cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vaccines against SARS-Cov-2: An Unprecedented Scientific Triumph and a Source of Hope in the Pandemic

This article rationalises the culmination of the design, testing, regulatory approval and delivery of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in the UK, USA and across the world. The author champions the worldwide collaboration of scientists, industry, governments, regulatory agencies and several thousands of people who have courageously put themselves forward to make this immense feat possible. So that we, the rest of the people may reap the survival benefits. The author presents a balanced view and acknowledges the uncompromising science that has fuelled this marvel- encouraging people who fear the unknown and vaccine sceptics to come forward.
Effects of β-HPV on DNA damage response pathways to drive carcinogenesis: a review.

The DDR is a complex signaling network responsible for the preservation of genomic integrity. Beta human papillomaviruses (β-HPVs) are able to destabilize the host genome by attenuating the DDR machinery at the molecular scale following expression of the oncogenes E6 and E7. In the event of β-HPV infection, the E6- and E7-mediated inhibition of the DDR enhances the oncogenicity of UV-induced mutations to enable carcinogenesis in an otherwise immunocompetent host, marking an important mechanistic divergence from the alpha genus of HPVs. In this review, we summarize recent updates to build upon the ‘hit-and-run’ hypothesis of β-HPV pathomechanism and highlight strain-dependent variations. Simultaneously, we illuminate points within the β-HPV–DDR interface that may unravel new insights for HPV viral genetics, genus-specific mechanistic models, and developments in targeted molecular therapy of β-HPV-related cancers.
How can we strengthen the Joint External Evaluation

### Summary box The COVID-19 pandemic has raised questions about the utility of the International Health Regulations (IHR) and the effectiveness of the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) for strengthening global health security.1 If we are to embark on further revisions to the JEE for measuring global health security, we need to re-examine its purpose and limitations. The JEE established four important norms:2 (1) normalising a transparent process to examine and report on a country’s health security strengths and weaknesses; (2) setting standard definitions and scoring a country’s capacities in 19 technical areas; (3) involving governments and donors in strengthening those capacities across sectors and (4) prioritising opportunities for capacity development based on existing gaps. Over 110 countries,3 more than half of all WHO Member States have participated in the …
Signing blank checks: The roles of reputation and disclosure in the face of limited information

In this study we examine the role of disclosure and managerial reputation in firms’ ability to raise capital, by studying Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs or “blank check companies”). These firms IPO prior to having any commercial operations or substantive assets with the promise to acquire or merge with a private firm, generally within two years. Given the limited information, it is unclear how these firms attract investors. We find evidence that language contained in the prospectus disclosures are associated with funds raised. Moreover, the relation between the language used and the capital raised depends on where the language is found in the S-1. Our evidence also suggests that managers with SPAC experience, as well as former CEOs and celebrity sponsors raise more funds than management teams lacking these characteristics. Finally, we find some evidence that investors rely on disclosure differently when the management team has relevant (i.e., SPAC) experience.
Tri-Butoxyethyl Phosphate as a Contaminant in B-D Vacutainers

An unknown compound was extracted from serum samples. The compound was studied by gas-liquid chromatography, thin-layer chromatography, and mass spectrometry, and was positively identified as tri-butoxyethyl phosphate. The source of this compound was traced to B-D Vacutainers used to collect blood. The importance of this finding is briefly pointed out.
Plasmonic Force Space Propulsion

Plasmonic space propulsion uses solar light focused onto deep-subwavelength nanostructures to excite strong optical forces that accelerate and expel nanoparticle propellant. Simulations predict that light within the solar spectrum can excite asymmetric nanostructures to create plasmonic forces that will accelerate and expel nanoparticles. A peak force of 55 pN/W is predicted for a 50-nm-wide, 400-nm-long nanostructure that resonates at 500 nm. Results for a conceptual design of a plasmonic thruster that has 35 layers, 86 array columns, a multistage length of 5 mm, a 5-cm-diam light focusing lens, and uses 100 nm polystyrene nanoparticles expelled at a rate of 1×106 per second would have a thrust of 250 nN, specific impulse of 10 s, and minimum impulse bit of 50 pN·s.
Beta (β) tungsten thin films: Structure, electron transport, and giant spin Hall effect

We use a simple magnetron sputtering process to fabricate beta (β) tungsten thin films, which are capable of generating giant spin Hall effect. As-deposited thin films are always in the metastable β-W phase from 3.0 to 26.7 nm. The β-W phase remains intact below a critical thickness of 22.1 nm even after magnetic thermal annealing at 280 °C, which is required to induce perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) in a layered structure of β-W/Co40Fe40B20/MgO. Intensive annealing transforms the thicker films (>22.1 nm) into the stable α-W phase. We analyze the structure and grain size of both β- and α-W thin films. Electron transport in terms of resistivity and normal Hall effect is studied over a broad temperature range of 10 K to at least 300 K on all samples. Very low switching current densities are achieved in β-W/Co40Fe40B20/MgO with PMA. These basic properties reveal useful behaviors in β-W thin films, making them technologically promising for spintronic magnetic random access memories and spin-logic devices.
Finance And Institutional Investors

