cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Expanding the Chemistry of DNA for in Vitro Selection

Six new 5-position modified dUTP derivatives connected by a unique amide linkage were synthesized and tested for compatibility with the enzymatic steps of in vitro selection. Six commercially available DNA polymerases were tested for their ability to efficiently incorporate each of these dUTP derivatives during PCR. It was not possible to perform PCR under standard conditions using any of the modified dUTP derivatives studied. In contrast, primer extension reactions of random templates, as well as defined sequence templates, were successful. KOD XL and D. Vent DNA polymerases were found to be the most efficient at synthesizing full-length primer extension product, with all of the dUTP derivatives tested giving yields similar to those obtained with TTP. Several of these modified dUTPs were then used in an in vitro selection experiment comparing the use of modified dUTP derivatives with TTP for selecting aptamers to a protein target (necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 9, TNFRSF9) that had previously been found to be refractory to in vitro selection using DNA. Remarkably, selections employing modified DNA libraries resulted in the first successful isolation of DNA aptamers able to bind TNFRSF9 with high affinity.
Experimental and numerical evaluation of model steel structure using the stiffness-decoupler seismic-isolation system

The concept and the functionality of the Stiffness Decoupler for Base Isolation of Structures, (SDFBIS, U.S. patent No. 5,660,007, August 1997, and No. 5,386,671, February 1995), and the methodology for the numerical simulation of the dynamic responses of structures, the computer simulated accelerogram and the recorded time histories of the response accelerations of the 14' by 9' by 18' tall model steel structure under the application of an 88% of the ground motion of the Northridge 1994 Earthquake, (shaken by the KSU shaking table), will be presented for comparison. The performance of the SDFBIS system, the efficiency of the numerical algorithm and the sensitivity of accelerometer s Model 799M and 731A model of Wilcoxon Research will be presented in the concluding remarks.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Antigen mimicry in autoimmune disease. Can immune responses to microbial antigens that mimic acetylcholine receptor act as initial triggers of myasthenia gravis

Abstract Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease caused by autoantibodies against self acetylcholine receptor (AChR). Although a great deal of information is known about the molecular and cellular parameters of the disease, its initial trigger is not known. In order to study the possibility of the involvement of microbial antigens that mimic AChR in triggering MG, we have searched the microbial proteins in the data bank for regions that are similar in structure to the regions of human ( h ) AChR α chain recognized by autoAbs in MG patients. Hundreds of candidate structures on a large number of bacterial and viral proteins were identified. To test the feasibility of the idea, we synthesized four microbial regions similar to each of the major autodeterminants of h AChR (α12–27, α111–126, α122–138, α182–200) and investigated their ability to bind autoAbs in MG and normal sera controls. It was found that MG sera recognized a significant number of these microbial regions. The results indicate that in some MG cases immune responses to microbial antigens may cross-react with self antigen (in this case h AChR) and could constitute initial triggers of the disease.
Negative-U properties of the lattice vacancy in silicon

Abstract We present direct and unambiguous evidence that the donor levels of the silicon lattice vacancy are inverted in negative-U ordering, as originally suggested by Baraff et al. The second donor level, at Ev + 0.13 eV, lies above the first donor level, at Ev + 0.05 eV. First, we demonstrate that the Ev + 0.13 eV level is a donor state by the absence of the Poole-Frenkel effect in DLTS studies. Second, we describe a detailed EPR study of the reactions involving hole transfer via the valence band between the vacancy and the shallow aluminum acceptor. By monitoring the intensity of the V+ and Alos EPR signals, all aspects of the negative-U ordering appear to be confirmed.
Ultrasonic and atomic force studies of the martensitic transformation induced by temperature and uniaxial stress in NiAl alloys

The single-crystal elastic constants were measured in NiAl alloys with nickel compositions between 49.4 and 63 at. %. For Ni compositions in excess of 61 at. %, the crystals undergo a martensitic transformation. The transformation was studied as a function of temperature and uniaxial stress using ultrasonic, optical, and atomic force microscopy techniques. Uniaxial stress applied along the [001] direction on ${\mathrm{Ni}}_{63}{\mathrm{Al}}_{37}$ crystals induced a transformation and yielded a value of ${\mathrm{dM}}_{S}/d\ensuremath{\sigma}=0.53\mathrm{K}/\mathrm{M}\mathrm{P}\mathrm{a}.$ Atomic force microscopy measurements yield quantitative information of the surface relief associated with the transformation and provide clear evidence of a surface transformation occurring approximately 5 K prior to the bulk transformation as determined by ultrasonic measurements. The results are compared with earlier studies of the elastic constants and with neutron-diffraction studies of the temperature and stress dependence of the slow transverse-acoustic branch in NiAl.
Artificial intelligence techniques applied to hourly global irradiance estimation from satellite-derived cloud index

