cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nolo Heroizari: Tolkien and Aquinas on the Humble Journey of Master Samwise

In this article, I argue that Tolkien’s Sam Gamgee embodies a Thomistic understanding of humility. For Aquinas humility was a proper valuing of the self that helped resist the temptations to overst...
Racial differences in the relationship between alcohol/pregnancy policies and birth outcomes and prenatal care utilization: A legal epidemiology study.

Abstract Objectives State policies regarding alcohol use during pregnancy (alcohol/pregnancy policies) have been in effect for more than 40 years. Previous research finds some policies increase adverse birth outcomes and decrease prenatal care utilization. This research examines whether effects of alcohol/pregnancy policies vary by race; the general hypothesis is that health benefits of policies are concentrated among White women and health harms of policies are concentrated among Black women. Methods This study uses 1972–2015 Vital Statistics data and policy data from NIAAA’s Alcohol Policy Information System and original legal research. The dataset includes more than 150 million singleton births. Outcomes are preterm birth (PTB), low birthweight (LBW), and prenatal care utilization. Logistic regression models include raceXpolicy interaction terms as main predictors, adjust for individual- and state-level controls, include fixed effects for state, year and state-specific time trends, and account for clustering by state. Results The impact of alcohol/pregnancy policies varied by race for preterm birth, varied in a few cases for low birthweight, and generally did not vary for prenatal care utilization. The hypothesis regarding the direction of differential effects was not supported. Six policies had an adverse impact on PTB and/or LBW for White women. Findings differed for Black women; for Black women, four policies had a beneficial impact for PTB and one had an adverse impact for LBW. Conclusions The impact of alcohol/pregnancy policies on birth outcomes varies by race. Future research should explore why some policies appear to have opposite effects for White v. Black women.
Effect of sensor position on the performance of CO2-based demand controlled ventilation

Abstract CO2-based demand controlled ventilation (DCV) can save energy while maintaining acceptable indoor air quality. CO2 concentration may vary within an occupied space and it is unclear how sensor location influences the ventilation and energy performances. The objective of the present study is to investigate the effect of CO2 sensor position on the performance of DCV systems under mixing and displacement ventilation. Experimentally validated computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models were simulated under representative indoor ventilation and occupancy conditions. The results show that the ventilation strategy, occupancy level, and air change rate have notable impacts on the CO2 sensing performance. Under mixing ventilation, CO2 sensors placed at the room exhaust can meet the requirements of sensor accuracy defined by ASTM E741 and California Title 24. However, the sensor errors associated with sensor location can be higher than the acceptable threshold under displacement ventilation, which exhibits vertical CO2 stratification with two separated zones (lower transition zone and upper uniform zone). The dividing height of the two zones is highly sensitive to the occupancy level. In such cases, exhaust sensors can overestimate the breathing zone concentration and result in additional energy consumptions for thermal conditioning as well as fan operation, especially for densely occupied buildings. The study findings suggest that for ensuring good performance of CO2-based displacement ventilation, it is necessary to develop quantitative relationships between CO2 concentrations at the breathing height and the room exhaust considering ventilation strategies.
Unusual Clinical Presentation of Periodic Paralysis: Case Report and Literature Review.

We are presenting a case of hypokalemic paralysis in a patient who presented to the emergency department (ED) with a unique clinical picture that did not fully fit with other causes of periodic paralysis (hypokalemic periodic paralysis, thyrotoxic periodic paralysis, hyperkalemic periodic paralysis, and Anderson syndrome). The patient presented to the ED complaining of two days of severe flaccid paralysis in both legs and left arm; his right arm was completely normal. Initially, he was treated as a stroke alert patient and had head and spine computed tomography (CT) scans and both showed no acute pathologic changes. Initial labs showed a potassium level of 1.9 and a magnesium level of 1.8. Electrocardiography (EKG) showed prolonged QTc of 534 ms. The patient was admitted to the ICU and started on intravenous and oral potassium replacement. Over the next 24 hours, he started to regain his muscle power gradually until it came back to his baseline. Repeat EKG also showed QTc back to normal. We compared our patient's initial presentation to other published case reports with periodic paralysis and found that his initial presentation was different than other published cases.
Load Flow in Significant Buildings

In the third year architecture studio, three modules of a large project have been given to students. Module 1 was called “Replication”. It was a guided precedent study of selected buildings, but the students were asked to specifically explain the gravity and the lateral load flow in the precedent building. They did this with models, figures and to a lesser extent with computer analyses.
BK channel density is regulated by endoplasmic reticulum associated degradation and influenced by the SKN-1A/NRF1 transcription factor

Ion channels are present at specific levels within subcellular compartments of excitable cells. The regulation of ion channel trafficking and targeting is an effective way to control cell excitability. The BK channel is a calcium-activated potassium channel that serves as a negative feedback mechanism at presynaptic axon terminals and sites of muscle excitation. The C. elegans BK channel ortholog, SLO-1, requires an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane protein for efficient anterograde transport to these locations. Here, we found that, in the absence of this ER membrane protein, SLO-1 channels that are seemingly normally folded and expressed at physiological levels undergo SEL-11/HRD1-mediated ER-associated degradation (ERAD). This SLO-1 degradation is also indirectly regulated by a SKN-1A/NRF1-mediated transcriptional mechanism that controls proteasome levels. Therefore, our data indicate that SLO-1 channel density is regulated by the competitive balance between the efficiency of ER trafficking machinery and the capacity of ERAD.
Slip-rate-dependent friction as a universal mechanism for slow slip events

