cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evidence of human bocavirus circulating in children and adults, Cleveland, Ohio

Abstract Background Viral respiratory illness is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The human bocavirus (HBoV) is a recently recognized parvovirus isolated from human respiratory secretions. Objectives To define the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics in adult and pediatric patients with evidence of HBoV. Study design From October 2005 through October 2006, we screened respiratory samples from children and adults negative for common respiratory pathogens for HBoV by PCR. Demographic and clinical characteristics were obtained from medical records of HBoV positive individuals. Results Of 2075 samples screened, 1826 (88.0%) represented distinct respiratory events: 1539 (84.3%) were pediatric ( Conclusions HBoV circulates in Cleveland, OH, in children and adults with similar frequencies, and can warrant hospitalization and intensive care. Further study would clarify our understanding of this newly recognized human pathogen.
Signal searching in return spectra and decision making using minimal integration time

Neutron scanning techniques are becoming important tools in the search for chemical agents, explosives, drugs, nuclear material and other hazardous materials in government buildings, airports, military installations or public areas. Each nucleus when excited emits quanta of gamma radiation at characteristic energies. The element can be physically located and identified by these energy lines. It is important to identify these lines in a minimal amount of time in order to increase the number of items that are searched and to allow fast flow of people and their possessions into and through facilities. This paper develops a mathematical model of the signal significance and search stopping in a minimal time. The stopping decision is important as the vast majority of searches are negative. The economic benefit for a minimal search time is great, as millions of searches will be conducted daily.
Vapor bubble growth on a semi-infinite solid

Das diffusionskontrollierte Wachstum einer halbkugelformigen Dampfblase in einer anfangs gleichmassig uberhitzten Flussigkeit an einem einseitig unbegrenzten Festkorper, dessen Anfangstemperatur ebenfalls gleichmassig ist, wird untersucht. Es wird gezeigt, dass die Menge des erzeugten Dampfes wahrend der Wachstumsperiode der Dampfblase im allgemeinen wesentlich durch den Warmeubergang vom Festkorper zur Flussigkeit durch einen schmalen, ringformigen Bereich in der Nahe des Umfanges der Dampfblasenbasis beeinflusst wird. Dies ist der Fall, weil der Umfang der Dampfblasenbasis gleichzeitig der Rand der Phasengrenze ist; und deshalb muss die Temperatur dort die Verdampfungstemperatur der Flussigkeit sein, deren Wert als geringer als die Anfangstemperatur des Festkorpers angenommen wird.
Photovoltaics: Where are we going?

The directions that will be followed for solar cell development, production and marketing are projected on the basis of experiences gained during the JPL's Flat-Plate Solar Array project. It is thought that a billion dollar market for Si ribbons can be established by 1990. Thin film technology will yield a product at $2 U.S./W at the end of the 1980s. R&D is growing more focused on central station photovoltaic generators, although the residential market may be the more suitable goal. The intermediate markets, e.g., schools, hospitals and shopping centers may be developed before the central stations.
Regulation of phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis in activated alveolar type II cells

The biosynthesis of phosphatidylcholine was studied in a population of activated Type II cells isolated from the lungs of rats treated with silica. Type II cells were separated by centrifugal elutriation into two populations, designated Type IIA and Type IIB. The Type IIB or activated population consisted of Type II cells that were larger than normal cells; Type IIA cells were morphologically similar to normal Type II cells. Type IIB cells incorporated more [Me-14C]choline into both total phosphatidylcholine and disaturated phosphatidylcholine than did Type IIA or control Type II cells. Measurement of the pool sizes of the choline-containing precursors to phosphatidylcholine indicated that the biosynthesis of phosphatidylcholine was increased 4- to 5-fold in Type IIB cells. Increased conversion of cholinephosphate to CDP-choline was associated with increased phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis in Type IIB cells. Cholinephosphate cytidylyltransferase activity was increased approximately threefold in Type IIB ...
Primary beam exposure outside the fluoroscopic field of view

Fluoroscopic units can irradiate an area outside the displayed field of view (FOV) which provides no additional information to the fluoroscopist and may significantly increase the integral dose to the patient. This unnecessary exposure can be reduced using region of interest (ROI) filtration techniques to attenuate the x rays peripheral to the ROI as well as outside the displayed FOV [Granger et al., Med. Phys. 23, 1059 (1996)]. A survey was conducted to quantitatively determine the deviation between the total exposed area and the displayed FOV on 18 fluoroscopic x-ray units which have different shaped collimation. A film was taken in fluoroscopic mode and the area of the FOV was determined from the image of markers placed at the edge of the displayed FOV. For each unit, a measurement was made for each magnification mode at various source to image distances. The measured difference between the total exposed area and the area of the displayed FOV ranged between 5% and 32% for units meeting federal compliance standards and between 22% and 48% for units which were found to be out of compliance. The results of the survey and the application of ROI imaging techniques as a possible method to reduce dose due to inexact fluoroscopic collimation are presented.
Enhanced expert field medical training simulations and their effect on the modern combat life saver training procedures

