cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Generation, manipulation and characterization of molecules by atomic force microscopy

Using atomic manipulation, one can dissociate, form and rearrange bonds, as well as alter the conformation or charge state of molecules. The molecular structures of reactants, intermediates and products are revealed at unprecedented resolution by using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and a suitably functionalized tip. Our present capabilities of manipulation and imaging of molecules by AFM approach the level of control predicted by Richard P. Feynman in his famous lecture ‘There's plenty of room at the bottom’, in which he described how molecules and materials might be formed by attaching and detaching individual atoms at will. In this Review, we discuss recent progress and the future prospects of molecule generation by atom manipulation and molecular characterization by AFM. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) enables the imaging and manipulation of individual molecules at atomic resolution. This Review addresses experimental considerations, including operating modes and choices for tips and substrates. Examples are presented in which AFM is used to image molecules and induce bond formation or dissociation.
Five-Factor Model of Personality Traits and Organizational Citizenship Behavior: Current Research and Future Directions

For over a quarter of a century, organizational scholars have sought to understand the ways in which employees contribute to organizational success through their organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). Concurrently, personality traits have provided an important lens for illuminating what motivates such discretionary efforts. Our first purpose is to provide a state-of-the art, theoretically grounded review of the literature linking five-factor model (FFM) personality traits to OCB. Second, we strive to clarify both our criterion construct (OCB) and our predictor space in order to facilitate the integration of past research and pave the way for future research. For our criterion space, we focus on three prominent types of OCB: directed toward individuals (OCB-I), toward the organization (OCB-O), and toward change (OCB-CH). For our predictor space, we examine FFM personality traits and FFM-based dark-side personality traits. Third, we offer new fruitful directions for future research. We conclude with three key themes for future research.
Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Breast Cancer Incidence, Risk Factors, Health Care Utilization, and Outcomes in the USA

Purpose of the Review This review examines racial/ethnic disparities in female breast cancer within the USA. Specifically, differences in breast cancer incidence, risk factors, health care utilization use, and outcomes among Caucasians and non-Caucasians are explored.
3‐D Inversion of the MT EarthScope Data, Collected Over the East Central United States

The magnetotelluric (MT) data collected as a part of the EarthScope project provided a unique opportunity to study the conductivity structure of the deep interior of the North American continent. Besides the scientific value of the recovered subsurface models, the data also allowed inversion practitioners to test the robustness of their algorithms applied to regional long-period data. In this paper, we present the results of MT inversion of a subset of the second footprint of the MT data collection covering the East Central United States. Our inversion algorithm implements simultaneous inversion of the full MT impedance data both for the 3-D conductivity distribution and for the distortion matrix. The distortion matrix provides the means to account for the effect of the near-surface geoelectrical inhomogeneities on the MT data. The long-period data do not have the resolution for the small near-surface conductivity anomalies, which makes an application of the distortion matrix especially appropriate. The determined conductivity model of the region agrees well with the known geologic and tectonic features of the East Central United States. The conductivity anomalies recovered by our inversion indicate a possible presence of the hot spot track in the area.
High-resolution melt curve PCR assay for specific detection of E. coli O157:H7 in beef

Abstract Among the disease-causing Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), E. coli O157:H7 is estimated to cause one-third of the total STEC illnesses and the most cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in the U.S. The uidA gene which is present in the majority of E. coli strains, codes for the synthesis of β- d -glucuronidase (GUD). In E. coli O157:H7, the uidA gene has a single point mutation at the +93 position that leads to an alteration in the amino acid sequence encoding the GUD enzyme. The aim of this study was to distinguish E. coli O157:H7 from other E. coli using a high resolution melt curve (HRM) real-time PCR assay. Based on the uidA mutation in E. coli O157:H7, a reliable PCR assay targeting the uidA gene was developed to differentiate E. coli O157:H7 from other E. coli serotypes and the closely related Shigella spp. The specificity of the assay was validated using a set of 128 pure bacterial DNA samples. Following enrichment and immunomagnetic separation (IMS), the assay was further applied to spiked ground beef and beef trim. Isolates of E. coli O157:H7 formed distinctive melt peaks that were easily distinguishable from those of other E. coli serogroups and Shigella isolates in the PCR plot. Therefore, this assay was able to clearly discriminate E. coli O157:H7 strains from other E. coli and Shigella. With a 5–8 h enrichment time, followed by IMS, 10 CFU of E. coli O157:H7 were detectable in 325 g spiked beef samples. The HRM E. coli O157:H7 detection assay standardized in this study will allow for accurate identification of contaminated food samples and help in preventing foodborne outbreaks caused by this pathogen.
Pharmacology: General Concepts

