cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil: Clinical manifestation and effect of comorbidities on outcomes of hospitalized SARI cases

Hospitalized SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Infection) cases reported to the Brazilian Ministry of Health through the SIVEP Gripe system are subject to our analysis. Out of 617,020 cases included in the analysis, 364,904 (59.1%) had COVID-19 as the etiologic agent, while the rest had another (called non-COVID). Clinical manifestations and comorbidities are reported for each group. Among COVID and non-COVID cases 50.4% and 46.4% used non-Invasive Ventilatory Support (nIVS), 21.2% and 16.8% used Invasive Ventilatory Support (IVS) and 36.6% and 29.8% were admitted to ICU. 40% and 25.2% in each group evolved to death. Mean length of hospitalization and ICU stay were higher in COVID patients (10.8 vs 8.6 and 10.2 vs 7.3 days). The comparison in time of SARI cases from 2020 with those reported in 2019 showed an increase in reporting of non-COVID cases. The proportion of COVID-19 cases for whom PCR test was detectable was up to 90%, while in non-COVID cases it was less than 20%. Logistic Regression analysis showed that patients having less education had lower odds of PCR test being detectable. Full logistic regression models were used to estimate the effect of comorbidities, severity of SARI, etiologic agent, age, sex and race on outcomes simultaneously. Heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, and obesity had significantly higher odds of being admitted to ICU, having used nIVS and IVS. These same comorbidities, immunosuppression, renal, and liver diseases had also higher odds of dying. Asthma on the other hand showed to be a protective factor and was associated with significantly lower odds of being admitted to ICU and dying of SARI. Females had significantly better outcomes. COVID patients had higher odds of being admitted to the ICU, receiving nIVS and IVS, and dying.
The interaction of double burner fire whirls

Abstract A detailed description is given of double burner fire whirls that are similar in structure to the type of combined whirls seen in nature. The whirls are generated using the fixed frame method, and two burners are placed symmetrically about the center of the fixed frame. The flame from each burner sweeps along the ground until it reaches the point midway between the burners, where the two flames wrap around each other in rotation as they stretch vertically. Stereo Particle Image Velocimetry is used to examine the structure and behavior of the whirls under different burner separation and burning rate conditions. The circulation, Froude number and whirl height for the double burner whirls are found to follow similar scaling relationships to those found for single centered and offset burner whirls, but the velocity profiles display significant differences, including the presence of lobed radial velocity profiles in the core of the combined whirl. The air entrainment contours suggest double whirls may be more effective at entraining, lifting, and ejecting flaming debris.
Radio-Frequency Spectra at Finite Temperature, Fluctuation-Response Relations, and Proposed Applications

In this chapter, I further develop the theory necessary to apply RF spectra techniques to overcoming experimental challenges in ultracold atomic systems.
Between Enlightenment and Romanticism

Abstract Donald Shaw and Monroe Z. Hafter have argued that in writing Ramiro, conde de Lucena Rafael Humara y Salamanca was attempting to reconcile the tension between conflicting political and worldviews that was prevalent in early nineteenth-century Spanish discourse. In this article, I argue that one way in which Humara explores and contains the tension between the traditional Catholic and the emerging Romantic worldviews, as well as between the conservative and liberal views of the Spanish nation, is through his depiction of Muslim Spain. Throughout the novel, Humara presents Muslim Spain as a place of unrestrained passion and anarchy that should be avoided because it presents a threat to Christian virtues. Simultaneously, however, Muslim Spain provides a respite from the repressiveness of the Christian world and provides a space where man is governed by an arbitrary destiny instead of a benevolent God, and human love, whatever its consequences, has been elevated to an absolute value. As I hope to dem...
All-Electronic Subpicosecond Pulses for A 3-Terahertz Free-Space Signal Generation and Detection System

We report the first subpicosecond shock-waves ever generated and measured by electronic circuits. We have used these circuits with integrated antennas to generate and detect freely-propagating THz radiation. The circuits are monolithic nonlinear transmission lines fabricated on GaAs and, for peak efficiency, they operate at liquid nitrogen temperatures. Nonlinear transmission lines (NLTL’s) have been used by several researchers for generating electronic shock-waves with picosecond transition times by compressing the wavefront generated by a ∼0.5 W, ∼5–10 GHz microwave power source.1,2,3 While the literature reflects continual decreases in these transition times, as measured both by diode sampling bridges and by electro-optic sampling, the fastest reported 10%–90% fall time thus far has been 1.4 ps, with a∼5V amplitude.4 However, generating and measuring a sub-picosecond transition with an all-electronic device has been an elusive goal because a fundamental limitation has been the NLTL diode series resistance. By immersing a packaged NLTL into liquid nitrogen, we were able to lower this resistance significantly, thereby producing voltage shock-waves with 880 fs fall times and 3.5 V amplitudes, as measured by an on-chip diode sampling bridge (Figure 1). We have used these circuits with integrated slot antennas to generate freely propagating THz radiation, and we have observed measurable radiation beyond 3 THz.
Negotiating Age: Direct Speech and the Sociolinguistic Production of Childhood in the Marshall Islands