Institutional investors have come to play a central role in financial markets since the early 1970s.
Rapidly Prototyping Marker Based Tangible User Interfaces

Tangible user interfaces (TUIs) can create engaging and useful interactive systems. However, along with the power of these interfaces comes challenges; they are often so specialized and novel that building a TUI system involves working at a low level with custom hardware and software. As a result the community of people that are capable of creating TUIs is limited. With this project we aim to make a particular class of TUIs accessible to a broader range of designers and HCI researchers by exposing TUI specific tools in a mixed-reality rapid prototyping environment know as DART (The Designer's Augmented Reality Toolkit). In this paper we discuss the creation of a system for rapidly prototyping marker based tangible user interfaces. These prototyping tools were then used to create a set of TUI-based applications with the goal of raising students' interest in science via an exploration of fine art concepts.
Erratum to: The influence of a CYP1A2 polymorphism on the ergogenic effects of caffeine

Correction Following publication of this article [1], we recently noticed that two subjects in this study were not assigned to the correct genetic groups. One of the AA homozygotes was incorrectly entered as a C allele carrier and we had the opposite situation for a second subject. We have re-run the primary statistical analysis with the subjects assigned to their correct groups. The corrected analysis produced very similar results to our initial, published findings as we observed a significant treatment effect and a significant genotype x treatment interaction due to a higher degree of response in the AA homozygotes. Correcting our dataset did result in very slight differences in the mean values for 40 k time. The changes are presented in Table 1.
Purine N-oxides. 28. The reduction of purine N-oxides by xanthine oxidase.

Abstract Xanthine oxidase (EC 1.2.3.2) has been shown to reduce the N-oxide function of several purine N-oxide derivatives. The reaction requires anaerobic conditions and electron donors such as xanthine, hypoxanthine, sodium dithionite, or DPNH. With no other electron donor present, the purine N-oxide can also serve as the electron donor if it has an oxidizable carbon atom. With sodium dithionite as the electron donor, a spectrometric procedure has been devised which permits measurement of the enzymatic reduction of N-oxides or other compounds by monitoring the disappearance of the dithionite absorption. The enzymatic synthesis of 8-hydroxyguanine 3-oxide is described.
Binary Electrodes under Equilibrium or Near-Equilibrium Conditions

The previous chapter described binary electrodes, in which the microstructure iscomposed of phases made up of two elements. It was pointed out that there are alsocases in which three elements are present, but only partial equilibrium can beobtained in experiments, so the electrode behaves as though it were composed oftwo, rather than three, components.This chapter will discuss active materials that contain three elements, but havekinetic behavior such that they behave as true ternary systems. As before, it will beseen that phase diagrams and equilibrium electrochemical titration curves are veryuseful thinking tools in understanding the potentials and capacities of electrodescontaining such materials.It is generally more difficult to obtain complete equilibrium in ternary systemsthan in binary systems, so that much of the available equilibrium or near-equilibriuminformation stems from experiments at elevated temperatures. Selective or partialequilibrium is much more common at ambient temperatures. This will be discussedin another chapter
Abstract IA20: Harnessing the immune reaction associated with pancreas carcinoma for therapy

Macrophages are a prominent feature of many solid malignancies. However, their presence within tumors most often portends a poor prognosis due to their ability to promote tumor growth, invasion and metastasis. In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), macrophages are observed at disease conception and are present throughout all stages of tumor development including metastasis. Strategies to target macrophages in cancer have focused on approaches to 1) deplete macrophages or their precursors, 2) block myeloid cell recruitment to tumor tissues, and 3) inhibit tumor-promoting functions directed by macrophages. However, macrophage biology is largely dependent on cues received from the surrounding microenvironment such that macrophages can be polarized with either tumor promoting or tumor suppressing properties. In this regard, we have previously demonstrated that macrophages can be redirected in vivo with anti-tumor properties leading to depletion of tumor-associated fibrosis and major tumor regressions in both mice and humans. Macrophages responding to systemic activation of the CD40 pathway using an agonist CD40 monoclonal antibody were required for tumor regressions observed in a spontaneous model of murine PDAC. However, not all murine PDAC lesions responded to CD40 therapy. Similarly, treatment response heterogeneity detected on 18FDG-PET/CT was observed in patients with newly diagnosed chemotherapy-naive PDAC who were treated with a fully human CD40 agonist. These findings demonstrate that macrophages associated with PDAC can be harnessed for therapy but also emphasize the importance of tumor intrinsic properties in regulating the efficacy of macrophage immunotherapy in PDAC. Current studies will be presented that investigate 1) the mechanism of action by which macrophages facilitate stromal depletion and 2) potential mechanisms of resistance to macrophage immunotherapy in PDAC. Citation Format: Gregory L. Beatty. Harnessing the immune reaction associated with pancreas carcinoma for therapy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer: Innovations in Research and Treatment; May 18-21, 2014; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(13 Suppl):Abstract nr IA20.
Simultaneous Recognition of Multiple Objects Using the MEM Model

