cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Polymyalgia rheumatica can recur years after discontinuation of corticosteroid therapy.

Objective To describe disease recurrence in polymyalgia rheumatica. Methods I present 12 patients with recurring PMR from a single clinical practice with long-term clinical follow-up (mean 14.3 years). Results Despite a disease-free interval off corticosteroids of 2 years or longer, these patients experienced 1 overt recurrence (or more) of PMR. Conclusion The course of PMR is not uniformly monophasic, and patient and physician should remain alert to the possibility of recurring disease.
Controlling polymer architecture to design dynamic network materials with multiple dynamic linkers

A one pot synthesis is applied to control the chain structure and architecture of multiply dynamic polymers, enabling fine tuning of materials properties by choice of polymer chain length or crosslink density. Macromolecules containing both non-covalent linkers based on quadruple hydrogen-bonded 2-(((6-(3-(6-methyl-4-oxo-1,4-dihydropyrimidin-2-yl)ureido)hexyl)carbamoyl)oxy)ethyl methacrylate (UPyMA), and thermoresponsive dynamic covalent furan–maleimide based Diels–Alder linkers are explored. The primary polymer's architecture was controlled by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, with the dynamic non-covalent (UPyMA) and dynamic covalent furfuryl methacrylate (FMA) units incorporated into the same backbone. The materials are crosslinked, taking advantage of the “click” chemistry properties of the furan–maleimide reaction. The polymer materials showed stimulus-responsive thermomechanical properties with a decrosslinking temperature increasing with the polymer's primary chain length and crosslink density. The polymers had good thermally promoted self-healing properties due to the dynamic covalent Diels–Alder bonds. Besides, the materials had excellent stress relaxation characteristics induced by the exchange of the hydrogen bonds in UPyMA units.
Moving up the Sanitation Ladder while Considering Function: An Assessment of Indigenous Communities, Pit Latrine Users, and Their Perceptions of Resource Recovery Sanitation Technology in Panama

As households move up the sanitation ladder, health risks presumably decline but the corresponding technologies may require increasing operation and maintenance costs. One critique of the ladder is that it prioritizes technology and could be improved if it included a functional approach to monitoring, such as including aspects of environmental sustainability that consider resource recovery. Using analyses of data obtained from semi-structured interviews, surveys, and field observations, this study examines the functional transition toward improved sanitation technology as a household moves up the sanitation ladder with the added function of resource recovery (from pit latrines to composting latrines). The study took place in six indigenous Ngabe communities in Panama. The results reveal that of 103 pit latrines studied, 88% were completed and in use, but only 35% were operated appropriately. Approximately 60% of pit latrine owners reported that they would use composting latrines, with compost as the primary perceived benefit. Barriers to adoption include lack of prior experience, user disgust of working with excrement, and the perceived amount of work required for operation. Overall, these findings indicate the importance of establishing demonstration projects and culturally aligned training for more complex sanitation technologies that enable resource recovery. The results have broad implications for understanding sanitation technology transitions in rural and indigenous settlements in other world regions.
Acute cardiovascular hospitalizations and illness severity before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) hospitalizations declined worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is unclear how shelter-in-place orders affected acute CVD hospitalizations, illness severity, and outcomes. Hypothesis COVID-19 pandemic was associated with reduced acute CVD hospitalizations (heart failure [HF], acute coronary syndrome [ACS], and stroke [CVA]), and worse HF illness severity. Methods We compared acute CVD hospitalizations at Duke University Health System before and after North Carolina's shelter-in-place order (January 1-March 29 vs. March 30-August 31), and used parallel comparison cohorts from 2019. We explored illness severity among admitted HF patients using ADHERE ("high risk": >2 points) and GWTG-HF (">10%": >57 points) in-hospital mortality risk scores, as well as echocardiography-derived parameters. Results Comparing hospitalizations during January 1-March 29 (N = 1618) vs. March 30-August 31 (N = 2501) in 2020, mean daily CVD hospitalizations decreased (18.2 vs. 16.1 per day, p = .0036), with decreased length of stay (8.4 vs. 7.5 days, p = .0081) and no change in in-hospital mortality (4.7 vs. 5.3%, p = .41). HF hospitalizations decreased (9.0 vs. 7.7 per day, p = .0019), with higher ADHERE ("high risk": 2.5 vs. 4.5%; p = .030), but unchanged GWTG-HF (">10%": 5.3 vs. 4.6%; p = .45), risk groups. Mean LVEF was lower (39.0 vs. 37.2%, p = .034), with higher mean LV mass (262.4 vs. 276.6 g, p = .014). Conclusions CVD hospitalizations, HF illness severity, and echocardiography measures did not change between admission periods in 2019. Evaluating short-term data, the COVID-19 shelter-in-place order was associated with reductions in acute CVD hospitalizations, particularly HF, with no significant increase in in-hospital mortality and only minor differences in HF illness severity.
Chapter 15 - Hazardous Waste

