cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of common maintenance drugs on the risk and severity of COVID-19 in elderly patients

Background Maintenance drugs are used to treat chronic conditions. Several classes of maintenance drugs have attracted attention because of their potential to affect susceptibility to and severity of COVID-19. Methods Using claims data on 20% random sample of Part D Medicare enrollees from April to December 2020, we identified patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Using a nested case-control design, non-COVID-19 controls were identified by 1:5 matching on age, race, sex, dual-eligibility status and geographical region. We identified usage of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARB), warfarin, direct factor Xa inhibitors, clopidogrel, famotidine and hydroxychloroquine based on Medicare prescription claims data. Using extended Cox regression models with time-varying propensity score adjustment we examined the independent effect of each study drug on contracting COVID-19. For severity of COVID-19, we performed extended Cox regressions on all COVID-19 patients, using COVID-19-related hospitalization and all-cause mortality as outcomes. Covariates included gender, age, race, geographic region, low-income indicator and co-morbidities. To compensate for indication bias related to the use of hydroxychloroquine for the prophylaxis or treatment of COVID-19, we censored patients who only started on hydroxychloroquine in 2020. Results Up to December 2020, our sample contained 374,229 Medicare patients over 65 who were diagnosed with COVID-19. Among the COVID-19 patients, 209,208 (55.9%) were on at least one study drug. The three most common study drugs were ACEI 97,872 (26.1%), ARB 83,329 (22.3%) and clopidogrel 38,203 (10.2%). Current users of ACEI, ARB, warfarin, direct factor Xa inhibitor and clopidogrel were associated with reduced risk of getting COVID-19 (3-13%), and reduced risk of dying after a COVID-19 diagnosis (8-19%). Famotidine did not show consistent significant effects. Hydroxychloroquine did not show significant effects after censoring of recent starters. Conclusions Maintenance use of ACEI, ARB, warfarin, direct factor Xa inhibitor and clopidogrel was associated with reduction in risk of acquiring COVID-19 and dying from it.
Special Educator Self-Efficacy

In California, the longstanding insufficiency of special educators has compounded since the 2013-2014 academic year. Districts and state legislators have relied on the issuance of substandard permits (i.e., Provisional Intern Permits, Short-Term Staff Permits, and Intern Credentials) to counteract the shortage. However, the effectiveness of this approach has limited evaluation. This study evaluated differences between pre-service and in-service special educators’ self-efficacy ratings. Special educators serving in California’s Central Valley on substandard permits or valid teaching credentials (i.e., Preliminary and Clear Credentials) completed the Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale. Differences were assessed across several variables using independent t-tests and one-way ANOVAs. Significant differences emerged in special educators’ self-reported levels of self-efficacy as a function of credential status, favoring those with valid credentials. The findings indicate a correlation between special educators’ credential status (a proxy for training) and self-reported self-efficacy. The results of this study add to the research on special educators’ self-efficacy by exploring the phenomenon among a newly emerged group of California-based special educators: substandard permit holders. keywords: self-efficacy, special education, substandard authorization, pathways to teaching
Evaluating the impacts of situational awareness and mental stress on takeover performance under conditional automation

Abstract Several safety concerns emerge for the transition of control from the automated driving system to a human driver after the vehicle issues a takeover warning under conditional vehicle automation (SAE Level 3). In this context, recent advances in in-vehicle driver monitoring systems enable tracking drivers’ physiological indicators (e.g., eye-tracking and heart rate (HR) measures) to assess their real-time situational awareness (SA) and mental stress. This study seeks to analyze differences in driver’s SA and mental stress over time (i.e., successive experiment runs) using these physiological indicators to assess their impacts on takeover performance. We use eye-tracking measures (i.e., on-road glance rate and road attention ratio) as indicators of driver’s SA during automated driving. Further, we use the pre-warning normalized HR (NHR) and HR variability (HRV) as well as the change in NHR and HRV after the takeover warning as indicators of mental stress immediately before and the change in mental stress after the takeover warning, respectively. To analyze the effects of driver state (in terms of SA and mental stress) on the overall takeover performance, this study uses a comprehensive metric, Takeover Performance Index (TOPI), proposed in our previous work ( Agrawal & Peeta, 2021 ). The TOPI combines multiple driving performance indicators while partly accounting for their interdependencies. Results from statistical analyses of data from 134 participants using driving simulator experiments illustrate significant differences in driver state over successive experiment runs, except for the change in mental stress after the takeover warning. Some significant correlations were found between the physiological indicators of SA and mental stress used in this study. Takeover performance model results illustrate a significant negative effect of change in NHR after the takeover warning on the TOPI. However, none of the other physiological indicators show significant impacts on takeover performance. The study findings provide valuable insights to auto manufacturers for designing integrated in-vehicle driver monitoring and warning systems that enhance road safety and user experience.
An Information Theoretic Decomposition of Fitness: Engineering the Communication Channels of Nature and Society

