cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantifying precision in cardiac diffusion tensor imaging with second-order motion-compensated convex optimized diffusion encoding

Purpose To quantify the precision of in vivo cardiac DTI (cDTI) acquired with a spin echo, first- and second-order motion-compensated (M1M2), convex optimized diffusion encoding (CODE) sequence. Methods Free-breathing CODE-M1M2 cDTI were acquired in healthy volunteers (N = 10) at midsystole and diastole with 10 repeated acquisitions per phase. 95% confidence intervals of uncertainty in reconstructed diffusion tensor eigenvectors (E1, E2, E3), mean diffusivity (MD), fractional anisotropy (FA), and tensor Mode were measured using a bootstrapping approach. Trends in observed tensor metric uncertainty were evaluated as a function of scan duration, image SNR, cardiac phase, and bulk motion artifacts. Results For midsystolic scans including 5 signal averages (scan time: ~5min), the median myocardial 95% confidence intervals of uncertainties were: E1: 15.5 ± 1.2°, E2: 31.2 ± 3.5°, E3: 21.8 ± 3.1°, MD: 0.38 ± 0.02 × 10−3mm2/s, FA: 0.20 ± 0.01, and Mode: 1.10 ± 0.08. Uncertainty in all parameters increased for diastolic scans: E1: 31.9 ± 7.1°, E2: 59.6 ± 6.8°, E3: 40.5 ± 6.4°, MD: 0.52 ± 0.09 × 10−3 mm2/s, FA: 0.23 ± 0.01, and Mode: 1.57 ± 0.11. Diastolic cDTI also reported higher MD (MDDIA = 1.91 ± 0.34 × 10−3 mm2/s vs. MDSYS = 1.58 ± 0.09 × 10−3 mm2/s, P = 8 × 10−3) and lower FA values (FADIA = 0.32 ± 0.06 vs. FASYS = 0.37 ± 0.03, P = 0.03). Conclusion cDTI precision improved with increasing nondiffusion-weighted (b = 0) image SNR, but gains were minimal for SNR ≥ 25 (~10 averages). cDTI precision was also sensitive to intershot bulk motion artifacts, which led to better precision for midsystolic imaging.
Fundamentals of Managing the Operative Catastrophe

Operative catastrophes are low-frequency events that require rapid and coordinated management under stressful conditions. Although these events may be rare at the individual provider level, they can be a common occurrence when viewed in aggregate in large medical centers. As the surgical volume worldwide continues to grow, it is of critical importance in surgical management that we turn our attention to mechanisms of preventing and addressing potentially catastrophic events, such as through the use of structured cognitive aids including crisis checklists and emergency manuals.
Analytic controllability of quantum-mechanical systems

The concept of controllability is adapted to quantum-mechanical systems, sufficient conditions being sought under which the state vector ω can be guided in time to a chosen point in Hilbert space. The Schrodinger equation for a quantum object influenced by adjustable external fields provides a state-evolution equation which is linear in ω and linear in the external controls (thus a bilinear control system). For such systems the existence of an analytic domain in the sense of Nelson permits the adaptation of the geometric approach developed for finite-dimensional bilinear and nonlinear control systems; thereupon incisive conditions for global controll-ability are derived.
Human Skeletal Stem Cells: The Markers Provide Some Clues in the Hunt for Hidden Treasure.

Little is known about skeletal stem cell populations in vivo. Recently in Cell, Chan et al. (2018) identified a human skeletal stem cell population that can be isolated from multiple human bone locations and is capable of self-renewal and differentiation into bone, cartilage, and stroma, but not fat.
Leveraging electron-phonon interaction to enhance the thermoelectric power factor in graphene-like semimetals

Electron-phonon interactions (EPIs) are presumably detrimental for thermoelectric performance in semiconductors because they limit carrier mobility. Here we show that enhanced EPIs with strong energy dependence offer an intrinsic pathway to a significant increase in the Seebeck coefficient and the thermoelectric power factor, particularly in the context of two-dimensional (2D) graphene-like Dirac bands. The increase is realized by enabling electron energy filtering through preferential scattering of electron/hole carriers. We prove this concept by implementing first-principles computational methods with explicit treatment of EPIs for a 2D gapless ${\mathrm{MoS}}_{2}$ allotrope, which has both massless Dirac bands and a heavy-fermion state that acts as the filter. We determine that the optimal location of the heavy state and hence the onset of the filtering process is at the Dirac point. Our study opens an avenue for attaining ultrahigh power factors via engineering the EPIs in graphene-like semimetals or identifying new compounds that intrinsically possess the featured electronic structure.
Comparing predictions of fisheries bycatch using multiple spatiotemporal species distribution model frameworks

Spatiotemporal predictions of bycatch (i.e., catch of nontargeted species) have shown promise as dynamic ocean management tools for reducing bycatch. However, which spatiotemporal model framework t...
Factors affecting interpretation of tissue dielectric constant (TDC) in assessing breast cancer treatment related lymphedema (BCRL).

