cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tuning the Innate Immune Response to Cyclic Dinucleotides by Using Atomic Mutagenesis

Cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs) trigger the innate immune response in eukaryotic cells through the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling pathway. To decipher this complex cellular process, a better correlation between structure and downstream function is required. Herein, we report the design and immunostimulatory effect of a novel group of c-di-GMP analogues. By employing an "atomic mutagenesis" strategy, changing one atom at a time, a class of gradually modified CDNs was prepared. These c-di-GMP analogues induce type-I interferon (IFN) production, with some being more potent than c-di-GMP, their native archetype. This study demonstrates that CDN analogues bearing modified nucleobases are able to tune the innate immune response in eukaryotic cells.
The Infant Scalp Score: A Validated Tool to Stratify Risk of Traumatic Brain Injury in Infants With Isolated Scalp Hematoma.

Objectives The objective was to validate the previously derived Infant Scalp Score (ISS) that uses clinical signs in infants with isolated scalp hematoma (ISH) after head trauma to stratify risk for clinically important traumatic brain injury (ciTBI) or TBI on computed tomography (CT). Methods Using the publicly available Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network TBI data set, we selected infants ≤ 1 year with GCS 14 to 15 who had ISH (defined as hematoma without other signs/symptoms of TBI). CT scans were obtained at the treating physician's discretion. We calculated ISS based on age, hematoma size, and location (range = 0-8) for each patient and calculated the sensitivity and specificity of the score for ciTBI and TBI on CT across a range of ISS cut-points. Results We included 1,289 infants ≤ 1 year of whom 462 (36%) had CT performed. Twelve had ciTBI and 59 had TBI on CT. An ISS cutoff ≥ 4 had sensitivity of 100% for ciTBI (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.74 to 1.0) and TBI with specificity of 0.49 (95% CI = 0.46 to 0.51). An ISS cutoff of ≥5 had a sensitivity of 100% for ciTBI (95% CI = 0.74 to 1.0) and specificity of 0.68 (95% CI = 0.66 to 0.71), but missed three infants with TBI on CT (none of whom required intervention). The receiver operating characteristic curves for clinical score to detect ciTBI and TBI had areas under the curve of 0.916 and 0.807, respectively. Conclusions The ISS accurately stratified risk for ciTBI and TBI on CT in infants with ISH and is a useful tool to help guide clinical decision making.
Streamlining the Quantitative Metrics Workflow at a Comprehensive Cancer Center

Introduction The objective of the project was to describe an efficient workflow for quantifying and disseminating tumor imaging metrics essential for assessing tumor response in clinical therapeutic trials. The clinical research utility of integration of the workflow into the electronic health record for radiology reporting was measured before and after the intervention. Materials and Methods A search of institutional clinical trial databases was performed to identify trials with radiology department collaborators. Investigator initiated trials, or those which lacked a standardized or automated system of collaboration with the research team were selected for the study. A web based application integrated in the electronic health record platform, the Quantitative Imaging Analysis Core (QIAC) initiative was established as a divisional resource with institutional support to provide standardized and reproducible imaging metrics across the institution. The turnaround time for radiology reports before (phase 1) and after web based application workflow (phase 2) was measured. During our test period (November 2014 to June 2015), a total of 68 requests with 37 from phase 1 and 31 from phase 2 were analyzed for patients who were enrolled in prospective clinical therapeutic interventional trials. Results The mean turnaround time for generation of quantitative tumor metric results after implementation of the web based QIAC workflow (phase 2) was significantly lower than prior (phase 1) (15.9 ± 21.3 vs 31.7 ± 35.4 hours, p= 0.0005). The mean time from the scan to the preliminary assessment was 19.6 ± 25.6 hours before and significantly reduced to 8.0 ± 9.9 hours with implementation of web based QIAC workflow. Conclusion Implementation of a web based QIAC workflow platform enabled significantly improved turnaround time for quantitative tumor metrics reports and enabled faster access to the reports.
(Re)Imagining a translingual self: Shifting one monolingual teacher candidate's language lens

Abstract While extant scholarship has examined the development of in-service teachers' translingual disposition (Canagarajah, 2013), less is known about how teacher education might foster the development of a translingual disposition among monolingual native English-speaking (NES) teacher candidates (TC). Using van Leeuwen's (2008) critical discourse analysis, this study investigates how one NES TC negotiates assimilationist language ideologies in the U.S. throughout the development of her translingual disposition through an English as a Second Language teaching practicum course. Findings reveal that while it is possible for a monolingual NES TC to develop a translingual disposition, the process is messy and often butts up against well-sedimented ideologies. Implications suggest that teachers and teacher educators alike must problematize broader ideologies and their own culpability in perpetuating linguistic and racialized oppression in order to develop the translingual dispositions needed to co-construct classrooms as democratic translanguaging spaces.
Narrative as cultural representation: An analysis of Japanese-language learners’ storytelling styles from the perspective of coherence and cohesion