A growing body of observations worldwide has documented fault slip transients that radiate little or no seismic energy. The mechanisms that govern these slow slip events (SSEs) and their wide range of depths, slip rates, durations, stress drops and recurrence intervals remain poorly known. Here we show that slow slip can be explained by a transition from rate-weakening frictional sliding at low slip rates towards rate-neutral or rate-strengthening behaviour at higher slip rates, as has been observed experimentally. We use numerical simulations to illustrate that this rate-dependent transition quantitatively explains the experimental data for natural fault rocks representative of materials in the source regions of SSEs. With a standard constant-parameter rate-and-state friction law, SSEs arise only near the threshold for slip instability. The inclusion of velocity-dependent friction parameters substantially broadens the range of conditions for slow slip occurrence, and produces a wide range of event characteristics, which include stress drop, duration and recurrence, as observed in nature. Upscaled numerical simulations that incorporate parameters consistent with laboratory measurements can reproduce geodetic observations of repeating SSEs on tectonic faults. We conclude that slip-rate-dependent friction explains the ubiquitous occurrence of SSEs in a broad range of geological environments. A transition from rate-weakening to rate-strengthening frictional behaviour with increasing slip rate could explain the observed diversity of slow slip events on faults, according to numerical simulations.
1674MO ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression by clinical, HLA, immune, and microbial correlates across 34 human cancers and matched normal tissues: Implications for SARS-CoV-2

Background: Pandemic COVID-19 by SARS-CoV-2 infection is facilitated by the ACE2 receptor and protease TMPRSS2 Patients with cancer may be at particularly high risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection and deleterious outcomes to the disease A better understanding of potential host risk factors, notably ACE2 and TMPRSS2, in malignant tissues may inform considerations surrounding SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 in patients with cancer and more broadly in the general population Methods: We performed a large-scale integrated study of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 gene expression in 10,038 patients with cancer across and within organ systems, by normal versus tumor We investigated its correlative pattern with clinical factors (age, gender, race, BMI and smoking history, etc ), HLA, immune signatures, and commensal microbiome Results: Matched normal tissues generally display higher ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression compared with tumor, with digestive organs expressing the highest levels No consistent association was observed between clinical groups or HLA genotypes and ACE2/TMPRSS2 levels, after adjusting for tissue-specific expression ACE2 expression showed a significant correlation with clinically relevant immune signatures including interferon-stimulated genes and the T cell-inflamed phenotype, and with macrophage cell subsets Single-cell RNAseq analysis demonstrated little to no ACE2 or TMPRSS2 expression in lymphocytes or macrophages ACE2 and TMPRSS2 showed a distinctive correlative pattern with 75 bacterial taxa in normal tissues particularly from colorectal cancers (gram-negative to positive ratio = 2 6:1) LASSO regression models integrating multi-dimensional correlates revealed immune and microbiota are among the top-ranked features predicting ACE2 expression, while epithelial cell abundance is the dominant predictor for TMPRSS2 Conclusions: We investigated ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression across clinical, genetic, immune, and microbiome domains We identify novel associations with the microbiota and confirm host immunity associations with gene expression We hope these data may better inform clinical considerations surrounding risk stratification and prevention approaches Legal entity responsible for the study: The authors Funding: Search Results Web results U S Department of Defense Disclosure: All authors have declared no conflicts of interest
Acute hypersensitivity reaction from administration of crotalidae immune F(ab')2 antivenom.

Dear Editor,Each year, United States poison centers receive several thousand calls for venomous snake bites, with western bites almost entirely from rattlesnakes [1]. Symptoms of rattlesnake enveno...
A more complex basal complex: novel components mapped to the Toxoplasma gondii cytokinesis machinery portray an expanded hierarchy of its assembly and function

The basal complex (BC) of Toxoplasma gondii has an essential role in cell division but details on the mechanism are lacking. To promote insights in this process, reciprocal proximity based biotinylation was used to map the basal complex proteome. An assembled protein map was interrogated by spatiotemporal characterization of critical components as well as functionally by disrupting the expression of the components. Spatially, this revealed four proteins sub-complexes with distinct sub-structural BC localization. Temporally, several patterns were differentiated based on their first appearance and/or disappearance from the BC corresponding with different steps in BC development (initiation, expansion, constriction, maturation). We also identified a protein pre-ceding BC formation (BCC0) laid out in a 5-fold symmetry. This symmetry marks the apical annuli and site of alveolar suture formation. From here, it was determined that the apical cap is assembled in the apical direction, whereas the rest of the IMC expands in the basal direction, inspiring a new bi-directional daughter budding process. Furthermore, we discovered BCC4, an essential protein exclusively localizing to the BC during cell division. Although depletion of BCC4 did not prevent BC formation, it led to BC fragmentation at the mid-point of cell division. Based on these data, a model is presented wherein BCC4 and MORN1 stabilize each other and form a rubber band that implies an essential role for the BC in preventing the fraying of the basal end of the assembling daughter cytoskeleton scaffolds. Furthermore, one new component of the Myosin J and Centrin2 cluster was BCC1, a hypothetical protein whose depletion prevents the non-essential last step of BC constriction. Overall, the BC is a highly dynamic, multi-functional structure that is critical to the hierarchical assembly of the daughter parasites.
Indians in Unexpected Places