Artificial intelligence techniques, such as fuzzy logic and neural networks, have been used for estimating hourly global radiation from satellite images. The models have been fitted to measured global irradiance data from 15 Spanish terrestrial stations. Both satellite imaging data and terrestrial information from the years 1994, 1995 and 1996 were used. The results of these artificial intelligence models were compared to a multivariate regression based upon Heliosat I model. A general better behaviour was observed for the artificial intelligence models.
The Weather Factor and Variability in China's Grain Supply

Abstract The variability of China's grain output due to uncertain weather conditions is quantified using disaggregate county-level data. Most studies of agricultural productivity growth in China focus on output growth in response to input growth and policy change; little attention has been given to the weather factor. A model is estimated to examine productivity growth, controlling for the impact of weather. The model is applied to five grain production regions in China. We study the slowdown in growth of China's grain production in the mid-1980's and find that it was due to less favorable weather conditions and to a loss in production efficiency after 1985. J. Comp. Econom., September 1998, 26(3), pp. 529–543. University of California, Davis, California 95616.
HOBBES ON MIRACLES

: In this paper I provide an interpretation of Hobbes's account of miracles in Leviathan. Four main theses are defended: (i) that Hobbes affirms a single account of miracles, not several non-equivalent accounts, (ii) that Hobbes's main objective is political – he wants to explain how the doctrine of miracles must be understood in order for it not to pose a threat to political stability, (3) that Hobbes's discussion is not designed to undermine the doctrine of miracles in its entirety, and (4) that Hobbes's considered view of miracles is compatible with the modern scientific worldview to which he is committed.
The Potential Impact of Structured Read-Aloud on Middle School Reading Achievement.

Read-aloud is a technique predominantly utilized at the elementary level. This study was designed to research the effectiveness of this technique at the middle school level, specifically, students who were not receiving special education or additional reading intervention services. For the current investigation, students in two middle schools within the same Virginia school district were assigned to receive the treatment of Structured Read-Aloud or received traditional middle-school reading instruction. These students were tested using the Diagnostic Online Reading Assessment (DORA) both in the fall before the intervention was implemented, and then again in the spring of the same year to assess gains. Results indicate that the use of Read-Aloud instruction had an impact on student DORA scores and implications of the research are considered. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v3i3.6463
Prenatal dexamethasone treatment improves survival of newborn rats during prolonged high O2 exposure.

ABSTRACT: Prenatal dexamethasone (DEX) treatment is known to accelerate the maturation of both the surfactant system and the fetal lung antioxidant enzyme (AOE) system (Frank L, Lewis P, Sosenko IRS: Pediatrics 75:569–574, 1985). Because of this stimulatory effect of prenatal DEX on the normal late gestational development of the AOE system, we questioned whether this treatment might have a salutary effect on the ability of the newborn rat to tolerate early and prolonged exposure to hyperoxia, inasmuch as the AOE are the primary lung defensive system against high O2 challenge. In nine experiments with term newborn rats in >95% O2, the composite percentage of survival was significantly greater in the prenatal DEX pups at all time periods in hyperoxia from 7 d [control pups, 67 of 94 (71%); prenatal DEX, 96 of 99 (97%)] to 14 d [controls, 10 of 32 (31%); prenatal DEX, 18 of 33 (55%)] (p < 0.01). In addition to survival per se, the prenatal DEX pups showed significantly decreased lung wet weight/dry weight ratios, pathologic evidence of pulmonary edema, and lung conjugated dienes versus the O2 control newborn group. Of the many comparative parameters examined, the major difference found between the two groups was in the pulmonary AOE responses to hyperoxia. By 2 d in hyperoxia, the prenatal DEX rat pups showed significantly elevated superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities compared to air control pups, and at 4 and 7 d in O2 the AOE levels were consistently greater in the DEX group than the AOE responses in the control O2 pups. The more rapid and more pronounced AOE response to hyperoxic challenge may help to explain the substantial protective effect of prenatal DEX versus newborn O2 toxicity.
Towards circadian computing: a sensing & intervention framework for BodyClock friendly technology

Human physiology and behavior are deeply rooted in the daily 24 hour temporal structure. Our biological processes vary significantly and idiosyncratically throughout the day. Continued disruption of biological rhythms often has serious consequences for physical and mental well-being, causing cardiovascular disease, cancer, obesity, and mental health problems. My research goal is to advance a vision for "circadian computing" --- designing, developing and deploying novel technology that helps to maintain our innate biological rhythms. Towards that vision, I focus on developing technologies for detecting circadian disruptions and providing in-situ interventions. My approach involves passive and automated sensing of behavioral traits to model body clock patterns that can be used to support varying needs of users over time. One strand of my research focuses on developing tools that can adapt to our individual rhythms and provide more biologically attuned support in the areas of physical and cognitive performance, sleep, and wellbeing. The other aspect of my research focuses on mental health --- preventing relapse by identifying disruptions and providing circadian interventions for bipolar and schizophrenic patients.
Herpes simplex infections in newborn infants