The increase in fidelity found in the latest generation of video game platforms has garnered interest from many different arenas. Up to now, the primary objective of these games has been to simulate the real world within the gaming environment. Thus it was only natural that some would begin using video games in place of specially developed simulators as a means of providing training. Some argue that the advancement of training programs based on video game platforms has not advanced as much as hoped for. The prospect of utilizing video game platforms as the basis for training systems remains a tempting one, though, in light of today's financial climate.To attain these goals, advanced game development tools should enhance already existing functionality within existing game engines, aiming for high quality sound and visual effects, realistic dynamics, appropriate responses and well maintained timing. In this effort we propose modifications to already existing game functionalities of a training module to bring about effective and dynamic simulations involving the use of unused functionalities of the existing game engine. We emphasize how the promoted changes mold the existing training module effectively to create highly realistic and interactive training environments for the Combat Life Savers of the US Army.
Packed bed reactor analysis by orthogonal collocation

The equations governing a packed bed reactor with radial temperature and concentration gradients are solved using the orthogonal collocation method. The method is shown to be faster and more accurate than finite difference calculations. Using the orthogonal collocation method it is straightforward to extend one-dimensional (lumped parameter) models to the two-dimensional models needed when radial temperature and concentration gradients are important. The two-dimensional model is necessary for large Biot numbers, hwR/ke, where hw is the wall heat transfer coefficient, R is the tube radius, and keis the tube radius, and ke is the effective thermal conductivity. For Biot number less than one, seventy-five per cent of the resistance to heat transfer is at the wall, and a one-dimensional (lumped parameter) treatment gives good results. Computations are illustrated for both plug flow and radially-varying velocity. In the latter case the velocity profile induces effective thermal conductivity and diffusivity profiles. Calculations made using the velocity profile predict a heat transfer coefficient which is used in the plug flow model. Good agreement is obtained between the models.
Modulation of ryanodine receptor by luminal calcium and accessory proteins in health and cardiac disease

The cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2) is the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ release channel which is responsible for generation of the cytosolic Ca2+ transient required for activation of cardiac contraction. RyR2 functional activity is governed by changes in [Ca2+] on both the cytosolic and luminal phase of the RyR2 channel. Activation of RyR2 by cytosolic Ca2+ results in Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release (CICR) from the SR. The decline in luminal [Ca2+] following release contributes to termination of CICR and Ca2+ signalling refractoriness through the process of luminal Ca2+-dependent deactivation of RyR2s. The control of RyR2s by luminal Ca2+ involves coordinated interaction of the channel with several SR proteins, including the Ca2+-binding protein calsequestrin (CASQ2), and the integral proteins triadin 1 (TRD) and junctin (JCN). CASQ2 in addition to serving as a Ca2+ storage site and a luminal Ca2+ buffer modulates RyR2 function more directly as a putative luminal Ca2+ sensor. TRD and JCN, stimulatory by themselves, mediate the interactions between CASQ2 and RyR2. Acquired and genetic defects in proteins of this junctional Ca2+ signalling complex lead to disease states such as cardiac arrhythmia and heart failure by impairing luminal Ca2+ regulation of RyR2.
Analysis of Actin FLAP Dynamics in the Leading Lamella

Whitaker biomedical engineering research grant (RG-02-0714); National Institutes of Health (RO1 GM7200)
Single molecule imaging reveals a major role for diffusion in the exploration of ciliary space by signaling receptors

The dynamic organization of signaling cascades inside primary cilia is key to signal propagation. Yet little is known about the dynamics of ciliary membrane proteins besides a possible role for motor-driven Intraflagellar Transport (IFT). To characterize these dynamics, we imaged single molecules of Somatostatin Receptor 3 (SSTR3, a GPCR) and Smoothened (Smo, a Hedgehog signal transducer) in the ciliary membrane. While IFT trains moved processively from one end of the cilium to the other, single SSTR3 and Smo underwent mostly diffusive behavior interspersed with short periods of directional movements. Statistical subtraction of instant velocities revealed that SSTR3 and Smo spent less than a third of their time undergoing active transport. Finally, SSTR3 and IFT movements could be uncoupled by perturbing either membrane protein diffusion or active transport. Thus ciliary membrane proteins move predominantly by diffusion, and attachment to IFT trains is transient and stochastic rather than processive or spatially determined. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00654.001.
Invariant-Based Anisotropic Constitutive Models of the Healthy and Aneurysmal Abdominal Aortic Wall

The arterial wall is a complex fiber-reinforced composite. Pathological conditions, such as aneurysms, significantly alter the mechanical response of the arterial wall, resulting in a loss of elasticity, enhanced anisotropy, and increased chances of mechanical failure. Invariant-based models of the healthy and aneurysmal abdominal aorta were constructed based on first principles and published experimental data with implementations for several numerical cases, as well as comparisons to current healthy and aneurysmal tissue data. Inherent limitations of a traditional invariant-based methodology are also discussed and compared to the models' ability to accurately reproduce experimental trends. The models capture the nonlinear and anisotropic mechanical responses of the two arterial sections and make reasonable predictions regarding the effects of alterations in healthy and diseased tissue histology. Additionally, the new models exhibit convex and anisotropic monotonically increasing energy contours (suggesting numerical stability) but have potentially the inherent limitations of a covariant theoretical framework. Although the traditional invariant framework exhibits significant covariance, the invariant terms utilized in the new models exhibited limited covariance and are able to accurately reproduce experimental trends. A streamlined implementation is also possible for future numerical investigations of fluid-structure interactions in abdominal aortic aneurysms.
On the mechanism of solvolytic decompositions of mixed halides

