cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Continuing the Constitutional Dialogue: A Discussion of Justice Stevens’ Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Jurisprudence

This article examines Justice John Paul Stevens’ religion clause jurisprudence from the perspective of a continuing dialogue about the meaning of the Free Exercise Clause and the Establishment Clause. The term continuing dialogue suggests that even for as formidable and long-tenured a jurist as Justice Stevens, important questions remain open and unresolved. The article identifies the values and concerns reflected in the many opinions Justice Stevens authored or joined. Then it moves beyond those writings to discuss unanswered questions about Justice Stevens’ understanding of the two religion clauses. In particular, the article explores potential dissonance between Justice Stevens’ contrasting interpretation of the Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause.With regard to Establishment Clause challenges to religious displays, for example, Justice Stevens expressed substantial concern for the status and sensibilities of religious minorities confronted with state sponsored symbols reflecting majoritarian religious beliefs. These messages had the tendency to divide communities along religious lines by affirming the beliefs of larger faiths while disfavoring religious minorities and nonbelievers. Religious sensibilities, however, may be just as offended by regulations interfering with religious as they are by preferential displays. Minority faiths may suffer a similar sense of alienation and unequal treatment when government adopts general laws that avoid burdening the religious practices of majority faiths while denying exemptions to minority religions whose practices are burdened by comparable legislation. Yet these status and sensibility concerns are seldom discussed by Justice Stevens in free exercise cases. Also, Justice Stevens joined the majority opinion in Employment Division v. Smith, a decision that sharply restricted free exercise rights and assigned the problem of providing religious accommodations to the political branches of government. One key argument supporting the holding in Smith was the Court’s concern that judicial protection of free exercise rights would require federal judges to engage in subjective, value-based, ad hoc balancing of free exercise rights and competing state interests, a task that exceeded their competence and judicial role. Justice Stevens also believed, however, that the Court must exercise vigilant oversight over discretionary religious accommodations. To satisfy Establishment Clause requirements, the Court must determine that accommodations do not unfairly favor certain faiths over others, and do not extend so far that they impose an unacceptable burden on others. The open question here is whether this Establishment Clause task can be accomplished by federal courts without undertaking the same kind of subjective, value-based, ad hoc analysis the Court rejected in free exercise cases.
Global magnetic-field reversal in the corona

This paper addresses the nature of the hydromagnetic processes in the solar corona that bring about the reversal of its global magnetic field, in response to the emergence of new magnetic flux in an 11-year solar cycle. Magnetic reconnection, magnetic fields reconfigured from old and new fluxes, and coronal mass ejections give physical clues for a qualitative theory of this global field reversal phenomenon. We show that twisted magnetic fields may emerge and reorganize into flux ropes in the corona, with implications for the removal of magnetic flux threading across the photosphere, as well as the removal of magnetic flux systems and their helicity out of the corona into interplanetary space in order to make room for the newly emerged flux. This physical picture is constructed out of physical insights and results of idealized calculations from published works.
Posttraumatic stress symptoms in OIF/OEF service members with blast-related and non-blast-related mild TBI

PURPOSE: To examine the proportion and severity of stress-related symptoms in U.S. service members with mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) received during deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) or Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). Stress-related symptoms reported by service members with mTBI from explosive munitions are compared to symptoms reported by those with mTBI received from other mechanisms (i.e. falls, motor vehicle accidents). METHODS: Posttraumatic stress, as measured by scores on the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-C), for a sample of 586 OIF/OEF service members with blast-related mTBI was compared to a sample of 138 OIF/OEF service members with non-blast mTBI selected from retrospective review of research records. RESULTS: Re-experiencing symptoms such as flashbacks and nightmares were higher for the blast mTBI group than for the non-blast mTBI group. Symptoms on other PTSD clusters and total score did not significantly differ between groups. Equivalent proportions of the blast and non-blast groups endorsed severe PTSD symptoms, with total PCL-C scores greater than or equal to 50. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with prior reports, high levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms occur in a substantial proportion of service members who experienced deployment-related blast and non-blast mTBI. Results suggest that the psychological rehabilitation of OIF/OEF service members with mTBI from explosive blast should include particular attention to addressing re-experiencing symptoms. Language: en
EFFECT OF PHOTOPERIOD ON CYCLIC PATTERNS OF BODY TEMPERATURE IN THE QUAIL.