Children in the Republic of the Marshall Islands regularly do a number of things that are inappropriate or even taboo among adults: they walk with food that they do not offer to share; they refuse to give; they directly demand things; and they directly criticize and insult each other. One explanation for their behavior is that they are too developmentally immature to speak in the indirect and polite manner of adults. But I show that, while Marshallese children's apparently direct forms of speech are indeed linked to immaturity, they are linked to immaturity not as a developmental stage but as a social status. Hence, this article reveals, discusses, and challenges two different ideologies of childhood and language: (1) a Western ideology that associates directness with developmental immaturity; and (2) a Marshallese ideology that associates “not hiding”—either words or goods—with being a child. Through their apparently direct forms of speech, children negotiate their relative age and power relationships with each other while simultaneously constructing each other as peers and indexing participants as immature relative to adults. This analysis reveals how age and childhood are produced through speech and considers the implications of this production for understandings of language variation and socialization.1
Is There an ‘I’ in Epistemology?

Epistemic conservatism is the thesis that the mere holding of a belief confers some positive epistemic status on its content. Conservatism is widely criticized on the grounds that it conflicts with the main goal in epistemology to believe truths and disbelieve falsehoods. In this paper I argue for conservatism and defend it from objections. First, I argue that the objection to conservatism from the truth goal in epistemology fails. Second, I develop and defend an argument for conservatism from the perspectival character of the truth goal. Finally, I examine several forceful challenges to conservatism and argue that these challenges are unsuccessful. The first challenge is that conservatism implies the propriety of assertions like ‘I believe p and this is part of my justification for it’. The second challenge argues that conservatism wrongly implies that the identity of an epistemic agent is relevant to the main goal of believing truths and disbelieving falsehoods. The last two challenges I consider are the ‘extra boost’ objection and the conversion objection. Each of these objections helps to clarify the nature of the conservative thesis. The upshot of the paper is that conservatism is an important and viable epistemological thesis.
Automotive Engine Modeling for Real Time Control Application

A nonlinear port fuel injected automotive engine model is developed which can be used for the design of engine control algorithms, or within an algorithm for real time control. The model is being validated using a sequential fuel injection V-6 engine, and includes: ? intake manifold dynamics, ? fuel dynamics, and ? process delays inherent in the four stroke engine cycle. The model is compact enough to run in real time and can be used as an embedded model withim a control algorithm or an observer. Although developed for a specific engine, the model can be adapted to represent various types of automotive engines with a limited amount of engine data. Preliminary validation results look very promising.
Pharmacy technicians' attitudes about their roles in Iowa public safety.

Abstract Objectives To describe and apply a model for combining self-assessed frequency and criticality for pharmacy technicians’ roles and to evaluate similarities and differences between attitudes toward public safety in various practice settings. Design Cross-sectional mail survey of randomly selected pharmacy technicians in one state. Setting Iowa in fall 2012. Participants 1,000 registered technicians. Intervention Mail survey with option for online completion. Main outcome measures Scored ratings related to perceptions of frequency and criticality of roles. Technicians rated role frequency on a scale from 1 (not responsible) to 6 (daily) and role criticality on a scale from 1 (no importance) to 4 (extremely important). A weighted relative importance score was ranked to show importance of the role considering frequency and criticality together. Results The response rate was 25.81%. Ratings for frequency were correlated to ratings for criticality for 22 of 23 roles. A Mann–Whitney U test found a difference between ambulatory technicians and hospital technicians. A visual matrix of a dual-scaled analysis showed both groups’ role ratings to be positively linearly related. Hospital technicians showed wider discrimination in their ratings for some roles than for others. Conclusion Perceived role frequency and criticality can be considered together to contextualize the practice environment. The data suggest a relationship between perceived frequency of role performed and perception of a role's criticality. The study found differences between how technicians from various practice settings perceive their roles.
On a new extended finite element method for dislocations: Core enrichment and nonlinear formulation

A recently developed finite element method for the modeling of dislocations is improved by adding enrichments in the neighborhood of the dislocation core. In this method, the dislocation is modeled by a line or surface of discontinuity in two or three dimensions. The method is applicable to nonlinear and anisotropic materials, large deformations, and complicated geometries. Two separate enrichments are considered: a discontinuous jump enrichment and a singular enrichment based on the closed-form, infinite-domain solutions for the dislocation core. Several examples are presented for dislocations constrained in layered materials in 2D and 3D to illustrate the applicability of the method to interface problems.
Directional distribution of neoplasia in Barrett's esophagus is not influenced by distance from the gastroesophageal junction.