Medicine is intimately associated with a thorough understanding of clinical pharmacology. Many drugs have been discovered by observing natural materials—for example, plants—and their effects on animals. The physical effect of a drug, either positive or negative, can be observed without the knowledge of its mechanism of action. Modern drug discovery takes a different approach. Starting with a hypothesis that a certain protein is implicated in a disease, small molecules are screened for targeting the protein for the therapeutic effect; these are ultimately tested for a desired effect in basic science and clinical trials. The study of the interaction of the drug with the physiology of the body is the basis of clinical pharmacology.
A Workflow-Based Framework for Curating Product Analytical Data and Statistical Results for Lot Release

Demonstrate the use of a knowledge management and data curation (KProMS) system to support a collaborative research project involving the generation of extensive critical product quality data and the investigation of alternative statistical sampling/analysis strategies for product release. A suite of workflows was developed for the analytical testing and calibration activities associated with the required USP dissolution, HPLC, weight, hardness, and physical dimension measurements. The workflow library also includes the computational steps in the relevant Bayesian and frequentist statistical analyses. The necessary interfaces enabling the transfer of raw data from the instrument output files into KProMS were also implemented. By virtue of a HUB-based implementation of KProMS, all of the details of both laboratory and statistical procedures as well as the resulting data and analysis are web-accessible to all authorized participants. The system enabled data generation, sharing and harvesting over the web, and seamless integration of activities between groups located in three different locations. KProMS can be effectively used in routine management of the dosage form quality data in pharmaceutical operations. This would allow industrial laboratories to seamlessly generate data and populate the knowledgebase to track the analysis for product release and for correlation to process control charting.
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection use in states with and without insurance coverage mandates for infertility treatment, United States, 2000-2015.

Objective To compare indications and trends in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) use for in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles among residents of states with and without insurance mandates for IVF coverage. Design Cross-sectional analysis of the National Assisted Reproductive Technology Surveillance System from 2011 to 2015 for the main outcome and from 2000 to 2015 for trends. Setting IVF cycles performed in U.S. fertility clinics. Patient(s) Fresh IVF cycles. Intervention(s) Residency in a state with an insurance mandate for IVF (n = 8 states) versus no mandate (n = 43 states, including DC). Main Outcome Measure(s) ICSI use by insurance coverage mandate status stratified by male-factor infertility diagnosis. Result(s) During 2000–2015, there were 1,356,377 fresh IVF cycles, of which 25.8% (n = 350,344) were performed for residents of states with an insurance coverage mandate for IVF. ICSI use increased significantly during 2000–2015 in states both with and without a mandate; however, for non–male-factor infertility cycles, the percentage increase in ICSI use was greater among nonmandate states (34.6% in 2000 to 73.9% in 2015) versus mandate states (39.5% in 2000 to 63.5% in 2015). For male-factor infertility cycles, this percentage increase was ∼7.3% regardless of residency in a state with an insurance mandate for IVF. From 2011 to 2015, ICSI use was lower in mandate versus nonmandate states, both for cycles with (91.5% vs. 94.5%), and without (60.3% vs. 70.9%) male-factor infertility. Conclusion(s) Mandates for IVF coverage were associated with lower ICSI use for non–male-factor infertility cycles.
Medical and dietary management of eosinophilic esophagitis.

Abstract Objective Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a disease of chronic, allergen-driven, T-helper 2 (Th2) immune-mediated inflammation that progresses to fibrostenosis of the esophagus if left untreated. There are currently no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–approved drugs for the treatment of EoE. This review focuses on the medical and dietary management of EoE. Data Sources Manuscripts on EoE treatments were identified on PubMed. Study Selections Original research, randomized control trials, retrospective studies, meta-analyses, case series, and on occasions, case reports of high relevance, were selected and reviewed. Results Current treatment strategies available to EoE patients center on monotherapy or combination therapy with dietary modification to exclude antigenic stimulation and topical corticosteroids to control Th2-mediated tissue inflammation and pathologic remodeling. Dilation as a rescue therapy for the narrowed, fibrostenotic, symptomatic esophagus can potentially be avoided with optimal medical and elimination diet therapies. The molecular mechanisms underlying EoE pathogenesis are being unraveled, from which targeted therapies can be developed and evaluated in preclinical and clinical studies. Current clinical research efforts focus on optimization of topical corticosteroid delivery, dosing, frequency, and duration of treatment, either alone or in combination with tailored elimination diet. Preliminary clinical trials with biologics targeting interleukin (IL)-5 and IL-13/IL-4 have been completed. Conclusion Topical corticosteroid, elimination diet, and dilation are the current treatment modalities for confirmed EoE. The use of proton-pump inhibitors (PPI) is being suggested as a potential regimen to treat EoE, based on evolving understanding of PPI-responsive esophageal eosinophilia (PPI-REE). The complexity of EoE treatment regimens and frequent follow-ups require a multimodal, multi-disciplinary management approach to optimize patient care.
Proceedings of the Epilepsy Foundation's 2017 Cannabinoids in Epilepsy Therapy Workshop.