Tissue dielectric constant (TDC) measurements are increasingly used as quantitative adjunctive tools to detect and assess lymphedema. Various factors affect measured TDC values that may impact clinical interpretations. Our goal was to investigate possible impacts of: 1) anterior vs. medial arm measures, 2) total body water (TBW%) and arm fat percentages (AF%), 3) measurement depth, and 4) skin firmness. In 40 healthy women (24.5±2.5 years), TDC was measured bilaterally on anterior forearm to 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, and 5.0 mm depths using a multiprobe device and on anterior and medial aspects using a compact device. TBW% and AF% were measured at 50KHz and skin firmness measured by skin indentation force (SIF). Results showed: 1) No statistically significant difference in TDC values between anterior and medial arm, 2) a moderate direct correlation between TDC and TBW% (r=0.512, p=0.001), 3) an inverse correlation between TDC and AF% (r= -0.494, p<0.001) with correlations greatest at the deepest depth, and 4) a slight but statistically significant inverse correlation between TDC and SIF (r= -0.354, p=0.001). TDC values with compact vs.multiprobe were within 6% of each other withinterarm (dominant/nondominant) ratios notsignificantly different. The findings providea framework to help interpret TDC values among divergent conditions.
Immunovirological markers in HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP).

Human T cell lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1) is a human retrovirus and infects approximately 10–20 million people worldwide. While the majority of infected people are asymptomatic carriers of HTLV-1, only 4% of infected people develop HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). HAM/TSP is a chronic, progressive, neurological disease which usually progresses slowly without remission, and is characterized by perivascular inflammatory infiltrates in chronic inflammatory lesions of the central nervous system (CNS), primarily affecting the spinal cord. A high HTLV-1 proviral load, high levels of antibodies against HTLV-1 antigens, and elevated concentration of proteins are detected in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of HAM/TSP patients. These chronically activated immune responses against HTLV-1 and infiltration of inflammatory cells including HTLV-1 infected cells into the CNS contribute to clinical disability and underlie the pathogenesis of HAM/TSP. Since the disease development of HAM/TSP mainly occurs in adults, with a mean age at onset of 40–50 years, it is important for HTLV-1-infected carriers and HAM/TSP patients to be monitored throughout the disease process. Recent advances in technologies and findings provide new insights to virological and immunological aspects in both the CNS as well as in peripheral blood. In this review, we focus on understanding the inflammatory milieu in the CNS and discuss the immunopathogenic process in HTLV-1-associated neurologic diseases.
False Glitch Cells as a Countermeasure Against Power Analysis Attacks in Cryptographic Circuits

Cryptographic systems can potentially suffer from various attacks which are a consequence of vulnearability of side channel information to analysis attacks. The nature of digital circuits is prone to electromagnetic and power analysis (EMA and PA) attacks. Interconnects in cryptographic circuits emanate information through electromagnetic signals which can be exploited using EMA. Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) circuits are vulnearable to leak of computational information through leakage and dynamic power consumption. Dynamic power consumption of cryptographic engines is a rich source to sink in the data under process. The hardware implementation of cryptographic algorithms undermine the security of encrypted system against non brute-force-attacks. The attackers collect and analyse the leakage information of cryptographic circuits to detect the secrete key. The parameters sensitivity of the device and circuits make the cryptographic engines vulnearable to fault injection and inherent inconsistency of the circuits. Dynamic and static power comprise two major components of power consumption of digital circuits. Both power components vary with data under process. This exhibits power consumption has data dependency in digital circuits. To make noisy power profile, various countermeasures have been proposed against Differential Power Analysis (DPA) attacks. In this research, false glitch cells is proposed to work as a countermeasure to generate random transitions and power spikes to scramble power profile. The mathematical foundation of security implications of false glitch cells against Correlation Power Analysis (CPA) attacks is investigated. Moreoever, the security efficiency of utilizing false glitch cells is verified with different metrics.
Effects of a trauma-informed curriculum on depression, self-efficacy, economic security, and substance use among TANF participants: Evidence from the Building Health and Wealth Network Phase II.

Abstract Rationale Integrating trauma-informed peer support curriculum into the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program can help address caregiver trauma symptoms (e.g., depression, low self-efficacy, economic hardship) caused by exposures to violence and adversity that negatively impact one's ability to maintain employment and improve earnings; yet, it is unclear if trauma-informed peer support interventions designed for TANF impact co-occurring disorders, such as depression and substance use, that inhibit resiliency in the labor market. Objective The aim of this study is to examine whether integrating trauma-informed peer support curriculum into the TANF program is associated with reductions in co-occurring depression and substance use, and improvements in self-efficacy and economic security. Method From October 2015 to May 2018, 369 caregivers were enrolled in the 16-week Building Wealth and Health Network Phase II single-group cohort study. Participants responded to questions regarding their socio-demographic characteristics, mental health, economic security, and use of drugs and alcohol at baseline and four three-month follow-up surveys. Associations between the trauma-informed peer support curriculum and health outcomes were assessed using maximum likelihood estimation. Results Using class attendance records, participants were separated into a low-exposure group ( Conclusions These findings suggest that trauma-informed peer support programming improves economic security and self-efficacy and reduces the co-occurrence of depressive symptoms and alcohol use.
Creating Grocery Delivery Hubs for Food Deserts at Local Convenience Stores via Spatial and Temporal Consolidation

