cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
NeoScore integrates characteristics of the neoantigen:MHC class I interaction and expression to accurately prioritize immunogenic neoantigens

Accurate prioritization of immunogenic neoantigens is key to developing personalized cancer vaccines and distinguishing those patients likely to respond to immune checkpoint inhibition. However, there is no consensus regarding which characteristics best predict neoantigen immunogenicity, and no model to date has both high sensitivity and specificity and a significant association with survival in response to immunotherapy. We address these challenges in the prioritization of immunogenic neoantigens by 1) identifying which neoantigen characteristics best predict immunogenicity, 2) integrating these characteristics into an immunogenicity score, NeoScore, and 3) demonstrating an improved association of the NeoScore with response to immune checkpoint inhibition compared to mutational burden. One thousand random and evenly split combinations of immunogenic and non-immunogenic neoantigens from a validated dataset were analyzed using a regularized regression model for characteristic selection. The selected characteristics, the dissociation constant and binding stability of the neoantigen:MHC class I complex and expression of the mutated gene in the tumor, were integrated into the NeoScore. A web application is provided for calculation of the NeoScore. The NeoScore results in improved, or equivalent, performance in four test datasets as measured by sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operator characteristics curve compared to previous models. Among cutaneous melanoma patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibition, a high NeoScore had a greater association with improved survival compared to mutational burden. Overall, the NeoScore has the potential to improve neoantigen prioritization for the development of personalized vaccines and contribute to the determination of which patients are likely to respond to immunotherapy.
The Vienna Convention and Ordinary Meaning in International Law

This Article offers the first sustained interdisciplinary critique of international law’s ordinary meaning standard. The Vienna Convention of the Law of Treaties (VCLT) prominently mandates judicial interpretation of treaties “in accordance with the ordinary meaning to be given to the terms of the treaty in their context and in the light of its object and purpose.” While the conventional view is that the VCLT’s interpretive directive is “obvious” and largely unproblematic, it fails to adequately constrain judicial interpretive discretion. As well, the VCLT does not address fundamental interpretive issues such as indeterminate ordinary meaning and multiple language communities. We argue that while the VCLT purports to mandate “ordinary meaning,” it in fact allows a different objective of interpretation known as “communicative meaning,” which we define as the meaning an appropriate hearer would most reasonably take a speaker to be trying to convey in employing a given verbal vehicle in the given communicative-context. Even with this understanding, though, the VCLT leaves judicial interpretive discretion unconstrained because it does not meaningfully restrict the allowable sources of meaning or how those sources can be used. Rather, the VCLT’s references to “context” and “purpose” lack sufficient guidance and permit courts to engage in speculative, unregulated inferences about purpose. Furthermore, the VCLT does not constrain judicial discretion regarding important interpretive issues such as whether implied meanings that transcend explicit treaty language should be recognized, even when those subject to the treaty come from different cultures and may speak English as a second language. Thus, while the ordinary meaning standard in the VCLT is a fundamental principle of international law, it falls short in its mission to provide coherent guidance to courts and tribunals engaged in the interpretation of treaties.
Surgical and logistical concerns for ex vivo based perfusion strategies for ‘donation after circulatory death’ multi-organ recovery

Abstract Expanding Donation after circulatory death (DCD) multi-organ recovery to include the heart presents logistical and technical challenges for all teams participating in the process. Strategies to optimally coordinate the activities of multi-organ DCD recovery teams to facilitate expeditious, coordinated multi-organ protection and safe recovery are discussed.
Musculoskeletal Medicine Is Underrepresented in the American Medical School Clinical Curriculum

Background Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions are common, and their burden on the healthcare system is increasing as the general population ages. It is essential that medical students be well prepared to evaluate and treat MSK disorders in a confident manner as they enter the workforce. Recent studies and the American Association of Medical Colleges have raised concern that medical schools may not give sufficient instruction on this topic. Other authors have shown that preclinical instruction has increased over the past decade; however, it is unclear if required clinical instruction also has followed that trend.
Competencies and Traits of Successful Agricultural Science Teachers

Today’s school climate is saturated with accountability mandates at every level. For example, current federal legislation requires that by the end of the 2005-2006 academic school year all teachers are “Highly Qualified” (No Child Left Behind, 2002). The law operationalized “Highly Qualified” using three criteria: full certification, a bachelor’s degree, and competence in subject knowledge and teaching. Full certification and having a bachelor’s degree are easily determined. Competency in subject matter and pedagogy is more subjective, and thus more difficult to measure.
SU-E-T-410: Evaluation of Treatment Modalities for Stereotactic Lung Radiation Therapy: A Phantom Study

