cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Host defense mechanisms against infection.

Practical application of the principles of immunobiology in the prevention and treatment of surgical infections has been largely neglected because of an insufficient understanding of the basic mechanisms involved. Three components of the host defense mechanism, phagocytic cells, opsonins, and the vascular response, are discussed to emphasize their relative roles in resistance to clinical infection. New observations promise to lead to improvements in the prevention and treatment of surgical infections.
Plasma estradiol is superior to ultrasound and urinary estriol glucuronide as a predictor of ovarian hyperstimulation during induction of ovulation with menotropins

In order to compare the effectiveness of 8:00 A.M. plasma 17β-estradiol (E2), 24-hour urinary estriol glucuronide (E3G), and ultrasound as predictors of ovarian hyperstimulation, 70 cycles of induction of ovulation with 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. injection of menotropins from 28 subjects were evaluated. Hyperstimulation was four times more frequent in pregnancy than in nonpregnancy cycles (P
Two year progression free survival in stage IV NSCLC patients treated with pemetrexed continuation maintenance.

e20654Background: Continuation pemetrexed maintenance is associated with longer survival in stage IV non-squamous NSCLC pts. We observed that some of our non-squamous NSCLC pts treated with pemetre...
CdTe solar cells with iron pyrite thin film back contacts fabricated by a hybrid sputtering/co-evaporation process

We report the properties of sputtered/co-evaporated thin film iron pyrite as the back contact interface layer of CdS/CdTe solar cells. In our study we have compared the performance of sputter-deposited CdTe devices which utilized either a Cu/Au contact, or an FeS 2 /Cu/Au contact. Comparing our best devices of each type, the FeS 2 contact layer has improved the V OC by ∼16 mV, to 816 mV, and improved the FF by ∼4.7% absolute to 73.7%, with respect to devices omitting the FeS 2 layer. Under Standard Test Conditions of 100 mW/cm and 25 °C, devices utilizing the FeS 2 back contact have shown a relative increase in the power conversion efficiency by ∼7.5%, with a best device efficiency of 12.9%.
Marked for death: targeting epigenetic changes in cancer.

Human cancers commonly have mutations in epigenetic regulatory genes, and several small molecules that target epigenetic regulators are in clinical trials. Here, Pfister and Ashworth discuss the biological complexity of epigenetic regulation in cancer and provide an overview of inhibitors that target gain-of-function mutations, as well as synthetic lethal approaches to target loss-of-function mutations in epigenetic regulators.
Improving Robot Controller Transparency Through Autonomous Policy Explanation

Shared expectations and mutual understanding are critical facets of teamwork. Achieving these in human-robot collaborative contexts can be especially challenging, as humans and robots are unlikely to share a common language to convey intentions, plans, or justifications. Even in cases where human co-workers can inspect a robot's control code, and particularly when statistical methods are used to encode control policies, there is no guarantee that meaningful insights into a robot's behavior can be derived or that a human will be able to efficiently isolate the behaviors relevant to the interaction. We present a series of algorithms and an accompanying system that enables robots to autonomously synthesize policy descriptions and respond to both general and targeted queries by human collaborators. We demonstrate applicability to a variety of robot controller types including those that utilize conditional logic, tabular reinforcement learning, and deep reinforcement learning, synthesizing informative policy descriptions for collaborators and facilitating fault diagnosis by non-experts.
A Billion-Scale Approximation Algorithm for Maximizing Benefit in Viral Marketing