In this paper, a new self-organizing neural network model, called the Multiple Elastic Modules (MEM), is described. The model is applied to the task of invariant object recognition through labeled graph matching, where topologically ordered feature labels of an object (e.g., oriented edges, textures, colors, etc.) are matched to the features present in the input scene. The matching process is accomplished through the use of elastic graph modules, with nodes encoding feature labels and edges encoding expected spatial arrangement of the features. The elastic modules stochastically searches the entire input scene for a correspondingly similar arrangement of features, while being tolerant to small deformations in the match. The key attribute of the MEM model is the use of independent and adaptive receptive fields for each neuron. The receptive field dynamics of this model implement a new type of adaptive annealing mechanism which avoids spurious local minima. This feature also allows for efficient simultaneous search for multiple objects using multiple elastic modules. The performance of this model is demonstrated through simulations on real data.
MÁS ALLÁ DE LA "CULTURA": ESPACIO, IDENTIDAD Y LAS POLÍTICAS DE LA DIFERENCIA

This article explores the way that "received ideas" about space and place have shaped, and continue to shape, the common sense of the anthropological task. Specifcally, we want to inquire how the renewed interest in postmodern and feminist theory about space theorization (revealed in notions such as vigilance, panopticism, simulacrum, deterritorialization, postmodern hyperspace, frontiers and marginality), has forced us to revaluate key anthropological analytical concepts such as "culture" and "cultural difference".
Ductile Cr-Alloys with solute and precipitate softening

A dislocation kinetics-based analysis has been performed to investigate toughening mechanisms of alloys. It is concluded that strength and toughening are determined by the combination of short range material adhesion and long range interaction between different phases, where the former refers to Peierls-Nabarro energy barrier and coherence embedded solute elements and the latter refers to the double kink formation of dislocation loops and associated pattern of slip line between dispersed solute atoms, precipitates, and second phase particles. A strategy for toughening alloys is proposed that contains two key elements: 1. Alloy softening through smeared out Peierls-Nabarro stress barriers. 2. Process-structure optimization to obtain desirable grain size, coherency and spacing between solutes, precipitates, and second phase of particles.
Inverting ionospheric radio occultation measurements using maximum entropy

[1] Practical aspects of the inversion of ionospheric radio occultation data using the Abel transform and its inverse are discussed. The linear inverse transform exhibits poor error propagation characteristics, producing significant artifacts preferentially at low altitudes where they might easily be mistaken for intermediate or sporadic layers in the ionosphere. Tikhonov regularization, which can be viewed as fixed linear filtering, reduces the artifacts at the expense of discarding fine structure in the profiles. Improved results are obtained using maximum entropy and Bayesian statistics. The maximum entropy algorithm can be viewed as a nonlinear adaptive filter which suppresses artifacts while preserving fine structure to the degree the data can support. Other advantages of and avenues for improving the basic maximum entropy algorithm are discussed.
INVOLVEMENT OF AMERICAN INDIAN YOUTH IN GANGS

Virtually nothing is known about the involvement of American Indian youth in gangs. However, recent evidence suggests that a gang culture and gang membership have diffused to many Native American Indian communities. The purpose of this article is to examine the results of a self-report study among American Indian youth from several western states. The results indicate that about 5 percent of males, but less than 1 percent of females reported actual gang membership. In addition, about 10 percent of male and female respondents reported hanging around with gangs. When compared to non-gang Indian youth, level of drug involvement and involvement in delinquent activities washigherforin-gang youth and those who hang around with gangs. Youth who reported hanging around with gangs also reported higher drug use and involvement in delinquent activities than non-gang youth, but lower than those who reported actual membership in gangs. Conditions of poverty, lack of economic opportunities, discrimination, and the erosion of cultural identity provide the structural conditions for the attractiveness of gangs to Indian youth. The actual diffusion of gang culture is dependent on contact between Indian youth and non-Indian youth with knowledge about gangs. The article considers several important areas for research on gang emergence in Native American Indian communities.
Predictors of Facility Discharge, Range of Motion, and Patient-Reported Physical Function Improvement After Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Prospective Cohort Analysis