THE nature of body temperature rhythms in gallinaceous birds can best be described when exogenous factors such as disturbances, movement (muscular activity), and temperature extremes are controlled. Normal fluctuations in body temperature usually are associated with concomitant forms of daily activity. The magnitude of variation differs considerably among species. In chickens kept in an uncontrolled, but moderate, environment the diurnal differential in body temperature is approximately 1.3° C (refs. 1 and 2). The highest body temperature occurs at 1700 h and the lowest at 0400 h. In a controlled environment where temperatures were held constant at 21.1° C, the diurnal body temperature change in chicken was 0.17° C (ref. 3). The body temperature of Gambel quail (Lophortyn gambelii) maintained at ambient temperatures between 24° and 26° C fluctuates between 40° and 41.5° C during the day and has a range approximately 1.5° C lower during the night4. Most investigators agree that activity per se is the principal factor which causes change in body temperature. Since the light period induces or exaggerates activity, it is of interest to determine the influence different photoperiods have on altering the circadian changes of body temperature in coturnix (Coturnix coturnix japonica).
11β-Chloromethyl-[3H] estradiol-17β: a very high affinity, reversible ligand for the estrogen receptor

It has been suggested that binding of 11β-chloromethyl estradiol (11β-CME2) to the estrogen receptor is irreversible, since its complex with receptor fails to undergo exchange with estradiol (E2). To investigate this behavior directly, 11β-CME2 was prepared in high specific activity, tritium-labeled form: The binding of [3H]11β-CME2, to the estrogen receptor from lamb and rat uterus and MCF-7 human breast cancer cells was shown to be fully reversible; the 11β-CME2 complex with receptor, as well as that of a structural analog 11β-ethyl estradiol, however, do not dissociate or exchange with [3h]e2over a 22 h period at 25°C. By competitive or direct binding assays, the affinity of 11β-CME2for the estrogen receptor can be estimated to be as much as 10- to 30-fold higher than that of E2. The complexes of estrogen receptor from MCF-7 cells with [3H]11β-CME2 and [3H]E2 show identical velocity sedimentation profiles on sucrose gradients, under conditions when the receptor is either a monomer of a dimer. Because of its very high affinity and unusual dissociation kinetics, [3H]11β-CME2 should be a very useful ligand for studies of estrogen receptor dynamics and in the assay of estrogen receptor concentrations in tumors and tissues.
HoneyIM: Fast Detection and Suppression of Instant Messaging Malware in Enterprise-Like Networks

Instant messaging (IM) has been one of most frequently used malware attack vectors due to its popularity. Distinct from other malware, it is straightforward for IM malware to find and hit the next victim by exploiting the current victim's contact list and playing social engineering tricks. Thus, the spread of IM malware is much harder to detect and suppress through conventional approaches. The previous solutions are ineffective to defend against IM malware in an enterprise-like network environment, mainly because of high false positive rate and the requirement of the IM server being inside the protected network. In this paper, we propose a novel IM malware detection and suppression mechanism, HoneyIM, which guarantees almost zero false positive on detecting and blocking IM malware in an enterprise-like network. The detection of HoneyIM is based on the concept of honeypot. HoneyIM uses decoy accounts to trap IM malware by leveraging malware spreading characteristics. Fed with accurate detection results, the suppression of HoneyIM can conduct a network-wide blocking. In addition, HoneyIM delivers attack information to network administrators in real-time so that system quarantine and recovery can be quickly performed. The core design of HoneyIM is generic, and can be applied to the scenarios that either enterprise IM services or public IM services are used in the protected network. Based on open-source IM client Pidgin and client honeypot Capture, we build a prototype of HoneyIM and validate its efficacy through both simulations and real experiments. Our results show that HoneyIM provides effective protection against IM malware in enterprise-like networks.
Effect of linezolid on the occurrence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci

The resistance of bacteria to antimicrobials is a natural phenomenon that is inevitable in the health care setting. To slow the rate of antimicrobial reesistance, measures should be taken to improve infection control, develop new antimicrobials, and ensure the judicious use of currently available
Heterogeneity of tachykinin receptors in the rabbit lung

The tachykinins, substance P (SP) and neurokinin A (NKA), are agonists for the NK1 and NK2 receptors, respectively. Tachykinins have various respiratory effects, including bronchoconstriction. This study characterizes tachykinin binding sites in the rabbit lung. We hypothesize that (2-[125I]iodohistidyl1)Neurokinin A ([125I]NKA) interacts with NK1 and NK2 binding sites in the rabbit lung. The Kd determined from saturation isotherms was 0.69 X/÷1.14 nM (geometic mean X/÷ SEM) and the Bmax was 4.15±0.22 femtomole/mg protein (arithmetic mean±SEM). Competitive inhibition studies with NKA, SP and various selective tachykinin agonists showed the rank order of potency: [β-Ala8]-Neurokinin A 4–10=SP ≫ NKA ≫ [Sar9,Met(O2)11]-Substance P. [β-Ala8]-Neurokinin A 4–10, a selective NK2 agonist, and SP inhibition of [125I]NKA binding were best described using a two-site model. Competitive inhibition studies using the selective nonpeptide NK2 antagonist (SR 48968) and the selective nonpeptide NK1 antagonist (CP 96,345) revealed Ki's of 5.5 nM and 8.1 nM, respectively. Our data therefore suggest that [125I]NKA binds to both the NK1 and NK2 receptors in the lung.
Fractal genome sequences.

