cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Oseltamivir-resistant influenza viruses get by with a little help from permissive mutations

Evaluation of: Bloom JD, Gong LI, Baltimore D. Permissive secondary mutations enable the evolution of influenza oseltamivir resistance. Science 328(5983), 1272–1275 (2010).Influenza A viruses (IAVs) encode two critical glycoproteins, hemagglutinin and neuraminidase (NA). Hemagglutinin promotes viral docking onto cells via interactions with IAV’s receptor, sialic acid and NA facilitates release of newly synthesized virions by cleaving cellular and viral sialic acid. NA inhibitors, such as oseltamivir, are widely used drugs that work by binding to the active site of NA. Although oseltamivir-resistant viruses were easily generated years ago in laboratory experiments, it was widely believed that these viruses would not be able to circulate in the human population as they did not replicate efficiently. However, oseltamivir-resistant H1N1 viruses rapidly spread during the 2007–2008 IAV season and these viruses contained precisely the same exact drug-resistance mutation identified years prior, a histidine to tyr...
Principles of Program Design Induced from Experience with Small Public Programs

The art of programming is taught, learned, and often practiced as if programs are disposable, personal objects owned, solely by the programmer. This paper uses examples to illustrate why real software is neither personal nor disposable; it shows how even simple programs are shared by others. From the examples, the paper extracts four principles for program development. Finally, it draws conclusions about programming practices and the education of programmers.
Crossing the Border: Poverty, HIV, and the Women of the Ghana-Togo Corridor

Yawa, a 32-year-old Togolese woman from a small community just outside of Lome, had always been told that women with HIV were women "who move from man to man," something she had avoided. After collapsing in the market one afternoon, Yawa visited a local hospital where she was diagnosed with a fever and sent home. Over the next five months, Yawa's fever persisted and developed into a rash that covered her entire body. Returning to the same hospital, she agreed to a test and was diagnosed with HIV. As a woman who had maintained what she felt was a healthy lifestyle and avoided behavior that she understood was associated with disease, an HIV diagnosis took her by surprise.
Preconception and prenatal cystic fibrosis carrier screening of African Americans reveals unanticipated frequencies for specific mutations

Preconception and prenatal cystic fibrosis carrier screening of African Americans reveals unanticipated frequencies for specific mutations
Rare isolated trigeminal nerve sarcoidosis mimicking schwannoma

Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disorder of unknown etiology involving multiple organ systems. Isolated neurosarcoidosis is exceedingly rare. This case report presents isolated trigeminal nerve sarcoidosis mimicking schwannoma in a patient presenting with symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia. Neuroimaging revealed a mass associated with trigeminal nerve which prospectively thought to represent schwannoma. However, surgical pathology was consistent with sarcoidosis. Given great overlap in imaging characteristic of tumors in the Meckel's cave intraoperative frozen section biopsy may be considered to rule out an inflammatory lesion.
Lifetime Reliability Evaluation of Structural Ceramic Parts with the CARES/LIFE Computer Program

The computer program CARES/LIFE calculates the time-dependent reliability of monolithic ceramic components subjected to thermomechanical and/or proof test loading. This program is an extension of the CARES (Ceramics Analysis and Reliability Evaluation of Structures) computer program. CARES/LIFE accounts for the phenomenon of subcritical crack growth (SCG) by utilizing the power law, Paris law, or Walker equation. The two-parameter Weibull cumulative distribution function is used to characterize the variation in component strength. The effects of multiaxial stresses are modeled using either the principle of independent action (PIA), Weibull's normal stress averaging method (NSA), or Batdorf's theory. Inert strength and fatigue parameters are estimated from rupture strength data of naturally flawed specimens loaded in static, dynamic, or cyclic fatigue. Two example problems demonstrating cyclic fatigue parameter estimation and component reliability analysis with proof testing are included.
Dimensions of Market Demand Associated with Taekwondo Schools in North America: Development of a Scale

Since the introduction of martial arts in the United States, the sport of Taekwondo (TKD) has rapidly grown and developed. Although the elevated interest in this sport has increased the magnitude of the TKD market, no systematic studies have been conducted to investigate the market demand variables associated with TKD schools in North America. To a great extent, lack of study has been due to the unavailability of a viable measure. The purpose of this study was to identify the dimensions of market demand for TKD schools and develop the Scale of Market Demand Associated with Taekwondo School (SMD-TKD). Research participants (N = 205) were TKD school members who were 18 years and older from 22 TKD schools in major cities of Florida. A factor analysis using principal component extraction and varimax rotation produced six factors with 51 items returned (i.e., Personal Benefits, School Operation, Instruction Quality, Program Offering, Locker Room, and Cultural Learning). Multiples regression analysis revealed that all market demand factors, except for Program Offering and Cultural Learning, were positively (p < .05) predictive of TKD consumption, suggesting that the SMD-TKD is useful for marketing studies on TKD consumers.
Spontaneous coherent pulsations in ring-laser oscillators: stability criteria

The stability criteria implied by a simplified semiclassical laser model are considered in detail. It is found that two types of criteria must be distinguished. The first concerns the smallest pump rate for which infinitesimal perturbations of the steady-state solution will increase with time, and the second concerns the smallest pump rate for which large amplitude modulations will not damp away.
Crystal structure of the kinase domain of human vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2: a key enzyme in angiogenesis.