Martin Hilbert; hilbert@ucdavis.edu An information theoretic decomposition of fitness: engineering the communication channels of nature and society March 2015 Martin Hilbert University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA; hilbert@ucdavis.edu ABSTRACT Formal analyses in biology, ecology and economics typically bypass the intuitive interpretation of ‘fit-ness’ as environmental ‘fit’ and hastily equate fitness with the resulting rate of reproduction, economic pay-off, etc.. But evolutionary growth also has a direct interpretation as environmental ‘fit’, as it can be expressed in terms of Shannon’s mutual information. This presents evolutionary change as a communication channel between the population and its environment. Optimal growth quantifies the amount of structure in the updated population that unequivocally comes from the environment. Turning this finding around, fitness can be optimized by searching for non-confusable signals between both. Full channel capacity is achieved with specialized types for each environmental state (noiseless channel). Just like technological communication channels thrive on source knowledge, fitness can be increased with environmental knowledge. This establishes a formal link between evolution in biological and social populations, and long-standing engineering efforts in the optimization of communication channels. March 2015 Electronic copy available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2588146
Chapter 9 – Early Hominins

Three genera of possible human ancestors (Sahelanthropus, Orrorin, and Ardipithecus) have been dated to 7–4.4 mya. Where the same skeletal elements have been recovered the morphology of the three genera is similar. When compared to chimpanzees and bonobos all the three exhibit reduced incisors, smaller canines, and less sectorial lower first premolars. A single fragmentary pelvis displays a mixture of chimpanzee- and hominin-like features. Interpretation of these fossils is confounded by the many australopith-like features in Ouranopithecus, the purported common ancestor of African apes and humans. Ouranopithecus shares with Australopiths (but not these three possible hominins) a robust, prognathic face, tall zygomatics, large incisors, large cheek teeth, and thick molar enamel. Ouranopithecus shares with australopiths and the three possible hominins small canines and a shallow supratoral sulcus. The robusticity of Ouranopithecus makes it less likely that Sahelanthropus, Orrorin, and Ardipithecus are in the hominin lineage, since such a lineage would require an evolutionary progression that starts robust, becomes nonrobust, and then reacquires robusticity. Some paleontologists, however, are skeptical of the place of Ouranopithecus in the human lineage. They find compelling indirect evidence that the common ancestor of African apes and humans was quite chimpanzee-like, which would exclude robust species such as Ouranopithecus from the human lineage. If the common ancestor was chimpanzee-like, then the argument that Sahelanthropus, Orrorin, and Ardipithecus are part of the human ancestry is stronger.
Mid-range and high-end PA-RISC computer systems

A performance upgrade to the successful Hewlett-Packard K-series products has been designed. The new product uses the PA-8000 processor and the "Hawks" hardware platform to provide a high performance mid-range server system. The system uses parallel memory and IO systems in order to efficiently utilize the processing power provided by the PA-8000 processor. The superscalar speculative and out of order execution capabilities of the PA-8000, coupled with Symmetric multi-processor (SMP) dictates the need for the parallelism designed into the system. At the same time, it is important to ensure a cost effective system design. Described in this paper is the architecture of the new Mohawk product within the Hawks family of products.
"Cecal gangrene": a rare cause of right-sided inferior abdominal quadrant pain, fever, and leukocytosis.

We report on a 58-year-old man with known diabetes, congestive heart failure, and need for chronic hemodialysis presenting with right lower abdominal quadrant pain, fever, and leukocytosis. Although initial clinical findings were highly suggestive of acute appendicitis, CT revealed marked circumferential wall thickening of the cecum, which was interpreted as cecal infarction by the radiologist. Intraoperatively, cecal necrosis was confirmed, but the ileocecal valve and, especially, the appendix showed no ischemia. No vascular occlusions were found. Histopathologic analysis of the resected cecum demonstrated isolated transmural cecal necrosis with marked infiltration of the cecal wall by numerous bacteria and neutrophils. We present the CT features and histopathologic findings of isolated cecal gangrene, review the pathogenesis of occlusive and nonocclusive cecal ischemia or infarction, and discuss the role of bacterial superinfection as a potential cofactor in the pathogenesis of isolated cecal necrosis which should be included in the differential diagnosis of right-sided inferior abdominal quadrant pain.
Nonparametric identification of linear (almost) periodically time-varying systems using cyclic-polyspectra

Novel algorithms are presented for nonparametric input/output identification of systems using kth-order cyclic-polyspectra at known cycles. Errors-in-variables models with generally cyclostationary inputs are considered. The proposed methods for k>or=3 are insensitive to contamination of both input and output data by even cyclostationary Gaussian noise of unknown covariance. Additional insensitivity to different types of input disturbances is delineated. Consistent and asymptotically normal sample cyclic-polyspectrum estimators are used for implementation, and simulations illustrate the proposed algorithms. >
Optimizing IBGP route reflection network

In the conventional internal border gateway protocol (IBGO), the BGP sessions between all BGP speakers in a single autonomous system (AS) form a full mesh. For scalability reasons, route reflection is proposed as an alternative to the full mesh inside an AS. The selection of route reflectors and their clients determines the path used by IGBP route advertising. Thus, the design of the route reflection graph is an important issue for improving IBGP operating efficiency and reliability. This paper focuses on the topology optimization for the route reflection graph, i.e., the selection of the reflectors and the interconnections between reflectors and clients. We propose the optimum reflection graph (ORG) problem to find the best topology for IBGP reflection according to the efficiency or reliability metrics. We give the solvability conditions for the problem and present solution based on the integer programming model. Our approach is also highly flexible. Human decisions or constraints can be easily incorporated to find a topology which satisfies AS administrator's manual configurations.
Weight versus strength: A case study