Abstract The existence of fractal sets of DNA sequences have long been suspected on the basis of statistical analyses of genome data. In this article we identify for the first time explicitly the GA-sequences as a class of fractal genomic sequences that are easy to recognize and to extract, and are scattered densely throughout the chromosomes of a large number of genomes from different species and kingdoms including the human genome. Their existence and their fractality may have significant consequences for our understanding of the origin and evolution of genomes. Furthermore, as universal and natural markers they may be used to chart and explore the non-coding regions.
Neural network based expert system for compressor stall monitoring

This research is designed to apply a new information processing technology, artificial neural networks, to monitoring compressor stall. The outputs of neural networks support the dynamic knowledge data base of an expert system. This is the open-loop mode to avoid compressor stall. The integration of a control system with neural networks is the closed-loop mode in stall avoidance. The feasibility of the concept has been demonstrated for the compressor of 16-foot transonic/supersonic propulsion wind tunnels. The construction of a prototpye expert system has been initiated.
Hydrogen adsorption by alumina-supported platinum

Abstract Isotherms at 295 and 77 °K for hydrogen adsorbed on wet or dry samples of alumina-supported platinum are used to deduce the existence of five kinds of hydrogen adsorption. Type I is reversible at 77 °K, includes both physical and weakly bound chemical adsorption, and most is accounted for by adsorption on the alumina support. Type II is irreversibly bound at 77 °K on a surface not previously exposed to H2. Type III is an activated chemisorption with an infrared band at 2060 cm−1. It is not adsorbed at 77 °K and can be pumped off at room temperature. Type IV has an infrared band at 2120 cm−1 and is adsorbed at 77 °K only if the sample contains adsorbed hydrogen which is irreversibly bound at 295 °K. The binding energy for this species is lower than that for type III. Type V hydrogen is irreversibly bound at room temperature and is necessary for the adsorption of type IV at 77 °K. The quantities of the various kinds of adsorption vary with the nature of the surface and can be used to determine whether two samples differ merely in exposed area or in the nature of the surface. This technique is used to show that aged dry samples which have experienced many H2O2 titrations and reactivations differ from freshly prepared dry samples only in active surface area, while water changes the relative amounts of different forms of adsorption.
HIV-1 Nef drives macrophages into hiding.

In this issue of Blood, Verollet et al show that expression of the HIV-1–derived protein Nef alters the migratory mode adopted by macrophages, enhancing macrophage tissue infiltration and explaining the observed accumulation of tissue-resident macrophages in some HIV-infected patients.
Public attitudes on criminal justice

I t is hardly news that the public is broadly and deeply dissatisfied with the law, the legal system, and legal authorities. Evidence of this dissatisfaction is everywhere--in newspaper editorials, speeches by political leaders, and public opinion polls--and it is having an important impact on the role of law in our society. Citizens are increasingly unwilling to obey the law and are more likely to ignore or disobey court orders. Juries are increasingly "nullifying" laws in reaching verdicts, and the public is restricting the discretion of the judiciary through new legislation and other initiatives, such as California's "three strikes" law) All of this suggests the importance of better understanding the views of the public about the legal system. The goal of Justice, Liabili~7, and Blame is to provide systematic
Retinoic acid selectively inhibits the vascular permeabilizing effect of VPF/VEGF, an early step in the angiogenic cascade.

All-trans-retinoic acid (RA) and other retinoids modulate cell growth and differentiation, generally favoring terminal cell differentiation and inhibiting carcinogenesis. Retinoids are also reported to inhibit angiogenesis and endothelial cell migration, actions that are also anti-carcinogenic. Vascular permeability factor/vascular endothelial growth factor (VPF/VEGF) is a multifunctional cytokine secreted by many tumors. It renders microvessels hyperpermeable to plasma and stimulates endothelial cell migration and division. To investigate further the mechanisms by which RA inhibits angiogenesis, we evaluated the effects of RA on VPF/VEGF-induced angiogenesis and microvascular permeability. RA selectively inhibited the angiogenic response induced by VPF/VEGF, but not that induced by fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), in the CAM assay. RA and two of its isomers also inhibited the vascular permeabilizing effect of VPF/VEGF but not that induced by histamine. The vascular permeabilization induced by VPF/VEGF and blocked by RA takes place within 1-15 min, too short a time frame for RA to act by modulating transcription through classic retinoid receptors. RA also inhibited VPF/VEGF-induced phosphorylation of PLC-gamma and synthesis of cGMP but actually increased VPF/VEGF binding to cultured endothelial cells. Taken together, these findings indicate that RA selectively blocks VPF/VEGF-induced microvascular permeability and angiogenesis and also identify VPF/VEGF as a major target of RA action. The selectivity of RA's action suggests that other, RA-independent pathways must exist for the angiogenesis induced by FGF-2 and the vascular permeabilizing effect of histamine.
A parabolic numerical procedure for three-dimensional viscous rotating flows

This paper presents the development of a parabolic numerical procedure for rotating flows and its applications to three-dimensional viscous rotating flows. The formulation is based on the Navier–Stokes equations in general co-ordinates fixed on a rotating frame, so that the rotation effect is included in the guess-correct process. The use of body-fitted curvilinear co-ordinates makes it easier to handle the complex geometries of turbomachinery components. In the present work a k–ϵ turbulence model was used for the three-dimensional numerical tests. The algorithm is equally applicable to incompressible and compressible flows. Comparisons of the predicted results with the experimental data were reasonably good, and the solutions were stable to rotational speeds up to at least 14 000 rpm.
Randomized, controlled clinical trial of point-of-care limited ultrasonography assistance of central venous cannulation: The Third Sonography Outcomes Assessment Program (SOAP-3) Trial

Context:A 2001 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Evidence Report on patient safety addressed point-of-care limited ultrasonography guidance for central venous cannulation and strongly recommended real-time, dynamic guidance for all central cannulas. However, on the basis of one limited stud
Space-invariant holography with quasi-coherent light.