Concomitant with the increase in herpes simplex virus (HSV)-2 seroprevalence in the United States, the incidence of neonatal HSV infection has increased. The risk for infection to a child born vaginally to a mother with active primary or first-episode genital infection is 33 to 50 percent, compared with 1 to 3 percent during a recurrence. The presenting nonspecific signs of neonatal infection in the two-thirds of neonates who lack the classic vesicular eruption render diagnosis difficult. Newborns with unexplained cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis or bacterial culture-negative and progressive sepsis syndrome should be evaluated and treated empirically for HSV infection. Polymerase chain reaction for HSV DNA, along with viral cultures, has become an important diagnostic tool. Acyclovir remains the mainstay of therapy. Outcome depends on the stage of viral spread. Cesarean section may prevent infection in neonates of women with primary infection, but it has become more controversial in those with recurrent disease.
Flexible AL/AL/sub 2/O/sub 3/SIO/sub 2/ microplasma arrays: large area ultraviolet source for biomedical applications

Summary form only given. Flexible planar light sources are becoming a key technology for several applications such as portable displays, flexible illumination sources and biomedical applications. In particular, ultraviolet emission wavelengths between 250 and 400 nm are of great importance in biomedical applications. In this presentation, we report the fabrication and characteristics of arrays of microplasma devices having Al2O3 encapsulated metal electrodes which are designed for operation at atmospheric gas pressure. Following the growth of a thin layer of nanostructured Al2O3 on Al foil by a multistep electrochemical process, a film of SiO2 is deposited to bring the total dielectric thickness to 5 mum. Because the overall thickness of the device structure is 60-100 mum, an array of devices is fully flexible and is readily scalable in surface area. When driven by a sinusoidal waveform having a frequency of 20 kHz, the operating voltage for 600 torr of Ne is nominally 200 V (RMS). Also, the variation in emission intensity across the array is less than 10%. Several wavelength regions in the UV are accessible through the choice of molecular emitters. The optical and electrical characteristics of large scale arrays (tens of cm2) that are vacuum-sealed and flexible will be described
Glacial refugia: sanctuaries for allelic richness, but not for gene diversity

Glacial refugia are generally expected to harbor higher levels of genetic diversity than are areas that have been colonized after the retreat of the glaciers because colonization often involves only a few individuals. A new paper by Comps et al. challenges this expectation by demonstrating a more complex situation in the European beech Fagus sylvatica, for which some measures of genetic diversity are higher in newly colonized areas than in refugia. The key to understanding this counter-intuitive result rests both in the estimators used to measure genetic diversity and in the processes affecting these estimators during postglacial recolonization.
Measurement of blood-brain barrier permeability in a tumor model using magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium-DTPA.

Sequential MR imaging with gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) and sequential measurements of plasma Gd-DTPA concentration by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) were used to estimate the blood-to-tissue transport coefficient (Ki) in the 36B-10 rat glioma model. For these measurements, tissue Gd-DTPA concentration was estimated from tumor enhancement by correlation with calibration measurements obtained by ICP-AES analysis of tumor tissue. The 14 animals for which Ki, was calculated can be grouped into those imaged at 11 days following tumor implantation, at 13-18 days, and at 20 days. The mean (+SEM) Ki values for these groups were 1.1 + 0.24, 9.2 + 0.8, and 13.4 + 1.7 ml/kg-min, respectively. These results correspond well with published data obtained by quantitative autoradiography. It is concluded that frequent sequential imaging and a graphical approach to Ki, calculation are promising methods for determining the blood-to-tissue transport coefficient noninvasively by contrastenhanced MRI.
The ets multigene family is conserved throughout the Metazoa

This study provides the first empirical evidence for the conservation of the ets proto-oncogene transcription factor family throughout the Metazoa. Using the polymerase chain reaction with degenerate primers corresponding to conserved sequences within the ETS DNA-binding domain, we have detected ets genes in a range of lower metazoans, including sponges, ctenophores, anemones, flatworms and nematodes, and in severai higher invertebrate metazoans. Many of these sequences are significantly divergent from the original v-eta-1 oncogene, although most can be aligned with recently defined groups within the ets gene family. Multiple ETS domain sequences were detected in a number of the lower metazoan species, providing evidence for the existence of an ets multigene family at the earliest stages of metazoan evolution. In contrast, we were unable to detect any ETS sequences in fungal, plant or several protozoan DNAs. Our findings suggest that the duplication and divergence of ets proto-oncogenes responsible for generating the multigene family occurred concomitantly with the development of metazoan animals. In addition, these data corroborate other recent molecular evidence in providing strong support for the monophyletic origin of all multicellular animals, including sponges.
Bone mass measurements: reasons to be cautious.