Purpose: To evaluate and verify the accuracy of alternative treatment modalities for stereotactic lung therapy with end-to-end testing. We compared three dimensional conformal therapy (3DCRT), dynamic conformal arc therapy (DCAT), intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) treatment using 6 MV, 6 MV flattening filter free (FFF) and 10 MV FFF photons. Methods: A QUASAR respiratory motion phantom was utilized with custom ion chamber and gafchromatic EBT2 film inserts. The phantom contained a low density lung medium with a cylindrical polystyrene tumor (35 cc). Pseudo representative structures for various organs at risk (OAR) were created. All treatment plans were created using Eclipse ver. 11 using the same image and structure sets, and delivered via Varian TrueBeam STx linear accelerator equipped with high definition MLC. Evaluation of plan quality followed ROTG 0813 criterion for conformity index (CI100%), high dose spillage, D2cm, and R50%. Results: All treatment plans met the OAR dose constraints per protocol and could be delivered without any beam hold offs or other interlocks and hence were deemed clinically safe. For equivalent beam energies, target conformity was improved for all modalities when switching to FFF mode. Treatment efficiency increased for VMAT FFF by a factor of 3–4 over IMRT, and up to factor of 7 when compared to 3DCRT. Pass rates were > 97% for all treatment using gamma criteria of 3%, 3mm. Absolute dose at iso-center was verified with ion chamber, and found to be within 2% of the treatment planning system. Conclusion: The higher dose rate associated with FFF not only reduces delivery times, but in most cases enhances plan quality. The one modality with succeeding best results for all RTOG criterions was VMAT 6 MV FFF. This end-to-end testing provides necessary confidence in the entire dose delivery chain for lung SBRT patients.
Factors Influencing Capitalization Rates

This study examines the variations in quarterly mean "capitalization rates" for commercial and industrial investment properties. By explaining the variations in the capitalization rate, we hope to ...
A Bayesian attribute reliability growth model

A Bayesian approach for assessment of reliability growth during the development phase of a system is presented. The authors discuss how prior information can be used to define a prior distribution for the failure probabilities at each state of testing. They illustrate the use of their approach by applying it to some failure data. >
Nonnative Speakers Do Not Take Competing Alternative Expressions Into Account the Way Native Speakers Do

When native speakers judge the acceptability of novel sentences, they appear to implicitly take competing formulations into account, judging novel sentences with a readily available alternative formulation to be less acceptable than novel sentences with no competing alternative. Moreover, novel sentences with a competing alternative are more strongly dispreferred when they contain high- compared to low-frequency verbs. We replicate these findings with a group of native speakers and extend the paradigm to second language (L2) users. Previous work has found that compared to native speakers, L2 users are less able to generate online expectations during language processing, implying a reduced ability to differentiate between novel sentences with and without a competing alternative. We test this prediction and confirm that, while L2 speakers learn from positive exemplars, they show no evidence of taking competing grammatical alternatives into account, except at the highest quartile of speaking proficiency, where L2 judgments align with native speaker judgments.
Relations of fit and organizational identification to employee-customer identification

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine a model of employee-customer identification (ECID) using two samples: nurses and cooperative extension frontline employees. The model posits that person-organization fit, person-job fit, and organizational identification are positively related to ECID. Design/methodology/approach – A recursive path-based structural model was employed to test seven hypotheses regarding the relationships between the two fit constructs, organizational identification, and ECID. Findings – In both samples, person-organization fit and person-job fit were positively related to organizational identification, and organizational identification was positively related to ECID. In the cooperative extension sample, person-job fit was positively related to ECID. Person-job fit was also indirectly related to ECID through organizational identification in both samples. Research limitations/implications – The results imply an important relationship between person-job fit and ECID that could ...
Engineering considerations for water circulation in crawfish ponds with paddlewheel aerators

Abstract Engineering considerations for paddlewheel aeration in vegetated shallow water ponds for the production of procambarid crawfish is necessary to ensure cost-effective application. Three experimental ponds (approximately 2 ha each) were planted with rice in August as forage for the resident pond population of red swamp crawfish, Procambarus clarkii, and flooded in October. Two 2.2 kW (3 hp), single-phase electric motor (110 Vac) paddlewheel aerators were placed in each pond. The aerator rotors were 160-cm long and 95-cm in diameter. The aerator rotor had 36 paddles with half the paddles 27.3-cm long and half 34.9-cm long. Rotor speed was set at 83 rpm and operated at three paddle submergence settings: 7.6, 12.7, and 17.8 cm below the water surface. Over a 20-week period between November and April, channel velocity, head difference, and aerator amperage was measured for both one and two aerators in operation in each pond. Results indicated that circulation of oxygenated water from the aerators can be accomplished as efficiently with a single aerator set at a lower paddle depth (7.6-cm) compared to operating two aerators set at a greater paddle depth (12.7 or 17.8-cm). However, based on the apparent efficiency of the aerators and the calculated channel roughness coefficients values obtained from the channel velocities, paddlewheel aerators are an inefficient option for circulating the pond water especially when rice foliage dominants the total vegetative biomass of the pond.
Getting to the Heart of the Matter: Nursing Assessment and Intervention With Battered Women in Psychiatric Mental Health Settings:

