cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Partners-in-Health: A New Front Line for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion in the Community

Abstract The Partners-in-Health network includes 40 independent businesses, social service agencies, and private physicians from an inner-city neighborhood in Houston, Texas, with a high prevalence of syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases. Since 1998 the partners have learned about syphilis control and prevention in their neighborhood; distributed a variety of health education materials, including more than 200,000 male condoms, 5,000 flyers, and 5,000 grocery bags; and displayed other health education materials printed with syphilis prevention messages in their stores, offices, or places of work. The partners represent a new front line for health promotion, extending education and prevention resources into the daily lives of community residents.
The Right to Try and the Future of the FDA in the Age of Personalized Medicine

Do citizens have the right to determine their own courses of treatment and to use medicines and devices that they think could improve their health? And, to the extent regulators seek to restrict that freedom, what is the practicality and cost of doing so? These questions animate the debate over the so-called “right to try,” a growing movement to allow terminally ill individuals to experiment with alternative medical treatments, therapies, and devices that are tightly controlled by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This essay argues that such an expansion of the right-to-try notion may be happening already as technological innovation decentralizes and democratizes medical decisions. This expansion does not mean that all FDA regulation will fade away, but it will necessitate a move away from the agency’s command-and-control methods of the past and toward a new focus on patient empowerment through enhanced choice, improved risk education, and clearer consent mechanisms.
Calcitroic Acid-A Review.

Calcitroic acid was isolated and characterized almost four decades ago, but little is known about this important vitamin D metabolite. Four reported synthetic strategies to generate calcitroic acid are presented that highlight the scientific progress in the field of chemistry directed to vitamin D analog synthesis. The most recent synthesis described the generation of calcitroic acid with an overall yield of 12.8% in 13 steps. The endogenous formation of calcitroic acid has been demonstrated in perfused rat kidney using 24,25,26,27-tetranor-1,23(OH)2D3. Although, the majority of vitamin D metabolism is mediated by 24-hydoxylase (CYP24A1), it is not clear why the formation of calcitroic acid was not observed in the presence of recombinant CYP24A1 enzyme. Furthermore, it is not known if enzyme 1α-hydroxylase (CYP27B1) can convert calcioic acid into calcitroic acid. In addition to the lack of research investigating the endogenous formation of calcitroic acid, the physiological role of calcitroic acid remains...
Biofuel metabolic engineering with biosensors

Metabolic engineering offers the potential to renewably produce important classes of chemicals, particularly biofuels, at an industrial scale. DNA synthesis and editing techniques can generate large pathway libraries, yet identifying the best variants is slow and cumbersome. Traditionally, analytical methods like chromatography and mass spectrometry have been used to evaluate pathway variants, but such techniques cannot be performed with high throughput. Biosensors - genetically encoded components that actuate a cellular output in response to a change in metabolite concentration - are therefore a promising tool for rapid and high-throughput evaluation of candidate pathway variants. Applying biosensors can also dynamically tune pathways in response to metabolic changes, improving balance and productivity. Here, we describe the major classes of biosensors and briefly highlight recent progress in applying them to biofuel-related metabolic pathway engineering.
Are Current U.S. Anti-Bullying Programs Net Beneficial to Parents? Inferences from School Switching 1

This paper applies a discrete choice version of the household production framework to assess parents’ ex ante willingness to pay to reduce their child’s victimization from bullying at school. Willingness to pay is estimated using a bivariate probit model and a unique panel of 595 families from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development for 2000 to 2003. Empirical results find a statistically significant positive association between an elementary school child’s bully victimization and parents’ choice to change their child’s school in the subsequent sample period. Parents’ annual willingness to pay for reduced child bully victimization averages $633 for parents whose child was bullied. Given current literature estimates of U.S. bullying prevalence and the cost and effectiveness of currently available anti-bullying programs, parental willingness to pay estimates suggest that U.S. households’ net annual return on investments in elementary school bullying prevention programs could be substantial.
Reference Sources for Small and Medium-Sized Libraries

Over forty years have passed since the original edition of the Reference Sources for Small and Medium-Sized Libraries was published. This new and updated 8th edition is the latest (the 7th edition ...
A Tobacco Research Program Involving Other Disciplines and Industry Groups

A LTHOUGH agricultural economists and other scientists have been involved in interdisciplinary research for a long time, the need for joint research efforts in agricultural experiment stations has recently received increased emphasis. To demonstrate just how widespread the idea has become, reference can be made to a recent publication of the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station entitled, A Ten-Year Projection for Agricultural Research in North Carolina.' Thirteen committees were appointed to think in terms of a 10-year projection for agricultural research. Every committee report mentions the need for increased interdisciplinary research or for greater cooperation with industry groups. Obviously, not all research should involve directly more than one discipline. On the other hand, a large proportion of farm management research must involve disciplines other than economics if it is to be fruitful.
Gambling Consumers in Thailand