Abstract Smart electronic packaging is necessary for solving the problem of protecting electronic devices, weight reduction and miniaturization, and many technical problems connected with the performance of these devices. To develop a guideline for these improvements, it is important initially to create some sound engineering estimates based on simple analytical considerations. In the present paper, such estimates are constructed as applied to the design project of the ground based radars (GBR) of the next generation. Some necessary technical requirements for the GBR structure are presented, and an estimate is made of the comparative performance of laminate composite materials in the GBR project, as compared to the aluminum alloy of the present GBR design. The menu method is suggested to solve the problem of the multi-criterion, optimal design of the panel thickness in the GBR design. Finally, the mechanism of sintering ceramics in order to control their density and strength, and hydridize them using superelastic SMA actuators against an impact, is considered.
Minimum Time Heating Cycles for Diffusion-Controlled Binder Removal from Ceramic Green Bodies

An algorithm based on variational calculus has been developed to predict the minimum time heating cycle (MTHC) for thermal binder removal from a ceramic green body when diffusion, as described by the free volume theory, is the governing mass transport mechanism. The algorithm uses a previously derived analytic solution for the diffusant concentration, which was obtained from the governing reaction–diffusion differential equation. Either a constraint on diffusant concentration or on the equilibrium pressure of diffusant is used to predict the MTHC for both a stationary binder model and a shrinking core binder model. For these four cases, the dependence of the MTHC has been determined on a number of model parameters, including the threshold concentration or pressure, the body size, and the reaction order of the binder degradation kinetics. The algorithm determines two important aspects of the MTHC, namely, the starting temperature of the heating cycle and how temperature varies with time during the cycle. The duration and shape of the temperature-versus-time heating schedule, whether increasing, decreasing, or almost constant, depends sensitively on parameters in the model.
Comparative pathology in experimental infection of pigs and calves with larvae of Angiostrongylus cantonensis.

Abstract Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection was produced experimentally in pigs and calves by the oral administration of third-stage larvae. Living and normal third-stage larvae, without evidence of further development, were isolated from the visceral organs of a pig at 3 days and of calves at 3, 7, 14 and 28 days after dosing. Larvae recovered 3 days after infection from the stomach of a pig, and from the lungs, peritoneal and thoracic cavities of a calf, produced cerebral infection when fed to rats. A few which appeared normal and were recovered from the lungs of calves 7 to 28 days after infection failed to produce cerebral infection when fed to rats in small numbers. It is not known to what extent these results were due to the comparatively few larvae which were fed to the rats. In pigs, larvae, in process of disintegration, were found enclosed in granulomas in the wall of the digestive tract and in mesenteric and mediastinal lymph nodes. A characteristic form of interstitial focal hepatitis also developed during the second week of infection. In calves, the larvae were found mostly in the pulmonary lymphatics and in mediastinal lymph nodes. The granulomatous reaction was delayed and several larvae, apparently morphologically intact, were found in the lungs as late as 28 days after infection. Unlike the pigs, no interstitial focal hepatitis developed in any of the calves. In one pig and in all five calves, some of the larvae migrated and developed to the fourth-stage in the central nervous system. The lesions are described.
Fowl cholera: Cross-protective turkey antisera and IgG antibodies induced with Pasteurella multocida-infected tissue bacterins

Turkey antisera induced with formolized Pasteurella multocida-infected tissues (T antisera) passively cross-immunized 48 of 55 chickens against a challenge dose of P. multocida organisms, from which 0 of 15 controls survived. However, turkey antisera induced with formalin-killed, agar-cultured P. multocida cells (A antisera) passively cross-immunized only 4 of 30 chickens. Cross-immunity refers to protection against a different immunologic type of P. multocida. Quantitative precipitin reactions of the A and T antisera with antigens from agar-cultured cells showed that more antibody was present in the A than in the T antisera. However, antigens extracted from the infected tissues reacted with the T and not with the A antisera in the Ouchterlony procedure, demonstrating qualitative differences between the agar-cultured antigens and those extracted from the infected tissue. The gel precipitins isolated from the A and T antisera were characterized as 7S immunoglobulins, which behaved in immunoelectrophoresis as would be expected for a IgG immunoglobulin. The IgG fraction from the T antiserum passively cross-immunized chickens almost as well as the whole antiserum; hence, the IgG antibody is a major factor in cross-immunity.
Long-term administration of antiepileptic drugs and the development of rickets.