Abstract Background Patients are discharged to home or inpatient settings after primary unilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Few studies have compared patient outcomes following these 2 rehabilitation models for TKA patients. We identified predictors of inpatient discharge, 3-month postoperative range of motion (ROM), and 3-month postoperative patient-reported physical function improvement (Veterans RAND 12-Item Physical Component Score [PCS]) between these discharge settings. Methods We studied prospectively collected cohort data for 738 TKAs between April 2011 and April 2013 at a high-volume tertiary academic medical center in a rural setting. All patients followed a standardized care pathway that involved prospective data collection as part of routine clinical care. Adjusting variables included age, sex, preoperative PCS, surgeon, modified Charlson Comorbidity Index, preoperative body mass index, laterality, and preoperative ROM; the 3-month models also included length of stay and discharge disposition as adjusters. Results Significant adjusted predictors of inpatient discharge included older age, female sex, surgeon, comorbidity, lower PCS, and body mass index greater than 40. Only lower preoperative ROM predicted postoperative ROM. Inpatient discharge and higher preoperative PCS predicted lower PCS improvement. Home-based rehabilitation was associated with greater 3-month PCS improvement and showed no difference with 3-month ROM. Conclusion Discharge to home-based rehabilitation after TKA, rather than inpatient facility, is associated with higher physical function at 3 months postsurgery and shows no difference with 3-month ROM. Total knee arthroplasty inpatient discharge should be based on patient care requirements rather than perceived benefit of improved ROM and physical function.
Isolation of Psychrophilic Species of Bacillus

Larkin, J. M. (Washington State University, Pullman), and J. L. Stokes. Isolation of psychrophilic species of Bacillus. J. Bacteriol. 91:1667–1671. 1966.—Ninety psychrophilic isolates of Bacillus were obtained from soil, mud, and water by selective enrichment at 0 C. They grew well at 0 C, optimally at 20 to 25 C, and failed to grow at 30 or 35 C. Their minimal and maximal growth temperatures were lower than those for mesophilic species of Bacillus by 10 C or more. Growth of psychrophilic isolates also occurred at −2 and −4.5 C, and both spore formation and spore germination occurred at 0 C.
Mass spectrometric analysis of lipopeptides from Bacillus strains isolated from diverse geographical locations

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight MS (MALDI-TOF MS) has been applied to characterize lipopeptide biomarkers from 54 different strains of Bacillis from most taxa within the Bacillis subtilis-Bacillis licheniformis clade, isolated from seven geographic locations on five continents. Even the most narrowly defined taxa are diverse in terms of the lipopeptide profiles. Many strains produce previously identified compounds with known antimicrobial properties (e.g. polymyxins and bacitracins), whereas other compounds represent novel classes that were hitherto unknown. Of particular interest is the novel 942/958 Da biomarkers produced by B. s. spizizeni desert strains and several type strains.
Optimization of simulated RLC circuit and solenoid coils used in the magnetic stimulation of rat sciatic nerves

Magnetic stimulation, as a means of evoking neuromuscular activity, has an advantage over direct electrical stimulation in that the stimulator need not directly contact the neural tissue. However, the high energy levels and large magnetic coils needed to elicit a response hinder the use of implantable magnetic stimulators for functional neural stimulation. Our group has previously reported a µm-scale computational model that quantifies the neurostimulation efficacy of a time-varying magnetic field on the myelinated axons of rat sciatic nerve, where discharging the voltage stored on a capacitor through an air-core solenoid coil creates the field. Further, we have validated the performance of this model with in vivo experiments in the rat using a small sample of solenoid coils, and we have observed that solenoid coils with ∼1cm3 volumes can evoke neural excitation with discharge voltages as low as 110 V. In this work, we report on using the computational model to optimize the stimulation system and the solenoid coil design to reduce the discharge voltage necessary to evoke neural activity (i.e., threshold voltage).
Thermoelectricity in Fullerene-Metal Heterojunctions

Thermoelectricty in heterojunctions, where a single-molecule is trapped between metal electrodes, has been used to understand transport properties at organic–inorganic interfaces.(1) The transport in these systems is highly dependent on the energy level alignment between the molecular orbitals and the Fermi level (or work function) of the metal contacts. To date, the majority of single-molecule measurements have focused on simple small molecules where transport is dominated through the highest occupied molecular orbital.(2, 3) In these systems, energy level alignment is limited by the absence of electrode materials with low Fermi levels (i.e., large work functions). Alternatively, more controllable alignment between molecular orbitals and the Fermi level can be achieved with molecules whose transport is dominated by the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) because of readily available metals with lower work functions. Herein, we report molecular junction thermoelectric measurements of fullerene mole...
Diacylglycerol modulates action potential frequency in GH3 pituitary cells: correlative biochemical and electrophysiological studies.

Abstract We have investigated the involvement of enhanced phosphoinositide metabolism in mediating TRH-induced alteration of electrophysiological events related to prolactin secretion by GH3 cells (a line of pituitary origin). Patch-clamp recording (in the current clamp, whole-cell configuration) showed that a few seconds after TRH application there was a brief period (about 30 s) of membrane hyperpolarization followed by several minutes of increased calcium-dependent action potential frequency. In parallel experiments cells were labeled for 24 h with either [ 3 H ]myo- inositol or [3H]arachidonate. Application of TRH resulted in rapid increases in levels of inositol phosphates and diacylglycerol. The time course of elevation of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (maximal by 5 s) is compatible with an initial burst of intracellular calcium mobilization associated with a transient phase of TRH-induced prolactin release. Application of TRH was also followed by a rapid but more sustained (several minutes) period of elevated diglyceride accumulation; a time course corresponding to a prolonged period of prolactin release which is dependent on the influx of external calcium. A causal relationship between diglyceride release and increased action potential frequency was demonstrated since local application (via a U-tube apparatus) of either 2 μM phorbol ester (phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate) or 60 μM 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-glycerol to patch-clamped cells could mimic this aspect of the TRH effect. In contrast, the inactive phorbol ester, 4α-phorbol, was unable to elicit this response. We suggest that the second (prolonged) phase of TRH-stimulated prolactin release involves phospholipase C-catalyzed formation of diglyceride with a resulting protein kinase C-mediated alteration of ion channel properties. These changes in channel properties lead to increased action potential frequency and a consequent influx of extracellular calcium.
Adventitial fibroblast reactive oxygen species as autacrine and paracrine mediators of remodeling: Bellwether for vascular disease?

