cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Proteolysis of Japanese quail and chicken plasma apolipoprotein B and vitellogenin by cathepsin D: similarity of the resulting protein fragments with egg yolk polypeptides.

Abstract Plasma very-low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and vitellogenin (VTG) from mature female Japanese quail ( Coturnix coturnix japonica ) and chickens ( Gallus domesticus ) were isolated and digested in vitro with cathepsin D (EC3.4.23.5). The incubation mixtures were then reduced and subjected to gradient (4.5-18%) SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Protein fragments were stained with either Coomassie Brilliant Blue R-250 (VLDL digests) or Coomassie Brilliant Blue R-250 containing 20 mM AIC1 3 (VTG digests). Fragments resulting from the in vitro enzymatic digestion of quail and chicken plasma VLDL-apolipoprotein B (apo B) and VTG closely resembled those produced in vivo and isolated from egg yolks of each respective specie. Phosvitin, a proteolytically derived fragment of VTG, primarily existed as a single band ( M r ∼ 42 kDa) in Japanese quail yolk granules. In contrast, chicken phosvitin mainly consisted of a cluster of phosphoproteins ranging in size from −37 to 45 kDa. In addition to reporting a novel species difference in phosvitin moieties, the present study is the first to examine the role of cathepsin D in the generation of egg yolk proteins from plasma precursors in Japanese quail. Confirmatory evidence also was provided concerning the important role of this aspartic endopeptidase in the proteolytic cleavage of plasma VLDL-apo B and VTG in the chicken.
Integrated GaAs f.e.t. mixer performance at X band

Experiments were performed at X band with GaAs f.e.t.s used as mixer elements. These studies show that an f.e.t. mixer may exhibit a conversion gain approaching that of the corresponding amplifier. Conversion gains as high as 6 dB were measured. Low noise and high signal-handling capabilities were also demonstrated.
Use of a fusion protein between GFP and an actin-binding domain to visualize transient filamentous-actin structures

Many important processes in eukaryotic cells involve changes in the quantity, location and the organization of actin filaments [1] [2] [3]. We have been able to visualize these changes in live cells using a fusion protein (GFP-ABD) comprising the green fluorescent protein (GFP) of Aequorea victoria and the 25 kDa highly conserved actin-binding domain (ABD) from the amino terminus of the actin cross-linking protein ABP-120 [4]. In live cells of the soil amoeba Dictyostelium that were expressing GFP-ABD, the three-dimensional architecture of the actin cortex was clearly visualized. The pattern of GFP-ABD fluorescence in these cells coincided with that of rhodamine-phalloidin, indicating that GFP-ABD specifically binds filamentous (F) actin. On the ventral surface of non-polarized vegetative cells, a broad ring of F actin periodically assembled and contracted, whereas in polarized cells there were transient punctate F-actin structures; cells cycled between the polarized and non-polarized morphologies. During the formation of pseudopods, an increase in fluorescence intensity coincided with the initial outward deformation of the membrane. This is consistent with the models of pseudopod extension that predict an increase in the local density of actin filaments. In conclusion, GFP-ABD specifically binds F actin and allows the visualization of F-actin dynamics and cellular behavior simultaneously.
Novel customized manufacturable DFM solutions

This paper provides DFM solutions on yield improvement based on a foundry’s perspective. We have created a novel work flow for efficient yield enhancement at different stages throughout the process of design-to-silicon. In the design environment, other than conforming to the conventional design rule manual, we may guide the designer to employ the well-characterized regular logic bricks that are built from process validated hotspots. Later, after design sign-off, layout manipulation or layout retargeting are implemented during the mask preparation stage to enlarge the process window when faced with a diversity of layout patterns in the design. At the same time, two crucial methods, namely layout analysis and layout comparison, are used to capture all layout related detractors. The first method can identify the process sensitive hotspots, which will be highlighted and anchored as process limiters during the patterning process. Layout comparison can be an efficient way to narrow down the yield roadblocks by debugging the yield loss on similar process and design styles. Another smart solution is creating customized process control monitoring structures (PCM), which are extracted from previous yield ramping lessons and process hotspots. These PCMs will be dropped into scribe lane of production tapeouts and serve as pioneer testkeys for the initial production ramp up.
Operator-specific outcomes. A call to professional responsibility.