What is Geronimo doing sitting in a Cadillac? Why is an Indian woman in beaded buckskin sitting under a salon hairdryer? Such images startle and challenge our outdated visions of Native America. Philip Deloria's revealing accounts of Indians doing unexpected things - singing opera, driving cars, acting in Hollywood - explores this cultural discordance in ways that suggest new directions for American Indian history. Deloria chronicles how Indians came to represent themselves in Wild West shows, Hollywood films, sports, music, and even Indian people's use of the automobile - an ironic counterpoint to today's highways teeming with Dakota pickups and Cherokee sport utility vehicles. He also examines longstanding stereotypes of Indians as invariably violent, suggesting that, even as such views continued in American popular culture, they were also transformed by the violence at Wounded Knee. Throughout, Deloria reveals previously hidden narratives that force us to rethink familiar expectations. These "secret histories," Deloria suggests, compel us to reconsider our own current expectations about what Indian people should be, how they should act, and even what they should look like. More important, he shows how such seemingly harmless (even if unconscious) expectations contribute to the racism and injustice that still haunt the experience of many Native American people today.
Malformations, Deformations, and Disorders of the Neonatal Airway: A Bullet Point Review

Neonatal airway obstruction occurs secondary disorders that either partially or completely obstruct the nose, oropharynx, larynx, or trachea. The following chapter serves as a bullet point review of conditions discussed in detail in previous chapters in this section.
A Glance at Holomorphic Factorization and Uniform Holomorphy

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a glance at holomorphic fraction and uniform holmorphy. It proposes to develop a fairly readable introduction to the closely related subjects of holomorphic factorization and uniform holomorphy. Holomorphic factorization, respectively uniform holomorphy, holds for one of these six situations if and only if it holds for each of the remaining five ones. Holomorphic factorization holds for a given complex locally convex space E, when it holds for its standard projective limit representation or, equivalently for the remaining five situations in proposition 18, particularly. Holomorphic factorization, hence uniform holomorphy, holds for every complex locally convex space E satisfying the openness condition. If a complex locally convex space E satisfies the complete quotient condition, then CCS(E) C COS (E), and thus E satisfies also the openness condition.
Contemporary Imaging Practice Patterns Following Ureteroscopy for Stone Disease

Abstract Background and Purpose: Routine imaging following ureteroscopy for treatment of renal/ureteral calculi continues to be a topic of debate. However, with the increasing focus on healthcare costs and quality, judicious use of diagnostic imaging to optimize outcomes while minimizing resource utilization is a priority. We sought to identify post-ureteroscopy imaging practices among experienced urologists. Materials and Methods: A REDcap questionnaire was sent to urologists in North America. The questionnaire surveyed demographic data, clinical volume, and imaging preferences post-ureteroscopy. Additionally, we surveyed the extent to which stone, anatomic, and procedure-related factors influenced these preferences. The likelihood of altering clinical practice and the desire for specific imaging guidelines were also assessed. The interquartile range (IQR) was utilized as a measure of median consensus. Results: Three hundred twenty-two urologists completed the questionnaire. The mean number of years in p...
Concentrates for Beef Cattle

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the use of concentrate feeds as sources of energy and protein in beef cattle feeding programs. All of the cereal grains are high in starch and low in fiber. They are rich in energy and generally quite palatable. The highest concentrations of digestible energy are found in corn, grain sorghum, and wheat. These feeds are explained in detail in this chapter. Oats are an excellent source of supplemental energy and protein for cattle, particularly for lightweight cattle and lactating cows. Rye is used mainly for pasture or as a cover crop. Screenings that are relatively free of dirt and weed seeds will contain nearly as much energy as corn grain. Molasses is a by-product of the sugar, wood and citrus processing industries. Cane molasses has an energy value equal to corn when fed to heavy cattle consuming high-grain diets. Beet molasses has essentially the same feeding value as cane molasses for beef cattle. Other types of molasses include condensed corn steepwater soluble, lignin sulfonates, corn and citrus molasses. Extensive research on fat, as a cattle feed, has been conducted because of its high-energy content. Supplemental protein can be provided by a wide variety of protein sources like cottonseed meal, soybean meal, canola meal, linseed meal, commodity by-products and animal proteins. Animal proteins include blood meal, meat and bone meal, fish meal and poultry feather meal. Cattle feeds are also obtained from animal waste.
Planar lens devices by CVD process