Optical configurations for performing holography with light of limited coherence are analyzed. Such configurations, which may employ mirrors and gratings in preference to lenses and prisms, are space invariant in that the optical pathlength of a ray between object and hologram recording planes depends only on its initial direction, not on its location in the object plane. Holograms of arbitrary size made from object transparencies of arbitrary size and containing an arbitrary number of fringes may be produced with light of limited coherence.
Problems in obtaining diffraction-quality crystals of hetero-oligomeric integral membrane proteins.

The major barrier responsible for the slow pace of structure determination of integral membrane proteins is the difficulty of crystallizing detergent-solubilized hydrophobic proteins, particularly hetero-oligomeric integral membrane proteins. For the latter class of multi-subunit proteins, we have encountered the following problems in addition to the ubiquitous problem of detergent compatibility: (i) instability caused by over-purification that results in delipidation; (ii) protease activity degrading exposed loops and termini of subunits of the complex that could not be inhibited; (iii) poor protein–protein contacts presumably arising from masking by the detergent micelle. Problem (i) could be ameliorated in crystallization of the cytochrome b6f complex by augmenting the delipidated complex with synthetic lipid. Problem (ii) has not been solved. Problem (iii) has been solved in other systems by the use of monoclonal antibodies (or other protein ligands) to increase the probability of protein–protein contacts. In the case of the complex formed by the cobalamin and colicin receptor, BtuB, and the receptor binding domain of colicin E3, the latter served as a ligand for protein–protein contacts that facilitated crystallization.
Primary Biliary Cirrhosis: Therapeutic Advances

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic and slowly progressive cholestatic liver disease characterized by destruction of the interlobular bile ducts, which, if untreated, leads to fibrosis, biliary cirrhosis, and liver failure. Because liver transplantation remains the only curative option for PBC, the goals of treatment are to slow the rate of progression, to alleviate related symptoms, and to prevent complications. Ursodeoxycholic acid is the only US Food and Drug Administration-approved medical treatment of PBC. Several agents are undergoing evaluation as monotherapy or as an adjuvant to ursodeoxycholic acid. This review summarizes current therapeutic advances in the care of patients with PBC.
Mineralization Content Alters Osteogenic Responses of Bone Marrow Stromal Cells on Hydroxyapatite/Polycaprolactone Composite Nanofiber Scaffolds

Synthetic tissue scaffolds have a high potential impact for patients experiencing osteogenesis imperfecta. Using electrospinning, tissue scaffolds composed of hydroxyapatite/polycaprolactone (HAp/PCL) composite nanofibers were fabricated with two different HAp concentrations—1% and 10% of the solid scaffold weight. After physico-chemical scaffold characterization, rat bone marrow stromal cells were cultured on the composite scaffolds in maintenance medium and then in osteogenic medium. Quantitative PCR, colorimetric assays, immunofluorescent labeling, and electron microscopy measured osteogenic cell responses to the HAp/PCL scaffolds. In maintenance conditions, both Hap/PCL scaffolds and control scaffolds supported cell colonization through seven days with minor differences. In osteogenic conditions, the 10% HAp scaffolds exhibited significantly increased ALP assay levels at week 3, consistent with previous reports. However, qPCR analysis demonstrated an overall decrease in bone matrix-associated genes on Hap/PCL scaffolds. Osteopontin and osteocalcin immunofluorescent microscopy revealed a trend that both mineralized scaffolds had greater amounts of both proteins, though qPCR results indicated the opposite trend for osteopontin. Additionally, type I collagen expression decreased on HAp scaffolds. These results indicate that cells are sensitive to minor changes in mineral content within nanofibers, even at just 1% w/w, and elucidating the sensing mechanism may lead to optimized osteogenic scaffold designs.
Abstract A33: Exploring pediatric cancer genomics with the UCSC Cancer Genomics Browser

