cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structural Snapshots of an Engineered Cystathionine-γ-lyase Reveal the Critical Role of Electrostatic Interactions in the Active Site.

Enzyme therapeutics that can degrade l-methionine (l-Met) are of great interest as numerous malignancies are exquisitely sensitive to l-Met depletion. To exhaust the pool of methionine in human serum, we previously engineered an l-Met-degrading enzyme based on the human cystathionine-γ-lyase scaffold (hCGL-NLV) to circumvent immunogenicity and stability issues observed in the preclinical application of bacterially derived methionine-γ-lyases. To gain further insights into the structure–activity relationships governing the chemistry of the hCGL-NLV lead molecule, we undertook a biophysical characterization campaign that captured crystal structures (2.2 A) of hCGL-NLV with distinct reaction intermediates, including internal aldimine, substrate-bound, gem-diamine, and external aldimine forms. Curiously, an alternate form of hCGL-NLV that crystallized under higher-salt conditions revealed a locally unfolded active site, correlating with inhibition of activity as a function of ionic strength. Subsequent mutati...
Why the Post-Racial is Still Racial: Understanding the Relationship between Race and Education:

Scholars who study educational equity and inequality in education, academic achievement gaps, and educational opportunity offer a variety myriad of explanations as to how or whether race has any ro...
Religious Identity and Health Inequalities in Canada

In the past few decades, most new immigrants to Canada have originated from non-Christian countries. During the same period, the unaffiliation rates have sharply increased in Canada. This paper investigates whether there are any health inequalities associated with religious identity, including also the individuals who do not identify with organized religion in the analysis. The study uses the Canadian General Social Survey of 2012 (N = 23,093), focused on Caregiving and Care-receiving. Employing multivariate regression analysis and controlling for a large set of characteristics inclusive of the degree of religious commitment, individuals who identify as Protestant are found at a physical and mental health advantage, compared with Roman Catholics and most other groups. On the other hand, individuals who identify as Jehovah’s Witnesses are found at a considerable physical health disadvantage. Among the unaffiliated individuals, those who have retained some ties with organized religion without formally identifying with it are found at a mental health disadvantage compared with all religious groups, as well as the secular individuals who are strictly committed to their nonreligious views. Possible causes and various implications are discussed.
The US Nuclear Establishment

In the midst of World War II the USA embarked on the Manhattan Project to build an atomic bomb. I focus on Los Alamos National Laboratory and on the Nevada National Security Site (formerly the Nevada Test Site), where assembly, maintenance, and testing of nuclear technologies were carried out. Historical and archaeological investigations have been ongoing in compliance with federal regulations, bringing to light architecture, facilities, and artifacts of the once-secret US government activities. This chapter summarizes research on the remains of the Manhattan Project and of Project Rover—the latter built a nuclear-thermal engine for spacecraft. Suggestions are offered for further research.
Transplantation of iPS cell-derived neural progenitors overexpressing SDF-1α increases regeneration and functional recovery after ischemic stroke.

// Monica Chau 1 , Todd C. Deveau 1 , Mingke Song 1 , Zheng Z. Wei 1 , Xiaohuan Gu 1 , Shan Ping Yu 1 and Ling Wei 1 1 Department of Anesthesiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA Correspondence to: Shan Ping Yu, email: spyu@emory.edu Ling Wei, email: lwei7@emory.edu Keywords: ischemic stroke; iPS cells; neural progenitor cells; SDF-1; functional recovery Received: June 17, 2017 Accepted: August 07, 2017 Published: October 31, 2017 ABSTRACT Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of human death and disability while clinical treatments are limited. The adult brain possesses endogenous regenerative activities that may benefit tissue repair after stroke. Trophic factors such as stromal cell-derived factor 1 alpha (SDF-1α) are upregulated in the ischemic brain, which promote endogenous regeneration. The regenerative response, however, is normally insufficient. Transplantation of exogenous cells has been explored as regenerative therapies. One promising cell type for transplantation is induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells which are cells genetically reprogrammed from adult somatic cells. We hypothesized that transplanting neural progenitor cells derived from iPS cells (iPS-NPCs) could provide cell replacement and trophic support. The trophic factor SDF-1α was overexpressed in iPS-NPCs by lentiviral transduction to test if SDF-1α could increase regeneration in the ischemic brain. These SDF-1α-iPS-NPCs were differentiated in vitro to express mature neuronal and synaptic markers. Differentiated cells expressed functional Na + and K + channels, and fired action potentials. In the oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) test, SDF-1α-iPS-NPCs survived significantly better compared to control iPS-NPCs. In mice subjected to focal cerebral ischemia in the sensorimotor cortex, iPS-NPCs and SDF-1α-iPS-NPCs were intracranially transplanted into the ischemic cortex 7 days after stroke. Neuronal differentiation of transplanted cells was identified using NeuN 14 days after transplantation. Mice that received SDF-1α-iPS-NPCs had greater numbers of NeuN/BrdU and Glut-1/BrdU co-labeled cells in the peri-infarct area and improved locomotion compared to the control iPS-NPC transplantation. Thus, SDF-1α upregulation in transplanted cells may be a therapeutic strategy to enhance endogenous neurovascular repair after ischemic stroke in adult mice.
Next Wave for Integration of Educational Technology into the Classroom: Collaborative Technology Integration Planning Practices