The Cannabinoids in Epilepsy Therapy workshop took place at Stanford University in October 2017 and brought together researchers, clinicians, and patient advocates to facilitate an open discussion on two key topics. The first was to review the state of current research on the therapeutic value of cannabinoids (CB) and how the endocannabinoid (eCB) signaling system contributes to the control of seizures. The second was to identify where there are gaps in what we know about targeting the CB system to control seizures and disrupt seizure networks. Thus, the workshop provided opportunities for a diverse assembly of scientists, clinicians, and patient representatives to network with each other and share lessons learned about successfully researching CBs in the US. This review summarizes the key topics that were discussed and their conclusions. Epilepsy is the 4th most prevalent neurological disorder and is characterized by spontaneous, recurrent seizures that can result in a spectrum of consequences, from disrupted quality of life, to developmental delays, injury, or early death. Despite the availability of over 25 antiseizure drugs (ASDs), 1/3 of patients still experience pharmacoresistant seizures that are not fully controlled with current ASD therapies [1]. Therefore, the identification of new effective treatment strategies is imperative. Initial anecdotal observations from patients with epilepsy, early preclinical testing, and recent human clinical trials suggest that cannabidiol (CBD), a constituent of the cannabis plant that does not trigger euphoria, may significantly reduce seizure frequency and incidence [2–4]. However, the efficacy of CBD and other compounds targeting cannabinoid receptors is significantly different depending on preclinical seizure model, including the animal strain and age, as well as the dosage and route of administration of the compounds. Human clinical trial results also suggest that seizures respond to CBD in some individuals and not in others [2, 4]. Thus, this workshop served to discuss the current scientific understanding behind CBD and other CBs for seizure control, and to determine what questions remain about their antiseizure mechanism of action and how those unknown areas can be addressed.
Modifications to classification and regression trees to solve problems related to imperfect detection and dependence

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . x CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1.
Presenting symptoms and patient prognosticators in neoplastic meningitis: A single institution experience.

e13593Background: Neoplastic meningitis (NM) occurs in 5-15% of cancer patients, with less than 15% surviving one year. Untreated, median survival is estimated at 1.5-2 months. The purpose of this ...
Refit and Oxygen Isotope Analysis of Freshwater Mussel Shells from the Tillar Farms Site (3DR30), Southeast Arkansas

ABSTRACTWe investigate the link between the consumption of foodstuffs, excavation of a large pit, and disposal of waste at the Tillar Farms site (3DR30), southeast Arkansas, using refit and oxygen ...
Urine Antigen Testing is Equally Sensitive to B. dermatitidis and B. gilchristii Infections.

INTRODUCTION Blastomycosis is endemic in Wisconsin with Blastomyces dermatitidis and B. gilchristii responsible for infections. Urine antigen testing is a non-invasive diagnostic method for blastomycosis with up to 93% test sensitivity. However, the test's sensitivity has not been evaluated with relationship to B. gilchristii infections. METHODS We aimed to assess physician use of the urine antigen assay and its sensitivity to B. gilchristii and B. dermatitidis infections in a retrospective study. Culture confirmed clinical cases of blastomycosis from 2008-2016 were identified within Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) and UW Hospital and Clinics (UWHC) medical records. Clinical data were abstracted from each medical record and included the following: patient demographics, presence of immune compromising and underlying medical conditions, treatment drugs, presence of isolated pulmonary or disseminated disease, death, urine antigen testing, timeframe of testing, and quantitative test values (EIA units or ng/mL). RESULTS A total of 140 blastomycosis cases were included in this study, with MCHS contributing 114 cases to the study and UWHC contributing 26 cases. The majority of UWHC cases (n=22; 85%) were caused by B. dermatitidis and the majority of MCHS cases (n=73; 64%) were caused by B. gilchristii. UWHC physicians were significantly more likely to treat with multiple drugs during the course of infection and were more likely to prescribe amphotericin B and voriconazole. Urine antigen testing was more frequently used at UWHC (n=24; 92%) than MCHS (n=51; 45%; P < 0.00001). In this study, the urine antigen assay demonstrated 79% sensitivity. Sensitivity was significantly associated with the timeframe of testing (P < 0.05), with most true positive urine antigen tests (83%) being performed ≤ 7 days from diagnosis. In this study, the urine antigen assay was capable of detecting both B. dermatitidis and B. gilchristii at about equal sensitivity. Urine antigen concentration (ng/mL) trended higher in B. dermatitidis infections. CONCLUSION This study found that the urine antigen assay is capable of detecting both species of Blastomyces at about the same sensitivity. We recommend continued use of the urine antigen assay for diagnosis of blastomycosis and recommend that the assay be used early in the diagnostic process to minimize the chance of false negative results.
Novel imaging technology and procedures for studying brain function in preadolescent awake marmosets.