Interpretation of a single measurement of bone mass, like evaluation of a child's height, must take age into account. Like cholesterol concentrations, bone mass is associated with risk even when values are in the “normal” range. Considering this will avoid those “below the fracture threshold” being frightened or those who have a “normal” bone mass being falsely reassured. The absolute risk of a fracture doubles with each decade after the age of 50, and, at any age, the relative risk of fracture increase 1.5-fold to twofold for each standard deviation decrease in bone mass (roughly 10%).1 Interpreting a change in bone mass requires caution. Problems arise from the imprecision of instruments, the increasing risks with multiple measurements of rejecting the null hypothesis when it is true (type I error), assumptions that bone density is a volumetric density, suggestions that treatment causes linear increases in bone mass, and assumptions that the pattern of bone loss is reversible. Dual energy x ray absorptiometry provides the most precise measurements of bone mass. …
Inferences and power analysis concerning two negative binomial distributions with an application to MRI lesion counts data

In comparing the mean count of two independent samples, some practitioners would use the t-test or the Wilcoxon rank sum test while others may use methods based on a Poisson model. It is not uncommon to encounter count data that exhibit overdispersion where the Poisson model is no longer appropriate. This paper deals with methods for overdispersed data using the negative binomial distribution resulting from a Poisson-Gamma mixture. We investigate the small sample properties of the likelihood-based tests and compare their performances to those of the t-test and of the Wilcoxon test. We also illustrate how these procedures may be used to compute power and sample sizes to design studies with response variables that are overdispersed count data. Although methods are based on inferences about two independent samples, sample size calculations may also be applied to problems comparing more than two independent samples. It will be shown that there is gain in efficiency when using the likelihood-based methods compared to the t-test and the Wilcoxon test. In studies where each observation is very costly, the ability to derive smaller sample size estimates with the appropriate tests is not only statistically, but also financially, appealing.
The Role of Microglia and NADPH Oxidase in Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in delayed biochemical changes that contribute to secondary tissue damage and dysfunction. The microglial-induced inflammatory response, long implicated in secondary tissue damage after SCI, includes release of various factors known to be toxic to neurons. However, the response of microglia and their subsequent role remains controversial and poorly understood. The present study evaluated the acute and chronic gene expression profiles in rats after traumatic SCI. Using anchor genes selected from the literature because of their relationship to microglial-induced inflammation, high density microarray expression profiles were examined after contusion. Two temporally correlated clusters were identified: one was expressed immediately after injury, peaking between 4 and 24 hours and declining to baseline or below baseline levels; the second was expressed chronically after injury, and remained elevated up to 6 months after injury. Expression profiles for genes of each group were confirmed using real-time quantitative PCR, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemistry. One of the genes chronically expressed from 24 hours to 6 months postinjury was p22phox, a component of the NADPH oxidase enzyme. To investigate the role of this chronically expressed gene after SCI and the effect of modification of its activity, the NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin was added to purified microglia cultures and microglial activation after LPS stimulation was investigated. Inhibition of p22phox/NADPH oxidase resulted in significant suppression of microglial proliferation, nitric oxide production, and microglial-induced neurotoxicity. This study demonstrates the potential utility of microarray technology in identifying possible targets for future therapeutics. Additionally, it identifies p22phox and NADPH as potential components of microglial-induced neurotoxicity, with implications for neuroprotective therapy.
Experiments with the intensity ratio depth sensor

Abstract This paper discusses a modification of the “plane-of-light” approach to range data acquisition which utilizes the ratio of two intensity images. The modification allows depth determination at each image pixel, avoiding the need to scan the plane of light, requiring only the acquisition and processing of two or three intensity images. The depth equation together with three experimental methods for its calculation are presented. Results of the three sensor implementations are given for test scenes.
Synthesis Anticancer Screening of 2-Indolyl 5-(l2,3,6-Tetrahydropyridyl) Ketones

Several derivatives of 2-indolyl 5-(1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridyl) ketone with various substituents on the pyridine nitrogen and with or without a benzenesulfonyl group on the indole nitrogen were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic and analytical data. Only one showed erratic but confirmed activity in the P-388 screen. The other derivatives were inactive in the L-1210 leukemia screen.
Solvent and temperature dependence of the hyperfine coupling constants in CTPO

Abstract The hyperfine coupling constant to the proton in the 4 position of the nitroxide spin label 4-protio-3-carbamoyl-2,2,5,5-tetraperdeuteromethyl-3-pyrrohne-1-yloxy (mHCTPO) has been measured in seven solvents of varying polarities at 259 and 323 K. All of the proton hyperfine coupling constants in 3-carbamoyl-2,2,5,5,-tetramethyl-3-pyrroline-1-yloxyl (CTPO) have been measured by NMR at 500 MHz in CD3OD at 307 and 323 K. These results together with corrected results in the literature have been fitted to an empirical equation which yields accurate values of the hyperfine coupling constants from measured values of the nitrogen hyperfine coupling constant and the temperature. Gaussian linewidths, necessary to correct for inhomogeneous broadening in unresolved spin-label spectra, may be calculated from an empirical equation involving the nitrogen hyperfine coupling constant and the temperature.
Breaking away: Violation of distortion emission phase-frequency invariance at low frequencies