Two young children developed rickets as a complication of anticonvulsant therapy and were subsequently cured by vitamin D therapy. They are the youngest patients thus far reported, and the first to be reported in the United States. On the basis of clinical studies, rickets and osteomalacia can be added to the list of toxic effects of anticonvulsant therapy. Although the exact mechanism of pathogenesis remains to be elucidated, it appears likely that these drugs alter the metabolism of vitamin D in certain patients. Special attention should be paid to the status of calcium and phosphorus metabolism in children who are receiving such drugs, and to their intake of vitamin D.
Factors associated with survival for patients with glioblastoma with poor pre-operative functional status

Patients with glioblastoma (GB) are known to have poor prognoses, and among these patients, those with poor neurological function have an even poorer prognosis. Consequently, aggressive surgeries and adjuvant therapies are often withheld because of this dismal outlook. The effects of aggressive therapies in this small subset of patients remain unknown. The goal of this study was to evaluate outcomes and factors associated with survival for poor functioning patients who underwent aggressive resection of their GB. Adult patients who underwent surgical resection of an intracranial primary GB at an academic tertiary-care institution between 1997 and 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with a Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) score of ≤60 were included. A total of 100 patients with primary GB met the inclusion criteria. The average age (± standard deviation) and KPS score of this cohort were 54 ± 15 years and 53 ± 12, respectively. No patient (0%) experienced perioperative mortality, and 0 (0%), 10 (10%), and 3 (3%) of patients incurred a new or increasing language, motor, and visual deficit, respectively. At last follow-up, 88 (88%) patients died with a median survival of 6.6 months. The factors associated with improved survival were age 2 cm (p = 0.01), radical tumor resection (p=0.01), and temozolomide (p = 0.001). This study identifies a subset of patients with poor functional status who may benefit from aggressive surgical resection.
Prediction of Calcium Binding Site in the RCK1 Domain of BKCa Channel Using Multisite Cation Model

Calcium plays a major role in controlling the opening and closing of the large conductance BKCa channels. Two high affinity binding sites have been identified in the channel structure and one of these sites is the DRDD loop in the N-terminus of the RCK1 domain. Mutation of the first aspartate in this conserved DRDD motif significantly reduces Ca2+ sensitivity and hence this residue has been implicated as a coordinating group in the binding site. Here we present results on the prediction of the Ca2+ binding site based on a series of detailed computational studies. We use a novel multisite cation model for calcium ion to accurately simulate the ion-coordination. The basic protocol involves multiple iterations of random ion placement, implicit solvent molecular dynamics simulations and statistical analysis. Our resulting model matches very well with existing mutagenesis data, and subsequent explicit solvent molecular dynamics simulations have been performed using this Ca2+ bound structure. Comparison of the dynamics and conformations of the Ca2+ bound and unbound simulations reveal a concerted conformational change in the structure and suggest a potential mechanism for calcium dependent activation of these channels.
Suppression of LPS-induced transcription and cytokine secretion by the dietary isothiocyanate sulforaphane

Scope Diets rich in cruciferous vegetables are associated with lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which may contribute to potential health-promoting properties of these vegetables. We investigate whether sulforaphane (SF), an isothiocyanate (ITC) obtained from broccoli, could suppress LPS-induced transcription and subsequent pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion at a physiologically relevant concentration using in vitro models of chronic inflammation. Methods and results We find that exposure of the LPS receptor Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) to physiologically appropriate concentrations of SF under non-reducing conditions results in covalent modification of cysteine residues 246 and 609. We further demonstrate that the changes in expression of 1210 genes (p ≤ 0.01) in THP-1 monocytes and the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in both human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and THP-1 monocytes induced by LPS exposure can be completely suppressed through exposure with physiologically appropriate concentrations of SF. Finally, we show that in vivo exposure of human PBMCs to ITCs within human circulation reduces secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines following subsequent ex vivo LPS challenge (p < 0.001). Conclusion Covalent modification of TLR4 by ITCs and resultant suppression of LPS-induced cell signalling could lead to reductions in levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in people with chronic diseases who consume diets rich in cruciferous vegetables.
Ceric Ion Initiated Graft Polymerization onto Poly(vinyl Alcohol)

Abstract This paper describes the kinetics of the ceric ion-initiated graft co-polymerization of vinyl acetate-acrylonitrile to poly(vinyl alcohol). The graft copolymerization rate Rp was found to be first order with respect to the total concentration of the comonomer mixture [M], the concentration of vinyl alcohol repeating units [PVA], and the mole fraction of vinyl acetate in the comonomer feed mixture. Rp was independent of cerous ion. The grafting rate was independent of ceric ion above a ceric concentration of 0.0020 M but first order in ceric ion below that concentration. Rp initially increased rapidly with [H+] to a maximum and then decreased and levelled off at hgher [H+]. The rate of ceric ion disappearance was first order in [PVA], independent of [MI, and increased with increasing [H+] with a leveling off at high [H+]. A reaction mechanism.
Fabrication of Nanoporous Ceramic Thin Films: De-alloying and Self-organized Template Formation Onamorphous Substrates