Abstract Synthesis of the phase-pure mixed-valent europium chlorides, Eu4Cl9, Eu5Cl11, and Eu14Cl33, is reported. X-ray powder diffraction data are presented for NdBr3 · (THF)4. The structures of metastable dihalides synthesized by solvolytic decomposition, fluorite-type LnCl2, Ln = Sm, Eu, and anti-Fe2P-type BaX2, X = Cl, Br, and that of the cluster-type mixed-valent halide precursor, are described in terms of close-packed layers and a solvolytic decomposition mechanism is proposed. In this mechanism the Ln3+ ions at the solvent-solid interface are removed as LnX3 (solvate) from atomic planes perpendicular to the three-fold inversion axis of the precursor and remaining LnX2 ions relax immediately; primarily in-layer cation rearrangements lead to the fluorite-type structure upon subsequent layer collapse, whereas both in-layer and out-of-layer cation displacements yield the anti-Fe2P-type structure.
Current management of cytomegalovirus disease in patients with AIDS.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is common in both homosexual and heterosexual HIV-infected patients, and causes disease in a substantial proportion of PWAs with very low CD4+ cell counts. Both ganciclovir, an analog of the nucleoside guanosine, and foscarnet, an analog of pyrophosphate, are licensed for treatment of CMV retinitis. They may also have a role in the treatment of gastrointestinal disease caused by CMV. In the Studies of Ocular Complications of AIDS comparative trial, the two agents were equally effective against CMV retinitis, but patients receiving foscarnet had significantly longer survival, even after adjusting for covariates including antiretroviral therapy. Ongoing studies are evaluating higher dosages of foscarnet for maintenance therapy and combined therapy with ganciclovir and foscarnet. Tolerance of ganciclovir therapy has been facilitated by adjunctive therapy with colony-stimulating factors. Because both ganciclovir and foscarnet must be administered by IV infusion and are associat...
TRIMODAL READING INSTRUCTION WITH INEFFICIENT LEARNERS

Abstract The purpose of this study was to evaluate the teaching effectiveness of the Trimodal Programmed Instruction in Reading with those inefficient learners who were making limited or no progress in their elementary school reading programs despite other remedial procedures. Based on their performance on a criterion pretest, nine second, third, and fouth graders were assigned to either a full remedial program, consisting of 25 lessons or to a partial program consisting of between 14 and 17 programs. Each child interacted at the Teledesk (the main piece of equipment) on a daily basis, for approximately 15 minutes; one program per day was permitted. The Trimodal Reading Instruction approach employs a programmed technique using the whole word method of reading instruction. Word recognition and comprehension skills are fostered by having the pupil actively construct sentences by placing plaques associated with whole words on an interface. A policy of limited supervision and limited directive guidance was em...
Multiple-beam antennas: Offset reflectors with offset feeds

Two simple mathematical models are described for the prediction of the vector radiation fields from offset parabolic reflector antennas with offset feeds. Experimental support for the predictions obtained from the models has been obtained by comparisons with measured data from antenna systems operating at 30 GHz. The principal radiation characteristics of the offset-reflector with offset-feed configuration are discussed.
Discrete and Embedded Eigenvalues for One-Dimensional Schrödinger Operators

I present an example of a discrete Schrodinger operator that shows that it is possible to have embedded singular spectrum and, at the same time, discrete eigenvalues that approach the edges of the essential spectrum (much) faster than exponentially. This settles a conjecture of Simon (in the negative). The potential is of von Neumann-Wigner type, with careful navigation around a previously identified borderline situation.
Spectrophotometric determination of sodium thiosulphate in body fluids by use of an iodine-amylose complex.

Abstract The spectrophotometric determination of thiosulphate ion in body fluids by a micro method is described. 20 μl of plasma ultrafiltrate or 50 μl of plasma containing 0–250 μg/ml sodium thiosulphate are required. The reagents described are suitable for the determination of other iodine-consuming compounds in quantities of 0–0.025 μequiv.
Preparation of hatchery—reared chum fry for life at sea: osmoregulation dynamics