Abstract This paper addresses issues related to narrative, cognition, and culture within the framework of foreign- or second-language (L2) narrative discourse, using a methodology of connecting the story- and language-related qualities of narrative discourse. The term “coherence” refers to whether or not a text makes sense at a global level, whereas “cohesion” describes the linguistic relationships among clauses in a narrative, such as how its surface linguistic elements are linked together at a local level. The paper (1) examines oral narratives, (2) reveals how both coherence and cohesion serve as the twin engines of narrative, and (3) emphasizes the significance of noting not only the narrative content/structure but also the appropriate use of linguistic devices, to identify language-specific ways of expressing affective elements in narrative. That is, the paper suggests the importance of developing conceptual understanding of L2 forms (e.g., grammatical variables) and their stylistic significance.
Type Of Board And Sustainability Reporting

The research examined the relationship between BODT (board of director type) and CSR (corporate sustainability reporting), annual report disclosure and performance by using a sampling of companies listed on the SP therefore, the findings are of interest to both companies considering board of director type and regulators and investors. The quantitative categorical research study found a significant relationship between CEO-only boards and higher levels of disclosure and reporting. No significant relationship between CEO-only board and greater ROA was found. A possible reason for the differences in outcomes between the past research regarding independent boards that did not consider the CEO-only member and CSR reporting and the research presented in this study was the role of the lead independent director as a member of the CEO-only board not considered in this study.
Catholic Schools, Charter Schools, and Urban Neighborhoods

This Article addresses previously unstudied implications of two dramatic shifts in the American educational landscape. The first shift is the rapid disappearance of urban Catholic schools. More than 1,600 Catholic elementary and secondary schools, most of them located in urban neighborhoods, have closed during the last two decades. The Archdiocese of Chicago alone (the subject of our study) has closed 148 schools since 1984. Since the economic and demographic realities underlying urban Catholic school closures persist, this trend likely will continue and even accelerate in coming years. The second shift is the rise of charter schools. In 2010 more than 1.7 million children were enrolled in 5,400 charter schools in the United States. During the 2009–10 school year, there were
The effects of repetition frequency on the illusory truth effect

Repeated information is often perceived as more truthful than new information. This finding is known as the illusory truth effect, and it is typically thought to occur because repetition increases processing fluency. Because fluency and truth are frequently correlated in the real world, people learn to use processing fluency as a marker for truthfulness. Although the illusory truth effect is a robust phenomenon, almost all studies examining it have used three or fewer repetitions. To address this limitation, we conducted two experiments using a larger number of repetitions. In Experiment 1, we showed participants trivia statements up to 9 times and in Experiment 2 statements were shown up to 27 times. Later, participants rated the truthfulness of the previously seen statements and of new statements. In both experiments, we found that perceived truthfulness increased as the number of repetitions increased. However, these truth rating increases were logarithmic in shape. The largest increase in perceived truth came from encountering a statement for the second time, and beyond this were incrementally smaller increases in perceived truth for each additional repetition. These findings add to our theoretical understanding of the illusory truth effect and have applications for advertising, politics, and the propagation of “fake news.”
Examining Vigilance in a Simulated Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Monitoring Task

Tasks which require individuals to sustain attention to seldomly occurring stimuli for long periods of time can induce workload, stress, and often lead to the vigilance decrement [4, 10]. Research into potential methods to mitigate the effects of these tasks have proposed training, video game experience, and the potential of using music. This study examined the impact of listening to music during performance of a simulated UAS monitoring task on the vigilance decrement using twenty-eight participants from a southeastern private Florida university. Music was not found to relieve the vigilance decrement, however, interesting results were found related to gaming experience and workload. Findings were consistent with increased workload and mental demand for participants with gaming experience. These findings are discussed in the context of operator selection.
Pink and blue in a yellow box: National Geographic’s special issue on gender identity

National Geographic magazine’s January 2017 special issue focused on gender around the world, including the magazine’s first explicit discussion of gender identity and transgender lives. I argue th...
Using mixup as regularization and tuning hyper-parameters for ResNets

While novel computer vision architectures are gaining traction, the impact of model architectures is often related to changes or exploring in training methods. Identity mapping-based architectures ResNets and DenseNets have promised path-breaking results in the image classification task and are go-to methods for even now if the data given is fairly limited. Considering the ease of training with limited resources this work revisits the ResNets and improves the ResNet50 \cite{resnets} by using mixup data-augmentation as regularization and tuning the hyper-parameters.
Encapsulation technology for decentralized brewery wastewater treatment: a small pilot experiment.

Abstract The feasibility of implementing encapsulation technology for the biological anaerobic treatment of high-strength wastewater was investigated. The small pilot-scale wastewater treatment process, deployed at a local brewery, consisted of a 4-L fermenting first-stage reactor containing alginate-encapsulated fermenting microorganisms and a 30-L methanogenic second-stage reactor containing alginate-encapsulated anaerobic digester sludge (CH4E reactor). A parallel second-stage 30-L anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) was operated for comparison. The first-stage reactor produced 40.4 ± 47.3% more volatile fatty acids than present in the influent wastewater. The CH4E reactor stared rapidly, with an off-gas methane content >60% after 14 days. It took >1 month for the AnMBR to achieve this performance. Nevertheless, the CH4E reactor performance declined relative to the AnMBR over time. This was thought to be a result of encapsulant leakage and the encapsulation of a non-ideal initial community. Further optimization is needed, but encapsulation shows promise for small-footprint anaerobic biological treatment applications.
Female Primates as “Energy-Maximizers” in Heterogeneous Regimes

