cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An algorithm for smoothly tessellating β-sheet structures in proteins

An algorithm is presented for tiling the surface of beta-sheet structures, smoothed both along the strands and perpendicular to them. The algorithm is intended for creating graphical representations of beta structure within the three-dimensional context of proteins. This article presents sufficient detail to allow a programmer with some knowledge of protein structure to implement the tiling algorithm. Several examples of its use are illustrated.
Category Theory is a Contentful Theory

In (Linnebo & Pettigrew, 2011), some objections to category theory as an autonomous foundation are presented. The authors of that paper do a commendable job making clear several distinct senses of “autonomous” as it occurs in the phrase “autonomous foundation.” Unfortunately, the paper seems to treat the “categorist” perspective rather unfairly. Several infelicities of this sort were addressed by (McLarty, 2012). I wish in this note to address yet another apparent infelicity. The subject of this paper is the comments in (Linnebo & Pettigrew, 2011) concerning the contentfulness of William Lawvere’s axiomatic system CCAF. For details of this system itself the reader is encouraged to consult (Lawvere, 1966) or (Lawvere, 1963). No technical details from these expositions will be needed, however. The authors of (Linnebo & Pettigrew, 2011) are willing to admit “CCAF asserts the existence of certain categories and describes some of the functors between them.” However, as they correctly point out, this by itself is insufficient for CCAF to serve as a foundation of mathematics. As the authors point out, a necessary condition for CCAF to serve as a foundation of mathematics is that be contentful, and, “if it is to make a contentful assertion, we need to be able to identify its subject matter – namely, categories – independently of the theory.” The authors provide us an illustrative example of a non-contentful theory to help make this objection more clear. “[A lack of content] would be the problem, for instance, with the theory that consists of the following sentence: ‘the mome raths outgrabe’. The reason that this theory lacks content is that there is no way of identifying, independently of the theory, what mome raths are, or what it is to outgrabe. Without identifying the subject matter of the theory in such a way, the statements of the theory do not make contentful assertions.” (Linnebo & Pettigrew, 2011, p. 231) Presumably (and the authors are certainly correct here) a theory that runs afoul this objection (which I will call the Contentful Theory Objection [CTO]) cannot serve as an autonomous foundation for mathematics. Of course, a proponent of CCAF can respond to CTO by simply providing a CCAF-free identification of the subject matter of category theory. The problem, the authors hold, is that this cannot be accomplished without running afoul what they call the Logical Dependence Objection [LDO]: if any theory T is to provide an alternative foundation for mathematics to the foundation provided by set theory, it must not be the case that T “depend[s] logically on a prior theory of classes and functions in order to ground [its] existential assertions.” That is, if one cannot identify This work was supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 00006595. A side note: CCAF is often assumed to abbreviate either “category of categories and functors” or “category of categories as foundation.” In Lawvere’s thesis, however, the system normally called CCAF appears under the heading “category of categories and adjoint functors”.
Parental mediation of children's Internet use: The influence of established media

While ownership and use of computers is increasing in American homes, concerns over the effects of Internet content on children are high. Literature on parents’ mediation of Internet content is in its early stages, as is parents’ understanding of the medium. This study compares television mediation practices to Internet mediation practices among parents who own both media. The findings indicate that, while mediation is not universal, parents may be applying their TV mediation practices to children's web surfing. The implications of this for mediation and public policy are discussed.
Lipid composition of metacestodes of Taenia taeniaeformis and lipid changes during growth.

Abstract A lipid analysis was performed on developing metacestodes of Taenia taeniaeformis removed from the livers of rats at times varying from 3 to 35 weeks post infection. Lipid accounted for 7–21% of the dry weight of the parasites. The highest proportions were found at the earlier stages. The distribution was as follows; neutral lipid 27–45%; glycolipid 5–11%; and phospholipid 50–61%. The major neutral lipid was cholesterol, and minor neutral lipids were sterol esters, triglycerides, diglycerides and monoglycerides. Hydrocarbons were present throughout development, but in the highest amounts at the earlier stages. Five different glycolipids were found, all of which were identified as glycosphingolipids. An increase in the proportion of more complex glycolipids was noted as parasites grew older. Ten different phospholipids were identified, with the major components being phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylserine. Other phospholipids were: lysophosphatides, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidic acid, diphosphatidylglycerol, sphingomyelin, and an unknown phospholipid component. Changes in the relative amounts of the two major phospholipids were found when the early and late stages were compared. Two lipids found throughout development were identified as glycosylated dolichol phosphates, and they comprised between 1 and 3% of the total phospholipid fraction. Nineteen fatty acids were detected, and the fatty acid distribution for each lipid class at each stage was determined. Seven major fatty acids were common to each. These were: hexadecanoic, octadecanoic, oleic, linoleic, arachidonic, docosanoic, and docosahexaenoic.
Pulse coupled oscillators and the phase resetting curve