Online social networks have been one of the most effective platforms for marketing and advertising. Through the “world-of-mouth” exchanges, so-called viral marketing, the influence and product adoption can spread from few key influencers to billions of users in the network. To identify those key influencers, a great amount of work has been devoted for the influence maximization ( IM ) problem that seeks a set of $k$ seed users that maximize the expected influence. Unfortunately, IM encloses two impractical assumptions: 1) any seed user can be acquired with the same cost and 2) all users are equally interested in the advertisement. In this paper, we propose a new problem, called cost-aware targeted viral marketing ( CTVM ), to find the most cost-effective seed users, who can influence the most relevant users to the advertisement. Since CTVM is NP-hard, we design an efficient $(1- 1/\sqrt {e}-\epsilon )$ -approximation algorithm, named Billion-scale Cost-award Targeted algorithm (BCT), to solve the problem in billion-scale networks. Comparing with IM algorithms, we show that BCT is both theoretically and experimentally faster than the state-of-the-arts while providing better solution quality. Moreover, we prove that under the linear threshold model, BCT is the first sub-linear time algorithm for CTVM (and IM ) in dense networks. We carry a comprehensive set of experiments on various real-networks with sizes up to several billion edges in diverse disciplines to show the absolute superiority of BCT on both CTVM and IM domains. Experiments on Twitter data set, containing 1.46 billions of social relations and 106 millions tweets, show that BCT can identify key influencers in trending topics in only few minutes.
Self-extubation Laryngeal Injuries at an Academic Tertiary Care Center: A Retrospective Pilot Study:

Objectives:The purpose of this study is to identify laryngeal symptoms and injuries in self-extubated patients.Methods:A retrospective chart review was conducted to identify symptoms and clinical f...
Optimal Control of Large Angle Attitude Maneuvers for Flexible Spacecraft

Abstract Future satellite projects will require that methods be developed for slewing very large and very flexible space vehicles through large angles, and simultaneously controlling the shape of the vehicles. When faced with such a new and challenging class of problems it is best to approach it by looking at simple cases first to gain understanding. This paper studies the optimal control of slewing for a simple satellite design for which flexibility can play a significant role. The optimal maneuver requires that no oscillations remain at the end of the maneuver, and that the amount of flexing of the structure be minimized during the maneuver. Parametric studies are made to adjust the weights in the cost functional in order to obtain desirable behavior of the optimal torque and deformation profiles, and general recommendations are then made.
Improving Regional Stroke Systems of Care

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) care is rapidly evolving. This review discusses current diagnostic, therapeutic, and process models that can expedite stroke treatment to achieve best outcomes. Use of stent retrievers after selection via advanced imaging is safe and effective, and is an important option for AIS patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO). Significant time delays occur before and during patient transfers, and upon comprehensive stroke center (CSC) arrival, and have deleterious effects on functional outcome. Removing obstacles, enhancing inter-facility communication, and creating acute stroke management processes and protocols are paramount strategies to enhance network efficiency. Inter-departmental CSC collaboration can significantly reduce door-to-treatment times. Streamlined stroke systems of care may result in higher treatment rates and better functional outcomes for AIS patients, simultaneously conserving healthcare dollars. Stroke systems of care should be structured regionally to minimize time to treatment. A proactive approach must be employed; a management plan incorporating stroke team prenotification and parallel processes between departments can save valuable time, maximize brain salvage, and reduce disability from stroke.
Optical quality in strain-balanced InAs/InAsSb superlattices grown with and without Bi surfactant

Strain-balanced InAs/InAsSb superlattices can be tuned to absorb and emit across the mid- to long-wave infrared, and exhibit appropriate minority carrier lifetimes for high performance infrared photodetectors. The optical quality of this material has been shown to improve with the use of Bi as a surfactant. Specifically, InAs/InAsSb superlattices grown at 425 °C and 430 °C exhibit improved photoluminescence intensity for Bi/In flux ratios up to 1.0%, and optical quality improves further with increasing growth temperature and increasing Bi/In flux ratios up to 5.0%. The identification of optimal growth conditions for InAs/InAsSb superlattices with Bi surfactant, as well as further exploration of the impact of Bi surfactant is an important component to further developing and optimizing this infrared material system. Several strain-balanced InAs/InAsSb superlattices are grown using molecular beam epitaxy at temperatures ranging from 425 °C to 475 °C using Bi/In flux ratios ranging from 0.0% to 10.0%. The structural and optical properties of the samples are evaluated using X-ray diffraction, secondary ion mass spectrometry, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Analysis of the mass spectrometry data indicates that surfactant Bi incorporates into the InAs/InAsSb material system with a sticking coefficient of 0.3% at 450 °C, yielding dopant-level concentrations for typical Bi/In surfactant flux ratios. Analysis of the integrated photoluminescence intensity indicates that photoluminescence efficiency is greatest with a 1.0% Bi/In flux ratio for growth at 425-430 °C, and a 5.0% Bi/In flux ratio for growth at 450-475 °C. The improvement in photoluminescence efficiency is associated with a longer Shockley-Read-Hall lifetime in the superlattices grown with Bi surfactant.
SEA LEVEL STUDIES | Use of Cave Data in Sea-Level Reconstructions