The development of saltwater tolerance was studied in chum fry reared in the Malkinsky hatchery (central Kamchatka, 200 km from the Sea of Okhotsk). Hypo-osmoregulatory ability of fry was assessed by dynamics of plasma sodium concentration, 24 and 48 h after their transfer from fresh water to seawater (30%o), and by fry survival in seawater of 40%o salinity. Complete osmoregulation function in young chum was developed in seawater only in late June, despite their earlier development of silver body color and fairly high migration activity. No correlation was found between the weight of fish and their osmoregulatory abilities. The reasons for late smoltification of hatchery-reared chum have not yet been clearly defined. One explanation might be the combined effect of low nocturnal temperatures and considerable daily fluctuations in temperature (more than 8oC) during the period of egg incubation (in fall), as well as during smoltification of chum juveniles (spring-early summer). Data on the osmoregulatory ability of chum smolts could be useful in forecasting their survival in the early marine period of life.
Multimedia displays for conceptual discovery: information seeking with strand maps

This article explores the use of a multimedia search interface for digital libraries based on strand maps developed by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. As semantic-spatial displays, strand maps provide a visual organization of relevant conceptual information that may promote the use of science content during digital library use. A study was conducted to compare users' cognitive processes during information seeking tasks when using a multimedia strand maps interface, versus the textual search interface currently implemented in the Digital Library for Earth System Education. Quantitative and qualitative data from think-aloud protocols revealed that students were more likely to engage with science content (e.g., analyzing the relevance of science concepts with regard to task needs) during search when using the strand maps interface compared to those using textual searching. In contrast, students using a textual search interface engaged more frequently with surface-level information (e.g., the type of a resource regardless of its science content) during search and retrieval. As a multimedia search interface for digital libraries, strand maps appear to be promising tools to promote conceptual discovery and learning through content-based processes that promote learner engagement with relevant science knowledge.
Estrogen receptors in male breast cancer

Estrogen receptor assays were performed on tumor specimens from 6 male patients with documented breast cancer. Five out of six (83%) males had positive ER assays with values ranging from 23-384 femtomoles per mg cytosol protein. A review of the literature showed that 32 out of 38 patients (84%) reported were positive for estrogen receptor. Four out of five ER positive males responded to orchiectomy. Estrogen receptors are present in a high percentage of males with breast cancer and may predict response to treatment, similar to female breast cancer.
En/countering Indigenous Bilingualism

The articles in this issue advance scholarship on Indigenous-language ideologies and practices in important ways. By focusing on youth, the authors “counter“ traditional ideologies about Indigenous...
Kin recognition and the evolution of altruism

In 1964, Hamilton formalized the idea of kin selection to explain the evolution of altruistic behaviours. Since then, numerous examples from a diverse array of taxa have shown that seemingly altruistic actions towards close relatives are a common phenomenon. Although many species use kin recognition to direct altruistic behaviours preferentially towards relatives, this important aspect of social biology is less well understood theoretically. I extend Hamilton's classic work by defining the conditions for the evolution of kin-directed altruism when recognizers are permitted to make acceptance (type I) and rejection (type II) errors in the identification of social partners with respect to kinship. The effect of errors in recognition on the evolution of kin-directed altruism depends on whether the population initially consists of unconditional altruists or non-altruists (i.e. alternative forms of non-recognizers). Factors affecting the level of these error rates themselves, their evolution and their long-term stability are discussed.
Measuring manufacturing work group autonomy

The increasing use of autonomous work groups in manufacturing industries has been accompanied by a growing confusion over exactly what group autonomy connotes. Our intent in this paper is to provide clarity to the quantitative measurement of work group autonomy. An examination of classic case studies from the group literature reveals how group autonomy has been conceptualized over time, while highlighting the absence of more modern-day concerns in areas such as equipment maintenance and quality improvement. In attempting to objectively assess the degree of autonomy held by work groups both in the classic studies and in a modern high-technology industry, we find that the existing measurement instrument fails at the latter. A new more finely grained measuring instrument is introduced that covers decisions in the areas of methods, scheduling, task allocation, resource allocation and management, goals, and boundary management. Items on the instrument address topics in performance evaluation, training, equipment maintenance, group membership, and production, among others.
A dynamic Bayesian network for identifying protein-binding footprints from single molecule-based sequencing data

Motivation: A global map of transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs) is critical to understanding gene regulation and genome function. DNaseI digestion of chromatin coupled with massively parallel sequencing (digital genomic footprinting) enables the identification of protein-binding footprints with high resolution on a genome-wide scale. However, accurately inferring the locations of these footprints remains a challenging computational problem. Results: We present a dynamic Bayesian network-based approach for the identification and assignment of statistical confidence estimates to protein-binding footprints from digital genomic footprinting data. The method, DBFP, allows footprints to be identified in a probabilistic framework and outperforms our previously described algorithm in terms of precision at a fixed recall. Applied to a digital footprinting data set from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, DBFP identifies 4679 statistically significant footprints within intergenic regions. These footprints are mainly located near transcription start sites and are strongly enriched for known TFBSs. Footprints containing no known motif are preferentially located proximal to other footprints, consistent with cooperative binding of these footprints. DBFP also identifies a set of statistically significant footprints in the yeast coding regions. Many of these footprints coincide with the boundaries of antisense transcripts, and the most significant footprints are enriched for binding sites of the chromatin-associated factors Abf1 and Rap1. Contact:jay.hesselberth@ucdenver.edu; william-noble@u.washington.edu Supplementary information: Supplementary material is available at Bioinformatics online.
A Noninvasive Assessment of Pulmonary Perfusion Abnormality in Patients With Primary Pulmonary Hypertension