This paper presents a study of household gambling consumption in Thailand in 2011. We investigate the nonlinear relationships between this behavior and household alcohol expenditure, household gambling expenditure, and demographic factors. We use Treenet to analyze datasets drawn from a socio-economic survey of 42,083 Thai households conducted in 2011. The results show that the five most significant variables in order of importance for predicting the likelihood of household gambling consumption are household income, household region, work status of the household head, religion of the household head, and age of the household head. In summary, the Treenet results suggest that the likelihood of gambling consumption was higher for households with an income of more than 25,000 Bahts per year, a location in the North, a Buddhist head of household, a head with active work status, a head between 35 and 55 years old, with household expenditure spent on alcohol consumed at home of more than 500 Bahts, with household expenditure spent on tobacco of more than 100 Bahts, and a head of household with less education.
Contending Economic Theories: Neoclassical, Keynesian, and Marxian

Books are never in their own times. Disciplines change, and each book—even traditional textbooks—will track the discipline one way or another. If this is only philosophically true in cases of disci...
Redefining the Ki-67 Index Stratification for Low-Grade Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: Improving Its Prognostic Value for Recurrence of Disease.

The Ki-67 index is an established prognostic marker for recurrence after resection of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) that groups tumors into three categories: low grade ( 20%). Given that the majority of resected PanNETs have a Ki-67 less than 3%, this study aimed to stratify this group further to predict disease recurrence more accurately. The Ki-67 index was pathologically re-reviewed and scored by a pathologist blinded to all other clinicopathologic variables using tissue microarray blocks made in triplicate. All patients who underwent curative-intent resection of non-metastatic PanNETs at a single institution from 2000 to 2013 were included in the study. The primary outcome was recurrence-free survival (RFS). Of 113 patients with well-differentiated PanNETs resected, 83 had tissue available for pathologic re-review. The Ki-67 index was lower than 3% for 72 tumors (87%) and between 3 and 20% for 11 tumors (13%). Considering only Ki-67 less than 3%, the tumors were further stratified by Ki-67 into three groups: group A (< 1%, n = 43), group B (1–1.99%, n = 23), and group C (2–2.99%, n = 6). Compared with group A, groups B and C more frequently had advanced T stage (T3: 44% and 67% vs 12%; p = 0.003) and lymphovascular invasion (50% and 83% vs 23%; p = 0.007). Groups B and C had similar 1- and 3-year RFS, both less than group A. After combining groups B and C, a Ki-67 of 1–2.99% was associated with decreased RFS compared with group A (< 1%). This persisted in the multivariable analysis (hazard ratio [HR] 8.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0–70.7; p = 0.045), with control used for tumor size, margin-positivity, lymph node involvement, and advanced T stage. PanNETs with a Ki-67 of 1–2.99% exhibit distinct biologic behavior and earlier disease recurrence than those with a Ki-67 lower than 1%. This new stratification scheme, if externally validated, should be incorporated into future grading systems to guide both surveillance protocols and treatment strategies.
Weight Gain and Health Affliction Among Former National Football League Players.

Abstract Background Professional American-style football players are among the largest athletes across contemporary sporting disciplines. Weight gain during football participation is common, but the health implications of this early-life weight gain remain incompletely understood. We sought to define weight trajectories of former professional American-style football athletes and to establish their relationship with 5 common health afflictions (cardiovascular disease, cardiometabolic disease, neurocognitive impairment, sleep apnea, and chronic pain). Methods A health survey was distributed to former National Football League (NFL) players. Former players reported body weight at 4 time points (high school, college, professional, and time of survey response) as well as maximal retirement weight. Logistic regression was used to assess associations between weight gain during football participation and health affliction. Results In this cohort of former NFL players (n = 3,506, age 53 ± 14 years), mean weight increase from high school to time of survey response was 40 ± 36 pounds, with the majority of weight gain occurring during periods of football participation (high-school-to-college and college-to-professional). The prevalence of health afflictions ranged from 9% (cardiovascular disease) to 28% (chronic pain). Weight gain during football participation was independently associated with risk of multiple later-life health afflictions in models adjusted for football exposure, lifestyle variables, and post-career weight gain. Conclusions Early-life weight gain among American-style football athletes is common and is associated with risk of adverse health profiles during later-life. These findings establish football-associated weight gain as a key predictor of post-career health and raise important questions about the central role of targeted weight gain in this population.
Buscando as respostas da vida com Clarice

This article presents the search for life answers found in texts written by the author Clarice Lispector. There is thus a triad between his biography (personal life), his literary works (works) and the fantastic. The objective is to show the duality experienced by Clarice, the same one that in interviews to magazines and newspapers was silent, is the same woman who in texts transfigures and transforms the words, giving a duality of its person and its personages. Thus, the research was developed for the discipline of “Brazilian Literature IV”, curricular component of the course of Letters of the XXX (XXX). The study was developed through bibliographical research. Life is an unknown, where words sometimes become our refuge. The search for knowledge of this iceberg becomes incessant, for Lispector, in his private life, becomes a splendid mystery. The “Brazilian Sphinx” - Lispector - is the most beautiful and indecipherable author of our “Generation of 45”.
Structural Basis of Tryptophan Reverse N-Prenylation Catalyzed by CymD