Speleothems, phreatic overgrowths, and encrusting or boring organisms can all be dated using U-series or radiocarbon techniques to establish the timing of periods when a cave was above, at, or below local sea level, respectively. Like other geologic archives that provide observational evidence for the timing and position of sea level, cave data come with certain limitations. However, these data provide critical benchmarks to test against other sea-level reconstructions and offer valuable complementary information to other archives of past sea-level change.
Sharing the same slope: Behavioral responses of a threatened mesocarnivore to motorized and nonmotorized winter recreation.

Winter recreation is a widely popular activity and is expected to increase due to changes in recreation technology and human population growth. Wildlife are frequently negatively impacted by winter recreation, however, through displacement from habitat, alteration of activity patterns, or changes in movement behavior. We studied impacts of dispersed and developed winter recreation on Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) at their southwestern range periphery in Colorado, USA. We used GPS collars to track movements of 18 adult lynx over 4 years, coupled with GPS devices that logged 2,839 unique recreation tracks to provide a detailed spatial estimate of recreation intensity. We assessed changes in lynx spatial and temporal patterns in response to motorized and nonmotorized recreation, as well as differences in movement rate and path tortuosity. We found that lynx decreased their movement rate in areas with high-intensity back-country skiing and snowmobiling, and adjusted their temporal patterns so that they were more active at night in areas with high-intensity recreation. We did not find consistent evidence of spatial avoidance of recreation: lynx exhibited some avoidance of areas with motorized recreation, but selected areas in close proximity to nonmotorized recreation trails. Lynx appeared to avoid high-intensity developed ski resorts, however, especially when recreation was most intense. We conclude that lynx in our study areas did not exhibit strong negative responses to dispersed recreation, but instead altered their behavior and temporal patterns in a nuanced response to recreation, perhaps to decrease direct interactions with recreationists. However, based on observed avoidance of developed recreation, there may be a threshold of human disturbance above which lynx cannot coexist with winter recreation.
Should I stay or should I go? Perching damselfly use simple colour and size cues to trigger flight

How do flying insects correctly respond to visual stimuli in complex natural environments? The spectacular coloration of some orders suggests that colour cues are important. Size may contain useful information as well, but insects are limited in resolving fine spatial detail due to the structure of their compound eyes. Although there have been many studies of experimentally altered body colour and pattern, we know surprisingly little about simple, isolated cues that insects use to take off after objects. Specifically, whether it is colour, size or some combination that triggers pursuit. We presented artificial bead stimuli of varying colours and sizes to perching males of the Hawaiian orangeblack damselfly Megalagrion xanthomelas in their natural forested stream habitat. Damselflies were most vigorously responsive to conspecific colours – attacking red (males) and tracking brown (females). Other colours with lesser biological relevance inspired lower response rates. Interestingly, size strongly modulated responses, whereby attack responses towards the smallest bead sizes transitioned to tracking or avoidance at the larger bead sizes. Although small beads are inherently more difficult to see, they triggered responses from greatest distances, even beyond the calculated stereopsis range of 17.5 cm. Damselflies had an object detection threshold of 0.34° within a high-resolution frontally directed acute zone with an interommatidial angle of 0.82°. We found evidence that size and colour serve as discrimination filters to efficiently identify objects of interest while ignoring visual noise. Simple schemes for object discrimination may help to explain how insects can differentiate among prey and conspecifics, and why multiple species can exist in the same community despite being similar in colour. We discuss implications for visual capabilities, and how visual systems that can readily discriminate size and colour can contribute to extraordinary phenotypic diversity.
Modes of Thinking for Qualitative Data Analysis

