cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Elucidation of the molecular interactions that enable stable assembly and structural diversity in multicomponent immune receptors

ABSTRACT Multi-component immune receptors are essential complexes in which distinct ligand-recognition and signaling subunits are held together by interactions between acidic and basic residues of their transmembrane helices. A 2-to-1 acidic to basic motif in the transmembrane domains of the subunits is necessary and sufficient to assemble these receptor complexes. Here, we study a prototype for these receptors, a DAP12-NKG2C 2:1 heterotrimeric complex, in which the two DAP12 subunits each contribute a single transmembrane Asp residue, and the NKG2C subunit contributes a Lys to form the complex. DAP12 can also associate with 20 other subunits using a similar motif. Here we use molecular dynamics simulations to understand the basis for the high affinity and diversity of interactions in this group of receptors. Simulations of the transmembrane helices with differing protonation states of the Asp-Asp-Lys triad identified a structurally stable interaction in which a singly protonated Asp-Asp pair forms a hydrogen-bonded carboxyl-carboxylate clamp that clasps onto a charged Lys sidechain. This polar motif was also supported by density functional theory and a Protein Data Bank-wide search. In contrast, the helices are dynamic at sites distal to the stable carboxyl-carboxylate clamp motif. Such a locally stable but globally dynamic structure is well-suited to accommodate the sequence and structural variations in the transmembrane helices of multi-component receptors, which mix and match subunits to create combinatorial functional diversity from a limited number of subunits. It also supports a signaling mechanism based on multi-subunit clustering rather than propagation of rigid conformational changes through the membrane. SIGNIFICANCE Receptors that separate ligand recognition and intracellular signaling into separate protein subunits are ubiquitous in immunity. These subunits mix and match to create combinatorial functional diversity. The transmembrane domains of these receptors assemble through the interaction between two acidic and one basic residue on different helices. Using computational methods to study the DAP12-NKG2C receptor complex we identified a polar motif in which a singly protonated Asp-Asp pair forms a carboxyl-carboxylate clamp that clasps a charged Lys sidechain in the membrane. This local interaction allows dynamic variations in other regions of the helices that tolerate sequence diversity of the interacting subunits in this class of receptors, which signal through multi-subunit clustering rather than propagation of rigid conformational changes through the membrane.
A Comprehensive Energy Consumption Measurement Model for Building Envelope Components Based on Thermal Imaging Detection

The heating (air conditioning) energy consumption of building envelope is the main part of building energy consumption, and the window is one of the main building envelope components. At home and abroad, the heat consumption of Windows is mostly determined by hot box method, but it is limited to the measurement of heat transfer energy consumption. China's building energy conservation work started late, although some achievements have been made, but the situation of building energy conservation is still very serious. The purpose of this paper is to study the comprehensive energy consumption measurement model of building envelope components based on thermal imaging detection, so as to provide better optimization Suggestions for the energy consumption of building envelope components in the direction of energy conservation. In this paper, the method of measuring the heat transfer coefficient of building exterior wall quantitatively by infrared thermal imager is studied. Through the study of building exterior wall heat transfer analysis, on the basis of one dimensional steady state heat transfer theory, established a heat transfer coefficient and surface temperature of building surrounding structure of mathematical relationship, through the outer wall of a residential field test found that the heat transfer coefficient of enclosure structure generally above 0.76, based on this proposed using infrared thermal imaging detection building palisade structure heat transfer coefficient of operation method.
Optimizing the Hit Finding Algorithm for Liquid Argon TPC Neutrino Detectors Using Parallel Architectures

Neutrinos are particles that interact rarely, so identifying them requires large detectors which produce lots of data. Processing this data with the computing power available is becoming even more difficult as the detectors increase in size to reach their physics goals. Liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) neutrino experiments are expected to grow in the next decade to have 100 times more wires than in currently operating experiments, and modernization of LArTPC reconstruction code, including parallelization both at data- and instruction-level, will help to mitigate this challenge. The LArTPC hit finding algorithm is used across multiple experiments through a common software framework. In this paper we discuss a parallel implementation of this algorithm. Using a standalone setup we find speed up factors of two times from vectorization and 30--100 times from multi-threading on Intel architectures. The new version has been incorporated back into the framework so that it can be used by experiments. On a serial execution, the integrated version is about 10 times faster than the previous one and, once parallelization is enabled, further speedups comparable to the standalone program are achieved.
Chromatographic preparation of food-grade prebiotic oligosaccharides with defined degree of polymerization.