Indole prenyltransferases catalyze the prenylation of l-tryptophan (l-Trp) and other indoles to produce a diverse set of natural products in bacteria, fungi, and plants, many of which possess useful biological properties. Among this family of enzymes, CymD from Salinispora arenicola catalyzes the reverse N1 prenylation of l-Trp, an unusual reaction given the poor nucleophilicity of the indole nitrogen. CymD utilizes dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP) as the prenyl donor, catalyzing the dissociation of the diphosphate leaving group followed by nucleophilic attack of the indole nitrogen at the tertiary carbon of the dimethylallyl cation. To better understand the structural basis of selective indole N-alkylation reactions in biology, we have determined the X-ray crystal structures of CymD, the CymD-l-Trp complex, and the CymD-l-Trp-DMSPP complex (DMSPP is dimethylallyl S-thiolodiphosphate, an unreactive analogue of DMAPP). The orientation of l-Trp with respect to DMSPP reveals how the active site contour of CymD serves as a template to direct the reverse prenylation of the indole nitrogen. Comparison to PriB, a C6 bacterial indole prenyltransferase, offers further insight regarding the structural basis of regioselective indole prenylation. Isothermal titration calorimetry measurements indicate a synergistic relationship between l-Trp and DMSPP binding. Finally, activity assays demonstrate the selectivity of CymD for l-Trp and indole as prenyl acceptors. Collectively, these data establish a foundation for understanding and engineering the regioselectivity of indole prenylation by members of the prenyltransferase protein family.
Conditions for jet breakout in neutron stars' mergers

We consider conditions for jet break-out through ejecta following mergers of neutron stars and provide simple relations for the break out conditions. We demonstrate that: (i) break-out requires that the isotropic-equivalent jet energy $E_j$ exceeds the ejecta energy $E_{ej}$ by $E_j \geq E_{ej}/ \beta_0$, where $ \beta_0 = V_{ej}/c$, $V_{ej}$ is the maximum velocity of the ejecta. If the central engine terminates before the break out, the shock approaches the edge of the ejecta slowly $\propto 1/t$; late break out occurs only if at the termination moment the head of the jet was relatively close to the edge. (ii) If there is a substantial delay between the ejecta's and the jet's launching, the requirement on the jet power increases. (iii) The forward shock driven by the jet is mildly strong, with Mach number $M\approx 5/4$ (increasing with time delay $t_d$); (iii) the delay time $t_d$ between the ejecta and the jet's launching is important for $t_d > t_0= ({3 }/{16} ) {c M_{ej} V_{ej}}/{L_j} = 1.01 {\rm sec} M_{ej, -2} L_{j, 51} ^{-1} \left ( {\beta_{ej}} /{0.3} \right)$, where $M_{ej}$ is ejecta mass, $L_j$ is the jet luminosity (isotropic equivalent). For small delays, $t_0 $ is also an estimate of the break-out time.
Queering Language, Gender and Sexuality edited by Tommaso M. Milani (2018)

Queering Language, Gender and Sexuality edited by Tommaso M. Milani (2018) Sheffield: Equinox, 328pp.
Shear Strength of Composite Circular Reinforced Concrete–Filled Steel Tubes

AbstractThe shear strength of composite circular concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) and reinforced concrete–filled steel tube (RCFST) structural members was investigated using finite-element analysi...
Brokered Startup Financing

I study broker intermediation in entrepreneurial financing. Brokers intermediate 15% of startup offerings, but 20% of these brokers are unregistered "finders." Issuers using finders are 30% and 20% less likely to have successful post-funding outcomes than issuers in registered-broker and direct offerings. These outcome gaps are larger when state-level regulatory oversight, which only applies to registered brokers, is stronger and when finders are expelled brokers. These findings are consistent with adverse selection in finder-intermediated offerings. I also show that finder-intermediated offerings more often place with retail (non-accredited) investors and rarely involve VC participation, also amplifying the gap in post-funding performance.
Patterns of disease progression to checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy in patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer.

e21674Background: The purpose of this study was to assess patterns of disease progression for patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) on checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy in or...
Comparing Performance of Malware Classification on Automated Stacking

Stacking in machine learning allows multiple classification or regression algorithms to work together with a goal to enhance performance. To understand the risky properties of malware contamination in a system, it is important to accurately classify malware type first. Malware classification is the procedure of labeling the families of malware. In this paper, we automate stacking with 7 machine learning algorithms and 3 boosting algorithms. The experimental results show a 99.2% accuracy is achieved from a multilayer perceptron network with AdaBoost classifier, which outperforms other models on the malware API call dataset.
Identification and characterization of highly active promoters from the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda.

