cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Resting-state functional connectivity networks associated with fatigue in multiple sclerosis with early age onset.

Abstract Background Fatigue is one of the most commonly experienced symptoms in multiple sclerosis (MS). The neural correlates of fatigue in MS, in general and specifically in early onset, remain poorly understood. This study employed resting-state fMRI (rsfMRI) to investigate the functional connectivity of fatigue in MS patients with early age onset. Methods Twenty-seven relapsing-remitting MS patients (20 ± 7yo at the age of diagnosis and 26.0 ± 5.5yo at the time of study) were recruited and 22 patients were studied. Structural and rsfMRI sequences were performed on a 3-Tesla Seimens MRI scanner. Seed-based analysis was performed using CONN Functional Connectivity Toolbox for Statistic Parametric Mapping. The Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and the Modified Fatigue Impact scale (MFIS) as well as EDSS, Beck Depression Inventory, and symptomatology were measured. Non-fatigued (N = 12) and fatigued patients (N = 10) were separated based on FSS scores, with a score of 5 or greater being classified as fatigued. Group differences in rsfMRI between non-fatigued and fatigued patients were analyzed. Correlations between these functional connectivity differences and behavioral fatigue scores were also analyzed. Results Ages, disease duration, lesion load, lesion volume, and neurologic disability were not significantly different between non-fatigued and fatigued patients (p > 0.05). Fatigued patients showed significantly stronger connectivity between the right thalamus and right precentral gyrus (T = 4.58, p = 0.015), and a trending increase in connectivity between the left hippocampus and left precentral gyrus (T = 7.55, p = 0.051). Patients with fatigue showed significantly reduced connectivity between the right thalamus and left parietal operculum (T= −4.28, p = 0.0002), left thalamus and right superior frontal gyrus (T=−5.54, p = 0.046), and between the left insula and posterior cingulate (T=−9.4, p = 0.003). The connectivity between the left insula and posterior cingulate was significantly correlated with the cognitive score of MFIS (R2 = −0.471, p = 0.027) and FSS (R2 = −0.719, p = 0.0001). The connectivity between the right thalamus and left parietal operculum was significantly correlated with MFIS cognitive scores (R2 = −0.431, p = 0.045) and with FSS scores (R2 = 0.402, p = 0.006). Correlations remained significant after accounting for depression scores. Conclusions rsfMRI identified Alterations in two distinct connections (the connectivity between insula and posterior cingulate gyrus and between the right thalamus and right precentral gyrus) that differed between fatigued and non-fatigued patients, as well as correlated with cognitive fatigue severity. These findings suggest that disruption of sensorimotor, high-order motor, and non-motor executive function likely contributes to the neural mechanism of fatigue in MS. Knowledge of the neural mechanisms of underlying MS fatigue could inform more effective treatment strategies.
Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy: JACC State-of-the-Art Review

Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is an under-recognized cause of heart failure (HF) in older adults, resulting from myocardial deposition of misfolded transthyretin (TTR) or pre-albumin. Characteristic patterns of echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance can strongly suggest the disease but are not diagnostic. The diagnosis can be made with noninvasive nuclear imaging when there is no evidence of a monoclonal protein. Amyloid fibril formation results from a destabilizing mutation in hereditary ATTR amyloidosis (hATTR) or from an aging-linked process in wild-type ATTR amyloidosis (wtATTR). Recent studies have suggested that up to 10% to 15% of older adults with HF may have unrecognized wtATTR. Associated features, including carpal tunnel syndrome and lumbar spinal stenosis, raise suspicion and may afford a means for early diagnosis. Previously treatable only by organ transplantation, pharmaceutical therapy that slows or halts ATTR-CM progression and favorably affects clinical outcomes is now available. Early recognition remains essential to afford the best treatment efficacy.
Use of Ultrasound in Diagnosing Acute Appendicitis in the Emergency Room – Do Results from Real World Application Mirror Those Seen in Observational Trials?

Introduction: Acute appendicitis remains a leading cause of non-traumatic abdominal pain in children. Although a common clinical scenario in pediatric practice, correctly diagnosing appendicitis early in its course can sometimes be challenging. Several years ago, our institution created a clinical practice guideline based on use of the Pediatric Appendicitis Score with selective ultrasonography (PAS+US) and tested this pathway in a prospective observational trial to measure its performance. Our study showed that PAS+US had high sensitivity and specificity. Subsequently, use of ultrasonography first has significantly increased in our institution …
Automated Answer Scoring for Engineering’s Open-Ended Questions