This chapter discusses the state of knowledge in the field of hazardous waste engineering, tracing the quantities of wastes generated in the nation from handling and processing options through transportation controls, to resource recovery, and ultimate disposal alternatives. The methods involved in waste processing include chemical stabilization/fixation, volume reduction, waste segregation, detoxification, degradation, and encapsulation. Hazardous wastes are transported across the nation on trucks, rail flatcars, and barges. Truck transportation and particularly small-truck transportation is a highly visible and constant threat to public safety and the environment. The major concerns over hazardous waste haulers include operator training, insurance coverage, and special registration of transport vehicles. The concept of a cradle-to-grave tracking system has long been considered key to proper management of hazardous waste. This system serves four major purposes: it provides the government with a means of tracking waste within a given state and determining quantities, types, and locations where the waste originates and is ultimately disposed of; it certifies that wastes being hauled are accurately described to the manager of the processing/disposing facility; it provides information for recommended emergency response if a copy of the manifest is not returned to the generator; and it provides database for future planning within a state. Other issues related to transportation of hazardous waste include packaging, labeling, placarding, and accident reporting. Incinerators and landfills can be used as waste disposal alternatives, whereas waste transfers and clearinghouses act to minimize the flow of waste to disposal sites and serve as resource recovery alternatives.
Monitoring Cellular Adenine Nucleotide Levels and Their Relevance to Cellular Metabolic Functions Using Bioluminescence based Strategies

Adenine nucleotides are major determinants of the energy status of the cell and thus any modulation of their cellular concentration has significant consequences to cellular metabolism, cellular gro...
Sulfisoxazole Chemoprophylaxis for Frequent Otitis Media

Sulfisoxazole, 75 mg/kg/d in two divided doses for 3 months, was administered in a double-blind placebo crossover study to 35 children aged 6 months to 5 years who had frequent recurring episodes of otitis media. There was a 40% reduction in the rate of otitis media among patients receiving sulfisoxazole compared with those receiving placebo (0.25 v 0.42 episode per patient-month) which did not depend on age, sex, season, or several other factors. Using a randomized order, among patients who received placebo first, there was a 64% reduction on sulfisoxazole therapy compared with placebo (0.20 v 0.56 episode per patient-month). In this subgroup, there was significant improvement in eustachian tube function according to serial tympanograms. In the patients who received sulfisoxazole first, the rate of acute otitis remained low on placebo (0.28 v 0.30 episode per patient-month), and tympanogram patterns continued to improve after discontinuation of the active drug. These differences suggest a carry-over effect from the benefits of chemoprophylaxis. There was no significant difference in the species or sensitivity patterns of bacteria isolated from patients receiving sulfisoxazole or placebo. Sulfisoxazole chemoprophylaxis appears to be safe and effective in significantly reducing episodes of otitis media and improving tympanogram patterns.
The plasma environment of comets

U.S. research activities in the area of cometary plasma physics during 1987-1990 are reviewed. Consideration is given to mass loading and its consequences in the upstream region, the cometary shock, the cometosheath, the diamagnetic cavity boundary and the inner shock, and the plasma tail. Special attention is given to models and observations that have modified the pre-encounter understanding of cometary plasma environments.
Trafficking in foreign tax credits

Abstract This paper describes a complex tax sham perpetrated by Compaq Computer Corporation and presumably many other U.S. firms during the 1990s. Using a novel trading strategy designed to exploit the tax code and accounting regulations, Compaq purchased what would otherwise be unusable foreign tax credits held by tax-exempt institutions, likely pension funds that held American Depository Receipts (ADRs) for international diversification. These tax-exempt institutions were paid for selling their foreign tax credits occasioned by foreign withholding taxes on dividend income. Obscure trading regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) facilitated the trading strategy. In 1999, a U.S. Federal District Tax Court ruled that Compaq's strategy lacked economic substance and was a sham. Compaq has appealed the ruling. A similar lower court ruling against IES Industries was overruled in 2001 by the U.S. Appeals Court for the Eighth Circuit in St. Louis. In September 2001, The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. Supreme Court may hear the matter depending on the disposition of the Compaq appeal. Recent changes to the Internal Revenue Code presumably preclude this type of trading strategy from being implemented in the future.
Safe procedure for opening evacuated glass ampoules containing dried pathogens.