Limit cycle oscillators that are coupled in a pulsatile manner are referred to as pulse coupled oscillators. In these oscillators, the interactions take the form of brief pulses such that the effect of one input dies out before the next is received. A phase resetting curve (PRC) keeps track of how much an input advances or delays the next spike in an oscillatory neuron depending upon where in the cycle the input is applied. PRCs can be used to predict phase locking in networks of pulse coupled oscillators. In some studies of pulse coupled oscillators, a specific form is assumed for the interactions between oscillators, but a more general approach is to formulate the problem assuming a PRC that is generated using a perturbation that approximates the input received in the real biological network. In general, this approach requires that circuit architecture and a specific firing pattern be assumed. This allows the construction of discrete maps from one event to the next. The fixed points of these maps correspond to periodic firing modes and are easier to locate and analyze for stability compared to locating and analyzing periodic modes in the original network directly. Alternatively, maps based on the PRC have been constructed that do not presuppose a firing order. Specific circuits that have been analyzed under the assumption of pulsatile coupling include one to one lockings in a periodically forced oscillator or an oscillator forced at a fixed delay after a threshold event, two bidirectionally coupled oscillators with and without delays, a unidirectional N-ring of oscillators, and N all-to-all networks.
Coarse-grained molecular dynamics: Nonlinear finite elements and finite temperature

Coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CGMD) is a technique developed as a concurrent multiscale model that couples conventional molecular dynamics (MD) to a more coarse-grained description of the periphery. The coarse-grained regions are modeled on a mesh in a formulation that generalizes conventional finite element modeling (FEM) of continuum elasticity. CGMD is derived solely from the MD model, however, and has no continuum parameters. As a result, it provides a coupling that is smooth and provides control of errors that arise at the coupling between the atomistic and coarse-grained regions. In this paper, we elaborate on the formulation of CGMD, describing in detail how CGMD is applied to anharmonic solids and finite-temperature simulations. As tests of CGMD, we present in detail the calculation of the phonon spectra for solid argon and tantalum in three dimensions, demonstrating how CGMD provides a better description of the elastic waves than that provided by FEM. We also present elastic wave scattering calculations that show the elastic wave scattering is more benign in CGMD than FEM. We also discuss the dependence of scattering on the properties of the mesh. We introduce a rigid approximation to CGMD that eliminates internal relaxation, similar to the quasicontinuum technique, and compare it to the full CGMD.
Oligohydramnios associated with bilateral multicystic dysplastic kidneys: Prenatal diagnosis at 15 weeks' gestation

Lethal fetal renal malformations are invariably associated with oligohydramnios in late antennatal ultrasound examinations. Controversy exists concerning the contribution of fetal urine production to amniotic fluid volume prior to 20 weeks' gestation. We report a pregnancy complicated by maternal gold usage and fetal bilateral multicystic dysplastic kidney disease in which oligohydramnios was detected at 12 weeks' gestation. To our knowledge, no previous cases of lethal fetal renal anomalies have been made in the first trimester. The early diagnosis of fetal renal anomalies, fetal renal contribution to amniotic fluid production, and possible teratogenicity of gold therapy is discussed.
Use of the SPP Technique to Account for Inhomogeneities in Differential Printed-Circuit-Board Wiring

The short-pulse propagation (SPP) time-domain technique is shown to be able to easily account for the inhomogeneities found in typical printed-circuit-board wiring. SPP is used to generate broadband predictive models for differential lines with different glass-fiber-to-epoxy-resin ratios and also for the soldermask layers used on top and bottom of typical boards. In both cases, a two-step extraction procedure is employed to obtain the broadband complex permittivity for the inhomogeneous structures and correlation with TDT measurements is used to validate the technique. Some examples of the effect of using different epoxy resin contents on the total loss are shown for 7.0 mil and 10.0 mil pitch differential wiring.
Numerical Approximation of Some Linear Stochastic Partial Differential Equations Driven by Special Additive Noises

This paper is concerned with the numerical approximation of some linear stochastic partial differential equations with additive noises. A special representation of the noise is considered, and it is compared with general representations of noises in the infinite dimensional setting. Convergence analysis and error estimates are presented for the numerical solution based on the standard finite difference and finite element methods. The effects of the noises on the accuracy of the approximations are illustrated. Results of the numerical experiments are provided.
Structural damage detection of space truss structures using best achievable eigenvectors

A method is presented by which measured modes and frequencies from a modal test can be used to determine the location and magnitude of damage in a space struss structure. The damage is located by computing the Euclidean distances between the measured mode shapes and the best achievable eigenvectors. The best achievable eigenvectors are the projection of the measured mode shapes onto the subspace defined by the refined analytical model of the structure and the measured frequencies. Loss of both stiffness and mass properties can be located and quantified. To examine the performance of the method when experimentally measured modes are employed, various damage detection studies using a laboratory eight-bay truss structure were conducted. The method performs well even though the measurement errors inevitably make the damage location more difficult.
EXPENDITURES PER CAPITA FOR HEALTH WORK IN THE RURAL DISTRICTS IN OHIO