Abstract Background: Angiogenesis is involved in tumor growth, macular degeneration, retinopathy and other diseases. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) stimulates angiogenesis by binding to specific receptors (VEGFRs) on the surface of vascular endothelial cells. VEGFRs are receptor tyrosine kinases that, like the platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGFRs), contain a large insert within the kinase domain. Results: We report here the generation, kinetic characterization, and 2.4 A crystal structure of the catalytic kinase domain of VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2). This protein construct, which lacks 50 central residues of the 68-residue kinase insert domain (KID), has comparable kinase activity to constructs containing the entire KID. The crystal structure, determined in an unliganded phosphorylated state, reveals an overall fold and catalytic residue positions similar to those observed in other tyrosine-kinase structures. The kinase activation loop, autophosphorylated on Y1059 prior to crystallization, is mostly disordered; however, a portion of it occupies a position inhibitory to substrate binding. The ends of the KID form a β -like structure, not observed in other known tyrosine kinase structures, that packs near to the kinase C terminus. Conclusions: The majority of the VEGFR2 KID residues are not necessary for kinase activity. The unique structure observed for the ends of the KID may also occur in other PDGFR family members and may serve to properly orient the KID for signal transduction. This VEGFR2 kinase structure provides a target for design of selective anti-angiogenic therapeutic agents.
Simulation on nanoscale self-assembly of ternary-epilayers

This paper simulates the self-assembly of a ternary epilayer on an elastic substrate. The phases coarsen to reduce the phase boundary energy and refine to reduce the elastic energy. They may order into nanoscale patterns to minimize the total free energy. We combine spinodal decomposition and surface stress into a continuum phase field model. A set of nonlinear diffusion equations couples the two concentration fields in the epilayer and the stress field in the substrate. An efficient simulation technique based on the Fast Fourier Transform and the semi-implicit method is developed. Numerical simulations reveal remarkably rich dynamics in the self-assembly of ternary epilayers and suggest significant degree of experimental control in the growth of nanoscale superlattices.
Community College Advantages: The Roles of Accreditation with Financial Aid

Community colleges offer many advantages over other types of institutions, financially and educationally. This article will explore some of those advantages, including comparisons to other types of institutions. A brief introduction to accreditation will contextualize how community colleges have advantages of certain institutions. Lastly, librarians can build upon the institutional advantages that community colleges have especially through collaboration and partnering with departments within the college that are not usually associated with the library.
Therapeutic B cell depletion and regeneration in rheumatoid arthritis: Emerging patterns and paradigms

In recent controlled clinical trials (1–3), B cell–targeted therapy using rituximab, a chimeric anti-CD20monoclonal antibody, was shown to be effective inpatients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, eventhough use of these anti-CD20 antibody infusions hasbecome increasingly commonplace, especially inhematology/oncology practices, this FDA-approvedtherapeutic modality is still unfamiliar to most rheuma-tologists. Although these treatments predictably inducethe loss of most detectable circulating B lymphocytes,the greater implications of B cell depletion therapy forhost immune defenses are only now slowly being re-vealed.Inthisissueof
Sensitization of Nanocrystalline TiO2 by Electropolymerized Thin Films

Following adsorption of [Ru(vbpy)2(dcb)](PF6)2 (dcb is 2,2‘-bipyridine-4,4‘-dicarboxylic acid; vbpy is 4-methyl-4‘-vinyl-2,2‘-bipyridine) on nanocrystalline TiO2 thin films, [Ru(vbpy)3](PF6)2 or [Zn(vbpy)3](PF6)2 can be reductively electropolymerized in acetonitrile. This creates overlayer surface structures stabilized, toward loss of the sensitizer, by cross-surface covalent bonding. RuII→bpy, metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) excitation of the resulting thin film structures and photoinjection in two-electrode cells results in incident photon-to-current conversion efficiencies (IPCE), which are dependent on the overlayer structure. This is shown in the photocurrent action spectra below in propylene carbonate 0.5 M in NaI and 0.05 M in I2: (A) adsorbed [Ru(vbpy)2(dcb)](PF6)2; (B) as in A, but with an overlayer of poly[Zn(vbpy)3](PF6)2; and (C) as in A, but with an overlayer of poly[Ru(vbpy)3](PF6)2.
Circulation Time Determinations from the Right Ventricle

The determination of the circulation time from the ventricle to the face using fluorescein and ultraviolet light eliminates all of the variable factors from the venous side of the circulation and gives evidence specifically of the presence or absence of an intraventricular right to left shunt. The most important clinical application is the differentiation of tetralogy of Fallot from pulmonary valvular stenosis with an intact ventricular septum, the first requiring a shunting type of operation and the second a pulmonary valvulotomy.
Jovian sodium emission from Region C2