The problem of any sexual organism is the optimization of genotypic and phenotypic benefits, and the problem of the female is to do her best reproductively within the energetic constraints of her local regime. All other things being equal, a female will be selected to invest the largest possible share of her total energy budget into reproductive activities (especially, for female mammals, parenting effort), rather than on growth and survival or mating effort. It is for these reasons that in many environmental conditions it will benefit females to exhibit highly selective tactics and strategies that are not energetically wasteful.
On using heterogeneous data for vehicle-based speech recognition: A DNN-based approach

Most automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems incorporate a single source of information about their input, namely, features and transformations derived from the speech signal. However, in many applications, e.g., vehicle-based speech recognition, sensor data and environmental information are often available to complement audio information. In this paper, we show how these data can be used to improve hybrid DNN-HMM ASR systems for a vehicle-based speech recognition task. Feature fusion is accomplished by augmenting acoustic features with additional side information before being presented to the DNN acoustic model. The additional features are extracted from the vehicle speed, HVAC status, windshield wiper status, and vehicle type. This supplementary information improves the DNNs ability to discriminate phonetic events in an environment-aware way without having to make any modification to the DNN training algorithms. Experimental results show that heterogeneous data are effective irrespective of whether cross-entropy or sequence training is used. For CE training, a WER reduction of 6.3% is obtained, while sequential training reduces it by 5.5%.
Survival of Animal Tissue Cells in Primary Culture in the Absence of Serum

The ability of cells from tissues of several species of animals to survive in primary culture without serum was tested. Of the species tested, cells from the kidneys of Macaca mulatta (rhesus) and Cercopithecus aethiops (vervet) monkeys and chicken embryo cells not only survived under these conditions, but indeed developed into confluent monolayer cultures. The addition of either serum or its globulin or albumin fraction enhanced the development of cell monolayers and permitted those cells unable to survive in the absence of serum to do so. Certain specific protein trypsin-inhibitors not of serum origin were unable to provide conditions necessary for cell survival or growth when used in place of serum proteins.
Studies on clonal cartilage strains. II. Selective effects of different growth conditions.

Abstract Growth conditions were described which vary the relative number of variant cells that accumulate. Maintenance of a high division rate through regular subculture minimizes the accumulation of variants. This results in a population which expresses the cartilage phenotype after many population doublings.
Process variation dimension reduction based on SVD [circuit simulation]

We propose an algorithm based on singular value decomposition (SVD) to reduce the number of process variation variables. With few process variation variables, fault simulation and timing analysis under process variation can be performed efficiently. Our algorithm reduces the number of process variation variables while preserving the delay function with respect to process variation. Compared with the principal component analysis (PCA) method, our algorithm requires less computation time and guarantees the reduced process variation variables are independent. Experimental results on ISCAS85 circuits show that the algorithm works well.
Chapter 25. Relationship between Nucleoside Conformation and Biological Activity

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the relationship between nucleoside conformation and biological activity. Some of the effects of nucleoside conformation on the physical and biological properties of polynucleotides and on enzyme–substrate interactions are discussed. The conformation of nucleosides, nucleotides, and oligo- and polynucleotides has been studied. Two major conformational elements can influence the three-dimensional structure of both nucleoside monomers and polymers. These are the relative orientations of the sugar and aglycones at the glycosyl bond and the type of pucker in the sugar rings. In the case of polymers, the series of single bonds, which form the phosphodiester linkages between adjacent nucleotides could, in principle, permit free rotation, and therefore conformational modifications in the polynucleotide chain. Formycin compounds should substitute for the corresponding adenosine nucleotides in enzymatic reactions. With the exception of nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide synthetase, formycin nucleotides efficiently replace the corresponding adenosine counterparts with the enzymes of intermediary metabolism, polynucleotide synthesis and tRNA synthesis and function.
The Early Psychosis Intervention Center (EPICENTER): development and six-month outcomes of an American first-episode psychosis clinical service

There is growing evidence that specialized clinical services targeted toward individuals early in the course of a psychotic illness may be effective in reducing both the clinical and economic burden associated with these illnesses. Unfortunately, the United States has lagged behind other countries in the delivery of specialized, multi-component care to individuals early in the course of a psychotic illness. A key factor contributing to this lag is the limited available data demonstrating the clinical benefits and cost-effectiveness of early intervention for psychosis among individuals served by the American mental health system. Thus, the goal of this study is to present clinical and cost outcome data with regard to a first-episode psychosis treatment center within the American mental health system: the Early Psychosis Intervention Center (EPICENTER). Sixty-eight consecutively enrolled individuals with first-episode psychosis completed assessments of symptomatology, social functioning, educational/vocational functioning, cognitive functioning, substance use, and service utilization upon enrollment in EPICENTER and after 6 months of EPICENTER care. All participants were provided with access to a multi-component treatment package comprised of cognitive behavioral therapy, family psychoeducation, and metacognitive remediation. Over the first 6 months of EPICENTER care, participants experienced improvements in symptomatology, social functioning, educational/vocational functioning, cognitive functioning, and substance abuse. The average cost of care during the first 6 months of EPICENTER participation was lower than the average cost during the 6-months prior to joining EPICENTER. These savings occurred despite the additional costs associated with the receipt of EPICENTER care and were driven primarily by reductions in the utilization of inpatient psychiatric services and contacts with the legal system. The results of our study suggest that multi-component interventions for first-episode psychosis provided in the US mental health system may be both clinically-beneficial and cost-effective. Although additional research is needed, these findings provide preliminary support for the growing delivery of specialized multi-component interventions for first-episode psychosis within the United States. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01570972 ; Date of Trial Registration: November 7, 2011
The carboxyl-terminal region of staphylococcal enterotoxin type A is required for a fully active molecule.