One of the fundamental changes in the transformation of medical practice involves the ability of large purchasers of health care to select among competing providers for health care services. Lacking sufficient information about quality and outcomes, decisions concerning provider selection are driven primarily by price considerations. In the progression to a managed care–dominated system, prices may be driven down to the point where the quality of care is at risk. Sufficient information about healthcare quality will become critical in maintaining an effective healthcare system. The article by Ellis and colleagues1 in this issue of Circulation raises the important question of what outcomes should be measured to assess the quality of percutaneous revascularization and, more importantly, what the potential limitations are of these measures. The recent release of operator-specific outcomes data has ushered in a new terminology known as “scorecard medicine.”2 3 The use of the term “scorecard,” although having some negative connotations, provides symbolic insight into the issues that must be addressed by the profession. For decades in this country, thousands of fans have carefully followed the statistics of their favorite baseball players (without the benefits of a postgraduate mathematics degree). Intuitive familiarity through years of observation has led the public to widespread sophistication about interpreting these statistics. Small differences in batting averages early in the year are not regarded as important. Hitters with few “at bats” are not considered to have stable estimates of their hitting capabilities; a hitter with 3 hits in his first 10 at bats is not considered to be a “.300 hitter” but rather a batter who needs more exposure to determine his capabilities. Likewise, the fan understands that the runs-batted-in statistic is dependent on the ability of preceding hitters to get on base so that the hitter has an opportunity to drive …
Vibrational spectrum of strychnine: detection at the nanogram level using a Raman microscope

The complete vibrational spectra of strychnine is reported. Strychnine, a compound with medicinal value at the proper dosage, is also a potent toxin at certain concentration levels. Down to 5 ng of strychnine were detected from its spectrum using a microscope attached to a Raman spectrophotometer. The complete Raman and Fourier transform IR spectra were also recorded for positive identification. The prominent vibrational band wavenumbers useful as a reference source for the identification of strychnine in an emergency situation are discussed. The Raman spectra of a bulk sample and of a strychnine microcrystal are given to facilitate positive identification. The potential application of the vibrational analysis of strychnine for forensic diagnostics is discussed. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Surgical treatment of coronary artery disease: Pure graft operations, with a study of 741 patients followed 3–7 Yr

This report reviews the experience with bypass graft surgery in the pure form, without associated cardiac procedures, in 6828 patients operated upon from 1967 through 1974. The hospital mortality rate in this group was 1.4%. The incidence of definite perioperative myocardial infarction was 6.9% prior to 1971, and 4.1% in the past 3 yr. Graft patency in postoperative studies performed an average of over 12 mo after surgery was 83.6%, and 89% of patients had one or more functioning grafts. In a subgroup of 741 consecutive patients operated upon with pure graft techniques from 1967 through 1970, survival seemed to be improved when compared to another group of similar, but nonoperated patients. The average annual mortality rate was 3.3% per yr in the surgical group (including surgical mortality) compared to 8.8% per year in the medical group. Differences in survival were most striking in patients with isolated anterior descending, double and triple vessel involvement. In the 741-patient subgroup the incidence of new occlusions of grafted arteries was related to the severity of the lesion(s) for which the operation was performed, and unrelated to graft patency. Arteriographically demonstrated new occlusions of ungrafted arteries were infrequent, and few patients developed significant new lesions during the period of observation. Symptomatic improvement is related to completeness of revascularization as determined by postoperative arteriography.
Cryo-EM imaging of the catalytic subunit of the DNA-dependent protein kinase

The DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) plays an important role in mammalian DNA double-strand break repair and immunoglobulin gene rearrangement. The DNA-PK holoenzyme is activated by assembly at DNA ends and is comprised of DNA-PKcs, a 460 kDa protein kinase catalytic subunit, and Ku, a 70 kDa/80 kDa heterodimeric DNA-targeting component. We have solved the three-dimensional structure of DNA-PKcs to approximately 21 A resolution by analytically combining images of nearly 9500 individual particles extracted from cryo-electron micrographs. The DNA-PKcs protein has an open, pseudo 2-fold symmetric structure with a gap separating a crown-shaped top from a rounded base. Columns of density are observed to protrude into the gap from both the crown and the base. Measurements of the enclosed volume indicate that the interior of the protein is largely hollow. The structure of DNA-PKcs suggests that its association with DNA may involve the internalization of double-stranded ends.
The Effect of Diphenylhydantoin Sodium (Dilantin), Procaine Hydrochloride, Procaine Amide Hydrochloride, and Quinidine Hydrochloride upon Ouabain-Induced Ventricular Tachycardia in Unanesthetized Dogs

Ventricular tachycardia has been produced in unanesthetized dogs by the intravenous injection of ouabain, and the ability of various agents to produce reversion to normal sinus rhythm has been tested. Diphenylhydantoin sodium, procaine amide hydrochloride, procaine hydrochloride and quinidine hydrochloride were approximately equally effective; however the procaine hydrochloride effect was shorter and the drug was more toxic than the other three. It is suggested that diphenylhydantoin sodium may merit a trial for the treatment of digitalis-induced ventricular arrhythmias.
Foveation from pulse images