Sol-gel-derived metal oxide ceramic thin films deposited onto amorphous iron-rich substrates were found to form self-organized nanoporous structures dependent upon the extent to which the substrate is de-alloyed, a function of the substrate alloycomposition, acid concentration of the sol, and film drying conditions. Field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and x-ray energy dispersive analysis were used to investigate details of the porous structure formation.Our studies showed the more electrochemically active elements in the amorphous substrate are de-alloyed by the sol in high-humidity environments, whereupon the liberated elements form oxides replicating the de-alloyed substrate matrix resulting in athree dimensional porous network structure.
Prolonged coagulopathy associated with brodifacoum poisoning in two dogs

Two dogs developed a generalised bleeding disorder after ingestion of brodifacoum, a compound belonging to a new generation of more potent and longer-acting anticoagulant rodenti-cides. Haemorrhage recurred after treatment with conventional dosages of vitamin K1 Successful therapy required dosages of vitamin K1 of 5 mg/kg for a period of up to eight weeks.
CONTRIBUTIONS OF OPTICAL METHODS TO NUCLEAR PHYSICS

The paper contains a general review of developments in nuclear physics which have resulted from the application of optical methods to the study of nuclei. It also touches upon some related developments which have resulted from applications of atomic beams which have been stimulated by the early spectroscopic ideas as well as by the results of spectroscopic research. Some items under consideration are: coupling of electron system to nuclear spin, the electron-nuclear volume and shape effect, the hyperfine structure of the isotopes of hydrogen, distribution of nuclear magnetic, isotope shift and quadrupole moments, bearing of latter on nuclear models.
Long-distance drifting of ionization electrons in liquid and solid argon

A study of ionization electron drifting long distances in liquid and solid argon was carried out with a 10 cm gridded ionization chamber, operated with electric fields between 10 V/cm and 2 kV/cm. A detailed analysis of the ionization pulse shape was performed with a FADC readout, yielding information on both the degree of purity of the liquid and the electron drift velocity. Argon with an impurity concentration less than 0.2 p.p.b. oxygen equivalent was obtained with a very simple purification system. With this level of purity electrons remained free for periods of time in excess of one millisecond. The measured attenuation length extrapolates to 7.5 m for liquid argon and to 1 m for solid argon at a drift field of 1 kV/cm.
The bisexual brain: sex behavior differences and sex differences in parthenogenetic and sexual lizards

The parthenogenetic lizard Cnemidophorus uniparens alternates in the display of male-like and female-like sexual behavior, providing a unique opportunity for determining the neuronal circuits subserving gender-typical sexual behavior within a single sex. Here we report a 6-fold greater [14C]2-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose uptake in the medial preoptic area of C. uniparens displaying male-like behavior in comparison with C. uniparens displaying female-like receptivity. The ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus showed greater 2DG accumulation in receptive C. uniparens than in courting C. uniparens. When a related sexual species (C. inornatus) was compared to the unisexual species, the anterior hypothalamus in C. inornatus males exhibited significantly greater activity.
Rapid tranquilization: A comparative study of thiothixene and haloperidol

In a double-blind comparative clinical study, both thiothixene and haloperidol were found to be effective agents for rapid tranquilization of manic and schizophrenic patients. While no statistically significant difference in any of the psychopathological areas which may create a psychiatric emergency was found, results of this study provide further substantiation of the notion that thiothixene has favorable effects on anergia .
Production Systems and Grammars: A Uniform Characterization:

The common structure underlying production system formalisms is developed. A variety of production system formalisms are summarized in terms of this structure. The structure is useful both for understanding existing types of production systems and for developing new ones.
Trust in systems development: a model of management and developer interaction research in progress

Systems analysis and design (SAD) is often considered to be a technical task; indeed, in many cases exposure to SAD at the college level is an extension of a programming and database management course. Most information systems (IS) professionals would agree, however, that SAD requires communication skills, management skills, and organizational skills in addition to analytical and technical abilities. Further complicating the social dynamics of the situation, many systems are now developed by outsourcing partners, who work with management in virtual team environments. The authors recently met with the CIO of a major financial services firm, who stated that “Vendor management is the single most important skill … (my) IS management teams need to develop”. This research presents a theoretical framework for examining the relationship between management and systems developers, in particular applying a model of trust to explain behaviors from both party's perspectives. In addition, this research tests that framework within the context of a controlled setting.
Exact fits to large ranked, bibliometric distributions

A system of software and analysis was tested and good fits were obtained to quite large distributions. Its use was found to be sufficiently swift to make repeated modelling feasible. There were results of possible interest regarding the rates of change between adjacent ranks and the identification and contribution of a “core” literature. This approach should facilitate future comparisons among models with large data sets. © 1988 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Tertiary Structural Models of Human Interleukin-6 and Evaluation by Comparison with X-Ray and NMR Structures.