Background Accurate endoscopic detection and staging are critical for appropriate management of Barrett's esophagus (BE)–associated neoplasia. Prior investigation has demonstrated that the distribution of endoscopically detectable early neoplasia is not uniform but instead favors specific directional distributions within a short BE segment; however, it is unknown whether the directional distribution of neoplasia differs with increasing distance from the gastroesophageal junction, including in patients with long-segment BE. Objective To identify whether directional distribution of BE-associated neoplasia is influenced by distance from the gastroesophageal junction. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Tertiary-care referral center. Patients Patients with either short-segment or long-segment BE undergoing EMR. Intervention EMR. Main Outcome Measurements Directional distribution of BE-associated neoplasia stratified by distance from gastroesophageal junction. Results EMR was performed on 60 lesions meeting study criteria during the specified time period. Pathology demonstrated low-grade dysplasia in 22% (13/60), high-grade dysplasia in 38% (23/60), intramucosal (T1a) adenocarcinoma in 23% (14/60), and invasive (≥T1b) adenocarcinoma in 17% (10/60). Directional distribution of lesions was not uniform ( P Limitations Single-center study may limit external validity. Conclusion The directional distribution of neoplastic foci within a BE segment is not influenced by distance of the lesion from the gastroesophageal junction. Mucosa between the 1 o'clock and 5 o'clock locations merits careful attention and endoscopic inspection in individuals with both short-segment BE and long-segment BE.
Pharmacodynamic and DNA methylation studies of high-dose 1-β-d-arabinofuranosyl cytosine before and after in vivo 5-azacytidine treatment in pediatric patients with refractory acute lymphocytic leukemia

The primary development of clinical resistance to 1-β-d-arabinofuranosyl cytosine (ara-C) in leukemic blast cells is expressed as decreased cellular concentrations of its active anabolite. Correlations exist between the cellular concentrations of 1-β-d-arabinofuranosyl cytosine 5′-triphosphate (ara-CTP) in leukemic blast cells and inhibition of DNA synthetic capacity with the clinical response to high-dose cytosine arabinoside (HDara-C). 5-Azacytidine (5-Aza-C) and its congeners are potent DNA hypomethylating agents, an action closely associated with the reexpression of certain genes such as that for deoxycytidine kinase (dCk) in ara-C-resistant mouse and human leukemic cells. Reexpression of dCk could increase the cellular ara-CTP concentrations and the sensitivity to ara-C. A total of 17 pediatric patients with refractory acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) received a continuous influsion of 5-Aza-C at 150 mg/m2 daily for 5 days after not responding to (13/17) or relapsing from (4/17) an HDara-C regimen (3 g/m2 over 3 h, every 12 h, x 8 doses). Approximately 3 days after the end of the 5-Aza-C infusion, the HDara-C regimen was given again with the idea that the induced DNA hypomethylation in the leukemic cells may have increased the dCk activity and that a reversal of the tumor drug resistance to ara-C could have occurred. Deoxycytidine kinase (expressed as cellular ara-CTP concentrations) in untreated blasts, DNA synthetic capacity (DSC), and the percentage of DNA methylcytidine levels were determined before and after 5-Aza-C administration. Cellular ara-CTP was enhanced to varying degrees in 15 of 16 patients after 5-Aza-C treatment. The average cellular concentration of ara-CTP determined in vitro by the sensitivity test was 314±390 μM, 2.3-fold higher than the average value before 5-Aza-C treatment. In 12 patients in whom the DNA methylation studies were completed before and after 5-Aza-C treatment, the average DNA hypomethylation level was 55.6%+15.8% of pretreatment values (n=13; mean ± SD). DSC showed a profound decline in 2/9 evaluable patients who achieved a complete response (CR) after this regimen. The data suggest that treatment with a cytostatic but DNA-modulatory regimen of 5-Aza-C causes DNA hypomethylation in vivo, which is associated with dCk reexpression in the patients' leukemic blasts. The partial reversal of drug resistance to ara-C by 5-Aza-C yielded two CRs in this poor-prognosis, multiply relapsed patient population with refractory ALL. The data indicate that the 5-Aza-C plus HDara-C regimen may have a profound effect on controlling leukemia refractory to ara-C in patients.
Neurotrophins improve synaptic transmission in the adult rodent diaphragm

Neurotrophins are usually viewed as secreted proteins that control long-term survival and differentiation of neurons. However, recent studies have established that among the most important functions of neurotrophins is their capacity to regulate synaptic functions and plasticity. When altering synaptic function, neurotrophins are able to produce two types of outcomes, an immediate effect on synaptic transmission and long-term control of synaptic structure and function. The first effect occurs within seconds or minutes after the neurotrophic factor has been applied and usually involves acute modification of synaptic transmission. The second effect takes hours and days, as protein synthesis is required to complete the structural changes. Neurotrophins and their receptors are expressed within the neuromuscular system, making these agents ideal candidates for the short-and long-term regulation of skeletal muscle function. For instance, neurotrophins can alter neuromuscular function acutely, by modulating the amount of neurotransmitter released with each nerve impulse, or chronically, by changing postsynaptic properties or the content and size of synaptic vesicles. It is obvious that the effects of neurotrophins depend on the specific neurotrophin involved (four neurotrophins have been found in mammals; these are nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and neurotrophins-3 and-4) and on the specific synapse being studied. Growing evidence highlights the role of neurotrophins in the development and function of neuromuscular synapses. This review will examine the role of neurotrophins in the regulation of neuromuscular transmission.
Carbon-13 Nmr spectra of 1,2,3-thiadiazoles

Natural abundance 13C nmr spectra are reported for 1,2,3-thiadiazole and nine derivatives. The spectra are discussed in terms of α- and β-effects of substituent groups and compared with corresponding spectra of alkene and benzene derivatives. 13C nmr spectra of four 1,3,4-thiadiazoles are presented. Spectral data indicate that in dimethylsulfoxide solution 2-mercapto-5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole exists predominantly as the thione tautomer.
Expression of the 180-kD ribosome receptor induces membrane proliferation and increased secretory activity in yeast.