A novel technique for splitting optical signals using planar refractive lenses is proposed. The concept of the planar lens in dielectric films for the fabrication of thin film 1/spl times/N couplers is described. The advantages of this approach for fabricational tolerances, pigtailing, and packaging are described, and the performance of the devices, made by the CVD process is analysed. Experimental results on 1/spl times/2 and 1/spl times/8 devices using this approach are presented. Very good output spot characteristics and insertion loss values have been obtained, and a number of functional, pigtailing, and packaging advantages have been identified. >
Spatial partition adaptive multiple-interference canceller designs

An adaptive canceller structure which cancels out multiple interfering noises by using a linear array of equally spaced receivers is introduced. The system uses a multiple-reference configuration and partitions the arrival angle space into regions such that each reference input contains mainly components from certain angle region(s) with only small residuals from other regions. Several design methods are discussed. It is shown both in theory and by simulation that systems with appropriate dynamic preprocessing matrix W/sub s/(z) can yield better performances than the simple paired-difference system with comparable computational complexities in a multiple-noise environment. >
Prevalence and characterization of hippurate-negative Campylobacter jejuni in King County, Washington.

Abstract A total of 593 strains of thermophilic Campylobacter species were isolated either from humans with diarrhea or from poultry in King County, Washington. Of these strains, 98 (52 hippurate-positive strains and all 46 of the hippurate-negative strains) were selected for further phenotypic characterization and genetic classification. Hippurate hydrolysis, the test typically used to differentiate Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli, did not always correlate with the genetic classification. All hippurate-positive strains were classified as C. jejuni. Of the hippurate-negative strains, 20% were C. jejuni, 78% were C. coli, and 2% were C. laridis. Assuming that the remaining hippurate-positive strains were all C. jejuni, then hippurate-negative C. jejuni represented a small percentage (9 of 556 or 1.6%) of C. jejuni strains but a significant percentage (9 of 46 or 20%) of hippurate-negative strains. This finding suggests that hippurate hydrolysis should not be used as the sole criterion for differentiating thermophilic Campylobacter species, particularly when describing the disease states associated with these organisms.
Slush and Subcooled Propellants for Lunar and Interplanetary Missions

Future orbital lunar, and Interplanetary space flights require long-term storage of cryogens for life support, power from fuel cells, and propulsion. Successful accomplishment of these missions Is enhanced by optimization of high-performance Insulation and other system conditions such as Initial cryogenic state (e.g.. subcooled or slush).
In Their Own Words and by the Numbers: A Mixed-Methods Study of Latina Community College Presidents.

In 2006, only 26 Latina CEOs served in associate degree colleges, primarily at Hispanic-serving institutions. In spite of the gains made by women in higher education, equity in the representation of Latinas in higher education at the highest administrative ranks has not been achieved. The primary purpose of this research was to learn from Latina community college presidents about their experiences on the pathway to the presidency. This mixed methods study examined the career paths and early influences, as well as external forces that converged to support their ascent to being presidents and chancellors. The conditions and experiences examined were (a) influences that Latina community college presidents identified as having the most impact on personal career success, (b) strategies Latinas have employed to overcome barriers or challenges on the pathway to the presidency, and (c) the organizational climate and practices within community colleges that either hinder or support Latinas. The convergence of thes...
Time-frequency analysis of laser weld signature

Reliable monitoring methods are essential for maintaining a high level of quality control in laser welding. In industrial processes, monitoring systems allow for quick decisions on the quality of the weld, allowing for high productions rates and reducing overall cost due to scrap. A monitoring system using infrared, ultraviolet, audible sound, and acoustic emission was implemented for monitoring CO 2 laser welds in real-time. The signals were analyzed using time-frequency analysis techniques. The time-frequency distribution using the Choi-Williams kernel was calculated, and the resulting distributions were analyzed using the Renyi information distribution. Results for porosity monitoring showed that an acoustic emission sensor held the most promise with 100% classification in two weld studies. These encouraging results led to a second study for monitoring of weld penetration and in the second case, infrared, ultraviolet, and audible sound showed the most promise with 100% classification for both laboratory and industrial data.
Inferring control inputs to an acoustic violin from audio spectra

We present a method to analyze the streaming sound output of a real acoustic violin and infer the control inputs used by the musician. In particular, we extract the following parameters: which note was played, which string it was played on, whether the instrument was bowed or plucked and the location of the bowing or plucking point from a discrete set. The approach we use, pattern classification of the short-time Fourier transform (STFT) frames of the sound signal, is general enough to enable application to almost any musical instrument.
GALOIS CONNECTIONS AND CHARACTERIZATION THEOREM FOR DISPERSED, HEREDITARILY DISPERSED, AND HEREDITARY FACTORIZATION STRUCTURES

Melton and Strecker have shown that there is a Galois connection between a conglomerate of subcategories of a category and a conglomerate of factorization structures on the category. This Galois connection and the characterization theorem for closed elements in a Galois connection (Theorem 1.3) give us a characterization theorem for the dispersed factorization structures. We “extend” the Galois connection so that it is a Galois connection between a conglomerate of subcategories of a fixed subcategory of Top and a conglomerate of hereditary factorization structures on the fixed subcategory, and we then have a characterization theorem for the hereditarily dispersed factorization structures. We also include a characterization theorem for hereditary factorization structures.
A Computational Model for Predicting the Life of Tubes Used in Petrochemical Heater Service