Abstract Staphylococcal enterotoxin type A (SEA) gene (sea+) mutations were constructed by exonuclease III digestion or cassette mutagenesis. Five different sea mutations that had 1, 3, 7, 39, and 65 codons deleted from the 3' end of sea+ were identified and confirmed by restriction enzyme and nucleotide sequence analyses. Each of these sea mutations was constructed in Escherichia coli and transferred to Staphylococcus aureus by using the plasmid vector pC194. Culture supernatants from the parent S. aureus strain that lacked an enterotoxin gene (negative controls) and from derivatives that contained either sea+ (positive control) or a sea mutation were examined for in vitro sensitivity to degradation by monkey stomach lavage fluid, the ability to cause emesis when administered by an intragastric route to rhesus monkeys, and the ability to induce T-cell proliferation and by Western immunoblot analysis and a gel double-diffusion assay with polyclonal antibodies prepared against SEA. Altered SEAs corresponding to the predicted sizes were visualized by Western blot analysis of culture supernatants for each of the staphylococcal derivatives that contained a sea mutation. The altered SEA that lacked the C-terminal amino acid residue behaved like SEA in all of the assays performed. The altered SEA that lacked the three C-terminal residues of SEA caused T-cell proliferation but was not emetic; this altered SEA was degraded in vitro by monkey stomach lavage fluid and did not reach in the gel double diffusion assay. Altered SEAs that lacked 7, 39, or 65 carboxyl-terminal residues were degraded by stomach lavage fluid in vitro, did not produce an emetic response, and did not induce T-cell proliferation or form a visible reaction in the gel double-diffusion assay.
Cloning, Expression, and Sequence of an Allosteric Mutant ADPglucose Pyrophosphorylase from Escherichia coli B

Escherichia coli B mutant strain SG14 accumulates glycogen at 28% of the rate observed for the parent strain. This is due to the presence of an ADPglucose pyrophosphorylase with altered allosteric properties including lower apparent affinities for substrates, the activator, fructose-1,6-bisphosphate, and the inhibitor, AMP. The mutant enzyme also is completely insensitive to activation by NADPH. To clone this mutant, an SG14 library was constructed by insertion of the chromosomal DNA into the PstI site of pBR322. Screening of the library via colony hybridization with a wild-type gene (glgC) probe resulted in the successful isolation of a recombinant plasmid, designated pPJ2, which contained the mutant glgC gene. The enzyme expressed from pPJ2 was partially purified and found to be very similar in kinetic and allosteric properties to the enzyme isolated from the SG14 strain. The mutant glgC gene, a HincII fragment from pPJ2, was then subcloned into pUC118/119 for dideoxy sequencing of both strands. One amino acid change was found in a region that is highly conserved in all known sequences: a single point mutation at the deduced amino acid residue 44 resulted in a change of alanine to threonine. The properties of this mutant are discussed in comparison to other known allosteric mutants.
Challenges in therapy of chronic hepatitis B.

Twenty five years after the first description of interferon therapy of chronic hepatitis B [1] the optimal treatment of this disease remains unsettled and controversial. Currently, three antiviral therapies are approved for use in chronic hepatitis B in the United States, each of which has been shown to be effective when given by itself in courses of 4– 12 months. Nevertheless, there remains no clear guidelines for use of antiviral therapy, and investigators differ markedly in recommendations and approaches [2]. The task of developing a consensus of therapy of this disease is challenging, as there is little firm medical evidence to support specific recommendations. Yet, for all the difficulty, it is clear that medical control of this chronic liver disease is potentially within reach. New and potent antivirals, innovative and reliable serological assays, and accumulation of information on the natural history and pathogenesis of hepatitis B are beginning to allow for important inroads into management of this disease. This summary will discuss the clinical challenges of clinical trials of therapy of hepatitis B and the best approaches to addressing these challenges. The essential issues are: (1) diagnostic criteria and definitions; (2) optimal endpoints for treatment; (3) use of serological and virological markers; and (4) indications for therapy. These are interrelated issues. Thus, rigorous diagnostic criteria and definitions will not only help with defining indications for treatment but also with defining endpoints. In addition, serological and virological markers are essential in definitions and diagnostic criteria and will ultimately define endpoints for treatment. 2. Diagnostic criteria and definitions
Net Charge Fluctuations at RHIC