Abstract Background Novel imaging technology and procedures were developed to study brain function in preadolescent awake marmosets never exposed to anesthesia. Methods A radiofrequency transmit and receive, head only volume coil was designed and integrated into a holding system. An acclimation procedure was developed without the use of anesthesia or sedation that allowed for awake imaging. Preadolescent 8-month old male and female marmosets were imaged for resting state BOLD functional connectivity to assess the status of the default mode network. Levels of reactivity during acclimation sessions and behavioral stress following imaging were assessed. Results Data on functional coupling in the default mode network suggest the organization of connectivity to the prefrontal cortex is not fully developed at 8 months of age. The stress associated with the imaging procedure is comparable to that observed when marmosets are removed from their home cage and temporarily isolated from the family. Comparison to other methods The design of the radiofrequency coil provides B1 homogeneity across the entire brain without signal drop off. The unique design of the head cradle obviates the need for any stabilizing surgery, ear bars or bite bar and could be adapted to any size marmoset. The acclimation requires no anesthesia or sedation at any time in the early life of the developing marmoset, a condition that better reflects the human experience. Conclusion A method is provided for imaging functional activity in the brain of fully awake preadolescent marmosets without any history of anesthesia or sedation.
An investigation of self-esteem in the treatment of OCD

Abstract The cognitive-behavioral model of obsessive-compulsive disorder, along with several contemporary theories, suggests that self-esteem is likely an important component of OCD psychopathology and treatment. Little research, however, has explored the association between self-esteem and OCD. The study of self-esteem is itself a complex pursuit. A comprehensive investigation of self-esteem requires consideration of state and trait aspects of this construct and a longitudinal perspective, particularly when self-esteem is studied during the course of psychological treatment. In this study, adults participating in psychological treatment for OCD provided repeated self-reports of self-esteem throughout the course of therapy. The aims of this study were to evaluate the relationship between self-esteem and severity of OCD and depressive symptoms; to examine whether temporal variability (i.e., fluctuation) in self-esteem was associated with symptom reduction; and to measure changes in self-esteem over time. Our results indicated the following: average self-esteem across treatment, variability in self-esteem, and depressive symptomatology were significantly correlated with post-treatment OCD severity; self-esteem did not affect the rate of OCD symptom change over treatment but did significantly affect the rate of depressive symptom change; self-esteem increased significantly before and after sessions, on average, and over the course of treatment. Implications and further directions are discussed.
Equivalence of Convergence Rates of Posterior Distributions and Bayes Estimators for Functions and Nonparametric Functionals

We study the posterior contraction rates of a Bayesian method with Gaussian process priors in nonparametric regression and its plug-in property for differential operators. For a general class of kernels, we establish convergence rates of the posterior measure of the regression function and its derivatives, which are both minimax optimal up to a logarithmic factor for functions in certain classes. Our calculation shows that the rate-optimal estimation of the regression function and its derivatives share the same choice of hyperparameter, indicating that the Bayes procedure remarkably adapts to the order of derivatives and enjoys a generalized plug-in property that extends real-valued functionals to function-valued functionals. This leads to a practically simple method for estimating the regression function and its derivatives, whose finite sample performance is assessed using simulations. Our proof shows that, under certain conditions, to any convergence rate of Bayes estimators there corresponds the same convergence rate of the posterior distributions (i.e., posterior contraction rate), and vice versa. This equivalence holds for a general class of Gaussian processes and covers the regression function and its derivative functionals, under both the $L_2$ and $L_{\infty}$ norms. In addition to connecting these two fundamental large sample properties in Bayesian and non-Bayesian regimes, such equivalence enables a new routine to establish posterior contraction rates by calculating convergence rates of nonparametric point estimators. At the core of our argument is an operator-theoretic framework for kernel ridge regression and equivalent kernel techniques. We derive a range of sharp non-asymptotic bounds that are pivotal in establishing convergence rates of nonparametric point estimators and the equivalence theory, which may be of independent interest.
Identification of Urban Centres for Conducting Population Census; Need for Combining GIS with Socio-economic Data

This chapter studies issues involved in the identification of urban centres and determining their boundaries. It takes a critical look at the prevailing procedures of distinguishing urban centres from rural areas (and related terms) and proposes a new approach for areal classification and an operational methodology to address the current deficiencies in the system as followed in South Asian countries in conducting their population Census. An examination of the methodologies used by global institutions for delimiting urban centres’ boundaries and estimating urban population is undertaken including OECD methods, the framework used in World Development Report and the e-Geopolis project. A fourfold criteria for areal classification are proposed. The method proposed is illustrated with a case study of Sri Lanka, comparing results with their official estimates. Integrating GIS technology with socio-economic data, it highlights how existing estimates of urban population would change as a result of the new approach.
‘Mama, he treats your daughter mean’: Reassessing the narrative of British R&B with Ottilie Patterson

The phenomenon of British R&B is most often understood in terms of young, white, middle-class British men turning to the ‘down-home’ sounds of black American men for musical motivation. This article offers a revision to this dominant narrative by reinserting ‘slim, lively Irish girl’ Ottilie Patterson, the UK's most popular blues singer before 1963. I analyse the content and context of Patterson's 1961 album, Rhythm and Blues with Ottilie Patterson, drawing from contemporaneous mass-media discourse as well as Patterson's own notebooks held at Britain's National Jazz Archive. Patterson's performances captured on this record demonstrate how R&B was first publicly (re-)presented and understood in the UK. I argue that Patterson's work challenges the assumptions that (a) British R&B began with the formation of Alexis Korner's Blue Incorporated and (b) the R&B revival was predominately motivated by the appropriation and vicarious expression of African-American hypermasculinity.
ASHP national survey of pharmacy practice in hospital settings: Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on pharmacy operations-2020.