HERETOFORE, published reports of per capita expenditures for public health have been confined largely to city health districts. Figures for rural districts are more comparable. In reporting from Ohio, 1926 was selected because it was the first year that accurate figures for expenditures were available. Per capita cost had been computed on the appropriations for public health service, which did not necessarily mean that this amount was expended and was not comparable to service rendered. The writer does not recall having read a discussion of this subject based on rural service alone. Dr. Williams of 'the New York State Department of Health prepared a paper on per capita expenditures in that state, based on city, township and village health service.1 Per capita cost of health work for rural districts is more easily computed than that of cities, inasmuch as many cities budget appropriations for various items of community endeavor not strictly public health activities; namely, garbage collection and disposaland "poor fund" budgeted with the health fund for the care of the sick poor. These activities are not pertinent to modem health service, but in many city districts are still classified as such. It is hoped that the time is not far distant in Ohio when boards of health will be divorced entirely from such responsibilities except in the form of general supervision of these activities. It might be of interest to explain briefly the plan of health organization in Ohio in order that the reader may better interpret the per capita cost and degree of service rendered in the respective districts.
Alteration of Interneuron Migration in a Ferret Model of Cortical Dysplasia

During cerebral cortical development, g-aminobutyric acidergic (GABAergic) interneurons arise from a different site than projection neurons. GABAergic cells are generated in the subpallial ganglionic eminence (GE), while excitatory projection neurons arise from the neocortical ventricular zone. Our laboratory studies a model of cortical dysplasia that displays specific disruption of GABAergic mechanisms and an alteration in the overall balance of excitation in the neocortex. To produce this model, the birth of neurons on a specific gestational day in ferrets (embryonic day 33 [E33]) is interrupted by injection of the antimitotic methylazoxymethanol (MAM). We hypothesized that migration of interneurons might be disrupted in this cortical dysplasia paradigm. We observed that although interneurons migrate into the neocortex in both normal and dysplastic cortex, the migrating cells become disoriented over time after E33 MAM treatment. Coculture experiments using normal GE and MAM-treated cortex (and vice versa) demonstrate that cues dictating proper orientation of migrating interneurons arise from the cortex and are not intrinsic to the migrating cells. As a consequence, interneurons in mature brains of MAM-treated animals are abnormally distributed. We report that GABAA receptor activation is crucial to the proper positioning of interneurons migrating into the cortex from the GE in normal and MAM-treated animals.
Modeling Neural Population Spiking Activity with Gibbs Distributions

Probabilistic modeling of correlated neural population firing activity is central to understanding the neural code and building practical decoding algorithms. No parametric models currently exist for modeling multi-variate correlated neural data and the high dimensional nature of the data makes fully non-parametric methods impractical. To address these problems we propose an energy-based model in which the joint probability of neural activity is represented using learned functions of the 1D marginal histograms of the data. The parameters of the model are learned using contrastive divergence and an optimization procedure for finding appropriate marginal directions. We evaluate the method using real data recorded from a population of motor cortical neurons. In particular, we model the joint probability of population spiking times and 2D hand position and show that the likelihood of test data under our model is significantly higher than under other models. These results suggest that our model captures correlations in the firing activity. Our rich probabilistic model of neural population activity is a step towards both measurement of the importance of correlations in neural coding and improved decoding of population activity.
Associations Between Phylogenetic Clustering and HLA Profile Among HIV-Infected Individuals in San Diego, California

The CD8+ T-cell response is important in controlling human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, but HIV can evolve to alter the composition or the processing of viral peptides to evade these responses [1]. Specific viral mutations can be matched with particular HLA alleles and provide evidence of immune escape by the virus [2–5]. Since an individual's HLA alleles determine the diversity of peptides that are recognized [6], individuals who are homozygous at HLA class 1 loci will have a reduced repertoire of peptides that are recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Consistent with this, homozygosity at class I loci has been associated with increased mother-to-child transmission and more rapid progression of HIV [7, 8]. Similarly, HIV transmission that occurs between individuals who have concordant HLA alleles allows the transmission of a virus from the source that may have already adapted to the immune response repertoire that can develop in the recipient, and this scenario has been associated with a more rapid HIV disease progression in the recipient [7, 9–12]. HIV rapidly evolves in response to new selective pressures, resulting in distinct viral populations in each infected individual. The degree of similarity of the viral population between source and recipient partners in the transmission pairs permit networks to be discerned using phylogenetic analysis [13–15]. Therefore, sequence analysis of an individual's HIV population can identify footprints in the viral genome that are associated with HLA-induced immune pressure [2, 4, 16, 17], and sequence analysis of a community's circulating HIV can characterize transmission networks in that location [13, 18, 19]. This study uses both sequence analysis concepts to evaluate the relationships between HLA, potential viral escape, and putative transmission networks in San Diego, California.
Preparatory slow potentials and event-related potentials in an auditory cued attention task.