We present measurements of dynamical net charge fluctuations in Au+Au collisions at $$\sqrt {s_{NN} } = 20$$ , 62, 130 and 200 GeV using the measure ν +−,dyn. We observe the dynamical fluctuations are finite at all energies, and do not exhibit dependence on beam energy. We find net charge fluctuations violate the trivial 1/N scaling expected for nuclear collisions consisting of independent nucleon-nucleon interactions. We also find dynamical fluctuations exhibit sizable dependence of the pseudo-rapidity and azimuthal ranges of integration. We compare measured data with transport models and a toy model invoking radial flow, and show the bulk of the measured correlations can be accounted for by resonance production and radial collective flow.
Specific ergodicity: an informative indicator for invertible computational media

Specific ergodicity asks, for an invertible cellular automaton, lattice gas, or similar indefinitely-extended computational medium, what fraction of the information needed to specify an individual state is still missing after one is told the computational trajectory to which that state belongs. While the well-known distinction between "ergodic" and "nonergodic" for a dynamical system is an all-or-nothing classification, specific ergodicity---with range in the [0,1] interval---provides a continuous parameter which may be interpreted as "degree of ergodicity." Moreover, while the property of a system's being ergodic can only refer to the system as a whole, specific ergodicity is an intensive quantity (ie it factors out the size of the system); thus, for a spatially-distributed, homogeneous computational system such as a cellular automaton or a lattice gas, in the limit of infinite system size this quantity reflects an intrinsic property of the material that makes up the computational medium, abstracting from its specific size or shapeWe provide the conceptual background, present theoretical and numerical results, and discuss the relevance of specific ergodicity to a number of concrete research questions.Values of specific ergodicity for a variety of systems of actual interest turn out to be well distributed over its entire range; in this sense, this quantity is an informative indicator. Indeed, besides representing a useful parameter in the classification of distributed computational media, specific ergodicity provides a "sense of direction" in issues such as protection from noise, design of self-organizing media, necessary conditions for the emergence and persistence of life, effectiveness of a parallel architecture as a "programmable medium," and a number of topics in nanotechnology
Qualitative Applications of the NMR Spectra of Alkylpyridines: Part I. Chemical Shifts of the Ring Protons

Spectroscopic identification of pyridine compounds isolated from complex substances such as shale oil is greatly aided by NMR chemical-shift data on the pyridine-ring protons. Chemical shifts of the ring protons in CCl4 and C6H6 solution and the differential shift of the protons in these two solvents are reported. A paramagnetic shift is observed in the directional character of the proton alpha to the nitrogen in the pyridine ring. These data are used to determine structural information from the spectrum of a mixture of pyridine homologs.
Excitation of the Electronic States of the Nitrogen Molecule by Electron Impact

The electron-impact excitation cross sections of the $a^{1}\ensuremath{\Pi}_{g}$, ${c}^{\ensuremath{'}}^{1}\ensuremath{\Sigma}_{u}^{+}$, ${a}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}^{1}\ensuremath{\Sigma}_{g}^{+}$, $w^{1}\ensuremath{\Delta}_{u}$, ${b}^{\ensuremath{'}}^{1}\ensuremath{\Sigma}_{u}^{+}$, $b^{1}\ensuremath{\Pi}_{u}$, $A^{3}\ensuremath{\Sigma}_{u}^{+}$, $B^{3}\ensuremath{\Pi}_{g}$, $C^{3}\ensuremath{\Pi}_{u}$, $D^{3}\ensuremath{\Sigma}_{u}^{+}$, $W^{3}\ensuremath{\Delta}_{u}$, and $E^{3}\ensuremath{\Sigma}_{g}^{+}$ states of ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ have been calculated over the range of 0-2000 eV for the singlet states and 0-40 eV for the triplet states by means of the Born approximation with Ochkur's and Rudge's scheme for treating the electron-exchange-scattering amplitude. The Franck-Condon-factor approximation was used to obtain the excitation cross sections to each vibrational level of the electronic states. The computation of the scattering-amplitude integrals was greatly facilitated by expressing the molecular wave functions in terms of atomic Gaussian-type orbitals. Four sets of self-consistent-field molecular wave functions have been employed for the calculations in order to test the sensitivity of the calculated cross sections to the choice of the wave functions. With the exception of the ${c}^{\ensuremath{'}}^{1}\ensuremath{\Sigma}_{u}^{+}$ state, the cross sections based on three of the four sets vary by typically about 15%. As a test of the Born cross sections for singlet-singlet excitation, comparison between the theoretical and the available experimental values shows 25% agreement for the $a^{1}\ensuremath{\Pi}_{g}$ state at 900 eV and 50% for the ${a}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}^{1}\ensuremath{\Sigma}_{g}^{+}$ state at 80 eV. In the case of triplet excitation, the theoretical cross sections of the $C^{3}\ensuremath{\Pi}_{u}$ state agree very well with the experimental data, but for the $A^{3}\ensuremath{\Sigma}_{u}^{+}$ and $B^{3}\ensuremath{\Pi}_{g}$ states the discrepancy is generally as large as a factor of 2.
Carbon and nitrogen mineralization from light- and heavy- fraction additions to soil