Tertiary structure models of interleukin-6 were construted using a routine prediction method based on the X-ray crystal structures of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). Those models were evaluated using a sequence-structure compatibility (3D-1D) method program Compass and a limited amount of NMR distance information when it was concluded that the model based on GCSF (IBGC) was preferable to that from LIF (Sumikawa et al., FEBS Lett., 404, 234 (1997)). We evaluated the quality of this model (IBGC) by comparing with X-ray (Somers et al., EMBO. J., 16, 989 (1997)) and NMR (Xu et al., J. Mol. Biol., 268, 468 (1997)) structures. Consequently, normal mode calculations were carried out for this model, giving conformation fluctuations similar to the C alpha deviation pattern between X-ray and NMR structures.
Organelle transformation: Shoot first, ask questions later

Transformation of mitochondria and chloroplasts is now possible by the application of microprojectile bombardment for the direct delivery of DNA to these organelles in living cells. Recent experiments have shown the feasibility of reverse genetic studies on mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes. Moreover, foreign or novel genes can now be stably introduced into mitochondria and chloroplasts, allowing the study of a much wider range of molecular genetic problems involving organelles than was previously possible.
Effects of electron withdrawing and donating groups on the efficiency of tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II)/tri-n-propylamine electrochemiluminescence.

The effects of electron withdrawing and electron donating groups on the electrochemiluminescent (ECL) properties of tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)32+ where bpy = 2,2′-pyridine) are reported. The electrochemistry, photophysics and ECL of (bpy)2Ru(DC-bpy)2+, and (bpy)2Ru(DM-bpy)2+ (DC = 4,4′-dicarboxy-2,2′-bipyridine; DM = 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine) have been studied relative to Ru(bpy)32+ in 50∶50 (v/v) acetonitrile(CH3CN)∶H2O (0.1 M KH2PO4), and aqueous solutions. Furthermore, the effects of Triton X-100 (polyethylene glycol tert-octylphenyl ether) on the electrochemical, spectroscopic and ECL properties of these compounds are reported. The anodic oxidation of Ru(bpy)32+, (bpy)2Ru(DC-bpy)2+, and (bpy)2Ru(DM-bpy )2+ produces ECL in the presence of tri-n-propylamine (TPrA) in all solvent systems. ECL efficiencies (ϕecl, photons produced per redox event) of 0.73 and 0.84 for (bpy)2Ru(DC-bpy)2+, and (bpy)2Ru(DM-bpy)2+ were obtained in aqueous buffered solution, using Ru(bpy)32+ as a relative standard (ϕecl = 1.0). Addition of 0.4 mM Triton X-100 results in a greater than 2-fold increase in ECL efficiences (i.e., 3.8, 2.4 and 2.3 for Ru(bpy)32+, (bpy)2Ru(DC-bpy)2+, and (bpy)2Ru(DM-bpy)2+, respectively) using aqueous Ru(bpy)32+ containing no surfactant as standard (ϕecl = 1.0). ECL efficiencies of 27.4, 16.5 and 26.1 were found in 50∶50 (v/v) CH3CN∶H2O (0.1 M KH2PO4) for Ru(bpy)32+, (bpy)2Ru(DC-bpy)2+, and (bpy)2Ru(DM-bpy)2+, respectively, using aqueous Ru(bpy)32+ containing no surfactant as standard (ϕecl = 1.0). Detailed studies support adsorption of surfactant on the electrode surface, thus facilitating TPrA and ruthenium oxidation.
“Internal Restlessness”: Individuality and Community in Montesquieu

Dans son analyse de « L'esprit des lois », l'A. se penche sur l'echec de Montesquieu a demontrer la nature et le principe du regime anglais. Il explore sa conception morale de l'individualite et sa defense liberale de la communaute moderne
[Validity of body fat estimation by near infrared spectroscopy in long-term care elderly patients: a comparison with skinfold thickness].

AIM: The aim of this study was to examine the validity of body fat measurement by near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in long-term care elderly patients. METHODS: The subjects were 59 elderly patients (23 men, 36 women, age 82.0+/-6.6 years) and 38 healthy young persons (19 men, 19 women, age 28.1+/-6.1 years). Percentage of body fat (%BF), body fat mass (BFM), and lean body mass (LBM) were estimated by NIRS and skinfold thickness (SF). Body fat was compared by genders and between the elderly patients and the healthy young subjects. The relationship between NIRS and SF of the elderly patients was compared with that of the healthy young subjects. RESULTS: Means of body fat variables of the elderly patients by NIRS were: %BF 18.6%, BFM 8.8 kg, LBM 37.7 kg for men; and %BF 26.0%, BFM 10.7 kg LBM, 29.6 kg; for women. The %BF and BFM values estimated by NIRS were significantly greater than the respective values measured by SF; LBM estimated by NIRS was significantly less than that by SF. These results show that body fat measured by SF may be undervalued. The correlation between NIRS and SF was significant (r > or =0.49, p < or =0.05), and the regression lines for the elderly patients and the healthy young were not significantly different. Body fat of elderly patients by NIRS may be similar to that of healthy young by SF. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that NIRS yields higher values than SF in measurement of body fat in long-term care elderly patients.
Diastereospecific Ion-Pairing Polymerization of Functionalized Alkenes by Metallocene/Lewis Acid Hybrid Catalysts