Observations of emission from sodium presumed to have been ejected from Io in the orbital plane of the Gallilean satellites and extending outward to at least 35 Jupiter radii are reported. Spectra of the sodium D line were observed to have an intensity of 20 to 30 R. Mechanisms for the escape of sodium from Io after sputtering from the surface are: (1) ejection from Io at velocities greater than Jupiter escape velocity, (2) ejection at velocities corresponding to orbits with apoapses of 35 Jupiter radii, and (3) ionization followed by magnetic field sweeping and recombination. The relative contributions of each mechanism are estimated and used to predict the sodium emission intensity at 35 Jupiter radii to be 7 to 8 R, a value considered to be in reasonable agreement with observations. Observations of emission line width and the correlation of intensity with the orbital phase of Io would provide further means of evaluating the proposed mechanisms of sodium ejection.
Resistance to HER2-targeted therapies: a potential role for FOXM1.

SUMMARY Despite the tremendous efficacy of trastuzumab against HER2-overexpressing metastatic breast cancers, a significant fraction of women demonstrate progressive disease during treatment. Multiple mechanisms have been proposed to mediate trastuzumab resistance. In this review, we discuss the evidence supporting FOXM1 as a mediator of resistance and potential new therapeutic target in trastuzumab-refractory breast cancer. FOXM1 expression is significantly elevated in multiple breast cancer data sets. Some studies suggest a direct correlation between FOXM1 and HER2 expression levels. In addition, overexpression of FOXM1 reduces the sensitivity of HER2-positive breast cancer cells to trastuzumab or lapatinib. Conversely, knockdown or pharmacological inhibition of FOXM1 rescues resistance to HER2-targeted therapies. Current preclinical information supports further investigation of the role of FOXM1 in trastuzumab-resistant breast cancer.
True, false and paranormal

explain how, if at all, wecan truly characterize – specify the ‘semantic status of’ – allsentences of our language (in our language).These projects reflect the core appearances that give rise to the Liar para-dox (and its ilk). Semantic paradoxes arise, at least in part, from the ap-pearance that we can ‘exhaustively characterize’ all sentences of our lan-guage in terms of ‘semantically significant’ predicates, and truly do asmuch in our language.
Cumulative Head Impact Burden in High School Football

Abstract Impacts to the head are common in collision sports such as football. Emerging research has begun to elucidate concussion tolerance levels, but sub-concussive impacts that do not result in clinical signs or symptoms of concussion are much more common, and are speculated to lead to alterations in cerebral structure and function later in life. We investigated the cumulative number of head impacts and their associated acceleration burden in 95 high school football players across four seasons of play using the Head Impact Telemetry System (HITS). The 4-year investigation resulted in 101,994 impacts collected across 190 practice sessions and 50 games. The number of impacts per 14-week season varied by playing position and starting status, with the average player sustaining 652 impacts. Linemen sustained the highest number of impacts per season (868); followed by tight ends, running backs, and linebackers (619); then quarterbacks (467); and receivers, cornerbacks, and safeties (372). Post-impact acceler...
Solid-state structure of calcium (±)-threo-9,10-dihydroxyoctadecan-1-sulfate

Abstract The solid-state structure of calcium (±)- threo -9,10-dihydroxyoctadecan- l -sulfate (1) was determined. Compound 1 crystallized in the centrosymmetric triclinic space group PT with two [C 8 H 17 CH(OH)CH(OH)(CH 2 ) 8 OSO 3 ] 2 -Ca(H 2 O) 2 formula units in a unit cell of dimensions a = 5.507 (2) A, b = 10.323 (3) A, c = 40.175 (12) A, α = 91.54 (2)°, β = 93.67 (2)°, γ = 98.33 (2)° and V = 2253.5 (12) A 3 . The crystal packing is characterized by a tail-to-tail bilayer structure. Intermolecular hydrogen bonding occurs among the vic -diol-substituted hydrocarbon chains. Each calcium ion is seven-coordinate, bonding to oxygens of five different sulfate groups and to oxygens of two water molecules.
The Use of Adventure Therapy Techniques by Clinical Social Workers: Implications for Practice and Training

Adventure therapy, an experiential intervention that combines outdoor, adventure based activities and group process, is used in direct practice by clinical social workers; however, it is unclear to what extent clinical social workers are actually utilizing these techniques. This research project surveyed a random sample of clinical social workers and examined in greater depth how they are utilizing adventure therapy programming with different clients in various treatment settings, as well as what type of education and training they received for engaging in these practices. A random sample of 646 clinical social workers in NASW responded to the survey, and more than 1/3 of this sample (35.1 %) reported the use of adventure based activities for therapeutic purposes in their social work practice. However, few of the social workers reported formal education or training in the use of adventure therapy, highlighting the need for more attention in both educational and clinical settings to proper instruction around this growing intervention.
John Reader, Blurred Encounters: A Reasoned Practice of Faith

(2006). John Reader, Blurred Encounters: A Reasoned Practice of Faith. Political Theology: Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 239-240.
The defect structure of ammonium sulphate single crystals