For many socioeconomically disadvantaged customers living in food deserts, the high costs and minimum order size requirements make attended grocery deliveries financially non-viable, although it has potential to provide healthy foods to the food insecure population. This paper proposes consolidating customer orders and delivering to a neighborhood convenience store instead of home delivery. We employ an optimization framework involving the minimum cost set covering and the capacitated vehicle routing problems. Our experimental studies in three counties in the U.S. suggest that by spatial and temporal consolidation of orders, the deliverer can remove minimum order-size requirements and reduce the delivery costs, depending on various factors, compared to attended home-delivery. We find the number and size of time windows for home delivery to be the most important factor in achieving temporal consolidation benefits. Other significant factors in achieving spatial consolidation include the capacity of delivery vehicles, the number of depots, and the number of customer orders. We also find that the number of partner convenience stores and the walkable distance parameter of the model, have a significant impact on the number of accepted orders, i.e., the service level provided by the deliverer. The findings of this study imply consolidated grocery delivery as a viable solution to improve fresh food access in food deserts. In light of the recent global pandemic, and its exacerbating effects on food insecurity, the innovative solution proposed in this paper is even more relevant and timely.
Longitudinal Prediction of Radiation-Induced Anatomical Changes of Parotid Glands During Radiotherapy Using Deep Learning

During a course of radiotherapy, patients may have weight loss and radiation induced anatomical changes. To avoid delivering harmful dose to normal organs, the treatment may need adaptation according to the change. In this study, we proposed a novel deep neural network for predicting parotid glands (PG) anatomical changes by using the displacement fields (DFs) between the planning CT and weekly cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) acquired during the treatment. Sixty three HN patients treated with volumetric modulated arc therapy of 70 Gy in 35 fractions were retrospectively studied. We calculated DFs between week 1–3 CBCT and the planning CT by a B-spline deformable image registration algorithm. The resultant DFs were subsequently used as input to a novel network combining convolutional neural networks and recurrent neural networks for predicting the DF between the Week 4–6 CBCT and the planning CT. Finally, we reconstructed the warped PG contour using the predicted DF. For evaluation, we calculated DICE coefficient and mean volume difference by comparing the predicted PG contours, and manual contours at weekly CBCT. The average DICE was 0.82 (week 4), 0.81 (week 5), and 0.80 (week 6) and the average of volume difference between predict contours and manual contours was 1.85 cc (week 4), 2.20 cc (week 5) and 2.51 cc (week 6). In conclusion, the proposed deep neural network combining CNN and RNN was capable of predicting anatomical and volumetric changes of the PG with clinically acceptable accuracy.
Strain-Controlled Dynamic Rotation of Twisted 2D Atomic Layers for Tunable Nanomechanical Systems

Achieving fine control over the twist angles of stacked two-dimensional (2D) layers is critical for device fabrication. Here, we demonstrate that the interplay between lattice mismatch strain and f...
Modeling the Photoionized Interface in Blister H II Regions

We present a grid of photoionization models for the emission from photoevaporative interfaces between the ionized gas and molecular cloud in blister H II regions. For the density profiles of the emitting gas in the models, we use a general power-law form calculated for photoionized, photoevaporative flows by Bertoldi. We find that the spatial emission-line profiles are dependent on the incident flux, the shape of the ionizing continuum, and the elemental abundances. In particular, we find that the peak emissivity of the [S II] and [N II] lines are more sensitive to the elemental abundances than are the total line intensities. The diagnostics obtained from the grid of models can be used in conjunction with high spatial resolution data to infer the properties of ionized interfaces in blister H II regions. As an example, we consider a location at the tip of an "elephant trunk" structure in M16 (the Eagle Nebula) and show how narrowband Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 (HSTWFPC2) images constrain the H II region properties. We present a photoionization model that explains the ionization structure and emission from the interface seen in these high spatial resolution data.
See Jane judge: descriptive representation and diffuse support for a State Supreme Court

Women constitute an increasing presence in American political institutions, raising the question: does their growing presence affect attitudes about these institutions’ legitimacy? According to des...
Mindfulness based stress reduction in people with Parkinson's disease and their care partners.

Abstract Background Parkinson's Disease (PD) leads to poor quality of life and caregiver burden. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) may improve these symptoms. We assessed the impact of a 9-week MBSR course on people with PD (PwP) and their care partners (CPs). Methods Participants completed questionnaires at screening, at the end of the course, and at 3-month follow-up: Parkinson's Disease Quality-39 (PDQ-39, PD only), Zarit Burden Inventory (ZBI, CP only) and Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS, both). The primary outcome measure was change in PDQ-39 (for PwP) or ZBI (for CP). Patient-reported scales were analyzed quantitatively; qualitative data on perceived effectiveness was collected. Results 53.8% PwP and 100% CPs completed the course. Among PwP, there was a significant reduction in MAAS(p Discussion MBSR improves mindful awareness in CPs and improves health-related quality of life in PwP.
Timing of perinatal mental health needs: data to inform policy.