Presentation du modele, exemples d'applications a l'etude du comportement d'aciers speciaux et a la determination de la duree de vie des tubes
Sequence of the rat αc large chain of the clathrin associated protein complex AP-2

We have isolated cDNA clones for the large etc chain of the rat brain Clathrin Associated Protein complex AP-2. A rat brain XZAP-I1 cDNA library (Stratagene) was screened with the synthetic oligonucleotide probe 5'-C(C, T) TCCAT (A ,G) TGNCC (A, G) AA (A, G) TC (G, T) ATGTCGTG, corresponding to the stretch of amino acids between His-70 and AIa-79 that are shared by both mouse aa and ac chains (1). Two cDNA clones were sequenced by the dideoxy termination method (2) using internal 17-mer sequencing primers. The combined DNA sequence is shown in Fig. 1. Sequence comparison with the mouse aa and «c homologues demonstrates that the rat protein IS 99% identical to the mouse ac chain. It contains 938 amino acids, with no gaps, and two conservative changes corresponding to Glu-8 instead of Asp-8 and De-788 instead of Val-788, respectively.
Hydrogenation of cyclopropenoid fatty acids occurring in cottonseed oil

The hydrogenation of cyclopropenoid acids and their relative reactivities during hydrogenation as compared to linoleic and oleic acids were examined. Pure methyl sterculate and purifiedSterculia foetida oil and its methyl esters, which have a cyclopropene content more than 60 times that of cottonseed oil, were used for the hydrogenation experiments. Nickel, palladium and platinum catalysts were used. The effect of temperature and type of catalyst were demonstrated in a series of hydrogenation experiments of safflower andS. foetida oil mixtures, and methyl oleate and methyl dihydrosterculate mixtures. Partial hydrogenation of methyl sterculate formed as many as twenty compounds in addition to the cyclopropenoid derivatives. Most of these compounds were monounsaturated. The cyclopropene group hydrogenated very readily compared to the 9,12-diene system in linoleate. The cyclopropane group obtained by hydrogenating the cyclopropenoid acids group was quite resistant to further attack by hydrogen and nickel catalyst had little effect. With palladium catalyst, a temperature of 180 C was necessary for the reaction to go to completion. Platinum in acetic acid was a good system for hydrogenolysis of the cyclopropane group at 80 C.
Direct foamed and nanocatalyst impregnated SOFC cathodes

A binder system containing polyurethane precursors was used to in situ foam (direct foam) an (La 0.6 Sr 0.4 ) 0.98 (Co 0.2 Fe 0.8 )O 3−δ (LSCF) cathode composition on an yttrium-stabilised zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte coated with a porous ∼10 µm thick cathode active layer. The YSZ electrolyte was ∼110 μm thick, and a fuel cell was created by application of a Ni/(Ce 0.9 Gd 0.1 )O 2 cermet as the baseline anode. Cells possessing the foamed LSCF cathode were compared to cells constructed via standard methods in terms of resultant microstructure, electrochemical performance, and introceptive character. The foamed cathode tended to possess a high level of tortuous porosity which was ellipsoidal and interconnected in character. Both the standard and foamed cathode structures were subjected to an infiltration process, and the resultant microstructure was examined. The impregnation efficiency of the foamed cathode was at least ∼10% greater per deposition than that of an unfoamed porous LSCF cathode. The SOFC with the Pt nanocatalyst impregnated foamed cathode demonstrated a maximum power density of 593 mW/cm 2 utilising wet H 2 fuel, which is 52% higher than an SOFC with the baseline Pt-impregnated LSCF cathode (∼390 mW/cm 2 ) at 800°C. The cathode compositional and microstructural alterations obtainable by foaming led to the elevated power performance, which was shown to be quite high relative to standard SOFCs with a thick YSZ electrolyte.
RNA sequencing with radioactive chain-terminating ribonucleotides

Abstract A rapid method for determining nucleotide sequences in RNA is described. It employs the 3'-deoxy analogues of the ribonucleoside triphosphates as specific chain terminators during RNA synthesis. For example, the inclusion of 3'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate in an RNA synthesis reaction in addition to the four usual ribonucleoside triphosphate precursors results in the synthesis of a set of different-length product strands that terminate in a 3'-deoxyuridine that has been incorporated in place of uridine. To sequence an RNA, four separate reactions are run, each employing a different 3'-deoxy terminator. Parallel electrophoretic analysis of the resulting four sets of specifically terminated product chains leads to a direct reading of the nucleotide sequence. We tested this method by sequencing MDV-1 (-) RNA, a molecule that is synthesized in vitro by phage Qbeta replicase. The sequence read from the resulting gels agreed completely with the known sequence of MDV-1 (-) RNA. The bands in some regions of the sequencing gels were unusually close to one another, as has also been observed in other rapid sequencing procedures, making order assignment in these regions very difficult. Because the secondary structure of MDV-1 (-) RNA was known, it was shown that the compression of the bands is due to the persistence of secondary structures during electrophoresis. Thus, structured regions of nucleic acids may introduce difficulties for sequencing techniques that employ the currently available methods of gel electrophoresis.
Reaction of human hemoglobin HbA0 and two cross-linked derivatives with hydrogen peroxide: differential behavior of the ferryl intermediate.