The defect structure of larger ammonium sulphate crystals, grown from aqueous solutions, has been studied by means of X-ray diffraction topography after Lang's method. Several types of dislocations were identified. Moreover it was found that no relationship exists between growth rate and dislocation density, which implies that crystal growth proceeds via two-dimensional nucleation. No difference was found in the defect structure of crystals grown from pure water solutions and from aqueous solutions with 10 – 20% glycerine as additive: In both cases neither growth bands nor sector boundaries were found. On the other hand, crystals grown in aqueous solutions contaminated with Mn2+ and Fe3+ revealed growth bands and for Fe3+ a mosaic-like structure. Die Defektstruktur von groseren aus waseriger Losung gezuchteten Ammoniumsulfatkristallen ist mit Hilfe der Rontgentopographie nach der Methode von Lang untersucht worden. Dabei wurden verschiedene Typen von Versetzungen bestimmt. Es ist festgestellt worden, das keine Beziehung besteht zwischen der Wachstumrate und der Versetzungsdichte, woraus sich schliesen last, das das Kristallwachstum in der Form zwei-dimensionaler Keimbildung geschieht. Es wurde kein Unterschied festgestellt in der Defektstruktur von Kristallen, die aus rein waserigen Losungen gezuchtet wurden und denen aus waserigen Losungen mit einem Zusatz von 10–20% Glycerin: In beiden Fallen wurden weder Wachstumsbander noch Sektorengrenzen nachgewiesen. Hingegen zeigten Kristalle aus mit Mn2+ und Fe3+ verunreinigten waserigen Losungen sowohl Wachstumbander als auch eine mosaikartige Struktur.
PCR for Derivation of Parameter Dependencies, Thermo-Mechanical Norris-Landzberg Acceleration Factors, Goldmann Fatigue Constants for Leadfree Electronics

Goldmann Constants and Norris-Landzberg acceleration factors for lead-free solders have been developed based on principal component regression models (PCR) for reliability prediction and part selection of area-array packaging architectures under thermo-mechanical loads. Models have been developed in conjunction with Stepwise Regression Methods for identification of the main effects. Package architectures studied include, BGA packages mounted on copper-core and no-core printed circuit assemblies in harsh environments. The models have been developed based on thermo-mechanical reliability data acquired on copper-core and no-core assemblies in four different thermal cycling conditions. Packages with Sn3Ag0.5Cu solder alloy interconnects have been examined. The models have been developed based on perturbation of accelerated test thermo-mechanical failure data. Data has been gathered on nine different thermal cycle conditions with SAC305 alloys. The thermal cycle conditions differ in temperature range, dwell times, maximum temperature and minimum temperature to enable development of constants needed for the life prediction and assessment of acceleration factors. Goldmann Constants and the Norris-Landzberg acceleration factors have been benchmarked against previously published values. In addition, model predictions have been validated against validation data-sets which have not been used for model development. Convergence of statistical models with experimental data has been demonstrated using a single factor design of experiment study for individual factors including temperature cycle magnitude, relative coefficient of thermal expansion, and diagonal length of the chip. The predicted and measured acceleration factors have also been computed and correlated. Good correlations have been achieved for parameters examined. Previously, the feasibility of using multiple linear regression models for reliability prediction has been demonstrated for flex-substrate BGA packages [Lall 2004, 2005], flip-chip packages [Lall 2005] and ceramic BGA packages [Lall 2007]. The presented methodology is valuable in the development of fatigue damage constants for the application specific accelerated test data-sets and provides a method to develop institutional learning based on prior accelerated test data.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Feedback components of a Pu-fueled compared to a U-fueled 900 MWt LMR

Abstract The feedback components of the regional contributions of the power reactivity decrement (PRD) and of the temperature coefficient of reactivity for a 900 MWt homogeneous UPu10Zr-fueled Na-cooled fast reactor are calculated. These PRD components are also separated into power dependent and power-to-flow dependent parts. The values of the PRD components and of the temperature coefficient components are compared with corresponding quantities of an analogous U10Zr-fueled reactor. The effects of these values upon quantities useful in the interpretations of inherent safety characteristics of metalfueled Na-cooled fast reactors are presented.
Culture of pinfish at different stocking densities and salinities in recirculating aquaculture systems.

Abstract There is great demand for marine baitfish in U.S. coastal states. The supply of marine baitfish in the United States is almost completely wild caught, and this fishery is seasonal and inconsistent. Aquaculture may be able to consistently supply marine baitfish for anglers. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of stocking density and salinity on the growth and survival of pinfish Lagodon rhomboides cultured in recirculating aquaculture systems. For the stocking density experiment, juvenile pinfish were stocked (50, 200, 400, and 600 fish/m3) into 1,600-L circular tanks in three identical recirculating systems with a salinity of 27 g/L and were cultured for 82 d. Mean survival was not statistically different among densities and ranged from 94.3% to 99.18%. Daily growth of pinfish ranged from 0.35 to 0.39 g·fish−1·d−1. Mean percent weight gain ranged from 624% to 690% and followed a density-dependent trend. Final total length followed a density-dependent pattern, with each increasi...
Biosynthetic incorporation of fluorophenylalanine into crystalline proteins.