Audience Response System (ARS), like “clicker,” has proven their effectiveness in students’ engagement and in enhancing their learning. Apart from close-ended questions, ARS can help instructors to pose open-ended questions. Such questions are not scored automatically for that Automated Text Scoring; ATS is vastly used. This paper presents the findings of the development of an intelligent Automated Text Scoring, iATS, which provides instantaneous scoring of students’ responses to STEM-related factual questions. iATS is integrated with an Audience Response System (ARS), known as iRes, which captures students’ responses in traditional classrooms environment using smartphones. iATS Research is conducted to code and test three Natural Language Processing (NLP), text similarity methods. The codes were developed in PHP and Python environments. Experiments were performed to test Cosine similarity, Jaccard Index and Corpus-based and knowledge-based measures, (CKM), scores against instructor’s manual grades. The research suggested that the cosine similarity and Jaccard index are underestimating with an error of 22% and 26%, respectively. CKM has a low error (18%), but it is overestimating the score. It is concluded that codes need to be modified with a corpus developed within the knowledge domain and a new regression model should be created to improve the accuracy of automatic scoring.
Spanning the depths or depth-restricted: Three new species of Bathymodiolus (Bivalvia, Mytilidae) and a new record for the hydrothermal vent Bathymodiolus thermophilus at methane seeps along the Costa Rica margin

Abstract Bathymodiolus Kenk and Wilson, 1985 includes fourteen currently recognized species from deep-sea chemosynthetic environments in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans. In this study, phylogenetic analyses of mytilid mussels sampled from seeps along the Costa Rica margin reveal the presence of three new Bathymodiolus species, sampled from depths across ~1000–1900 m. Bathymodiolus billschneideri n. sp., B. earlougheri n. sp., and B. nancyschneiderae n. sp. differ genetically from congeneric species of Bathymodiolus and show some stratification by depth. The depth ranges of Bathymodiolus billschneideri n. sp., B. nancyschneiderae n. sp., and B. earlougheri n. sp. were ~1400–1900 m, 1000–1100 m, and ~1000–1900m, respectively. Bathymodiolus billschneideri n. sp. and B. earlougheri n. sp. were found to be closely related to Bathymodiolus thermophilus Kenk and Wilson, 1985, while B. nancyschneiderae n. sp. exhibited closer relationships to non-East-Pacific taxa. Bathymodiolus thermophilus was the first Bathymodiolus mussel discovered, sampled from a vent along the Galapagos Rift Zone in 1985 and later recorded along much of the East Pacific Rise. This study confirms the presence of B. thermophilus at the Costa Rica margin, representing the first DNA and morphological samples of B. thermophilus at a seep environment. Analysis of habitat evolution suggests that B. thermophilus and its closest relative, B. antarcticus Johnson and Vrijenhoek, 2013, are of seep ancestry.
Multiple Language Exposure for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities.

We review studies that examined whether children who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and who are from culturally and linguistically diverse communities benefit more from bei...
Using a New Circular Prediction Algorithm to Design an IMM Filter for Low Update Rate Radar System.

For radar systems with low update rates; such as track-while-scan (TWS) systems using rotating phased array antennas; reducing the prediction error is a very important issue. A good interacting multiple models (IMM) hybrid filter combined with circular and linear filters that are defined in relation to three measurements has been proposed in the literature. However; the algorithm requires three previous measurements; and too much prior information will result in a reduced ability to predict the future position of a highly maneuvering target. A new circular prediction algorithm for maneuvering target tracking is proposed as a non-linear prediction filter in this paper. Based on this new predictor; we also proposed a new type of IMM filter that has good estimation performance for high maneuvering targets. The proposed hybrid filter is entirely defined in relation to two measurements in a three-dimensional space to obtain a better maneuver following capability than the three measurements hybrid filter. Two target profiles are included for a comparison of the performance of our proposed scheme with that of the conventional circular; linear and IMM filters. The simulation results show that under low update rates; the proposed filter has a faster and more stable estimation response than other filters
Carbonaceous deposits on aluminide coatings in tritium-producing assemblies

Abstract Co-deposition of carbon atoms with hydrogen isotopes and hydrogenated carbon radicals and molecules is recognized as the main mechanism for tritium retention in the graphite walls of the previous tokamak fusion devices. Significant tritium retention would be a serious concern for safe and economic long-term operation of future fusion test reactors and fusion energy systems. Similar deposits are observed on the surface of the engineered components in a tritium-producing assembly, known as a Tritium-Producing Burnable Absorber Rod (TPBAR). Characterization of the deposits can help understand the tritium transport, accumulation history and distribution in TPBARs. This study reports our recent results from the carbonaceous deposits formed on an aluminide-coated cladding in the lower plenum of a TPBAR following thermal neutron irradiation. The observed deposits are amorphous in nature, consisting of flakes of interconnected nanoscale features. They contain primarily double-bonded carbon (e.g., alkene) and carbonyl carbon, as well as a minor fraction of aliphatic carbon, all of which are likely tritiated. A similar co-deposition process that occurred in previous fusion devices is responsible for the formation and growth of the carbonaceous deposits.
Community Health Workers and Covid-19 - Addressing Social Determinants of Health in Times of Crisis and Beyond.

Community Health Workers and Covid-19 Investing in community health workers and community-based organizations can help address the social determinants of poor health that disproportionately affect ...
Deaths Attributed to Psychiatric Disorders in the United States, 2010-2018.