Abstract Objectives : To examine reaction times and event-related potentials (ERPs) in an auditory cued attention task varying motor requirements, cue validity, and cue location. Methods : Subjects ( n =13) listened to cue–target stimulus pairs. Verbal cues (monaural, binaural) indicated the ear to receive a target tone 1.5s later. Cues correctly (valid) or incorrectly (invalid) predicted target ear, or were uninformative (neutral). In separate conditions subjects either responded by pressing one of two buttons, or did not respond to targets. ERPs for cues and targets (P50, N100, P200, late slow wave), and negative slow potentials between cues and targets were assessed. Results : Target reaction times for valid cues were significantly shorter than for invalid cues, with intermediate values for neutral cues. When no motor response was required larger ERPs were seen to both cues and targets. Negative slow potentials had larger amplitudes before target presentation when subjects responded to targets; and were larger following neutral, vs. valid/invalid, cues. ERPs (N100, P200) to invalidly cued targets were significantly larger and a subsequent late slow wave was more positive, relative to validly cued targets. Conclusions : Expectancy for targets begins shortly after cue presentation, and is affected by both motor requirements and the information content of the cue. ERP amplitudes to targets are modulated by the correspondence between cue information and actual target location.
Optimal Service for Solid Waste Facilities

An empirical method to determine the optimal size of a service region for a solid waste facility is presented. Population data from a region surrounding Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S.A. and published cost data are used to illustrate the use of the method and to provide insight into the optimal values of the radius of the region when the facility is a landfill or an incinerator.
Mass flow through a circular orifice and a two-dimensional slit at high Knudsen numbers

The local and total mass flow through a circular orifice and a two-dimensional slit with large upstream to downstream pressure ratio is calculated for large Knudsen number. The solution is obtained by performing one iteration on an integral form of the kinetic equation, starting with the free molecular solution for the distribution function. A relaxation model is used to describe the inter-molecular collisions. There is found to be a variation of approximately 40% in the local mass flow perturbation (from the free molecular value) across the orifice. For the slit the variations are smaller when the Reynolds number is less than 0·3, but are comparable for greater values. This Reynolds number, defined by $Re = 2 R \rho (kT|m)\frac {{1}}{{2}}/\m$ with R the radius of the orifice or half-width of the slit and with the flow field quantities evaluated far upstream, appears to be a less ambiguous quantitative parameter than the inverse Knudsen number. The ratio of total mass flow to the free molecular value is given by [1+0·083 Re+o(Re)] for the orifice and [1−0·057 Re ln Re+0·055 Re+o(Re)] for the slit. There is agreement within experimental error between the theoretical results and available experimental data for the circular orifice when Re
Extensive coupling of alternative splicing of pre-mRNAs of serine/arginine (SR) genes with nonsense-mediated decay

Summary • In Arabidopsis, pre-mRNAs encoding serine/arginine (SR) proteins, key regulators of constitutive and alternative splicing, are extensively alternatively spliced. In seedlings, 13 SR genes are alternatively spliced to generate 75 transcripts, of which 53 contain a premature termination codon (PTC). However, it is not known if any of the PTC-containing splice variants are the targets of nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) and if there is any link between NMD and the abundance of functional transcripts. • Here, we analyzed the abundances of all splice variants for each alternatively spliced gene in an Arabidopsis mutant that lacks UPF3, one of the core components of NMD machinery, to determine if the PTC-containing transcripts are degraded by NMD. • Our results show that about half of the 53 splice variants with a PTC are the targets of degradation by NMD. The accumulation of PTC-containing transcripts resulted in concomitant reduction in the amount of functional transcript. • These results show widespread coupling of alternative splicing with NMD in the SR gene family, suggesting a strong link between unproductive splicing and the abundance of functional transcripts.
Query Workload Driven Summarization for P2P Query Routing

Query routing in peer-to-peer systems is based onthe peers' content summaries. For the sake of scalability, summaries are built at a "peer level." The coarseness of peer level summaries limits their ability to route queries accurately to peers sharing relevant contents. We propose to improve the quality of each peer's summary by grouping its contents and summarizing each group individually. To enhance grouping effectiveness, we incorporate information about real-world term distributions into group generation. Experimental results show that our techniques significantly improve query routing accuracy with little cost.
Chronic allopurinol administration ameliorates maladaptive alterations in Ca2+ cycling proteins and β-adrenergic hyporesponsiveness in heart failure