Study objectives: The ventilatory equivalent for CO2 (ie, the ratio of minute ventilation (VE )t o carbon dioxide output (VCO2)) is increased in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) consequent to an increase in physiologic dead space and alveolar ventilation. We wished to see whether the VE/VCO2 ratio correlated with the abnormality in pulmonary hemodynamics in PPH patients and whether it changed in response to prostacyclin infusion. Methods: Following right-sided heart catheterization, 10 patients with severe PPH were studied in the coronary-care unit while hemodynamic and gas exchange measurements were measured simultaneously before and after infusion with epoprostenol (Epo), a prostacyclin analog. Studies were performed at baseline and during IV infusion of two to three increasing dosages of Epo in 10 PPH patients (NYHA class III-IV). Four patients had radial artery catheters for simultaneous blood gas measurements. Nine healthy subjects who were matched by sex, height, and weight underwent gas exchange analyses only. Results: The mean (6 SD) VE/VCO2 ratio was higher in PPH patients than in control subjects (50.7 6 9.7 vs 30.6 6 3.8; p < 0.001). Thirteen measurements made in four patients showed that the VE/VCO2 ratio correlated with the physiologic dead space/tidal volume ratio (r 5 0.78; p 5 0.002). The VE/VCO2 ratio measurement at baseline correlated significantly with total pulmonary vascular resistance (TPVR) (r 5 0.70; p 5 0.02) but not with mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) or cardiac index. During Epo infusion, the VE/VCO2 ratio decreased with increasing dosage in 6 of 10 patients, with no change or slight increases in the 4 remaining patients. Considering all doses, the VE/VCO2 ratio decreased significantly in response to the short-term administration of Epo. The decrease tended to parallel the pattern of decrease in TPVR, but the changes in both variables were too small to provide a statistically significant correlation. The mPAP did not change significantly in response to Epo infusion, although TPVR did change at the highest dosage. Conclusions: In patients with severe PPH, the VE/VCO2 ratio correlated significantly with TPVR but not with mPAP or cardiac index. The VE/VCO2 ratio decreased systematically from baseline with the dose of Epo in some but not all patients. The VE/VCO2 ratio and TPVR decreased significantly in response to Epo when all doses were considered. Further studies are needed to elucidate whether noninvasive gas exchange measurements may be clinically useful in the evaluation of the severity of pulmonary vascular disease and the effectiveness of pulmonary vasodilator therapy. (CHEST 2001; 119:824 - 832)
The relationship between subclinical atherosclerosis, non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, exercise, and diet among male participants of the PACC Project

Background Non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is recommended as a secondary lipid goal treated initially with lifestyle modification. However, the relationship between non-HDL and subclinical atherosclerosis is unknown. We examined the independent relationships between coronary artery calcium (CAC), lipids including non-HDL, exercise, and diet among healthy male participants of the Prospective Army Coronary Calcium (PACC) Project. Methods Male participants from the PACC Project (n = 1637, mean age 42.8 years; no history of coronary heart disease) were studied. We used validated surveys to measure dietary quality and habitual physical exercise. Fasting lipid concentrations and other cardiovascular risk variables were measured. Subclinical atherosclerosis was detected with the use of electron beam computed tomography for CAC. Factors independently associated with the presence of any detectable CAC (CAC score > 0), including standard CV risk variables, non-HDL, exercise, and diet, were evaluated with the use of logistic regression. Results The mean Framingham risk score was 4.6 ± 2.6%; CAC was present in 22.4%. Fasting lipid concentrations showed mean LDL-C 128 ± 32 mg/dL, HDL-C 50 ± 13 mg/dL, TG-C 130 ± 86 mg/dL, and non-HDL-C 154 ± 37 mg/dL. Men with CAC had significantly greater levels of LDL-C (135 vs 127 mg/dL), TG (148 vs 124 mg/dL), and non-HDL-C (164 vs 151 mg/dL) and less habitual physical activity ( P = 0.006). There were nonsignificant trends between prevalent CAC, greater amounts of dietary fat intake, and lower HDL-C. In successive multivariable logistic regression models for the dependent variable CAC, only non-HDL-C (odds ratio [OR] 1.012 per mg/dL; 95% CI 1.002–1.023; P = .019) and age (OR 1.119 per year; 95% CI 1.063–1.178; P P = 0.003) was associated with the absence of CAC. Conclusions Non-HDL-C and exercise are independently predictive of the presence of subclinical CAC among healthy lower-risk middle-aged men.
Concave envelopes of monomial functions over rectangles

The construction of convex and concave envelopes of real-valued functions has been of interest in mathematical programming for over 3 decades. Much of this interest stems from the fact that convex and concave envelopes can play important roles in algorithms for solving various discrete and continuous global optimization problems. In this article, we use a simplicial subdivision tool to present and validate the formula for the concave envelope of a monomial function over a rectangle. Potential algorithmic applications of this formula are briefly indicated. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2004
In silico investigation of pH-dependence of prolactin and human growth hormone binding to human prolactin receptor.