Abstract Background Policies pertaining to perinatal health care should be informed by medical needs. The windows of standard obstetric care and mandated Medicaid coverage eligibility typically end around 8 weeks postpartum even though women may have perinatal health concerns, including suicidal ideation, that are identified beyond this time period. Objective To evaluate the timing of mental health needs across the perinatal period with a focus on how frequently the initial referral and suicidal ideation occur outside of standard obstetric care windows. Study Design This retrospective cohort study included all women during pregnancy or up to one year postpartum referred to a perinatal mental health collaborative care program (COMPASS) between September 2017 and September 2019. The timing of initial referral to COMPASS was identified, with women referred postpartum categorized by whether the referral was made after 8 weeks postpartum. Characteristics of women were compared according to the timing of the initial mental health referral, with receiver operating characteristic curves to identify whether patient characteristics could accurately classify women whose initial mental health needs were not recognized until after 8 weeks postpartum. Similarly, the assessment of suicidal ideation, either at or after referral, was ascertained, with evaluation of the timing at which suicidal ideation was first expressed. Results Of 1421 women referred for mental health care during the study period, 774 (54%) were initially referred antenatally and 647 (46%) were initially referred postpartum. Women referred antenatally exhibited no clustering in the timing of referral. Of women referred postpartum, 203 (31%) were referred after 8 weeks postpartum. Sociodemographic and medical characteristics were unable to accurately classify which women were referred for mental health care after 8 weeks postpartum (AUC=0.64, 95% CI = 0.58-0.68). A total of 215 (16%) women reported suicidal ideation at or after the time of initial referral: 129 (17%) antenatally and 86 (14%) postpartum. The incidence of suicidal ideation was not significantly different before versus after 8 weeks postpartum. Conclusion Perinatal mental health needs, including suicidal ideation, are often first recognized beyond 8 weeks postpartum. These data should be taken into consideration in policymaking discussions pertaining to the approach to medical care continuity and health care coverage postpartum.
Variability of the Japanese money stock: Links to the U.S. and the October 1979 policy change

Abstract McKinnon's currency substitution model predicts that variable U.S. money growth causes greater variability of foreign money growth. Contrary to this thesis. the variability of Japan's monetary targets is found to be inversely related to the variability of U.S. M1.
Leukemia initiated by PMLRARα : the PML domain plays a critical role while retinoic acid–mediated transactivation is dispensable

The most common chromosomal translocation in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), t15;17(q22;q21), creates PMLRAR and RARPML fusion genes. We previously developed a mouse model of APL by expressing PMLRAR in murine myeloid cells. In order to examine the mechanisms by which PMLRAR can initiate leukemia, we have now generated transgenic mice expressing PMLRARm4 and RARm4 , proteins that are unable to activate transcription in response to retinoic acid. PMLRARm4 transgenic mice developed myeloid leukemia, demonstrating that transcriptional activation by PMLRAR is not required for leukemic transformation. The characteristics of the leukemias arising in the PMLRARm4 transgenic mice varied from those previously observed in our PMLRAR transgenic mice, indicating that ligand responsiveness may influence the phenotype of the leukemic cells. The leukemias that arose in PMLRARm4 transgenic mice did not differentiate in response to retinoic acid therapy. This result supports the hypothesis that a major therapeutic effect of retinoic acid is mediated directly through the PMLRAR protein. However, a variable effect on survival suggested that this agent may be of some benefit in APL even when leukemic cells are resistant to its differentiative effects. Transgenic mice expressing high levels of RARm4 have not developed leukemia, providing evidence that the PML domain of PMLRAR plays a specific and critical role in the pathogenesis of APL.
Gas Requirements in Pressurized Transfer of Liquid Hydrogen

In the past few years liquid hydrogen has become a very popular fuel for space missions. It is being used in such programs as Centaur and Saturn. Furthermore, hydrogen is the ideal working fluid for nuclear-powered space vehicles currently under development. In these applications, liquid-hydrogen fuel is generally transferred to the combustion chamber by a combination of pumping and pressurization. The pump forces the liquid propellant from the fuel tank to the combustion chamber; gaseous pressurant holds tank pressure sufficiently high to prevent cavitation at the pump inlet and to maintain the structural rigidity of the tank.
Transgenic Mice with Cardiac Overexpression of α1B-Adrenergic Receptors IN VIVO α1-ADRENERGIC RECEPTOR-MEDIATED REGULATION of β-ADRENERGIC SIGNALING