This work studies the mechanism and application of the novel diastereospecific ion-pairing polymerization (DIPP) effected by a catalyst system comprising chiral zirconocene bis(ester enolate) rac-(EBI)Zr[OC(OiPr)CMe2]2 [1, EBI = C2H4(Ind)2] and 2 equiv of Lewis acid Al(C6F5)3. The 1/2Al(C6F5)3 system effectively promotes DIPP of functionalized alkenes such as methyl methacrylate (MMA), producing polymers having various stereoregularities, including isotactic, syndiotactic, and isotactic-b-syndiotactic multiblock microstructures, depending on the [monomer]/[catalyst] ratio employed. Our detailed investigations into the polymerization characteristics and kinetics, elementary reactions, characterization and behavior of the isolated key intermediates, as well as temperature and Lewis acid effects have yielded a mechanism for the DIPP of MMA by the 1/2Al(C6F5)3 system. This mechanism consists of four manifoldsisospecific, syndiospecific, anion-monomer exchange, and chain-transfer domainsand satisfactorily expl...
Granular models for partitions, coverings, and Pre-Topologies

Granular computing on partitions (RST), coverings (GrCC) and pre-topology (neighborhood systems (NS)) are examined: 1) the order of generality is RST, GrCC, and then NS. 2) The quotient structures: In RST, it is the quotient set. In GrCC, it is a simplicial complex (in combinatorial topology). For NS, the structure has no known description. 3) A new and traditional approximation theories are presented: For both theories, RST is a topological space generated by a partition, called a clopen space. For NS, the classical one is a pre-topological space, a generalized topological spaces. For new one, it is a topological space. For GrCC, there are two possibilities. One is a special case of NS, which is the topological space generated by the covering. There is another topological space, the topology is generated by the finite intersections of the members of a covering The first one treats covering as a base, the second one as a subbase. 4) Knowledge representations in RST are symbol-valued systems. In GrCC, they are expression-valued systems. In NS, they are multi-valued system. 5) For RST, GrCC and Symmetric NS, the representation theories are complete in the sense that granular models can be recaptured fully by knowledge representations.
Longitudinal and flexural wave propagation in reinforced concrete columns

Abstract In order to investigate elastic wave propagation in reinforced concrete (RC) columns with regular rebar arrangements, longitudinal and flexural phase velocity spectra of the Floquet-type harmonic waves were computed. Floquet's theorem was applied to the regularly reinforced RC columns to incorporate the heterogeneity induced by longitudinal steel bars, tie bars, and concrete. The numerical solution of phase velocity spectra was obtained by utilizing a semi-analytical finite element (FE) method. Phase velocity spectra exhibit strong dispersion similar to the Pochhammer and Chree problem of homogeneous circular cylinders. It was found that this dispersion in acoustic (lowest) modes was not accurately predicted by the elementary theories. However, it was found that the acoustic mode shapes of the Floquet waves can be closely approximated by plane sections, consistent with the assumptions of elementary rod and beam theories. The effect of transverse steel, in the form of tie bars, on phase velocity spectra of acoustic modes was found to be negligible due to the small volume fractions. In addition, by considering square and octagonal cross sections, the effects on dispersion of both cross sectional geometry and increasing volume fractions of longitudinal bars were investigated by neglecting tie bars.
Timing aware partitioning for multi-FPGA based logic simulation using top-down selective hierarchy flattening

In order to accelerate logic simulation, it is highly beneficial to simulate the circuit design on FPGA hardware. This is often referred to as emulation, and we use the terms simulation and emulation interchangeably in this paper. However, limited hardware on FPGAs prevents large designs from being implemented on a single FPGA. Hence there is a need to partition the design and simulate it on a multi-FPGA platform. In contrast to existing FPGA-based post-synthesis partitioning approaches which first completely flatten the circuit and then possibly perform bottom-up clustering, we perform a selective top-down flattening and thereby avoid the potential netlist blowup. This also allows us to preserve the design hierarchy to guide the partitioning and to make subsequent debugging easier. Our approach analyzes the hierarchical design and selectively flattens instances using two metrics based on slack. The resulting partially flattened netlist is converted to a hypergraph, partitioned using hMetis, and reconverted back to a plurality of FPGA netlists, one for each FPGA of the FPGA-based accelerated logic simulation platform. We compare our approach with a partitioning approach that operates on a completely flattened netlist. Static timing analysis was performed for both approaches, and over 15 large examples from the OpenCores project, our approach yields a 52% logic simulation speedup and about 0.74× runtime for the entire flow, compared to the completely flat approach. The entire tool chain of our approach is automated in an end-to-end flow from hierarchy extraction, selective flattening, partitioning, and netlist reconstruction. Compared to an existing method which also performs slack-based partitioning of a hierarchical netlist, we obtain a 35% simulation speedup. Our method scales very well, yielding a significantly better simulation speedup and runtime improvement for larger examples.
Conclusion: Lessons learned

Faculty and staff who thrive in a new institution are rare individuals, characterized by remarkable flexibility and ability to tolerate an unprecedented level of ambiguity.
Cholinergic neurons from the dorsolateral pons project to the medial pons: A WGA-HRP and choline acetyltransferase immunohistochemical study

Abstract In this study we determined that cholinergic neurons from the lateral dorsal tegmental (LDT) and peribrachial pontine region (PPG) innervate the medial pontine reticular formation (medial PRF), a region involved in the generation of REM sleep. Wheat germ agglutinin-conjugated horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) was injected into the medial PRF and the brainstem tissue was processed using a combined retrograde transport/immunocytochemical procedure. Results showed that 10–15% of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) immunoreactive neurons in the LDT and PPG project to the medial PRF. It is hypothesized that these neurons play an important role in the generation of the REM sleep state.
Free Adult Internet Web Sites: How Prevalent Are Degrading Acts?