Experimental data shows that the binding of human prolactin (hPRL) to hu- man prolactin receptor (hPRLr-ECD) is strongly pH-dependent, while the binding of the same receptor to human growth hormone (hGH) is pH-independent. Here we carry in silico analysis of the molecular effects causing such a difference and reveal the role of individual amino acids. It is shown that the computational modeling correctly predicts experimentally determined pKa's of histidine residues in an unbound state in the majority of the cases and the pH-dependence of the binding free energy. Struc- tural analysis carried in conjunction with calculated pH-dependence of the binding revealed that the main reason for pH-dependence of the binding of hPRL-hPRLr-ECD is a number of salt-bridgesacross the interfaceof the complex, while no salt-bridges are formed in the hGH-hPRlr-ECD. Specifically, most of the salt-bridges involve histidine residues and this is the reason for the pH-dependence across a physiological range of pH. The analysis not only revealed the molecular mechanism of the pH-dependence of the hPRL-hPRLr-ECD, but also provided critical insight into the underlying physic- chemical mechanism.
BUDDHIST NIRVANA: ITS SIGNIFICANCE IN CONTEMPORARY THOUGHT AND LIFE

Nirvana is generally regarded as the goal of the Buddhist life, in that it is essential for Buddhists to enter nirvana. Nirvana has been compared with the Christian notion of the Kingdom of God. In the West, however, it is often misunderstood as something negative. This misunderstanding even occurs in the Buddhist world, for the literal meaning of nirvana is the extinction or annihilation of passion, often compared to the extinguishing of a fire. But is nirvana negative? What is the real meaning of entering nirvana?
The evolutionary scrambling and developmental unscrambling of germline genes in hypotrichous ciliates

Genes in the germline (micronuclear) genome of hypotrichous ciliates are interrupted by multiple, short, non-coding, AT-rich sequences called internal eliminated segments, or IESs. During conversion of a micronucleus to a somatic nucleus (macronucleus) after cell mating, all IESs are excised from the germline genes and the gene segments, called macronuclear-destined segments, or MDSs, are spliced. Excision of the approximately 150 000 IESs from a haploid germline genome in Oxytricha nova requires approximately 150 000 recombinant events. In three of 10 genes the MDSs are scrambled. During macronuclear development the MDSs are unscrambled, possibly by folding of the DNA to allow MDSs to ligate in the correct order. The nine MDSs in the actin I gene of O.nova are scrambled in the random order, 3-4-6-5-7-9-2-1-8, and MDS 2 is inverted. The 14 MDSs in the alphaTP gene of O.nova and Stylonychia mytilus are scrambled in the non-random order, 1-3-5-7-9-11-2-4-6-8-10-12-13-14. The 45 MDSs in the DNA pol alpha gene are non-randomly scrambled into an odd/even series, with an inversion of one-third of the gene. Additional IESs have been inserted into these three genes during evolution of Oxytricha trifallax, slightly modifying scrambling patterns. The non-random scrambled patterns in the alphaTP and DNA pol alpha genes are explained by multiple, simultaneous IES insertions. The randomly scrambled pattern in the actin I gene may arise from an initially non-randomly scrambled pattern by recombination among multiple IESs. Alternatively, IESs inserted sporadically (individually) in a non-scrambled configuration might subsequently recombine, converting a non-scrambled gene into a randomly scrambled one. IESs shift along a DNA molecule, most likely as a result of mutations at MDS/IES junctions. Shifting of IESs has the effect of 'transferring' nucleotides from one MDS to another, but does not change the overall sequence of nucleotides in the combined MDSs. In addition to shifting in position, IESs accumulate mutations at a high rate and increase and decrease in length within a species and during speciation. The phenomena of IESs and of MDS scrambling represent remarkable flexibility of the hypotrich genome, possibly reflecting a process of MDS shuffling that facilitates the evolution of genes.
Modeling groupware supporting synchronous collaboration with heterogeneous single- and multi-user devices

This paper proposes to separate clearly models for documents, user interface, tools, physical environment, and interaction to gain flexibility in adapting and extending these different aspects independently. In addition, a core model providing a shared-object space and multiuser event handling eases the development of applications supporting synchronous collaboration and multi-user devices. To test the applicability of this approach, this architecture was used as the basis for the implementation of BEACH, the software infrastructure of i-LAND (the future working-environment at GMD-IPSI). It provides the functionality for synchronous cooperation and interaction with roomware components, i.e., room elements with integrated information technology.
Caught in the Draft: The Effects of Vietnam Draft Lottery Status on Political Attitudes