Mineralization of C and N from soil organic matter (SOM) can be altered when natural ecosystems are transformed for food and fiber production. We examined C and N dynamics in adjacent long-term minimally disturbed and disturbed soils from agricultural and forest sites. Light and heavy fractions (LF and HF, respectively) of SOM were collected by physical density separation using sodium polytungstate. Aerobic C and N mineralization of soil (WS), soil plus HF (S+HF) and soil plus LF (S+LF) mixtures were determined. Between 0.8% and 1.7% of C and 0.3% and 1.2% of N from WS was mineralized after 28 days. The proportion of C mineralized from HF was negligible in all sites, suggesting that the HF component of soils could be a major sink for C storage in soils. Larger proportions of N from HF were mineralized in disturbed than minimally-disturbed soils, suggesting greater protection of N in the HF of disturbed soils. The proportion of C mineralized from LF ranged from ˇ0.3% to 3.2%, and was not consistent with C mineralization dynamics from the HF component of soils. It appeared that, while the LF component of soil contained C that was chemically and, to a lesser extent, physically protected from decomposition, more C was potentially mineralizable from the LF than the HF component of the agricultural and forest soils examined. In most soils, LF additions resulted in N immobilization rather than N mineralization. Our results indicate that HF is the main source of potentially mineralizable N whereas LF is a potential sink for mineral N, regardless of land management practices, in the agricultural and forest soils we examined. 7 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
The long latency component of retinotectal transmission: enhancement by stimulation of nucleus isthmi or tectobulbar tract and block by nicotinic cholinergic antagonists.

The optic tectum of teleosts contains high concentrations of nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors and receives putative cholinergic innervation from both nucleus isthmi in the tegmentum and a population of intrinsic tectal cells. Using in vitro preparations of goldfish brain, we have examined the effects of cholinergic antagonists and stimulation of nucleus isthmi on the tectal response to optic nerve stimulation. Our results show that: (1) a long latency component of the retinotectal field potential is polysynaptic in origin and occurs in isolated tectum; (2) this component can spread across the tectum from a beam of stimulated fibers and can appear in areas where the monosynaptic response is small or absent; (3) both monosynaptic and long latency components of the field potential are enhanced by prior stimulation of nucleus isthmi or the tectobulbar tract (15–300 ms); (4) both the long latency component of the field potential and the effects of stimulation of nucleus isthmis or tectobulbar tract are blocked by low concentrations of nicotinic antagonists; and (5) in deeper tectum a second polysynaptic response uncovered by pharmacological block of inhibition is not blocked by nicotinic antagonists. These results indicate that the cholinergic neurons intrinsic to tectum have a role in the spread of retinotectal excitation by nicotinic actions, and that stimulation of nucleus isthmi or tectobulbar tract facilitates activity in this system. There is in addition a separate recurrent excitatory circuit in tectum.
Computer-tailored health interventions delivered over the web: Review and analysis of key components

Abstract Objective This systematic review explores how computer-tailored, behavioral interventions implemented and delivered via the Web have been operationalized in a variety of settings. Methods Computer-tailored, online behavioral intervention studies published from 1996 to early 2007 were selected and reviewed by two independent coders. Results Of 503 studies screened, 30 satisfied the selection criteria. The level of sophistication of these interventions varied from immediate risk/health assessment, tailored web content to full-blown customized health programs. The most common variables for tailoring content were health behaviors and stages of change. Message tailoring was achieved through a combination mechanisms including: feedback, personalization and adaptation. Conclusions Tailored, self-guided health interventions delivered via the Web to date have involved a great diversity of features and formats. While some programs have been relatively brief and simple, others have involved complex, theory-based tailoring with iterative assessment, tools for development of self-regulatory skills, and various mechanisms for providing feedback. Practice implications Our ability to fully optimize the use of computer-assisted tailoring will depend on the development of empirically based guidelines for tailoring across populations, health foci, health behaviors and situations. Further outcome research is needed to enhance our understanding of how and under what conditions computer-tailoring leads to positive health outcomes in online behavioral interventions.
An integrated model of human-wildlife interdependence

Abstract This paper attempts to integrate wildlife-related ecologic and economic variables into an econometric model. The model reveals empirical evidence of the presumed interdependence of human-wildlife and the holistic nature of humanity's relationship to the ecosystem. Human use of biologic resources varies not only with income, education, and population, but also with sustainability of humankind's action relative to the quality and quantity of the supporting ecological base.
Technical progress and climatic change

The global warming debate has neglected and thus underestimated the importance of technical change in considering reduction in greenhouse gases and adaptation to climate change. Relevant quantitative cases of long-run technical change during the past 100 years are presented in computing, communications, transport, energy, and agriculture. A noteworthy technological trajectory is that of decarbonization, or decreasing carbon intensity of primary energy. If human societies have not yet reached the end of the history of technology, the cost structure for mitigation and adaptation changes could be cheap.
The effects of task complexity on motor performance in left and right CVA patients.