Purpose Results of the 2020 ASHP national survey of pharmacy practice in hospital settings pertaining to pharmacy operational changes implemented in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are presented. Methods Pharmacy directors at 1,437 general and children's medical/surgical hospitals in the United States were surveyed using a mixed-mode method of contact by email and mail. Survey completion was online. Results The response rate was 18.7%. Seventy-three percent of hospitals implemented changes to hospital units, including 46% that increased intensive care unit bed capacity; 94% made changes to pharmacy supply chain acquisition, changes to products, and/or increased inventory. Staffing changes were implemented by 69% of hospitals, with the most common being staffing reductions (55%) and salary reductions (16%). Medication-use changes were implemented by 86% of hospitals, with treatment guidelines for COVID-19 treatment (79%) and opening compassionate use or investigational drug studies (55%) being the most common. Changes in sterile compounding processes were implemented by 84% of hospitals. Personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages led to 71% of hospitals modifying PPE use standards in sterile compounding. Eighty-seven percent of hospitals changed operational activities, such as changing medication return practices (56%), medication reconciliation processes (46%), intravenous medication recycling (38%), and discharge counseling (37%). Hospitals experienced shortages of many medications, including albuterol inhalers (60%), sedatives and anesthetic agents (58%), neuromuscular blockers (43%), corticosteroids (34%), cardiovascular agents (24%), investigational agents (24%), and dialysis solutions (6%). Conclusion The pharmacy profession responded to myriad threats to operations and patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Partial regularity for an exponential PDE in crystal surface models

We study the regularity properties of a weak solution to the boundary value problem for the equation $-\Delta \rho +a u=f$ in a bounded domain $\Omega\subset \mathbb{R}^N$, where $\rho=e^{-\mbox{div}\left(|\nabla u|^{p-2}\nabla u+\beta_0|\nabla u|^{-1}\nabla u\right)}$. This problem is derived from the mathematical modeling of crystal surfaces. It is known that the exponent term can exhibit singularity. In this paper we obtain a partial regularity result for the weak solution. It asserts that there exists an open subset $\Omega_0\subset \Omega$ such that $|\Omega\setminus\Omega_0|=0$ and the exponent term is locally bounded in $\Omega_0$. Furthermore, if $x_0\in \Omega\setminus\Omega_0$, then $\rho$ vanishes of $N+2-\varepsilon$ order at $x_0$ for each $\varepsilon\in(0,2)$.
Sequential behavior and its inherent tolerance to memory faults.

Representation of a memory fault of a sequential machine M by a function mu on the states of M and the result of the fault by an appropriately determined machine M(mu). Given some sequential behavior B, its inherent tolerance to memory faults can then be measured in terms of the minimum memory redundancy required to realize B with a state-assigned machine having fault tolerance type tau and fault tolerance level t. A behavior having maximum inherent tolerance is exhibited, and it is shown that behaviors of the same size can have different inherent tolerance.
MuMTV Genotype, Protoneoplasia, and Tumor Progression

If we are to understand cancer, we must understand its origins and its evolution. The current concept, that cancer results from somatic cell mutation, means that the molecular origin and evolution of the disease must also be understood. At present, most of our information about the molecular biology of neoplastic progression comes from either lymphoid cells or fibroblasts in tissue culture (1–3). Unfortunately, breast cancer is a solid tumor of epithelial origin. In fact, most cancers develop in solid organs and, with rare exception, we know very little about the origin and evolution of such neoplasms.
The federal regulation of food labeling: promoting foods to prevent disease

SHOULD Kellogg advertise All-Bran cereal as helping to reduce the risk of cancer?1 Should federal requirements for labeling nutrients mandate the disclosure of the cholesterol, fatty acid, and fibe...
A network management approach for qos evaluation of IP multimedia services

Since the traditional periodic polling based network management framework is not suitable to understand network-wide behavior of a large-scale Internet, dedicated measurement tools have been required for the precise service evaluation. This paper proposes a measurement scheme to monitor the quality of service (QoS) of IP multimedia services. The proposed scheme gives users the ability to evalaute their services within the current Internet engineering task force (IETF) management framework. We dispatch an Internet control message protocol (ICMP) based test packet to a remote server repeatedly and gather the performance information using the proposed service monitoring management information base (SM MIB). The experiments conducted on the real networks show that the SM MIB is useful for end-to-end QoS monitoring.
Chymotrypsin C: III. Sequence of amino acids around an essential histidine residue