Xanthine oxidase (XO) activity contributes to both abnormal excitation-contraction (EC) coupling and cardiac remodeling in heart failure (HF). β-Adrenergic hyporesponsiveness and abnormalities in C...
A single-molecule assay for telomerase structure-function analysis

The activity of the telomerase ribonucleoprotein enzyme is essential for the maintenance of genome stability and normal cell development. Despite the biomedical importance of telomerase activity, detailed structural models for the enzyme remain to be established. Here we report a single-molecule assay for direct structural analysis of catalytically active telomerase enzymes. In this assay, oligonucleotide hybridization was used to probe the primer-extension activity of individual telomerase enzymes with single nucleotide sensitivity, allowing precise discrimination between inactive, active and processive enzyme binding events. FRET signals from enzyme molecules during the active and processive binding events were then used to determine the global organization of telomerase RNA within catalytically active holoenzymes. Using this assay, we have identified an active conformation of telomerase among a heterogeneous population of enzymes with distinct structures.
Meditation, Breath Work, And Focus Training For Teachers And Students - The Five Minutes A Day That Can Really Make A Difference

This paper is based on information researched and presented in a faculty development seminar for elementary teachers for use with students preparing for national testing to manage stress and increase attention focus. It reviews effects of stress on behavior, mood, and concentration; explains basics of breath work and meditation; provides meditation instructions in a simple and direct way; and describes how to use the techniques in the classroom. Statements from the principal, as well as workshop evaluations and follow up communications regarding the training, were very positive. It appears both teachers and students are receptive to the use of meditation, breath work, and focus training – the five minutes a day that can really make a difference for teachers and students.
Determinants of signal to noise ratio in conebeam image reconstruction using the Feldkamp algorithm

We quantified the effects of the number of projections used, the cone angle, the projection noise level and detector bit depth on reconstruction signal to noise ratio for conebeam image reconstruction using the Feldkamp algorithm.
From Maxwell to paraxial wave optics

In this paper we are concerned with the propagation of a light beam through an inhomogeneous, isotropic medium with a possibly nonlinear index of refraction. The customary paraxial approximations of neglecting grad $\mathrm{div}\mathcal{E}$ and seeking a plane-polarized solution are shown to be incompatible with the exact Maxwell equations. By starting from Maxwell's equations, and scaling transverse and longitudinal distances by the beam waist ${w}_{0}$ and diffraction length $l$, respectively, an expansion procedure in powers of $\frac{{w}_{0}}{l}$ is developed. The exact equations obeyed by the zeroth-order fields are not Maxwell's equations but the customary paraxial approximation to Maxwell's equations. Equations for the first-, second-, and third-order fields are developed. The first-order field is found to be a longitudinal field. It is solved for explicitly in terms of the zeroth-order field which is transverse. Thus a precise knowledge of the meaning and accuracy of paraxial wave optics is obtained.
Measuring Space–Time Access to Food Retailers: A Case of Temporal Access Disparity in Franklin County, Ohio

Typical measures of food access use spatial-only methods to identify nearby food outlets and the quantity, quality, and variety of food available. This measure of spatial access falls short in explaining the effect that the operating hours of food retailers have on food access. Our study aims to complement the spatial dimension of access measures by bringing time in as a new constraint on food access. To this end, we developed three measures of spatial, temporal, and spatiotemporal access and correlated these measures with socioeconomic status (SES) in a case in Columbus, Ohio. Findings from our analysis of food access disparity suggest that low-SES neighborhoods in Columbus are not at a disadvantage of spatial access, but their limited temporal access is a more pressing concern. Implications drawn from the study would assist community advocates, local governments, and other stakeholders in deriving a better understanding of the local foodscape that are not only mediated by space but also time.
The Occurrence and Distribution of Some Aquatic Phycomycetes on Ross Island and the Dry Valleys of Victoria Land, Antarctica

Water, soil, and alga samples collected on Ross Island and the dry valleys of Victoria Land during January and February, 1971, were found to contain monocentric chytridiaceous fungi, a blastocladiaceous fungus, and filamentous Oomycetes. Of the alga-infesting chytrids, only Scherffelliomyces appendiculatus and Chytridium versatile could be identified with certainty. Saprophytic chytrids which grew on baits were represented by Rhizophlyctis rosea, and two new species, Rhizophydium proliferum and Phlyctochytrium recurvastomum. Catenophlyctis variabilis occurred as a saprophyte of keratinous substrata. The Oomycetes were represented by Pythium tenue and an undetermined sterile species of Pythium. Aside from unverified observations of Aphanomyces, members of the Saprolegniaceae were lacking. The low diversity of aquatic Phycomycetes with frequent reoccurrence of a few species is noted and commented upon.
Changing Our Perception: Using Critical Literacy to Empower the Marginalized