Abstract Prebiotic oligosaccharides are of widespread interest in the food industry due to their potential health benefits. This has triggered a need for research into their sensory properties. Such research is currently limited due to the lack of available food-grade oligosaccharide preparations with specific degree of polymerization (DP). The aim of this study was to develop economical approaches for the preparation and characterization of prebiotic oligosaccharides differing with respect to composition and DP. Such preparations were prepared by chromatographic fractionation of commercially available prebiotic mixtures using microcrystalline cellulose stationary phases and aqueous ethanol mobile phases. This approach is shown to work for the preparation of food-grade fructooligosaccharides of DP 3 and 4, galactooligosaccharides of DP 3 and 4, and xylooligosaccharides of DP 2–4. Methods for the characterization of the different classes of oligosaccharides are also presented including those addressing purity, identity, total carbohydrate content, moles per unit mass, and DP.
Analysis of Qualitative Data

There are many business questions that require the collection and analysis of qualitative data. For example, how does a visitor’s opinion of a commercial website relate to their purchases at the website? Does a positive opinion of the website, relative to a bad or mediocre opinion, lead to higher sales? This type of information is often gathered in the form of an opinion and measured as a categorical response. Also accompanying these opinions are some quantitative characteristics of the respondent; for example, their age or income. Thus, a data collection effort will include various forms of qualitative and quantitative data elements. Should we be concerned with the type of data we collect? In the prior chapters we have answered this question with a resounding yes. It is the type of the data—categorical, interval, ratio, etc.—that dictates the form of analysis that we can perform.
«Sexilios»: hacia una nueva poética de la erótica caribeña

Taking as a point of departure the definition of sexile used by critics of queer Caribbean studies, as well as the definition used by U.S. American undergraduate students, this essay studies exile of sexual minorities in Cuba and Puerto Rico. This study focuses on masculine sexile, and studies how Luis Rafael Sanchez, Reinaldo Arenas, and Manuel Ramos Otero depict the traditional definition of sexile to explore how this notion can be transformed when we add the new meaning used by younger generations of undergraduates. The essay concludes by reflecting on the advantages and disadvantages of proposing sexile as a poetic for Caribbean eroticism that ultimately redefines collective identity discourses in the Caribbean.
A higher than expected prevalence of AV nodal reentrant tachycardia in patients receiving implantable cardioverter-defibrillators.

Background: Epidemiologic studies have indicated that the prevalence of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is approximately two to three of 1000 persons, of whom 50–60% have atrioventricular node reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). Although SVT has been reported to account for a significant portion of inappropriate shocks in patients receiving implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), the incidence of AVNRT is unknown. Objective: To define the incidence of AVNRT in patients with ICDs. Methods and Results: Of 426 patients followed with an ICD, 15 patients with AVNRT were identified (3.5%). AVNRT was noted preimplant in eight patients. One had remote AVNRT and had undergone radiofrequency (RF) ablation several years prior to ICD implantation. Three patients had known episodes and underwent RF ablation prior to ICD implant. Four had AVNRT induced at preimplant electrophysiology study and three had RF ablation prior to ICD implant. Seven patients had clinical episodes of AVNRT after ICD implant and six of seven received inappropriate ICD therapy for AVNRT. All seven patients underwent RF ablation for treatment of AVNRT. No patient who underwent RF ablation had further clinical episodes of SVT, and only one had further inappropriate ICD therapy for sinus tachycardia. Conclusion: The substantially higher prevalence of AVNRT in our followed ICD population (3.5%) compared to the general population may be due to detection bias or electroanatomic changes in the atrioventricular nodal area induced by the accompanying heart disease. In any case, further studies to evaluate the inducibility of AVNRT prior to ICD implant, its prognostic implications, and the role of RF ablation to prevent inappropriate shocks are warranted. (PACE 2011; 34:584–586)
A study of the strong linear relationship between the equatorial ionization anomaly and the prereversal E × B drift velocity at solar minimum

[1] It is known that there exists a linear relationship between the maximum velocity of the prereversal enhancement (PRE) of the E × B drift and the strength of the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) crests at night. This can be a particularly useful relationship in the event that only one of the quantities is observed. But it is important to understand the drivers of the linear relationship in order to determine its range of validity. In this study, we use the SAMI2 model of the ionosphere together with measurements of vertical E × B drift velocity at Jicamarca to show that daytime drifts significantly affect the slope and linearity of the relationship. To validate the model, nighttime O I 135.6 nm radiances measured with the Tiny Ionospheric Photometer (TIP) aboard the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate (FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC) are used in coincidence with the E × B drift measurements at Jicamarca. From the observations, we derive a linear relationship between the crest-to-trough ratio of the EIA NmF2 and the PRE under solar minimum conditions. The model simulations demonstrate that the influence of daytime drifts on the nighttime ionosphere varies with longitude and solar cycle conditions; and therefore the linear relationship also varies with these parameters. In particular, we show that the late afternoon drifts at solar minimum have the effect of steepening the slope of the linear relationship. On the other hand, the extended effect of daytime drifts under solar maximum conditions, including contributions from midmorning hours, tends to weaken the relationship.
A Comprehensive DFT API for Scientific Computing

The Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) algorithm that calculates the Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) is one of the major breakthrough in scientific computing and is now an indispensable tool in a vast number of fields. Unfortunately, software that provide fast computation of DFT via FFT differ vastly in functionality as well as uniformity. A widely accepted Applications Programmer Interface (API) for DFT would advance the field of scientific computing significantly. In this paper, we formulate an API for DFT computation that encompasses all the functionality that are offered by a number of popular packages combined, allows easy porting from existing codes, and exhibits a systematic naming convention with relatively short calling sequences.
Dietary patterns and cardio-cerebrovascular disease in a Chinese population

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Dietary pattern and its association with cardio-cerebrovascular disease have not been studied in Baoji city by now. This study was aimed to identify the dietary patterns among Chinese adults in Baoji, and explore the association between these dietary patterns and cardio-cerebrovascular disease. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 4,968 participants were included in this study at 12 counties. With multistage stratified random sampling and semi quantitative food frequency questionnaire, the prevalence of cardio-cerebrovascular disease and dietary intake were investigated in 2013. We used factor analysis to establish dietary patterns. RESULTS: A total of 4,968 participants over 15 years old were included in this study. Five dietary patterns were identified in Baoji: protein, balanced, beans, prudent, and traditional patterns. The protein dietary pattern mainly included animal and plant proteins and was negatively associated with hypertension as well as stroke. The balanced pattern included carbohydrates, protein, and fat and was negatively associated with hypertension as well as stroke. The beans pattern was mainly beans and beans products and was negatively associated with hypertension. The prudent pattern only included staple foods and pickled vegetables and was positively associated with hypertension as well as coronary heart disease. The traditional pattern was representative of local Baoji traditional recipes and was positively associated with hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: The protein, balanced, and beans dietary patterns showed many protective effects on cardio-cerebrovascular disease. Based on these results, Baoji city residents should be encouraged to choose protein, balanced, and beans dietary patterns and abandon prudent and traditional patterns to prevent incidence of hypertension, coronary heart disease, and stroke.
Incremental subgradient methods for nondifferentiable optimization

We propose a class of subgradient methods for minimizing a convex function that consists of the sum of a large number of component functions. This type of minimization arises in a dual context from Lagrangian relaxation of the coupling constraints of large scale separable problems. The idea is to perform the subgradient iteration incrementally, by sequentially taking steps along the subgradients of the component functions, with intermediate adjustment of the variables after processing each component function. This incremental approach has been very successful in solving large differentiable least squares problems, such as those arising in the training of neural networks, and it has resulted in a much better practical rate of convergence than the steepest descent method. We establish the convergence properties of a number of variants of incremental subgradient methods, including some that are stochastic. Based on the analysis and computational experiments, the methods appear very promising and effective for important classes of large problems.
Network Neutrality: Competition, Innovation, and Nondiscriminatory Access

The best proposals for network neutrality rules are simple. They ban abusive behavior like tollboothing and outright blocking and degradation. And they leave open legitimate network services that the Bells and Cable operators want to provide, such as offering cable television services and voice services along with a neutral internet offering. They are in line with a tradition of protecting consumer's rights on networks whose instinct is just this: let customers use the network as they please. No one wants to deny companies the right to charge for their services and charge consumers more if they use more. But what does need to be stopped is raw discrimination that is nothing more than a tax on innovation taken by government-supported corporations.
Individual differences in reasoning style as a moderator of the identifiable victim effect

The identifiable victim effect refers to people's greater helpfulness towards personalized, single victims compared to aggregated, statistical victims. A field study tested recent claims that analytical processing might undermine support for identified victims by suppressing emotional responses (Small, Loewenstein, & Slovic, 2007). Individual differences in analytic (“rational”) processing style moderated the effects of different request types on donations to a Zambian relief fund. Less-analytic processors donated more to a single identified victim than to requests describing statistical victims or a combination of both; more-analytic processors showed no differences. Self-reported emotional responses, however, did not support an affect-mediated account of these effects. Use of proportional reasoning strategies is discussed as a possible alternative account of current and past findings.
Measurement of Enzyme Kinetics Using Microscale Steady-State Kinetic Analysis

This paper describes a new techniquemicroscale steady-state kinetic analysis (μSKA)that enables the rapid and parallel analysis of enzyme kinetics. Rather than physically defining a microscopic reactor through microfabrication, we show how the relative rates of reaction and transport in a macroscopic flow chamber, where the enzyme is immobilized on one wall of the chamber, results in the confinement of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction to a microscopic reactor volume adjacent to this wall. This volume has linear dimensions that are orders of magnitude smaller than the physical dimensions of the system (i.e., micrometer vs millimeter). Conversion within this volume is monitored at steady state as a function of position, rather than time. In this way, limitations due to reactor dead time and mixing are avoided. We use μSKA to determine kinetic parameters for the alkaline phosphatase-catalyzed de-phosphorylation of nonfluorescent methylumbelliferyl phosphate (MUP) to fluorescent 7-hydroxy-4-methylcoumarin (HMC) a...
Hypothesis selection and resolution in the mercury flight reservation system