Expression of the canine 180-kD ribosome receptor (p180) in yeast cells resulted in a marked proliferation of intracellular membranes. The type of membranes observed varied with the expression of specific portions of p180. Rough membranes predominated when the ribosome binding domain of p180 was present, whereas expression constructs lacking this region resulted in smooth membranes. Northern analysis indicated that expression of the NH2-terminal 767 amino acids (ΔCT), which include the ribosome binding domain, upregulated the transcription and translation of genes involved in exocytosis. The membranes that were proliferated were functional as these cells overcame a temperature-sensitive translocation defect. Most significantly, cells that overexpressed ΔCT and proliferated rough endoplasmic reticulum exhibited severalfold higher levels of secretion of an ectopically expressed secretory protein. We conclude that p180 expression triggers a cascade of events leading to an increase in secretory potential akin to the terminal differentiation of mammalian secretory cells and tissues.
Generic insect repellent detector from the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster.

Background: Insect repellents are prophylactic tools against a number of vector-borne diseases. There is growing demand for repellents outperforming DEET in cost and safety, but with the current technologies R&D of a new product takes almost 10 years, with a prohibitive cost of $30 million dollar in part due to the demand for large-scale synthesis of thousands of test compounds of which only 1 may reach the market. R&D could be expedited and cost dramatically reduced with a molecular/physiological target to streamline putative repellents for final efficacy and toxicological tests. Methodology: Using olfactory-based choice assay we show here that the fruit fly is repelled by not only DEET, but also IR3535 and picaridin thus suggesting they might have ‘‘generic repellent detector(s),’’ which may be of practical applications in new repellent screenings. We performed single unit recordings from all olfactory sensilla in the antennae and maxillary palps. Although the ab3A neuron in the wild type flies responded to picaridin, it was unresponsive to DEET and IR3535. By contrast, a neuron housed in the palp basiconic sensilla pb1 responded to DEET, IR3535, and picaridin, with apparent sensitivity higher than that of the DEET detectors in the mosquitoes Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti. DmOr42a was transplanted from pb1 to the ‘‘empty neuron’’ and showed to be sensitive to the three insect repellents. Conclusions: For the first time we have demonstrated that the fruit fly avoids not only DEET but also IR3535 and picaridin, and identified an olfactory receptor neuron (ORN), which is sensitive to these three major insect repellents. We have also identified the insect repellent-sensitive receptor, DmOr42a. This generic detector fulfils the requirements for a simplified bioassay for early screening of test insect repellents.
Sequence homology of the yeast regulatory protein ADR1 with Xenopus transcription factor TFIIIA

Classical yeast genetics coupled with the cloning of regulatory genes by complementation of function1,2 is a powerful means of identifying and isolating trans-acting regulatory elements3–6. One such regulatory gene is ADR1 which encodes a protein required for transcriptional activation of the glucose-repressible alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH2) gene7,8. We now report the nucleotide sequence of ADR1; it encodes a polypeptide chain of 1,323 amino acids, of which the amino-terminal 302 amino acids are sufficient to stimulate ADH2 transcription. This active amino-terminal region shows amino-acid sequence homology with the repetitive DNA-binding domain of TFIIIA9, an RNA polymerase III transcription factor of Xenopus laevis10. Similar domains are found in proteins encoded at the Kruppel11 and Serendipity12 loci of Drosophila melanogaster. We discuss the implications of this structural homology and suggest that a similar domain may exist in other yeast regulatory proteins such as those encoded by GAL4 (ref. 13) and PPR1 (ref. 14).
Cognitive-behavioral treatment of nicotine dependence for a female with a history of alcohol and respiratory problems

This case study describes the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy for nicotine dependence among smokers with comorbid alcohol dependence and severe respiratory difficulties. Although clinical practice guidelines exist for the treatment of nicotine dependence, smokers with complicated psychological and medical histories remain resilient to recommended treatments. Successfulsmoking cessation programs for these patients require a comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment as well as a tailored treatment approach. A theoretical and empirically based rationale for cognitive-behavioral treatment is provided followed by the development of a case conceptualization, course of treatment, use of assessment data, and recommendations.
The Association between the North Atlantic Oscillation and the Southern Oscillation in the Northern Hemisphere