A simple, safe, closed system for opening evacuated, sealed glass ampoules and removing dried pathogens is described.
Low-complexity technique to increase capacity of mobile broadband systems

The paper describes a low-complexity technique to increase the capacity and performance of mobile broadband systems, particularly for fast changing, highly frequency selective channels. The technique is very low complexity and can be implemented with today's hardware at low cost. It entails minor scheduling constraints and pilot-plus-data aided channel estimation for coherent demodulation with a reduced number of pilot tones. Simulation results show a 15% spectrum efficiency improvement in the context of a high-mobility orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) wireless communication system such as 802.20 or 4G.
Impact of pharmacist involvement in the transitional care of high-risk patients through medication reconciliation, medication education, and postdischarge call-backs (IPITCH Study)

BACKGROUND Previous data suggest that direct pharmacist interaction with patients through medication reconciliation, discharge counseling, and postdischarge phone calls decreases the number of adverse drug events (ADEs) and plays an overall positive role in transitional care. Previous studies have evaluated pharmacist involvement in improving transitional care, but these studies did not include multiple postdischarge follow-up phone calls. OBJECTIVES The objectives of this study were to assess the impact of pharmacist involvement in transitions of care as measured by decreased medication errors (MEs) and ADEs, patients' knowledge related to communication about their medications as measured by improvement in the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores, and 30-day all-cause inpatient readmissions and emergency department (ED) visits. METHODS This was a prospective, randomized, single-period longitudinal study that occurred from November 2012 through June 2013 at an urban, tertiary, academic medical center. Patients admitted to 2 designated internal medicine units on high-risk medications or with greater than 3 prescription medications upon discharge were included for randomization. The control group received the usual hospital standard of care. The study group received face-to-face medication reconciliation, a patient-specific pharmaceutical care plan, discharge counseling, and postdischarge phone calls on days 3, 14, and 30 to provide education and assess study endpoints. RESULTS A total of 278 patients were included in the final analysis, with 141 in the control group and 137 in the study group. Fifty-five patients (39%) in the control arm experienced an inpatient readmission or ED visit within 30-days postdischarge compared to 34 patients (24.8%) in the study arm (P = 0.01). Eighteen patients (12.8%) in the control group experienced an ADEs or MEs compared to 11 patients (8%) in the study group (P > 0.05). The HCAHPS scores during the study period showed a 9% improvement for the assessed questionnaire domain (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated that pharmacist involvement in hospital discharge transitions of care had a positive impact on decreasing composite inpatient readmissions and ED visits. Statistically significant difference in medication-related events and HCAHPS scores were not observed. Patients with moderately complex medication regimens benefited from a continuity of care involving a pharmacy team during transitions in care. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2016;11:39–44. © 2015 Society of Hospital Medicine
Folate bioavailability and health

Since its discovery in 1931 by Lucy Wills, and its first isolation in 1941 by Mitchell, Snell and Williams, our understanding of the fascinating world of folic acid and one-carbon metabolism, and its role in health and disease, has come a long way. However, there is still much to do in perfecting methods to measure folate bioavailability, and status, with a high degree of precision and accuracy. Future examination of the relationships of common gene polymorphims involved in folate bioavailability (folate polyglutamate deconjugation and carrier-mediated absorption) and one-carbon metabolism (methylation cycle, folate cycle and DNA synthesis/repair) to folate status, morbidity, mortality and longevity, need to be considered concurrently rather than as a series of individual associations, as has been the usual practice.
Limits on collective X-ray scattering imposed by coherence

We present the calculation of the threshold for observation of collective plasmon modes in a solid density plasma probed with a partially coherent X-ray source. We find that at lower electron densities (ne2 × 1023 cm−3) de-coherence effects pose a stringent limit to the effective divergence as well as bandwidth of the probe source. These results are more restrictive than the usual condition that the probed scale-length must be larger than the screening distance in the plasma.
Determination of the regiochemistry of insect epoxide hydrolase catalyzed epoxide hydration of juvenile hormone by 18O-labeling studies

Abstract The regiochemistry of Trichoplusia ni epoxide hydrolase catalyzed epoxide hydration of insect juvenile hormone (JH) III has been determined by GC/MS studies of 18O-label incorporation. Nucleophilic addition occurs at C10 of the C10,11 epoxide of JH III. The identification of isotopically labeled and unlabeled diol from the enzyme catalyzed hydration reaction in H218O implies that a covalently bound ester intermediate may be involved in the mechanism of the reaction.
Effects of sensitivity derivatives on aerodynamic design optimization

The effects of sensitivity derivatives on the performance of aerodynamic design optimization were evaluated. Sensitivity derivatives were obtained by both analytical and finite-difference approaches. A sensitivity code was developed to analytically obtain sensitivity derivatives for the two-dimensional Euler equations using the material derivative concept of continuum mechanics. Several inverse design optimizations were performed to evaluate the merits of the analytical approach in comparison with the finite-difference approach. The results show that the analytical approach provides accurate sensitivity derivatives consistently, improves the convergence of the design cycle, and hence reduces the design cost.
Estimating a DIF decomposition model using a random-weights linear logistic test model approach

A differential item functioning (DIF) decomposition model separates a testlet item DIF into two sources: item-specific differential functioning and testlet-specific differential functioning. This article provides an alternative model-building framework and estimation approach for a DIF decomposition model that was proposed by Beretvas and Walker (2012). Although their model is formulated under multilevel modeling with the restricted pseudolikelihood estimation method, our approach illustrates DIF decomposition modeling that is directly built upon the random-weights linear logistic test model framework with the marginal maximum likelihood estimation method. In addition to demonstrating our approach’s performance, we provide detailed information on how to implement this new DIF decomposition model using an item response theory software program; using DIF decomposition may be challenging for practitioners, yet practical information on how to implement it has previously been unavailable in the measurement literature.
Kinetic behavior of cloned mouse acetylcholine receptors. A semi-autonomous, stepwise model of gating.