Objectives. To quantify deaths in the United States from 2010 through 2018 that were reported with an underlying cause of death as a psychiatric diagnosis, which do not indicate a clear mechanism o...
Intraoperative opioids are associated with improved recurrence-free survival in triple-negative breast cancer

Abstract Background Opioid-induced immunomodulation may be of particular importance in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) where an immune response is associated with improved outcome and response to immunotherapy. We evaluated the association between intraoperative opioids and oncological outcomes and explored patterns of opioid receptor expression in TNBC. Methods Consecutive patients with stage I–III primary TNBC were identified from a prospectively maintained database. Opioid receptor expression patterns in the tumour microenvironment were analysed using publicly available bulk and single-cell RNA-seq data. Results A total of 1143 TNBC cases were retrospectively analysed. In multivariable analysis, higher intraoperative opioid dose was associated with favourable recurrence-free survival, hazard ratio 0.93 (95% confidence interval 0.88–0.99) per 10 oral morphine milligram equivalents increase (P=0.028), but was not significantly associated with overall survival, hazard ratio 0.96 (95% confidence interval 0.89–1.02) per 10 morphine milligram equivalents increase (P=0.2). Bulk RNA-seq analysis of opioid receptors showed that OPRM1 was nearly non-expressed. Compared with normal breast tissue OGFR, OPRK1, and OPRD1 were upregulated, while TLR4 was downregulated. At a single-cell level, OPRM1 and OPRD1 were not detectable; OPRK1 was expressed mainly on tumour cells, whereas OGFR and TLR4 were more highly expressed on immune cells. Conclusions We found a protective effect of intraoperative opioids on recurrence-free survival in TNBC. Opioid receptor expression was consistent with a net protective effect of opioid agonism, with protumour receptors either not expressed or downregulated, and antitumour receptors upregulated. In this era of personalised medicine, efforts to differentiate the effects of opioids across breast cancer subtypes (and ultimately individual patients) should continue.
Redshift space bias and beta from the halo model

We analyze scale dependence of redshift space bias $b$ and $\beta \equiv \Omega_m^{0.6}/b$ in the context of the halo model. We show that linear bias is a good approximation only on large scales, for $k 0.1h$Mpc$^{-1}$. Most problematic are galaxies predominantly found in groups and clusters, such as bright, red or elliptical galaxies, where we find poor convergence to a constant bias or $\beta$ even on large scales.
Interior Dirichlet Problem

The interior Dirichlet problem consists of the equation and boundary condition $$\displaystyle \begin {array}{ll} &Au(x)=0,\quad x\in S^+,\\ &u(x)=\mathscr {D}(x),\quad x\in {\partial S}, \end {array} $$ where the vector function \(\mathscr {D}\in C^{1,\alpha }({\partial S})\), α ∈ (0, 1), is prescribed.
A Potent, Selective CBX2 Chromodomain Ligand and Its Cellular Activity During Prostate Cancer Neuroendocrine Differentiation

Polycomb group (PcG) proteins are epigenetic regulators that facilitate both embryonic development and cancer progression. PcG proteins form Polycomb repressive complexes 1 and 2 (PRC1 and PRC2). PRC2 trimethylates histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27me3), a histone mark recognized by the N-terminal chromodomain (ChD) of the CBX subunit of canonical PRC1. There are five PcG CBX paralogs in humans. CBX2 in particular is upregulated in a variety of cancers, particularly in advanced prostate cancers. Using CBX2 inhibitors to understand and target CBX2 in prostate cancer is highly desirable; however, high structural similarity among the CBX ChDs has been challenging for developing selective CBX ChD inhibitors. Here, we utilize selections of focused DNA encoded libraries (DELs) for the discovery of a selective CBX2 chromodomain probe, SW2_152F. SW2_152F binds to CBX2 ChD with a Kd of 80 nM and displays 24-1000-fold selectivity for CBX2 ChD over other CBX paralogs in vitro. SW2_152F is cell permeable, selectively inhibits CBX2 chromatin binding in cells, and blocks neuroendocrine differentiation of prostate cancer cell lines in response to androgen deprivation.
Race differences in Black and white adolescents' academic gender stereotypes across middle and late adolescence.

Objectives: We examined race differences in adolescents' beliefs about boys' and girls' English, math, and science abilities, testing the hypothesis that Black adolescents would rate girls' abilities more favorably than boys' across all domains. In contrast, we expected that White adolescents would report traditional stereotypes favoring boys in math and science and favoring girls in English, and that developmental change would reflect increasing endorsement of traditional stereotypes for both Black and White adolescents. Methods: 654 Black and White adolescents (Mage = 16.3; SD = 0.67) completed surveys rating girls' and boys' competence in each academic domain in Grade 10 and in Grade 12. Results: Across Grade 10 and Grade 12, Black and White adolescents of both genders showed strong endorsement of stereotypes favoring girls in verbal domains. Traditional stereotypes favoring boys in math were endorsed by White adolescents but not Black adolescents and increased across time. Black youth (with scores averaged across grades) and 10th graders (with scores averaged across race) reported that girls were more competent than boys in science. In contrast, girls and boys were viewed as equally competent in science by White adolescents (with scores averaged across time) and by 12th graders (with scores averaged across race). Conclusions: These findings show that Black and White youth differ in their endorsement of stereotypes about gender differences in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) abilities. The results extend prior research with children and early adolescents showing that traditional STEM gender stereotypes become more pronounced in later adolescence and that verbal gender stereotypes are robust. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
In the ED, LUS and CT did not differ for sensitivity or specificity for diagnosing COVID-19 pneumonia.