Functional concerns regarding hemoglobin-based red cell substitutes have generally centered on two parameters: (a) oxygen binding and delivery properties and (b) stabilization of the hemoglobin tetramer to prevent dimerization. Strategic chemical cross-linking and site-directed mutagenesis have produced proteins that have both physiological oxygen binding characteristics and a markedly prolonged retention time in the circulation. The presence of a large amount of redox-active iron outside the red blood cell, however, raises some concerns about the potential for toxic side effects, many involving the production or participation of oxygen free radicals. In the present study, HPLC purified human hemoglobin HbA0 and two derivatives, one cross-linked between the lysine 99 residues of the alpha subunits (α-DBBF) and the other between the lysine 82 residues of the beta subunits (β-DBBF) were tested for their susceptibility to oxidation and oxidative damage caused by H2O2. We show that chemical cross-linking resulting in α-DBBF induces an increased tendency to form ferryl radical in the presence of H2O2 and stabilizes the radical once formed. The in vitro oxidative modification of α-DBBF seen here is a plausible mechanism for some of the in vivo toxicities associated with the infusion of this hemoglobin.
Target tracking for randomly varying number of targets and sensors using random finite set theory

Variation in the number of targets and sensors needs to be addressed in any realistic sensor system. Targets may come in or out of a region or may suddenly stop emitting detectable signal. Sensors can be subject to failure for many reasons. We derive a tracking algorithm with a model that includes these variations using Random Finite Set Theory (RFST). RFST is a generalization of standard probability theory into the finite set theory domain. This generalization does come with additional mathematical complexity. However, many of the manipulations in RSFT are similar in behavior and intuition to those of standard probability theory.
The life of a CME and the development of a MIR: From the Sun to 58 AU

[1] Large coronal mass ejections (CMEs) have major effects on the structure of the solar wind in the heliosphere. The plasma and magnetic field can be compressed ahead of CMEs to form merged interaction regions (MIRs). One signature of some CMEs that can be used to track them through the heliosphere is an enhanced alpha abundance. We use this signature and a one-dimensional MHD model to track a CME from an active region on the Sun to Wind (1 AU), then to Ulysses (5.3 AU) and finally to Voyager 2 (58 AU). The arrival times of the CME ejecta at the three spacecraft are identified primarily by the increased alpha abundance. The observed plasma profiles and timing are close to those predicted by propagating data outward (from Earth to Ulysses and from Ulysses to Voyager 2) using the MHD model and give us confidence we are observing the same events at all three spacecraft. This event and a subsequent CME bracket a developing MIR and thus allow us to track the development of this structure.
Scaling laws for radiation energies of axial channeled electrons in simple single string potentials

Abstract Scaling laws for the emission line energies of the axial channeling radiation of electrons have been found for simple power potentials and a logarithmic potential. In the system where the channeled electrons are (on average) at rest these scaling laws have the form hω i → j R = (γ/d) 1/(1 + 1 2 β) F(i, j, Z2). Here β is the power potential exponent (β = 0 corresponds to the logarithmic potential), γ is the Lorentz factor, and d the atomic spacing in the string. An initial analysis of available experimental data is made.
Diffusion-induced bubble growth and collapse in yield stress fluids

Abstract The dynamics of diffusion-induced bubble growth and collapse in yield stress fluids are investigated. A properly formulated model, which requires a rheological constitutive equation that allows for elastic deformation before yielding, is developed that includes as special cases bubble growth and collapse in Newtonian liquids and elastic solids. The model describes bubble growth (collapse) driven by mass diffusion from (to) the medium surrounding the bubble where mass and momentum transport are coupled through the boundary condition at the bubble-medium interface. During the initial stage of the process, the entire medium behaves like an elastic solid; when the yield stress is reached, the medium has both yielded and un-yielded regions separated by a time-dependent yield surface. Bubble growth and collapse dynamics are examined as function of the parameter N σ = σ / G , the yield stress σ normalized by the elastic modulus G. For bubble growth (collapse), the rate of growth (collapse) in a yield stress fluid is reduced relative to the Newtonian case and decreases with increasing N σ until the elastic case is reached.
Serotonin in Human Aqueous Humor

Abstract Circadian rhythms in serotonin metabolism have been observed in the pineal gland and retina, and there is evidence that the levels of serotonin and melatonin in these tissues may mediate events in the brain's sleep-wake cycle and the retina's cycle of disc shedding. Because the ciliary epithelium, which produces aqueous humor, has an embryonic origin similar to that of the retina and the pineal gland, the authors believe that serotonin metabolism might play an analogous role in the regulation of the diurnal cycle of aqueous secre tion. As a first step in investigating this hypothesis, they measured serotonin concentrations in the aqueous humor of 34 cataract patients. Using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection, a mean serotonin concentration of 52 ± 11 ng/ml was found. This high concentration implies that serotonin has one or more functions: (1) perhaps it acts as a neurotransmitter and precursor of melatonin; (2) conceivably it is related to aqueous humor dynamics; and (3) in particular, perhaps it affects the circadian rhythm of intraocular pressure.
Sexual selection for syntax and kin selection for semantics: problems and prospects