Using previous research and scholarship in literacy, the paper discusses the potential role of literacy in the exclusion or inclusion of marginalized population in school and society at large. This paper argues for the importance of developing critical literacy in schools as a tool to include the disenfranchised student in the societal conversation. Moreover it suggests that critical literacy can be used as a method of empowerment where students are able to think critically, question events in society, and strive for socio-political equality. This frame of thoughts allows an exchange of power and knowledge through the development of literacy. Informed by the theory of critical pedagogy, the article offers examples from practitioners of how to use literacy as a tool for inclusion and empowerment for the disenfranchised. [Article copies available for a fee from The Transformative Studies Institute. Email address: journal@transformativestudies.org Website: http://www.transformativestudies.org ©2011 by The Transformative Studies Institute. All rights reserved.]
In-Country Migration and Risk Factors for HIV Acquisition among Pregnant Women in Tijuana, Mexico.

Objective: To compare HIV prevalence and HIV acquisition risk behaviors between pregnant women residents and migrants. Design: A cross-sectional study of pregnant women of unknown HIV status seeking care at Tijuana General Hospital, Mexico. Methods: Pregnant women attending the labor and delivery unit or the prenatal clinic had a rapid HIV test drawn, with positive results confirmed by Western blot. Migrants were defined as women who had resided in Tijuana for less than 5 years. Results: Between 2007 and 2008, a total of 3331 pregnant women consented to participate. The HIV seroprevalence did not differ between Tijuana residents (18 of 2502, 0.72%) and migrants (3 of 829, 0.36%, P ¼ .32). In multivariate regression analyses, HIV acquisition risk behaviors included methamphetamine use (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 6.03, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.3-15.8, P < .001) and first presentation at labor (adjusted OR: 5.0, 95% CI: 1.6-15.3, P ¼ .005), adjusted for migrant status, age, and history of sexually transmitted infections. Conclusion: The overall HIV seroprevalence was 0.63% and did not differ between Tijuana residents and migrants.
New ideas about aldosterone signaling in epithelia.

The systemic actions of aldosterone are well documented; however, in comparison, our understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which aldosterone orchestrates these actions is rudime...
Minimum Field Strength Simulator for Proton Density Weighted MRI

Objective To develop and evaluate a framework for simulating low-field proton-density weighted MRI acquisitions based on high-field acquisitions, which could be used to predict the minimum B0 field strength requirements for MRI techniques. This framework would be particularly useful in the evaluation of de-noising and constrained reconstruction techniques. Materials and Methods Given MRI raw data, lower field MRI acquisitions can be simulated based on the signal and noise scaling with field strength. Certain assumptions are imposed for the simulation and their validity is discussed. A validation experiment was performed using a standard resolution phantom imaged at 0.35 T, 1.5 T, 3 T, and 7 T. This framework was then applied to two sample proton-density weighted MRI applications that demonstrated estimation of minimum field strength requirements: real-time upper airway imaging and liver proton-density fat fraction measurement. Results The phantom experiment showed good agreement between simulated and measured images. The SNR difference between simulated and measured was ≤ 8% for the 1.5T, 3T, and 7T cases which utilized scanners with the same geometry and from the same vendor. The measured SNR at 0.35T was 1.8- to 2.5-fold less than predicted likely due to unaccounted differences in the RF receive chain. The predicted minimum field strength requirements for the two sample applications were 0.2 T and 0.3 T, respectively. Conclusions Under certain assumptions, low-field MRI acquisitions can be simulated from high-field MRI data. This enables prediction of the minimum field strength requirements for a broad range of MRI techniques.
Comparative Study on Growth Performance of Luxi Cattle Fed with Ammoniated and Microbial Straw

A growth and fattening trial for Luxi cattle fed with treated wheat straw and corn stalk were conducted to evaluate the growth performance. 30 cattle were randomly divided into 6 groups with 5 animals each, the average daily gains (ADG) of animals fed ammoniated corn stalk and wheat straw 0.931 kg and 1.012 kg; the ADG of animals fed with microbial wheat straw and corn stalk were 0.985 kg and 1.064 kg; the ADG of two control group fed wheat straw and corn stalk were 0.684 kg and 0.708 kg. The ADG of animals fed with treated wheat straw or corn stalk was signifi- cantly greater (P0.01) than that of animals in control group, while the ADG of ammoniated and microbial straw or stalk were similar (P0.05). The economic analysis for the 60 d trial indicated the daily profit of groups fed ammoniat- ed, microbial and untreated wheat straw was 2.103 Yuan, 2.665 Yuan and 0.806 Yuan; the daily profit of groups fed ammoniated, microbial and untreated wheat straw was 2.279 Yuan, 2.960 Yuan and 0.819 Yuan. In conclusion, the profit of feeding Luxi Cattle with the microbial corn stalk was better than that with ammoniated and microbial wheat straw, and was much better than that with the untreated straw, the ammonia or microbial treatment of wheat straw and corn stalk was worth great extension in rural area.
PHARMACOKINETICS/PHARMACODYNAMICS OF DIFFERENT DOSES OF NORETHISTERONE OENANTHATE ALONE OR IN COMBINATION WITH OESTRADIOL VALERATE