Humans do not stare at scenes, they foveate. Their eyes dart about the scene at locations of interest during the analysis of the scene. Except for special cases, humans tend to focus on corners and edges of important objects of the scene. This paper explores the use of pulse image processing as a means of extracting natural segments of an image that can easily be used for the generation of foveation point selection.
Oxygen solubility and specific volume of rigid amorphous fraction in semicrystalline poly(ethylene terephthalate)

Abstract The existence of rigid amorphous fraction (RAF) in semicrystalline poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is associated with the lamellar stack crystalline morphology of this polymer, the regions where several crystalline lamellas are separated by very thin (20–40 A) amorphous layers. In contrast, regular or mobile amorphous fraction is associated with much thicker interstack regions. The oxygen transport properties of PET isothermally crystallized from the melt (melt-crystallization) or quenched to the glassy state and then isothermally crystallized by heating above Tg (cold-crystallization) were examined at 25 °C. Explanation of unexpectedly high solubility of crystalline PET was attributed to the formation of RAF, which in comparison with mobile amorphous phase is constrained and vitrifies at much higher than Tg temperature thus developing an additional excess-hole free volume upon cooling. Measurements of crystallinity and jump in the heat capacity at Tg were used to determine the amount of mobile and rigid amorphous fractions. Overall oxygen solubility was associated with the solubility of mobile and rigid amorphous fractions. The oxygen solubility of the RAF was determined and related to the specific volume of this fraction. The specific volume of the RAF showed a direct correlation with the crystallization temperature. It was shown that upon crystallization from either melt or glassy state, the constrained between crystalline lamellas PET chains consisting of the RAF, vitrify at the crystallization temperature and resemble the glassy behavior despite high temperature. When cooled to room temperature, the RAF preserves a memory about the melt state of polymer, which is uniquely defined by the crystallization temperature.
Highway Bridge Assessment Using an Adaptive Real-Time Wireless Sensor Network

A real-time wireless sensor network platform capable of maintaining lossless data transmission over several minutes of continuous, high-rate sampling is presented in this paper. The platform was designed specifically to provide the capability to enable expeditious system identification, as well as load rating of highway bridges without compromising the typical data acquisition parameters employed in comparable cable-based tests. Consequently, the hardware signal conditioning interface permits data collection from a variety of sensors typical to structural health monitoring, including accelerometers, strain transducers, and temperature sensors. The embedded software features a proprietary network transmission protocol capable of lossless, real-time delivery of up to 40 measurement channels at an effective sampling rate of 128 samples per second per channel. Documented in this paper is a field study on an end-of-service highway bridge in which ambient vibration monitoring was performed using 60 accelerometers interfaced with 30 wireless sensor nodes operating within one of two simultaneously operating star topology networks. In addition, an experimental load rating of the entire structure was performed through large-scale strain measurement facilitated by the same wireless sensor network platform.
Comorbid Mood and Anxiety Disorders, Suicidal Behavior, and Substance Abuse Among Black Caribbeans in the U.S.A.

The purpose of this study was to examine nativity and country of origin differences in comorbid mood (major depressive disorder, dysthymia, and bipolar I and II disorders) and anxiety (post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder) disorders among Black Caribbeans in the U.S.A. The paper also examines the relationship between comorbid psychiatric disorders and substance abuse disorders and suicidal behavior. Data are taken from the Black Caribbean sub-sample (N = 1,621) of the National Survey of American Life. Multinomial logistic regression and logistic regression analysis are used and odd ratios, relative risk ratios, and 95 % confidence intervals are presented. Seven percent (7.19 %) of respondents had comorbid mood and anxiety disorders, 8.66 % had a mood disorder only, and 11.46 % had an anxiety disorder only. First-generation Black Caribbeans were less likely than US-born respondents to have a lifetime mood or anxiety disorder and also less likely to have a lifetime substance disorder or a lifetime suicidal attempt. Black Caribbean men were more likely than Black Caribbean women to: (1) have anxiety disorders only versus neither mood or anxiety disorders, (2) to have a substance disorder, and (3) to have had a suicidal attempt. Lastly, Black Caribbeans with both mood and anxiety disorders have significantly higher rates of mental health services utilization. These and other findings are discussed in detail.
The use of immunoperoxidase panels for the cytologic diagnosis of malignancy in serous effusions