The importance of the vascular adventitia is increasingly being recognized not only in vascular disease but also in normal maintenance and homeostasis of vessels. Activation of the adventitia and its resident fibrocytic cells in response to injury, stretch, cytokines, and hormones has been shown to stimulate differentiation, collagen deposition, migration, and proliferation. Importantly, the effects of adventitial fibroblasts are increasingly being ascribed to reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by adventitial fibroblast NAD(P)H oxidases. Much historical and recent evidence suggests that fibroblast NAD(P)H oxidase) is a harbinger and initiator of vascular disease and remodeling. Data from our laboratory indicate that adventitial fibroblast NAD(P)H oxidase plays a direct and/or paracrine role in neointimal hyperplasia as well as a paracrine role in medial smooth muscle hypertrophy in vivo. We propose that adventitial NAD(P)H oxidase-derived cell-permeant hydrogen peroxide or a byproduct of its oxidation of lipids activates signaling mechanisms in medial smooth muscle leading to the growth response. This review will address the potential role of this adventitial ROS in vascular inflammation and cytokine release to potentiate smooth muscle hypertrophy. We will also survey other signaling pathways involving adventitial NAD(P)H oxidase ultimately leading to changes in vascular phenotype.
Real-Time Two-Dimensional Echocardiography in Differentiating Vascular from Nonvascular Mediastinal Lesions

We evaluated the ability of two-dimensional echocardiography to differentiate vascular from nonvascular causes of radiologic mediastinal masses or widening. In 22 patients with a radiologic mass, two-dimensional echo detected a mass in 11 patients, an aortic aneurysm in four patients, left ventricular pseudoaneurysm in four patients, and marked pulmonary artery dilatation in three patients. In 36 patients with mediastinal widening, two-dimensional echocardiography detected an aneurysm in 28 and a mass in four patients; it was normal in four patients. Two-dimensional echocardiography can differentiate vascular from nonvascular radiologic mediastinal abnormalities.
Rapid Evolution of Spermathecal Duct Length in the Allonemobius socius Complex of Crickets: Species, Population and Wolbachia Effects

The three species in the Allonemobius socius complex of crickets have recently diverged and radiated across North America. Interestingly, the only barriers to gene flow between these species in zones of secondary contact appear to be associated with fertilization traits – e.g., conspecific sperm precedence and the ability of males to induce females to lay eggs. Other traits, such as the length of female's reproductive tract, may also influence fertilization success and be associated with species boundaries. However, the underlying variation in this duct has not been assessed across populations and species. Moreover, the effects of reproductive parasites like Wolbachia on these morphological features have yet to be addressed, even though its infections are concentrated in reproductive tissues. I evaluated both the natural variation in and the effects of Wolbachia infection on spermathecal duct length among several populations of two species in the Allonemobius socius complex. My results suggest the following: (1) spermathecal duct length varies between species and is associated with species boundaries, (2) there is considerable variation among populations within species, (3) there is a Wolbachia infection-by-population interaction effect on the length of the spermathecal duct, and (4) experimental curing of Wolbachia recovers the uninfected morphology. These findings suggest the following hypotheses: (1) spermathecal duct length, like other fertilization traits in Allonemobius, is evolving rapidly and influences reproductive isolation and (2) Wolbachia-induced modifications of this duct could influence the dynamics of male-female coevolution. Further experiments are needed, however, to explicitly test these latter two hypotheses.
Phosphatase Expression by Chlorella Vulgaris (Chlorophyceae) is Mediated by Internal Phosphorus Levels and External pH

Phosphorus has been implicated as one of the causative agents of the eutrophication of lacustrine, estuarine and coastal waters. One of the major inputs of phosphorus into these waters comes from agricultural nonpoint sources in the form of dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP). In order to better understand how DOP may directly impact the microalgal community structure, it is necessary to understand the physiology of DOP uptake and utilization. To this end, cultures of Chlorella vulgaris were grown in custom photobioreactors in acid (pH 5.5) and alkaline (pH 7.5) media under phosphate replete and starved conditions in order to determine the types and triggers of phosphatase expression by this organism. Analysis of differential phosphatase expression during phosphate stress indicates that cultures of C. vulgaris grown under alkaline conditions derepressibly express two alkaline phosphatases, while cultures grown under acid conditions weakly express only one alkaline phosphatase. Analysis of internal and external phosphorus levels, whole-cell phosphatase activity and in-gel activity of protein extracts indicate that alkaline phosphatase expression is further mediated by internal, as opposed to external, phosphorus levels.
Feasibility and accuracy of sentinel lymph node biopsy after preoperative chemotherapy in breast cancer patients with documented axillary metastases