The consequences of abusive relationships are reflected in the physical andpsychologic distress for which women seek assistance from health care providers. Although the physical and mental health problems from the abuse are addressedand treated, the heart of the matter-the abuse at home-goes unattended. Womenoften leave the health care setting as isolated and uninformed about options as when they came in. Mental health settings offer important opportunities for psychiatricnurses to identify and intervene with women in abusive relationships. Whether en counters are relatively brief or occur over an extended period of time, importantinteractions can take place. The nurse's response to women in abusive relationshipsis one component of a unified community-wide response that is needed to preventviolence and abuse in the home. (J AM PSYCHIATR NURSES Assoc [1995]. 1, 48-54)
Advanced Techniques in Bone Grafting Procedures

Technological advancement in bone grafting procedures using purified proteins or stem cells to induce osteogenesis is a significant contribution to patient care. Patients who would otherwise not have been suitable candidates for major autologous bone grafting procedures can continue to benefit from implant reconstruction, with a less debilitating bone reconstructive procedure.
Changes in cell nuclei during S phase: progressive chromatin condensation and altered expression of the proliferation-associated nuclear proteins Ki-67, cyclin (PCNA), p105, and p34.

Abstract Using multiparameter flow cytometry we have measured the nuclear DNA content of exponentially growing HL-60 cells in conjunction with protein content, nuclear forward light scatter, DNA in situ sensitivity to denaturation, DNA accessibility to 7-aminoactinomycin D (7-AMD), and content of the proliferation-associated proteins: cyclin (PCNA), p105, p34, and Ki-67. Multivariate analysis of the data made it possible to correlate changes in each parameter with the degree of cell advancement through S phase (amount of replicated DNA). A decrease of the protein/DNA ratio, lowered DNA accessibility to 7-AMD, increased sensitivity of DNA to denaturation, and increased ability of isolated nuclei to scatter light all paralleled cell progression through S phase. These changes indicate that during S phase chromatin progressively condenses and suggest that the condensation is associated with the efflux of nonhistone proteins from the nucleus. The increase in the content of the antigen detected by the Ki-67 antibody was observed to exceed the increase in DNA content during S phase and the rate of the Ki -67 DNA increase was higher during the second half of S phase. Thus, this protein appears to be primarily synthesized during S, especially late in S phase, and is degraded in G1. The ratio of cyclin (PCNA)/DNA remained rather constant whereas the contents of p105 and p34 proteins, when expressed per unit of DNA, both decreased during S phase. The data indicate that significant changes in structure and composition of chromatin take place during S phase and suggest that the composition of chromatin associated with the nonreplicated DNA is different compared to chromatin associated with the newly replicated DNA.
Influence of Downstream Distance on the Spray Characteristics of Pressure-Swirl Atomizers

An analytical study is made of the factors that are responsible for the observed changes in fuel spray characteristics with axial distance downstream of a pressure-swirl nozzle. To simplify the analysis the effect of fuel evaporation is neglected, but full account is taken of the effects of spray dispersion and drop acceleration (or deceleration). Equations are derived and graphs are presented to illustrate the manner and extent to which the variations of mean drop size and drop-size distribution with axial distance are governed by such factors as ambient air pressure and velocity, fuel injection pressure, initial mean drop size, and initial drop-size distribution.
Kinetic Characterization of Stabilized Smooth Muscle Myosin Filaments

We have measured kinetic parameters of smooth muscle myosin (SMM) filament interactions with actin, ADP, and ATP using stopped-flow fluorimetry. Our objective was to determine which parameters, if any, are different from those of monomeric myosins, S1 and HMM, using buffers at physiologic ionic strength. Previously we measured the ATP-dependence of SMM filament velocities (using EDC-cross-linked filaments that are stable to ATP-induced depolymerization) in an inverted in vitro motility assay with myosin filaments moving over surface-attached actin. We compared this to the ATP-dependence of solution actin-activated ATPase measurements. The two relationships are very similar, suggesting that they are both attachment-limited and regulated by the same kinetic step, presumably phosphate release (Haldeman et al JBC 2014). This is in contrast to the kinetics of actin moving over a surface of monomeric SMM (standard vitro motility assay), known to be predominately detachment-limited, limited by ADP release. We hypothesized that heads within moving filaments are attached to unhindered and thus flexible S2 regions putting minimal strain on heads put in the drag position. In contrast, the S2 region of monomeric myosin is bound to the surface and not as flexible allowing the relative stiff head domains to become strained, which affects the underlying kinetics of acto-SMM interactions. All kinetic parameters measured so far in solution for myosin or acto-myosin, ADP association, ADP dissociation, ATP binding, ATP-induced dissociation, and acto-myosin affinity, are very similar to those for S1 and HMM. Measurements of Pi release kinetics by limited turnover are planned. If Pi release kinetics is also similar, this will suggest that the attachment-limited kinetics that is unique to filaments is not due to alterations in any fundamental kinetic parameters, but instead is due to differences in the effective head or head/S2 stiffness during the assays.
Aspects of Biological Changes in Breeder Toms after Treatment with Subcutaneous Cadmium Injection: Study of Some Semen Characteristics