Technology integration planning (TIP) practices are yielding many emerging examples of effective ICT practice in schools. This chapter will explore and evaluate some best practices on a recently emerging trend in schools: the use of digital collaboration that brings together groups of students into learning networks. This chapter exemplifies the approach with a case study analysis of a sample of collaborative science notebooks from the Assessment and Teaching of Twenty-First Century Skills (ATC21S) project. How, when, and why such technology is being infused into education as digital literacy moves forward will be explored, using the case study. One approach to a systematic process for the effective inclusion of technology is to identify skills that students need to master to support a virtual skill or practice, such as digital collaboration. Here the TIP case study example helps teachers answer key questions about how to assess and evaluate collaborative work online, and how to employ such techniques in the classroom.
The Changes of Urban Structure and Commuting: An Application to Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the United States

While urban structures have been delineated at the regional level, few works have explored the impact of urban structures on commuting at this same level. This article studies how urban structures ...
Design and development of the recirculating crossed-field amplifier

The Recirculating Planar Crossed Field Amplifier (RPCFA) is a high-power microwave device adapted from the Recirculating Planar Magnetron (RPM) [1], developed at the University of Michigan. A travelling-wave, rectangular meander line design has been developed in simulation that amplifies a 1.3 MW signal at 3 GHz to approximately 29 MW, a gain of approximately 13.5 dB, with nearly 53% electronic efficiency. The amplifier is designed to be driven by the Michigan Electron Long Beam Accelerator (MELBA), which is currently configured to deliver a −300 kV, 1–10 kA, 0.3–1.0 us pulse. The RF signal will be provided by an MG5193 magnetron which can deliver microwave pulses with a peak power output of 2.6 MW at 3 GHz for up to 5 us.
Abstract 14368: Cardiac Stress Test Trends Among Patients Under Age 65 in the United States, 2005-2012

Introduction: After a period of rapid growth, utilization of cardiac stress testing has recently decreased among Medicare beneficiaries and in a large integrated health system. However, it is not known whether declines in stress test use are universal, or are confined to certain populations or payment models. Methods: Using comprehensive administrative claims from a national managed care company, we conducted a serial cross-sectional study with time trends among patients aged 25-64 who underwent cardiac stress testing between 2005 and 2012. We calculated age- and sex-adjusted rates of stress tests per calendar quarter, and estimated linear trends in rates using negative binomial regression models with calendar quarter as the key independent variable. Age- and sex-adjusted rates of hospitalization for acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) were used to estimate contemporaneous trends in a key adverse outcome of coronary artery disease. Results: We identified 2,085,591 stress tests performed among 32,921,838 unique persons. There was a small (2%) increase in stress test rates from 2005 to 2012 (3486 [95% CI: 3458 to 3514] versus 3552 [95% CI: 3522 to 3582] tests per 100,000 person-years; p for linear trend=0.01). Declines in nuclear single photon emission computed tomography (a 15% relative decrease; p=0.03) were offset by increases in the use of stress echocardiography (a 24% relative increase; p Conclusions: In contrast to declines in stress test use in some health care systems, we observed a small increase in stress test utilization among a large and diverse cohort of commercially insured patients. Our findings suggest that observed trends in stress test utilization may have been driven more strongly by unique characteristics of populations and health systems than national efforts to reduce overuse of testing.
Milk, Honey, and The Good Life on Moral Twin Earth

Moral naturalism is the view that moral properties, such as lightness and goodness, are in some important sense "natural" properties. Some nat uralists have sought to make good on this idea by deploying a kind of semantics proposed by Hilary Putnam and others. Putnam himself sugges ted this strategy,1 and Richard Boyd has pursued it.2 The kind of semantics proposed by Putnam allows for true synthetic property identity statements, such as that water is H20. If this approach can be applied to moral pre dicates, it therefore opens the door to a kind of "synthetic semantic moral naturalism" according to which, for any moral property, there is a syn thetic truth to the effect that the property is identical to a certain natural property. This strategy has come under attack, however, in an argument by Terence Horgan and Mark Timmons known as the "Moral Twin Earth argument".3 On the one hand, Horgan and Timmons argue, G. E. Moore's "open question argument" defeated the idea that there are any analytically true sentences to the effect that a given moral property is identical to a natural property. On the other hand, they argue, the Moral Twin Earth argument undermines the idea that there are any synthetic truths to the effect that a given moral property is identical to a natural property. If they are correct, naturalism is in trouble.4 Are they correct? I will argue that they are not. A close look shows that the Moral Twin Earth argument poses no threat to moral naturalism. To say this is not to say that synthetic moral naturalism is without difficulties. I believe that in fact it has difficulty accounting for the normativity of moral claims. My goal in this paper, however, is the modest one of making Moral Twin Earth safe for naturalists.
Enhanced Detection of Single Viruses On-Chip via Hydrodynamic Focusing

