cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quasiparticle gaps and exciton Coulomb energies in Si nanoshells: First-principles calculations

Quasiparticle gaps and exciton Coulomb energies of H-passivated spherical Si nanoshells are computed using first-principles $\ensuremath{\Delta}\text{SCF}$ method and selectively comparing to $GW$ computations. We find that the quasiparticle gap of a nanoshell depends on both its inner radius ${R}_{1}$ (weakly) and outer radius ${R}_{2}$ (strongly). These dependences on ${R}_{1}$ and ${R}_{2}$ are mostly consistent with electrostatics of a metallic shell. We also find that the unscreened Coulomb energy ${E}_{\text{Coul}}$ in Si nanoshells has a somewhat unexpected size dependence at fixed outer radius ${R}_{2}$: ${E}_{\text{Coul}}$ decreases as the nanoshell becomes more confining, contrary to what one would expect from quantum confinement effects. We show that this is a consequence of an increase in the average electron-hole distance, giving rise to reduced exciton Coulomb energies in spite of the reduction in the confining nanoshell volume.
A Woman With Dyspnea, Weight Loss, and Splenic Lesions.

Case Presentation The patient is a 37-year-old hospital employee and current smoker with a 10 pack-year smoking history, who presented with dyspnea, chest pain, and weight loss. She was in her usual state of health until 4 months prior to admission when she developed intermittent left-sided chest pain, cough productive of scant yellow sputum, fevers, and anorexia. Initial chest radiograph was normal and her outpatient physician prescribed azithromycin, which she took without improvement. One month prior to admission, a follow-up chest radiograph revealed a left-sided upper lobe consolidation; she received a course of levofloxacin without improvement. At follow-up, given her occupation, 13.6-kg unintentional weight loss, and persistent pulmonary symptoms and infiltrate despite treatment for pneumonia, her provider referred her for admission with particular concern for exclusion of active TB. As a hospital employee with clinical exposure, she underwent annual TB screening, which was always negative. She had no known exposure to patients with TB. Her most recent travel was to the Midwestern United States, without significant outdoors exposure. Review of systems was positive for wheezing, anorexia, and arthralgias of both knees and the left ankle and wrist. There was no hemoptysis, leg swelling, visual changes, palpitations, or muscle weakness.
Women’s Decision-Making about PrEP for HIV Prevention in Drug Treatment Contexts:

Despite pre-exposure prophylaxis's (PrEP) efficacy for HIV prevention, uptake has been low among women with substance use disorders (SUDs) and attributed to women's lack of awareness. In semistructured interviews with 20 women with SUD and 15 key stakeholders at drug treatment centers, we assessed PrEP awareness and health-related decision-making. Women often misestimated their own HIV risk and were not aware of PrEP as a personally relevant option. Although women possessed key decision-making skills, behavior was ultimately shaped by their level of motivation to engage in HIV prevention. Motivation was challenged by competing priorities, minimization of perceived risk, and anticipated stigma. Providers were familiar but lacked experience with PrEP and were concerned about women's abilities to action plan in early recovery. HIV prevention for women with SUD should focus on immediately intervenable targets such as making PrEP meaningful to women and pursuing long-term systemic changes in policy and culture. Efforts can be facilitated by partnering with drug treatment centers to reach women and implement PrEP interventions.
The impacts of tree stand thinning on groundwater recharge in aridland forests

Abstract Forest thinning has been used as a management tool to reverse the adverse impacts of decades of fire suppression in the western USA. Research into the impacts of thinning on surface water, soil, and vegetation re-growth have occurred concurrently with the growing popularity of forest thinning; however, its potential impact on groundwater recharge and related springs ecosystems has largely been ignored until recently. This systematic review provides an overview of some of the tools used to measure the influence of forest management on groundwater recharge, including numerical and process based modeling, empirical paired-watershed approaches, and statistical stochastic techniques. A brief discussion of the benefits and drawbacks of each method also is provided. The paper provides a literature review of existing studies of groundwater recharge and forest management from 1971 to 2018. The review of 35 studies indicates a range of results and highlights differences between studies of clear-cut forests versus thinned forests. Forests that were thinned had a greater amount of groundwater recharge than clear-cut forests, indicating that recharge responds positively and more strongly to reduced sublimation and evaporation in partially thinned forests than to clear-cut removal of mature trees. A similar test with forest encroachment studies revealed no differences between forest encroachment and either thinning regime. The number of forest management-groundwater recharge studies has dramatically increased over the last two decades, indicating increased interest in finding tools to increase groundwater yields for societal use in rapidly populating aridland forests. To our knowledge there have been no studies of forest thinning impacts on springs ecosystems, a field of study rich with possibilities for ecologists, hydrologists, rangeland and forestry scientists, and interdisciplinary ecohydrology practitioners.
The Sociolinguistic Situation of Cajun French