The UCSC Cancer Genomics Browser (https://genome-cancer.ucsc.edu) is a set of web-based tools to display, investigate and analyze cancer genomics data and associated clinical data. Experimental quantities such as gene expression levels, copy number variation and somatic mutations are displayed next to clinical features such as age of onset and cancer subtype. Users can interactively group or sort data by clinical features to dynamically explore how genomic aberrations relate to clinical outcomes. Integrated Kaplan–Meier plots help investigators assess how clinical or genomic values impact long-term survival. The browser currently hosts data from 144 cancer studies including TCGA, CCLE and LINCS. It can display data from multiple studies at once, facilitating cross-cancer comparisons. We are currently interested in hosting new pediatric cancer datasets, and can offer either public or protected access as appropriate. Figure 1 illustrates the power of this approach. It compares patterns of somatic mutations in pediatric high-risk neuroblastoma, a cancer of the peripheral nervous system (Pugh, Morozova et al, Nature Genetics 2013) to those in two adult cancers of the central nervous system: lower grade glioma (LGG, TCGA) and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM, TCGA), and contrasts the age of the patient with frequency of mutations in the Alpha Thalassemia/Mental Retardation Syndrome X-linked (ATRX) gene. The data for all three cancers is sorted by the age of the patient, with yellow being the oldest. The age ranges overlap: the oldest neuroblastoma patients are 16, while the youngest LGG and GBM patients are 14 and 21 respectively. While the three cancers show distinct patterns of somatic mutations, all three show frequent mutations in the ATRX gene in older teens or young adults. This suggests that these cancers may share age-related subtypes with similar genomic signatures. These subtypes may indicate the age-dependent importance of ATRX in the development of both central and peripheral nervous systems, and may ultimately highlight common therapeutic avenues for the two groups of diseases. This data set can be explored at the UCSC Cancer Genomics Browser at https://genome-cancer.ucsc.edu/proj/site/hgHeatmap/#?bookmark=pc Citation Format: Melissa Cline, Olena Morozova, Teresa Swatloski, Brian Craft, Mary Goldman, David Haussler, Jingchun Zhu. Exploring pediatric cancer genomics with the UCSC Cancer Genomics Browser. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pediatric Cancer at the Crossroads: Translating Discovery into Improved Outcomes; Nov 3-6, 2013; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;74(20 Suppl):Abstract nr A33.
Dispersion of relaxation rates in dense liquids and glasses

The structural relaxation rates, which are crucial in understanding the liquid \ensuremath{\leftrightarrow} glass transition, are investigated within the free-volume theory. We discuss the origin of the observed dispersion of relaxation times and show that it is simply related to the dispersion of the total surface-to-volume ratio of the liquid clusters.
Modification of polybenzimidazole: Synthesis and thermal stability of poly(N1‐methylbenzimidazole) and poly(N1,N3‐dimethylbenzimidazolium) salt

Poly(N1,N3-dimethylbenzimidazolium) (PDMBI) salt and poly(N1-methylbenzimidazole) (PMMBI) were synthesized by methylation of commercial polybenzimidazole [poly-2,2′-(m-phenylene)-5,5′-bibenzimidazole (PBI)]. First, the N-lithium salt of polybenzimidazole was formed by treating polybenzimidazole solution of 1-methyl-2-pyrolidinone (NMP) with lithium hydride at 80°C for 18 h. Ninety percent substitution of PMMBI was obtained by treating the N-lithium salt of PBI with equimolar ratio of iodomethane at room temperature. Upon addition of excess iodomethane to the lithium salt of PBI at 80°C, a polymer was formed that showed 100% substitution on the N1 nitrogen and about 30% substitution of the methyl group on the N3 nitrogen in the form of N1,N3-dimethylbenzimidazolium iodide salt [PDMBI (30%)]. The content of the benzimidazolium iodide salt was increased to about 90% by dissolving PDMBI (30%) in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and re-treating with excess iodomethane at 80°C overnight. The modified PBI polymers were characterized by NMR and FTIR. The modified PBI differed in solubility from PBI. PMMBI could be easily dissolved in NMP and PDMBI in DMSO at room temperature. The solution of PDMBI could be mixed with water in all proportions without precipitation. PDMBI could be also dissolved directly in a mixture of DMSO and water (1 : 1). Typical polyelectrolyte behavior of viscosity was found in solution of PDMBI (30%) and PDMBI (90%) when DMSO and a mixture of DMSO and water were used as solvents. A salt effect on viscosity was also found in the mixed solvent solution. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the methyl group on the imidazole ring was unstable above 180°C under nitrogen. When PDMBI was heated under nitrogen, one of the methyl groups was lost with the counterion to result in a neutral PMMBI. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
ADP-dependent DNA Strand Exchange by the Mutant [P67G/E68A]RecA Protein EVIDENCE FOR AN INVOLVEMENT OF ADP IN RecA PROTEIN-MEDIATED BRANCH MIGRATION

Abstract We have prepared a mutant RecA protein in which proline 67 and glutamic acid 68 in the NTP binding site were replaced by a glycine and alanine residue, respectively. The [P67G/E68A]RecA protein catalyzes the single-stranded DNA-dependent hydrolysis of ATP and is able to promote the standard ATP-dependent three-strand exchange reaction between a circular bacteriophage φX174 (φX) single-stranded DNA molecule and a homologous linear φX double-stranded (ds) DNA molecule (5.4 kilobase pairs). The strand exchange activity differs from that of the wild type RecA protein, however, in that it is (i) completely inhibited by an ATP regeneration system, and (ii) strongly stimulated by the addition of high concentrations of ADP to the reaction solution. These results indicate that the strand exchange activity of the [P67G/E68A]RecA protein is dependent on the presence of both ATP and ADP. The ADP dependence of the reaction is reduced or eliminated when (i) a shorter linear φX dsDNA fragment (1.1 kilobase pairs) is substituted for the full-length linear φX dsDNA substrate, or (ii) the Mg2+ concentration is reduced to a level just sufficient to complex the ATP present in the reaction solution. These results indicate that it is the branch migration phase (and not the initial pairing step) of the [P67G/E68A]RecA protein-promoted strand exchange reaction that is dependent on ADP. It is likely that the [P67G/E68A]RecA mutation has revealed a requirement for ADP that also exists (but is not as readily apparent) in the strand exchange reaction of the wild type RecA protein.
Monophasic synovial sarcoma: a cytologic spectrum.

Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a high-grade sarcoma that can be diagnosed in cytology with certainty only when it presents with a biphasic pattern. Monophasic SS (MSS), however, is a diagnostic consideration when a uniform spindle cell population is present. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a series of cytologic cases of MSS and its cytologic presentation. Twenty-one FNAs of histologically confirmed MSS were reviewed. Specimens consisted of tissue fragments and single cells containing scant granular cytoplasm, medium-sized nuclei, and coarse chromatin. A monotonous spindle pattern with comma-shaped nuclei was present in 5 cases. Sixteen cases contained oval and spindled nuclei. Eight of these specimens contained round nuclei, and 5 of these cases showed prominent nucleoli and cohesive clusters, reminiscent of biphasic SS. We conclude that a spectrum of cytologic findings can be seen in MSS, including a secondary population of cells with morphology usually typical of biphasic SS. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2004;30:19–23. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The cell surface of Trypanosoma musculi bloodstream forms. II. Lectin and immunologic studies.

SYNOPSIS. Living Trypanosoma musculi bloodstream trypomastigotes were agglutinated specifically with concanavalin A (ConA), wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), soybean agglutinin (SBA), and fucose-binding protein (FBP). The agglutination with these lectins of living cells from which the coat was removed by trypsinization was the same as with intact trypanosomes. Glutaraldehyde or formalin fixation did not affect the results with regard to agglutination with WGA, SBA, and FBP, but lower agglutination with ConA was observed upon fixation. By using a dense iron-dextran marker many fewer ConA marker particles were localized at the fine structural level in the intact than in trypsin-treated trypanosomes. On the basis of the results obtained by agglutination and electron microscopy, it is likely that fixation cross-links intact surface-coat components associated with the ConA binding sites. It is evident from the studies in which lectins were employed that ligands containing α-D-mannose, N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine, and α-L-fucose are randomly distributed in the outer surface of the pellicular and flagellar membranes of T. musculi trypomastigotes. Results obtained with α-amylase- and dextranase-treated trypanosomes suggested that lectin-binding sugar ligands in the cell surface were not directly associated with α-1,4 or repetitive α-1,6 glucan-bonded polysaccharide moieties. Similar conclusions can be drawn on the basis of neuraminidase treatment with regard to N-acetylated neuraminic acids. After thorough washing, intact, but not trypsin-treated trypomastigotes were agglutinated specifically with antisera against whole mouse serum and against mouse IgG. Evidently, adsorbed constituents of mouse serum are regular components of the T. musculi surface coat. After incubation in dilute whole mouse serum or in mouse IgG solutions, also the trypsinized cells were agglutinated by the 2 antisera. No such results were obtained with trypsinized cells incubated in serum-free buffers. It was concluded that mouse serum proteins were readily readsorbed on, and firmly bound to the trypsinized cells' surfaces. Specific agglutinations were obtained with trypsinized cells after incubation in dilute rat, rabbit, bovine, and human sera and in solutions of rat and rabbit IgG in reactions with the corresponding antisera. It seems, therefore, that the host serum proteins are adsorbed nonspecifically to the cell surface of trypsinized T. musculi bloodstream forms. When examined by electron microscopy, the intact trypomastigotes were covered by an ununiform, slightly granular, fibrillar extracellular coat, applied to the entire outer lamina of the pellicular and flagellar membranes. No indication of such a coat was noted in the trypsinized organisms. Flocculent surface coat-like matrix could, however, be discerned in cells which, after trypsinization, were incubated in various sera.
Predicting sun spots using a layered perceptron neural network

Interest in neural networks has expanded rapidly in recent years. Selecting the best structure for a given task, however, remains a critical issue in neural-network design. Although the performance of a network clearly depends on its structure, the procedure for selecting the optimal structure has not been thoroughly investigated, it is well known that the number of hidden units must be sufficient to discriminate each observation correctly. A large number of hidden units requires extensive computational time for training and often times prediction results may not be as accurate as expected. This study attempts to apply the principal component analysis (PCA) to determine the structure of a multilayered neural network for time series forecasting problems. The main focus is to determine the number of hidden units for a multilayered feedforward network. One empirical experiment with sunspot data is used to demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed approach.
Fitting Straight Lines When One Variable is Controlled