The evolution of human language, and the kind of thought the communication of which requires it, raises considerable explanatory challenges. These systems of representation constitute a radical discontinuity in the natural world. Even species closely related to our own appear incapable of either thought or talk with the recursive structure, generalized systematicity, and task-domain neutrality that characterize human talk and the thought it expresses. W. Tecumseh Fitch’s proposal (2004, in press) that human language is descended from a sexually selected, prosodic proto-language that approximated its syntactic complexity, and later acquired semantics thanks to kin selection for its use as a means of pedagogical transmission, has the promise of meeting these explanatory challenges. However, Fitch’s theory raises two problems of its own: (1) according to Boyd and Richerson (1996, Proc. Br. Acad. 88: 77–93), circumstances in which pedagogy is adaptive are inevitably rare in nature, and (2) it is unlikely that our non-discursive precursors had generally systematic, task-domain neutral thoughts to communicate to their offspring. I propose solutions to these problems. Pedagogy would be favored in a population where complex rituals dominated diverse aspects of life. Prosodic proto-language could emerge as the medium of pedagogic transmission. As this medium was used to teach a greater variety of tasks, it would become increasingly general and domain neutral. The presence and importance of such a system of communication in hominid populations could then drive, via Baldwinian mechanisms, the evolution of a kind of ‘thinking for speaking’ (Slobin 1991, Pragmatics 1: 7–25) characterized by recursive structure, generalized systematicity, and task-domain neutrality.
Computing with discrete multi-valued neurons

Analog computers are inherently inaccurate due to imperfections in fabrication and fluctuations in operating temperature. The classical solution to this problem uses extra hardware to enforce discrete behaviour. However, the brain appears to compute reliably with inaccurate components without necessarily resorting to discrete techniques. The continuous neural network is a computational model based upon certain observed features of the brain. Experimental evidence has shown continuous neural networks to be extremely fault-tolerant; in particular, their performance does not appear to be significantly impaired when precision is limited. Continuous neurons with limited precision essentially compute k-ary weighted multilinear threshold functions, which divide Rn into k regions with k-1 hyperplanes. The behaviour of k-ary neural networks is investigated. There is no canonical set of threshold values for k > 3, although they exist for binary and ternary neural networks. The weights can be made integers of only O((z+k)log(z+k)) bits, where z is the number of processors, without increasing hardware or running time. The weights can be made ±1 while increasing running time by a constant multiple and hardware by a small polynomial in z and k. Binary neurons can be used if the running time is allowed to increase by a larger constant multiple and the hardware is allowed to increase by a slightly larger polynomial in z and k. Any symmetric k-ary function can be computed in constant depth and size O(nk−1k−2)!), and any k-ary function can be computed in constant depth and size O(nkn). The alternating neural networks of Olafsson and Abu-Mostafa, and the quantized neural networks of Fleisher are closely related to this model.
Substrate stereospecificity of the NAD-dependent mannitol dehydrogenase from celery

Abstract The NAD-dependent mannitol dehydrogenase (MTD) of celery catalyses the interconversion of d -mannitol and d -mannose. This 1-oxidoreductase is uniquely different from all NAD-dependent polyol dehydrogenases described to date, which are 2-oxidoreductases. The stereospecificity of mannitol dehydrogenase was tested in the oxidative direction in the presence of polyol and NAD cofactor and in the reductive direction in the presence of aldose and NADH. The enzyme would be expected to show the same stereospecificity in either direction. The stereospecificity in the reductive direction was tested by attempted reduction of all eight d - and l -pentoses and 15 of the 16 d - and l -hexoses. Stereospecificity in the oxidative direction was tested with the four pentitols and four of the hexitols. Mannitol dehydrogenase showed a marked preference for aldopentose and aldohexose substrates with the same absolute configuration at C-2 as that of d -mannose. Reduction of l -dose by mannitol dehydrogenase was the only exception to the stated stereochemical preference among 23 aldoses and eight alditols tested. The sugar d -threose that occurs rarely in nature is a competitive inhibitor ( K i = 18 mM) of mannitol oxidation. The physiologically important hexitols, galactitol and glucitol, are oxidized by MTD to aldoses that are not metabolized by higher plants.
Granulocyte-macrophage-colony stimulating factor in combination immunotherapy for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma: results of two phase II clinical trials.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to determine the response rates and toxicity of two regimens containing granulocyte-macrophage–colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in combination with interleukin-2 (IL-2) in the treatment of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. METHODS Therapy given in the first trial (Trial 1) consisted of irradiation to the primary tumor or metastatic site, followed by GM-CSF 100 μg/day administered subcutaneously (sc) for 2 weeks and IL-2 11 × 106 IU sc 4 days per week for 4 weeks. In the second trial (Trial 2), the therapy consisted of GM-CSF 125 μg/day sc for 2 weeks, followed by IL-2 11 × 106 IU sc 4 days per week and interferon-α 10 × 106 IU sc 2 days per week for 4 weeks, plus oral 13-cis-retinoic acid 1 mg/kg daily for 4 weeks. RESULTS There were no responses among 20 patients in Trial 1, but 3 patients had stable disease. There was 1 partial responder (5%) of 20 evaluable patients in Trial 2 who achieved a complete response with surgical resection. An additional 3 patients maintained stable disease, 2 of whom were rendered disease free by resection of the renal primary and a single metastatic site. The 1-year survival rate was 75% (95% confidence interval [CI], 50–89) in Trial 1 and 48% (95% CI, 20−71) in Trial 2. In Trial 1, Grade 3 toxicities included fever, fatigue, anorexia, nausea/vomiting, hyperbilirubinemia, and mental status change. Toxicity was more frequent in Trial 2 and included Grade 3 fever, fatigue, anorexia, mucositis, and dermatitis. One on-study death may have been therapy-related. CONCLUSIONS GM-CSF does not enhance the low response rate of IL-2–based immunotherapy for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. New active agents are needed to treat patients with this disease. Cancer 2000;88:1317–24. © 2000 American Cancer Society.
Localized membrane-wall adhesions in Pelvetia zygotes