Abstract The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and Southern Oscillation (SO) are compared from the standpoint of their association with Northern Hemisphere winter mean distributions of sea-level pressure (SLP) and 500 mb height. The NAO and SO are associated with significant SLP differences over much of the hemisphere except for Siberia and western North America. Significant SLP and 500 mb height differences occur in the NAO over the Atlantic Ocean and near Baja California, while in the SO they occur over the Pacific Ocean, India and the western Atlantic. Only over the latter region do large pressure and height variations consistently occur in the extremes of both oscillations; these are also associated with winter temperature variability over the southeastern United States. For example, during winter 1982–83, when the two oscillations simultaneously reached extremes, the NAO was associated with record December warmth east of the Mississippi River, but during January and February the SO dominated the heigh...
First feeding success with two types of prey by the Central American cichlid fish, Cichlasoma managuense (Pisces, Cichlidae): morphology versus behavior

The behavioral and morphological correlates of differential capture success at first feeding of the cichlid fish Cichlasoma managuense were investigated. Capture efficiency with nauplii of Artemia salina was 69% compared with only 6% with Daphnia. These drastic differences are attributed largely to the different morphology and behavior of the prey that may have produced behavioral changes in the fish. Daphnia is more evasive and harder to handle than Artemia as reflected in the significantly higher number of missed capture attempts and in spit-outs, a measure of handling effort. Fish hunting Artemia had a high capture rate when they made many attempts. By contrast, fish hunting Daphnia were successful when they handled the prey persistently, made many spit outs and many attempts. Large behavioral variation was observed and may be the substrate for later food specialization. In contrast to previous studies, morphological variation in the predators and prey was kept low; no measured morphological trait of the predators explained a significant portion of the variation in capture rate. The behavioral differences among the predators in each group alone significantly explain the variation in capture rate. The developmental stage of the fish and the behavior of the prey need to be considered when comparing the capture efficiency between species.
A role for protein kinases and phosphatases in the Ca2+-induced enhancement of hippocampal AMPA receptor-mediated synaptic responses

We have investigated the effects of inhibitors of protein kinases and protein phosphatases on the NMDA receptor-independent potentiation of evoked and miniature (m) excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) induced by the entry of Ca2+ via voltage-gated Ca2+ channels in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons. Voltage pulse-induced potentiation was markedly attenuated when evoked in the presence of the protein kinase blockers KN-62, K-252a, or H-7. Bath application of the protein phosphatase inhibitor calyculin A converted the usual transient potentiation of both evoked and spontaneous EPSCs induced by voltage pulses into a more sustained potentiation. Similarly, the introduction of the phosphatase inhibitors microcystin LR or okadaic acid into postsynaptic cells, via patch pipettes, also resulted in a sustained increase in the amplitude of mEPSCs. We propose that entry of Ca2+ into CA1 neurons activates calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, which leads to an enhanced responsiveness of synaptic AMPA receptor channels. The enhancement is transient, however, owing to postsynaptic phosphatase activity.
Association of ankle-brachial index level with stroke.

Abstract Background There are conflicting data on the relationship between peripheral arterial disease (PAD) as defined by an ankle–brachial index (ABI) of Methods Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999–2004, a nationally representative sample of United States adults, were used to assess prevalence of PAD as evidenced by ABI of 1.3) with stroke prevalence. Results Among 6382 adults, 4602 (72%) had full and complete data of which 277 (6%) reported stroke occurrence. Stroke survivors were older and more likely to have diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, elevated blood pressure and glycohemoglobin, than non-stroke respondents. More subjects with ABI p = 0.0013). After adjustment for potential confounders, only ABI Conclusions Data from this nationally representative cohort support an independent relationship between established PAD and stroke occurrence, but also indicate that even borderline PAD is strongly linked to stroke.
Use of administrative data in efficient auditing of hospital-acquired surgical site infections, New York State 2009-2010.

Objective. To efficiently validate the accuracy of surgical site infection (SSI) data reported to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) by New York State (NYS) hospitals.Design. Validation study.Setting. 176 NYS hospitals.Methods. NYS Department of Health staff validated the data reported to NHSN by review of a stratified sample of medical records from each hospital. The four strata were (1) SSIs reported to NHSN; (2) records with an indication of infection from diagnosis codes in administrative data but not reported to NHSN as SSIs; (3) records with discordant procedure codes in NHSN and state data sets; (4) records not in the other three strata.Results. A total of 7,059 surgical charts (6% of the procedures reported by hospitals) were reviewed. In stratum 1, 7% of reported SSIs did not meet the criteria for inclusion in NHSN and were subsequently removed. In stratum 2, 24% of records indicated missed SSIs not reported to NHSN, whereas in strata 3 and 4, only 1% of records indicated missed SSIs; ...
Probing Chemical Reactions: Evidence for Exploration of an Excited Potential Energy Surface at Thermal Energies

The reaction K + NaBr → KBr + Na is probed during the reactive collision by a continuous wave laser tuned to frequencies not resonant with excitation in either reagents or products. Transient [K..Br..Na] absorbs a laser photon giving [K..Br..Na]*, which can decompose to Na* + KBr. Emission from excited Na* at the sodium D lines provides direct evidence of laser absorption during the reaction. Different excitation spectra were observed, depending on which sodium D line was monitored. This difference is explicable if, in the absence of the laser, the reaction flux partially bifurcates to a second potential energy surface during the reaction.
A metric characterization of a simple closed curve