The diagnostic value of an immunoperoxidase panel composed of antisera to carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), epithelial membrane antigens (EMA), and high- and low-molecular-weight cytokeratins was evaluated on 39 consecutive pleural and peritoneal fluid specimens and correlated with routine cytologic and histochemical studies. The cases were classified into two groups: malignant (epithelial and small-cell undiffer-entiated carcinomas) and benign effusions. We found that the CEA and EMA antisera identified 91% and 100% of the epithelial malignancies, respectively. Mucin stains were positive in only 41% (mucicarmine) and 59% (Alcian blue) of these cases. The battery of cytokeratin markers identified malignant cells from 45%-100% of the case but showed considerable positive staining of mesothelial cells. A selective review of the literature is presented along with recommendations for technical improvement in immunoperoxidase studies. We believe that an immunoperoxidase panel can be of considerable value in the cytologic diagnosis of epithelial malignancies in effusions. The panel composed of CEA and EMA can prove helpful in a routine cytology practice. Although the cytokeratin marker identified malignant cells, the concomitant immunostaining of mesothelial cells limits its utility. The commercially available panel can be a potential aid in improving the accuracy of serous fluid cytologic examination by decreasing both false-positive and false-negative diagnoses and thereby helping to prevent delays in diagnosis and treatment. Diagn Cytopathol 1987;3:134–140.
On the determination of Green's relations in finite transformation semigroups

This paper contains an algorithm which, on input the set of generators of a transformation semigroup S on a finite set, gives all Green's relations on S, a set of generators for the maximal subgroups of S, and a complete determination of the partially ordered set of all the -classes of S. The algorithm is based on an earlier technique of J. F. Perrot for studying regular -classes and on new results on non-regular -classes allowing for a systematic search for all the -classes of S.
Efficient storage and retrieval of geo-referenced video from moving sensors

The general use of mobile sensors equipped with video, GPS, and compass is gaining momentum. These sensors continuously stream geo-referenced videos, which provide enormous amounts of data. Efficiently searching through these long-duration video corpuses based on location and time is a challenging task. We propose a novel approach to efficiently store frequent timestamped geographical tags in a spatial database to enable searching the video files within a short response time. Further, we enable retrieving segments of the full video that satisfy certain spatio-temporal conditions in a ranked manner. Our approach achieves short response times as compared to standard methods for saving geographic tags in a spatial database.
Transcriptional activation and localization of expression of Brassica juncea putative metal transport protein BjMTP1

Background Metal hyperaccumulators, including various Thlaspi species, constitutively express the putative metal transporter MTP1 to high levels in shoots. Here we present data on the transcriptional regulation and localization of expression of the homologous gene BjMTP1 in Brassica juncea. Though B. juncea lacks the ability to hyperaccumulate metals, its relatively high biomass, rapid growth and relatedness to true metal hyperaccumulating plants makes it a promising starting point for the development of plants for phytoremediation. Our goal in this study is to determine the transcriptional regulation of MTP1 in order to start to better understanding the physiological role of MTP1 in B. juncea.
Nonlinear dimension reduction with Wright–Fisher kernel for genotype aggregation and association mapping

Motivation: Association tests based on next-generation sequencing data are often under-powered due to the presence of rare variants and large amount of neutral or protective variants. A successful strategy is to aggregate genetic information within meaningful single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sets, e.g. genes or pathways, and test association on SNP sets. Many existing methods for group-wise tests require specific assumptions about the direction of individual SNP effects and/or perform poorly in the presence of interactions. Results: We propose a joint association test strategy based on two key components: a nonlinear supervised dimension reduction approach for effective SNP information aggregation and a novel kernel specially designed for qualitative genotype data. The new test demonstrates superior performance in identifying causal genes over existing methods across a large variety of disease models simulated from sequence data of real genes. In general, the proposed method provides an association test strategy that can (i) detect both rare and common causal variants, (ii) deal with both additive and interaction effect, (iii) handle both quantitative traits and disease dichotomies and (iv) incorporate non-genetic covariates. In addition, the new kernel can potentially boost the power of the entire family of kernel-based methods for genetic data analysis. Availability: The method is implemented in MATLAB. Source code is available upon request. Contact: hongjie.zhu@duke.edu
Replacing the ascending aorta and aortic valve for acute prosthetic valve endocarditis: is using prosthetic material contraindicated?