1. 1. [3H]OFP and [3H]PFP are incorporated into ovalbumin and into lysozyme, as well as into a mixed tissue protein fraction by minced hen's oviduct incubated in vitro. In these purified proteins, the analogue is present as an integral part of the molecule and has been found to be distributed among several peptides separated after partial degradation of the respective proteins. 2. 2. The significance of these and of similar studies demonstrating the incorporation of amino acid analogues into otherwise apparently complete and normal proteins is discussed.
Poitediene a new metabolite from the marine red alga

Abstract The structure of a new, 15-carbon nonterpenoid compound, Poitediene 1 , having the previously unobserved twelve membered ring system and dibromo olefin functionality has been determined by spectral and X-ray crystallographic methods.
Hormone and growth factor receptor-mediated regulation of phospholipase C activity

The broad importance of receptor-activated phosphoinositide hydrolysis in the physiological action of hormones, neurotransmitters and growth factors has sparked interest in the study of transmembrane signalling events responsible for activation of phospholipase C. As with receptors involved in regulation of adenylyl cyclase, ion channels and phototransmission, it is clear that a guanine nucleotide regulatory protein (G protein) is a necessary component of the hormone- and neurotransmitter-regulated phosphoinositide signalling mechanism. Recent evidence to support a possible second mode of regulation of phospholipase C by growth factor receptors is emerging in the form of realization that at least one isozyme of phospholipase C serves as a substrate for the tyrosine kinase activity of growth factor receptors known to stimulate phosphoinositide hydrolysis. In this review, Jose Boyer and colleagues summarize progress towards delineating the properties and identity of the G protein(s) involved in this pathway, recent advances in purification and molecular cloning of phospholipase C isozymes, and the current understanding of growth factor receptor-mediated regulation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis.
Grand challenges in geomagnetism and paleomagnetism

Geomagnetism and paleomagnetism is a broad sub-discipline of the Earth Sciences. I present the Grand Challenges from the perspective of a paleomagnetist and rock magnetist, hence I feel more comfortable with the paleomagnetic side of this short article than the geomagnetic side. Nevertheless, exciting things are happening in geomagnetism and the future is bright for both paleomagnetists and geomagnetists.
Multiple rapid progestin actions and progestin membrane receptor subtypes in fish.

Abstract Progestin hormones exert rapid, nongenomic actions on a variety of target tissues in fish. The induction of oocyte maturation and the progestin membrane receptor (mPR) that mediates this action of progestins have been well characterized in fishes. Progestins also act on Atlantic croaker spermatozoa via an mPR to rapidly increase sperm motility. Preliminary results indicate that progestins can also exert rapid actions in the preoptic anterior hypothalamus (POAH) in this species to down-regulate gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion. Recently, we reported the cloning, sequencing and characterization of a novel cDNA in a closely related species, spotted seatrout, that has the characteristics of the mPR involved in the progestin induction of oocyte maturation. Three distinct mPR subtypes, named α, β, and γ, have been identified in both fishes and mammals. The tissue distribution of the mPRα protein in seatrout suggests the α-subtype mediates progestin actions on GnRH secretion, sperm motility and oocyte maturation. However, mPRβ antisense experiments in zebrafish oocytes suggest the β-subtype also participates in the control of oocyte maturation in zebrafish.
Lipopolysaccharides promote S-nitrosylation and proteasomal degradation of liver kinase B1 (LKB1) in macrophages in vivo

LKB1 (liver kinase B1) plays important roles in tumor suppression, energy metabolism, and, recently, in innate immune responses. However, how LKB1 is regulated under physiological or pathological conditions is still unclear. Here, we report that LKB1 protein (but not mRNA) was decreased in both LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells and peritoneal macrophages isolated from LPS-challenged mice. Additional LPS treatment promoted protein ubiquitination and degradation of LKB1. Pharmacological inhibition or gene silencing of inducible NOS abrogated LPS-induced LKB1 degradation, whereas exposure of RAW 264.7 cells to S-nitroso-l-glutathione, a NO donor, triggered LKB1 S-nitrosylation. Consistently, mutation of one cysteine (C430S) in LKB1 prevented LPS-induced S-nitrosylation, ubiquitination, and degradation. Moreover, S-nitrosylation and ubiquitination of LKB1 were confirmed in macrophages from LPS-challenged mice in vivo. Co-administration of the inducible NOS inhibitor S-methylisothiourea or the proteasome inhibitor MG132 prevented LPS-induced LKB1 degradation and improved the survival rate. Finally, mice lacking LKB1 in macrophages had significantly lower survival rates in response to LPS challenge compared with wild-type mice. Thus, we concluded that LKB1 is degraded by LPS treatment via S-nitrosylation-dependent proteasome pathways, and this had a protective role in LPS-induced septic shock.
Song Asynchrony in Neighbouring Bird Species