Language shift presents a “protean challenge” for the sociolinguist because the pieces of the puzzle are numerous and constantly changing (Dressler, 1981). For example, virtually all the important categories relevant to the study of language shift in French Louisiana as elsewhere are nondiscrete and dynamic; among such categories are language attitudes, linguistic proficiency, group membership, and dialectal variation. Therefore, any analysis of speech communities currently undergoing shift from Cajun French to English is best regarded with circumspection. This caveat is especially pertinent given the dearth of published research on language shift in French Louisiana.1 The few published studies of Cajun French have largely focused on the linguistic system of older fluent speakers (Brown, 1988; Conwell & Juilland, 1963; Oukada, 1977; Phillips, 1936). Earlier linguists did not think to use partially fluent speakers as informants, since their speech deviated from the object of study, the fluent norm. But as a leading researcher in the field of intergenerational language shift recently observed: “The very deviance which was off-putting at one time is what we look to now for clues to organizational principles in language and cognition generally” (Dorian, 1989). In fact, endangered languages are increasingly becoming the object of much-deserved attention as the urgency of the situation becomes clear: It is widely estimated that 50% of the world’s languages will become extinct during the next century.2
Multiscale Modeling of Cardiovascular Function Predicts That the End-Systolic Pressure Volume Relationship Can Be Targeted via Multiple Therapeutic Strategies

Most patients who develop heart failure are unable to elevate their cardiac output on demand due to impaired contractility and/or reduced ventricular filling. Despite decades of research, few effective therapies for heart failure have been developed. In part, this may reflect the difficulty of predicting how perturbations to molecular-level mechanisms that are induced by drugs will scale up to modulate system-level properties such as blood pressure. Computer modeling might help with this process and thereby accelerate the development of better therapies for heart failure. This manuscript presents a new multiscale model that uses a single contractile element to drive an idealized ventricle that pumps blood around a closed circulation. The contractile element was formed by linking an existing model of dynamically coupled myofilaments with a well-established model of myocyte electrophysiology. The resulting framework spans from molecular-level events (including opening of ion channels and transitions between different myosin states) to properties such as ejection fraction that can be measured in patients. Initial calculations showed that the model reproduces many aspects of normal cardiovascular physiology including, for example, pressure-volume loops. Subsequent sensitivity tests then quantified how each model parameter influenced a range of system level properties. The first key finding was that the End Systolic Pressure Volume Relationship, a classic index of cardiac contractility, was ∼50% more sensitive to parameter changes than any other system-level property. The second important result was that parameters that primarily affect ventricular filling, such as passive stiffness and Ca2+ reuptake via sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA), also have a major impact on systolic properties including stroke work, myosin ATPase, and maximum ventricular pressure. These results reinforce the impact of diastolic function on ventricular performance and identify the End Systolic Pressure Volume Relationship as a particularly sensitive system-level property that can be targeted using multiple therapeutic strategies.
Meal Quality of Entrées That Can Be Sold as Competitive Foods in Schools and Potential Impact of the Proposed USDA Rollbacks.

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act strengthened competitive food standards (i.e., Smart Snacks), but an exemption allows reimbursable meal entrees that do not meet Smart Snack standards to be sold as "competitive entrees" on the same day they are served in the reimbursable meal, and the following day. Proposed rollbacks would enable these competitive entrees to continue to be sold on a third day, increasing the availability of competitive foods exempt from Smart Snacks standards. This study compared the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) scores of potential competitive entrees alone versus full reimbursable school lunches, and examined the nutritional characteristics of potential competitive entrees. Data were from a national sample of 1108 schools from the School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study. Linear regression models, accounting for school-level and state and district policy characteristics, found that HEI scores of competitive entrees were an average of 30 points lower than HEI scores of reimbursable lunches, with greater differences in small and rural schools. Less than 1% of common potential competitive entrees met Smart Snack standards, primarily due to higher sodium and saturated fat levels. The proposed rollbacks are estimated to potentially add approximately 662 mg of sodium and 3 g of saturated fat over three days (1103 mg sodium and 5 g saturated fat over a week) on average relative to Smart Snacks limits. Instead of increasing opportunities to sell competitive entrees, their sales should be further limited.
The Challenges of Project Expos and Pop-Up Voting

This chapter reviews observations and field interviews at project expos and pop-up voting locations. Some of the more significant findings were that all budget delegate interviewees who proposed projects were successful in getting their projects included on ballots, while only two of seven individuals who were not delegates found their projects on ballots. Most respondents had not engaged in participatory budgeting in earlier stages and three-fifths of these reported that they were unaware of participatory budgeting before they arrived at a public location for voting. Others reported family and work constraints, reflecting the same lack of resources we analyzed in Chapter 4. We identify issues of legitimacy, tokenism, and opportunities missed. We break down meeting attendance, suggested projects, prior year participation, and vote advocacy to determine who or what has influence at this stage of events. A particular concern were a few responses that expressed distrust over costs associated with projects.
Sleep and Breathing After Nusinersen Therapy in a Child With Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