Abstract Background The use of prosthetic material (rather than a homograft) for ascending aorta/aortic valve replacement (Bentall procedure) in cases of acute prosthetic valve endocarditis is controversial. We report favorable results using this technique almost exclusively (a homograft was used in only 3 patients with hematological problems) during a 12-year interval. Methods Twenty-eight patients (55 ± 14 years; 22 male) underwent a Bentall procedure for acute prosthetic valve endocarditis between 1988 and 2000. Twenty-five patients had undergone previous aortic valve replacement (1 with concomitant mitral valve replacement, 4 with coronary artery bypass grafting), and 3 had had a previous Bentall operation. The median interval between initial surgery and reoperation was 13 months (range, 1 to 106). Sixty-eight percent of operations were urgent or emergencies. Ninety-three percent of patients had significant aortic regurgitation; complete annuloaortic dehiscence occurred in 71%, and in 57%, an abscess was found. Causative organisms were identified in 25 of 28 patients: Staphylococcus epidermidis (9), Staphylococcus aureus (7), Streptococcus viridans (6), Pseudomonas (2), and Legionella (1). Results Twenty-three patients had mechanical and 5 had biological valves implanted during the Bentall procedure. Hypothermic circulatory arrest was used in 64%. Hospital mortality was 11%: there was one intraoperative death, and two before discharge (one cardiac, one sepsis). Eighty-nine percent survived without stroke. During follow-up (median, 44.5 months; complete in 92%), 1 patient died of recurrent endocarditis at 4 months. Conclusions These results indicate that prosthetic root replacement may be superior to use of a homograft for acute aortic prosthetic valve endocarditis, with only a 4% incidence of recurrent endocarditis and reoperation.
Active vibration control of aerospace structures using a modified Positive Position Feedback method

A Positive Position Feedback controller is modified and a new active vibration control technique is developed. Unlike the conventional Positive Position Feedback, the new controller separates the damping and stiffness control using two parallel first order and second order compensators. The second order compensator has a damping ratio as low as the damping of flexible structure to provide periodic vibration control. Simultaneously, the high damping is made available through a first order compensator. The new controller is applicable to a strain-based sensing/actuating approach and can be extensively applied to piezoelectrically controlled systems. Control gains are obtained by performing the stability analysis. The controller is verified experimentally using a plate vibration suppression setup. The plate is controlled through two piezoelectric patches and its vibrations are monitored by ten sensors mounted on the surface of the plate. The results confirm that the new controller is able to provide good vibration reduction, with the ability to be used to simultaneously control more than one natural frequency.
Should the exercise ECG be used to screen for sudden cardiac death

Unfortunately no randomized controlled trials have been performed to demonstrate that screening asymptomatic adults without known cardiovascular disease leads to improved outcomes. All that is available are observational studies to guide our efforts to screen and treat asymptomatic patients in an effort to minimize the risks of coronary heart disease (CHD) and sudden cardiac death (SCD). The findings of Laukkanen et al. 1 make a unique contribution to the literature in that they demonstrate the ability of the exercise ECG to predict SCD rather than just cardiac death. It is well established that the exercise ECG test can prognosticate CHD death. Using angiography as an endpoint, meta-analysis has suggested a mean sensitivity of 68% (range 23–100%) and a mean specificity of 77% (range 17–100%) for the exercise ECG.2 The only angiographic study designed to limit work-up bias has demonstrated more realistic test characteristics with a sensitivity of 45% and a specificity of 85%.3 A similar analysis in asymptomatic adults has … *Corresponding author. Email: vicmd{at}aol.com
Production of Colloidal Sodium in NaCl by Ionizing Radiation

A study has been made of the coloration of synthetic and natural sodium chloride crystals with ${\mathrm{Co}}^{60}$ gamma-ray and 1.3-Mev electron irradiations. These irradiations produced the colloid band, at 565 m\ensuremath{\mu}, in the synthetic crystals but not in untreated natural crystals. Various thermal treatments were given the natural crystals prior to their coloration. It was found that either type of irradiation would produce colloids in crystals that had been heated at 700\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C for at least 24 hours in an atmosphere containing hydroxyl ions. Colloids were produced in the untreated natural crystals by additive coloration. It was found that the characteristics of the colloids were the same whether they were produced by ionizing radiation or by additive coloration, with the exception of the role played by hydroxyl ions in the crystals colored by ionizing radiation.
Editorial Commentary: Reprogramming autologous mesenchymal stem cells to regenerate the lost myocardium in chronic heart failure: Reboot and restore?

Chronic heart failure secondary to myocardial infarction (MI) is a common outcome of coronary artery disease and represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. During the last several decades, the dramatic advances in clinical therapy along with prompt emergency interventions have reduced early mortality from MI significantly, despite the loss of cardiac muscle cell mass suffered by the MI patients [1]. However, the improvements in lifestyle conditions, medical therapy, and technology, although they ensured an increased average lifespan of the post-MI patient, regrettably they also conveyed the concurrent unwanted effect of escalating the number of long-term survivor subjects developing chronic cardiac dysfunction leading to mounting health care costs. [1]. Despite the continuous effort in basic and translational research aiming at regenerating the lost myocardium, limited long-term therapeutic effects have been made in the field of regenerative cardiac cells thus far [2]. The last decade has seen the use of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in cardiac regeneration. However, pressing and persistent issues concerning their electrical asynchrony, genetic instability, tumorigenicity, immunogenicity, and ethical concerns, have prompted the quest for alternative cell sources [3]. In this issue of the Journal, Terzic and Behfar [4] discussed the state-of-the-art of regenerative cell therapy for patients with chronic heart failure and presented the latest progress in the clinical application of autologous bone marrow–
The sexual agenda and religious freedom - challenges in the Western world