The phase versus frequency function of the distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) at 2f1 − f2 is approximately invariant at frequencies above 1.5 kHz in human subjects when recorded with a constant f2/f1. However, a secular break from this invariance has been observed at lower frequencies where the phase-gradient becomes markedly steeper. Apical DPOAEs, such as 2f1 − f2, are known to contain contributions from multiple sources. This experiment asked whether the phase behavior of the ear canal DPOAE at low frequencies is driven by the phase of the component from the distortion product (DP) region at 2f1 − f2, which exhibits rapid phase accumulation. Placing a suppressor tone close in the frequency to 2f1 − f2 reduced the contribution of this component to the ear canal DPOAE in normal-hearing adult human ears. When the contribution of this component was reduced, the phase behavior of the ear canal DPOAE was not altered, suggesting that the breaking from DPOAE phase invariance at low frequencies is ...
Online Video Stabilization Based on Particle Filters

Particle filters have been introduced as a powerful tool to estimate the posterior density of nonlinear systems. These filters are also capable of processing data online as required in many practical applications. In this paper, we propose a novel technique for video stabilization based on the particle filtering framework. Scale-invariant feature points are extracted to form a rough estimate which is used to model the importance density. We use a constant-velocity Kalman filter model to estimate intentional camera movement. We also prove that the particle filtering estimate will lower the error variance. The superior performance and robustness of our algorithm is demonstrated by computer simulations.
STUDIES ON CULTURE STRAINS OF EUROPEAN AND MURINE TYPHUS

1. A strain of European typhus (Breinl) has been carried in cultures by means of successive transfers for a period of 1½ years, the rickettsiae in such cultures being quite as numerous as in similar cultures of murine strains of typhus. 2. The virulence of the cultures of European typhus has remained constant throughout the period of cultivation, although, on the whole, the scrotal lesions caused by the later culture generations were somewhat less marked than those produced by the first generations. 3. A strain of murine typhus has been similarly carried in cultures for 4 years with no apparent loss in pathogenicity. 4. The characteristic scrotal lesion in murine typhus in guinea pigs is apparently referable to actual predilection of this strain for the tunica tissue rather than to the number of rickettsiae injected.
Dual temperamental risk factors for psychopathic personality: Evidence from self-report and skin conductance.

Psychopathy is a personality disorder consisting of dysfunctional affective interpersonal features (Factor 1) and impulsive-antisocial behavior (Factor 2) that exhibit differential associations with palmar skin conductance (SC) reactivity. The goal of this study was to determine whether the distinct SC reactivity observed in incarcerated psychopaths generalizes to university students who score high on personality dimensions hypothesized to be the risk factors for these psychopathy factors. Lilienfeld's Psychopathic Personality Inventory (PPI; Lilienfeld & Andrews, 1996) was used to compute scores on 2 factor-analytically derived dimensions that have been the focus of recent research in psychopathy. PPI-1 is hypothesized to relate to the low-fear temperamental risk factor, whereas PPI-2 is hypothesized to relate to regulatory dysfunction. SC reactivity was measured during tasks previously used in studies of diagnosed psychopaths. Results indicated that PPI-1 was associated with reduced SC during anticipation of an aversive noise and PPI-2 was associated with enhanced SC reactivity during presentation of a speech about one's faults. Additional analyses explored an 8-factor solution of the PPI and 3 temperament dimensions derived from factor analysis of several personality measures. Together, the SC results suggest that the Factor 1 pathway, best captured with refined assessments of behavioral fearlessness, related to reduced SC reactivity to an aversive noise-consistent with a weak defense system. The Factor 2 pathway, best captured by higher order dimensions reflecting externalizing, disinhibited forms of negative temperament, related to enhanced SC reactivity to a speech stressor-consistent with high stress reactivity.
Discrete dislocation simulations of the development of a continuum plastic zone ahead of a stationary Mode III crack

We present results from discrete dislocation simulations showing the development of the plastic zone in front of a Mode III crack under constant load. We find that the equilibrated zone is circular, in agreement with continuum mechanics predictions of the elastic-perfectly plastic Mode III crack. The size of the equilibrated zone scales as the square of the applied load (KIII), also in agreement with the continuum results. The zone approaches saturation exponentially, with a time that scales as KIII2/σp3, where σp is the Peierls stress. These results delineate conditions under which the classical, continuum predictions of elastic–plastic fracture mechanics are applicable.
Mass spectrometry in pharmaceutical analysis 1

Mass spectrometry (MS) has become one of the most important analytical tools employed in the analysis of pharmaceuticals. This can most likely be attributed to the availability of new instrumentati...
Management of Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Early surgical involvement in the management of a patient at high risk for recurrent bleeding, despite endoscopic intervention, is often optimal to assure continuity of care. Close collaboration of the surgical team with gastroenterologic endoscopy teams greatly benefits the patient. A detailed description of the location of the bleeding process is of great help for the surgeon as surgical decision making will be influenced by the distance from the gastroesophageal junction or pylorus, location on the anterior or posterior wall, greater or lesser curvature or incisura, and the size of the process.
Correlations of13C chemical shifts and geometry modifications