This model assumes that any conformational changes consequent to binding one ligand are kinetically undetectable (on the time scale of the instrumentation) and/or irrelevant to the gating process. We have analysed AChR activation kinetics according to an alternative scheme that explicitly incorporates agonist-induced conformational changes. In this stepwise model, each subunit undergoes an isomerization after binding an agonist, with ionic conduction occurring only after both subunits have activated: -100 mV). Kinetic analysis followed the Horn and Lange (1983) full maximum likelihood method, with a first-order correction for missed events (Roux and Sauve, 1985). After selecting a subset of bursts that was apparently homogeneous, the rates of either activation scheme were iteratively adjusted by a Simplex algorithm until the -log likelihood was a minimum. The significance of the log likelihood ratios (LLR) was examined both by resampling and simulation methods (Horn, 1987). At 1,000 ~M, the predominant component of gaps with bursts has a time constant of 64 ~s, indicating an effective opening rate at this concentration of 15,600 S-I. The results of the likelihood fit to a patch exposed to 10 ~M ACh are shown below (all rates are S-I or S-l ~M-l). The association and dissociation rates of the stepwise scheme were assumed to be equal and independent, so that each model had the same number of independent parameters (six).
Change in Data Marks And Groove Structure of CD-Recordable Disks in Response to a High Power Laser Beam

It is studied how data marks and the groove structure change when a high power laser beam (>0.5W) is focused on the data layer.
Thermal and mechanical properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)/cellulose nanowhiskers composites

Abstract Bacterial polyester poly(3-hydroxybutyrate- co -3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) was reinforced with cellulose nanowhiskers (CNW) in 1–5 wt.% concentrations using a solvent casting method. The CNW was prepared from microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) using sulfuric acid hydrolysis. The influence of CNW on the PHBV crystallization, thermal, dynamic mechanical and mechanical properties were evaluated using polarized optical microscope (POM), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), tensile and bulge tests, respectively. POM test results demonstrated that CNW was an effective PHBV nucleation agent. Tensile strength, Young’s modulus and toughness of PHBV increased with the increasing concentration of CNW. DMA results showed an increased tan δ peak temperature and broadened transition peak, indicating restrained PHBV molecular mobility in the vicinity of the CNW surface. Storage modulus of the PHBV also increased with the addition of CNW, especially at the temperatures higher than the PHBV glass transition temperature. These results indicated that the CNW could substantially increase the mechanical properties of PHBV and this increase could be attributed to the strong interactions between these two phases.
An uncommon hazard: Pulmonary talcosis as a result of recurrent aspiration of baby powder

Abstract A previously healthy 52-year old woman presented to the hospital with a 6-month history of progressive dyspnea. Associated symptoms included a persistent dry cough that started 2 months prior admission and an unintentional weight loss of 20 pounds over the course of her illness. On lung examination revealed fine bilateral end-inspiratory crackles in both lower and upper lobes. Radiographic studies showed evidence of interstitial lung disease. The patient underwent bronchoscopy were transbronchial biopsies were taken and showed fibrosis of bronchial walls and lung parenchyma with prominent non-necrotizing granulomata that contained abundant polarizing crystalline material. Once the pathologic findings were known, the patient was re-interviewed. She reported that for the last 20-years, she used baby talcum powder regularly at least twice a day, usually after bathing for personal hygiene. In addition, she habitually applied it to her bed sheets nightly. She was started on prednisone at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day, which was gradually tapered and then maintained on a dose of 5 mg daily. Her symptoms rapidly improved over weeks to the point whereshe no longer required home oxygen therapy.
All Supervision is Multicultural: A Review of Literature on the Need for Multicultural Supervision in Counseling

This paper discusses several aspects of multicultural supervision, reviews current research literature on cross cultural supervision, which would explain why it is important to be competent in multicultural supervision. The paper also describes the roles of the supervisor and supervision techniques that facilitate multicultural supervision. A Case example is provided for a better conceptualization of the techniques involved in multicultural supervision. The paper also addresses areas that need more research and literature within the field of cross-cultural supervision.
Multiperiod production planning with demand and cost fluctuation