Membrane-wall adhesions in zygotes of the brown algaPelvetia were visualized following plasmolysis. Strands of cytoplasm remained firmly attached to the cell wall at discrete adhesion sites during plasmolysis. Adhesion sites were uniformly distributed in ungerminated zygotes, but were concentrated in the apical 5 μm of the elongating rhizoid in germinated zygotes. Few adhesions were detected along the flanks of the rhizoid or in the thallus region of germinated zygotes. The structure, physiology and function of apical adhesions in the rhizoid were characterized. F-actin was found at adhesion sites in plasmolyzed zygotes labeled with rhodamine phalloidin, and disruption of cortical F-actin reduced the number of adhesions. Manipulation of cytosolic H+ and Ca2+ activities also disrupted adhesions. On the extracellular surface, the number of adhesions was reduced by inhibition of cellulose synthesis, protease cleavage of wall proteins, and changes in extracellular H+ and Ca2+ activities. Chronic treatment with the synthetic peptide RGDS, which prevents cell adhesion in fibroblasts, also reduced adhesion number. The number of adhesions per cell did not correlate with growth rate, but was inversely correlated with the ability to establish new rhizoid growth sites. The results indicate that membrane wall adhesions containing F-actin on the cytoplasmic face are localized in the growing rhizoid apex. The adhesions may be structurally related to focal adhesions in animal cells.
Isolation and Characterization of Cuticular Polyester from the Leaf of Nicotiana tabacum

Cuticular membranes (ca.0.04mg/cm2) were isolated from fresh and flue-cured tobacco leaves (Nicotiana tabacum) as clear, colorless and thin films by oxalic ammonium treatment and successive cellulase-pectinase digestion. GC-MS analyses, after hydrogenolysis and trimethylsilylation, revealed that the membranes are mainly built up of 10,16-dihydroxy hexadecanoic acid in a polyester network structure which survives postharvest-treatments.The fruit skins of solanaceaes; sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum), eggplant (Solanum melongena) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), have similar membranes which are essentially composed of 9,16- and 10,16-dihydroxy hexadecanoic acid.
Effect of noise on photorefractive grating readout

The nature of the diffracted Gaussian'' beam from a photorefractive hologram under the influence of electronic noise is investigated by determining the signa1-tonoise ratio and spatial degradation index of the output. 1.
A cross-national study of a method for researching non-profit organisational effectiveness

Are there criteria that define non-profit organisation effectiveness? If the criteria can be identified, is it possible to use them in a comparative study to assess whether and in what way the use of the criteria may vary between nations? This study addresses both questions. The study uses the factorial survey method and is based on the social constructionist conception that effectiveness is created as an ongoing and sometimes contested outcome of a social judgement process. We illustrate the method with samples from the US and UK and compare the results. The results establish the value of the factorial survey method. Analyses show that both US and UK respondents use percentage expenditures on fund-raising, advocacy emphasis, change in financial surplus and unit cost of services as effectiveness criteria. There is evidence that voluntarism is a more important criterion in the US and that advocacy is more important in the UK.
Ground Turbulence At Mauna Kea Observatory: Location And Ground Height For Future Telescopes

The turbulent surface boundary layer has been monitored within the summit area of Mauna Kea on the island of Hawaii. Measurements were made using three meteorological towers instrumented with microthermal sensors at three levels, ambient temperature sensors at two levels, and anemometers at two levels. Spectra of the temperature fluctuations were also measured. The spatial and temporal variations in microthermal activity associated with ground turbulence are quantified and explained. From these findings, the best locations and ground heights for telescope facilities are determined. The relative importance of turbulence near the ground in the degradation of image quality is deduced.