ACTUALLY or potentially competing species exhibit “displacement patterns”, where various resources such as space, food or light are divided with little or no overlap. We wish to add to this list “broadcasting time”, the time available to territorial birds to advertise their assets, for we have found that the two commonest bird species in California chaparral sing largely out of phase with each other.
POSTMODERN URBANISM DISROBED: OR WHY POSTMODERN URBANISM IS A DEAD END FOR URBAN GEOGRAPHY

“Geography has fallen on hard times” is how Harvard economic historian David Landes (1998, p. 1) starts his book, The Wealth and Poverty of Nations. In the first two chapters, Landes gives a candid and often blunt assessment of geography as a discipline. To Landes, the abolishment of geography at Harvard and other Ivy League universities was well deserved because of geography’s inherent intellectual weaknesses. Landes identified, among several others, three salient features of our discipline: “the lack of a theoretical basis, the all-embracing opportunism (more euphemistically, the catholic openness), the special easiness of human geography” (Landes, 1998, p. 4). It is indeed a bitter pill for geographers to swallow when our colleagues in other disciplines make such stinging remarks about geography. But the fact is, from time to time, geographers’ works truly deserve this kind of honest judgment. Dear and Flusty’s (1998) article in the Annals of the Association of American Geographers (AAAG) on “Postmodern Urbanism” is just one recent example (among many others) of this kind of work. I declare my position without any postmodern ambiguity. Although Dear and Flusty (1998) present some interesting points, their paper fails to present a set of coherent and convincing arguments. Not only are numerous arguments in their paper self-contradicting, but the paper’s overarching theme—to establish the Los Angeles School of postmodern urbanism—is problematic. Far from shedding new light, the authors generate a little heat at best or, at worst, create lots of smoke that clouds rather than clarifies our understanding of cities. I hope this review symposium will blow away the dense smoke that Dear and Flusty have generated in urban studies. In this commentary, I will first comment on Dear and Flusty’s postmodern urbanism, followed by brief remarks on postmodernism in general. I do not believe we can gain a clear understanding of Dear and Flusty’s postmodern urbanism without touching on Dear’s larger agenda: to promote postmodern geography.
Global Governance and the State: Domestic Enforcement of Universal Jurisdiction

The primary goal of this article is to analyze Belgium’s universal jurisdiction law concerning humanitarian law violations and its relationship to global governance norms. When discussing the notion of universal jurisdiction, there are relatively few empirical situations that scholars can draw on to illuminate the debate. In general, there is a very theoretical orientation to the universal human rights debate. Belgium’s 1993 universal jurisdiction law (expanded in 1999) brings a greater degree of empirical clarity to this debate. This law allowed Belgium to hear cases concerning violations of humanitarian law, including genocide and other crimes against humanity, which happened anywhere, without any connection to Belgium. In essence, this was an attempt at the protection of human rights on a universal basis and may be the way forward in the prevention of mass atrocities.
Mathematical model for repair of fatigue damage and stress fracture in osteonal bone

This paper assembles current concepts about bone fatigue and osteonal remodeling into a mathematical theory of the repair of fatigue damage and the etiology of stress fracture. The model was used to address three questions. (a) How does the half-life of fatigue damage compare with the duration of the remodeling cycle? (b) Does the porosity associated with the remodeling response contribute to stress fracture? (c) To what extent is a periosteal callus response necessary to augment repair by remodeling? To develop the theory, existing experimental data were used to formulate mathematical relationships between loading, damage, periosteal bone formation, osteonal remodeling, porosity, and elastic modulus. The resulting nonlinear relationships were numerically solved in an iterative fashion using a computer, and the behavior of the model was studied for various loading conditions and values of system parameters. The model adapted to increased loading by increasing remodeling to repair the additional damage and by adding new bone periosteally to reduce strain. However, if too much loading was encountered, the porosity associated with increased remodeling caused the system to become unstable; i.e., damage, porosity, and strain increased at a very high rate and without limit. It is proposed that this phenomenon is the equivalent of a stress fracture and that its biological and mechanical elements are significant in the etiology of stress fractures. Additional experiments must be done to test the model and provide better values for its parameters. However, the instability characteristic is relatively insensitive to changes in model parameters.
Comparative accuracies of two common screening instruments for classification of Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, and healthy aging.

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to compare the utility and diagnostic accuracy of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in a clinical cohort. Methods Three hundred twenty-one AD, 126 MCI, and 140 older adults with healthy cognition (HC) were evaluated using the MMSE, the MoCA, a standardized neuropsychologic battery according to the Consortium to Establish a Registry of Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD-NB), and an informant-based measure of functional impairment, the Dementia Severity Rating Scale (DSRS). Diagnostic accuracy and optimal cut-off scores were calculated for each measure, and a method for converting MoCA to MMSE scores is presented. Results The MMSE and MoCA offer reasonably good diagnostic and classification accuracy as compared with the more detailed CERAD-NB; however, as a brief cognitive screening measure, the MoCA was more sensitive and had higher classification accuracy for differentiating MCI from HC. Complementing the MMSE or the MoCA with the DSRS significantly improved diagnostic accuracy. Conclusion The findings support recent data indicating that the MoCA is superior to the MMSE as a global assessment tool, particularly in discerning earlier stages of cognitive decline. In addition, we found that overall diagnostic accuracy improves when the MMSE or MoCA is combined with an informant-based functional measure. Finally, we provide a reliable and easy conversion of MoCA to MMSE scores. However, the need for MCI-specific measures is still needed to increase the diagnostic specificity between AD and MCI.
Fast servo signal acquisition in tape drives using servo and data channels