Abstract Experiments are analyzed in which “runs” are made on the apparatus, the data are bivariate, observations on one variable are taken for a predetermined set of values for the observations on the other variable, and straight lines are fitted on each run to the observed points. The possibility is considered that the “true” line may vary from run to run because of uncontrolled factors causing differences between runs. The mathematical model generalizes one introduced by Berkson. * This paper was prepared with the partial support of the Office of Naval Research. This paper in whole or in part may be reproduced for any purpose of the United States Government.
How Best to Deliver Aerosol Medications to Mechanically Ventilated Patients

Pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs) and nebulizers are employed routinely for aerosol delivery to ventilator-supported patients, but the ventilator circuit and artificial airway previously were thought to be major barriers to effective delivery of aerosols to patients receiving mechanical ventilation. In the past two decades, several investigators have shown that careful attention to many factors, such as the position of the patient, the type of aerosol generator and its configuration in the ventilator circuit, aerosol particle size, artificial airway, conditions in the ventilator circuit, and ventilatory parameters, is necessary to optimize aerosol delivery during mechanical ventilation. The best techniques for aerosol delivery during noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation are not well established as yet, and the efficiency of aerosol delivery in this setting is lower than that during invasive mechanical ventilation. The most efficient methods of using the newer hydrofluoroalkane-pMDIs and vibrating mesh nebulizers in ventilator-supported patients also require further evaluation. When optimal techniques of administration are employed, the efficiency of aerosolized drug delivery in mechanically ventilated patients is comparable to that achieved in ambulatory patients.
Internal-energy effects in proton-transfer reactions. The reactions of ArD+(ArH+) with methane, ethylene, ethane, propylene, and cyclopropane

Abstract The reactions of ArD + and ArH + with CH 4 , C 2 H 4 , C 2 H 6 , C 3 H 6 , and c-C 3 H 6 (cyclopropane) were studied at near-thermal energies using a tandem-ICR mass spectrometer. Absolute rate constants and product distributions for all reaction channels are reported as a function of the average number of internal-energy-relaxing collisions of ArD + (ArH + ) with D 2 (H 2 ) in the source. Isotopic distributions are interpreted as resulting from the competition of mechanisms involving near-statistical elimination from the protonated molecule and an apparent hydride abstraction. The rate constants for reaction with CH 4 , C 2 D 4 (C 2 H 4 ), and C 2 H 6 are slightly dependent on ArD + internal energy, while the rate of reaction with propylene and cyclopropane is nearly independent. The product distributions were found to be highly dependent on ArD + internal energy. Hydride abstraction (or a short-lived proton-transfer process) was found to become less important as the reactant ions were collisionally relaxed and found to deposit significantly less energy in the ionic products than proton-transfer processes.
Characterization of the expression pattern of the PRC2 core subunit Suz12 during embryonic development of Xenopus laevis

The Polycomb repressive complex 2 is a multimeric aggregate that mediates silencing of a broad range of genes, and is associated with important biological contexts such as stem cell maintenance and cancer progression. PRC2 mainly trimethylates lysine 27 of histone H3 and is composed of three essential core subunits: EZH2, EED and SUZ12. The Xenopus orthologs of PRC2 subunits Ezh2 and Eed have been described but Suz12 remained unidentified. Here, we report the cloning of the Xenopus Suz12, and determine its spatiotemporal expression during development. Xsuz12 transcript is provided maternally and continues to be expressed throughout development, particularly in the anterior part of the developing central nervous system. Importantly, comparative analysis of the expression of the PRC2 subunits Xez, Xeed and Xrbbp4 indicates that their expression largely coincides with Xsuz12 in the nervous system, suggesting that PRC2 may have unexplored functions in the development of the frog central nervous system.
Representing the structure of a legal argument

The investigation described in this paper is part of a larger project to characterize and develop computational tools to help people formulate, record, and present arguments and rationale in diverse domains such as law, policy, and design where argumentation and decision-making are fundamental processes. To build such tools, it is necessary first to design a uniform representation for the structure of arguments; law has provided us with a good starting point for understanding this structure. Since arguments are important legal artifacts, law maintains a recorded institutional memory of them in forms such as casebooks, databases, and courtroom transcripts. This analysis is primarily concerned with the arguments that occur in two excerpts from Supreme Court oral argument transcripts; it is directed toward developing a system of semi-formal representations of the structure of these arguments in hypertext. A system of representations of argument structure, coupled with an understanding of the argumentation process, can be used to form the basis for tools for authoring, fault-detection, and other activities associated with formulating and presenting rationale.
Effects of the alkali metal counter ions on the germanium–germanium double bond length in a heavier group 14 element ethenide salt

The first, well-characterized 1,2-dilithium salt of a group 14 element ethenide species, [{(dioxane)0.5(Et2O)LiGeC6H3-2,6-Mes2}2]∞, shows that the positions of the cations have a large effect on the length of the Ge–Ge double bond.
Leaders' Cognitive Complexity, Distrust, and the Diversionary Use of Force