32 healthy women with regular menstrual cycles wereenrolled and randomly allocated to one of four treatment groups.Group 1(n=8) received norethisterone oenanthate (NET-OEN) 50mg andoestradiol valerate (EV)5mg; Group 2 (n=8)recived NET-OEN 25mg andEV 2. 5mg: Group 3 (n=8) received NET-OEN 50rng alone and group 4(n=8) received 25mg of NET-OEN alone. Subjects were followed forone control cycle, three treatment months and for two months post treat-ment. During the third treatment cycle and to following up cycleblood samples were taken from each volunteer three times a week forthe measurement of serum norethisterone (NET), progesterone and oes-tradiol levels. The time after injection to reach peak levels of NETwere 4. 8, 4. 4, 6. 7 and 3. 4 (Geometric mean) for group 1, 2, 3 and 4.The mean peak plasma values of NET 15. 9, 7. 88, 12. 58 and 8. 01 nmol/lfor group 1, 2, 3 and 4. There were significant individual differences.The mean t1/2 of apparent elimination of NET were 18. 2, 15. 3, 18. 8 and13. 9 days, respectively. At the 30th day after injection, the meancirculating plasma NET levels were still 2. 75. 1. 35, 2.48 and 1. 39 nmol/l. The pharmacokinetic profile of NET is not significantly altered bycombination with EV. The mean exogenous estradiol peak values were 1520 and 954 pmol/lin group 1 and 2, respectively. The result suggested that the dosage ofEV can not be reduced further. In group 1, 2, 3 and 4, the endogonouspeak of estradiol occurred 52, 41, 49 and 15 days after third injectionThe first progesterone peak recorded on 76, 53, 64 and 48 days posttreatment in group 1, 2, 3 and 4. The ovulation rate returned during thetwo months following the third injection interval. were 4/8, 6/8, 4/8 and6/8 in group 1, 2, 3 and 4, suggesting that the suppression of ovulation andluteal function was prolonged after combinating EV. The analysis of bleeding patterns showed better cycle control in wo-men who had received the combined preparations compared with thosereceiving NET alone. There were no Significant changes in HDL choles-terol after the treatment, except in group 1 during the first follow-upmonth. However,the values returned to normal one month afer stoppingof treatment.
Outside the Battlefield: In-Group Political Dynamics of Civil War Negotiations and Settlements

What influences warring parties’ ability to reach a negotiated settlement to end civil war? In this chapter, I answer this question by examining the environment government and rebel group leadership internally encounter while seeking to unite on a consensual decision to negotiate. I disaggregate in-group dynamics of governments and rebels into their respective political elements that either grant autonomy or create constraints for resolution, namely, their constituencies and elites. Introducing original negotiations data for internal conflict-dyad-years between 1980 and 2005, this paper reveals that successful settlements cannot be thought autonomously from the wider pool of all (successful and failed) negotiations that were initiated. Moreover, autonomy from constituent and elite obstruction seem to be two important factors for conflicts to be settled successfully.
Hospital and community characteristics in closures of urban hospitals, 1980-87

Characteristics of 190 urban community hospitals that were closed during the period 1980-87 and characteristics of the communities that they served were analyzed and compared to a control group of 380 urban hospitals that remained open. A negative association was found between hospital closure and four hospital characteristics: the presence of a cancer program approved by the American College of Surgeons, the combined characteristics of for-profit status and membership in a multi-institutional chain, the number of admissions, and the number of facilities and services offered. A positive association was found between hospital closure and the percentage of black residents in the community. These findings are discussed in the context of political and economic trends in health care and urban development. Implications for future research are noted, including managerial strategy for hospital administrators and the socioeconomic implications of hospital survival in declining urban communities.
Benign Villous Polyp with Prostatic Type Epithelium of the Penile Urethra

AbstractWe report a case of a benign polyp of the penile urethra composed of prostatic type epithelial tissue. The etiology, pathology, diagnosis and treatment of these uncommon lesions are discussed.
De Valera Performs the Oath: Word, Voice, Book, and Act

On 11 August 1927, over 40 Fianna Fail politicians entered Leinster House in small groups. Eamon de Valera was the last to enter the office of the Clerk of the House, accompanied by Frank Aiken and Dr James Ryan. The Fianna Fail leader then spoke to the Clerk in Irish, reading from a prepared note. Translating his own words, de Valera recounted his statement for Dail Eireann in 1932: ‘I said: “I am not prepared to take an oath. I am not going to take an oath. I am prepared to put my name down in this book in order to get permission to go into the Dail, but it has no other significance.”’1 The book into which de Valera put his name contained the signatures to the Oath of Allegiance which was a prerequisite to taking a seat in Dail Eireann. This signature book was, de Valera discovered, covered by another book, prompting further maneuvering, as observed by Aiken and Ryan: Mr. de Valera picked up the Bible which was lying on the book containing the oath, carried it to the other end of the room, and placed it on the couch there. He then went back, signed his name on the line pointed out by the Clerk, at the same time covering the writing above the line with some papers he held in his hand.2
Aggressive Surgical Approach to the Management of Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Report of 1,000 Surgical Cytoreductions by a Single Institution.