Abstract Monsi, A., Cecil, H.C. and Bakst, M.R. 1993. Aspects of biological changes in breeder toms after treatment with subcutaneous cadmium injection: Study of semen characteristics. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 4: 83–90. Changes in reproductive parameters of breeder toms injected with cadmium chloride (CdCl2 2.5H2O) were studied. Each treated member of twenty-four pairs of yearling toms was given 4.5 mg Cd/kg body weight. Six birds each were subsequently killed at 0, 6, 24 and 192 h and evaluated for selected semen characteristics. Elevated (P<0.001) Cd concentration was observed in the seminal plasma of the treated toms due possibly to Cd-induced inactivation of the blood-testis barrier. However, the 5-fold increase in the Cd level hardly inflicted any injurious effect on the cellular integrity of the sperm cells since live/dead percentage of spermatozoa did not differ significantly from that of control. Among other possible mechanisms Cd sequestration could have protected the sperm cells. It is further sugge...
Polychlorinated Biphenyls: Toxicity to Certain Phytoplankters

The growth rates of two species of marine diatoms were reduced by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's), widespread pollutants of the marine environment, at concentrations as low as 10 to 25 parts per billion. In contrast, a marine green alga and two species of freshwater algae were not inhibited at these or higher concentrations. The sensitivity of these species to PCB's paralleled their sensitivity to DDT [1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane].
Dumping, adjustment costs and uncertainty

Abstract Domestic demand uncertainty in the presence of adjustment costs can cause profit-maximizing firms to sell output abroad at a loss. Firms may dump output at prices below long-run marginal and average productions costs with probability arbitrarily close to one. The model predicts dumping is particularly likely in process industries such as steel. Closed form dumping solutions and interesting comparative statics are obtained. Also, the effect of domestic competition on dumping is examined. I find domestic competition increases total dumping, although a monopolist maximizing output subject to a zero expected profit constraint will dump more than a competitive industry.
Estrone- and progesterone-induced synthesis of new RNA species in the chick oviduct

Abstract Newly hatched chicks were injected daily for 5 days with 0.25 mg of estrone. Some of the estrogenized chicks were given an additional single 2.0-mg injection of progestrone 3 hours before pulse labeling RNA with 3 H uridine. RNA was extracted from oviducts of control 5-day chicks, estrogenized chicks, and estrogen-progesteronized chicks. By use of DNA-RNA hybridization techniques, these pulse-labeled RNA's were allowed to compete for DNA sites with quantities of unlabeled normal, estrogenized, or estrogen-progesteronized chick oviductal RNA. These experiments permit the following conclusions: Hormone treatment does not arrest synthesis of any rapidly labeled species RNA that are being made in the oviduct before hormone was given. Estrone evokes synthesis of some new types of RNA not present in detectable amounts in control oviduct. Progesterone evokes the synthesis of some additional RNA type beyond those characteristic of the estrogenized state.
The effect of packing on a fluidized bed

A study has been made of the effect of fixed packing on the properties of a gas-fluidized bed, including minimum fluidization velocity, pressure drop, and bed expansion. Experiments using a range of glass beads as fluidizing solid with smooth uniform spheres as packing indicate that both packing size and the ratio of particle to packing diameter are the main variables in correlating the results. Other solids of varying density and shape have also been used. In addition to smooth spherical packing, rough spheres and variously shaped packings such as Raschig rings, Berl saddles, and a cylindrical, open-ended screen packing have received preliminary study. With the screen packing, which occupies only 5% of the column volume, it has been possible to operate a fluidized bed at a much higher gas throughput without slugging than is possible with a conventional bed. A preliminary study has also been made of heat transfer rates, and the results indicate that the same factors are significant. With spherical packing, values of h of the order of 70% of that in a conventional bed have been obtained, while with screen packing values ranging up to 100% or greater have been observed. Possible applications of this technique and its limitations are also discussed.
Radioimmunoassay of prostaglandins E1, E2, and F2α in unextracted plasma, serum and myocardium

Abstract A radioimmunoassay procedure for the determination of PGE 1 , PGE 2 , and PGF 2 α is presented. The procedure involves the pre-precipitation of each prostaglandin specific antiserum with the precipitating antisera (ARGG), and the use of these antisera mixtures in assaying for PGE 1 , PGE 2 , and PGF 2 α. Applicability of the methods to unextracted plasma, serum and myocardial homogenate has been demonstrated through tests of specificity, recovery, reproducability and parallelism. A mathematical correction for cross-reactivity between PGE 1 and PGE 2 , and their opposing antisera is given. To demonstrate the utility of the methodology in differentiation of experimental variables, prostaglandin concentrations in unincubated serum, incubated serum, and the rate of prostaglandin production in serum of dogs are given.
Studying the impact of hardware prefetching and bandwidth partitioning in chip-multiprocessors