SOURCE CITATION: Lieveld AW, Kok B, Schuit FH, et al. Diagnosing COVID-19 pneumonia in a pandemic setting: Lung Ultrasound versus CT (LUVCT)-a multicentre, prospective, observational study. ERJ Open Res. 2020;6:00539-2020. 33442553.
Planning, Aging, and Loneliness: Reviewing Evidence About Built Environment Effects:

Large numbers of people in many countries report being lonely with rates highest among the very old. Does the built environment affect loneliness among older people and if so, how? Using a scoping ...
The EVAL framework: Developing impact evaluation scholars

The complexities of food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences (FANH) programs and projects require faculty to write and secure funding in addition to mastering skills such as evaluation competencies that integrate abilities in quantitative and qualitative research methods and evaluation theory and practice. The EVAL Framework was developed to advance skill development among FANH graduates to include these competencies and increase the pipeline of students who have the essential skills needed to advance FANH initiatives and priorities. The EVAL Framework includes four primary constructs: (a) Evaluation, (b) Value, (c) Active and Experiential Learning, and (d) Leadership. The purpose of EVAL is to build relationships with untapped FANH fields to develop a pipeline for graduates to become evaluation leaders for advancing food and agricultural sciences. This experiential learning and development model focuses on foundational and enrichment experiences, through formal coursework, project-based learning, and contextually rich environments. Mentoring, individualized development plans, scholarly learning communities, collaboration, transferable skills, and career planning and guidance activities are integrated into the EVAL framework to enhance skill development among EVAL scholars.
Thin Films and Fluid Distributions in Porous Media

Investigations of thin-film effects by means of complete solutions of the augmented Young-Laplace equation are summarized, as are the implications for observable contact angle, certain wettability syndromes, and breakup of nonwetting phase as it is replaced in a porous medium by wetting phase. Apparent contact angle, capillary pressure, and thin-film thickness are found to be interdependent at equilibrium: contact angle in porous media may depend significantly on pore size, fluid proportions, and filling history.
PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY AND CHILDREN'S HEART CARE IN NEPAL

automaticity, contractility, and rhythmicity to propel blood throughout the body 1 and a sensitive receptor capable of Pediatric cardiology is an established sphere of modern medicine; however, Nepal presently has limited facilities and skilled practitioners dedicated to this subspecialty of pediatric medicine. The purpose of this review is to analyze present status of pediatric cardiology and children's heart care in Nepal. Observation of the children consulted and those admitted to the cardiac unit of Kanti Children's Hospital (KCH), as well as the review of hospital records and existing scientific literature, have revealed that majority of cardiac diseases afflicting Nepalese children originate from infections that are preventable to a great extent. Congenital heart problems are the second leading source of cardiac disease in the Nepalese pediatric population. In order to develop pediatric cardiology as a successful field in Nepal in the coming years, the major issues to address include: early diagnosis, systematizing long-term antibiotic prophylaxis to patients who require it, improving referral and patient transportation securing, funding for the long hospital stays required, expenditure, training health personnel for the tender pre and post-surgical care, and expanding and improving patient and community heart health education. Several national and international organizations could provide important assistance for controlling the preventable and treatable infections associated with pediatric cardiac disease and heart defects as well as care of children with heart problems.
Atomic Oxygen Durability of Second Surface Silver Microsheet Glass Concentrators

Second surface silver microsheet glass concentrators are being developed for potential use in future solar dynamic space power systems. Traditional concentrators are aluminum honeycomb sandwich composites with either aluminum or graphite epoxy face sheets, where a reflective aluminum layer is deposited onto an organic leveling layer on the face sheet. To protect the underlying layers, a SiO2 layer is applied on top of the aluminum reflective layer. These concentrators may be vulnerable to atomic oxygen degradation due to possible atomic oxygen attack of the organic layers at defect sites in the protective and reflective coatings. A second surface microsheet glass concentrator would be inherently more atomic oxygen durable than these first surface concentrators. In addition, a second surface microsheet glass concentrator design provides a smooth optical surface and allows for silver to be used as a reflective layer, which would improve the reflectivity of the concentrator and the performance of the system. A potential threat to the performance of second surface microsheet glass concentrators is atomic oxygen attack of the underlying silver at seams and edges or at micrometeoroid and debris (MMD) impacts sites. Second surface silver microsheet glass concentrator samples were fabricated and tested for atomic oxygen durability. The samples were iteratively exposed to an atomic oxygen environment in a plasma asher. Samples were evaluated for potential degradation at fabrication seams, simulated MMD impact sites, and edges. Optical microscopy was used to evaluate atomic oxygen degradation. Reflectance was obtained for an impacted sample prior to and after atomic oxygen exposure. After an initial atomic oxygen exposure to an effective fluence of ≈1×1021 atoms/cm2, oxidation of the silver at defect sites and edges was observed. Exposure to an additional ≈1×1021 atoms/cm2 caused no observed increase in oxidation. Oxidation at an impact site caused negligible changes in reflectance. In all cases oxidation was found to be confined to the vicinity of the seams, impact sites, edges or defect sites. Asher to in-space atomic oxygen correlation issues will be addressed.
ROLE OF LINOLEIC ACID IN INFANT NUTRITION: Clinical and Chemical Study of 428 Infants Fed on Milk Mixtures Varying in Kind and Amount of Fat

