows them to become more knowledgeable about other cultures, while also allowing them to reflect on prejudices and biases that may potentially influence their actions in the classroom. This article describes a project designed to meet that dual objective. In sum, the objective was met by the completion of the Cultural Narrative Project, where students reported that the project helped them authentically learn about other cultures and increase their overall appreciation of diversity.
RAKE finger placement for CDMA downlink equalization

We consider the problem of interference suppression in a multipath DS-CDMA downlink using a general RAKE receiver structure with M fingers and arbitrary finger delays. Utilizing asymptotically optimal sampling design theory, a new design approach that optimizes the receiver performance over the finger delays is proposed. It provides a set of delays which are asymptotically optimal for large M, and sheds light on the behavior of various finger placements' performance, as the number of fingers increases, and on the effect of the smoothness of the underlying chip pulse. Numerical results show that for certain Rayleigh fading channels and several chip pulses, the proposed finger placement is superior to the chip periodically-spaced finger placement.