Modern high performance microprocessors widely employ hardware prefetching technique to hide long memory access latency. While very useful, hardware prefetching tends to aggravate the bandwidth wall, a problem where system performance is increasingly limited by the availability of the off-chip pin bandwidth in Chip Multi-Processors (CMPs).In this paper, we propose an analytical model-based study to investigate how hardware prefetching and memory bandwidth partitioning impact CMP system performance and how they interact. The model includes a composite prefetching metric that can help determine under which conditions prefetching can improve system performance, a bandwidth partitioning model that takes into account prefetching effects, and a derivation of the weighted speedup optimum bandwidth partition sizes for different cores. Through model-driven case studies, we find several interesting observations that can be valuable for future CMP system design and optimization. We also explore simulation-based empirical evaluation to validate the observations and show that maximum system performance can be achieved by selective prefetching, guided by the composite prefetching metric, coupled with dynamic bandwidth partitioning.
Confocal Raman Microscopy of the Interfacial Regions of Liquid Chromatographic Stationary-Phase Materials

The influence of organic modifiers on the structure of reversed-phase liquid chromatographic (RPLC) stationary phases has been a topic of considerable investigation. Retention of organic modifiers in the stationary phase has previously been determined by chromatographic measurements, and the polarity and heterogeneity of the resulting solvation environment has been studied using solvatochromic, fluorescent, and spin probes. In the present work, the composition and solvation environment of a stationary phase is investigated using confocal Raman microscopy, which allows the in situ examination of the solvation environment within individual chromatographic stationary phase particles without the use of probe molecules. The accumulation of organic modifiers in the stationary phase can be quantified, and the environment of the modifier in the stationary phase can be determined. Specifically, we have investigated the interactions of acetonitrile with C18-functionalized silica particles using confocal Raman micro...
Spectral properties and photosynthetic action in red-tide populations of Prorocentrum micans and Gonyaulax polyedra

Spectral attenuance and photosynthetic performance over the range 300 to 700 nm were examined in red-tide populations of Prorocentrum micans and Gonyaulax polyedra collected off La Jolla, California, USA, in May 1969 and May–June 1985; and in spring 1969, November 1981 and April–May 1982, respectively. In the near ultraviolet (UV), high attenuance and diminished photosynthetic effectiveness were observed in both dinoflagellates. This decline in relative quantum yield is ascribed to masking absorption by unidentified and spectrally different UV-absorbing compounds which were soluble in methanol. In the visible region, photosynthetic action spectra displayed the characteristic shapes expected from efficient Photosystem II light harvesting by peridinin, chlorophylls a and c 2 , in conformity with previous studies on cultured dinoflagellates. In the case of P. micans, a high content of diadinoxanthin was found and the possible role of this yellow xanthophyll as a photoprotective pigment is discussed. However, photosynthetic enhancement spectra suggest that some portion of the diadinoxanthin pool functions as a Photosystem I antenna in this species. Our data on P. micans and G. polyedra support the hypothesis that UV-absorbing compounds and diadinoxanthin play protective roles in screening harmful radiation in red-tide dinoflagellates exposed to high-light conditions in nature.
Proteomic Profiling of Nonenzymatically Glycated Proteins in Human Plasma and Erythrocyte Membranes

Nonenzymatic glycation of peptides and proteins by d-glucose has important implications in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus, particularly in the development of diabetic complications. In this ...
Excretion balance, metabolic fate, and tissue residues ofN-phenyl-N′-1,2,5-thiadiazol-3-ylurea (photothidiazuron) in rats

Photothidiazuron-14C, a major photoconversion product of thidiazuron defoliant on cotton leaves, was rapidly absorbed and eliminated following oral administration to rats. By 96 hr posttreatment, 90.7% of the administered dose was accounted for in the urine (75.5%) and feces (15.2%). Between 5.0 and 10% of the radioactive material in the urine partitioned into ethyl acetate. In addition to photothidiazuron and several unknowns, the following metabolites were present: 4-hydroxyphenylphotothidiazuron, phenylurea, and 4-hydroxyphenylurea. There was also some evidence for the presence of 4-hydroxyacetanilide. The major portion of the radioactivity (>90%) remained in the urine after extraction with ethyl acetate. Cleavage data withbeta-glucuronidase and aryl sulfatase indicated that at least 12.1% and 6.3%, respectively, of the urinary radioactive materials were conjugated with glucuronic and sulfuric acids. Compounds included 4-hydroxyphenylurea, 4-hydroxyphenylphotothidiazuron, and several unknowns. Fractionation of the feces indicated that about 10% of the radioactive material was organosoluble, about 20% was water soluble and about 70% was unextractable from the fecal residue. Tissue levels of radioactivity were low and in the ppb range.
Ethanol disrupts NMDA receptor and astroglial EAAT2 modulation of Kv2.1 potassium channels in hippocampus