Four hundred and twenty-eight infants over a 4-year period were studied for approximately 4,000 patient-months of observation while receiving five different milk mixtures varying in linoleic acid content from less than 0.1 to 7.3% of the calories. It was found that linoleic acid is a required nutrient for the young human infant. The following pertinent observations were made. (1) Evidences of linoleic acid deficiency developed in young infants who received either a diet practically devoid of fat or one providing 42% of the calories as fat but extremely low in linoleic acid (less than 0.1% of the calories). (2) Manifestations of the deficiency state disappeared promptly when linoleic acid was given as the ester or triglyceride or in a milk mixture providing 1% or more of the calories as linoleic acid. (3) The most characteristic feature of the deficiency state was dryness of the skin with desquamation, thickening and later intertrigo. (4) The incidence of bacterial skin infections was the same in the different groups. It was noted that young infants receiving diets very low in linoleic acid seemed to react severely when outbreaks of staphylococcal infection developed in the hospital environment. (5) Records for rate of growth showed unsatisfactory progress for many of the infants on low linoleic acid intakes, whereas the course of events was satisfactory in almost all of the infants who received 1.3 to 7.3% of the calories as linoleic acid. (6) Blood serum levels for dienoic acid of 5.6 ± 1.8% of the total fatty acids were indicative of the deficiency state, whereas values of 12.9 ± 2.6% of the total fatty acids represented the minimal normal. (7) Histologic alterations in the skin of infants on diets low in linoleic acid showed the same characteristics as seen in experimental animals. (8) Infants given milk mixtures extremely low in linoleic acid had a gradual amelioration of fat deficiency manifestations as well as increasing levels of dienoic acid in the blood serum following the introduction of cereals to their diet.
Asymmetric Revisions to Primary and Secondary Shares in Seasoned Equity Offerings

This paper examines the relation between revealed market demand and insider amendments to the number of primary and secondary shares offered during the seasoned equity offering (SEO) process. We define strong (weak) market demand for an SEO as a positive (negative) buy-and-hold abnormal return over the registration window. We find that insiders make amendments to primary and secondary shares conditional on the market demand revealed in the SEO registration period, but that the frequency, direction, and size of the amendments are not consistent across the two types of shares. For instance, insiders amend the prospectus to significantly decrease (increase) the number of secondary shares when the revealed market demand during the registration period is weak (strong). Amendments to originally filed primary shares are less prevalent. In addition, downward revisions in primary shares are unrelated to the market demand, and are less likely to occur the higher the pre-announcement stock price run-ups. Upward revisions in primary shares, however, are sensitive to strong market demand revealed in the registration period. Finally, when insiders amend the prospectus to increase (decrease) secondary shares, they either keep the number of primary shares constant, or increase (decrease) secondary shares disproportional to primary shares. These results are consistent with insiders employing a demand-conditioned adjustment strategy to secondary shares, as well as acting opportunistically to maximize personal wealth.
Use of the activated partial thromboplastin time for the diagnosis of congenital coagulation disorders: Problems and possible solutions

The activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) is a commonly performed laboratory procedure which is used for multiple purposes including monitoring of heparin therapy, detection of coagulation factor deficiency, and detection of lupus anticoagulants. Among the hereditary coagulation deficiencies, factor VIII and factor IX are the most common. APTT reagents differ widely in both their sensitivity to factor VIII and factor IX deficiencies as well as their responsiveness. Sensitivity may be defined as the ability to identify a deficiency state while responsiveness is indicated by the degree of prolongation of the APTT result as compared to the upper limit of normal. Reagents may be both sensitive and responsive or alternatively sensitive and relatively nonresponsive. Consequently, it is extremely important for each laboratory to carefully identify the upper limit of the normal range. A variety of preanalytical variables will also effect the sensitivity of the APTT to factor deficiency states. These variables include specimen handling and the preparation of platelet poor plasma. The instrument effect is also of importance. Selection of the reagent tends to have the most impact on senstivity and responsiveness while instrumentation affects the precision of a given APTT. The composition and concentration of phospholipid in APTT reagents does have an effect on reagent responsiveness and sensitivity. Sensitivity to factor deficiencies does not necessarily parallel sensitivity to lupus anticoagulants.
Biochemical engineering for fuel production in the United States