In a spoken dialogue system, the degree to which the dialogue manager informs and controls the behavior of other human language technology components is an important research topic. Although each separate server can be developed and trained on its own, it must function as part of an entire system, and do so in the context of a complex dialogue with a human user. The dialogue manager is the one component that has not only local information from each server, but also global knowledge about the task and specific knowledge about a particular user's constraints. In this paper, we describe various algorithms we have developed for exploiting the knowledge of the dialogue manager in the selection of recognition hypotheses in the context of human-machine interactions. We describe enhancements we have made to other human language technology servers for the purpose of providing useful information to the dialogue manager, as well as new capabilities in the dialogue manager itself aimed at detecting and repairing problematic spots in the dialogue. We conclude by describing some evaluation metrics and tools we have developed for monitoring system performance.
Atrial flutter in a premature infant with a structurally normal heart

Isolated postnatal atrial flutter (AF) with a structurally normal heart is rare in the neonatal period. Central lines have their inherent risks and are frequently used in the management of growing premature newborns. Some new antimicrobial agents do have pro-arrhythmic effects, proven in adults but with limited data available for the newborn. We present a case of atrial flutter with 2:1 block in a 1-month-old premature baby with possible contribution from an intra-cardiac catheter and/or use of a broad spectrum antimicrobial.
Tissue reaction to intraperitoneally implanted catheter materials

The limiting factor that introduces long-term complications of intraperitoneal (i.p.) catheters used, for example, with the Programable Implantable Medication System (PIMS) is the encapsulation of the catheter tip with tissues due to tissue reaction. The objective is the development of new catheters for PIMS or other systems for i.p. insulin delivery that allow continued insulin flow. The study is based on two hypotheses: (1) vascularized tissue will grow into a porous end plug mounted at the catheter tip (100-300 microns pore diameter), with sufficient blood supply to carry the insulin to the circulation; (2) use of a narrow pore diameter (25 microns or less) end plug will prevent tissue ingrowth yet allow insulin flow. The biological response to the following materials, all designed for use in catheters, were studied: polyurethane, segmented polyether-urethane, alumina coated on Teflon (proplast regular and micro-pore), pyrolytic carbon, high density polyethylene, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, hydroxyapatite, bioglass, and expanded Teflon. Some of these materials also are used for several other applications: vascular grafts, in the cardiovascular system, and for dental, orthopaedic, and other purposes. The shape and size of the end plugs made from each of the materials were as similar as possible to minimize size effects. The test materials were implanted i.p. in 12 dogs for a period of 12 weeks. The cylindrical plugs were typically 1.5-2.5 cm long, with an inside diameter of 0.3 cm, and an outside diameter of 0.6 cm. When the explants were retrieved, thin capsules were observed, of varying thickness and blood supply, surrounding the end of the catheters.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
212Pb-radioimmunotherapy potentiates paclitaxel-induced cell killing efficacy by perturbing the mitotic spindle checkpoint.

212 Pb-radioimmunotherapy potentiates paclitaxel-induced cell killing efficacy by perturbing the mitotic spindle checkpoint
A Multiplicity Survey of Chromospherically Active and Inactive Stars

Surveys of the three samples of solar-type stars, segregated by chromospheric emission level, were made to determine their multiplicity fractions and to investigate the evolution of multiplicity with age. In total, 245 stars were searched for companions with DeltaV <= 3.0 and separations of 0.035" to 1.08" using optical speckle interferometry, By incorporating the visual micrometer survey for duplicity of the LamontHussey Observatory, the angular coverage was extended to 5.0" with no change in in the DeltaV limit. This magnitude difference allows mass ratios of 0.63 and larger to be detected throughout a search region of 2-127 AU for the stars observed. The 84 primaries observed in the chromospherically active sample are presumably part of a young population and are found to have a multiplicity fraction of 17.9% +/- 4.6%. The sample of 118 inactive, presumably older, primaries were selected and observed using identical methods and are found to have a multiplicity fraction of only 8.5% +/- 2.7%. Given the known link between chromospheric activity and age, these results tentatively imply a decreasing stellar multiplicity fraction from 1 to 4 Gyr, the approximate ages of the two samples. Finally, only two of the 14 very active primaries observed were found to have a companion meeting the survey detection parameters. In this case, many of the systems are either very young, or close, RS CVn type multiples that are unresolvable using techniques employed here.
Managing large research partnerships: Examples from the Advanced Technology Program's Information Infrastructure for Healthcare program