Delayed-rectifier Kv2.1 channels are the principal component of voltage-sensitive K+ currents (I(K)) in hippocampal neurons and are critical regulators of somatodendritic excitability. In a recent study, we demonstrated that surface trafficking and phosphorylation of Kv2.1 channels is modulated by NMDA-type glutamate receptors and that astroglial excitatory amino acid transporters 2 (EAAT2) regulate the coupling of NMDA receptors and Kv2.1 channels. Because ethanol is known to acutely inhibit NMDA receptors, we sought to determine if NMDA receptor and astroglial EAAT2 modulation of Kv2.1 channels is impaired by ethanol in the rodent hippocampus. As expected, bath application of NMDA to hippocampal cultures reduced the size of Kv2.1 clusters and produced a hyperpolarizing shift in the voltage-dependent activation of I(K) that was associated with dephosphorylated Kv2.1 channels. Ethanol, applied acutely, prevented the hyperpolarizing shift in activation of I(K) induced by NMDA and restored Kv2.1 clustering and phosphorylation to near control levels. Ethanol also attenuated the dephosphorylation of Kv2.1 channels produced by the EAAT2 selective inhibitor dihydrokainic acid. These data demonstrate that acute ethanol disrupts changes in Kv2.1 channels that follow NMDA receptor activation and impairs astroglial regulation of the functional coupling between NMDA receptors and Kv2.1 channels.
Vibrational spectroscopy of molecules using self-assembling tunnel junctions

We are currently studying inelastic electron tunneling using Self-Assembling Tunnel Junctions (SATJ) to determine the ultimate sensitivity and applicability of this technique to surface science. Preliminary experiments with acetylene adsorbed on tungsten and platinum yield spectra that are indicative of inelastic tunneling. We also observe Coulomb blockade effects and periodic oscillations in the junction conductance.
Evaluation of Verapamil Hydrochloride Permeation Through Human Cadaver Skin

AbstractPreformulation studies were conducted to determine the feasibility of a transdermal dosage form of verapamil hydrochloride (VPHC1). The apparent partition coefficient (octanol/water or buffer) of VPHC1 in buffers of different Ph values was determined. The saturation solubility of VPHC1 in different buffers and propylene glycol was determined. The target drug flux through the human skin to attain therapeutic concentrations in blood was determined. The maximum flux attainable through the human skin was determined. An attempt was made to increase the flux of the drug using azone as a penetration enhancer. The rate limiting barrier for the permeation of VPHC1 through the skin was determined.
On-chip isotachophoresis separation of functional DNA origami capture nanoarrays from cell lysate

Scaffolded DNA origami, a versatile method to construct high yield selfassembled DNA nanostructures, has been investigated to develop water-soluble nanoarrays for label free RNA detection, drug delivery, molecular positioning and recognition, and spatially ordered catalysis of single molecule chemical reactions. Its attributes that facilitate these applications suggest DNA origami as a candidate platform for intracellular targeting. After the interaction with targeted proteins in cell lysate, it is critical to separate and concentrate DNA origami nanoarrays from the crude cell lysate for further analysis. The recent development of microchip isotachophoresis (ITP) provides an alternative robust sample preconcentration and electrophoretic separation method. In this study, we present online ITP for stacking, separation and identification of aptamer-functionalized DNA origami and its thrombin complex in a simple cross-channel fused silica microfluidic chip. In particular, the method achieved separation of a binding complex in less than 5 min and 150-fold signal enhancement. We successfully separated and analyzed the thrombin bound origami-aptamer spiked into cell lysate using on-chip ITP. Our results demonstrate that origami/thrombin nanostructures can be effectively separated from cell lysate using this method and that the structural integrity of the concentrated binding complex is maintained as confirmed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). An ITP-based separation module can be easily coupled to other microchip pre- and post-processing steps to provide an integrated proteomics analysis platform for diagnostic applications.
Linear Dependence of ^1J^(13)C,^(199)Hg) and^2J(^1H, C,^(199)Hg) for Dibenzylmercury in Various Solvents

The ^1J(^(13)C, ^(199)Hg) spin–spin coupling constants have been studied for dibenzylmercury in various solvents. A linear correlation was found between ^1J(^(13)C, ^(199)Hg) and the ^2J(^1H, C, ^(199)Hg) constants obtained earlier for the same solutions.
Measuring the Quantum Phase of the E.M. Field by Interference as →0

We show that the measured probability distribution of the phase difference between two electromagnetic fields can be sharpened progressively as data involving more and more detected photons are discarded, and that the phase difference can be well-defined even when the mean photon number n → 0. In our operational phase theory the variance of the directly measured phase difference has no lower bound other than zero, and this is consistent with the experimental results.
Reflections on secularism, democracy, and politics in Egypt

I reassess dominant understandings of the relations between secularism, democracy, and politics by comparing the Egyptian protests that began on January 25, 2011, and lasted until the fall of Mubarak with some of the events that occurred in their aftermath. The events that occurred after these protests demonstrated the obliging power of what I call the “problem-space of secularism,” anchored by the question of where to draw a line between religion and politics and the stakes of tolerance and religious freedom typically attached to it. By contrast, the protests themselves displayed a marked indifference to this question. Thus, they stood outside the problem-space of secularism, representing what I call an “asecular” moment. I suggest that such moments of asecularity merit greater attention. [Egypt, Islam, secularism, sovereignty, asecularity]
Political Values and Analytic Philosophy