Transgenic mice were generated with cardiac-specific overexpression of the wild-type (WT) alpha1B-adrenergic receptor (AR) using the murine alpha-myosin heavy chain gene promoter. Previously, we described transgenic mice with alpha-myosin heavy chain-directed expression of a constitutively active mutant alpha1B-AR that had a phenotype of myocardial hypertrophy (Milano, C. A., Dolber, P. C., Rockman, H. A., Bond, R. A., Venable M. E., Allen, L. F., and Lefkowitz, R. J. (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 91, 10109-10113). In animals with >40-fold WT alpha1-AR overexpression, basal myocardial diacylglycerol content was significantly increased, indicating enhanced alpha1-adrenergic signaling and phospholipase C activity. In contrast to the mice overexpressing constitutively active mutant alpha1B-ARs, the hearts of these mice did not develop cardiac hypertrophy despite an 8-fold increase in ventricular mRNA for atrial natriuretic factor. In vivo physiology was studied in anesthetized intact animals and showed left ventricular contractility in response to the beta-agonist isoproterenol to be significantly depressed in animals overexpressing WT alpha1B-ARs. Membranes purified from the hearts of WT alpha1BAR-overexpressing mice demonstrated significantly attenuated adenylyl cyclase activity basally and after stimulation with isoproterenol, norepinephrine, or phenylephrine. Interestingly, these in vitro changes in signaling were reversed after treating the mice with pertussis toxin, suggesting that the extraordinarily high levels of WT alpha1B-ARs can lead to coupling to pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins. Another potential contributor to the observed decreased myocardial signaling and function could be enhanced beta-AR desensitization as beta-adrenergic receptor kinase (betaARK1) activity was found to be significantly elevated (>3-fold) in myocardial extracts isolated from WT alpha1B-AR-overexpressing mice. This type of altered signal transduction may become critical in disease conditions such as heart failure where betaARK1 levels are elevated and beta-ARs are down-regulated, leading to a higher percentage of cardiac alpha1-ARs. Thus, these mice serve as a unique experimental model to study the in vivo interactions between alpha- and beta-ARs in the heart.
The rotifer jaw: A scanning and transmission electron microscope study: II. The trophi of Asplanchna sieboldi

Trophi of the monogonont rotifer Asplanchna is a hollow structure coated internally by a cellular lining. This lining is continuous (through openings in the trophi) with cells which invest the external, more basal, aspects of the jaw. These highly filamentous lining cells are the sites of contact for muscle fibers which control jaw movement. Desmosomes and hemidesmosomes are responsible for the attachment of muscles to lining cells and lining cells to jaw, respectively. Both transmission and scanning electron microscopy confirm that the various components of the trophi are fused together and lack joint-like connections.
Enterotoxin B synthesis by replicating and nonreplicating cells of Staphylococcus aureus.

Although 95% of the enterotoxin B produced by Staphylococcus aureus appears during the latter part of the exponential phase of growth, growth per se is not necessary for toxin synthesis. A procedure is described whereby a concentrated suspension (at least 6 × 10 10 cells per ml) of a 16-hr culture of S. aureus was found to be capable of producing toxin, without replication, when air and glucose were present. This technique allows the growth requirement to be separated from toxin formation. Although higher (100 μg/ml) concentrations of toxin appeared in the medium when nitrogen was present, lower levels (30 μg/ml) were produced in the absence of N-Z-amine A. Toxin production proceeded without any net increase in deoxyribonucleic acid, ribonucleic acid, or protein. Chloramphenicol did not inhibit toxin formation in a nitrogen-free medium. The optimal p H for toxin production in a nitrogen-free medium was 8.0 to 8.5; for synthesis in a medium where nitrogen was available, the optimal p H was 7.0 to 7.5. Increasing the rate of aeration increased toxin release during growth, but decreased the amount of toxin subsequently produced when the bacteria were resuspended. These results suggest the presence of a precursor pool in the cells collected after 16 hr of growth.
Assessing the community clinic replacement effect on private Medicaid practices in oral health care within rural environments.

Objectives Children in Medicaid/CHIP public coverage programs who reside in rural counties have limited access to dental care services. Shortages of dental professionals in rural areas impede utilization of dental care. Public and private initiatives are attempting to address this crisis. Missourians instituted deregulatory policies and invested in community-based initiatives. Methods Using a Medicaid/CHIP claims administrative dataset from 2004 to 2007, this research explored patterns of utilization to assess the impact of these efforts. Results The number of participating private dental office providers declined over the study period, and the number of children utilizing clinics increased. Trends are being observed within the public health dental care market demonstrating clinics are replacing private dentists as providers of Medicaid/CHIP dental services. Conclusions Allowing greater market entry through deregulation could provide states with greater improvements to their public dental health infrastructure.
Synthesis and transport of agrin-like molecules in motor neurons.