BACKGROUND. The feasibility and accuracy of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in patients with breast cancer after preoperative chemotherapy has been demonstrated in a number of large, single-institution studies. However, a relative contraindication to SLN biopsy after preoperative chemotherapy is the presence of axillary metastases at initial diagnosis. The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility and accuracy of SLN biopsy after preoperative chemotherapy in patients with documented axillary metastases at presentation. METHODS. Between 1994 and 2002, 69 patients who had axillary metastases identified by ultrasound-guided, fine-needle aspiration underwent SLN biopsy after treatment on prospective, preoperative chemotherapy protocols. All but 8 patients underwent axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Those 8 patients either declined additional surgery or were offered enrollment in other institutional protocols. RESULTS. The median patient age was 49 years, and the median primary tumor size was 4 cm. The SLN identification rate was 92.8%. Thirty-one of 64 patients (48.4%) had successfully mapped, positive SLNs. Sixty-one patients underwent ALND, including 5 patients who did not have an SLN identified. In the 56 patients in whom a SLN was identified and an ALND was performed, 10 patients had a false-negative SLN (25%). CONCLUSIONS. SLN biopsy was feasible after preoperative chemotherapy, even in patients who initially presented with cytologically proven, lymph node-positive disease. However, the false-negative rate of SLN biopsy in this group of patients was much higher than that observed in clinically lymph node-negative patients. Based on the current results, the status of the SLN cannot be used as a reliable indicator of the presence or absence of residual disease in the axilla in this patient population. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Developing usable CAPTCHAs for blind users

CAPTCHAs are widely used by websites for security and privacy purposes. However, traditional text-based CAPTCHAs are not suitable for individuals with visual impairments. We proposed and developed a new form of CAPTCHA that combines both visual and audio information to allow easy access by users with visual impairments. A preliminary evaluation suggests strong potential for the new form of CAPTCHA for both blind and visual users.
The marketing-manufacturing interface and manufacturing flexibility

Abstract Research has found that while flexibility is a prime advantage of new flexible manufacturing technology (FMT), it has not yet become a major competitive priority for North American and European manufacturers. This is because, to a certain extent, there exists little guidance for firms to successfully incorporate the flexibility advantages into their marketing/manufacturing interface strategy. This paper takes a closer look at traditional notion of production/marketing coordination and attempts to find its links with manufacturing flexibility provided by recent evolving flexible manufacturing technology. We examine various flexibility concepts from diverse disciplines and propose a contingency theory based Flexibility-Uncertainty Model (FUM) as a conceptual framework to facilitate the understanding of the interactions between environmental uncertainty and flexibility needs. Once the relation between the two is explored, we present ways to employ different types of flexibility to cope with various forms of environmental uncertainty. Several ‘real-world’ examples and case studies abound to support the arguments made in this article are also discussed.
Routine Leisure Activities and Rates of Crime: A Macro-Level Analysis

The purpose of this paper is to apply a "routine activities" approach to explain the relations between macro-level indicators of leisure activities and rates of serious crime. We hypothesize that indicators of the volume of leisure activities that typically take place within households will exhibit negative relations with rates of crime, whereas indicators of the volume of leisure activities that are usually conducted away from households will yield positive associations with rates of crime. Regression analyses for a sample of the largest Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas (SMSAs) in the United States provide strong support for these hypotheses. A "household activities" index and a "nonhousehold activities" index exhibit negative and positive associations, respectively, with SMSA crime rates. We suggest that while these results are fully consistent with the routine activities approach, they are not readily interpretable with reference to other general perspectives on the relations between leisure and crime. An important, recent development in criminology has been the formulation of the "routine activities" perspective. The perspective derives largely from Hawley's (1950) human ecology theory and is based on the premise that there is a symbiotic relationship between legal and illegal activities. In essence, illegal activities "feed upon" the legal activities of everyday life
Monitoring space weather with the GOES magnetometers