Russell (Dangerous relationships: Pornography, misogyny, and rape, 1988) argued that essential features of pornography were the inclusion of more female than male nakedness and the portrayal of men in dominant roles. Utilizing a sample of 45 Internet adult web sites, a content analysis was conducted to see if free and easily available Internet adult videos may generally be described as pornography in line with Russell’s (1988) work. A majority of videos in our sample portrayed more female than male nakedness as well as much higher representations of men in sexually dominant positions. The prevalence of violence in this sample of video and the presence of various acts (name calling, ejaculating on the face, submission, and eagerness to participate in any sex act) were also content analyzed and used to establish prevalent themes. We found a significant difference in the likelihood of a video having a theme of exploitation or domination and whether or not the video portrayed one of these acts. If the video had a theme of exploitation or domination, 92% of the videos also included a minimum of one of these acts while those videos that had themes of reciprocity or autoeroticism were significantly less likely to contain such acts. This study contributes to the literature on gender and pornography by examining issues of degradation and power relations within the context of a rapidly expanding cybersex industry.
Cluster-assembled materials based on Na 6 Pb

In experimental mass spectra of lead-sodium mixed clusters, an exceptionally abundant and stable ${\mathrm{Na}}_{6}\mathrm{Pb}$ cluster has been discovered [C. H. Yeretzian et al., Chem. Phys. Lett. 237, 334 (1995)]. By using first-principles calculations, several cluster assemblies based on the ${\mathrm{Na}}_{6}\mathrm{Pb}$ building block are investigated. In the cluster-assembled materials, ${\mathrm{Na}}_{6}\mathrm{Pb}$ clusters act as closed-shell inert superatoms, and the intercluster interaction is relatively weak [for example, the intercluster binding energy is about 0.21 eV per cluster for a $({\mathrm{Na}}_{6}\mathrm{Pb}{)}_{2}$ dimer]. In the cluster assemblies, the gap between highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals $(\ensuremath{\approx}0.77\mathrm{eV})$ of the individual ${\mathrm{Na}}_{6}\mathrm{Pb}$ cluster remains open, i.e., 0.49 eV in a $({\mathrm{Na}}_{6}\mathrm{Pb}{)}_{2}$ dimer, 0.4 eV in a one-dimensional crystal, and 0.3 eV in a three-dimensional fcc crystal. The insertion of ${\mathrm{Na}}_{6}\mathrm{Pb}$ clusters into a carbon nanotube has also been explored.
The Electronics for the Donner 600-Crystal Positron Tomograph

The data acquisition system, designed for the Donner 600-Crystal Positron Tomograph, is described. Coincidence timing resolution of less than five nanoseconds full width at half maximum and data rates in excess of one million events per second are achieved by using high-speed emitter coupled logic circuits, first-in first-out memory to derandomize data flow, and parallel architecture to increase throughput. These data rates allow the acquisition of adequate transmission data in a reasonable amount of time. Good timing resolution minimizes accidental coincidences and permits data rates greater than 100,000 image-forming events per second for high-speed dynamic emission tomography. Additional scatter and accidental rejection are accomplished for transmission data by using an orbiting source and a look-up table for valid events. Calibration of this complex electronic system is performed automatically under computer control.
Eustachian valve cyst

Transesophageal echocardiography provides high resolution of intracardiac structures. One potential problem is the misdiagnosis of previously unrecognized benign cardiac structures as malignant processes, leading to unnecessary surgical procedures. We describe an unusual case of benign intracardiac eustachian valve cyst monitored over 2 years.
Psychoactive Drug Use and AIDS-Reply

In Reply.— Our study addressed the hypothesis that psychoactive substances, including alcohol, as they were used by homosexual men before and just after their enrollment in the Multi-center AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) in 1984 through 1985, did not enhance HIV-induced immunodeficiency. We offer the following response to comments on our findings. First, both Drs Drexler and Brown and Dr Badgley emphasize the absence of data on the role of these substances in promoting seroconversion. We intentionally excluded the analysis of the effects of these psychoactive substances on initiation of infection. Early reports from the MACS 1,2 and other reports have recognized potentially important relationships between use of these substances and the prevalence of HIV infection. A more complete analysis of MACS data on these relationships is in preparation. Assessment of such influences on new acquisition of HIV infection or antibody will be more difficult because of the relatively small numbers
Developmental appearance of proteins identified by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis in mouse gonadal tissue

Gonadal protein patterns of the mouse were studied during fetal development by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Fetal mice at days 8.5, 10.5, 12.5, and 14.5 post-coitum were analyzed for male or female specific proteins. Although no sex specific proteins were found, several proteins were found which were expressed in significantly different amounts in the two sexes at about the time of gonadal differentiation. Hence, quantitative differences, rather than qualitative ones, could be related to the initiation of testis or ovary development.