Abstract The midset M(a, b) of two points a and b in a metric space X is the set of all points equidistant from a and b, and X has the double midset property if M(a, b) consists of two points for every choice of a and b in X. The conjecture that a continuous with the double midset property is a simple closed curve is established under the additional hypothesis that the midset function is continuous.
Receptor Tyrosine Kinases With Intracellular Pseudokinase Domains

As with other groups of protein kinases, approximately 10% of the RTKs (receptor tyrosine kinases) in the human proteome contain intracellular pseudokinases that lack one or more conserved catalytically important residues. These include ErbB3, a member of the EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) family, and a series of unconventional Wnt receptors. We showed previously that, despite its reputation as a pseudokinase, the ErbB3 TKD (tyrosine kinase domain) does retain significant, albeit weak, kinase activity. This led us to suggest that a subgroup of RTKs may be able to signal even with very inefficient kinases. Recent work suggests that this is not the case, however. Other pseudokinase RTKs have not revealed significant kinase activity, and mutations that impair ErbB3′s weak kinase activity have not so far been found to exhibit signalling defects. These findings therefore point to models in which the TKDs of pseudokinase RTKs participate in receptor signalling by allosterically regulating associated kinases (such as ErbB3 regulation of ErbB2) and/or function as regulated ‘scaffolds’ for other intermolecular interactions central to signal propagation. Further structural and functional studies, particularly of the pseudokinase RTKs involved in Wnt signalling, are required to shed new light on these intriguing signalling mechanisms.
Ecological integrity of remnant montane forests along an urban gradient in the Sierra Nevada.

Urban development typically has extensive and intensive effects on native ecosystems, including vegetation communities and their associated biota. Increasingly, urban planning strives to retain elements of native ecosystems to meet multiple social and ecological objectives. The ecological integrity of native forests in an urbanizing landscape is challenged by a myriad of impacts, such as forest management and invasive species. Environmental protection efforts in the Lake Tahoe basin, spanning the California/Nevada border in the Sierra Nevada mountains, over the past half century have resulted in the retention of thousands of parcels of remnant native forest located throughout the urbanizing landscape. The basin landscape provides an opportunity to evaluate the effects of land development on the composition and structure of remnant native forests along a gradient of urbanization. We sampled 118 sites located in remnant forests in the lower montane zone surrounded by 0–70% development. We also sampled forest structure in the landscape surrounding 75 of these sites to evaluate the contribution of remnant forests to the retention of native forest elements in the larger landscape. We characterized plant species composition and cover, vertical structure, and the density of trees, snags, and logs, as well as levels of ground disturbance and human activity. We found that remnant native forests retained much of their compositional and structural character along the development gradient, including large tree density, total canopy cover, and plant species richness. Notable exceptions were reductions in the density and decay stage of snags and logs, and the density of understory trees. We also observed increases in the richness and cover of herb and grass species and increases in the number of exotic plant species. In contrast, structural complexity was reduced in the landscape surrounding forest remnants in all measures except large tree density. We conclude that remnant native forests contribute significantly to maintaining native species in an urbanizing landscape, and that land conservation practices have an important role to play in protecting native forest ecosystems.
Hydrogen bonding and multiphonon structure in copper pyrazine coordination polymers.

We report a systematic investigation of the temperature-dependent infrared vibrational spectra of a family of chemically related coordination polymer magnets based upon bridging bifluoride (HF2-) and terminal fluoride (F-) ligands in copper pyrazine complexes including Cu(HF2)(pyz)2BF4, Cu(HF2)(pyz)2ClO4, and CuF2(H2O)2(pyz). We compare our results with several one- and two-dimensional prototype materials including Cu(pyz)(NO3)2 and Cu(pyz)2(ClO4)2. Unusual low-temperature hydrogen bonding, local structural transitions associated with stronger low-temperature hydrogen bonding, and striking multiphonon effects that derive from coupling of an infrared-active fundamental with strong Raman-active modes of the pyrazine building-block molecule are observed. On the basis of the spectroscopic evidence, these interactions are ubiquitous to this family of coordination polymers and may work to stabilize long-range magnetic ordering at low temperature. Similar interactions are likely to be present in other molecule-b...
Allele-specific PCR for quantitative analysis of mutants in live viral vaccines.