Planar optofluidics provide a powerful tool for facilitating chip-scale light-matter interactions. Silicon-based liquid core waveguides have been shown to offer single molecule sensitivity for efficient detection of bioparticles. Recently, a PDMS based planar optofluidic platform was introduced that opens the way to rapid development and prototyping of unique structures, taking advantage of the positive attributes of silicon dioxide-based optofluidics and PDMS based microfluidics. Here, hydrodynamic focusing is integrated into a PDMS based optofluidic chip to enhance the detection of single H1N1 viruses on-chip. Chip-plane focusing is provided by a system of microfluidic channels to force the particles towards a region of high optical collection efficiency. Focusing is demonstrated and enhanced detection is quantified using fluorescent polystyrene beads where the coefficient of variation is found to decrease by a factor of 4 with the addition of hydrodynamic focusing. The mean signal amplitude of fluorescently tagged single H1N1 viruses is found to increase with the addition of focusing by a factor of 1.64.
EFFECTS OF CHLORINATED BIPHENYLS AND PETROLEUM HYDROCARBONS ON THE ACTIVITY OF HEPATIC ARYL HYDROCARBON HYDROXYLASE OF COHO SALMON (Oncorhynchus kisutch) AND CHINOOK SALMON (O. tshawytscha)

Abstract Saltwater-adapted coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and chinook (O. tshawytscha) salmon were fed two mixtures of test compounds: one composed of chlorobiphenyls and the other of petroleum hydrocarbons. The chlorobiphenyl mixture consisted of biphenyl, 2-chloro-, 2,2f-and 2,4'-dichloro-, 2,5,2f-trichloro-, and 2,5,2',5f-tetrachlorobiphenyl. The hydrocarbon mixture consisted of n-pentadecane, 2,3-benzothiophene, 2,6-dimethyl- and 2,3,6-trimethylnaphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, 1-phenyldodecane, and heptadecylcyclohexane. The mixtures were fed separately in Oregon moist pellets at concentrations of 1 ppm and 5 ppm and together at 2 ppm and 10 ppm. Induction of aryl hydrocarbon (benzo[a]pyrene) hydroxylase activity occurred in hepatic microsomes from coho salmon within the first two weeks of hydrocarbon exposure. This induction was potentiated by the presence of chlorobiphenyls; however, no effect on enzyme activity was found with chlorobiphenyls alone. The results indicate that chlorobiphenyls act synergistically with hydrocarbons to induce the enzyme system in coho salmon. In chinook salmon, the activity of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase in hepatic micro-somes was depressed by the chlorobiphenyls and hydrocarbons, administered both separately and together. The results provide evidence indicating that benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylase responds differently in different species of salmonids to chlorobiphenyls and petroleum hydrocarbons in food. It is concluded that chlorobiphenyls in marine environments may alter the activity of hydroxylases regulating the accumulation and discharge of petroleum hydrocarbons in organisms.
The advise learning architecture: specialized authoring tools for educational software

The current methodology for building computer-based tutoring systems requires that designers assemble these systems from either basic component modules or completely from scratch. This is true of most commercially available authoring tools (e.g., Authorware, SuperCard, HyperCard, Director, etc.) and even many more experimental systems developed in research labs. The "build it from the ground up" methodology implicit in these tools does makes sense from the perspective of creating a tool that can build a wide variety of tutoring systems. However, this methodology also suffers from several serious problems that affect the cost, quality, and reusability of computer-based tutoring systems. This paper briefly describe these problems and presents an alternative methodology for creating authoring tools for computer-based tutoring systems.
A Comprehensive Surgical Curriculum Reduced Intra-operative Complication Rates of Resident-performed Cataract Surgeries.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the impact of a comprehensive cataract surgery curriculum on the incidence of intraoperative complications. DESIGN We retrospectively compared the total number of cataract surgeries that the residents performed in all of the teaching sites, and the incidences of intraoperative complications (anterior capsule tear, posterior capsule rent, vitreous loss, anterior vitrectomy, zonular dialysis, iris trauma, hemorrhage, dropped lens fragment, corneal wound burn, incorrect intraocular lens) for the surgeries performed at Massachusetts Eye & Ear by residents in the pre-intervention group (residents graduating in 2004 and 2005), before the implementation of a surgical curriculum, and the residents in the post-intervention group (residents graduating in 2014 and 2015). SETTING Ophthalmology residency program at a major academic institution. PARTICIPANTS Residents graduating in 2004, 2005, 2014, and 2015. RESULTS We reviewed 4373 charts. 2086 of those surgeries were performed at Massachusetts Eye & Ear. The incidence of posterior capsule rent/vitreous loss/anterior vitrectomy was lower in the post-intervention group (1.4% versus 7.7%, p CONCLUSIONS Implementation of a comprehensive cataract surgery curriculum focusing on pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative interventions, with an emphasis on patient outcomes resulted in a decrease in the rate of intraoperative complications.
Early Detection of Cybersecurity Threats Using Collaborative Cognition