We consider the production planning of a single product over a finite planning horizon. The latter is made up of time periods that may not necessarily be of the same length. In each time period, the product is subject to a constant demand and a finite production capacity. If demand is not satisfied immediately, it is backlogged. The cost rates of carrying inventory or backlogging a unit of the product may also vary from one time period to the next. The objective is to determine an optimal production plan for the product so as to minimize the total inventory and backlog costs incurred over the planning horizon. The problem is formulated as an optimal control problem. First, the optimal solution of the one-time-period problem is determined. Then, based on the one-time-period optimal solution, the optimal solution for the whole planning horizon is obtained by solving a nonlinear programming problem.
Rapid Characterization of Magnetic Moment of Cells for Magnetic Separation

NCI-H1650 lung cancer cell lines labeled with magnetic nanoparticles via the Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule (EpCAM) antigen were previously shown to be captured at high efficiencies by a microfabricated magnetic sifter. If fine control and optimization of the magnetic separation process is to be achieved, it is vital to be able to characterize the labeled cells' magnetic moment rapidly. We have thus adapted a rapid prototyping method to obtain the saturation magnetic moment of these cells. This method utilizes a cross-correlation algorithm to analyze the cells' motion in a simple fluidic channel to obtain their magnetophoretic velocity, and is effective even when the magnetic moments of cells are small. This rapid characterization is proven useful in optimizing our microfabricated magnetic sifter procedures for magnetic cell capture.
Molecular characterization of the breakpoint region associated with a constitutional t(2;15)(q34;q26) in a patient with multiple myeloma

The molecular cloning of the translocation breakpoints from constitutional chromosome rearrangements in patients with a variety of human diseases has consistently led to the isolation of genes important in the development of the phenotype. We used fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to analyze the breakpoint region of a constitutional chromosome translocation involving regions 2q34 and 15q26 observed in a patient with multiple myeloma (MM), a malignant disorder of plasma cells secreting monoclonal immunoglobulin. FISH analysis of this rearrangement showed that the chromosome 2-specific yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) 914E7 and the chromosome 15-specific YAC 757H6 span the translocation breakpoints, respectively. In order to characterize the location of the breakpoints further, somatic cell hybrids were constructed between mouse NIH3T3 cells and t(2;15)-bearing lymphoblastoid cells. Using these somatic cell hybrids, we have shown that the breakpoint on chromosome 2 lies between D2S3007 and D2S3004 and the chromosome 15 breakpoint lies between D15S107 and WI5967 (D15S836). YAC fragmentation has been used to define a 350 kb region containing the 15q26 breakpoint.
Effects of Previous Days Open, Previous Days Dry, and Present Days Open on Lactation Yield

Influences of days open present lactation, days open previous lactation, and days dry previous lactation were fit simultaneously to determine their effects on measures of yield, which were fat-corrected milk, milk, and milk fat, all adjusted to a 305-d mature equivalent basis. Best linear unbiased estimates were obtained. Multiparity analyses were conducted using a model in which later parity records could be compared with more unselected first parity records. Additional parity information made little difference in the influence of previous days dry and previous and present days open on yield. As present days open increased from 20 to 300 d, lactation yields for FCM, milk, and milk fat increased approximately 1250, 1350, and 45 kg. As previous days open increased from 20 to 300 d, lactation yields for FCM, milk, and milk fat increased approximately 625, 650, and 25 kg. Cows dry 60 to 69 d gave the most milk the following lactation. Cows dry less than 40 d produced much less milk the next lactation. Heritability estimates for previous days dry were less than 7%. Multiplicative adjustment factors were developed to adjust lactation yield records for the largely environmental effects of days open and days dry.
The effect of carboxyl-terminal deletions on the nuclear transport rate of rat hsc70.

Abstract Rat brain hsc70 is a constitutively expressed member of the 70-kDa family of heat shock proteins that is capable of bidirectional transport across the nuclear envelope when microinjected into Xenopus oocytes [1]. The objective of this study was to identify domains involved in its bidirectional transport. Limited proteolytic digestion with chymotrypsin generated three major truncated proteins of ~67.5, 59.5, and 56.5 kDa. Reactivity with NH 2 -terminal-specific antibodies showed that carboxyl-terminal fragments were removed. Nuclear uptake studies were performed by microinjecting 125 I-labeled proteins into the cytoplasm and determining their subsequent nucleocytoplasmic distribution. The accumulation rates, while faster than bovine serum albumin controls, were inversely related to the size of the truncated proteins and greatly reduced compared to undigested hsc70. Nuclear efflux was assayed by microinjecting labeled proteins directly into oocyte nuclei. The relative efflux rates of the truncated polypeptides were less than the undigested protein, and, as observed for uptake, were inversely related to size. These results indicate that the carboxyl-terminal domain of hsc70 is involved in its bidirectional exchange.
Algorithm for Automatic Construction of Query Formulations in Boolean Form.

on the basis of several pragmatic assumptions we developed an algorithm for the automatic construction of query formulations in Boolean form. The suggested algorithm also substantially simplifies the end-user interaction. The user expresses his search request by a set of docuemnts pertinent to his need. The quality of the search depends only on the algorithm and on how completely and precisely the information need of a user is represented in his search request. The algorithm might also be useful for correcting query formulations on the basis of the user's feedback during his interaction with the system
Prediction of the disulphide bridges in proteins using SVM