Several lies of evidence indicate that agrin, or a protein very similar to it, directs the formation and maintenance of the postsynaptic apparatus at the neuromuscular junction. We discuss the results of studies involving immunohistochemical, biochemical and in situ hybridization techniques that support hypothesis that agrin or agrin—like molecules active at the junction are produced bymotor neurons.
Protein refolding using aqueous two-phase systems

Abstract We present a novel refolding technique in which aqueous two-phase systems are used to both dissociate protein aggregates (inclusion bodies) and to refold the protein in only one operation. Three denaturant salts (sodium thiocyanate, calcium chloride, and lithium bromide) were used as phase-forming salts with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). We have tested the technique by dissolving carbonic anhydrase II aggregates and refolding the denatured protein in PEG-NaCI-NaSCN systems.
When cyclic singular modules over a simple ring are injective

It is shown that a simple ring R is Morita equivalent to a right PCI domain if and only if every cyclic singular right R-module is quasicontinuous.  2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
School mathematics in work and life: what we know and how we can learn more

Abstract Underlying current K-12 math education reform initiatives are two premises. First, math education is necessary and should aim for success in the adult world of work and everyday life. Second, aligning the methods and content of K-12 math programs with those of real-world adult math use will facilitate learning. The existing research, however, challenges these premises. Studies of the actual demands of everyday adult practices reveal that most occupations involve only a low level of mathematical content and expose the disparate natures of everyday and school mathematics. Several limitations of existing mathematics-in-practice research, however, make it problematic to draw clear implications for school programs. In this article, I summarize the current research and identify some of its shortcomings for guiding educational content and pedagogy, including its focus on occupations and practices known to involve little math, its use of stereotypical conceptions of math, and its reliance on surveys and worker self-report. I propose a conceptual framework for future investigations of math-in-practice that would better inform K-12 education.
CD4 T-cell immunotherapy for chronic viral infections and cancer

During chronic infections and cancer, T cells progressively lose function and become exhausted. However, effective T-cell responses are necessary to ultimately control viral infections and tumors. Hence, strategies that either restore endogenous immune responses or provide functional T cells by adoptive immunotherapy need to be explored. CD8 T cells play a prominent role in viral infections, as well as cancer, but CD4 T cells are necessary to support CD8 T-cell function. In addition, CD4 T cells exert direct effector functions, induce optimal B-cell responses and orchestrate innate immunity. Therefore, we propose that adoptive transfer strategies should exploit CD4 T cells alone or in combination with CD8 T cells, for the treatment of chronic infections and cancer. Furthermore, since adoptively transferred cells are subject to exhaustion, combining adoptive transfer therapy with immunotherapies that inhibit T-cell exhaustion should maximize the longevity and success rate of responses.
Direct Effects of Hyperthermia on Pathogenic Microorganisms: Teleologic Implications with Regard to Fever

Fever recently has been the subject of numerous reviews in the clinical literature. Although most of these reviews have devoted considerable attention to studies concerned with the effect of temperature on the immunologic responses of higher animals, they generally have ignored data concerned with the direct effects of physiologic variations in temperature on pathogenic microorganisms. This review summarizes the current status of our knowledge of the reactions of clinically important microorganisms to variations in temperature within the physiologic range and attempts to relate data obtained from in vitro studies of these reactions to the still-unresolved question of the teleologic significance of fever.
Fluorescence of blood protoporphyrin in the presence of hemoglobin

Abstract This study has demonstrated the feasibility of determining erythrocyte protoporphyrin concentration by the direct fluorimetric measurement of diluted whole blood. Excitation and emission wavelengths can be chosen to minimize heme (or hemoglobin) interference. Although results obtained by this method and an extraction method differed, the discrepancies were approximately constant and largely explainable on a basis of fluorescence quenching by heme. Nevertheless, several kinds of pathologic blood specimens having elevated protoporphyrin concentrations were easily detectable. Perhaps more important from a diagnostic sense, the method can be used to quantify directly the [PROTO]/[heme] ratio. This new approach to blood porphyrin assay should find extensive application in such public health problems as lead intoxication and iron deficiency.
Processing methodologies for polycaprolactone-hydroxyapatite composites : A review

ABSTRACT Biodegradable implants have shown great promise for the repair of bone defects and have been commonly used as bone substitutes, which traditionally would be treated using metallic implants. The need for a second surgery exacerbated by the stress shielding effect caused by an implant has led researchers to consider more effective, synthetic biodegradable graft substitutes. The hierarchical structures commonly designed are inspired by nature in human bones, which consist of minerals such as hydroxyapatite, a form of calcium phosphate and protein fiber. The bone graft bio-substitutes should possess a combination of properties for the purpose of facilitating cell growth and adhesion, a high degree of porosity, which would facilitate the transfer of nutrients and excretion of the waste products, and the scaffold should have high tensile strength and high toughness in order to be consistent with human tissues. Blending of polycaprolactone and hydroxyapatite has demonstrated great potential as bone subs...
pDTV: a client-based interactive DTV architecture

In this study we present a client-based architecture that supports time-shift Digital-TV (DTV) features (i.e., pause, replay and fast-forward) and interactive applications. We call this architecture DTV for Personalizable Interactive Digital-TV architecture. Our study focuses on devising effective techniques for managing the client’s data (e.g., textual, binary, and video/audio data) under the local resource constraints. We outline the challenges that DTV faces and sketch data and resource management policies that maximize the client’s QoS adaptively based on each individual viewer’s quality requirement. We present a prototype that have been built and describe an array of applications that DTV can help realize.
An analytical study of a six degree-of-freedom active truss for use in vibration control