Abstract The cell lines derived from the fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, have been widely used for production of recombinant proteins for applications in both basic research and applications in medicine and agriculture. Promoters from the nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) are commonly used in these expression systems. These promoters have some limitations, which may be overcome by using promoters of genes from S. frugiperda. However, information on these promoters is not available. We identified several highly expressed genes from the transcriptomes of S. frugiperda midgut, fat body, epidermis, ovarian cell line (Sf9), and a midgut cell line (Sf17). The activity of potential promoters of 21 highly expressed genes was evaluated in Sf9 and Sf17 cells. Two of these promoters, SfHSC70-P1780 and SfPub-P2009, showed higher activity than commonly used hr5/ie1 (baculovirus enhancer element, hr5 and immediate early gene 1, ie1) promoter. Interestingly, the activity of these two promoters increased after adding hr5 enhancer element. The hr5/SfPub-P2009 promoter performance was evaluated by expressing an exogenous P450 protein in Sf9 cells using a plasmid-based expression system. The activity of this promoter was also evaluated in the FAW by expressing green fluorescence protein using the baculovirus expression system. In both cases, the hr5/SfPub-P2009 promoter performed better than the commonly used hr5/ie1 promoter. These strong endogenous promoters will be useful for studies in S. frugiperda and other lepidopteran insects for multiple applications, including protein expression, genome editing, and transgenic insects.
Pneumatosis Intestinalis in COVID-19: Case Series.

Objective To describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who developed pneumatosis intestinalis (PI). Methods This case series was conducted in intensive care units at two large tertiary care centers within the Northwell Health System, located in New York State. Patients were included if they were identified as having confirmed COVID-19 as well as pneumatosis intestinalis from March 16, 2020 to July 31, 2020. Patient demographics, clinical characteristics, vasopressor use, anticoagulation use, opiate use, paralytic use, COVID-19 treatment regimen, serum lactate, arterial pH, serum bicarbonate, subsequent intervention, and outcomes during hospitalization were collected. Results: A total of nine patients were identified. Average serum lactate was 4.33 mmol/L at time of diagnosis. Portal venous gas (56%) and bowel dilation (56%) were common radiographic findings. Subsequent morbidity (increased vasopressor requirements - 67%, acute kidney injury - 67%, increased oxygen requirements - 44%) and mortality (78%) were high. PI occurred despite a majority of patients being on anticoagulation (78%). Interleukin-6 (IL-6) inhibitors were commonly administered (56%) prior to development of PI. Conclusion Pneumatosis intestinalis in COVID-19 is clinically significant, with high morbidity and mortality, and is also likely underdiagnosed.
Remote set of oyster (Crassostrea virginica) in various aquaculture gear

Abstract Remote-setting of oyster, Crassostrea virginica, larvae from the disease-resistant Haskin NEH line is performed every other year in Delaware to supply small-scale oyster enhancement efforts, citizen oyster gardening program. Over the past four remote sets (2009, 2011, 2013, 2015), three types of shell containment gear were utilized to monitor and compare the setting efficiency rate and post-set survival. Shell containment gears included diamond, plastic mesh bags (2009, 2011), wire baskets (2011, 2015), and plastic aquaculture trays (2013, 2015). Average setting efficiency was estimated at 28%, 23%, 17%, and 29% in the respective 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2015 remote sets while gear specific settling efficiency (%) include 28% for mesh bags in 2009, 22% for mesh bags and 33% for wire baskets in 2011, 17% for aquaculture trays in 2013, and 30% for aquaculture trays and 22% for wire baskets in 2015. Settling efficiency was lowest in 2013 using aquaculture trays compared to other years while aquaculture trays in 2015 and wire baskets in 2011 resulted equally higher settling efficiency. For small-scale growers, the stacked aquaculture trays are advantageous for several reasons: reducing handling time, uniform shell distribution within tanks, environmentally friendly alternative, and ease of cleaning detritus between shell layers.
Evaluation of Racial Microaggressions Experienced During Medical School Training and the Effect on Medical Student Education and Burnout: A Validation Study.

Abstract Introduction Microaggressions in the learning environment have been documented at various levels of medical training. However, there is lack of data detailing the prevalence and effects of racial microaggressions in medical school. This limits interventions that might improve the learning environment for underrepresented minority medical students (URMMS). This study describes the creation and validation of a survey instrument characterizing the experience of microaggressions in medical school and their impact on medical student education and burnout. Methods An anonymous survey instrument was adapted for medical students from the validated Racial and Ethnic Microaggressions Scale (REMS) and distributed to the national listservs of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA), Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA), and the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association. Responses were categorized into two cohorts: under-represented minority (URM) and non-URM based on self-reported race or ethnicity. Results A total of 217 responses were collected from medical students across the United States, with 148 (68.2%) students identifying as URM. URM respondents were significantly (p Conclusions Our results suggest that microaggressions experienced by URMMS can be evaluated using an adapted REMS. Additionally, the experience of microaggressions negatively impact the learning environment, and students feel the availability of sufficient resources to address microaggressions and their effects are lacking. Further research is needed to evaluate microaggressions and their impact on a larger scale. This should be followed by interventions to minimize the frequency and impact of these microaggressions.
Integration of Material and Process Design for Kinetic Adsorption Separation