Background Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 3 is an autosomal recessive neurological disorder associated with a deletion/mutation in the survival motor neuron gene, with gradually progressive degeneration of the motor neurons of the spinal cord and brainstem, which causes muscle weakness responsible for impairment of swallowing, breathing, and mobility. Report of case We report an 11-year-old girl with SMA type 3 with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome refractory to adenotonsillectomy and noninvasive ventilatory support. She was started on nusinersen, which is a novel disease modifying therapy for SMA. This new treatment led to improvement of the OSA in a short period, likely from better respiratory muscle function. Conclusions The improvement in OSA supports the role of nusinersen in sleep-related upper respiratory muscle function in SMA type 3.
Subharmonic Mixing Using a Reflective Spatio-Temporally Modulated Metasurface

A reflective, dual-polarized, space-time metasurface with subwavelength unit cells (d 0 = λ 0 /5) is reported. Each column of unit cells on the metasurface can be independently, temporally modulated, allowing space-time modulation along one axis. The time-modulation of adjacent columns is staggered to establish a desired modulation wavenumber. A homogenized model of the metasurface is proposed that includes the discretization of the spatial modulation. Compared to the continuous spatial modulation commonly assumed in earlier works, the discretized modulation allows new phenomena such as subharmonic mixing. Specifically, when the reflection phase is a sawtooth function in time, subharmonic frequency translation can be achieved without additional filtering and mixing circuitry. Measurement results validating the theoretical findings are presented at 10 GHz.
Genetic components of consumer liking based on visual appearance of leaf types in Brassica vegetables

Establishing a genetic basis of consumer liking and identifying the traits underlying consumer liking are necessary components to build a vegetable breeding program guided by consumer preference. Leafy Brassica (Brassica oleracea) crops are diverse and provide a unique platform to understand the relevance of consumer response and market potential of new genotypes in a breeding program. In this study, eight morphologically distinct B. oleracea inbred lines were used as parents to develop a half-diallel mating design. Parental lines and hybrid progeny (n = 28) were subject to genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS), preliminary morphological and phytochemical evaluations, and an online consumer acceptance survey whereby consumers (n = 564) rated their overall visual liking and familiarity of each genotype. Trends in parental selection underscore the success of hybrid progeny; novel leaf types that were well received by consumer participants typically incorporated some “familiar” aspect from kale or collard breeding lines. After accounting for a strong correlation between consumer liking and familiarity, a small heritable (h2 = 0.37) genetic component of consumer liking was identified. Population structure analyses using 34,983 SNP markers differentiated breeding materials and commercially available cultivars, and phytochemical profiles exhibited moderate genetic variance due to parental type. This work highlights the importance of parental selection in developing new genotypes to suit current consumer preferences and the use of next-generation sequencing to draw connections between genotypic diversity and consumer liking. Further, this work demonstrates the capacity of existing breeding materials to introduce novel leafy Brassica cultivars with market potential.
Evolution Strategies for Approximate Solution of Bayesian Games.

We address the problem of solving complex Bayesian games, characterized by high-dimensional type and action spaces, many (> 2) players, and general-sum payoffs. Our approach applies to symmetric one-shot Bayesian games, with no given analytic structure. We represent agent strategies in parametric form as neural networks, and apply natural evolution strategies (NES) [wierstra2014natural] for deep model optimization. For pure equilibrium computation, we formulate the problem as bi-level optimization, and employ NES in an iterative algorithm to implement both inner-loop best response optimization and outer-loop regret minimization. In simple games including first- and second-price auctions, it is capable of recovering known analytic solutions. For mixed equilibrium computation, we adopt an incremental strategy generation framework, with NES as strategy generator producing a finite sequence of approximate best-response strategies. We then calculate equilibria over this finite strategy set via a model-based optimization process. Both our pure and mixed equilibrium computation methods employ NES to efficiently search for strategies over the functional space, given only black-box simulation access to noisy payoff samples. We experimentally demonstrate the efficacy of all methods on two simultaneous sealed-bid auction games with distinct type distributions, and observe that the solutions exhibit qualitatively different behavior in these two environments.
Considering the Effects of Computer Scientist Stereotypes on Mental Health

As enrollment in computer science (CS) programs increases and technical jobs become more available, the mental health of computer scientists and engineers requires wider discussion. Mental health constitutes of emotional, social, and psychological well-being, affecting how a person thinks, feels, and acts. Addressing issues surrounding mental health is critical in ensuring one’s happiness, productivity, and, ultimately, safety.
9-vertex irreducible graphs on the torus /

A complete list of 9-vertex irreducible graphs that are irreducible for the torus was obtained. First, all the possible toroidal embeddings of certain common graphs are found. An algorithm is then developed to prove nonembeddability of a graph G on the torus; a subgraph of G that is isomorphic to one of the common graphs is displayed, and extensions of each embedding of the common graph to our graph G are systematically eliminated. To prove irreducibility of a graph G, a list of triangulations on the torus is first given. It is then shown that deleting any edge of G results in a subgraph of one of these triangulations. We assert that our list is complete.
Theoretical Implications on Isabelle Physics