The effect of geometry modifications of13C chemical shifts has been investigated in a small subset of molecules using both LO-INDO and Gaussian 70 (4–31) calculations. The Gaussian calculations, while known to give poor absolute shifts, compare well to the reparameterized semi-empirical INDO determinations in calculated shift changes. In virtually all cases the signs of the shift changes were found to be opposite to that of the changes in the calculated electronic energy.
Retooling the Pap Smear for Ovarian and Endometrial Cancer Detection

Although the Papanicolaou (Pap)2 smear was intended to be used to screen for cervical cancer and its precursors, ovarian and endometrial cancers are infrequently detected via abnormal cervical cytology. However, the diagnostic sensitivity of cytology alone is too low to be clinically useful. A recent publication in Science Translational Medicine (1) demonstrated that DNA mutational analyses of samples collected during the common Pap smear may be capable of detecting ovarian and endometrial cancer. Such a test would be highly advantageous considering that ovarian cancer is usually diagnosed in advanced stages and is highly lethal and that endometrial cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women. Furthermore, no effective screening test exists for either disease. This recent study combined with a prior report (2) provides proof of principle that tumor DNA from the proximal female reproductive tract may be detected in a minimally invasive fashion from the lower tract. Although promising, challenges remain before this concept can be applied as a global screening test for gynecologic cancer. Analyzing disease-specific DNA from Pap smears to enhance cervical pathology screening has been performed clinically for a decade. The recent study (1) exploits DNA stability and newer technological advances to identify abnormalities in the upper genital tract. Before Pap DNA analyses, the primary tumors underwent whole-exome sequencing to identify both anticipated and novel tumor-specific mutated genes. Investigators successfully identified the same mutations within the cervical sample as were in the respective primary tumor for 100% of the endometrial cancers and 41% of the ovarian cancers (1). Several technologic advances are leveraged in this study: ( a ) detecting scarce ovarian cancer DNA from cervical scrapings underscores the sensitivity of the sequencing method used; ( b ) the heterogeneity of each cancer type requires analysis of more …
Flow vorticity in Zhangbaling transpressional attachment zone, SE China

Abstract Plagioclase porphyroclasts with well-preserved idiomorphic shapes and zoning, and showing limited clast interaction, are ubiquitous in the flat-lying Zhangbaling schist that is exposed east of the Tan-Lu fault in southeast China. Plagioclase porphyroclasts define rigid particles whose distribution be related to the kinematic vorticity of the schist using the methods of porphyroclast hyperbolic distribution (PHD) and modified Rf/ϕ (Passchier/Wallis plot). The kinematic vorticity numbers calculated from this approach range from Wk = 0.72 to 0.82, increasing progressively from south to north along the Zhangbaling belt. Such a Wk distribution indicates that the Zhangbaling schist was deformed uniformly under simple-shear dominated general shear, and that the Zhangbaling ductile crust experienced relatively even crustal thinning deformation. The subhorizontal Zhangbaling schist is considered a mid-crustal attachment zone that coupled the rigid upper crust to a subvertical, wrench shear zone in the lower crust.
Bioengineered arginase I increases caspase-3 expression of hepatocellular and pancreatic carcinoma cells despite induction of argininosuccinate synthetase-1.

Background Hepatocellular and pancreatic carcinomas are often auxotrophic for L-arginine, a semi-essential amino acid. The purpose of this study was to investigate cancer cell death using a significantly more active, cobalt-substituted bioengineered arginase. Methods Panc-1, a human pancreatic carcinoma cell line, and Hep 3B, a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, were exposed to L-arginase. Flow cytometry was used to measure expression of Ki-67, caspase-3, and argininosuccinate synthetase-1 (ASS-1) 4 days after treatment. An MTT assay measured proliferation. The Student t test determined statistical significance. Results Viability decreased by 31% ± 2% for Panc-1 cells ( P P P P P P Conclusion Increased ASS-1 expression by these cells, in order to increase L-arginine concentration, is inadequate, suggesting a mechanism by which arginine depletion can be used in multimodality therapy for arginine-dependent cancers.
Optical interference on free-space optical transceivers

We investigate the effects of optical interference on the performance of free-space optical (FSO) network links. Experiments indicate that interfering laser pulses of varying peak power, wavelength, and repetition rate incident upon FSO transceivers can produce up to a 90% reduction of average network throughput.
Work, Family, and Individual Factors Associated with Mothers Attaining Their Preferred Work Situations