Abstract Evidence is presented that inhibition of chymotrypsin C by tosyl- l -leucine chloromethylketone results from the reaction of this reagent with a single essential histidine residue of the enzyme. Labeled peptides containing this histidine residue have been isolated from peptic digests of [14C]tosyl- l -leucine chloromethylketone-inhibited chymotrypsin C. Analysis of these peptides supports a postulated sequence of amino acids surrounding this essential histidine residue of Ala-Ala-His-Cys-Ile-Asp Ser-Gly-Thr-Ser-Arg-Thr.
Observability in topology-constrained multi-robot target tracking

In this paper, we consider the problem of controlling a multi-robot team in order to track a mobile target with unknown dynamics. Our contribution in this context is a non-linear observability analysis of the target tracking network, which yields insights into the topological and actuation conditions necessary for the underlying state estimation problem. We demonstrate a metric of observability which allows us to determine robot inputs that maximize observability to improve team localization. Combining the observability metric with topological control then yields a robust target tracking solution. We close the paper with a simulation example which demonstrates the ability of our solution to cope with scenarios in which relative measurements poorly distinguish the target.
Comparing two assays for clinical genomic profiling: the devil is in the data [Letter of clarification].

Dear editor It has come to our attention that the second and fourth paragraph of our Authors’ reply1 may be misconstrued as an endorsement of the Paradigm Cancer Diagnostics (PCDx) test by Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Western Regional Medical Center, Goodyear, AZ, USA. This was not our intention. We stand by the interpretation of the results of the original manuscript and the remainder of the content of the Authors’ reply. We welcome a more robust clinical comparison of these two platforms, as well as any other platform that may improve the clinical decision-making and outcomes for patients with advanced cancer.
A pilot study of high-dose short duration daptomycin for the treatment of patients with complicated skin and skin structure infections caused by gram-positive bacteria.

Summary Background: Methicillin-susceptible and -resistant (MRSA) Staphylococcus aureus are significant causes of complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSI). The bactericidal antibiotic daptomycin is approved for gram-positive cSSSI at 4 mg/kg/day for 7–14 days, but the optimal dose level and duration of therapy have not been firmly established. This pilot study evaluated the efficacy and safety of daptomycin at 10 mg/kg every 24 h for 4 days [high-dose short duration (HDSD) regimen] vs. standard of care therapy with vancomycin or semi-synthetic penicillin for the treatment of cSSSI. Methods: This was a semi-single blind, randomised, multicentre, comparative trial. The primary efficacy end-point was the clinical response 7–14 days posttherapy. Results: One hundred patients were randomised; 48 in each arm were treated. The treatment groups were well balanced with respect to demographics, comorbidities and the type of infection (75% because of MRSA). Overall, clinical success rates were 75.0% (36/48) for daptomycin and 87.5% (42/48) for comparator (95% confidence interval for the difference: −27.9, 2.9). The median duration of comparator therapy was 8 days. Two comparator patients and no daptomycin patients experienced treatment-related serious adverse events requiring hospitalisation. Conclusion: We found that the HDSD regimen had a safety profile similar to that seen in previous studies. Although the differences were not statistically significant, clinical success rates for comparator were higher than for daptomycin. In post hoc analyses HDSD daptomycin performed better in some subgroups (e.g. outpatients) than in others (e.g. certain MRSA infections). These observations require confirmation in larger trials.
Exercise Adherence among Older Adults: Challenges and Strategies

This paper explores physical activity adherence among older adults in clinical research. We address the unique challenges associated with promoting physical activity, including the amount of time and effort, perceived benefits, and recommendations from professionals. We explore useful strategies to enhance adherence in the realm of physical activity interventions, including the development of theory-based physical activity interventions that acknowledge participant needs and expectations, promote self-regulatory skills, view exercise as an ongoing process subject to relapse, and utilize phone contacts for home-based activity programs. We conclude with directions for future clinical trials to enhance exercise adherence that include the need for a precise definition and operationalization of adherence, linkages between physical activity interventions and theory, and the study of exercise in both structured and home-based settings. Control Clin Trials 2000;21:212S-217S
Reaches to Sounds Encoded in an Eye-Centered Reference Frame

A recent hypothesis suggests that neurons in the lateral intraparietal area (LIP) and the parietal reach region (PRR) encode movement plans in a common eye-centered reference frame. To test this hypothesis further, we examined how PRR neurons encode reach plans to auditory stimuli. We found that PRR activity was affected by eye and initial hand position. Population analyses, however, indicated that PRR neurons were affected more strongly by eye position than by initial hand position. These eye position effects were appropriate to maintain coding in eye coordinates. Indeed, a significant population of PRR neurons encoded reaches to auditory stimuli in an eye-centered reference frame. These results extend the hypothesis that, regardless of the modality of the sensory input or the eventual action, PRR and LIP neurons represent movement plans in a common, eye-centered representation.
THE ELECTROCARDIOGRAM IN DIPHTHERITIC MYOCARDITIS.