Modes of Thinking for Qualitative Data Analysis argues for engagement with the conceptual underpinnings of five prominent analytical strategies used by qualitative researchers: Categorical Thinking, Narrative Thinking, Dialectical Thinking, Poetical Thinking, and Diagrammatical Thinking. By presenting such disparate modes of research in the space of a single text, Freeman not only draws attention to the distinct methodological and theoretical contributions of each, she also establishes a platform for choosing among particular research strategies by virtue of their strengths and limitations. Experienced qualitative researchers, novices, and graduate students from many disciplines will gain new insight from the theory-practice relationship of analysis advanced in this text.
Cavity Hydration and Competitive Binding in Methylated β-Cyclodextrin

Raman multivariate curve resolution (Raman-MCR) spectroscopy is used to measure the vibrational spectrum of water molecules in the cavity of an aqueous methylated β-cyclodextrin (Me-β-CD), as well ...
Temperate forests and soils [Chapter 6]

Abstract Temperate forests are extensive in the mid-latitudes of Earth and include a broad range of forest types and climates. Temperate forest soils reflect the seasonal variability in temperature and precipitation that make them productive and highly variable. Temperate forest soils also reflect the forest vegetation under which they develop. The extent, distribution and characteristics of temperate forests and forest soils are described in this Chapter, as well as their sensitivity to climate change. Because temperate forests are often located near large human populations, they are also affected by human intervention, such as pollution, management, introduction of pests and diseases, and local and national conservation policies. We consider the effects of changing temperature and precipitation regimes, and their interactions on temperate forest soils. Also, changes in frequency and severity of extreme events, as well as changes in length and timing of the growing seasons, can significantly affect the forests and forest soils.
Clinical outcomes of checkpoint inhibitors in metastatic non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma and clear cell renal cell carcinoma with variant features.

e17065Background: Checkpoint inhibitors (CPI) are a well-established treatment option for advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC); however, there is a paucity of data on efficacy of CPI on...
Abstract IA11: Translating the cancer genome one codon at a time and its therapeutic implications

Our research is centered on understanding translational control of gene expression in both normal health and disease in a cell- and tissue-specific manner, with a particular focus on cancer biology. Our research combines mouse genetics with genome-wide translational profiling, in-depth molecular biology, and pharmacology to systematically define the points of regulation, in cis and trans, by which the genome is selectively decoded into proteins. We have uncovered that a common denominator of multiple oncogenic pathways is their ability to directly control the core translation machinery of a cell, resulting in the rapid rewiring of mRNA translation programs that promote distinct hallmarks of cancer development such as cell growth, metabolism, and increased motility. For example, our most recent findings delineate the in vivo requirements for a distinct threshold of the major cap-binding protein, eIF4E, a key translation factor downstream of mTOR signaling, in normal organismal development compared to that required for translating the cancer genome. We show that cancer cells require increased eIF4E activity for their survival as distinct subsets of mRNAs that regulate the cancer cell oxidative response are marked by the presence of a novel eIF4E-dependent cis-acting translational control motif present in their 59UTRs. I will also discuss the generation of the first comprehensive systems-level analysis of the “cancer translatome” during each phase of cancer development in vivo that highlights a dichotomy in transcriptional vs. translational control of gene expression guiding key, select steps in cancer development and evolution. These studies have uncovered a previously unappreciated translation program guiding tumor cell evasion of immune checkpoints. The immediate impact of our research has been the design of a new generation of compounds to target the aberrant translation machinery in cancer cells, which are currently in clinical trials and may reflect a new frontier in cancer therapy. Citation Format: Davide Ruggero. Translating the cancer genome one codon at a time and its therapeutic implications [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Targeting PI3K/mTOR Signaling; 2018 Nov 30-Dec 8; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2020;18(10_Suppl):Abstract nr IA11.
Competition in the Cultural Sector: Handicrafts and the Rise of the Trade Fair in British Mandate Palestine