The early detection of cybersecurity events such as attacks is challenging given the constantly evolving threat landscape. Even with advanced monitoring, sophisticated attackers can spend more than 100 days in a system before being detected. This paper describes a novel, collaborative framework that assists a security analyst by exploiting the power of semantically rich knowledge representation and reasoning integrated with different machine learning techniques. Our Cognitive Cybersecurity System ingests information from various textual sources and stores them in a common knowledge graph using terms from an extended version of the Unified Cybersecurity Ontology. The system then reasons over the knowledge graph that combines a variety of collaborative agents representing host and network-based sensors to derive improved actionable intelligence for security administrators, decreasing their cognitive load and increasing their confidence in the result. We describe a proof of concept framework for our approach and demonstrate its capabilities by testing it against a custom-built ransomware similar to WannaCry.
Multisite evaluation of an improved SWAT irrigation scheduling algorithm for corn (Zea mays L.) production in the U.S. Southern Great Plains

Abstract Modeling alternative irrigation strategies can be a cost-effective and time-saving approach to field-based experiments. However, the efficacy of irrigation scheduling algorithms should be verified using field data from multiple locations. In this study, an auto-irrigation algorithm recently developed for Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was further evaluated using irrigation data for corn (Zea mays L.) grown at six research sites across the Southern Great Plains. Simulated monthly irrigation, based on the management allowed depletion (MAD) of plant available soil water, was compared to measured data for irrigation applied in accordance with crop water requirement guidelines outlined by the Food and Agriculture Organization Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56. Overall, results indicated the MAD algorithm simulated monthly field-based irrigation amounts well (Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency; NSE > 0.56). Comparisons revealed the MAD algorithm outperformed the plant water demand and soil water content approaches in SWAT, which tended to underestimate and overestimate irrigations, respectively.
Toward Privacy-Assured Health Insurance Claims

According to HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), the medical insurance claim process is carried out by healthcare providers, insurance companies, and clearinghouses. The clearinghouse coordinates the medical insurance claims between providers and insurance companies. As centralized communication hubs, clearinghouses may maliciously or unintentionally leak patient information. In this work, we propose a distributed solution to replace the role of clearinghouses during health insurance claim process and mitigate the risk of data leakage among parties in Healthcare sector. Our solution enhances the patients' privacy protection through developing a HIPAA compliance system for the medical insurance claim process in a decentralized manner using blockchain technology. Blockchain ensures transaction integrity and anonymity of cryptocurrencies by using distributed immutable ledgers. We first design data structures for patient information, medical service record, insurance payment, and insurance agreements within the ledger. We then focus on defining smart contracts for privacy assurance, as well as automating the insurance claim process. We implement and evaluate the proposed framework with Hyperledger Fabric, showing promising performance and response time.
The development of a microwave fluid-bed processor. II: Drying performance and physical characteristics of typical pharmaceutical granulations

Four typical pharmaceutical granulations were used to measure the enhanced drying performance of a laboratory-sized microwave fluid-bed processor, the design and construction of which were presented in Part I of this work (preceding paper). Results demonstrate improvements in observed drying rates by as much as sixfold depending upon the granulation type and drying conditions. At a low inlet temperature (30°C), drying was achieved with microwave power inputs of 100–125 W/liter of working capacity, whereas similar targeted moisture levels were unattainable using conventional fluid-bed drying. Microwave energy available for heating and drying was 68 to 86% of the total microwave energy inputted.
Effect of quiz format on student performance and answer-changing behaviour on formative assessments

ABSTRACTFormative assessments have been shown to improve student success; however, the format in which these assessments are implemented has not been well researched. In this study, individual Anat...
Making the most of your mentorship: Viewpoints from a mentor and mentee,.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines a mentor as a person who acts as guide and adviser to another person. The first reference to mentorship can be found in Greek mythology, when Odysseus asked the goddess Athena to nurture his son. She did this by disguising herself as a human and an old family friend by the name of Mentor. Much of medicine is characterized by definitions and specific criteria, yet mentorship remains less concrete. Failure to understand the qualities and expectations of a mentorship has the potential to greatly jeopardize success and careers and lead to disappointment for those involved in the mentorship (Zerzan et al., 2009). Within dermatology, the mentorship literature has grown rapidly over the last 10 years and further established mentoring as a valuable tool (Donovan, 2009, Kim et al., 2013, Maloney, 2012). The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) describes a mentor as a “guide, tutor, facilitator, counselor and trusted advisor” (American Academy of Dermatology, 2018, McBurney, 2015). Program directors have found mentoring to be important for the professional development of dermatology residents (Donovan, 2009). Formal long-distance mentoring models have been proposed for those pursuing academic careers (Kim et al., 2013). Approaches to mentoring, traps, and the successes of such a relationship have also been described (McBurney, 2015). Herein, we seek to contribute to the dermatology mentorship literature with a unique viewpoint: that of a successful academic dermatology mentorship. We provide viewpoints from a mentor and mentee on making the most of your mentorship.
Why Survey Methodology Needs Sociology and Why Sociology Needs Survey Methodology