Magnetic field measurements have been made form geosynchronous orbit for more than 20 years. These measurements are important for monitoring 'space weather' and for providing a unique data base that can be used for improving our knowledge of the Earth's magnetosphere and solar-terrestrial interactions. This paper will focus on the variety of products and services provided by these measurements--those currently available, and those under consideration for the future. The magnetic field assist forecasters in qualitatively assessing the level of geomagnetic disturbance, to interpret changes in energetic particle measurements, to provide data to the National Geophysical Data Center, to support in real-time scientific activities such as rocket launches, and to conduct research for a better understanding of the space environment. One important use of magnetometer data in the Space Environment Center is to alert customers when shocks occur in the solar wind. These shocks have the potential for energizing particles to multi-MeV levels, causing Single Event Upsets in spacecraft electronics, and at lower energy ranges causing deep-dielectric charging that produces spacecraft anomalies. Data from the new GOES-8 and GOES-9 spacecraft will be discussed along with prospects for future products and services.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The binding site for ribosomal protein S8 in 16S rRNA and spc mRNA from Escherichia coli : minimum structural requirements and the effects of single bulged bases on S8-RNA interaction

Through specific interactions with rRNA and mRNA, ribosomal protein S8 of Escherichia coli plays a central role in both assembly of the 30S ribosomal subunit and translational regulation of spc operon expression. To better understand S8-RNA association, we have measured the affinity of S8 for a number of variants of its rRNA and mRNA binding sites prepared by in vitro transcription or chemical synthesis. With the aid of site-directed deletions, we demonstrate that an imperfect, 33-nucleotide helical stem encompassing nucleotides 588-603 and 635-651 possesses all of the structural information necessary for specific binding of S8 to the 16S rRNA. This segment consists of two short duplexes that enclose a conserved, asymmetric internal loop which contains features crucial for protein recognition. The S8 binding site in spc operon mRNA is very similar in both primary and secondary structure to that in 16S rRNA except for the presence of two single bulged bases in one of the duplex segments. In addition, the apparent association constant for the S8-mRNA interaction is approximately fivefold less than that for the S8-rRNA interaction. We show that the difference in affinity can be attributed to the effects of the bulged bases. Deletion of the bulged bases from the mRNA site increases its affinity for S8 to a level similar to that of the rRNA, whereas insertion of single-base bulges at equivalent positions within the rRNA site reduces its affinity for S8 to a value typical of the mRNA. Single-base bulges in the proximity of essential recognition features are therefore capable of modulating the strength of protein-RNA interactions.
High-Contrast Subwavelength Grating Integrated VCSELs with a Large Fabrication Tolerance

We experimentally demonstrated a very large fabrication tolerance for the high-index-contrast subwavelength grating (HCG) integrated VCSELs, with similar performance over as large as plusmn20% variation in HCG critical dimension.
Graph reduction implementation of a production system

The paper explores the implementation of rule-based pattern-directed inference systems on parallel computers. The paper discusses one of these approaches in detail, the use of a graph-reduction machine such as ALICE. The technique is illustrated through two example domains: automobile fault diagnosis and organic psychiatric mental disorders. The paper discusses extensions to the graph reduction technique as applied to knowledge-based systems, including partitioning, time considerations and input data types. The paper shows that the graph-reduction technique has significant advantages for knowledge-based system implementation over conventional approaches, and it demonstrates that this programming style is amenable to knowledge engineering domains.
Trends in Phosphatase Activity along a Successional Gradient of Tidal Freshwater Marshes on the Cooper River, South Carolina

Phosphatase activity was measured in sediments from tidal freshwater habitats adjacent to the Cooper River in South Carolina representing different stages of ecological succession. It was found that sediment (0–5 cm) acid phosphatase activity, alkaline phosphatase activity and phosphodiesterase activity increased with increasing successional stage and phytomass. Acid phosphatase activity in creased from 7.5±1.2 (±1 SD) in subtidal sediment from a shallow open water habitat without vegetation to 61.2±4.9 μmol g−1 hr−1 (μmol of p-nitrophenol released per gram of dry sediment per hour) in intertidal sediments colonized by emergent macrophytes, while alkaline phosphatase activity increased from 2.1±0.1 to 19.01±1.5 μmol g−1 hr−1. Phosphodiesterase activity increased from 1.8±0.1 to 20.2±2.0 μmol g−1 hr−1 along the same gradient. Acid phosphatase activity was highly correlated (R2=0.92, P<0.001) with the organic matter content of the sediment. A study of phosphatase kinetics showed that Vmax of all phosphatases also increased along the successional gradient. Trends in phosphatase activity and Vmax correlated positively with plant biomass and negatively with concentrations of soluble reactive phosphorus in porewater, sediment extractable phosphorus, and total phosphourus. The porewater N∶P atom ratio decreased along the succession gradient from 25.3 in an early stage, open water community to 13.0 in a community dominated by emergent vegetation. The data also show that the distribution of the forms of phosphorus changed with successional stage. The change in distribution and the increased biological demand for phosphorus that paralleled succession were mediated by the activity of phosphatase enzymes.
Effect of particle hydrophobicity on CO2 foam generation and foam flow behavior in porous media