It was during the proposing years of ISABELLE when theorists at Brookhaven got involved with the study of what can be learned from a proton-proton colliding storage ring with a few hundred GeV center of mass energy, and a luminosity of 1033 sec−1 cm−2 Professor Zichichi’s invitation to discuss it now gives me an excellent chance to update the analysis incorporating new information, and to think anew about what can be learned with the coming machine. I am happy to report that while preparing this lecture it was found that there is a nonnegligible signature from the bremsstrahlung of a Higgs boson by the intermediate boson Z° produced in the hadronic scattering. This may be used to search for the most elusive building block of the unified gauge theory, and also may point to new experimental ways to search for new particles.
Characterization of IL-2-dependent cytotoxic T-cell clones: III. Inhibition of killing activity by monosaccharides

Abstract The effects of monosaccharides on the cytotoxic activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and three cloned long-term cytotoxic T-lymphocyte lines (CTLL) are compared. Uncultured CTL and clones CTLL-A2 and CTLL-A11 were derived from the peritoneal cavity of C57BL/6 mice immunized against the H-2D d determinants on the BALB/c sarcoma Meth A. Clone CTLL-R5 was derived from spleen of (BALB/c × C57BL/6)F 1 mice immunized against a unique determinant on the BALB/c radiation-induced leukemia RL♂1. The cell-surface phenotype of the clones is Lyt-1 + ,2 + ,3 + . Cytotoxic activity of CTLL-A2 and CTLL-R5 as determined by a 4-hr 51 Cr-release assay was inhibited over 50% by 1 m M 2-deoxy- d -glucose. CTLL-A11 and the uncultured cytotoxic T cells were more resistant to inhibition by 2DG (40% at 20 m M ). Surprisingly, it was found that the addition of d -mannose, d -galactose, d -glucose, l -fucose, α-methyl- d -mannose, and N -acetyl- d -glucosamine also inhibited, in a dose-related manner, the cytotoxicity of CTLL-A2 and CTLL-A11. CTLL-R5 showed a more restricted inhibition pattern: only d -mannose and d -galactose were inhibitory. The mechanism of inhibition remains to be clarified.
Update of the development of a low cost data acquisition system for the Space Shuttle solid rocket booster program

The Space Shuttle has been flying for seventeen years and current NASA plans show it flying for many more years. To support the current and future shuttle flight schedule, portions of the shuttle are being upgraded. One of the areas being upgraded is the avionics on the solid rocket boosters (SRB's). To develop reliable avionics hardware, the environments that they encounter during ascent, descent and water impact must be known. Past environmental data collected did not provide the high fidelity data that is required to fabricate new avionics hardware. This paper summarizes the effort to measure the SRB environments via a commercial off the shelf data acquisition system.
Immunity to transplantable carcinogen induced fibrosarcomas in B2/B2 chickens. II. Macrophage dependency of adoptive T cell mediated tumor immunity.

Abstract The nature of immunity to transplantable chemically induced fibrosarcomas in SC (B2/B2) chicken was examined using Winn tests performed in the wing web. Immunity in spleen cell donors was induced by pretreatment with C. parvum or BCG followed by tumor cells + bacterial adjuvant in one and tumor cells alone in the other wing web. The T cells mediating the adoptive immunity were sensitive to anti-T + C, nylon wool nonadherent, mitomycin resistant and radiation (1000 R) sensitive. The adoptive immunity could not be expressed in heavily irradiated recipients or in hosts pretreated with trypan blue or silica. The host contribution could be reconstituted by iv injection of spleen or bone marrow cells from agamma-globulinemic (Aγ) unimmunized donors 2 days prior to Winn tests or by the local injection into wing webs of spleen cells or purified peripheral blood monocytes from Aγ donors. It was concluded that cooperation between immune donor T cells and normal monocytes of host origin mediated the inhibition of SCFS growth in Winn tests.
Factors associated with perceived paternal involvement in childrearing

Interest in paternal involvement in child care has increased as the demands on the time and resources of maternal caretakers have increased. The purpose of the present study was to examine variables associated with perceived paternal involvement in child care. Participants were 137 (90 European American and 47 African American) fathers of children between the ages of 2 and 6. Hierarchical multiple regression and analyses of variance indicated that ethnicity, gender role orientation, and perceived skill at child care were associated with higher levels of perceived paternal engagement in and responsibility for child care. Partners' work status was associated with perceived paternal responsibility for, but not engagement in child care. Data suggest that fathers' perceptions of their abilities, gender role, and family requirements may combine to influence child care involvement.
Counting Singularities in Liquid Crystals

Energy minimizing harmonic maps from the ball to the sphere arise in the study of liquid crystal geometries and in the classical nonlinear sigma model. We linearly dominate the number of points of discontinuity of such a map by the energy of its boundary value function. Our bound is optimal (modulo the best constant) and is the first bound of its kind. We also show that the locations and numbers of singular points of minimizing maps is often counterintuitive; in particular, boundary symmetries need not be respected.
Embedded microcontroller implementation of a class of condition systems