The sexual agenda is today's greatest threat to religious freedom in the developed world. Campaigns for women's and homosexual rights, same-sex marriage, public education, and other issues related to family and sexuality have provoked the preponderance of cases, and proponents have described Christian and other religious principles as direct impediments to their agenda. But what has precipitated most cases is the increasing role of the state in previously private areas of life, leading to claims that freedom must be curtailed when it involves government officials providing public services. This too proceeds from the sexual agenda, because such state services arise from the breakdown of family life, where they were previously performed. Critical here is the state's claim to redefine marriage, less through same-sex marriage than divorce, which itself represents a long-standing threat to religious freedom. Growing state power over family life and sexuality has also been transferred to supranational organizations, where many clashes between sexual militants and religious believers now arise.
Analysts’ Earnings Surprise Components and Future Earnings Performance

Our paper examines the association between components of analysts’ earnings surprises and future earnings. We decompose the analysts’ earnings surprise into its revenue, pretax margin, pretax income, and tax components. After controlling for current period earnings and discretionary accruals, we find that each component is positively associated with future earnings. When we form portfolios based on the sign of the earnings surprise and its components, we find that the future earnings of firms that meet revenue, pretax income, and net income expectations is significantly greater than firms that only meet net income expectations. Supplemental analysis shows that the significant association between future earnings and the revenue and pretax income components of the earnings surprise persists for at least three years. However, the association between the tax surprise and future earnings dissipates after one year. Overall, our evidence shows that decomposing earnings surprises into its components can assist investors in identifying firms that are associated with better future performance.
Grain Refinement of Aluminum Casting Alloys

An overview is given of grain refinement in aluminum casting alloys. The mechanisms involved and the benefits of refinement are described. The review shows that current practices were developed long before modern Al-Ti-B refiners became available, and are employed now largely for historical reasons. The results of tests in Al-Si, Al-Si-Cu, Al-Cu, Al-Mg and Al-Zn-Mg alloys are presented. The grain refining response is different for each alloy system. It is important to understand that titanium can be present in two forms. One dissolves in aluminum; the other is nearly insoluble. Each must be controlled separately. With today’s powerful Al-Ti-B refiners, there is no reason for large additions of soluble titanium in most alloys. In fact, it is better to say we grain refine with boron, not titanium. The recommended addition is 10–20 ppm of boron, preferably in the form of Al-5Ti-1B or Al-3Ti-1B rod. Lower dissolved titanium levels provide better grain refinement and an improved resistance to hot cracking in some alloys. Al-Si casting alloys which contain copper are an exception. In alloys such as 319 or 355, it is best to have a minimum of about 0.1% Ti.
The Emergence of Human Rights Politics in the United States

In the summer of 1996, the Nike Corporation was buffeted by claims that it mistreated its workers in Asian countries. This was part of a string of such complaints all against corporations with headquarters in the United States, Canada, or western Europe but with work forces stretching around the globe. Nike responded by agreeing to sit down at the White House and negotiate international labor standards. Sitting at the negotiating table were representatives from Nike, other clothing manufacturers, the Clinton administration, and international labor unions. Also present were representatives from two human rights organizations: the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights and the Center for Human Rights of the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center. While the setting as a whole is worth an essay, I want here to draw your attention to the human rights groups. Why were representatives of the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights or the Kennedy center, without a dollar of their own capital in play and unelected by anyone in the whole sweet world, sitting at the table of what potentially were some of the most important international negotiations of the day?1 The answer has to do with the emergence of a politics of human rights in the last third of the twentieth century. For the first time since the early 1900s, a set of private organizations has been founded to reshape global practices. And this international civil society is not only interested in the labor policies of corporations like Nike. Human rights claims now challenge the exclusive control of nations over immigration policy. They have been instrumental in reawakening the world to the continued practice of torture. They have been used to attack customs such as female circumcision. Human rights claims have contributed to the delegitimation of Communist East Europe, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's Iran, and South American military dictatorships. By shifting the focus from the sovereignty of the people to the rights of individuals "regardless of nationality," Saskia Sassen notes, human rights are becoming "a force
Evaluation on Control Effects of Radiological Protection in Construction Project of 41 Medical Radiation Units in Liangshan Prefecture