Monitoring consistency of genetic composition of oral polio vaccine (OPV) is a part of its quality control. It is performed by mutant analysis by PCR and restriction enzyme cleavage (MAPREC) used to quantify neurovirulent revertants in the viral genome. Here an alternative method based on quantitative PCR is proposed. Allele-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction (asqPCR) uses a “tethered” oligonucleotide primer consisting of two specific parts connected by a polyinosine stretch. Homogeneous DNA from plasmids containing wild Leon/37 and attenuated Sabin 3 sequences with 100% 472C and 100% 472T could only be amplified using homologous primers. Real-time implementation of the allele-specific PCR resulted in sensitive detection of 472C revertants with the limit of quantitation of less than 0.05%. Monovalent vaccine batches and international viral references for MAPREC test were used to validate the method. asqPCR performed with the WHO references and monovalent batches of vaccine showed that the new method could measure accurately and reproducibly the content of revertants producing values comparable to MAPREC results. This suggests that asqPCR could be used as an alternative to MAPREC for lot release of OPV. The method could also be used for the quantitation of other mutants in populations of microorganisms.
Active Contour for Overlap Resolution using Watershed BASED initialization (ACOReW): Applications to histopathology

In recent years, shape based active contours have emerged as a natural solution to overlap resolution. However, most of these shape-based methods are limited to finding and resolving one object overlap per scene and require user intervention for model initialization. In this paper, we present a novel synergistic segmentation scheme called Active Contour for Overlap Resolution using Watershed (ACOReW). ACOReW combines shape priors with boundary and region-based active contours in a level set formulation with a watershed scheme for model initialization for identifying and resolving multiple object overlaps in an image scene. The energy functional for the variational active contour model is composed of three complimentary terms (a) a shape model which constrains the active contour to a pre-defined shape, (b) boundary based term which directs the active contour model to the image gradient, and (c) a third term driving the shape prior and the active contour towards a homogeneous intensity region. In this paper we show an application of ACOReW in the context of segmenting nuclear and glandular structures on prostate and breast cancer histopathology. The results of qualitative and quantitative evaluation on 100 prostate and 14 breast cancer histology images reveals that ACOReW outperforms two state of the art segmentation schemes (Geodesic Active Contour (GAC) and Rousson's shape based model) and resolves up to 92% of overlapping/occluded lymphocytes and nuclei on prostate and breast cancer histology images.
Carbon-Isotope Composition and the Origin of Calcareous Coal Balls.

in the report "Carbon-isotope composition and the origin of calcareous coal balls," by J. N. Weber and M. L. Keith [ Science 138, 900 (1962)], the heading of column 3, Table 1, should have been δO18 rather than δO17. The units in columns 2 and 3 should have been per millage rather than percentage.
El sistema del oro: exploraciones sobre el destino (emergente) de los objetos de oro precolombinos en Colombia

La guaqueria, la practica no-arqueologica de excavacion de antiguedades en la zona andina, ha sido sometida a una considerable transformacion historica en Colombia. Este texto entiende esta practica como parte de un sistema de relaciones dinamicas entre arqueologos, museos, coleccionistas privados y guaqueros. En el contexto de la guaqueria masiva de los anos noventa, cuando se desenterro el tesoro Malagana, categorizo estas relaciones con referencia al trabajo academico de los antropologos colombianos y el papel clave del Museo del Oro en Bogota.
Narrated Aspirations: A Critical Review of Selected Research Concerning Catholic Higher Education in the United States

The dialectical tension between the sacred and the secular has fostered fascinating historical discussions concerning the Catholic university in the United States. Scholars such as James Turner and Philip Gleason have offered a host of narratives that provide a context for other scholars seeking to philosophically define the aspirations that will shape the future of the Catholic university. Mark Roche's The Intellectual Appeal of Catholicism and The Idea of a Catholic University is an insightful example of such an effort. While the future of the Catholic university is invariably strengthened by these efforts, one cannot help but wonder how such aspirations might change if assumptions concerning the relationship shared by the sacred and the secular were to be challenged. For example, scholars such as Timothy Fitzgerald question whether the ability of the secular to forge its own identity apart from the sacred is not only at the heart of modernity but also at the heart of the dilemma facing Catholic college...
Tillage and crop effects on ponded and tension infiltration rates

Abstract Tillage and residue management practices influence soil surface compaction and sealing, but the effects vary with time and weather history. The objective of this study was to compare surface ponded and tension infiltration rates for different tillages and crop rotations at various dates in a Kenyon loam. Four tillage systems (minimum tillage (no-till system with two cultivations), chisel, moldboard plow, and ridge-till) and two rotations (continuous corn and soybean-corn rotation with corn in 1991) were examined. Ponded and tension infiltration rates were measured in the row at four dates: 18 June 1991, 9 July 1991, 23 September 1991, and 11 May 1992. Soil was collected for measurement of aggregate stability and undisturbed soil cores were collected for measurements of saturated hydraulic conductivity and bulk density on the first measurement date to relate the infiltration measurements. Minimum tillage had significantly faster ponded infiltration than chisel or moldboard, as well as greater aggregate stability and less bulk density at that date because of reduced surface sealing. Tillage and crop rotation effects on infiltration for the other measurement dates were inconsistent. When the measurement dates were compared, ponded and tension infiltration rates for the first measurement date were less than for measurements at later dates because of a surface seal which was not present at the later dates. Temporal changes in infiltration were greater than tillage or rotation differences. To quantify management effects on surface soil properties we conclude that several well documented measurements are required. If possible, the measurements should be taken soon after rainfall events.
Template activity of f1 RFI cleaved with endonucleases R.Hind, R.EcoP1 or R.EcoB