The 1969 Vietnam draft lottery assigned numbers to birth dates in order to determine which young men would be called to fight in Vietnam. We exploit this natural experiment to examine how draft vulnerability influenced political attitudes. Data are from the Political Socialization Panel Study, which surveyed high school seniors from the class of 1965 before and after the national draft lottery was instituted. Males holding low lottery numbers became more antiwar, more liberal, and more Democratic in their voting compared to those whose high numbers protected them from the draft. They were also more likely than those with safe numbers to abandon the party identification that they had held as teenagers. Trace effects are found in reinterviews from the 1990s. Draft number effects exceed those for preadult party identification and are not mediated by military service. The results show how profoundly political attitudes can be transformed when public policies directly affect citizens' lives.
Distal heme pocket regulation of ligand binding and stability in soybean leghemoglobin

Leghemoglobins facilitate diffusion of oxygen through root tissue to a bacterial terminal oxidase in much the same way that myoglobin transports oxygen from blood to muscle cell mitochondria. Leghemoglobin serves an additional role as an oxygen scavenger to prevent inhibition of nitrogen fixation. For this purpose, the oxygen affinity of soybean leghemoglobin is 20-fold greater than myoglobin, resulting from an 8-fold faster association rate constant combined with a 3-fold slower dissociation rate constant. Although the biochemical mechanism used by myoglobin to bind oxygen has been described in elegant detail, an explanation for the difference in affinity between these two structurally similar proteins is not obvious. The present work demonstrates that, despite their similar structures, leghemoglobin uses methods different from myoglobin to regulate ligand affinity. Oxygen and carbon monoxide binding to a comprehensive set of leghemoglobin distal heme pocket mutant proteins in comparison to their myoglobin counterparts has revealed some of these mechanisms. The "distal histidine" provides a crucial hydrogen bond to stabilize oxygen in myoglobin but has little effect on bound oxygen in leghemoglobin and is retained mainly for reasons of protein stability and prevention of heme loss. Furthermore, soybean leghemoglobin uses an unusual combination of HisE7 and TyrB10 to sustain a weak stabilizing interaction with bound oxygen. Thus, the leghemoglobin distal heme pocket provides a much lower barrier to oxygen association than occurs in myoglobin and oxygen dissociation is regulated from the proximal heme pocket.
Sexual exploitability: observable cues and their link to sexual attraction

Although antiexploitation adaptations, such as cheater-detection mechanisms, have been well explored, comparatively little research has focused on identifying adaptations for exploitation. The present study had two purposes: (1) to identify observable cues that afford information about which women are sexually exploitable and (2) to test the hypothesis that men find cues to sexual exploitability sexually attractive, an adaptation that functions to motivate pursuit of accessible women. Male participants rated photographs of women who displayed varying levels of hypothesized cues to exploitability. We identified 22 cues indicative of sexual exploitability. Nineteen of these cues were correlated significantly with sexual attractiveness, supporting the central hypothesis. Results suggest that sexual attraction to exploitability cues functions to motivate men to employ exploitative strategies towards accessible targets, and contribute foundational knowledge to the diverse classes of cues that afford information about which women are and are not sexually exploitable.
The cost of failure: The economic impact of failed primary closure in classic bladder exstrophy

Abstract Purpose Failure of primary closure in classic bladder exstrophy (CBE) is a significant cause of morbidity, and yet its relative economic impact has not been well characterized. The authors aim to determine whether CBE patients who underwent failed primary closure incur greater economic burden in the year following their successful closure than those patients who underwent a successful primary closure. Materials and Methods After institutional review board approval CBE patients who were successfully closed between 1993 and 2013 were identified in an institutional exstrophy–epispadias database. Patients who were never closed at the study institution and those who had no documented successful closure were excluded. Inpatient hospital charges, hospital costs, and professional fees were collected for the year following successful closure. Results 162 patients met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and accounted for 312 inpatient admissions in the year following and including their respective successful bladder closures. 62 of the patients failed their primary closure and the remaining 100 succeeded. Adjusting for covariates, patients who underwent successful primary closure experienced a reduction in inpatient hospital charges of $8497, hospital costs of $9046 and professional fees of $11,180 in the year following their successful closure compared to those patients who failed their primary closure. Conclusion Apart from the self-evident financial advantages of a successful primary closure, namely the avoidance of reclosure, there appears to be a lasting negative financial impact of failed primary closure even after these patients undergo successful reclosure at the study institution.
Globalización, Civilización, Americanización: cabos sueltos Globalization, Civilization and Americanization: Loose Ends

This work is an exposition of the concepts of Globalization, Civilization, and Americanization as discussed in several works by US scholars. These studies present the same problems of conceptualization and historical synthesis that can be found in the work of scholars from other latitudes. For this reason the author refers to them as conceptual “loose ends” within the generality of their problematic treatment and use in different disciplinary contexts.
Hormonal regulation of acetyl-coa carboxylase activity in the liver cel