Abstract This study investigates the organization and management of large research partnerships that form around risky, early stage, complex technologies. Rather than developing specific products ready for the market, large research partnerships with diverse memebership are more appropriate for combining the diverse resources and capabilities required to advance the state of the art in early stage technologies and to create standards, thus decreasing the uncertainty of subsequent research. Some form of effective central authority is desirable in order to galvanize a common vision for the partnership, to establish clear milestones, and to take the burden of day-to-day negotiation and decision-making. Too much or too little management concentration brings similar detrimental results: members feeling left out of the decision-making process and a perception of unfair distribution of power to influence the process and the vision of the partnership.
Hexacarbonylzirconat(2–), [Zr(CO)6]2−: Der erste binäre Carbonylkomplex von Zirconium

Preparation sous forme [K(15-C-5) 2 ] 2 [Zr(CO) 6 ]. Spectre RMN de 91 Zr montrant une structure octaedrique
5-Fluorouracil interferes with actin organization, stress fiber formation and cell migration in corneal endothelial cells during wound repair along the natural basement membrane.

Corneal endothelial cells respond to a circular freeze wound by undergoing actin cytoskeletal reorganization that is mainly characterized by the disappearance of circumferential microfilament bundles (CMBs) and the subsequent appearance of distinct stress fibers. This cytoskeletal rearrangement is associated with changes in cell shape as migrating cells lose their polyhedral appearance, spread out, and assume a stellate morphology with cell processes extending outward into the injured area. We report here that in the presence of low concentrations (0.01–0.l mM) of the anti-metabolite 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), characteristic actin organization becomes disrupted and migrating cells do not display elongated processes typical of control tissues and translocation into the injury zone is retarded, but not inhibited. Rhodamine phalloidin staining revealed no evidence of stress fiber formation. A higher concentration of 5-FU (1.0 mM) not only prevented formation of discernible stress fibers but also resulted in a more restricted cell movement during wound repair. That this was not a cytotoxic effect was demonstrated by transferring tissues back into standard medium allowing endothelia to reinitiate migration and undergo complete wound healing by 72 h post-transfer. Overnight incubation of endothelia in 4 μM phallacidin resulted in limited CMB disruption the extent of which was dependent on the 5-FU concentration. The effects of 5-FU on the actin cytoskeleton are reversible and by 24 h after placing treated endothelia into medium without 5-FU, actin begins to become re-established and by 48 h microfilament patterns in the tissue resemble those of non-treated endothelia. Similarly, when noninjured tissues are cultured in the presence of 5-FU for 24 h, subsequently injured and returned to standard medium, they exhibit no stress fibers when observed at 24 h post-wounding. However, by 48 h post-injury these cells now display stress fibers and extend processes into the wound area. Biochemical studies on isolated muscle actin demonstrated that actin polymerization is unaffected in the presence of either 0.01 or 1 mM 5-FU as determined by the F-actin sedimentation and falling ball viscosity techniques. Thus, the mechanism(s) by which 5-FU exerts its actions on the actin cytoskeleton appears to be one of an indirect nature. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 62:244–258, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Phonon dispersion in transition metals - a new 3-parameter model

A new 3-parameter model for the dynamical matrix Dxy(q) of a transition metal is presented, with one of the parameters related to the dielectric screening function of the conduction electron gas. The other two parameters are the amplitudes of the first and second neighbour Born-von Karman force constant fits to the core-core overlap repulsion. The constants are determined in a manner similar to that of the Krebs model by fitting the measured elastic constants in the long-wave limit. The model is tested for fcc Pd, where it gives good agreement with the phonon dispersion curves obtained from inelastic neutron scattering studies. In addition the fitted dielectric function compares favorably to a recent a priori 2-band calculation for Pd, using a method similar to that of Shimizu, who recently studied Ni.
The Language of Comparisons: Communicating about Percentages

While comparisons between percentages or rates appear frequently in journalism and advertising, and are an essential component of quantitative writing, many students fail to understand precisely what percentages mean, and lack fluency with the language used for comparisons. After reviewing evidence demonstrating this weakness, this experience-based perspective lays out a framework for teaching the language of comparisons in a structured way, and illustrates it with several authentic examples that exemplify mistaken or misleading uses of such numbers. The framework includes three common types of erroneous or misleading quantitative writing: the missing comparison, where a key number is omitted; the apples-to-pineapples comparison, where two subtly incomparable rates are presented; and the implied fallacy, where an invalid quantitative conclusion is left to the reader to infer.
CONSUMPTION COAGULOPATHY IN CONGENITAL HEART-DISEASE

Abstract Blood coagulant and fibrinolytic activity has been studied in 55 patients with cyanotic congenital heart-disease (C.H.D.), 20 patients with acyanotic C.H.D., and 32 control patients. Reduced levels of one or more coagulation factors, in particular of platelets and factor v, were found in 31 cyanotic patients. A rise in factor levels was achieved by venesection in 2 patients and by heparinisation in 4 out of 5 patients. The results suggest that some intravascular consumption contributes to the thrombocytopenia and low factor levels in certain cyanotic patients. The use of heparinisation and venesection may be valuable in preparing thrombocytopenic patients for surgical correction.
Age cohort differences in the developmental milestones of gay men.