Kinetic adsorption separation exploits differences in diffusion behavior of different adsorbates in materials and enables selection of the faster over the slower components despite possibly unfavor...
The Wildland Fire Heat Budget—Using Bi-Directional Probes to Measure Sensible Heat Flux and Energy in Surface Fires

Sensible energy is the primary mode of heat dissipation from combustion in wildland surface fires. However, despite its importance to fire dynamics, smoke transport, and in determining ecological effects, it is not routinely measured. McCaffrey and Heskestad (A robust bidirectional low-velocity probe for flame and fire application. Combustion and Flame 26:125–127, 1976) describe measurements of flame velocity from a bi-directional probe which, when combined with gas temperature measurements, can be used to estimate sensible heat fluxes. In this first field application of bi-directional probes, we describe vertical and horizontal sensible heat fluxes during the RxCADRE experimental surface fires in longleaf pine savanna and open ranges at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Flame-front sensible energy is the time-integral of heat flux over a residence time, here defined by the rise in gas temperatures above ambient. Horizontal flow velocities and energies were larger than vertical velocities and energies. Sensible heat flux and energy measurements were coordinated with overhead radiometer measurements from which we estimated fire energy (total energy generated by combustion) under the assumption that 17% of fire energy is radiated. In approximation, horizontal, vertical, and resultant sensible energies averaged 75%, 54%, and 64%, respectively, of fire energy. While promising, measurement challenges remain, including obtaining accurate gas and velocity measurements and capturing three-dimensional flow in the field.
The Challenge of Small Data: Dynamic Mode Decomposition, Redux.

We revisit the setting and the assumptions that underlie the methodology of Dynamic Mode Decomposition (DMD) in order to highlight caveats as well as potential measures of when the applicability is warranted.
Enumeration and the silences of constitutional federalism

Constitutional power enumeration was an innovation of the American Founding, an unpre cedented way to express the capacities of a national government. That enumeration was silent on a subject integral to its efficacy, namely, the principles for deciding whether national governing actions fell inside or outside the enumerated subjects of national power. The multisubject character of governing actions has hampered judicial attempts to fill this constitutional silence with effective and enduring principles for implementing power enumeration. How best to craft a law of constitutional characterization is a persisting conundrum of constitutional federalism.
Study of Optimal Power Control by Cooperative Game for Satellite Communication Subsystems

The multiple user terminals in a satellite transponder's communication channel would be competing for limited radio resources to meet their selfish data rates. The interference among users also limits the performance of a transponder. The spectrum and power control system of a transponder needs to coordinate all users to reduce interference and maximize the overall performance of its channel. This paper investigates optimal control strategies for a transponder to allocate power among competing user terminals. Because of centralization of this type of channel, a discrete cooperative game model is set up to study how to coordinate its competitive users. The game model is then decomposed to a nonlinear optimization problem, so its KKT condition is analyzed and solved analytically and numerically to get optimal solutions under symmetric conditions. At last, an optimal power control scheme in terms of the channel gain and the power noise ratio is provided.
Chaperoning histones at the DNA repair dance.

Abstract Unlike all other biological molecules that are degraded and replaced if damaged, DNA must be repaired as chromosomes cannot be replaced. Indeed, DNA endures a wide variety of structural damage that need to be repaired accurately to maintain genomic stability and proper functioning of cells and to prevent mutation leading to disease. Given that the genome is packaged into chromatin within eukaryotic cells, it has become increasingly evident that the chromatin context of DNA both facilitates and regulates DNA repair processes. In this review, we discuss mechanisms involved in removal of histones (chromatin disassembly) from around DNA lesions, by histone chaperones and chromatin remodelers, that promotes accessibility of the DNA repair machinery. We also elaborate on how the deposition of core histones and specific histone variants onto DNA (chromatin assembly) during DNA repair promotes repair processes, the role of histone post translational modifications in these processes and how chromatin structure is reestablished after DNA repair is complete.
The Value of High-Resolution Manometry in Measurement of EGJ Competency and Manometric Outcomes of Antireflux Surgery:

The esophagogastric junction (EGJ) barrier plays an integral role in the prevention of gastroesophageal reflux; however, not much attention has been paid to competency parameters, especially in the...
Partnerschaftliche Wertschöpfung — der KVP2-Prozeß in der VW AG

Kundenzufriedenheit ist die Basis aller unserer Arbeiten. Erfolg am Markt wird zukunftig nur das Unternehmen haben, das in Qualitat, Service, Preis und Zeit auf die Anforderungen des Marktes reagiert. (siehe Chart 1).
Northerly Turning Error of the Magnetic Compass for Aircraft