Considers the problem of synthesizing systems modeled by condition systems into microcontrollers. A condition system, a discrete event system model, can be naturally programmed into microcontrollers. Directly using an incidence matrix and state equation to implement condition systems is not a good method for low-cost microcontrollers because of the lack of certain instructions and limited memory of the microcontrollers. An alternate logic algebra based method is presented and an example condition system is illustrated. By using this method, the corresponding assembly code will be easily created in a systematic way.
Hemagglutination Typing of Escherichia coli: Definition of Seven Hemagglutination Types

A hemagglutination (HA) typing system has been developed for demonstrating and characterizing the mannose-sensitive and mannose-resistant hemagglutinins produced by Escherichia coli isolated from human sources. HA typing is performed by testing CFA agar-grown E. coli cells for HA with human, bovine, adult chicken, African Green monkey, and guinea pig erythrocytes in the presence and absence of mannose. Seven major HA types, designated HA type I through HA type VII, have been defined according to the HA patterns produced by 1,334 test cultures consisting of 33 colonization factor antigen I (CFA/I)-positive enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), 37 CFA/II-positive ETEC, 614 isolates belonging to the classical enteropathogenic E. coli, or EPEC, serogroups, 446 non-ETEC, non-EPEC stool isolates, and 204 bacteremia-associated E. coli. Facultatively enteropathogenic E. coli (FEEC) serogroups, which are the causative agents of extraintestinal infections but also sporadic cases of enteritis, comprised 38% of the stool isolates and 91% of the blood isolates examined. Previous observations concerning the HA patterns of CFA-positive ETEC and the EPEC were confirmed. A significant correlation was found between FEEC serogroups and the production of mannose-resistant HA with human, monkey, and usually chicken erythrocytes (the HA patterns designated HA type VI). A large majority (80.2%) of the FEEC strains belonging to the most frequently isolated serogroups from cases of bacteremia (O1, O2, O4, O6, O7, and O18) produced type VI HA patterns. Stool isolates belonging to these same serogroups were 59.2% positive for HA type VI patterns. In contrast, only 17.4% of the non-FEEC stool isolates and 1.9% of the EPEC isolates belong to HA type VI. Of the blood isolates, the HA type VI phenotype was two times more prevalent among K1-positive E. coli than among K1-negative E. coli, 70.6 versus 31.1%. These results suggest that surface-associated hemagglutinins of E. coli, many of which are known to be fimbriae, should be considered in addition to serotype (O:K:H antigenicity) in the description of isolates.
Using unified famous objects (UFO) to automate Alzheimer's disease diagnostics

In this paper we discuss automatic pre-diagnostics of Alzheimer's Disease using a new object-oriented data integration technology — UFO (Unified Famous Objects). UFO was originally introduced in [3] to simplify access to heterogeneous data in federated data sources.
Curating the Past: Caribbean Archaeology at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History

ABSTRACT Well-curated archaeological collections can be used as sources of information in developing new research programs or to complement established ongoing projects. In addition, with the pace of modern development and subsequent archaeological site destruction, museums may become increasingly important as the only repositories of an obliterated cultural patrimony. I review the papers presented here from the perspective of current issues in Caribbean archaeology.
Intracavitary chromic phosphate (32p) colloidal suspension therapy

Two-hundred-eighty-nine patients received treatment with chromic phosphate (/sup 32/P) colloidal suspension (CPCS) 346 times since 1964. One-hundred-seventy-eight patients received 200 intraperitoneal treatments. One-hundred-fifteen patients received 144 intrapleural treatments. Six patients received both intraperitoneal and intrapleural treatments. Two patients received two intrapericardial treatments. Results of therapy were evaluated three months later and then at yearly intervals. In those patients who survived three months, the referring physician observed improvement in 85% of intraperitoneal treatment and in 75% of intrapleural treatments.
The Human Homolog of Escherichia coli Orn Degrades Small Single-stranded RNA and DNA Oligomers

Abstract We report here the identification of human homologues to the essential Escherichia coli Orn protein and the related yeast mitochondrial DNA-escape pathway regulatory factor Ynt20. The human proteins appear to arise from alternatively spliced transcripts, and are thus identical, except the human Ynt20 equivalent contains an NH2-terminal extension that possesses a predicted mitochondrial protease cleavage signal. In vitro analysis revealed that the smaller human protein exhibits a 3′ to 5′ exonuclease activity for small (primarily ≤5 nucleotides in length) single-stranded RNA and DNA oligomers. We have named this human protein Sfn for smallfragment nuclease to reflect its broad substrate range, and have termed the longer protein hSfnα. Sfn prefers Mn2+ as a metal cofactor and displays a temperature-resistant (to 50 °C) nuclease activity. Kinetic analysis indicates that Sfn exhibits a similar affinity for small RNAs and DNAs (K m of ∼1.5 μm), but degrades small RNAs ∼4-fold more efficiently than DNA. Mutation of a conserved aspartate (Asp136) to alanine abolishes both nuclease activities of Sfn. Northern blot analysis revealed that a 1-kilobase transcript corresponding to SFN and/or SFNα (these mRNAs differ by only two nucleotides) is expressed at varying levels in all fetal and adult human tissues examined. Expressed tag sequence clone analysis found that the two splice variants,SFN to SFNα, are present at a ratio of roughly 4 to 1, respectively. The results presented within suggest a role for human Sfn in cellular nucleotide recycling.
Serum aspergillus galactomannan antigen values strongly correlate with outcome of invasive aspergillosis: A study of 56 patients with hematologic cancer