ABSTRACT As the social context in which gay men live changes due to greater visibility, greater acceptance, and easier access to gay subculture, gay males may self-identify and take part in gay social activities at earlier ages than in the past. This study examined whether developmental milestones associated with sexual orientation for gay men have changed over the past several decades. A large and diverse sample of 2,402 gay men who responded to a 1994 survey published in a national magazine provided retrospective information on the age at which they reached individual psychological, social, and sexual behavior developmental milestones. We found evidence that individual psychological and sexual behavior milestones (e.g., awareness of attraction to males, having an orgasm with other male) are slowly moving toward earlier chronological ages (by 1 year of age every 8–25 years, p < 0.05), whereas social milestones (e.g., coming out) are moving more rapidly in a similar direction (by 1 year of age every 2–5 y...
Signaling with special run-length constraints for a digital recording channel

From studies on a digital magnetic recording channel, a signaling scheme that requires a special type of run-length constraint is presented. This signaling scheme produces desirable output waveforms with no read equalization. Furthermore, the uniform envelope of the readback waveform indicates that this scheme may be suitable for use with magnetoresistive read heads. Finally, a special class of run-length limited codes is introduced for use with this signaling scheme. These codes provide density increases with larger-detection windows than conventional run-length codes with equivalent gains. >
The Suppressive Effect of Subeschar Tissue Fluid Upon In Vitro Cell-Mediated Immunologic Function

UNLABELLED Fluid administered during resuscitation translocates beneath the burn wound and is considered inert "third space" loss. This study was done to determine whether subeschar tissue fluid (STF) functions as an immunobiologic reservoir. Seven patients with a mean BSA burn of 55% underwent isotonic volume resuscitation and burn treatment with low penetration topical agents. STF was collected at the time of fascial excision. Chemical analysis of STF was similar to serum; bacterial cultures grew no organisms. Ten percent dilutions of STF and burn serum significantly blunted mitogen-induced blastogenic response compared to control serum. STF was significantly more suppressive than burn serum (P less than .03). CONCLUSIONS 1. STF may act as both an immunologic barrier to microbial clearance in otherwise viable subcutaneous tissue and a reservoir for systemically reabsorbed immunosuppressive factors. 2. In addition to removing dead tissue, fascial excision may prove beneficial because it removes large amounts of immunosuppressive STF.
Radical Induced Impeding of Charge Recombination

We demonstrate that stable radicals, such as molecular oxygen and TEMPO, can inhibit back electron transfer by enhancing intersystem crossing of a singlet radical ion pair into its triplet state. The phenomenon is demonstrated on a series of dyads between porphyrin/chlorin and fullerene C60. The effect is observed only when the energy of the charge separated state is lower than that of the locally excited triplet states. Because of the spin statistics, the reverse intersystem crossing is less efficient, allowing use of oxygen and other paramagnetic species for impeding charge recombination in various electron-transfer systems. The interpretation is also confirmed by measurements of singlet oxygen yield and (lack of) magnetic field effects.
An improved method for the isolation of yeast nuclei active in RNA synthesis in vitro.

Abstract An improved method has been developed for the isolation of nuclei from Saccharomyces cerevisiae for the study of RNA synthesis in vitro . Utilization of Ficoll in the isolation procedure greatly increases the activity of RNA polymerase in isolated nuclei. Nuclei prepared by this procedure are essentially free of mitochondrial DNA.
The Implementation of Welfare Reform Policy: The Role of Public Managers in Front‐Line Practices

This study examines the extent to which staff in local welfare systems have embraced new welfare reform goals and, if so, the extent to which local management practices contribute to the alignment of staff priorities with policy objectives. It looks at agency structure and several aspects of public management from a microperspective that prior research has linked to agency performance including training, performance monitoring, staff resources, leadership characteristics, and personnel characteristics. The research indicates that front-line workers in welfare offices continue to believe that traditional eligibility determination concerns are the most important goals at their agencies. It also finds that management practices and the structuring of agency responsibilities matter: To the extent that public managers want to redirect local staff to focus their attention on the new goals associated with welfare reform, they can create the conditions under which staff have clear signals about what is expected and could provide them with the resources and incentives to realign their priorities.
Validation d'une échelle de bien-être général auprès d'une population francophone âgée de 50 à 75 ans*