An analytical study of the vibration control capabilities of three configurations of an active truss is presented. The truss studied is composed of two bays of an octahedral-octahedral configuration. The three configurations of the active truss studies are: all six battens activated (6 DOF), the top three battens activated (3 DOF), and the bottom three battens activated (3 DOF). The closed-loop vibration control response of these three configurations are studied with respect to: vibration attenuation, energy utilized, and the effects of motor drive amplifier saturation non-linearities.
Hydrolysis of Milk Fat By Lipase in Solvent‐free Phospholipid Reverse Micellar Media

Butterfat was hydrolyzed with lipases contained in lecithin reverse micelles. The influence of pH, temperature, molar ratio of surfactant to water (R) and surfactant concentration on the hydrolytic reaction indicated linear, quadratic, and interactive effects for reaction systems mediated by R. javanicus and C. rugosa lipases. The initial reaction rate was dependent on reaction parameters; however, the degree of hydrolysis was independent of pH. Both enzymes exhibited high thermal stability. The content and composition of milk fat hydrolysates prepared by R. javanicus lipase were most influenced by reaction temperature and R. The optimum conditions for production of free fatty acids, monoacyl-glycerols, diacylglycerols and specific regio-isomers were defined.
When death thoughts lead to death fears: mortality salience increases death anxiety for individuals who lack meaning in life

Research derived from terror management theory demonstrates that subtle reminders of mortality increase strivings for meaning. It is argued that such strivings reflect efforts to prevent the anxiety that death reminders may otherwise cause. However, no research has directly tested the assertions that subtle mortality primes increase death anxiety and perceptions of meaning in life moderate this effect. The current study examined these predictions. Meaning in life was measured, death cognition primed, and death anxiety assessed. A mortality prime increased death anxiety, but only for individuals who lack perceptions of meaning in life. Theoretical and applied implications are discussed.
Scheduling freight trains traveling on complex networks

Abstract In the US, freight railways are one of the major means to transport goods from ports to inland destinations. According to the Association of American Railroad’s study, rail companies move more than 40% of the nation’s total freight. Given the fact that the freight railway industry is already running without much excess capacity, better planning and scheduling tools are needed to effectively manage the scarce resources, in order to cope with the rapidly increasing demand for railway transportation. This research develops optimization-based approaches for scheduling of freight trains. Two mathematical formulations of the scheduling problem are first introduced. One assumes the path of each train, which is the track segments each train uses, is given and the other one relaxes this assumption. Several heuristics based on mixtures of the two formulations are proposed. The proposed algorithms are able to outperform two existing heuristics, namely a simple look-ahead greedy heuristic and a global neighborhood search algorithm, in terms of railway total train delay. For large networks, two algorithms based on the idea of decomposition are developed and are shown to significantly outperform two existing algorithms.
Photochemical reactions of platinum(II) bis(acetylacetonato) with nitrogen containing Lewis bases

Abstract Upon 300 nm irradiation, the reactions of platinum(II) bis(acetylacetonato) with pyridine, piperidine, 2-picoline, 3-picoline and 4-picoline result in two types of stable complexes: Pt(acac)(γ-acac)base and Pt(γ-acac) 2 base 2 . These complexes have been characterized by 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, IR, GC–MS (DIP), UV–vis absorption spectroscopy and crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The quantum yields of disappearance of Pt(acac) 2 and the first-order rate constants have also been measured.
The Src-like Adaptor Protein Downregulates the T Cell Receptor on CD4+CD8+ Thymocytes and Regulates Positive Selection

Abstract In this report, we show that the Src-like adaptor protein (SLAP) plays an important role in thymocyte development. SLAP expression is developmentally regulated; it is low in CD4 − CD8 − thymocytes, it peaks in the CD4 + CD8 + subset, and it decreases to low levels in more mature cells. Disruption of the SLAP gene leads to a marked upregulation of TCR and CD5 expression at the CD4 + CD8 + stage. The absence of SLAP was also developmentally significant because it enhanced positive selection in mice expressing the DO11.10 transgenic T cell receptor. Moreover, SLAP deletion at least partially rescued the development of ZAP-70 -deficient thymocytes. These results demonstrate that SLAP participates in a novel mechanism of TCR downregulation at the CD4 + CD8 + stage and regulates positive selection.
INTERMACS Profiling Identifies Risk of Death or VAD among Medically-Managed Advanced Heart Failure Patients

Purpose INTERMACS profiles provide important prognostic information for patients with advanced heart failure (HF) receiving mechanical support. The role for INTERMACS profiling of advanced HF patients undergoing an initial strategy of medical management is not yet known. Methods and Materials The MedaMACS Screening Pilot enrolled 167 pts with chronic NYHA Class III-IV HF, EF≤30%, and ≥1 HF hospitalization in the prior year. Pts were excluded if listed for transplant or on inotropes. Comprehensive data were collected from usual care, with INTERMACS profiles assigned at enrollment using standard definitions. Subjects were followed for 12mos, or until death, VAD or transplant. Event rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and risk of death or VAD was analyzed using Cox modeling. Results Mean age was 57yrs, EF 17%, 47% had an ischemic etiology, and 57% had HF >5yrs. At enrollment 23% of subjects were INTERMACS profile 4, 32% profile 5, and 45% profile 6/7. Cumulative follow-up was 117 patient-yrs. Patients in lower INTERMACS profiles had been hospitalized more often in the prior 6 mos, were less often on a beta-blocker, and had higher Seattle HF model scores. Lower INTERMACS profile was associated with increased risk of death or VAD by 12 months. [ figure 1 ] Successively lower INTERMACS profile remained strongly associated with failure of medical therapy (HR 1.61, 95%CI 1.12-2.39) after adjustment for renal function, right ventricular function, and Seattle HF score quartile. Conclusions INTERMACS profiles are a useful short-hand for risk stratification in advanced HF. Lower profiles identify patients who may benefit from current mechanical support devices under existing indications.
Effects of D-amphetamine on temporal discrimination in pigeons.