Abstract The effects of task complexity on movement ipsilateral to lesion were examined using the Fitts tapping task [ Fitts , P.M., J. exp. Psychol.47, 381–391, 1954]. Subjects were required to rapidly tap two targets, which were 1 or 4 cm wide. Twenty controls and ten left hemisphere and nine right hemisphere stroke patients were studied. Only the left hemisphere group showed significant deficits with greater impairment found in the wide target condition. Quantified CT scan analyses indicated lesion volume was similar between CVA groups, but the left hemisphere group's lesions were more anterior. The results are discussed in terms of inter- and intrahemispheric roles in open and closed loop movements.
The optimal dose of radiation in Hodgkin’s disease: an analysis of clinical and treatment factors affecting in-field disease control

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of radiation dose, as well as other clinical and therapeutic factors, on in-field disease control. Patients and Materials: The study population comprised 232 patients with Stage I and II Hodgkin's disease (HD) treated with curative intent at the University of Florida with radiotherapy (RT) alone (169 patients) or chemotherapy and radiotherapy (CMT) (63 patients). Sites of involvement and radiation doses were prospectively recorded and correlated with sites of disease recurrence. Results: Freedom from relapse and absolute survival rates at 10 years were as follows: 76% and 77%, entire group; 76% and 80%, RT group; 79% and 70%, CMT group; 85% and 78%, Stage I; and 71% and 77%, Stage II. Treatment failure occurred in 50 patients (22%) including in-field failure in 22 patients (9%). In-field failure was rare in electively treated sites. Multivariate analysis of clinical factors (tumor size, number of sites involved, B-symptoms, gender, histology, age, and site of involvement) and treatment factors (use of chemotherapy, number of cycles of chemotherapy, radiation dose, radiation treatment volume, and radiation treatment time) showed only tumor size ( p = 0.0001) to be significantly correlated with in-field disease control. In RT patients, the in-field failure rate according to tumor size was as follows: 0% for ≤ 3 cm; 4% for > 3 cm and ≤ 6 cm; 23% for > 6 cm and ≤ 9 cm; and 36% for > 9 cm. In CMT patients, the in-field failure rate was as follows: 0% for ≤ 3 cm; 0% for > 3 and ≤ 6 cm; 5% for > 6 cm and ≤ 9 cm; and 26% for > 9 cm. In-field recurrence was not a predominant pattern of failure in RT patients with small tumors (≤ 6 cm); thus, the difference in in-field control in tumors ≤ 6 cm between doses ≤ 35 Gy (6%) and doses ≥ 36 Gy (0%) was not statistically significant. In larger tumors (> 6 cm), in-field recurrence was a predominant pattern of failure; the in-field failure rate in RT patients with tumors > 6 cm of 30% for doses ≤ 35 Gy was not significantly different from 25% for doses > 35 Gy. In moderately bulky tumors (> 6 cm and ≤ 9 cm), the addition of chemotherapy did appear to increase in-field disease control; the in-field failure rate was 23% with RT and 5% with CMT ( p = 0.07). Conclusion: Our data do not demonstrate statistically significant evidence of increasing tumor control in HD with doses > 30 Gy. The data do show that increasing tumor size is associated with increased rates of in-field failure, and the addition of chemotherapy may improve in-field disease control in tumors > 6 cm. In-field recurrence in large tumors remains a predominant pattern of failure, however, and the role of radiation doses higher than 30–35 Gy in this high-risk subset warrants further study.
The Johns Hopkins Depression Scale: normative data and validation in child psychiatry patients.

ABSTRACT With a newly devised 38-item symptom checklist based upon DSM-III criteria for major affective disorder, normative data were obtained on 1,004 school children, aged 5 to 13 years. The items on the checklist were scored on a severity scale of 0 to 4 with a maximum score of 152. The average raw scores in this population was 31.2, SD ± 2.4. Of 57 inpatients, 27 met DSM-III criteria for a major affective disorder and obtained mean raw scores of 66.8, SD ± 13.4. The 30 nondepressed inpatients had scores of 36.4, SD ± 5.3. The differences in the raw scores between the depressed inpatients and normal controls, and depressed and nondepressed inpatients were found to be statistically significant ( p
Purification of fibrin-specific monoclonal antibody from ascites fluid by preparative isoelectric focusing.

Abstract With the increased use of site-directed monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) for the detection and localization of antigens (Ags) in vivo, an efficient, noninjurious MAb purification procedure is essential [1–9]. In this study MAb was purified by both immunoaffinity chromatography (IAFC) and preparative isoelectric focusing (PIEF). For anti-fibrin MAb purified by each method, the purification efficiency, blood clearance, and in vivo localization in thrombi were compared. Blood clearance rates and in vivo localization were determined by a double isotope assay: affinity-purified MAb was labeled with I-125, and PIEF-purified MAb was labeled with I-131. Both were injected intravenously into a dog with an experimentally induced femoral vein thrombus. MAb purified by PIEF had a slightly longer biological T 1 2 resulting in comparably higher thrombus localization. Due to its efficiency, PIEF warrants consideration when purified MAb is desired.
Synthesis, Structures and Oxo Transfer Reactivity of bis(Dithiolene) Tungsten(IV,VI) Complexes Related to the Active Sites of Tungstoenzymes