The General Well-Being Schedule (GWB) is a questionnaire that is frequently used in large-scale epidemiological surveys to evaluate the psychological health of a given population. In spite of its popularity, it appears that no validation study has been done on a French version of the instrument. The present study proposes a French version of the GWB and establishes its psychometric qualities based on a sample of 369 subjects, 179 of whom are bilingual. The subjects were recruited through notices placed in the different francophone and anglophone media. The questionnaires were mailed to the subjects. First, the results show a very strong correlation between the translated version and the original version of the questionnaire (r = 0.88, p < 0.0001). The internal consistency of the French version is estimated at 0.92 and its test-retest reliability at 0.82 (95% CI: 0.71–0.89). Correlations between the total score on the general well-being scale and measures of depression and anxiety are over 0.70. Principal component analysis applied to the French and English versions of the questionnaire suggests the presence of a main factor which accounts for 50 per cent of the variance. This study provides a French version of the GWB that may justifiably be considered reliable and valid. Validation of the questionnaire should be pursued by establishing normative values for the elderly francophone population and by studying its responsiveness.
Regulatory schemes and self-protective environmental risk control: a comparison of insurance, liability, and deposit/refund systems

Abstract There has been an increasing interest in considering non-traditional regulatory instruments for control of environmental risks. Traditional regulation has relied on liability, in various forms, after risky events have actually occurred. There is concern that traditional instruments do not provide adequate signals to firms regarding social costs of risks. This paper considers two important alternatives to traditional liability instruments: insurance and deposit/refund systems. The purpose of the paper is to determine whether there is any theoretical superiority of these non-traditional instruments in controlling environmental risk and safety. A relatively simple model, designed to capture the essential features of liability, insurance, and deposit/ refund instruments, is developed and used to compare the resulting control levels under pure risk and pure uncertainty. The paper shows how risk aversion, limited liability afforded through bankruptcy, and differences between social and private discount rates can affect the ranking of control levels under each of the three primary instruments. The paper shows that, under reasonable assumptions, deposit/refund systems, such as input or discharge deposits, or performance bonds, will result in higher levels of controls than the other instruments. Results also suggest that it may be necessary to tailor regulatory instruments to specific firm situations, such as requiring deposits from small firms in competitive industries.
Where the West Begins: Debating Texas Identity. Glen Sample Ely. Lubbock.: Texas Tech University Press, 2011.

Where the West Begins: Debating Texas Identity. Glen Sample Ely. Lubbock.: Texas Tech University Press, 2011.Glen Sample Ely's Where the West Begins is an exploration of Texas cultural identity. It was prompted by casual, promotional evocations of the West, as when Fort Worth calls itself "the Gateway to the West." His book should be read alongside Greg Cantrell and Elizabeth Hayes Turner's collection Lone Star Pasts: Memory and History (2006), which explored the shaping of public narratives associated with Texas monuments, and organizations like the Ku Klux Klan, United Daughters of the Confederacy, and proponents of Tejano (criollo Spanish and Mexican) recognition. Ely's meticulously sourced book is a persuasive meditation on the importance of the term "West" both as geographical boundary and cultural badge.What's the difference between east and west Texas? Ely approvingly quotes an east Texas Judge Evans, who in 1869 had already rendered this verdict: "the average man of the east and the average man of West Texas are as dissimilar as the average citizens of any two states in the American Union" (34). This counters the notion of Texas as a culturally unified region. The public has been misled in part, according to Ely, by clever public relations that identify Texas as "West" in order to mask the region's southern identity during slavery and Reconstruction.The first chapter ("Where the West Begins") presents a geographical analysis. For Ely's purpose, there are three important climate zones that are defined by the ninety-eighth and hundredth meridians; a transitional "shatterbelt" lies between them. The hundredth passes down through Amarillo, Lubbock, and Del Rio, defining a zone westward that historically could only support dry land farming and grazing. The land to the east of the ninety-eighth Ely sees as part of the South, both in climate and in culture. But West Texas, averse to a slave economy, had several counties that voted against Secession.In the second chapter ("Gone from Texas and Trading with the Enemy"), Ely shows how the West's social geography affected its behavior in the Civil War. Lack of enthusiasm for the Southern cause and the disappearance of federal frontier defense led large numbers to migrate farther west. Many Tejanos and Germans resisted the draft or wholehearted service in the Confederate army. Texas Rangers lacked resources or discipline and numerous units were depleted by desertion. …
Enhanced chondrocyte densities on carbon nanotube composites: the combined role of nanosurface roughness and electrical stimulation.