Objective To understand the control effects of occupational disease hazards,comprehensive analysis was carried out on radiological protection situation in construction project of medical radiation units in Liangshan Prefecture.Method According to the related standard,laws and regulations,92 radiation diagnosis equipments and working sites in 41 radiation units were detected.Results The radiation diagnosis equipments and working sites were qualified.Orthostatic and lying perspective protection zone,and the leakage radiation met the requirement.Protective properties were in line with the requirements.The hazards to radiation-exposed workers was controlled at a relatively low level.The qualified rate of the engine room area had greatly improved as compared with the past.The qualified rates of room area of X-ray and CT mechines reached 95.16% and 92.31%.The main engine room walls,the vice-protecting walls' protection thickness met the shield requirement.The wall thickness of some X-ray rooms reached 40cm,which increased the construction costs,and failed to achieve optimal protection principles.The patient protective articles' disposition rate is low.Conclusion The control effects of radiological protection reached the requirements basically.
Fuzzy regression method for parametric estimation on zero failure data

On account of the conventional linear regression model is sensitive to specific abnormal data, thus leads to instability of the regression equation. The computational formulae to the subordinative degree for the real measured data to the regressive line were established, and the fuzzy weighted linear regression model that takes that degree of subordination as the weight was put forward. Due to the determination on the failure probability of zero failure data has rather big influence upon the estimated result of distributed parameters, the Bayes estimation formula of exponential distributed failure probability of zero failure data determined by method of decrease function and the estimation formula of Weibull distributed reliability of zero failure data determined by method of equivalent failure number were presented, and the fuzzy weighted linear regression was carried out on the distributed parameters. The result of regression is more closed with engineering practice when compared with the result of traditional judgment.
External validation of the Practical Risk Chart for the prediction of delayed cerebral ischemia following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) occurs in approximately 30% of patients. The Practical Risk Chart was developed to predict DCI based on admission characteristics; the authors seek to externally validate and critically appraise this prediction tool. METHODS A prospective cohort of aSAH patients was used to externally validate the previously published Practical Risk Chart. The model consists of 4 variables: clinical condition on admission, amount of cisternal and intraventricular blood on CT, and age. External validity was assessed using logistic regression. Model discrimination was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). RESULTS In a cohort of 125 patients with aSAH, the Practical Risk Chart adequately predicted DCI, with an AUC of 0.66 (95% CI 0.55-0.77). Clinical grade on admission and amount of intracranial blood on CT were the strongest predictors of DCI and clinical vasospasm. The best-fit model used a combination of the Hunt and Hess grade and the modified Fisher scale to yield an AUC of 0.76 (95% CI 0.675-0.85) and 0.70 (95% CI 0.602-0.8) for the prediction of DCI and clinical vasospasm, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The Practical Risk Chart adequately predicts the risk of DCI following aSAH. However, the best-fit model represents a simpler stratification scheme, using only the Hunt and Hess grade and the modified Fisher scale, and produces a comparable AUC.
Values Affecting Collaboration Among Psychologists and Evangelical Clergy

Previous research has shown that shared values are important to both clergy and psychologists when considering the possibility of collaborating with one another, but it is not clear which values mu...
A Phosphomimetic Mutation Stabilizes SOD1 and Rescues Cell Viability in the Context of an ALS-Associated Mutation

The majority of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-related mutations in the enzyme Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1), as well as a post-translational modification, glutathionylation, destabilize the protein and lead to a misfolded oligomer that is toxic to motor neurons. The biophysical role of another physiological SOD1 modification, T2-phosphorylation, has remained a mystery. Here, we find that a phosphomimetic mutation, T2D, thermodynamically stabilizes SOD1 even in the context of a strongly SOD1-destabilizing mutation, A4V, one of the most prevalent and aggressive ALS-associated mutations in North America. This stabilization protects against formation of toxic SOD oligomers and positively impacts motor neuron survival in cellular assays. We solve the crystal structure of T2D-SOD1 and explain its stabilization effect using discrete molecular dynamics (DMD) simulations. These findings imply that T2-phosphorylation may be a plausible innate cellular protection response against SOD1-induced cytotoxicity, and stabilizing the SOD1 native conformation might offer us viable pharmaceutical strategies against currently incurable ALS.
Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Employment Discrimination as a Means for Social Cleansing