This study explores work, family, and individual factors associated with mothers attaining their preferred work situations, including full-time, part-time, work from home, and no paid work. Data are taken from a sub-sample of 1,777 mothers from a nationally representative sample contacted by random-digit dialing phone interviews by the University of Connecticut Center for Survey Research and Analysis and the Motherhood Study. Actual work situation, household income, spouse or partner's work situation, perception of family financial responsibility, race, and religion are associated with attaining preferred work situations using logistic regression, ANOVA, and chi-square analyses. Thirty-six percent of mothers who are in their preferred work situations have experienced fewer negative emotions and more positive emotions, suggesting implications for individual and family well-being and work—family policies.
Orientation softening in the deformation and wear of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene

Abstract Stress-induced anisotropy is an important phenomenon in the plastic deformation of semi-crystalline linear high polymers. The significance of this phenomenon in the wear of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) bearing surfaces in total joint-replacement prostheses is studied in this investigation. Both linear and crosslinked UHMWPE materials were studied by means of a sequential biaxial tensile test and a hip-joint simulator experiment. The objective was to develop a wear model that focuses on the interactions between the molecular structure of the UHMWPE and the multi-directional stress field experienced on the articular surfaces of artificial joints. A plasma etching technique coupled with scanning electron microscopy was used to reveal the structural characteristics of wear surfaces and wear debris. This method revealed a significant degree of segmental orientation of molecular chains on the wear surfaces and within wear debris. Failure of the wear surfaces was in the form of transverse rupture between oriented molecules. This failure mechanism of the wear surfaces was further evidenced by the observation that the orientation of the molecular chain axis was always parallel to the longest dimension of the wear debris. Sequential biaxial tensile test results revealed that prestretching of UHMWPE in the longitudinal direction resulted in a significant softening in the transversee direction. The degree of transverse softening increased with increasing the stress of longitudinal stretching. Results obtained from the hip simulator test indicated that the wear resistance of UHMWPE can be significantly improved by radiation-induced cross-linking.
Neutron diffraction study of occupancy and positional order of oxygen ions in phase stabilized cubic bismuth oxides

Abstract The high temperature cubic bismuth oxide phase stabilized with lanthanide dopants undergoes an order–disorder transition of the anion sublattice at about 600°C. When annealed at temperatures below the transition temperature, oxygen ion conductivity undergoes a decay. Neutron diffraction studies have been performed to investigate the structural changes in the anion sublattice that result in the conductivity decay and the effect of dopant on the kinetics of decay. Atomic displacement parameters of oxygen ions were determined at low temperatures for the ordered and disordered structures to determine the static disorder in the oxygen sublattice of ordered and disordered structures.
Spectroscopic Evidence for Nonuniform Starspot Properties on II Pegasi

We present spectroscopic evidence for Multiple Spot temperatures on the RS CVn star II Pegasi (HD 224085). We model the strengths of the 7055 and 8860 A TiO absorption bands in the spectrum of II Peg using weighted sums of inactive comparison spectra: a K star to represent the nonspotted photosphere and an M star to represent the spots. The best fit yields independent measurements of the starspot filling factor (f(sub s) and mean spot temperature (T(sub s)) averaged over the visible hemisphere of the star. During three-fourths of a rotation of II Peg in late 1996, we measure a constant f(sub s) approximately equals 55% +/- 5%. However, (T(sub s) varies from 3350 +/- 60 to 3550 +/- 70 K. We compute (T(sub s) for two simple models: (1) a star with two distinct spot temperatures, and (2) a star with different umbral/penumbral area ratios. The changing (T(sub s) correlates with emission strengths of H(alpha) and the Ca II infrared triplet in the sense that cooler (T(sub s) accompanies weaker emission. We explore possible implications of these results for the physical properties of the spots on II Peg and for stellar surface structure in general.
The Street‐Level Bureaucrats of Elections: Selection Methods for Local Election Officials

The 2000 presidential election and the recount battle in Florida focused attention on local election administration in the United States. The Help America Vote Act, passed by the federal government in 2002, requires wholesale changes in voting equipment and other election procedures. However, the law did not address the selection of individuals who manage elections: both state and local election officials play a great role implementing federal and state election laws. Recently, several election reform advocates have argued for shifting to nonpartisan election administrators in the United States. Others, particularly associations representing election officials, have not endorsed that position. To inform this debate, we provide data on the selection methods and party affiliations for all local election officials in the United States (more than 4,500 individuals or commissions). We find considerable variation in the methods used to select state and local election officials in the United States.
Teaching social implications of computing

I'm Brian Harvey; I'm a Lecturer with Security of Employment in the EECS Department at the University of California at Berkeley. (The strange title means that I'm a full-time teacher, but basically tenured, although I'm not supposed to call it that. There aren't very many of us: 17 on the Berkeley campus.) My main teaching assignment is our first course for CS majors, based on the Abelson and Sussman text from MIT. But I also teach "Social Implications of Computers," a course that was retired along with the professor who first taught it, and that I campaigned unsuccessfully to revive for several years until ABET, our accrediting agency, won the battle for me by complaining about the lack of ethics in our curriculum.
The effect of surface configuration on grain boundary sliding