Disulphide bonds link distant portions of protein chains and provide strong structural constraints in the form of long-range interactions. Prediction and knowledge of disulphide bond connectivity is important in reducing the search space of protein conformation. In this research, we present an effective way to predict disulphide bridges by Support Vector Machine (SVM). The SVM encoding was based on experimental results on the binding motifs of protein disulphide isomerases. The physical-chemical characteristics of the flanking sequences and the linear distance between the concerned cysteine pairs were also included in the encoding. An overall pair wise accuracy of 92% was obtained for the SP39 dataset.
Population and Initial Validation of a Formal Model for Construction Safety Risk Management

The transient, unique, and complex nature of construction projects makes safety management exceptionally difficult. Most construction safety efforts are applied in an informal fashion under the premise that simply allocating more resources to safety management will improve site safety. Currently, there is no mechanism by which construction-site safety professionals may formally evaluate safety risk and select safety program elements for implementation. This paper introduces and validates a risk-based safety and health analytical model that can be used to evaluate expected risk given specific worker activities, strategically select highly effective safety program elements for implementation when resources are limited, and quantify resulting risk once the identified safety elements have been implemented. Specifically, the paper has three primary objectives: (1) introduce a risk-based construction safety and health analytical model; (2) validate relevant data used to populate the model; and (3) illustrate the applications of the model in practice. The findings of this research indicate that the values used to populate the model are reliable and that the model has the potential to significantly improve construction safety management.
A comment on durable goods consumption

Abstract This paper examines the time series behavior of durables/nondurables and services consumption expenditure of six OECD countries, following Caballero's approach. In each country, durables expenditure exhibits greater reversion than nondurables and services, when lower frequencies of the series are examined. The results reject the frictionless PIH as a model for durable goods consumption. However, they strongly support Mankiw's hypothesis on the nature of durable goods consumption.
Immunocytochemical localization of protein kinase C in resting and activated human neutrophils

An immunocytochemical method was used to determine possible changes in the subcellular distribution of protein kinase C (PKC) in human neutrophils in response to opsonized latex beads and zymosan. While in resting cells most of the PKC immunoreactivity was localized in the cytoplasm, a redistribution of PKC to the plasma and phagosomal membranes was observed in cells treated with latex beads or zymosan for 5–20 min, suggesting a participation of PKC in endocytosis.
WOMEN OF THE 1950s AND THE "NORMATIVE" LIFE COURSE: THE IMPLICATIONS OF CHILDLESSNESS, FERTILITY TIMING, AND MARITAL STATUS FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING IN LATE MIDLIFE

We explore women's psychological well-being in late midlife in relation to childlessness and timing of entry into motherhood. Using two U.S. surveys, Health and Retirement Study (HRS) (1992) and National Survey of Families and Households (NSFH) (Sweet, Bumpass, & Call, 1988), we assess the well-being of childless women in their 50s compared to mothers with early, delayed, or normatively timed first births. We focus on the cohorts born between 1928 and 1941, who experienced strong normative pressures during the baby boom with regard to marriage and child-bearing. We find few differences among childless women but lower well-being among early mothers, related to singlehood and poorer socioeconomic status. Unmarried mothers are significantly disadvantaged regardless of maternal timing, controlling for socioeconomic status. Current maternal demands are independently related to well-being and help to explain observed differences in family satisfaction. Overall, childlessness and off-time child-bearing are related to midlife well-being through their link with more proximate factors, particularly current marital status, health, and socioeconomic status.
Moldova: arena of international influences

Moldova: arena of international influences, edited by Marcin Kosienkowski and William Schreiber, Lanham, Mayland, Lexington Books, 2012, 286 pp., $75.00 (hardback), ISBN 978-0-7391-7391-6 (also ava...
A Dual-Resonant Microstrip Antenna for Paperboard in the Cold Chain

Passive UHF RFID tags have proved to be useful to serialize and automate tracking of goods through the supply chain, and the application of RFID to the cold chain is especially useful, where food safety and product quality are of special concern. The environment in the cold chain provides unique challenges to RFID tags, where water-based contents are the norm, and moisture and humidity can range widely. In this paper, we present a novel approach to addressing these challenges: using a microstrip antenna that uses the cardboard as the substrate. This introduces a new problem, namely that the wide variation in the dielectric properties of the cardboard makes it difficult to use traditional microstrip antennas. In this paper, we show a novel antenna structure and matching circuit that overcomes these challenges. The resulting design provides nearly uniform level of performance regardless of content and moisture condition. The antenna is readily manufacturable using traditional inlay manufacturing techniques.
Humoral immunity in the central nervous system of Lewis rats infected with Borna disease virus