Abstract Studies of CO 2 foam stabilized with silica nanoparticles at reservoir conditions were carried out for CO 2 foam enhanced oil recovery (EOR) application. In the study described in this paper, three types of silica nanoparticles with varied wettability were employed to study the effects of particle hydrophobicity on CO 2 foam generation at reservoir conditions. The results showed that nanoparticle surface hydrophobicity played an important role in CO 2 foam generation. More CO 2 foam was generated as the particle surface changed from strongly hydrophilic to somewhat hydrophobic. The bubble size of the CO 2 foam decreased noticeably as the particle surface became more hydrophobic. Nanosilica particle-stabilized CO 2 foam demonstrated a significant effect on the reduction of the CO 2 mobility at a phase ratio between 2 and 11. The particle-stabilized CO 2 foam also improved the apparent viscosity of the CO 2 as the mixture flowed through a capillary tube.
Competition of Deep and Shallow Impurities in Wide-Gap II-VI Semiconductors under Pressure

The effects of applied pressure on deep defects, shallow deep competition, and related doping problems in II-VI semiconductors are reviewed. Photoluminescence studies to 100 kbar (at 7 K) on high purity ZnSe, and on several ZnSe samples doped with 1016 to 1019 cm−3 Cl, Ga, N, P, and As reveal striking differences between the pressure-shifts of broad-band features involving acceptor and/or donor deep states, and excitonic lines due to shallow band-edge states. The binding energies of observed deep acceptor states tend to decrease with pressure, suggesting that compression acts to destabilize these states against competing shallow hole levels. A deep donor level assigned to an excited state of donor-vacancyzn complexes emerges from the electron continuum in n-type Ga- and Cl-doped samples at ≈25 to 28 kbar. This previously unknown state should not affect doping in ZnSe1−xTex alloys since it arises from existing compensation centers.
Development of a time-resolved fluorescence probe for evaluation of competitive binding to the cholecystokinin 2 receptor

The synthesis, characterization, and use of Eu-DTPA-PEGO-Trp-Nle-Asp-Phe-NH2 (Eu-DTPA-PEGO-CCK4), a luminescent probe targeted to cholecystokinin 2 receptor (CCK2R, aka CCKBR), are described. The probe was prepared by solid phase synthesis. A Kd value of 17±2nM was determined by means of saturation binding assays using HEK-293 cells that overexpress CCK2R. The probe was then used in competitive binding assays against Ac-CCK4 and three new trivalent CCK4 compounds. Repeatable and reproducible binding assay results were obtained. Given its ease of synthesis, purification, receptor binding properties, and utility in competitive binding assays, Eu-DTPA-PEGO-CCK4 could become a standard tool for high-throughput screening of compounds in development targeted to cholecystokinin receptors.
A Forward-in-Time Advection Scheme and Adaptive Multilevel Flow Solver for Nearly Incompressible Atmospheric Flow

This paper presents a new forward-in-time advection method for nearly incompressible flow, MU, and its application to an adaptive multilevel flow solver for atmospheric flows. MU is a modification of Leonardet al.'sUTOPIA scheme. MU, like UTOPIA, is based on third-order accurate semi-Lagrangian multidimensional upwinding for constant velocity flows. For varying velocity fields, MU is a second-order conservative method. MU has greater stability and accuracy than UTOPIA and naturally decomposes into a monotone low-order method and a higher-order accurate correction for use with flux limiting. Its stability and accuracy make it a computationally efficient alternative to current finite-difference advection methods. We present a fully second-order accurate flow solver for the anelastic equations, a prototypical low Mach number flow. The flow solver is based on MU which is used for both momentum and scalar transport equations. This flow solver can also be implemented with any forward-in-time advection scheme. The multilevel flow solver conserves discrete global integrals of advected quantities and includes adaptive mesh refinement. Its second-order accuracy is verified using a nonlinear energy conservation integral for the anelastic equations. For a typical geophysical problem in which the flow is most rapidly varying in a small part of the domain, the multilevel flow solver achieves global accuracy comparable to a uniform-resolution simulation for 10% of the computational cost.
Reverse Engineering and Redesign: Courses to Incrementally and Systematically Teach Design

A variety of design-process and design-methods courses exist in engineering education. The primary objective of such courses is to teach engineering design fundamentals utilizing repeatable design techniques. By so doing, students obtain (1) tools they may employ during their education, (2) design experiences to understand the "big picture" of engineering, and (3) proven methods to attack open-ended problems. While these skills are worthwhile, especially as design courses are moved earlier in curricula, many students report that design methods are typically taught at a high-level and in a compartmentalized fashion. Often, the students' courses do not include opportunities to obtain incremental concrete experiences with the methods. Nor do such courses allow for suitable observation and reflection as the methods are executed. In this paper, we describe a new approach for teaching design methods that addresses these issues. This approach incorporates hands-on experiences through the use of "reverse-engineering" projects. As the fundamentals of design techniques are presented, students immediately apply the methods to actual, existing products. They are able to hold these products physically in their hands, dissect them, perform experiments on their components, and evolve them into new successful creations. Based on this reverse-engineering concept, we have developed and tested new courses at The University of Texas, MIT, and the United States Air Force Academy. In the body of this paper, we present the structure of these courses, an example of our teaching approach, and an evaluation of the results.