Background Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are rare neoplasms. Our group has treated more than 2,000 NET patients and has performed more than 1,000 surgical cytoreductive procedures. Study Design Records of 834 NET patients who underwent surgical cytoreduction at our institution were reviewed. Demographic information, intraoperative findings, extent of disease, complications, and survival rates were calculated. Results Eight hundred patients underwent 1,001 cytoreductive operations. Sixty-five percent had small bowel primaries. One hundred and thirty-eight patients presented with an unknown primary site, which was localized intraoperatively in 89% of these cases. The intraoperative complication rate was 9%. The incidence of intraoperative carcinoid crisis was 1%. Mean ± SD operative time was 368 ± 146 minutes. Mean ± SD hospital stay was 9 ± 10 days. Minor postoperative complications occurred after 43% of procedures and major postoperative complications were noted after 19% of procedures. The 30-day postoperative mortality rate was 2%. Median overall survival (OS) for patients with pancreatic NETs was 124 months. The 5-, 10-, and 20-year OS rates for patients with pancreatic NETs were 67%, 51%, and 36%, respectively. The life expectancy difference (between OS and actuarial survival) after surgical cytoreduction for patients with pancreatic NETs was 16.6 years. Median OS for patients with small bowel NETs was 161 months. The 5-, 10-, and 20-year OS rates for patients with small bowel NETs were 84%, 67% and 31%, respectively. The life expectancy difference after surgical cytoreduction for patients with small bowel NETs was 11.7 years. Conclusions Surgical cytoreduction in NET patients has low morbidity and mortality rates and results in prolonged survival. We believe that surgical cytoreduction should play a major role in the care of patients with NETs.
Encapsulated Catalysts for Synthesis of Bulk and Fine Chemicals

Abstract The homogenous metal complexes that are commercially used for many chemical transformations have the major disadvantages of catalyst separation and reusability after completion of a reaction. To overcome these limitations, heterogenization of homogeneous metal complexes using porous inorganic support by various methods such as impregnation, anchoring, and encapsulation is an attractive route. The present review article discusses the research and developments in the area of encapsulated catalysts used for hydroformylation, hydrogenation, oxidation, and isomerization reactions for the production of bulk and fine chemicals.
The Effect of Viscosity and Ion Size on the Transduction of Ionic Polymer Metal Composite Actuators

Ionic polymer membranes plated with platinum and gold serve as actuators when a small potential is applied. However, the water used to hydrate the membrane evapo­ rates during use, decreasing actuator performance. Ionic liquids are being consid­ ered as a replacement for water because of their low vapor pressure. Prior studies show that the large ion size and high viscosity of ionic liquids slow the response time of the polymer membrane when a voltage is applied. This study examines the relationships of ion size and viscosity to transduction by modeling ionic liquids with inexpensive salts of varying ion size and glycerol/water solutions. Based on these results several ionic liquids were selected and tested for use as membrane sol­ vents. This study includes frequency response, step response, and impedance tests of samples impregnated with Li + , K + , Cs + , TMA + , TEA + , and TBA + . Actuators solvated in solutions with a viscosity similar to 70–80 wt. % glycerol solutions (18–46 cP) and cation size similar to that of TMA + (0.347 nm) appear to yield the best results. When used as the membrane solvent, the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium tri fl uoromethanesulfonate (IL #3) resulted in the greatest strain per charge per area of the three ionic liquids tested in this study.
Scholarship of Student Affairs Professionals: Writing Strategies and Identity Explored Through Coaching

This study explored effective writing strategies and scholarly identity formation during a structured program intended to help mid-level student affairs professionals produce manuscripts for publication. The most important strategy participants identified was to create a habit of practice to foster writing. After working with the researchers, three of the five participants self-identified as scholars. This study has implications for the student affairs profession, its national organizations, and for graduate programs in higher education.
Remembering Rocco Dal Vera

If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants – Isaac Newton. (as quoted in Turnbull 1959, 416)Rocco Dal Vera died peacefully on Friday, September 29 2017, surr...
Differential Equation Models. Edited by Martin Braun, Courtney S. Coleman, and Donald A. Drew

(1984). Differential Equation Models. Edited by Martin Braun, Courtney S. Coleman, and Donald A. Drew. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 91, No. 8, pp. 527-528.