This chapter provides an introduction to the volume. The reader is invited to make connections between survey methodology and sociological theory, broadly defined. Connections between these disciplines extend back for decades, anchored in the strong representation of sociologists among the first generation of survey methodologists. Although they remain neighboring and complementary academic disciplines, the influence of sociological theory has been attenuated in the intervening years as survey methodologists have increasingly turned to cognitive psychological approaches to understand survey errors and artifacts. While this approach has undoubtedly lead to important improvements in survey measurement, social and interactional approaches may also shed useful insights. Thus, this chapter, and those that follow, argue for a revitalized research program linking survey methodology with sociological theory. Sociology’s rich theoretical foundation and extensive body of research has much to offer survey methodology. Moreover, survey methodology offers sociologists the opportunity to learn about human behavior afforded by the investigation of survey errors.
A Method for Liquid Spectrophotometric Measurement of VariousForms of Iron and Copper in Ambient Aerosols

Abstract. Determination of transition metals in ambient aerosols is important due to their toxicity to human health. However, the traditional measurement techniques for metal analysis are often costly and require sophisticated instruments. In this study, we developed and verified relatively low-cost liquid spectrophotometric methods for the measurements of iron (Fe) and copper (Cu), often the two most abundant transition metals in ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5). For Fe analysis, we utilized a ferrozine based colorimetric method, which has been frequently used for water-soluble (WS) Fe determination, and further extended this approach for the measurement of total Fe (water-soluble + water-insoluble). In this method, Fe is quantified through the formation of a light-absorbing ferrozine-Fe(II) complex (absorbance at 562 nm). A similar colorimetric method, which forms a bathocuproine-Cu(I) complex absorbing light at 484 nm, was developed and examined for measurement of WS and total Cu. These methods were applied to 24-hour integrated filter samples collected in urban Atlanta. Based on PM2.5 ambient aerosols, total and water-soluble Fe and Cu concentrations were in good agreement with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) measurements (slopes 1.0 ± 0.1, r2 > 0.89). The water-soluble components, operationally defined as those species in the aqueous filter extract that pass through a 0.45 µm pore filter, were further characterized by ultrafiltration, which showed that roughly 85 % of both the Fe and Cu in the water-soluble fraction was composed of components smaller than nominally 4 nm.
History of Swine Influenza

Swine influenza is a continual problem for the swine industry and can pose a public health threat as evidenced by the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus pandemic. Given its importance, it is not surprising to find papers describing the disease from the early 20th century. In this chapter, we discuss the history of swine influenza, the important role swine influenza virus has played in our understanding of influenza virus pathogenesis and virology, and its impact on public health worldwide.
Relational Authority in the Modern World: Towards a Positive Theory of Legitimacy

Legitimacy is central to nearly all human relationships and, in turn, to most social science theories. Yet, it is seldom discussed by social scientists because it is "squishy," vague, impossible to define precisely or operationalize in any neat fashion. By contrast, this paper develops a relational theory of authority that understands consent to emerge from the exchange of social order in return for compliance and obedience by the ruled. Legitimacy, in turn, embodies collective consent to rule, which in my view is rooted in interests vested in the social order. This conception of authority and legitimacy is applied to the problems of state-building after civil war and theories of international relations.
Improper Taxation of the Vowed Religious: How Glenshaw Glass Principles Can Reestablish Horizontal Equity

The 1955 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Commissioner v. Glenshaw Glass Co. defined income as all “undeniable accessions to wealth, clearly realized, and over which the taxpayers have complete dominion.” In cases where members of religious orders assign all earnings to their orders pursuant to the vow of poverty, this definition has not played a role in the courts’ evaluation of proper tax treatment. Consequently, tax treatment of the members of these orders has violated the fundamental principle of horizontal equity, which states that similarly situated taxpayers should receive similar tax treatment. Instead, the Internal Revenue Service and three federal appellate courts have applied a formulistic agency theory that makes it virtually impossible for the vowed religious who work outside their orders to exclude the assigned earnings from income. In doing so, the IRS and the courts have misapplied the U.S. Supreme Court’s assignment of income doctrine. Nonetheless, the agency theory has been applied in comparable non-religious contexts with favorable outcomes for the taxpayers. The inconsistent results demonstrate that the agency theory is flawed when it is applied to assignments made pursuant to the vow of poverty. This Note argues that courts should evaluate assignments of personal service income under the Glenshaw Glass “dominion and control” standard to reestablish horizontal equity and end the improper taxation of the vowed religious.
Alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and hallucinogen use in Samoan adolescents.