Northerly turning error in the conventional magnetic compass is produced by accelerations during turns. The mechanism of these errors is completely described throughout the turn and a method is pointed out for minimizing the effects in practice. This procedure involves the use of bank angles less than a critical value which varies with magnetic latitude. A mathematical study is made of improvements possible in compass performance by changing the dynamic coefficients of the instrument. The results show that (1) the error may theoretically be eliminated by using a sufficiently long undamped period of the card about the normal axis and (2) increases in damping forces cannot eliminate turning errors.
Analyzing Government Gridlock: Constitutional Views

Inevitably, there is a division of power in America: the Congress or at least one House of one party, going one way, the President of the opposite party, going the other. Even if the Republicans capture both the White House and the Senate in this year’s election, experience suggests that one or both of the houses is likely to be recaptured by the Democrats in two or four years. And so the cycle of divided government goes on in America as prescribed by the Constitution -- a cycle of stalemate and inertia, a cycle that perplexes and annoys the American people but which is the very essence of American constitutional government.
The ground state vibrational structure of SCCl2:: observation of backbone IVR

Abstract Vibrationally excited SCCl 2 is a model system for energy redistribution among backbone vibrational modes. Over 200 transitions in the X←B dispersed fluorescence spectrum of thiophosgene have been observed to map the ground electronic surface up to 15000 cm −1 . An analytical six-dimensional potential surface derived from ab initio calculations has been fitted directly to about 100 of the transitions to provide an experimentally derived surface for intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution (IVR) quantum dynamics calculations. Higher resolution stimulated emission pumping spectra from different vibrational levels in the B state reveal a complex progression from unfragmented/slightly Fermi-resonant states, to highly fragmented states above v 1 =8.
Synthesis of novel benzils and benzoins as selective inhibitors of mammalian carboxylesterases designed to ameliorate the delayed diarrhea associated with CPT-11 treatment.

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 47, 2006 5530 The anticancer prodrug CPT-11 is activated by carboxylesterases (CE) to yield SN-38, a potent topoisomerase I poison. Delayed diarrhea, which is the dose limiting toxicity for this drug, is thought to arise from direct conversion of the drug to the active metabolite in the small intestine. Therefore, we have screened for, and identified, a series of selective CE inhibitors that may have utility in ameliorating diarrhea. Benzil has been identified as a potent inhibitor of these enzymes. The essential characteristics required for inhibitory activity by the benzil and its analogs include: (i) the dione moiety, (ii) the aromatic rings; and (iii) substitution on the rings which does not impede access of inhibitor to the enzyme active site. Halogen substitution has been shown to increase the Ki values for these small compounds toward three mammalian CEs, human intestinal CE (hiCE), rabbit CE (rCE), and human liver CE (hCE1). We have synthesized and assessed the ability of symmetrical benzils and their related benzoins with different degrees of fluorine substitution in the o-, m-, or p- position of the aromatic ring, to inhibit these enzymes. Following determination of the Ki values for CE enzyme inhibition with these fluorobenzil analogs, a variety of computational molecular modeling methods have been applied in an attempt to correlate these results with physical parameters of these compounds. These include the assessment of the atomic charge on both the oxygen and carbon atoms of the carbonyl group and the pka of the hydroxyl group of the benzoins. In addition, molecular modeling of the movement of the aromatic rings around the 1,2-dione dihedral angle of the benzil and the pseudo-dione dihedral angle of the benzoin indicated that the ability for these molecules to inhibit CEs was due, partially, to rotational restrictions enforced by this dihedral angle. Hence these studies may prove useful as a predictive tool to assess the potency of fluorinated benzils and benzoins as potent inhibitors of mammalian CEs. We envisage that these compounds could be used to inhibit hiCE in vivo, preventing the conversion of CPT-11 to SN-38 in the gut, therefore reducing the side effect, diarrhea, associated with drug treatment. This work was funded by the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities.
Comparative effects of NaCl and polyethylene glycol on root distribution, growth, and stomatal conductance of sour orange seedlings

An experiment was conducted to study sour orange (Citrus aurantium L.) seedling root density, distribution, and morphological development under NaCl and polyethylene glycol (PEG) stresses in relation to shoot growth and stomatal conductance. Plants were treated with 2 stress levels (− 0.12 and − 0.24 MPa) of NaCl and PEG 4000 for 7 months. Root observation chambers were used to monitor root growth and distribution under stressed and non-stressed conditions. Seedlings receiving NaCl or PEG treatments produced fewer roots and shallower root systems with 46 to 65% of the roots occurring in the top portion of the soil. Fibrous root weight per unit length was increased by 24 to 30% by PEG but was not significantly increased by NaCl.
Production and stability of ethylene in soil