Abstract In a tape drive, the head assembly hosting servo readers and data writers/readers must initially be moved to a target position, so that information can be written to or read from the desired tracks. In tape systems with flangeless rollers, as recently introduced in IBM’s tape drives for improved performance and extended drive and tape lifetime, the initial positioning of the servo readers over the servo bands, from which the position-error signal for steady-state track-following operation is obtained, has to be fast. This requirement is dictated by the nonnegligible lateral tape motion experienced in tape paths with flangeless rollers. In this paper, a method is proposed to utilize both the servo readers and the data readers in a drive to detect the presence of a valid servo signal. If the servo readers are not positioned over a servo band, the distance between servo readers and servo band can thereby be continuously estimated by identifying the data reader detecting the presence of a servo signal. This information is then provided to a control element that controls the joint operation of a coarse stepper motor and a voice-coil motor based fine actuator with large stroke in a feedback or feed-forward configuration to achieve fast servo reader positioning. In the feedback-based approach, all data channels are continuously monitored to detect the presence of a valid servo signal and a pseudo position-error signal is generated and fed back to the control unit to drive the actuator towards the target position. In the feed-forward approach, a trajectory for the actuator is determined as soon as the servo band is in the capture range of the fine actuator and a control signal is generated so that the servo reader rapidly lands over the servo band with optimum control effort.
Serosorting for hepatitis C status in the sharing of injection equipment among Seattle area injection drug users

Abstract Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major health problem among injection drug users (IDU). One potential means of reducing risk of HCV transmission among IDU is serosorting, whereby IDU preferentially share injection equipment with persons of like HCV status. Methods We surveyed Seattle area IDU recruited by respondent-driven sampling as part of the National HIV/AIDS Behavioral Surveillance system in 2005. Results Of 337 participants, 91% reported ever having been tested for HCV. Fifty-three percent of participants who shared any injection equipment in the last 12 months reported knowing the HCV status of the last person with whom they shared injection equipment. Thirty-seven percent of self-reported HCV-positive participants reported that their last injection equipment sharing partner was also HCV-positive and 7% reported a HCV-negative partner. Among self-reported HCV-negative participants, 11% reported a HCV-positive partner and 23% a negative partner. The disproportionate tendency to share injection equipment with a partner of like HCV status persisted after control for characteristics associated with HCV positivity in stratified and logistic regression analyses. Among participants sharing injection equipment, 39% reported that they had intentionally shared injection equipment with a partner based on knowledge of their concordant HCV status. Conclusions We conclude that a measurable degree of serosorting by HCV status is occurring among Seattle area IDU. Promotion of serosorting among HCV-positive IDU may be a useful harm reduction strategy for IDU who continue to practice sharing injection equipment. If judged efficacious, serosorting would provide a further rationale to encourage and support HCV testing among IDU.
A Simple Model for a Zinc/Bromine Flow Cell and Associated Storage Tanks

A simple model for a parallel plate, zinc/bromine flow cell and associated storage tanks is presented and used to make time-dependent predictions for various quantities in the system. The model is based on a previously published algebraic model of the cell at steady-state and time-dependent, first-order differential equations for the storage tanks. The Butler--Volmer equation is used for the electrochemical reactions, and the homogeneous reaction between bromine and bromide is included. The model predictions indicate that the charging operation of a zinc/bromine battery can be significantly improved by using a storage tank with a larger residence time for the bromine side of the system.
Assessment of postbrachytherapy sexual function: A comparison of the IIEF-5 and the MSEFS

Abstract Purpose This study is to compare the Mount Sinai Erectile Function Score (MSEFS), our brachytherapy program's physician-assigned scale, with patients' independently completed International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5). Methods and materials A total of 1202 patients with T1–T3 prostate cancer were treated with ultrasound-guided radioactive seed implantation ± EBRT with at least one visit where both MSEFS and IIEF-5 were completed. Spearman rho correlations were performed. Results The MSEFS significantly correlated with the total IIEF-5 scores on all comparisons. The coefficient was 0.65 for comparisons at initial consultation and 0.76 for all visits. The correlations remained strong, averaging to 0.76 for visits 1 through 10. Conclusions In assessing erectile dysfunction after radiation, the MSEFS correlates well with, but cannot be replaced by, the IIEF-5, which is weighted toward one's degree of sexual desire. More insight into patients' erectile function after brachytherapy may be gotten if the IIEF-15 is used instead of the IIEF-5 with our MSEFS.
Test characteristics of immunofluorescence and ELISA tests in 856 consecutive patients with possible ANCA-associated conditions.