Introduction and Aims.Adolescent substance use has increased with globalisation, and yet few data exist from lower- and middle-income countries and the Pacific Islands. This study examines the prevalence of three aspects of substance use over the past 30 days in Samoan adolescents: (i) use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs; (ii) polysubstance use; and (iii) possible substance use problems. Design and Methods.A survey was administered to secondary school children (n = 879) between 12 and 19 years of age at a single school in Apia, the capital of Samoa, in August 2008. Results.There were important gender differences in substance use with boys reporting significantly higher rates of any use of each substance and polysubstance use. Boys were also three times more likely to report behaviours indicative of substance use problems. There were no significant differences in regular use of any substance with the exception of marijuana. Although the use of hallucinogens is prominent for boys and girls in the younger age group (12–15), consumption decreases with age. Boys showed substantial increases in any use of alcohol and marijuana and daily use of tobacco by age. There was also a significant increase in the number of boys reporting behaviours indicative of disordered use by age to 21% of 16- to 19-year-old boys. Discussion and Conclusions.One of few studies on substance use in Samoa, the data provide a basis for setting priorities to address health risks posed by adolescent use and understanding the influence of rapid change.[Odden HL. Alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and hallucinogen use in Samoan adolescents. Drug Alcohol Rev 2012;31:47–55]
Evaluation of the root zone water quality model for predicting water and NO3–N movement in an Iowa soil

Evaluation of computer models with field data is required before they can be effectively used for predicting agricultural management systems. A study was conducted to evaluate tillage effects on the movement of water and nitrate–nitrogen (NO3–N) in the root zone under continuous corn (Zea mays L.) production. Four tillage treatments considered were: chisel plow (CP), moldboard plow (MP), no-tillage (NT), and ridge-tillage (RT). The root zone water quality model (RZWQM: V.3.25) was used to conduct these simulations. Three years (1990–1992) of field observed data on soil water contents and NO3–N concentrations in the soil profile were used to evaluate the performance of the model. The RZWQM usually predicted higher soil water contents compared with the observed soil water contents. The model predicted higher NO3–N concentrations in the soil profile for MP and NT treatments in comparison with CP and RT treatments, but the magnitude of simulated NO3–N peak concentrations in the soil profile were substantially different from those of the observed peaks. The average NO3–N concentrations for the entire soil profile predicted by the model were close to the observed concentrations except for ridge tillage (percent difference for CP=+5.1%, MP=+12.8%, NT=+18.4%, RT=−44.8%). Discrepancies between the simulated and observed water contents and NO3–N concentrations in the soil profile indicated a need for the calibration of plant growth component of the model further for different soil and climatic conditions to improve the N-uptake predictions of the RZWQM.
The Alien Cloak of Confidentiality: Look Who's Wearing It Now

After more than a decade of debate, the United States Congress enacted the omnibus Immigration Reform & Control Act of 1986 (IRCA), which ushered in a period of "legalization" or adjustment of status to allow undocumented aliens "to emerge from the shadows."Part I of this article explores the rationale of the legalization program, the experience of other countries in encouraging applications for their respective "amnesty" or "regularization" programs, and the components of the American approach designed to maximize participation through massive outreach and broad confidentiality. Part II examines the Immigration and Naturalization Service's (INS) strict construction of the IRCA confidentiality proviso, based largely on the Supreme Court's interpretation of an analogous provision of the Census Act. The examination is done in the context of a national class action lawsuit, (Zambrano v. INS), in which the author was one of the counsel of record. Also considered are the positions taken by advocates for the legalizing immigrants and the views adopted by the courts. Finally, Part III looks at other arguments for and against the disclosure of information to applicants' attorneys. The outcome of the disclosure battles has an immediate impact on continuing litigation, as attorneys for the immigrants continue to seek documents from the Government through discovery, or attempt to monitor INS implementation of court orders and consent decrees. Beyond this, the debate forces the judiciary to come to terms with three competing concerns: the congressional mandate to encourage participation in the legalization process by mitigating the immigrants' fears of approaching the INS; a strong American policy and legal precedent against governmental intrusion; and a practical need for lawyers to communicate with their clients. In this balancing act, the stakes are particularly high for the nation's most vulnerable subclass. However, as this article attempts to show, the United States' social and juridical traditions allow for a resolution that fairly weighs these distinct concerns. In the end, common sense must prevail over a literal reading of the law.
Lattice dynamics of hexagonal Mo S 2 studied by neutron scattering

Phonon-dispersion curves for the hexagonal-layered compound Mo${\mathrm{S}}_{2}$ have been measured at room temperature by inelastic-neutron-scattering techniques for the [100] and [001] directions. The results have been analyzed on the basis of a model which includes valence forces between atoms in a layer and axially symmetric forces between atoms in neighboring layers. While the model reproduces the essential over-all features of the data, the present analysis indicates the need for a more sophisticated treatment of valence forces and/or for the inclusion of the atomic polarizabilities. The temperature dependence of the specific heat and the Debye temperature have been calculated from the model.
Phadebact Monoclonal GC OMNI Test for confirmation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

The Phadebact Monoclonal GC OMNI Test (Pharmacia Diagnostics, Piscataway, N.J.) is used for the definitive identification of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. In this test, boiled organisms are examined by using a 1-min coagglutination technique. A total of 776 Neisseria strains, confirmed to the species level by patterns of acid production from carbohydrates incorporated in cysteine-tryptose agar or morphologically consistent with Neisseria meningitidis and fluorescent antibody negative, were tested by the coagglutination technique. Of the 516 isolates of N. gonorrhoeae, 8 (1.6%) were negative with the OMNI Test. Of the 260 isolates of Neisseria spp. other than N. gonorrhoeae, none showed a positive coagglutination reaction. The Phadebact Monoclonal GC OMNI Test provided rapid, accurate identification of N. gonorrhoeae (sensitivity, 98.4%; specificity, 100%).
Towards an accurate model of the redshift-space clustering of haloes in the quasi-linear regime