One of the major factors affecting the production and stability of ethylene (C2H4) in soil is its water content. This study was conducted to determine the effect of unsaturated vs. saturated conditions on the production and stability of C2H4 in soil. L-Methionine and D-glucose were added alone and in combination at 1.0 and 5.0 g kg-1 soil, respectively. The addition of l-methionine significantly promoted C2H4 production at field capacity to a much greater extent than under waterlogged conditions. Glucose was equally effective under both moisture regimes, while the combined application of both amendments (l-methionine and d-glucose) led to the release of significantly higher amounts of C2H4 under saturated conditions. Antibiotic experiments revealed that under aerobic conditions, l-methionine may be more efficiently converted to C2H4 by soil fungi, while in glucose-amended soil, both bacteria and fungi are active in generating C2H4. C2H4 was more stable under saturated conditions. The magnitude of C2H4 removal from the headspace after 3 days of incubation under unsaturated conditions (25.7%) was comparable to that after 6 days under saturated conditions (24.1%). The loss of C2H4 was approximately 10-fold greater in non-sterilized soil than in sterilized (autoclaved) soil, both maintained at field capacity, indicating that a biotic component has a major influence on C2H4 stability. Kinetic analysis revealed that the C2H4 loss/degradation in nonautoclaved soil under aerobic conditions followed a firstorder reaction, with a rate constant (k) of 0.115 day-1 and a half-life (t1/2) of 6.0 days.
Language, Literacy, and Technology

Call Dimensions: Options and Issues in Computer-Assisted Language Learning. Mike Levy and Glenn Stockwell Laptops and Literacy: Learning in the Wireless Classroom. Mark Warschauer
Monochromatic X-Ray Beams for NDT

The interaction of an x-ray beam from a conventional generator with an object containing more than one type of material is a very complicated process. The shape of the bremsstrahlung spectrum from the generator depends on the target material and orientation, as well as on the inherent filtration and any additional filters through which the beam passes. Absorption of the beam in the part under study varies dramatically with energy and depends critically on the atomic number and density of the material. Thus, interaction of x-rays in an object can provide a great deal of information about the elemental composition of the part. However, this information is difficult to extract from data obtained using a bremsstrahlung spectrum.
Identification of the neuropeptide transmitter proctolin in Drosophila larvae: characterization of muscle fiber-specific neuromuscular endings

The cellular localization of the peptide neurotransmitter proctolin was determined for larvae of the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster. Proctolin was recovered from the CNS, hindgut, and segmental bodywall using reverse-phase HPLC, and characterized by bioassay, immunoassay, and enzymatic analysis. A small, stereotyped population of proctolin- immunoreactive neurons was found in the larval CNS. Several of the identified neurons may be efferents. In the periphery, proctolin- immunoreactive neuromuscular endings were identified on both visceral and skeletal muscle fibers. On the hindgut, the neuropeptide is associated with endings on intrinsic circular muscle fibers. We propose that the hindgut muscle fibers are innervated by central neurons homologous to previously described proctolinergic efferents of grasshoppers. The segmental bodywall innervation consists of a pattern of segment-specific junctions on several singly identifiable muscle fibers. While it is generally accepted that Drosophila muscle fibers are innervated by glutamatergic motoneurons, our data indicate that a specialized subset of muscle fibers are also innervated by peptidergic efferents.
Comparison of methods for genomic localization of gene trap sequences

Gene knockouts in a model organism such as mouse provide a valuable resource for the study of basic biology and human disease. Determining which gene has been inactivated by an untargeted gene trapping event poses a challenging annotation problem because gene trap sequence tags, which represent sequence near the vector insertion site of a trapped gene, are typically short and often contain unresolved residues. To understand better the localization of these sequences on the mouse genome, we compared stand-alone versions of the alignment programs BLAT, SSAHA, and MegaBLAST. A set of 3,369 sequence tags was aligned to build 34 of the mouse genome using default parameters for each algorithm. Known genome coordinates for the cognate set of full-length genes (1,659 sequences) were used to evaluate localization results. In general, all three programs performed well in terms of localizing sequences to a general region of the genome, with only relatively subtle errors identified for a small proportion of the sequence tags. However, large differences in performance were noted with regard to correctly identifying exon boundaries. BLAT correctly identified the vast majority of exon boundaries, while SSAHA and MegaBLAST missed the majority of exon boundaries. SSAHA consistently reported the fewest false positives and is the fastest algorithm. MegaBLAST was comparable to BLAT in speed, but was the most susceptible to localizing sequence tags incorrectly to pseudogenes. The differences in performance for sequence tags and full-length reference sequences were surprisingly small. Characteristic variations in localization results for each program were noted that affect the localization of sequence at exon boundaries, in particular.
Spontaneous transition from epitaxially constrained to equilibrium Ge nanocrystals on silicon-on-insulator (1 0 0)