Some scholars have suggested that when faced with domestic political problems, leaders employ simplified decision processes, preferring action to deliberation and highly visible diversionary uses of force to alternative policies. Others contend that domestically embattled leaders will pursue a more rational examination of the costs and benefits of various options—the sort of deliberation that will lead them to reject diversionary force in favor of less risky measures. Drawing on research in political psychology, we argue that leaders' cognitive processes are not constants but variables, and that both models are correct under certain circumstances. Leaders low in conceptual complexity (CC), and especially those with hawkish leanings, will pursue simplified decision-making procedures and embrace diversionary strategies, while leaders who are high in complexity will pursue a more thorough consideration of risks and alternatives and generally avoid diversionary actions. We examine these expectations by testing the interactive effect of economic misery and leaders' CC on American force usage for the period 1953–2000. The findings indicate that more conceptually simple leaders—particularly when high in distrust, a trait linked to more hawkish policy inclinations—are significantly more likely to engage in diversion.
The obligate autotroph — the demise of a concept

Autotrophy is a life style in which inorganic compounds provide for all nutritional needs of an organism. Implicit in this definition is the capacity of an organism to derive all cell carbon from CO2 and to obtain ATP either photosynthetically or chemolithotrophically. The existence of bacteria with such potentials has been known since the work of Winogradsky in the 1880's. The question explored in this paper is whether bacteria exist that must of necessity live autotrophically, i.e., the obligate autotrophsensu Winogradsky.
A physical model for the rate of deposition of fine-grained sediments in the deep sea

A model for the net entrapment of fine suspended sediment in the viscous sublayer of a turbulent boundary layer yields an expression of the same form as one derived previously on an empirical basis. The expression is modified by a factor that takes into account the reduction in rate of deposition caused by occasional erosion, bottom roughness, and organic resuspension. A curve for the variation in critical deposition shear stress with particle settling velocity is constructed using the assumption that the critical deposition stress is equal to the critical erosion stress for fine noncohesive material. Application of the model to postglacial deposition rates using modern concentration data gives reasonable agreement and suggests values of the factor little less than unity. The model involves assumption of a constant near-bed suspended sediment concentration. An alternative case of decrease in concentration with distance along the flow path shows that the grain-size modes in the deposited sediment resemble the pattern of size modes found north of the Carnegie Ridge in the Panama Basin.
A Comparison of Southern Hemisphere Circulation Statistics Based on GFDL and Australian Analyses

Abstract Two sets of observed atmospheric circulation statistics for the Southern Hemisphere (SH) are compared. The first set was compiled at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics laboratory (GFDL) and consists of global objective analyses of circulation statistics accumulated at individual rawinsonde stations for the period May 1963–April 1973. The second set was obtained from daily hemispheric numerical analyses prepared operationally at the World Meteorological Centre, Melbourne, Australia for the period September 1972–August 1982. This study extends the earlier comparison of circulation statistics from station-based and from numerical analysis-based methods by Lau and Oort for the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern Hemisphere. The domain used for the comparison is a 5° × 5° latitude–longitude grid from 10° to 90°S and seven pressure levels from 1000 to 100 mb. The circulation statistics examined include (i) ten-year averages of the monthly mean fields (measures of the mean circulation), (ii) ten-year averag...
Disaster planning and response: considering the needs of the frail elderly

The world's population is expanding with more individuals living beyond their sixth decade of life. These changing demographics present a challenge for emergency management professionals. While there is diversity among older adults worldwide, unique common factors influence the ability of the frail elderly to maintain their health and well-being when faced with a disaster. Numerous factors need to be considered when planning for emergency preparedness and the response needs of the frail elderly. This paper will identify some of the common challenges that emergency management professionals face in planning to meet the needs of the frail elderly during and after disasters. The strategies employed to minimise the impact of a disaster on this vulnerable group will also be discussed.
Classification techniques in analyzing surgical outcomes data.

We live in a world that has been characterized by “big data.” Data that have been collected for years and even decades are now seen as important inputs to understanding current processes, predicting outcomes, and prescribing actions. This movement is so prominent that the term data mining has been supplanted by analytics to describe the broadly based and sophisticated methodologies that have been created and validated to allow these massive databases to be analyzed. Every major university has at least one course entitled “Analytics” and often degree programs to address the needs of business, engineering, psychology, and others. The NSQIP was initially introduced within the Veterans Affairs system in the mid-1990s as the first structured, risk-adjusted, prospective database of surgical outcomes. A private-sector version was developed and then implemented by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and has rapidly evolved and matured into a national surgical outcomes database. This database now qualifies as “big data” and is available to investigators for analysis of specific surgical procedures and evaluation of surgical quality in hospitals and institutions. During the same years that the ACS NSQIP has “matured,” there has been considerable enhancement of the analytical techniques available to study large databases. These newer techniques were developed to address many of the limitations of the earlier methods and have been made possible because of the rapid expansion of the computing power of modern desktop computers and servers. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the analytical techniques currently available to enhance the ability of the reader, either clinician or investigator, to interpret and apply predictive modeling in surgical care. This review is not a treatise on statistics and is not intended to be an in-depth description of how to perform database queries or to use modern statistical software. The interested reader is referred to the focused references and