Objective To examine the test characteristics of immunofluorescence (IF) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) in a consecutive series of patients under evaluation for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)–associated vasculitis (AAV). Methods Using stored sera, we performed a cross-sectional study on 856 consecutive patients tested prospectively for ANCA by IF. Based on guidelines from the 1994 Chapel Hill Consensus Conference (CHCC), we determined each patient's underlying diagnosis by a medical records review without regard to their ANCA status (the CHCC guidelines do not require ANCA as a prerequisite for diagnosis). We grouped patients with forms of vasculitis commonly associated with ANCA into one of 4 types of AAV: Wegener's granulomatosis (n = 45), microscopic polyangiitis (n = 12), Churg-Strauss syndrome (n = 4), and pauci-immune glomerulonephritis (n = 8). We also classified patients without clinical evidence of AAV (92% of all patients tested) into 5 predefined categories of disease (including “other”) and an additional category for no identifiable disease. In a blinded fashion, we then performed ELISAs on the stored serum for antibodies to proteinase-3 (PR3) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) and calculated the test characteristics for both ANCA assay techniques. Results Sixty-nine of the 856 patients (8.1%) had clinical diagnoses of AAV based on CHCC guidelines. The positive predictive value (PPV) of ELISA for AAV was superior to that of IF, 83% versus 45%. For patients with both positive IF tests and positive ELISA tests, the PPV increased to 88%. Both IF and ELISA had high negative predictive values (97% and 96%, respectively). Positive ELISA tests were associated with higher likelihood ratios (LR) than IF (54.2 [95% CI = 26.3, 111.5] versus 9.4 [95% CI = 6.9, 12.7]). The LR of both a positive IF and a positive ELISA was 82.1 (95% CI = 33.3, 202.5). Conclusions Compared with IF, an ELISA test for ANCA was associated with a substantially higher PPV and LR for AAV. This fact, combined with the greater sensitivity of IF, suggests that an effective testing strategy is to perform ELISA tests only on samples that are positive for ANCA by IF.
High-throughput traffic classification on multi-core processors

Traffic classification is a critical task in network management. Decision-trees are commonly used in Machine Learning (ML)-based traffic classification algorithms. Most of the existing implementations are hardware-based, while a new trend for network applications is to use software-based solutions. Since the decision-tree used for traffic classification is highly unbalanced, it is challenging to achieve high throughput for decision-tree-based traffic classification on multi-core platforms. In this paper, we present a high-throughput traffic classifier employing a scalable data structure on multi-core platforms. We convert decision-trees used in ML-based algorithms into a compact rule set table. Based on this data structure, we develop a divide-and-conquer algorithm by (1) searching all the columns of this table in parallel, and (2) merging the outcomes from all the columns into the final classification result. High throughput is sustained using our approach even if the size of the rule set table is scaled up with respect to (1) the number of decision-tree leaves and (2) the number of features examined during the classification process. We prototype our design on state-of-the-art multi-core platforms. For a typical decision-tree-based traffic classifier consisting of 128 leaf nodes and 6 flow-level features, our implementation achieves a throughput of 98 Million Lookups Per Second (MLPS). Our traffic classifier sustains high throughput even for highly unbalanced decision-trees. We achieve 1.5× throughput compared with the C4.5 decision-tree-based implementations, and 13× throughput compared with the SVM based traffic classifiers on multi-core platforms.
Comments on the inheritance of deaf mutism in Northern Ireland.

Summary It has been shown that a simple recessive mode of inheritance is incompatible with the observed distribution of deafness in Northern Ireland. One possibility is that homozygosity at either of two or more loci is responsible for much of the deafness observed, but that dominant genes account for 15 % or more of the cases of deafness. An alternative series of hypotheses suggests that some of the observed deafness is due to homozygosity at certain loci, but that there are many rare genes in the population which can often produce deafness in persons who are heterozygous for two or more of them. These hypotheses can be combined in a variety of ways.
Some aspects of nuclease activity in Anacystis nidulans and other algae.

Abstract 1. 1. RNase and DNase activity has been determined in several blue-green algae as well as some higher algae. The simpler forms of the blue-green algae contained very low amounts of RNase with pH optimum in the acid or alkaline range depending on the species. With the exception of Anacystis nidulans they all contained modest amounts of DNase activity. Higher algae contained relatively large quantities of RNase and DNase. 2. 2. The localization of two different RNases in Anacystis nidulans was studied by preparing spheroplasts and determining the release of RNase activity during the preparation. Optimum conditions for preparing Anacystis nidulans spheroplasts were determined.
Electronic Excitations and Spectra in Single-Stranded DNA

Using density functional theory and molecular dynamics simulations, we show that delocalized states extending over three bases can be directly excited in single-stranded poly(A) DNA. The results are in semiquantitative agreement with recent experimental results for the delocalization length of these states in single- and double-stranded DNA. The structures used in these molecular dynamics calculations are validated by comparing calculated circular dichroic spectra for d(A)2 and d(A)4 with experiment. These spectra, which arise from highly stacked structures, are in good agreement with experiment, suggesting that the short delocalization in ssDNA arises in spite of strong stacking.