BACKGROUND. Determining the outcome of patients with aspergillosis can be particularly difficult because patients with aspergillosis are at risk for other conditions that mimic this infection. Galactomannan is an Aspergillus-specific antigen released during invasive aspergillosis and is detected by the quantitative serum galactomannan index (GMI) test. METHODS. Using a kappa correlation coefficient test (KCC), the strength of correlation was determined between GMI and survival outcome of aspergillosis among 56 adults with hematologic cancer (90% had myeloma) who underwent serial GMI monitoring until hospital discharge or death. RESULTS. All 56 patients received antineoplastic therapy (myeloablative followed by stem cell transplantation [autologous in 21 patients and allogeneic in 3 patients] or nonmyeloablative therapy [32 patients]). The overall correlation between survival outcome and GMI was excellent (KCC = 0.8609; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.7093–1.000 [P < .0001]) and was comparable among neutropenic and nonneutropenic patients (KCC = 0.8271; 95% CI, 0.6407–1.000 [P < .0001] and KCC = 1.0; 95% CI, 1–1 [P = .0083], respectively). CONCLUSIONS. The survival outcome of patients with aspergillosis strongly correlated with serum GMI. These findings have important implications for patient care and clinical trials of mold-active antifungal agents. Cancer 2007; 110:830–4. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Evaluating Fabric Smoothness Appearance with a Laser Profilometer

Automated, objective, and reliable fabric evaluation methods are needed as alter natives to existing visual inspection methods. A new profilometer has been developed for assessing fabric smoothness appearance by using laser triangulation and image processing techniques. The profilometer consists of a laser line projector, CCD camera, rotating stage, computer, and special software. This paper reports the basic principle of laser triangulation, image processing techniques for extracting surface profiles, wrin kle characterization methods, and the results of a trial test. The profilometer can gen erate results that are consistent with human observers, and the patterns and colors of the fabric do not affect the measurements. In addition, the profilometer is essentially insensitive to patterns of wrinkle orientations. This new evaluation method also solves a problem encountered in research on other instrumental evaluation techniques—the ability to discriminate differences in fabrics whose smoothness appearance...
Cystatin C, Albuminuria, and 5-Year All-Cause Mortality in HIV-Infected Persons

Background Compared with controls, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons have a greater prevalence of kidney disease, assessed according to high cystatin C level and albuminuria, but not according to creatinine level. However, the clinical importance of increased cystatin C level and albuminuria in the HIV-infected population has not been studied. Study Design We conducted an observational cohort study to determine the association of kidney disease (measured according to albuminuria, cystatin C, and serum creatinine) with mortality. Setting & Participants 922 HIV-infected persons enrolled in the FRAM (Fat Redistribution and Metabolic Change in HIV Infection) Study. Predictor Serum cystatin C and serum creatinine levels were used to estimate glomerular filtration rates (eGFR SCysC and eGFR SCr , respectively). Albuminuria was defined as a positive urine dipstick result (≥1+) or urine albumin-creatinine ratio >30 mg/g. Outcome 5-Year mortality. Results At baseline, decreased kidney function (eGFR SCysC 2 ) or albuminuria was present in 28% of participants. After 5 years of follow-up, mortality was 48% in those with both eGFR SCysC 2 and albuminuria, 23% in those with eGFR SCysC 2 alone, 20% in those with albuminuria alone, and 9% in those with neither condition. After multivariable adjustment for demographics, cardiovascular risk factors, HIV-related factors, and inflammatory marker levels, eGFR SCysC 2 and albuminuria were associated with a nearly 2-fold increase in mortality, whereas eGFR SCr 2 did not appear to have a substantial association with mortality. Together, eGFR SCysC 2 and albuminuria accounted for 17% of the population-level attributable risk of mortality. Limitations Vital status was unknown in 261 participants from the original cohort. Conclusions Kidney disease marked by albuminuria or increased cystatin C level appears to be an important risk factor for mortality in HIV-infected individuals. A substantial proportion of this risk may be unrecognized because of the current reliance on serum creatinine to estimate kidney function in clinical practice.
Optical trapping for complex fluid microfluidics

Many proposed applications of microfluidics involve the manipulation of complex fluid mixtures such as blood or bacterial suspensions. To sort and handle the constituent particles within these suspensions, we have developed a miniaturized automated cell sorter using optical traps. This microfluidic cell sorter offers the potential to perform chip-top microbiology more rapidly and with less associated hardware and preparation time than other techniques currently available. To realize the potential of this technology in practical clinical and consumer lab-on-a-chip devices however, microscale control of not only particulates but also the fluid phase must be achieved. To address this, we have developed a mechanical fluid control scheme that integrates well with our optical separations approach. We demonstrate here a combined technique, one that employs both mechanical actuation and optical trapping for the precise control of complex suspensions. This approach enables both cell and particle separations as well as the subsequent fluid control required for the completion of complex analyses.
Physics at Surfaces