Abstract Hospital records of 229 children with diphtheria revealed evidence of myocarditis affecting 47 (20 per cent), both by physical signs and abnormal electrocardiograms. The 437 electrocardiograms taken on the 47 patients were analyzed by the conventional and the electrovectorcardiographic method of Grant, and the QRS-T spatial angles were evaluated. A high predictability of survival from diphtheria is afforded by the electrocardiogram. Cases were grouped according to their most severe ECG abnormalities. If only the P-R interval was prolonged (Group A), or the T vector was shifted (Group B), causing the QRS-T angle to widen, the prognosis for complete recovery was excellent. Prolongation of the P-R interval tended to persist, whereas primary T-wave changes subsided. An intraventricular block (Group C) involved the superior branch of the left main bundle branch to the left ventricle in 8 children; and of these, 4 died, but only one as a result of myocarditis. One child with only incomplete right bundle branch block recovered. Of 14 children with a major conduction block (Group D), 11 died. Six of these children had complete bundle branch block: there were 3 fatalities. Complete A-V block was the most ominous ECG sign, in that it was consistently followed by death in 8 children. However, in one of these children the block regressed and death resulted from polyneuritis and respiratory failure. Out of the total 229 cases, 15 deaths occurred in that group of 47 patients in whom there was evidence of myocardial involvement; 10 deaths were due to this involvement and peripheral vasodilatation. One child died early from obstructive, laryngeal diphtheria, and 4 succumbed to the late effects of progressive polyneuritis complicated by pulmonary hypoventilation and infection. Autopsy was carried out on 8 children, for whom correlations of ECG, clinical, and pathologic data were presented. Early death in 3 children (Cases 40, 44, and 47) was associated with complete A-V block and histologic evidence of extensive myocardial disease, and in one child (Case 35), with right bundle branch block and a hemorrhagic myocardium. The child who died early from laryngeal obstruction (Case 31) had parietal block by ECG and interstitial edema of the myocardium. Death due to peripheral neural and respiratory causes late in the course of illness of 3 children (Cases 33, 38, and 46) was associated with regression of ECG changes and much less severe histologic evidence of myocarditis.
On quasi-Markov random fields

In this paper we define the quasi-Markov property and give a complete characterization of a stationary Gaussian quasi-Markov process. We show that the only stationary Gaussian quasi-Markov process on the whole real line is a Markov process, but there exists a non-Markovian singular stationary Gaussian quasi-Markov process on the set of all the integers. The Markov property implies the quasi-Markov property, and a sufficient condition for a stationary quasi-Markov process to be Markov is given. Following Rozanov we define a generalized notion of boundary, called an L-boundary, and the L-Markov property, and we give a discussion of the uniqueness of a probability distribution corresponding to a family of conditional distributions for the stationary Gaussian L-Markov case. A characterization of the stationary Gaussian L-field is given in terms of the spectral distribution as well as a discussion of the relationship between L-Markov and L-field. We study the existence of a properly nonsingular-stationary Gaussian L-field and show that it can exist only in three or higher dimensions. We also discuss the technique of the best linear interpolation in mean-square and show how this technique can be used in studying the above problems.
Role of the Adrenal Gland and Adrenal-Mediated Chemosignals in Suppression of Estrus in the House Mouse: The Lee-Boot Effect Revisited

Mature female mice, grouped in the absence of a male stimulus, exhibit a suppressed estrous cycle (the so-called Lee-Boot effect). We have designed a series of experiments to elucidate the involvement of the adrenal gland in this phenomenon. Our initial results indicate that adrenalectomized mice exhibit a regular estrous cycle in either isolated or grouped conditions. A single, intact mouse caged with five adrenalectomized females showed repeated normal cycles. When the urine samples from group-caged intact mice or group-caged adrenalectomized mice were applied to the external nares of singly caged females, estrous cycles were inhibited in the animals receiving urine from the intact mice but not from the adrenalectomized mice. In addition, corticosterone therapy restored the function of estrus suppression in grouped, adrenalectomized mice. We had previously shown that the urinary excretion of several volatile compounds (2-heptanone, trans-5-hepten-2-one, trans-4-hepten-2-one, pentyl acetate, cis-2-penten-1-yl acetate, and 2,5-dimethylpyrazine) was adrenal mediated (Science 1986; 231:722-725). A further testing of these compounds in relation to estrus suppression has now revealed that a mixture of these compounds is effective, but removing 2, 5-dimethylpyrazine from the mixture abolished the biological response. The overall results of this study show conclusively an important role of the adrenal gland and adrenal-mediated urinary metabolites in estrus suppression.
Observation of photon correlations in scattering from a silver electrode

Abstract Dynamic light scattering experiments were carried out on silver electrodes in aqueous solution. Two distinct time-scales were observed in the photon autocorrelation function: 1 ms and 100 ms. The 1 ms decay in the correlation was predominant during voltage cycling, while the slow decay is present at all times in varying strength. A possible source of the fast correlation is the generation of dynamic polarizability inhomogeneities on the silver surface while the slow correlation is associated with microscopic surface height modulation during electrocrystallization.
Dynamics of length-force relations in airway smooth muscle.