Observations of redshift-space distortions in spectroscopic galaxy surveys offer an attractive method for measuring the build-up of cosmological structure, which depends both on the expansion rate of the Universe and on our theory of gravity. The statistical precision with which redshift-space distortions can now be measured demands better control of our theoretical systematic errors. While many recent studies focus on understanding dark matter clustering in redshift space, galaxies occupy special places in the universe: dark matter haloes. In our detailed study of halo clustering and velocity statistics in 67.5 h−3 Gpc3 of N-body simulations, we uncover a complex dependence of redshift-space clustering on halo bias. We identify two distinct corrections which affect the halo redshift-space correlation function on quasi-linear scales (∼30–80 h−1 Mpc): the non-linear mapping between real-space and redshift-space positions, and the non-linear suppression of power in the velocity divergence field. We model the first non-perturbatively using the scale-dependent Gaussian streaming model, which we show is accurate at the 10 (s > 25) h−1 Mpc for the monopole (quadrupole) halo correlation functions. The dominant correction to the Kaiser limit in this model scales like b3. We use standard perturbation theory to predict the real-space pairwise halo velocity statistics. Our fully analytic model is accurate at the 2 per cent level only on scales s > 40 h−1 Mpc for the range of halo masses we studied (with b= 1.4–2.8). We find that recent models of halo redshift-space clustering that neglect the corrections from the bispectrum and higher order terms from the non-linear real-space to redshift-space mapping will not have the accuracy required for current and future observational analyses. Finally, we note that our simulation results confirm the essential but non-trivial assumption that on large scales, the bias inferred from the real-space clustering of haloes is the same as the one that determines their pairwise infall velocity amplitude at the per cent level.
Incident ischemic heart disease and recent occupational exposure to particulate matter in an aluminum cohort

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in air pollution, primarily from combustion sources, is recognized as an important risk factor for cardiovascular events but studies of workplace PM2.5 exposure are rare. We conducted a prospective study of exposure to PM2.5 and incidence of ischemic heart disease (IHD) in a cohort of 11,966 US aluminum workers. Incident IHD was identified from medical claims data from 1998 to 2008. Quantitative metrics were developed for recent exposure (within the last year) and cumulative exposure; however, we emphasize recent exposure in the absence of interpretable work histories before follow-up. IHD was modestly associated with recent PM2.5 overall. In analysis restricted to recent exposures estimated with the highest confidence, the hazard ratio (HR) increased to 1.78 (95% CI: 1.02, 3.11) in the second quartile and remained elevated. When the analysis was stratified by work process, the HR rose monotonically to 1.5 in both smelter and fabrication facilities, though exposure was almost an order of magnitude higher in smelters. The differential exposure–response may be due to differences in exposure composition or healthy worker survivor effect. These results are consistent with the air pollution and cigarette smoke literature; recent exposure to PM2.5 in the workplace appears to increase the risk of IHD incidence.
SU-E-T-316: Dosimetry of Electron Beams at Extremely Extended SSD: Monte Carlo Calculations and Measurements

Purpose: We have calculated and measured the depth dose, dose distribution, and MU for 6 and 12 MeV electron beams at extremely extended SSD up to 350 cm. We report dosimetry characteristics based upon calculation and measurements at extremely extended SSD range. Methods: An Eclipse TPS implements the electron Monte Carlo (eMC) algorithm for dose calculations. The eMC was used for dose distribution calculations at different electron energies, field sizes, and extremely extended SSDs. The isodose distribution on a plane and the profile along an axis at a certain depth were measured by MapCHECK, which has 445 diodes to form a two dimension array detector with a maximum measuring field size of 22 × 22 cm2. Results: We obtained calculated and measured isodose distributions at extremely extended SSDs varied from 100 to 350 cm from the Eclipse workstation and MapCHECK, respectively. The isodose distributions demonstrate an excellent agreement between the measurement and eMC calculations. As we prescribed a certain dose as Dmax for each depth dmax at the central axis, and we found the MU value with the calculations. We then delivered this amount MU detected by MapCHECK. The calculated and measured output factors were obtained as a function of SSD factors at a given applicator size and an electron energy. Conclusion: The depth dose, isodose distribution, and MU were calculated and delivered at SSDs from 100 to 350 cm for the electron beams of 6 and 12 MeV. The eMC can accurately predict depth doses, isodose distributions, and output factors for the energy of 12 MeV at a SSD ranging from 100 to 350 cm. However, for 6 MeV, the output factor deviates from the measurement starting at SSD of 130 cm with 10 ×10 cm2 and 150 cm with 20 ×20 cm2 fields respectively.
Frequency of tau gene mutations in familial and sporadic cases of non-Alzheimer dementia.