Two experiments used a matching to sample of durations procedure to examine changes in temporal discrimination evoked by D-amphetamine (0.75, 1.50, 2.25 and 3.0 mg/kg i.m.) in pigeons. Responses to one key color were reinforced after long (8-s) stimuli: responses to the alternative key color were reinforced after short (2-s) stimuli. Stimuli of intermediate duration were reinforced in Experiment 1 and were not reinforced in Experiment 2. Sigmoid functions relating percent of choices of the key reinforced after long-duration stimuli to the duration of stimulus presented were fit by a cumulative normal function. In addition to a parameter giving the left/right position of the sigmoid curves (which indexes temporal perception), this function also provided estimates of the range and slope of the curve (measures of stimulus control). The results showed that, contrary to many published reports, amphetamine had no effect on the left/ right positioning of the sigmoid curve. There was, however, an effect of amphetamine on stimulus control, as shown by the general flattening of the psychophysical functions. Little evidence of tolerance to the drug's behavioral effects was found after 30 consecutive days of behavioral testing under amphetamine.
The Relation Between SFAS No. 95 Cash Flows From Operations and Credit Risk

This study examines the relevance of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 95 operating cash flow disclosures for assessing a primary component of firm risk, namely credit risk. We find that SFAS No. 95 operating cash flows is an important determinant of credit risk, measured by debt ratings, incremental to other profitability and risk–related information. We also find that operating cash flows have a stronger incremental relation to credit risk for firms with a larger proportion of long–term debt and larger firms with lower operating uncertainty. Interestingly, cash flows appear to have less incremental importance for firms in high tech and regulated industries.
Beauty and believability in sexual harassment cases: Does physical attractiveness affect perceptions of veracity and the likelihood of being harassed?

This study explored whether a female student's level of attractiveness affects the degree to which she is believed when making a claim of sexual harassment, and whether attractiveness is related to perceptions of how likely it is that she will be sexually harassed. Participants viewed one of three photographs of a female model who was made to appear a) unattractive, b) attractive and pristine, or c) attractive but not pristine. Afterwards they read a case file in which the photographed model claimed to have been sexually harassed by one of her professors. Finally, participants rated the photographed model's veracity and their perceptions regarding how likely it was that the model would be sexually harassed. Results indicated that when she was perceived as unattractive, the model was rated as more deceptive and less likely to be harassed than when she was perceived as attractive, regardless of whether she was perceived to be pristine or not. These results and their implications are discussed.
Challenges to Citizenship: Latino Immigrants and Political Organizing in the Los Angeles Area

Los Angeles County is home to over 700000 undocumented residents, largely from Mexico and Central America. They are largely poor and live in segregated neighborhoods. As they have entered the country illegally they have no citizenship rights. Yet the political system in the United States rests on the assumptions of democratic consent and citizen participation. When there is an increasing divergence between the population as a whole and an increasingly unrepresented politically active subgroup, the legitimacy of the political system itself is in jeopardy. In this paper, the political and economic organizing among undocumented Latino residents is examined, and questions are raised about the reformulation of the notion of citizenship.
Intervention with high-risk alcohol and drug-abusing mothers: I. Administrative strategies of the Seattle model of paraprofessional advocacy

Administrative components of an effective home visitation program for high-risk alcohol and drug-abusing mothers are described. In this program, the home visitors are paraprofessional advocates who have an historical and cultural background in common with clients, excellent problem-solving skills, and a strong belief in the promise of a difficult clientele. Paraprofessionals can be dynamic members of the community provider system when they build long-term relationships with families, firmly link clients with professionals in the community, and establish strong communication networks among service providers around individual clients. Components of the program important to job satisfaction and retention of paraprofessionals include comprehensive and ongoing training, individualized supervision and consistent feedback from evaluation and administrative staff, group support, encouragement of creativity, and community recognition. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Low-Voltage, Vertical-Junction, Depletion-Mode, Silicon Mach-Zehnder Modulator with Complementary Outputs

We demonstrate a new silicon depletion-mode vertical p-n junction phase-modulator implemented in a lumped-element Mach-Zehnder modulator configuration enabling an ultra-low V?L of ~1V·cm and 10Gb/s non-return-to-zero (NRZ) data transmission with wide-open complementary output eye diagrams.