We tested the plasticity hypothesis that isometric force could optimize to similar levels, independent of muscle length after repeated contractions in bovine airway smooth muscle. In constant length experiments in which muscle lengths were held constant, we found that total force remained significantly length-dependent during repeated contractions, and changed by tenfold between 40 and 100% optimal length (Lo). Passive force contributed to <10% of total force. In sequential length experiments, total force increased by fourfold between 38 and 75% Lo, but changed insignificantly between 75 and 100% Lo, suggesting limited force plasticity near Lo. Force became attenuated after each length change, but remained length-dependent during redevelopment. Changing length from Lo to 150% Lo induced proportional decrease in active force and increase in passive force, with insignificant change in total force. Furthermore, post-stretch force redeveloped at Lo was substantially attenuated, resulting in the shifting of the length–total force relation toward longer length. The observed complex dynamics of length–force relations could explain the complex lung mechanics in vivo.
Embodied Evolution: Distributing an evolutionary algorithm in a population of robots

We introduce Embodied Evolution (EE) as a new methodology for evolutionary robotics (ER). EE uses a population of physical robots that autonomously reproduce with one another while situated in their task environment. This constitutes a fully distributed evolutionary algorithm embodied in physical robots. Several issues identified by researchers in the evolutionary robotics community as problematic for the development of ER are alleviated by the use of a large number of robots being evaluated in parallel. Particularly, EE avoids the pitfalls of the simulate-and-transfer method and allows the speed-up of evaluation time by utilizing parallelism. The more novel features of EE are that the evolutionary algorithm is entirely decentralized, which makes it inherently scalable to large numbers of robots, and that it uses many robots in a shared task environment, which makes it an interesting platform for future work in collective robotics and Artificial Life. We have built a population of eight robots and successfully implemented the first example of Embodied Evolution by designing a fully decentralized, asynchronous evolutionary algorithm. Controllers evolved by EE outperform a hand-designed controller in a simple application. We introduce our approach and its motivations, detail our implementation and initial results, and discuss the advantages and limitations of EE.
A parameterization forSO(3) Yang-Mills-Higgs systems

A model consisting of anSO(3) gauge field interacting with an isovector Higgs field is investigated. The gauge fields and field tensors are parameterized by the Higgs field directionality and a gauge field structure function in terms of which the magnetic field and magnetic charge density of a 't Hooft-Polyakov magnetic monopole can be simply expressed. An isovector Debye potential for a 't Hooft-Polyakov gauge field is written in terms of the gauge field structure function.
A self-rating scale of English difficulty: Rasch scalar analysis of items and rating categories:

This study has sought to demonstrate the utility of Rasch Model scalar analysis when applied to self-ratings of ability/difficulty associated with component skills of English as a second language. Eleven skill areas were rated for difficulty on a seven-point Likert-type scale by 228 ESL students at the University of California. Following appropriate tests of unidimen sionality, both skill area items and rating categories were calibrated for difficulty, examined for fit to the Rasch Model, and plotted to provide visual representation of the nature of the item characteristic curves. Specific suggestions were made for the improvement of the rating cate gories of the self-rating scale, and skill areas most susceptible to self- rating error were identified. It was concluded that scalar analysis of the kind considered here is feasible with self-rating data, and that other rating scale procedures such as those employed. to rate proficiency in foreign language speaking or writing would probably benefit from simil...
Diversity in the United States power elite

In his classic sociological analysis The Power Elite, published in 1956, sociologist C. Wright Mills depicted a group of white Anglo-Saxon Protestant men who ran the corporate, political and military elites in the United States. This article looks at this power elite 40 years later to consider the extent to which diversity has occurred. Each of these three institutions (the corporate, the political, and the military) is examined to see if jews, women, African-Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, and homosexuals have penetrated into the highest circles. The patterns that appear across all categories of newcomers are discussed, as is the extent to which the arrival of some newcomers has led to changes in the behavior of the power elite.
Gene diversity at allozyme loci in the cottonwood leaf beetle, Chrysomela scripta.

Gene diversity was studied in beetles collected from a poplar plantation at Ames, Iowa. The beetles are widely distributed throughout North America wherever poplars (Populus spp) occur. Of 38 loci interpretable by simple Mendelian criteria, 22 were polymorphic (58%). Nei's mean heterozygosity per locus was 20.1±4.0%. A mean 2.29±1.35 alleles per locus was detected. The foregoing levels of diversity are typical of Coleoptera. There were significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg expectations at six loci, and of these loci, four deviations were judged to have been caused by technical problems in resolving heterozygotes. Twelve polymorphic loci are considered suitable to carry out studies on the breeding structure of this important pest.