Background Mutations in the tau gene have been reported in families with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) linked to chromosome 17. It remains uncertain how commonly such mutations are found in patients with FTD or non-Alzheimer dementia with or without a positive family history. Objective To determine the frequency of tau mutations in patients with non-Alzheimer dementia. Patients and Methods One hundred one patients with non-Alzheimer, nonvascular dementia, most thought to have FTD. Of these, 57 had a positive family history of dementia. Neuropathologic findings were available in 32. The tau gene was sequenced for all exons including flanking intronic DNA, portions of the 3′ and 5′ untranslated regions, and at least 146 base pairs in the intron following exon 10. Results Overall, the frequency of the tau mutations was low, being 5.9% (6/101) in the entire group. No mutations were found in the 44 sporadic cases. However, 6 (10.5%) of the 57 familial cases and 4 (33%) of the 12 familial cases with tau pathologic findings had mutations in the tau gene. The most common mutation was P301L. Conclusions We conclude that tau mutations are uncommon in a neurology referral population with non-Alzheimer dementia, even in those with a clinical diagnosis of FTD. However, a positive family history and/or tau pathologic findings increase the likelihood of a tau mutation. There must be other genetic and nongenetic causes of FTD and non-Alzheimer dementia, similar to the etiologic heterogeneity present in Alzheimer disease.
Spatial and temporal patterns of salinity and temperature at an intertidal groundwater seep

Abstract Spatial and temporal patterns at an intertidal groundwater seep at Cape Henlopen, Delaware, were characterized using a combination of pore water salinity and sediment temperature measurements. Pore water salinity maps, both on a small scale (resolution of 0.1 m over a 1.25 m 2 area) and large scale (1–5 m over a 1710 m 2 area) showed reduced pore water salinities to as low as one-sixth seawater strength in a region 0–6 m from the intertidal beach slope break. In this region, there was substantial spatial variability in pore water salinity at all measured scales (0.1–90 m) alongshore. At −10 cm sediment depth, pore water salinity ranged from 6 to 24 in less than 1 m horizontally. To further characterize spatial patterns in discharge, we used novel temperature probes during summer low tides and found temperatures were much lower in a groundwater seep than the nearby sediment, as much as 8–9 °C cooler at −30 cm sediment depth. Measurements over time using temperature loggers showed that despite strong tidal and diel forcing on surficial sediment temperatures, thermal anomalies due to groundwater discharge persisted over several-day sampling periods and were strongest at −20 and −30 cm depth. Over a seasonal time scale, monthly sediment temperatures in or near a seep were cooler in the summer (by 3–4 °C) and warmer in the winter (by 5–6 °C) compared to a nearby non-seep location. In an ecological context, these temperature differences are equivalent to ∼250 km latitudinal shift northward in summer and ∼380 km southward in winter, a change important in relation to recognized biogeographical boundaries. Our results have substantial implications for hydrological measurements made at sandy intertidal sites like Cape Henlopen. Existing methods such as mass-balance and geochemical tracer techniques integrate over the scales of variability we observed, but are unable to resolve small-scale patterns of groundwater discharge that may be biologically important. Seepage meters can capture spatial variability at the meter scale, but results will be subject to high inherent variability unless spatial patterns are considered in sampling design and replication. Intertidal temperature profile measurements for point discharge estimates will be complicated by varying boundary conditions such as the interaction of insolation and tidal exposure. In addition to these methodological implications, the observed spatial and temporal variability suggests a thermal and salinity habitat envelope that must be considered when attempting to interpret biological productivity, faunal abundance and community composition of benthic species living in and around groundwater seeps.
Dermatologic changes associated with roquinimex immunotherapy after autologous bone marrow transplant.

Abstract Background: Roquinimex (Linomide) is an immunotherapeutic agent used in conjunction with autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) for treatment of acute and chronic myelogenous leukemia (AML and CML). This agent may induce graft-versus-host reactions (GVHR) as well as graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effects. Objective: We documented the incidence of acute cutaneous GVHR associated with roquinimex immunotherapy. The presence or absence of autologous GVHR was also correlated with a potential GVL effect in patients with CML treated with ABMT and subsequent roquinimex immunotherapy in the period after the transplant. Methods: Fifteen patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation and roquinimex immunotherapy for CML were followed up, and clinicopathologic data were analyzed. Results: Acute cutaneous GVHRs were observed in 6 of 15 patients (40%) treated with roquinimex. Ten of 11 evaluable patients receiving roquinimex exhibited eccrine sweat gland necrosis (ESGN) (90.9%), which was independent of the acute GVHR. Neither bone marrow engraftment status nor the survival rates of patients with and without GVHR was significantly different. Conclusion: Roquinimex immunotherapy enhances the incidence of GVHR and was associated with a high rate of ESGN in patients with CML who were undergoing ABMT. There was no significant association between ESGN and acute GVHR. Acute autologous GVHR caused by roquinimex did not correlate with a GVL effect in our study of 15 patients with CML. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2000;43:437–41.)