In studies of grain boundary sliding during creep, it is necessary to distinguish between the strain due to sliding in the bulk of the specimen and the strain occurring at the surface. In general, these quantities are not the same, although the difference depends on the configuration of the surface grains. Methods are suggested for estimating the internal sliding from surface measurements, and an analysis is made of detailed results published for α iron.
Peak Performance Training Using Prefrontal EEG Biofeedback

The use of biofeedback training to self-regulate EEG patterns with the aim of recovering or optimizing function and behavioral performance is becoming increasingly established. The most reasonable approach is to learn to generate and maintain optimal brain wave patterns and produce associated peak performance states on demand. We report two studies where 12 sessions of prefrontal EEG feedback were used to improve performance in both clinical and nonclinical populations. Neurofeedback using Focus, Alertness, and 40 Hz (Neureka!) measures resulted in improved selective attention and other cognitive functions. We discuss other potential applications of neurofeedback in the areas of “under-pressure” activity, where peak performance state is an essential part of the job, such as in sports or the performing arts, as well as for human operators, such as air traffic dispatchers and military personnel on duty.
Comparison of Enzymatic and Non-Enzymatic Nitroethane Anion Formation: Thermodynamics and Contribution of Tunneling

In the reaction of nitroalkane oxidase (NAO), the oxidation of nitroalkanes to the corresponding aldehydes or ketones is initiated by the deprotonation of the neutral nitroalkane. The energetics of nitroethane ionization for both the enzymatic and non-enzymatic reactions have been determined by measuring rate constants as a function of temperature. At 25 °C, the rate constant for the acetate-catalyzed reaction is a billionfold smaller than the kcat/Km value for NAO. This corresponds to a difference of 12.3 kcal/mol in the free energy of activation that is largely due to a difference in the activation enthalpy. Analysis of the temperature dependence of the deuterium kinetic isotope effects on the reactions yields similar ΔEa and AH/AD values for the acetate, phosphate, and NAO-catalyzed reactions that fall within the semiclassical limits, consistent with similar contributions of tunneling to the enzymatic and non-enzymatic reactions.
Influence of developmental nicotine exposure on spike-timing precision and reliability in hypoglossal motoneurons

Smoothly graded muscle contractions depend in part on the precision and reliability of motoneuron action potential generation. Whether or not a motoneuron generates spikes precisely and reliably depends on both its intrinsic membrane properties and the nature of the synaptic input that it receives. Factors that perturb neuronal intrinsic properties and/or synaptic drive may compromise the temporal precision and the reliability of action potential generation. We have previously shown that developmental nicotine exposure (DNE) alters intrinsic properties and synaptic transmission in hypoglossal motoneurons (XIIMNs). Here we show that the effects of DNE also include alterations in spike-timing precision and reliability, and spike-frequency adaptation, in response to sinusoidal current injection. Current-clamp experiments in brainstem slices from neonatal rats show that DNE lowers the threshold for spike generation but increases the variability of spike-timing mechanisms. DNE is also associated with an increase in spike-frequency adaptation and reductions in both peak and steady-state firing rate in response to brief, square wave current injections. Taken together, our data indicate that DNE causes significant alterations in the input-output efficiency of XIIMNs. These alterations may play a role in the increased frequency of obstructive apneas and altered suckling strength and coordination observed in nicotine-exposed neonatal humans.
Community College Retention and Access Issues: A View from the Field.

Drawing on Rankin's 2008 study and literature on retention and community colleges, this study presents perceptions of community college Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and Chief Academic Officers (CAOs) in relation to issues affecting retention and access. Childcare, transportation, and funding concerns are examined.
Videodensitometric quantitation of mean blood flow

Abstract Standard angiography demonstrates the anatomy of arterial occlusive disease but does not define its physiological significance. However, measurement of flow in a compromised vessel at rest and following peripheral dilatation provides important physiological information. Using digital subtraction angiography, femoral arterial flows determined by the cross-correlation transit time technique were compared to measurements by electromagnetic flowmeter. Thirty-five femoral arterial flow measurements were obtained in nine dogs instrumented with an electromagnetic flow probe and balloon occluder. Renografin 76 (7 cc) was power-injected at 14 cc/sec into the distal abdominal aorta. Angiographic flow measurements correlated well with electromagnetic flowmeter measurements ( r = 0.94, standard deviation of the difference (SDD) = 15 ml/min). Intravenous studies provided somewhat poorer correlation due to difficulties in defining dimensions ( r = 0.72, SDD = 36). Paired contrast injections (2 injections in succession) in 11 studies increased flow from an average of 80 to 250 ml/min (a 210 ± 100% increase), providing an estimate of a vessel's capacity to provide increased flow during peripheral dilatation. Thus, reliable angiographic flow determinations may be obtained by arterial and intravenous contrast injections, adding physiological information to anatomical definition.