ENDONUCLEASE R·Hind makes a single, unique, double-stranded break in the double-stranded circular DNA (RFI) which can be isolated from bacteria infected with bacteriophage M13 (ref. 1), fd (refs 2 and 3), or f1 (Horiuchi and Zinder, unpublished observations). We wish to report that f1 RFI cleaved by endo R·Hind acts as a template for protein synthesis in a coupled in vitro transcription-translation system4, and that with the exception of the product of gene II of f1, the normal complement5 of in vitro phage-specific proteins is made. No prominent new polypeptide is observed (Fig. 1); this suggests that a substantial fragment of the gene II product is not coded for by RFI cleaved with endo R·Hind. In addition, neither the size nor the relative yield of the product of the proximal gene5,6, gene IV, is affected. This implies that the break is likely to be in a region extending from the C-terminus of gene IV to the N-terminal portion of gene II. A similar location has been assigned to this break with the use of entirely different methods by Seeburg and Schaller7.
Activation of heme oxygenase and suppression of cGMP are associated with impaired endothelial function in obstructive sleep apnea with hypertension.

BACKGROUND Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a highly prevalent disorder that increases the risk of systemic hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Heme oxygenase (HO) has been shown to be upregulated in patients with OSA and its overexpression in mice causes hypertension. End products of HO are carbon monoxide (CO) and bilirubin. CO exerts a pleiotropic action on vasoregulation. Despite high prevalence and incident of hypertension in OSA, its pathophysiology is not well-understood, particularly in regard to varying susceptibility of patients to hypertension. We investigated the role of HO in endothelial dysfunction and hypertension in OSA. METHODS We determined flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD) as a measure of endothelial-dependent vasodilatory capacity, exhaled CO, bilirubin, and guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) in 63 subjects with OSA (normotensive 27, hypertensive 36) and in 32 subjects without OSA (normotensive 19, hypertensive 13). RESULTS Hypertensive OSA demonstrated marked impairment in FMD (8.0 ± 0.5% vasodilatation) compared to 10.5 ± 0.8% in hypertensives non-OSA (P < 0.01) and 13.5 ± 0.5% in normotensive OSA (P < 0.001) and 16.1 ± 1.1% in normotensive non-OSA (P < 0.0001). HO was upregulated and plasma nitric oxide (NO) was significantly increased in hypertensive OSA compared to normotensive OSA and hypertensive non-OSA. Conversely, serum cGMP was markedly decreased in hypertensive OSA (12.9 ± 1.8 pmol/ml vs. 20.6 ± 3.7 in normotensive OSA, P = 0.032). There was an inverse relationship between FMD and CO and bilirubin concentrations (r = 0.43, P = 0.0001 and r = 0.28, P = 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS These data show that increased CO in the setting of elevated NO concentrations is associated with decreased cGMP, impaired FMD, and hypertension in patient with OSA.
COMPARISON OF THE PROTEIN NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF TVP, METHIONINE ENRICHED TVP AND BEEF AT TWO LEVELS OF INTAKE FOR HUMAN ADULTS

SUMMARY— The objective of the study was to compare the protein nutritive value for adult men of beef, an extruded soybean product resembling beef (TVP) and a 1% DL-methionine-fortified TVP product at two levels of nitrogen intake. Experimental diets were maintained adequate in calories, vitamins and minerals. Mean nitrogen balances of subjects fed 8.0g nitrogen per subject per day from beef, TVP or methionine-fortified TVP were +0.74, +0.78 and +0.72g nitrogen per day, respectively, indicating that at this level of protein intake all three sources equaled or exceeded the protein requirements of adult men. Mean nitrogen balances of subjects fed 4.0g nitrogen per subject per day from beef, TVP or methionine-fortified TVP were -0.30, -0.70 and -0.45g nitrogen per day, respectively. While none of the test protein sources fully met the protein needs of the subjects at this level of nitrogen intake, beef was superior to TVP on the basis of nitrogen balance data. DL-methionine fortification at the 1% level of the TVP was demonstrated to be partially effective in improvement in nitrogen balance.
High-pressure melting curve of KCl: Evidence against lattice-instability theories of melting.

We show that the large curvature in the T-italic-P-italic melting curve of KCl is the result of a reordering of the liquid to a more densely packed arrangement. As a result theories of melting, such as the instability model, which do not take into account the structure of the liquid fail to predict the correct pressure dependence of the melting curve.
Rater agreement across multiple data collection media

Abstract When collecting qualitative data, researchers may use a video recorder, a tape recorder, or take notes. However, whether one medium is better than another has not been empirically tested. In the present study, the level of information available to U.S. raters was examined to detect whether it varied by medium. Trained raters coded transcripts, audiotapes, and videotapes of the same qualitative data (employment interviews), and agreement scores within and across the three media were examined. Results indicated that the addition of verbal and nonverbal cues, available when videotapes and audiotapes were used, did not significantly improve the coding.