In December 2010, President Barack Obama signed into law the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010,” which provided for repeal of the policy prohibiting gay people from serving openly in the military, after consideration of a Department of Defense review on the implementation of such a repeal. This article examines the history of the exclusion of openly gay people from military service in the United States from the early twentieth century up until the time of the repeal. The author concludes from this review that the dominant purpose of the military’s exclusion of openly gay people was to preserve the masculine identities of the military and its heterosexual servicemen. At the same time, the exclusion also served as a powerful means to perpetuate the association of gay men with effeminacy. Thus, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” should be seen as a prime example of employment discrimination utilized as a means for “social cleansing.” The author uses the term “social cleansing” to refer generally to the intentional exclusion of a disfavored group from an otherwise shared or public social space defined by or associated with certain personal qualities and values. When employment discrimination is used as a means for social cleansing, it serves to define the qualities and values that society attaches to the dominant socially cleansing group or its institutions as well as the disfavored group that is being cleansed. The article concludes by examining the significance of the repeal of "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" in light of the conclusion that the policy functioned as a means for social cleansing.”
Association of rare missense variants in the second intracellular loop of NaV1.7 sodium channels with familial autism.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder often accompanied by intellectual disability, language impairment and medical co-morbidities. The heritability of autism is high and multiple genes have been implicated as causal. However, most of these genes have been identified in de novo cases. To further the understanding of familial autism, we performed whole-exome sequencing on five families in which second- and third-degree relatives were affected. By focusing on novel and protein-altering variants, we identified a small set of candidate genes. Among these, a novel private missense C1143F variant in the second intracellular loop of the voltage-gated sodium channel NaV1.7, encoded by the SCN9A gene, was identified in one family. Through electrophysiological analysis, we show that NaV1.7C1143F exhibits partial loss-of-function effects, resulting in slower recovery from inactivation and decreased excitability in cultured cortical neurons. Furthermore, for the same intracellular loop of NaV1.7, we found an excess of rare variants in a case–control variant-burden study. Functional analysis of one of these variants, M932L/V991L, also demonstrated reduced firing in cortical neurons. However, although this variant is rare in Caucasians, it is frequent in Latino population, suggesting that genetic background can alter its effects on phenotype. Although the involvement of the SCN1A and SCN2A genes encoding NaV1.1 and NaV1.2 channels in de novo ASD has previously been demonstrated, our study indicates the involvement of inherited SCN9A variants and partial loss-of-function of NaV1.7 channels in the etiology of rare familial ASD.
Maximizing output power from solar cells/panels through the development of an integrated voltage regulator/MPPT circuit

This paper presents the initial results of our research effort to fully integrate a voltage regulator with a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) circuit in order to harvest maximum power from solar cells or panels. We take a novel approach to emulate the inductor in a buck-boost voltage regulator using a Generalized Impedance Converter (GIC), thereby eliminating the requirement for the grounded inductor which impedes full integration. LTSPICE™ models are developed to compare a traditional “inductive” voltage regulator with a “GIC” voltage regulator, and experimental results are discussed. Component size, switching frequency, and load-matching are optimized to achieve maximum efficiency; however, GIC operational-amplifier power consumption was an obstacle to high-efficiency operation.
Locating a “Better” Self: Aging Women of Color and Sexual Desire in Philip Kan Gotanda’s The Wash and Luis Santeiro’s Our Lady of the Tortilla

Cultural productions casting women of color as erotic and hypersexual are problematic; this is not because they depict women of color as sexual beings, but because they frequently conflate hypersex...
Antiretroviral Drugs as the Linchpin for Prevention of HIV Infections in the United States

The article discusses the role of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV infection prevention in the U.S. Topics include the High-Impact Prevention strategy used by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention (DHAP), the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and the role of health communication to prevent HIV transmission.
A leaflet plication clip is an effective surgical template for mitral valve foldoplasty.

Objectives During mitral valve repair using the foldoplasty technique, correct judgement of the necessary dimensions and orientation of the leaflet fold is a critical but challenging step that can affect the chances of successful repair. In this study, we investigated whether a leaflet plication clip can be used to guide suture foldoplasty for posterior leaflet prolapse of the mitral valve. Methods Complete posterior leaflet prolapse was created in both in vivo and ex vivo pig hearts by severing the chordae supporting the middle scallop. A plication clip was applied to perform leaflet foldoplasty. Sutures were then placed using the clip as a template and the clip was removed. Leaflet width after flail creation, clip application and suture placement was determined in an ex vivo test. In vivo repair and evaluation was then performed in 7 pigs to determine the repair efficacy under normal physiological loading, at 1 and 6 h after recovery from cardiopulmonary bypass. Results Leaflet width after suture placement was comparable to the clip alone (7.0 ± 1.4 vs 9.0 ± 1.6) and both were significantly less than the flail width 15.7± 2.5 mm. In vivo, average coaptation height following repair was restored to 4.7 ± 1.4 mm and 4.2 ± 1.3 mm at 1 and 6 h, respectively, after recovery compared with the baseline height of 5.5 ± 0.9 mm. Mitral regurgitation was reduced from moderate-severe to mild or less, and addition of a De-Vega annuloplasty in the last 3 animals abolished residual leaks to trivial or none. Conclusions Application of the adjustable leaflet plication clip facilitated accurate determination of the correct position, width, height and orientation of the foldoplasty. Any necessary clip repositioning was made prior to the placement of sutures avoiding the need to redo the sutures. This approach could potentially help improve the ease and reproducibility of the foldoplasty repair.