A series of bis(dithiolene)tungsten(IV,VI) complexes derived from benzene-1,2-dithiolate (bdt) has been prepared as an synthetic approach to pterin dithiolene-bound active sites of tungstoenzymes, one example of which, a archaeal oxidoreductase, has been established crystallographically (Chan et al. Science 1995, 267, 1463). With [WIVO(bdt)2]2- (2) as the starting compound, silylation with RR'2SiCl afforded [WIV(bdt)2(OSiRR'2)]1- (4). Oxidation of 4 with Me3NO gave [WVIO(bdt)2(OSiRR'2)]1- (5), also accessible by silylation of [WVIO2(bdt)2]2- (3). Reaction of 3 or 5 with Me3SiCl resulted in [WVIO(bdt)2Cl]1- (6), from which the unstable species [WVIO(bdt)2L]1- (L = ButO-, PhS-) were generated in solution. Reductive oxo transfer of 6 with L' = P(OEt)3 or ButNC/P(OEt)3 gave [WIV(bdt)2L'2] (8 and 9). Sulfido complex [WVIS(bdt)2(OSiRR'2)]1- (12) was obtained in the reaction systems 4/(PhCH2S)2S and 5/(Me3Si)2S. Structures of [WO(SPh)4]1- and [W(bdt)3]2- and eight complexes of types 4-6, 8, 9, and 12 were determined by X-ray crystallography. Complexes 4 and 5 are tungsten analogues of the desoxo Mo(IV) and monooxo Mo(VI) states of Rhodobacter sphaeroides DMSO reductase. Six types of reactivity, including oxygen atom transfer, are recognized by the synthesis and interconversion of the set of complexes. The potential biological relevance of these complexes to the structure and function of active sites in two families of tungstoenzymes is considered (RR'2 = Me3 (4); ButMe2 (4 and 5), ButPh2 (4, 5, and 12)).
Biotreatability test of bleach wastewaters from pulp and paper mills

Research is focused on an integrated way to simultaneously optimize the bleaching operations and subsequent wastewater treatment for pulp and paper mills. Bleach wastewaters from ClO2-bleached pulping studies at Institute of Paper Science and Technology (IPST) were used as the feed for batch reactors to test and rank the treatability and kinetics. The key aspect of the system is the use of sequential anaerobic/aerobic phases to enhance reductive dehalogenation of chloro-organic materials. Two continuous reactor systems, one operated in an anaerobic-aerobic mode and a second in an aerobic-aerobic mode, received bleaching wastewater obtained from a full-scale plant. Acclimated cultures from both continuous reactors were used to quantify the AOX (Adsorbable Organic Halide) and COD removal from various bleaching wastewaters. In general, the sequential anaerobic/aerobic treatment of bleach wastewater can improve both biotreatability and degradation rates.
On a loss of memory property of the maximum

Abstract Let {ξ j } be a strictly stationary sequence which satisfies the condition D ( u n ) for some sequence of constants { u n }. Write M n = max(ξ j : 1 ⩽ j ⩽ n ). It is shown that if lim inf n → ∞ P [ M n ⩽ u n ]>0, then lim n → ∞ max r n ⩽ q ⩽ n − r n n | P [ξ q +1 > u n | M q ⩽ u n ] − P [ M r n > u n ]/ r n |= 0 where { r n } is a suitably chosen sequence of constants. This provides insight into some well-known results concerning the asymptotic properties of M n .
A Structural Change Occurs upon Binding of Syntaxin to SNAP-25 *

The highly conserved proteins syntaxin and SNAP-25 are part of a protein complex that is thought to play a key role in exocytosis of synaptic vesicles. Previous work demonstrated that syntaxin and SNAP-25 bind to each other with high affinity and that their binding regions are predicted to form coiled coils. Circular dichroism spectroscopy was used here to study the alpha-helicity of the individual proteins and to gain insight into structural changes associated with complex formation. Syntaxin displayed approximately 43% alpha-helical content. In contrast, the alpha-helical content of SNAP-25 was low under physiological conditions. Formation of the SNAP-25-syntaxin complex was associated with a dramatic increase in alpha-helicity. Interaction of a 90-residue NH2-terminal fragment of SNAP-25 comprising the minimal syntaxin binding domain lead to a similar but less pronounced increase in alpha-helicity. Single amino acid replacements in the putative hydrophobic core of this fragment with hydrophilic amino acids abolished the induced structural change and disrupted the interaction monitored by binding assays. Replacements with hydrophobic residues had no effect. Our findings are consistent with induced coiled coil formation upon binding of syntaxin and SNAP-25.
Antihypertensive Therapy and Its Effects on Potassium Homeostasis

The role of potassium in cardiovascular disease and the importance of preserving potassium balance have emerged as clinical hot points, particularly as they relate to cardioprotective and renoprotective therapies that secondarily promote potassium retention. Antihypertensive medications that most commonly influence serum potassium levels and/or total body potassium include beta blockers and potassium-wasting and potassium-sparing diuretics as well as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers. Uncertainty exists as to the best way to monitor potassium levels when any of these drug therapies are used, particularly in the setting of chronic kidney disease and/or heart failure. Guidelines for the monitoring of serum potassium levels in the setting of antihypertensive therapy are at best makeshift and often drawn from the know-how of the treating physician.