The aim of this study was to investigate the humoral immune response to Borna disease (BD) virus in the brain of experimentally infected Lewis rats. Abundant IgG was detected in BD-rat brain with isotype variation throughout infection. IgG was locally produced as indicated by an intact blood-brain barrier, Ig kappa light chain mRNA-containing cells in brain and accumulation of virus-specific antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid. Treatment with BD-rat serum altered viral gene expression in persistently infected cultured rat glioblastoma cells. These data suggest that antibodies, produced in the brain, may influence viral gene expression.
Hopes and challenges in using miRNAs as translational biomarkers for drug-induced liver injury

There is a need for better biomarkers of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) to guide risk assessment and patient management. Over the past 3 years, both animal and clinical studies have provided proof-of-concept data showing that a subset of miRNAs appear to offer unique advantages over the conventional DILI biomarkers, such as enhanced sensitivity and specificity, reduced inter-individual variations, the potential to differentiate lethal and nonlethal liver injury, and the ability to reflect the patterns and even the etiology of liver injury. Notably, many studies have demonstrated that level of miR-122, a liver-enriched miRNA accounting for approximately 70% of total hepatic miRNAs, was increased many fold in the blood when DILI occurred. However, currently available data are predominantly based on animal models and not human samples. Due to the lack of a standard quantification method for miRNAs and confirmatory studies using a comprehensive list of drugs and patients, the true value of all reported miRNA biomarkers remains to be carefully assessed. An outstanding challenge is to examine if miRNAs are also useful for idiosyncratic DILI, which constitutes the major part of clinical DILI cases but generally cannot be recapitulated in traditional animal models or in clinical trials (the latter due to its relative rarity).
Atomistic simulations of mixed-lipid bilayers in gel and fluid phases.

The slow rate of diffusive mixing poses a challenge for molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies of mixed-lipid bilayers. A mixed Monte Carlo−molecular dynamics (MC−MD) approach, which uses mutation moves to swap lipid types throughout the system within the semi-grand canonical ensemble, is here applied to a comparison of binary mixtures in the gel and liquid crystalline phases. The two lipid components modeled, distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC) and dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC), differ by four carbons in the lengths of their acyl tails and are investigated here at full hydration at a temperature (313 K) between their transition temperatures, where coexistence between a DSPC-rich gel phase and a DMPC-rich liquid crystalline phase is expected. An analysis of DSPC-DMPC mixtures in the gel phase indicates strong deviation from ideality in the thermodynamics of mixing, accompanied by a tendency of the shorter-tailed component DMPC to associate laterally and for DMPC headgroups to be displaced tow...
The pyrolysis of anisole (C6H5OCH3) using a hyperthermal nozzle

Abstract We have investigated the pyrolysis of anisole (C6H5OCH3), a model compound for methoxy functional groups in lignin. An understanding of the pyrolysis of this simple compound can provide valuable insight into the mechanisms for the thermal decomposition of biomass. Our emphasis in this study is the formation of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and in particular we investigate the formation of naphthalene. The route to the formation of naphthalene from anisole follows the simple unimolecular decomposition of anisole, which leads to the phenoxy radical and then cyclopentadienyl radical. This chemical pathway has been demonstrated before, but the subsequent reaction of two cyclopentadienyl radicals to give naphthalene has only been the subject of theoretical investigations. We have used matrix isolation FTIR spectroscopy together with photoionization time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry to identify intermediates in this reaction mechanism. Using this technique, we have trapped phenoxy and cyclopentadienyl radicals and measured their IR spectra. The formation of these species is confirmed in our TOF mass spectrometer. We have also identified the formation of 9,10-dihydrofulvalene, the adduct from the reaction of two cyclopentadienyl radicals. Finally, we have used molecular beam mass spectrometry (MBMS) and factor analysis to demonstrate the formation of naphthalene from the pyrolysis of anisole.
NBCe1 as a model carrier for understanding the structure-function properties of Na⁺ -coupled SLC4 transporters in health and disease

SLC4 transporters are membrane proteins that in general mediate the coupled transport of bicarbonate (carbonate) and share amino acid sequence homology. These proteins differ as to whether they also transport Na(+) and/or Cl(-), in addition to their charge transport stoichiometry, membrane targeting, substrate affinities, developmental expression, regulatory motifs, and protein-protein interactions. These differences account in part for the fact that functionally, SLC4 transporters have various physiological roles in mammals including transepithelial bicarbonate transport, intracellular pH regulation, transport of Na(+) and/or Cl(-), and possibly water. Bicarbonate transport is not unique to the SLC4 family since the structurally unrelated SLC26 family has at least three proteins that mediate anion exchange. The present review focuses on the first of the sodium-dependent SLC4 transporters that was identified whose structure has been most extensively studied: the electrogenic Na(+)-base cotransporter NBCe1. Mutations in NBCe1 cause proximal renal tubular acidosis (pRTA) with neurologic and ophthalmologic extrarenal manifestations. Recent studies have characterized the important structure-function properties of the transporter and how they are perturbed as a result of mutations that cause pRTA. It has become increasingly apparent that the structure of NBCe1 differs in several key features from the SLC4 Cl(-)-HCO3 (-) exchanger AE1 whose structural properties have been well-studied. In this review, the structure-function properties and regulation of NBCe1 will be highlighted, and its role in health and disease will be reviewed in detail.
Ares V: Progress Towards a Heavy Lift Capability for the Moon and Beyond