Simultaneous incorporation of intrinsic nanosurface roughness and external electrical stimulation may maximize the regeneration of articular cartilage tissue more than on nanosmooth, electrically nonstimulated biomaterials. Here, we report enhanced functions of chondrocytes (cartilage synthesizing cells) on electrically and nonelectrically stimulated highly dispersed carbon nanotubes (CNT) in polycarbonate urethane (PCU) compared to, respectively, stimulated pure PCU. Specifically, compared to conventional longitudinal (or vertical) electrical stimulation of chondrocytes on conducting surfaces which require high voltage, we developed a lateral electrical stimulation across CNT/PCU composite films of low voltage that enhanced chondrocyte functions. Chondrocyte adhesion and long-term cell densities (up to 2 days) were enhanced (more than 50%) on CNT/PCU composites compared to PCU alone without electrical stimulation. This study further explained why by measuring greater amounts of initial fibronectin adsorption (a key protein that mediates chondrocyte adhesion) on CNT/PCU composites which were more hydrophilic (than pure PCU) due to greater nanometer roughness. Importantly, the same trend was observed and was even significantly enhanced when chondrocytes were subjected to electrical stimulation (more than 200%) compared to nonstimulated CNT/PCU. For this reason, this study provided direct evidence of the positive role that conductive CNT/PCU films can play in promoting functions of chondrocytes for cartilage regeneration. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2008
Predicting Job Decisions in Tomorrow's Workforce.

The Job Decision Factors Survey used policy capturing to measure the influence of 7 factors on job decisions. Data from 400 undergraduate students at a large university, 88% 18–25 years of age, 12% 25–65 years of age, 82% female, 54% White, 21% Asian, 10% Black, 10% Hispanic, 1% American Indian, were included in a regression analysis. Hypothesis 1, the significance of the 7-factor model, was supported (R2 = .02). Hypothesis 2, opportunities to learn accounting for more variance than compensation, was supported (β = .11, β = .06, respectively). Job counselors should consider highlighting learning opportunities when counseling or interviewing similar populations.
HIGH AFFINITY IgE RECEPTOR MEDIATED PROTEIN TYROSINE PHOSPHORYLATION: EVIDENCE FOR A NOVEL SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION PATHWAY

HIGH AFFINITY IgE RECEPTOR MEDIATED PROTEIN TYROSINE PHOSPHORYLATION: EVIDENCE FOR A NOVEL SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION PATHWAY
Studies on the salivary physiology of plant-bugs: The salivary secretions of aphids

Abstract The stylet sheaths of the species tested show evidence of disulphide bonds as well as hydrogen bonds, contain some free sulphydryl groups, and are secreted with a polyphenol oxidase. They can be formed in solutions containing cyanide, ascorbate, or urea, but apparently not in solutions containing both cyanide and urea. It is suggested that the polyphenol oxidase serves to promote bonding within the body of the precursor of the sheath material, and that urea permits the cyanide to penetrate the precursor and inhibit the oxidase sufficiently rapidly to prevent sheath formation. A method for observing and testing some properties of the watery saliva of individual aphids is described. In the four species tested, the watery saliva has a pH of about 8, in contrast to the pH of the stylet sheath of about 6. In two species examined, the ‘main’ salivary glands are the chief sources of polyphenol oxidase and sulphydryl groups in the head capsule, and must be considered as the source of the sheath precursor. It is concluded that the physiology of formation of the stylet sheath is similar in aphids and the Heteroptera: Pentatomorpha.
Realigning Incentives to Achieve Health Care Reform

THE 2010 PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE Care Act addressed a number of important issues; most particularly, enhancing access to health care insurance. However, the act did not address fundamental issues related to the organization and integration of health care and did not create a long-term economic model of payment for health care. It is vital, therefore, that the legislation be modified before its longterm limitations force cost containment measures detrimental to health care quality and access. Although much of the debate about health care reform has been acrimonious and polarizing, there is near universal agreement on several facts, and this agreement can form the basis for realigning incentives to maximize quality and minimize cost: (1) Government-run, nonprofit single-payer systems have lower non–health care costs than do for-profit private insurance systems. (2) Singlepayer government-run systems lack competition and have the potential for political interference. (3) The current health care system does not derive the benefit of market forces because the recipient of the services (the patient) does not directly pay the physician or hospital. Instead, a third party (the insurer) pays, and a fourth party (the employer) often chooses the third party. (4) The fee-forservice payment system does not provide incentives for physicians to work together or in concert with hospitals to coordinate the care of patients with chronic complex disorders, which account for a disproportionate percentage of health care costs. Accountable care organizations encourage cooperation but will need to overcome the competing interests of physicians and hospitals and may not be economically viable. (5) Economic reward systems that are based on the performance of only 1 isolated component of the health care delivery system are unlikely to achieve the best and most cost-effective care. For example, hospital pharmacists may resist purchasing expensive new medications, even if they are expected to improve outcomes and reduce total health care costs. (6) Although it is vital that health care reform ensures access to needed medical care for all, it is important to prevent indiscriminant use of unneeded or futile care. (7) Primary care physicians play a vital role in delivering the most efficient and effective care when they establish long-term relationships with patients. Having patients change primary care physicians each time an employer-selected health plan changes is not only inefficient and medically dangerous but also creates disincentives for physicians to develop stable relationships with their patients and for health plans to invest in preventive services. (8) United States antitrust laws inadvertently discourage integrated medical care by requiring physicians to function as competitors rather than as colleagues.