Despite confusion, turmoil, and controversy, the United States is rapidly developing firm foundations for large scale production of fuels from biomass. Although methane is produced from manures at relatively large demonstration plants, this gains little attention compared to processes that lead to liquid fuels that could relieve the U.S. dependence on imported oil. Ethanol from corn grain is losing its political appeal, and other, cheaper feedstocks are being sought. There are several distinct processes being developed for lignocellulosic materials with a main difference being the type of pretreatment that permits good hydrolysis to degradable sugars. Byproduct credits and energy-efficient processes make it very likely that fuels from biomass will cost considerably less than imported oil, and it will be profitable to establish a massive new fuels industry.
Methods for Assessment of Dietary Lead Exposure of the Inner-City Population

AbstractAssessment of dietary lead exposure of individuals begins with the determination of food and beverage intake by the individuals, and concludes with an evaluation of the lead content of the foods and beverages consumed. Of several techniques available for assessment of dietary intake, the 24-hour food recall is recommended as the method of choice for assessing current dietary lead intakes in inner-city populations. The three-day food record can be used among cooperative and motivated subjects, while the dietary history method is available for assessing long-term intakes in the past. The unavailability of lead content values of a large number of foods will to a large extent restrict the use of these methods in large-scale dietary lead exposure studies. Until the time that such data becomes available, the most accurate estimates of lead intake can be provided by chemical analysis of duplicate samples of foods consumed, as is currently done. However, this method is feasible only for small samples.
Restoring Politics to the Commerce Clause: The Case for Abandoning the Dormant Commerce Clause Prohibition on Discriminatory Taxation

The time has come to scrap the dormant Commerce Clause prohibition on discrimintaory taxation. That judicially - created prohibition has served its historic purpose - to create a single common market of the United States - and can now safely be laid to rest. Jettisoning the concept of nondiscrimintation would not dimsnatle all dormant Commerce Clause restraints on state taxation. After the nondiscrimination principle is retired that Clause would continue to require that taxes be fairly apportioned among the states, that such taxes be levied only by states with nexus to the taxed activity, and that such taxes be reasonably related to the services the taxpater receivges from the taxing state. However, if taxpayers believed that they were subject to something called discriminatory taxation, they would generally take their complaints to Congress or to the legislature imposing those taxes. By shifting controversies from the courts to Congress and the state legislatures, abandoning the dormant Commerce Clause prohibition on discriminatory taxation would restore politics - and doctrinal coherence - to the Commerce Clause.
Fv-1 restriction and its effects on murine leukemia virus integration in vivo and in vitro.

Abstract We have investigated the mechanisms by which alleles at the mouse Fv-1 locus restrict replication of murine leukemia viruses. Inhibition of productive infection is closely paralleled by reduced accumulation of integrated proviral DNA as well as by reduced levels of linear viral DNA in a cytoplasmic fraction. Nevertheless, viral DNA is present at nearly normal levels in a nuclear fraction, and total amounts of viral DNA are only mildly affected in restrictive infections, suggesting a block in integration to account for reduced levels of proviral DNA. However, integrase (IN)-dependent trimming of 3' ends of viral DNA occurs normally in vivo during restrictive infections, demonstrating that not all IN-mediated events are prevented in vivo. Furthermore, viral integration complexes present in nuclear extracts of infected restrictive cells are fully competent to integrate their DNA into a heterologous target in vitro. Thus, the Fv-1-dependent activity that restricts integration in vivo may be lost in vitro; alternatively, Fv-1 restriction may prevent a step required for integration in vivo that is bypassed in vitro.
Iron-Stimulated N2 Fixation and Growth in Natural and Cultured Populations of the Planktonic Marine Cyanobacteria Trichodesmium spp

In light of recent proposals that iron (Fe) availability may play an important role in controlling oceanic primary production and nutrient flux, its regulatory impact on N(2) fixation and production dynamics was investigated in the widespread and biogeochemically important diazotrophic, planktonic cyanobacteria Trichodesmium spp. Fe additions, as FeCl(3) and EDTA-chelated FeCl(3), enhanced N(2) fixation (nitrogenase activity), photosynthesis (CO(2) fixation), and growth (chlorophyll a production) in both naturally occurring and cultured (on unenriched oligotrophic seawater) Trichodesmium populations. Maximum enhancement of these processes occurred under FeEDTA-amended conditions. On occasions, EDTA alone led to enhancement. No evidence for previously proposed molybdenum or phosphorus limitation was found. Our findings geographically extend support for Fe limitation of N(2) fixation and primary production to tropical and subtropical oligotrophic ocean waters often characterized by Trichodesmium blooms.
Phylogenetic revision of the Hippasterinae (Goniasteridae; Asteroidea): systematics of deep sea corallivores, including one new genus and three new species