Chick liver cell monolayers synthesize fatty acids at in vivo rates and are responsive to insulin and glucagon. High rates of fatty acid synthesis are maintained with insulin present and lost slowly without insulin. Glucagon or 3',5'-cyclic AMP cause immediate cessation of fatty acid synthesis. The site of inhibition appears to be cytoplasmic acetyl-CoA carboxylase which catalyzes the first committed step of fatty acid synthesis. Liver carboxylase exists either as catalytically inactive protomers or active filamentous polymers. Citrate, an allosteric activator of the enzyme, is required for both catalysis and polymerization. Glucagon and cAMP cause an immediate decrease in the cytoplasmic citrate concentration of chick liver cells apparently by inhibiting the conversion of glucose to citrate at the phosphofructokinase reaction. Since fatty acid synthesis and citrate level are closely correlated, citrate appears to be a feed-forward activator of the carboxylase in vivo. Compelling evidence indicates that carboxylase filaments are present in the intact cell when citrate levels are high and depolymerize when citrate levels fall. Hence, carboxylase activity and fatty acid synthetic rate appear to be determined by cytoplasmic citrate level.
Evaluating player task engagement and arousal using electroencephalography

Abstract Advances in affective computing technologies have made it possible for researchers to investigate brain function while users interact in virtual environments. Progress in sensors and algorithms for off-the-shelf EEG systems has made it possible for gaming researchers to perform real-time estimation of human cognitive and affective states using EEG. In this study our aim was to coordinate “Task Engagement” data with “Arousal-Valence” data. The resulting coordinate was designed for application to expressive transformations to video game play in real time by tuning different performance parameters in an Engagement-Arousal rule system. Results revealed that the engagement index (Beta / (Alpha + Theta)) was capable of differentiating high intensity game events (Player Death) from general game play. Given that higher levels of engagement during death events may reflect increase in autonomic response, we also measured arousal by using (BetaF3 + BetaF4) / (AlphaF3 + AlphaF4) and valence using (AlphaF4 / BetaF4) - (AlphaF3 / BetaF3). Results revealed that arousal increases and valence decreases during high intensity game events (Player Death) when compared to lower intensity game events (General Game Play). Given our desire to establish “Task Engagement” data with “Arousal-Valence” coordinates for a flow model, we divided the data into quartiles, which allowed us to establish upper and lower thresholds to indicate when the player has left a state of flow. Our aim was to use an off-the-shelf EEG system to establish “Task Engagement” and “Arousal-Valence” coordinates during video game play that can be used for a flow model. It is believed that this model will allow for future use of the Emotiv for assessing the cognitive and emotional processing of the player.
Gd3N@C84(OH)x: a new egg-shaped metallofullerene magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent.

Water-soluble derivatives of gadolinium-containing metallofullerenes have been considered to be excellent candidates for new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents because of their high relaxivity and characteristic encapsulation of the lanthanide ions (Gd3+), preventing their release into the bioenvironment. The trimetallic nitride template endohedral metallofullerenes (TNT EMFs) have further advantages of high stability, high relative yield, and encapsulation of three Gd3+ ions per molecule as illustrated by the previously reported nearly spherical, Gd3N@Ih-C80. In this study, we report the preparation and functionalization of a lower-symmetry EMF, Gd3N@Cs-C84, with a pentalene (fused pentagons) motif and an egg-shaped structure. The Gd3N@C84 derivative exhibits a higher 1H MR relaxivity compared to that of the Gd3N@C80 derivative synthesized the same way, at low (0.47 T), medium (1.4 T), and high (9.4 T) magnetic fields. The Gd3N@Cs-C84 derivative exhibits a higher hydroxyl content and aggreg...
Experimental studies of the thermal effects associated with radiation force imaging of soft tissue.

Many groups are studying acoustic radiation force-based imaging modalities to determine the mechanical properties of tissue. Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) imaging is one of these modalities that uses standard diagnostic ultrasound scanners to generate localized, impulsive, acoustic radiation force in tissue. This radiation force generates tissue displacements that are tracked using conventional correlation-based ultrasound methods. The dynamic response of tissue to this impulsive radiation force provides information about the mechanical properties of the tissue.The generation of micron-scale displacements using acoustic radiation force in tissue requires the use of high-intensity acoustic beams, and the soft tissue heating associated with these high-intensity beams must be evaluated to ensure safety when performing ARFI imaging in vivo. Experimental studies using thermocouples have validated Finite Element Method (FEM) models that simulate the heating of soft tissue during ARFI imaging. Spatial ...
A New Treatment of Cancer——Nanoparticle Self-Lighting Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy(PDT) has been designated as a"promising new modality in the treatment of cancer" since the early 1980s. Light must be delivered in order to activate photodynamic therapy. Most photosensitizers have strong absorption in the ultraviolet(UV)- blue range, therefore, UV-blue light is needed for their activation. Unfortunately, UV-blue light has minimal penetration into tissue and its application for in vivo activation is a problem. To solve the problem and to enhance the PDT treatment for deep cancers, we introduce a new PDT system in which the light is generated by afterglow nanoparticles with attached photosensitizers. When the nanoparticle-photosensitizer conjugates are targeted to tumor, the light from afterglow nanoparticles will activate the photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy. Therefore, no external light is required for treatment. More importantly, it can be used to treat deep tumor such as breast cancer because the light source is attached to the photosensitizers and are delivered to the tumor cells all together. This new modality is refereed as Nanoparticle Self-Lighting Photodynamic Therapy(NSLPDT).