Epitaxial constraints define the stress-driven self-assembly of faceted nanocrystals and in particular one of their key characteristics––their shape. Here we identify a technologically relevant system, Ge islands grown on ultrathin siliconon-insulator (SOI) substrate in which nanocrystals, whose shape is initially defined by epitaxial constraints, spontaneously overcome those constraints and transform to their equilibrium shape. Ge nanocrystals on ultrathin SOI form initially as huts and then transform into domes, similar to the sequence of epitaxially constrained shapes they assume on bulk Si(1 0 0). While the sequence on bulk Si ends here, we observe further dramatic morphological changes on ultrathin SOI: a spontaneous transformation to equilibrium-shaped Ge nanocrystals. 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Release, Partitioning, and Conjugation Stability of Doxorubicin in Polymer Micelles Determined by Mechanistic Modeling

Purpose To better understand the mechanistic parameters that govern drug release from polymer micelles with acid-labile linkers.
Effects of precursor matrix events on subsequent nucleation

A precursor transformation may actually increase the chemical driving force for subsequent nucleation of certain phases while decreasing the free energy of the system. Spinodal decomposition of Fe-C austenite has been proposed as a means of providing C-poor regions in which subsequent nucleation of ferrite or martensite is easier. However, the C-C interaction potential in austenite precludes such a reaction. Statistical fluctuations have also been proposed as a means of providing C-poor regions in austenite. However, the activity coefficient of C in austenite varies only slightly with C content, so that the scale of these fluctuations is far too small to provide attractive sites for martensite or ferrite nucleation. Statistical concentration fluctuations observed above the τ solvus in Al-Cu alloys bear a striking resemblance to Guinier Preston (GP) zone critical nuclei which will form only at temperatures that are hundreds of degrees lower. The role played by these fluctuations in subsequent critical nucleus formation is as yet unclear. A proposal that solute segregation to dislocations increases the driving force for nucleation is shown to be rendered invalid by the requirement that the chemical potentials in the system be uniform.
Lipoprotein and lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase changes in galactosamine-induced rat liver injury

Abnormal lipoproteins and drcreased lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase activity are found in rat plasma following intraperitoneal injection of D-galactosamine. The changes observed, including absence of alpha-lipoprotein and the presence of lipoproteins rich in phospholipid and unesterified cholesterol but deficient in cholesteryl esters, are remarkably similar to changes found in human pathologic states of lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency. When examined by electron microscopy, all of the major lipoprotein classes isolated by ultracentrifugation showed morphological abnormalities including the formation of rouleaus consisting of disk-shaped particles.
Comment on "Sticking of hydrogen on supported and suspended graphene at low temperature".

The sticking probability of cold atomic hydrogen on suspended graphene calculated by Lepetit and Jackson [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 107}, 236102 (2011)] does not include the effect of fluctuations from low-frequency vibrations of graphene. These fluctuations suppress the sticking probability for low incident energies ($\lesssim 15$ meV).
When the Pilot Is Over: Picking the Program and Making It Stick, Purchase on Demand at the University of South Florida

In 2008 the Interlibrary Loan department of the University of South Florida, Tampa, began a Purchase on Demand program, using interlibrary loan requests to supplement Collection Development practices. After three years the program was analyzed for effectiveness and compared to other programs currently in operation. To achieve a complete evaluation, interlibrary loan patrons were surveyed on their awareness and use of the Purchase on Demand program. This article combines the analysis of USF's program with recommendations gained through administration and evaluation of Purchase on Demand.
Comprehensive annotation of bidirectional promoters identifies co-regulation among breast and ovarian cancer genes.

A “bidirectional gene pair” comprises two adjacent genes whose transcription start sites are neighboring and directed away from each other. The intervening regulatory region is called a “bidirectional promoter.” These promoters are often associated with genes that function in DNA repair, with the potential to participate in the development of cancer. No connection between these gene pairs and cancer has been previously investigated. Using the database of spliced-expressed sequence tags (ESTs), we identified the most complete collection of human transcripts under the control of bidirectional promoters. A rigorous screen of the spliced EST data identified new bidirectional promoters, many of which functioned as alternative promoters or regulated novel transcripts. Additionally, we show a highly significant enrichment of bidirectional promoters in genes implicated in somatic cancer, including a substantial number of genes implicated in breast and ovarian cancers. The repeated use of this promoter structure in the human genome suggests it could regulate co-expression patterns among groups of genes. Using microarray expression data from 79 human tissues, we verify regulatory networks among genes controlled by bidirectional promoters. Subsets of these promoters contain similar combinations of transcription factor binding sites, including evolutionarily conserved ETS factor binding sites in ERBB2, FANCD2, and BRCA2. Interpreting the regulation of genes involved in co-expression networks, especially those involved in cancer, will be an important step toward defining molecular events that may contribute to disease.
Route choice and the value of commuting time: An economic model of dichotomous choice

Abstract This paper presents an economic model of generalized travel cost and provides an empirical study of the parameters of the cost function. The route-choice model that is estimated combines McFadden's theory of qualitative choice behavior with a function for the value of travel time in which total trip time and the income level are assumed to influence the marginal value of time. The empirical results indicate that, for a sample of commuters in the Chicago metropolitan area in 1972, the value of time is a positive function of total trip time, but is not a function of income.