The Hippasterinae is a subfamily within the Goniasteridae, consisting of five genera and 26 species, which occur in cold-water settings ranging from subtidal to abyssal depths. All known genera were included in a cladistic analysis resulting in two most parsimonious trees, supporting the Hippasterinae as monophyletic. Our review supports Sthenaster emmae gen. etsp. nov. as a new genus and species from the tropical Atlantic and two new Evoplosoma species, Evoplosoma claguei sp. nov. and Evoplosoma voratus sp. nov. from seamounts in the North Pacific. Hippasteria caribaea is reassigned to the genus Gilbertaster, which previously contained a single Pacific species. Our analysis supports Evoplosoma as a derived deep water lineage relative to its continental-shelf, shallow water sister taxa. The genus Hippasteria contains approximately 15 widely distributed, but similar-looking species, which occur in the northern and southern hemispheres. Except for Gilbertaster, at least one species in each genus has been observed or is inferred to prey on deep-sea corals, suggesting that this lineage is important to the conservation of deep-sea coral habitats. The Hippasterinae shares several morphological similarities with Circeaster and Calliaster, suggesting that they may be related. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 160, 266–301.
What are the Characteristics of Firms that Engage in Earnings Per Share Management Through Share Repurchases

Manuscript Type Empirical Research Question/Issue This study examines US firms' share repurchases during 1997–2006 to determine what factors are associated with firms that use share repurchases to manage earnings per share (EPS). Specifically, we analyze firm and governance characteristics associated with firms that engage in share repurchases that increase annual EPS by at least one cent in a given year and that had EPS less than or equal to annual EPS forecast prior to the share repurchase. Research Findings/Insights We find that growth firms are less likely to use share repurchases to increase EPS for earnings management purposes. We also provide evidence that firms with a more independent board, a separation of the roles of CEO and chairman of the board, or a low entrenchment index (E-Index) are less likely to engage in earnings management through share repurchases. Finally, we find evidence that high CEO share ownership restrains managers from using share repurchases as a mechanism to manage EPS. Theoretical/Academic Implications Our empirical results support some of the best practices advocated by various shareholders groups regarding corporate governance. Also, strong shareholder rights can mitigate incentives to manage earnings, highlighting the importance of corporate governance mechanisms/provisions in ensuring the integrity of the financial reporting system. Practitioner/Policy Implications This research is important to investors in the face of the growing popularity of share repurchases. In particular, our study suggests strong corporate governance, strong shareholder rights, and high percentage CEO stock ownership discourages repurchase-based earnings management.
Isolation and characterization of a UV-sensitive hypermutable aphidicolin-resistant Chinese hamster cell line.

Aphidicolin is a specific inhibitor of DNA polymerase α and blocks DNA synthesis in vivo. The inhibition of purified α-polymerase has been shown to be competitive with dCTP but not with the other three deoxynucleoside triphosphates (dNTPs). In order to study the various roles that the α-polymerase might play in DNA replication and/or repair, we have attempted to isolate Chinese hamster V79 cells that are resistant to aphidicolin. Four resistant mutants were isolated from BrdU-black light- and UV-mutagenized cells. None of the mutants isolated contains an α-polymerase that is resistant, in crude extract measurements, to aphidicolin. Three mutants isolated, however, were found to be resistant to araC. Two mutants tested were found to be sensitive to cytidine and have elevated levels of dCTP or all 4 dNTPs. These results indicate that they are nucleotide pool mutants instead of α-polymerase mutants. One mutant, aphr-4, is characterized by the following: (1) high level of dCTP; (2) thymidine (or CdR, UdR, auxotrophic; (3) sensitive to thymidine (and AdR, GdR); (4) slow-growing; (5) cytidine sensitive; (6) UV sensitive and hypermutable at the ouabain-resistant locus; and (7) a ninefold increase in frequency of chromatid gaps and breaks when cells are exposed to BrdU- containing medium. Revertants of aphr-4 which are partially aphidicolin-resistant and retain the first three characteristics listed above, but not the others, have been isolated. The appearance of this type of revertant indicates that either aphr- 4 or its “revertant” is a double mutant.
Cytogenetic abnormalities are frequent in uncultured prostate cancer cells

Despite attempts by several laboratories to identify consistent chromosome abnormalities in cancer of the prostate, relatively few clonal changes have been found. We compared analysis of metaphases from uncultured specimens of primary prostate cancer (direct preparations) with those obtained from short-term culture using various media. While the number of metaphases in uncultured specimens was low, and chromosome morphology fair to poor, structural chromosome changes could be identified as clonal in 5 of 14 specimens (36%). In contrast, while clonal abnormalities were found in 20 of 61 (33%) specimens analyzed after short-term culture, these abnormalities were predominantly numerical and simple structural changes. Two tumors metastatic to lymph nodes were studied using direct preparations; both were near tetraploid, with multiple structural abnormalities, including isochromosome 8q in both and del(8)(p21) in one. Cytogenetic analyses of metastatic prostate tumors have been very limited, and these data suggest that formation of an i(8q) may be the mechanism by which loss of heterozygosity of 8p, reported frequently in molecular analyses, occurs. Our findings indicate that prostate cancers, like most solid tumors, do have clonal chromosome abnormalities that are frequently complex, but the method that reproducibly yields representative karyotypes from this particular tumor remains to be identified.
HLA class I specificity for natural killer cell receptor CD94/NKG2A: Two for one in more ways than one

Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes that serve as components of the early, innate, immune system, in contrast to B and T lymphocytes, that provide acquired specific immune responses. First described on the basis of capacity to kill cellular targets, such as tumor and infected cells, NK cells also can be activated to secrete cytokines that influence the subsequent development of acquired immunity (1). With respect to target recognition, NK cells appear to express two functional types of receptors, one for activation and another for inhibition (2). Activation receptors remain less well characterized but include receptors such as NKR-P1 in rodents (3) that can presumably recognize target cell ligands and stimulate NK cell release of perforin- and granzyme-containing granules that mediate target apoptosis. Inhibitory NK cell receptors, specific for major histocompatibility complex (MHC; HLA in humans) class I molecules, have been the subject of intense investigation over the last few years, providing major advances in understanding NK cell specificity (4). Such studies have also provided support for the “missing-self” hypothesis that was proposed to explain the effect of target cell MHC class I molecules in providing protection from NK cell killing (5). NK cells are hypothesized to survey tissues for the presence of normal MHC class I molecules that are ubiquitously expressed. When tissues express mutant MHC class I or lack expression, such as during tumorigenesis or infection, this inhibitory influence is released, permitting NK cell-mediated target lysis. In recent issues of the Proceedings, two articles provide significant insight into the physiologic mechanisms by which this inhibition occurs (6, 7).
Computational method for general multicenter electronic structure calculations.

Here a three-dimensional fully numerical (i.e., chemical basis-set free) method [P. F. Batcho, Phys. Rev. A 57, 6 (1998)], is formulated and applied to the calculation of the electronic structure of general multicenter Hamiltonian systems. The numerical method is presented and applied to the solution of Schr\"odinger-type operators, where a given number of nuclei point singularities is present in the potential field. The numerical method combines the rapid ``exponential'' convergence rates of modern spectral methods with the multiresolution flexibility of finite element methods, and can be viewed as an extension of the spectral element method. The approximation of cusps in the wave function and the formulation of multicenter nuclei singularities are efficiently dealt with by the combination of a coordinate transformation and a piecewise variational spectral approximation. The complete system can be efficiently inverted by established iterative methods for elliptical partial differential equations; an application of the method is presented for atomic, diatomic, and triatomic systems, and comparisons are made to the literature when possible. In particular, local density approximations are studied within the context of Kohn-Sham density functional theory, and are presented for selected subsets of atomic and diatomic molecules as well as the ozone molecule.
Solution of the nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann equation using pseudo-transient continuation and the finite element method.

Abstract The nonlinear Poisson–Boltzmann (PB) equation is solved using Newton–Krylov iterations coupled with pseudo-transient continuation. The PB potential is used to compute the electrostatic energy and evaluate the force on a user-specified contour. The PB solver is embedded in a existing, 3D, massively parallel, unstructured-grid, finite element code. Either Dirichlet or mixed boundary conditions are allowed. The latter specifies surface charges, approximates far-field conditions, or linearizes conditions “regulating” the surface charge. Stability and robustness are proved using results for backward Euler differencing of diffusion equations. Potentials and energies of charged spheres and plates are computed and results compared to analysis. An approximation to the potential of the nonlinear, spherical charge is derived by combining two analytic formulae. The potential and force due to a conical probe interacting with a flat plate are computed for two types of boundary conditions: constant potential and constant charge. The second case is compared with direct force measurements by chemical force microscopy. The problem is highly nonlinear—surface potentials of the linear and nonlinear PB equations differ by over an order of magnitude. Comparison of the simulated and experimentally measured forces shows that approximately half of the surface carboxylic acid groups, of density 1/(0.2 nm2), ionize in the electrolyte implying surface charges of 0.4 C/m2, surface potentials of 0.27 V, and a force of 0.6 nN when the probe and plate are 8.7 nm apart.
Rank-one perturbations of diagonal operators

We study rank-one perturbations of diagonal Hilbert space operators mainly from the standpoint of invariant subspace problem. In addition to proving some general properties of these operators, we identify the normal operators and contractions in this class. We show that two well known results about the eigenvalues of rank-one perturbations and one-codimension compressions of self-adjoint compact operators are equivalent. Sufficient conditions are given for existence of nontrivial invariant subspaces for this class of operators.
Transition metal ion complexes of thiosemicarbazones derived from 2-acetylpyridineN-oxide. Part III. Spectral and thermal studies of the metal complexes of 2-acetylpyridineN-oxide thiosemicarbazone

Metal complexes of 2-acetylpyridineN-oxide thiosemicarbazone have been prepared and characterized. Coordination occurs as a neutral bidentate (ON) and a deprotonated tridentate (ONS) ligand.