Physics at Surfaces is a unique graduate-level introduction to the physics and chemical physics of solid surfaces, and atoms and molecules that interact with solid surfaces. A subject of keen scientific inquiry since the last century, surface physics emerged as an independent discipline only in the late 1960s as a result of the development of ultra-high vacuum technology and high speed digital computers. With these tools, reliable experimental measurements and theoretical calculations could at last be compared. Progress in the last decade has been truly striking. This volume provides a synthesis of the entire field of surface physics from the perspective of a modern condensed matter physicist with a healthy interest in chemical physics. The exposition intertwines experiment and theory whenever possible, although there is little detailed discussion of technique. This much-needed text will be invaluable to graduate students and researchers in condensed matter physics, physical chemistry and materials science working in, or taking graduate courses in, surface science.
The One Year Incidence of Postoperative Myocardial Infarction in an Orthopedic Population

The diagnosis of a postoperative myocardial infarction (PMI) is important in the orthopedic population because these events can be associated with significant cardiac morbidity. Plasma troponin I (cTnI) analysis has markedly increased our ability to detect myocardial damage. Using cTnI analysis for evidence of a PMI, we prospectively assessed all of our patients for (1) the 1-year incidence of PMI, (2) the clinical consequences of a PMI in relation to the level of the cTnI release, and (3) 6-month follow-up for cardiac complications. During a 12-month period, patients at risk for perioperative myocardial ischemia were assessed for a PMI by serum cTnI levels and daily serial ECGs. Patients with cTnI levels above the reference level (≥0.4 ng/ml) were also assessed for new cardiac regional wall motion abnormalities with an echocardiogram and 6-month postdischarge adverse cardiac events. Of the 758 patients who were assessed for a PMI, 49 patients had detectable cTnI levels (≥0.4 ng/ml); the incidence of a PMI was 0.6% of all surgical cases and 6.5% of those patients were at risk for a cardiac event. A PMI was more common after hip arthroplasty than other orthopedic procedures. Twenty-three patients had a cTnI level >3.0 ng/ml, and 74% these patients (17/23) had anginal symptoms and/or ischemic ECG changes. Nine of these patients (9/23) had new postoperative echocardiographic changes, five (5/23) required emergency transfer to a cardiac care unit, and 10 (10/23) had postoperative cardiac complications. In contrast, 15 patients with levels of cTnI <3.0 ng/ml and without ischemic ECG changes and/or anginal symptoms had no postoperative cardiac complications. Fourteen patients (14/47) had cardiac complications 6 months after discharge, including four cardiac deaths, one fatal stroke, and four patients with unstable anginal episodes that required a change in medical management, and six patients required coronary revascularization. Orthopedic surgical patients with cTnI level <3 ng/ml and without symptoms or ECG changes suggestive of myocardial ischemia (15/49) may have different risks than those with higher-level cTn1.
Mathematical model for the control of ColE1 type plasmid replication.

Abstract A mathematical model for the molecular events controlling replication of ColE1 type plasmids is described. All the model parameters can be evaluated independently. The model simulates plasmid replication and accurately predicts the copy-number of ColE1 plasmids carrying a variety of regulatory mutations. The model is used to test the plausibility of hypotheses concerning the interactions of regulatory elements involved in the replication apparatus. The model favorably supports the mechanism proposed by Tomizawa and co-workers concerning the nature of RNA-RNA interactions and that the Rom protein increases the binding between the two RNA species. The hypothesis that the interactions of RNA I–II increases the susceptibility of RNA II to the action of endonucleases is not a plausible mechanism.
Development of Prodrug 4-Chloro-3-(5-methyl-3-{(4-(2-pyrrolidin-1-ylethoxy)phenyl)amino}- 1,2,4-benzotriazin-7-yl)phenyl Benzoate (TG100801): A Topically Administered Therapeutic Candidate in Clinical Trials for the Treatment of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of loss of vision in the industrialized world. Attenuating the VEGF signal in the eye to treat AMD has been validated clinically. A large body of evidence suggests that inhibitors targeting the VEGFr pathway may be effective for the treatment of AMD. Recent studies using Src/YES knockout mice suggest that along with VEGF, Src and YES play a crucial role in vascular leak and might be useful in treating edema associated with AMD. Therefore, we have developed several potent benzotriazine inhibitors designed to target VEGFr2, Src, and YES. One of the most potent compounds is 4-chloro-3-{5-methyl-3-[4-(2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethoxy)phenylamino]benzo[1,2,4]triazin-7-yl}phenol (5), a dual inhibitor of both VEGFr2 and the Src family (Src and YES) kinases. Several ester analogues of 5 were prepared as prodrugs to improve the concentration of 5 at the back of the eye after topical administration. The thermal stability of these esters was studied, and it...
Emitter-coupled spin-transistor logic