NASA's new exploration initiative will again take humans beyond low Earth orbit, to the moon, and into deep space. The space agency is developing a new fleet of launch vehicles that will fulfill the national goals of replacing the Space Shuttle fleet, completing the International Space Station, establishing a permanent outpost on the moon, and eventually traveling to Mars. Separate crew and cargo vehicles emerged from mission architecture studies - the Ares I to carry the Orion crew exploration vehicle and its crew of4 to 6 astronauts, and the Ares V to carry the Altair lunar lander or other supplies to support future exploration missions. (Figure 1) These vehicles will be designed to be safe, affordable, sustainable, reliable, operable with the safety, reliability, flexibility, and operability to serve this nation's manned and unmanned exploration programs for the coming decades. This paper discusses recent and current progress on the Ares V and planned future activities.
An epidemic in evolution: The need for new models of HIV care in the chronic disease Era

Since the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, models of HIV care have needed to be invented or modified as the needs of patients and communities evolved. Early in the epidemic, primary care and palliative care predominated; subsequently, the emergence of effective therapy for HIV infection led to further specialization and a focus on increasingly complex antiretroviral therapy as the cornerstone of effective HIV care. Over the past decade, factors including (1) an aging, long-surviving population; (2) multiple co-morbidities; (3) polypharmacy; and (4) the need for chronic disease management have led to a need for further evolution of HIV care models. Moreover, geographic diffusion; persistent disparities in timely HIV diagnosis, treatment access, and outcomes; and the aging of the HIV provider workforce also suggest the importance of reincorporating primary care providers into the spectrum of HIV care in the current era. Although some HIV-dedicated treatment centers offer comprehensive medical services, other models of HIV care potentially exist and should be developed and evaluated. In particular, primary care- and community-based collaborative practices—where HIV experts or specialists are incorporated into existing health centers—are one approach that combines the benefits of HIV-specific expertise and comprehensive primary care using an integrated, patient-centered approach.
Mining Permission Request Patterns from Android and Facebook Applications

Android and Face book provide third-party applications with access to users' private data and the ability to perform potentially sensitive operations (e.g., post to a user's wall or place phone calls). As a security measure, these platforms restrict applications' privileges with permission systems: users must approve the permissions requested by applications before the applications can make privacy-or security-relevant API calls. However, recent studies have shown that users often do not understand permission requests and are unsure of which permissions are typical for applications. As a first step towards simplifying permission systems, we cluster a corpus of 188,389 Android applications and 27,029 Face book applications to find patterns in permission requests. Using a method for Boolean matrix factorization to find overlapping clusters of permissions, we find that Face book permission requests follow a clear structure that can be fitted well with only five patterns, whereas Android applications demonstrate more complex permission requests. We also find that low-reputation applications often deviate from the permission request patterns that we identified for high-reputation applications, which suggests that permission request patterns can be indicative of user satisfaction or application quality.
On the study of generic cyclic redundancy code

Abstract This paper describes a new method of analyzing the syndromes for multiple input Linear Feedback Shift Registers (LFSR). A matrix formulation is developed to simplify the analysis from traditional polynomial representation of Cyclic Code. In particular, the information contained in the syndrome is investigated. Based on this, the error detection and correction capability of the multiple input LFSR is investigated. The formulation provides an alternative analytical tool to the study of Cyclic Code and new insights to its practical application.
A test of charge independence in π p backward scattering below 600 MeV

Abstract Charge independence in the strong interactions has been tested by examining the backward cross sections for pion-nucleon scattering from 150 to 600 MeV. In contrast to the conclusion suggested by previous data, present data reveal no compelling evidence for a violation. At 425 MeV, an upper limit (90% confidence) of 0.3 is found for the ratio of the magnitude of the isospin violating amplitude to the magnitude of the π + elastic scattering amplitude.
Response to "comment on 'short-term arterial travel time prediction for advanced traveler information systems' by Wei-Hua Lin, Amit Kulkarni, and Pitu Mirchandani

The discussion given in this note is in response to the comments by the discussant, T. Tsekeris.
A40-K40 dating

The A40/K40 ratios and the Pb-U ages of various co-existing potassium feldspars and uraninites were determined. It was found that with a branching ratio λeλβ = 0.085 ± 0.005 and a decay constant λ = 0.55 × 10−9yr, the A40/K40 ages could be brought into agreement with the Pb-U ages for samples ranging from 260 to 1860 m.y. Ko evidence was found for the loss of argon by diffusion from potassium feldspars.