PROFESSIONAL PHILOSOPHERS have since the beginning of the Twentieth Century spent a great deal of time and energy inquiring into the logic of expressions of all kinds. By the "logic" of an expression they have sought to refer to its "meaning," its "use." A rather sharp differentiation has been made between the grammar of an expression and its logic. Thus, it has, been made quite clear that what an expression seems to say as a matter of grammar may not be what it says at all as a matter of logic. The logic of an expression depends upon the use to which it is put in the context in which it is presented. If, for example, I were to say to my wife, "I would find it very pleasant if that window were closed rather than open," as a matter of grammar this would simply be a declarative statement with respect to my feelings about the window. It is quite likely, however, that what I am really saying is, "Close the window!" The real "meaning," the real "use" of my expression is to give direction, if you will, to make a command; and the "logic" of the expression i's not declarative but imperative. That this concern with the logic of expressions has transformed the character of the philosophic discipline is obvious. The Harvard philosopher Morton White describes this "slow and silent revolution in philosophy" as follows:
An efficient algorithm for sequential random sampling

We examine several methods for drawing a sequential random sample of n records from a file containing N records. Method D is recommended for general use. The algorithm is on-line (so that CPU time can be overlapped with I/O), has a small constant memory requirement, and is easy to program. An improved implementation is detailed in the Appendix.
The future of human resource management

Human resource management must change as the business environment in which it operates changes. Outlines the key challenges facing human resources managers as they move from simply handling personnel issues to making a strategic contribution to the future directions and development of an organization. Demonstrates that human resources managers can contribute both to performance enhancement and cost reduction thus contributing directly to the productivity of the organization.
Qualitative evaluation of knee ligament arthrometer force–displacement results to determine technical validity

Abstract Objectives: To compare clinical knee arthrometer tests with theoretical force–displacement curves as a potential source of test error. Design: A single auditor reviewed 280 KT-2000 knee arthrometer tests conducted by six physical therapists. Setting: A University Sport Medicine Center. Participants: Six physical therapists with at least 3 years experience tested 280 individuals with suspected or confirmed ACL injury referred for arthrometer evaluation of knee laxity. Main outcome measures: An independent test auditor, using a priori rules, evaluated computer-acquired measurements of knee ligament laxity. The auditor judged the test quality as technically correct, indefinite or incorrect based on the theoretical force–displacement curve. A Chi-square analysis was used to assess the statistical significance of the frequency distribution of test quality. Results: The highest percentage of technically correct tests for a single physical therapist was 71% while the lowest was 21%. There was a statistically significant difference between testers in the percentage of technically correct tests. Conclusions: Diagnosis of ACL injury and outcomes following reconstructive surgery have been evaluated with quantitative measurement of sagittal plane knee laxity. The technical quality of arthrometer tests may be a potential source of error in clinical evaluation and research studies. In this study, physical therapists demonstrated discrepancies in the frequency of valid tests when compared to theoretical force–displacement curves.
Plasma concentrations of lidocaine during hair transplantation.

Plasma lidocaine concentrations were measured during six hair transplantation procedures. The maximal plasma concentration and total dosage of lidocaine (mg/kg) are related in a linear manner. Use of lidocaine in doses above the recommended maximum of 7 mg/kg may result in levels considered therapeutic for cardiac arrhythmias. Several patients exhibited minor central nervous system toxicity although plasma concentrations remained well below levels commonly associated with convulsions.
INTER- AND INTRA-RATER RELIABILITY OF THE BRIEF PSYCHIATRIC RATING SCALE

Video-taped interviews and mock ratings of typical cases were employed to evaluate raters' consistency of 37 raters (14 staff psychiatrists, 11 psychiatric residents, 10 clinical psychologists and ...
Effectiveness Analysis of SafeStat: Motor Carrier Safety Status Measurement System

SafeStat (Safety Status Measurement System) is an automated analysis system developed for FHWA's Office of Motor Carriers (OMC) that combines current and historical safety data to measure the relative safety fitness of interstate motor carriers. SafeStat enables OMC to quantify and monitor the safety status of motor carriers and guides the deployment of resources to focus on carriers posing the greatest safety risk. SafeStat resulted from research performed by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Volpe Center for OMC to improve motor carrier safety fitness assessment and prescribe actions for correcting safety deficiencies. SafeStat initially was developed and implemented as part of a federalstate pilot program. It has been implemented nationally by OMC to identify and rank individual motor carriers for on-site safety compliance reviews. An effectiveness study was devised to confirm that SafeStat identified carriers were high-safety-risk carriers. Postidentification carrier crash experience was examine...
Synthesis of a pyridine substituted polycarbodiimide and its use as a solid support for chemical reagents