The recent invention of magnetoresistive bipolar spin-transistors makes possible the creation of new spintronic logic families. Here we propose the first logic family exploiting these spin-transistors, extending emitter-coupled logic (ECL) to achieve a greater range of basis logic functions. By placing the wire from the output stage of ECL logic elements near spin-transistors in other parts of a circuit, additional basis logic elements can be realized. These new logic elements support greater logic minimization, resulting in enhanced speed, area, and power characteristics. A novel magnetic shielding structure provides this logic family with the crucial ability to cascade logic stages. This logic family achieves a power-delay product 10 to 25 times smaller than conventional ECL, and can therefore be exploited to increase the performance of very high-speed circuits while broadening the range of design choices for a variety of electronic applications.
Prolactin and luteinizing hormone release after diencephalic lesions and stimulation.

Adult male rats received sham procedures or retrochiasmatic knife cuts of varying sizes. Ten to twelve days (short term survival) or 90 days (long term survival) later animals were placed under pentobarbital anesthesia and pulsed, monophasic (50 Hz, 200 μ A, 0.5 msec width, 30 sec on/off) stimuli were delivered during 30 min through bipolar, concentric electrodes bilaterally placed in the medial preoptic-suprachiasmatic nucleus (MPOA-Sch). Blood samples were taken before and at 30 min intervals after stimulation. Plasma prolactin and LH were measured in the same sample. Penetration of the knife guide tube induced a lesion of cortical and subcortical midline structures (sham procedures) placed at or around AP plane 5.0 of the Atlas of Albe-Fessard et al . This resulted in a short term impairment of LH release induced by MPOA-Sch stimulation, an effect that could not be distinguished from the one observed after frontal cuts made with a knife having a 1.5 mm radius 1.5 FC). Frontolateral retrochiasmatic cuts (LFC) blocked the effects of stimulation on LH release. After 90 days, LH response to MPOA-Sch stimulation improved in sham FC and 1.5 FC groups. Sham procedures did not reduce prolactin response after short term survival. 1.5 FC significantly decreased and LFC blocked prolactin release response. Ninety days after FC there was no improvement of prolactin release response to MPOA-Sch stimulation. In conclusion, long term survival after sham and 1.5 FC surgical procedures allowed for a partial recovery of the LH release response, but not that of prolactin, after MPOA-Sch stimulation.
Angiogenesis in multiple myeloma

Angiogenesis is the process of new blood vessel formation, and normally occurs during embryonal growth, wound healing, and the menstrual cycle. It is essential for the proliferation and metastases of most malignant neoplasms. There is now growing evidence that angiogenesis is increased and is likely important in multiple myeloma . Recent evidence suggests that angiogenesis is greater in multiple myeloma compared to monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). Angiogenic cytokines such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) are expressed by neoplastic plasma cells, and may play a role in the increased angiogenesis seen in myeloma. In a study of 400 patients with plasma cell disorders, microvascular density (MVD) was significantly higher in smoldering myeloma, newly diagnosed myeloma, and relapsed myeloma compared to controls, MGUS, and primary amyloidosis. In another study involving 74 newly diagnosed patients with myeloma treated at the Mayo Clinic, overall survival was significantly longer in patients with low-grade angiogenesis compared to those with highgrade or intermediate-grade angiogenesis. The finding of increased angiogenesis in myeloma provides the rationale for the study of antiangiogenic therapy in this disease. Semin Oncol 28:560-564. Copyright
IL10 and Neuropathic Pain

Proinflammatory cytokines are known to play a role in promoting neuropathic pain. Antiinflammatory cytokines, including IL10, may therefore represent a way of modulating this pain. Do repeated intr...
In vivo fibered confocal reflectance imaging: totally non-invasive morphological cellular imaging brought to the endoscopist

This paper presents a novel fibered confocal reflectance microscopy system (FCRM) specifically designed for the medical observation of biological tissues in vivo and in situ, in real time, at the cellular level: the R-600. Reflectance imaging is based on the refraction index difference between biological components while confocal imaging allow to perform the optical sectioning slice in-depth inside the tissues. The R-600 is based on a proximal scanning system, coupled with a 7 mm diameter probe made of tens of thousands of flexible optical fibers allowing in situ imaging, associated with a dedicated software performing real-time control and image processing. The R-600 provides 12 frames per second at an optical imaging depth of 30 microns, with a high lateral resolution, 1 micron, an axial resolution of 2 microns in a field of view 160 microns in diameter. Thanks to the miniaturization of the optical probe, unprecedented accessibility is made possible in organs such as the cervix or the otolaryngological sphere, in a completely non-invasive fashion. The aim of FCRM is to perform optical biopsy. As a first step towards this goal, we present here results obtained in vivo and in real-time on a human mouth , assessing the ability of the R-600 to perform rapid morphologic examination. Subcellular structures such as nuclei and membranes can be clearly distinguished on the images. Further miniaturization opens perspectives for an integrated endoscope-compatible system with broad medical applications.