Abstract Optically active, polycarbodiimides 3(a, b & c) with pyridine pendant groups were synthesized using [(R) – 2,2′- binaphthoxy] (di-isopropoxy) titanium(IV) catalyst. The polymers were characterized by 1H and 13C NMR, and IR. Thermal stability of these polymers (up to 162 °C by TGA), allows thermally demanding chemical transformations on their side chains without decomposition. Advantages include fine-tunability of the other pendant group of the carbodiimide monomer. This allows one to optimize the properties of the polymer without undergoing copolymerization or further post-polymerization modifications. Borane (BH3) was coordinated to poly 3 (a & b) to prepare the functional polymers 4 (a & b) respectively. A strong IR signature peak at 2368 cm−1 supports BH3 coordination. Gravimetric analysis indicates 97–99% borane complexation of the pyridine units. In addition, the thermal stability increased to 194 °C in poly 4a is consistent with the incorporation of BH3 to the pendant pyridine of the helical polycarbodiimide 3a. Poly 4 (a & b) can be used as supported reagents and successfully reduced the carbonyl compounds (5 a–e) in moderate to excellent yields (60–100%) and are shown to be efficient, non-volatile, stable, and mild supported-reducing reagents. Upon completion of the reduction reaction, the polymer support was quantitatively recycled as required for a green solid catalyst support.
Perceptual Correlates of the Rod-and-Frame Test: A Critical Response

One of the recent research reports that has proffered a bifactorial explanation of field independence-dependence is critiqued for its use of factor analysis. A more traditional and conservative use of the statistic supports the original definition and suggests mirror-tracing speed as an additional assessment tool.
Public Opinion Surveys and the Formation of Privacy Policy

The laws that condition the boundaries that separate the public from the private spheres shape our expectations of privacy. Public opinion helps to shape the development and implementation of those laws. Commercial firms in the information-intensive industries have been the primary sponsors of public opinion surveys introduced into testimony as assessments of the public's will. Representatives of business and consumer organizations have relied upon the same industry-sponsored surveys to frame their arguments in support of or in opposition to specific privacy policies. In the past 25 years, references to public opinion have been used to frame the public as concerned, differentiated and, most recently, as willing to negotiate their privacy demands.
The roots of defense: plant resistance and tolerance to belowground herbivory.

Background There is conclusive evidence that there are fitness costs of plant defense and that herbivores can drive selection for defense. However, most work has focused on above-ground interactions, even though belowground herbivory may have greater impacts on individual plants than above-ground herbivory. Given the role of belowground plant structures in resource acquisition and storage, research on belowground herbivores has much to contribute to theories on the evolution of plant defense. Pocket gophers (Geomyidae) provide an excellent opportunity to study root herbivory. These subterranean rodents spend their entire lives belowground and specialize on consuming belowground plant parts. Methodology and principal findings We compared the root defenses of native forbs from mainland populations (with a history of gopher herbivory) to island populations (free from gophers for up to 500,000 years). Defense includes both resistance against herbivores and tolerance of herbivore damage. We used three approaches to compare these traits in island and mainland populations of two native California forbs: 1) Eschscholzia californica populations were assayed to compare alkaloid deterrents, 2) captive gophers were used to test the palatability of E. californica roots and 3) simulated root herbivory assessed tolerance to root damage in Deinandra fasciculata and E. californica. Mainland forms of E. californica contained 2.5 times greater concentration of alkaloids and were less palatable to gophers than island forms. Mainland forms of D. fasciculata and, to a lesser extent, E. californica were also more tolerant of root damage than island conspecifics. Interestingly, undamaged island individuals of D. fasciculata produced significantly more fruit than either damaged or undamaged mainland individuals. Conclusions and significance These results suggest that mainland plants are effective at deterring and tolerating pocket gopher herbivory. Results also suggest that both forms of defense are costly to fitness and thus reduced in the absence of the putative target herbivore.
Stable overexpression of the constitutive form of heat shock protein 70 confers oxidative protection.

We have previously reported that thermal preconditioning confers an oxidative resistance in rat heart-derived H9c2 myocytes. The development of this resistance is associated with a co-expression of both inducible (hsp70i) and constitutive (hsp70c) forms of the 70-kD heat shock proteins, suggesting an antioxidant role for these proteins. Overexpression of hsp70i has been shown to render cells more tolerant to oxidative challenge. The present study sought to determine whether increases in hsp70c, the constitutive member of this protein family, are also positively correlated to oxidative protection. A rat cDNA encoding hsp70c was inserted into a mammalian expression vector, allowing transcription of the inserted gene to be regulated by a powerful cytomegaloviral promoter. After introduction of this construct into H9c2 myocytes, stable clones were obtained. Western and Northern blot analysis of the derived clones showed a two-fold increase in hsp70c mRNA and protein concentrations. These clones were more resistant to thermal killing when compared to control cells transfected with the vector alone, implicating a functional role for the overexpressed hsp70c protein. hsp70c-enriched cells also exhibited a marked resistance to oxidative challenges, including exposure to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hydroxyl radical, menadione, and hypoxia/reoxygenation. These findings indicate that hsp70c overexpression provides a protective effect against endogenous or exogenously generated reactive oxygen species (ROS), suggesting that hsp70c actively participates in the heat shock-induced oxidative protection.