On the eve of Palestine’s violent ethno-national clashes of the 1930s, two simultaneous, competing trade fairs were mounted in Palestine: the Levant Fair in Tel Aviv (1932) and the First National Arab Fair in Jerusalem (1933). This chapter sketches a lineage of trade fairs in Palestine in the decades immediately prior to the debut of these duelling “national” fairs to investigate the roots of this typology within Palestine and its rise as a space for political action and debate. Undergirding the evolution of the trade fair in Palestine, the author argues, was the formation of a “cultural sector”—a conglomerate of institutions delimited by a distinct regional focus, furthering cultural development as part of both economic and political missions.
Comparison of data mining algorithms in remote sensing using Lidar data fusion and feature selection

Application of data mining techniques defines the basis of land use classification. Even though multispectral images can be very accurate in classifying land cover categories, using spectral reflectivity alone sometimes fails to distinguish between landcover types that share similar spectral signatures such as forest and wetlands. The problem aggravates owing to interpolation of neighbourhood pixel values. In this paper, we present a comparison of four classification and clustering algorithms and analyze their performance. These algorithms are applied both on spectral reflectivity values alone and along with Lidar data fusion. Experiments were performed in the Carlton County of Minnesota. Accuracy estimation was conducted for all models. Experiments indicate that accuracy increases when Lidar data is used to complement the spectral reflectivity values. Random Forest Classification and Support Vector Machines yield good results consistently due to their ensemble learning methods and the ability to represent non-linear relationship in the dataset, respectively. Maximum likelihood shows significant improvement with Lidar data fusion and ISODATA clustering approach has the lowest accuracy rate.
Analytic Approximations for the Velocity Suppression of Dark Matter Capture.

Compact astrophysical objects have been considered in the literature as dark matter (DM) probes, via the observational effects of annihilating captured DM. In this respect, Population III (Pop III) stars are particularly interesting candidates, since they form at high redshifts, in very high DM density environments. It is customary to assume such a star would form roughly at the center of a DM halo, and, as such, have no rotational velocity. In this paper, we break from this assumption and explore the effects we can expect to observe if a Pop III star forms at some distance away from the center of the halo and thus has a non-zero rotational velocity. The capture rate of DM in such a star is suppressed by a predictable amount. We develop and validate an analytical expression for the capture rate suppression factor and re-evaluate the bounds placed on the DM-nucleon cross section as a result of DM capture. We find that our previous results, obtained under the assumption of star formed within the central 10 AU of the DM mini-halo are essentially unchanged, even when considering the possible rotational velocities for those central stars.
Emergency Department Utilization Among Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients: A Systematic Review

Abstract Rational and Objective Evaluate predictors of Emergency Department (ED) utilization by adult patients receiving hemodialysis (HD) and interventions to reduce ED utilization by HD patients. Study Design We searched Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, and The Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials and observational studies up until April 2020. Selection Criteria for Studies We included studies that investigated predictors of ED utilization and/or interventions to reduce ED utilization in HD patients. Data Extraction We extracted data regarding study design, study population, and results regarding ED utilization from 38 studies using Excel software. Analytical Approach We performed narrative synthesis to group articles that investigated similar themes. Results 1060 titles and abstracts were screened, of which 98 were selected for full-text review. 38 studies met inclusion criteria and underwent data extraction. Quality was high according to the Downs and Black tool, with 11 rated as good, 22 as fair, and 5 as poor. 34 studies described predictors of ED utilization, while 4 studies investigated interventions where ED utilization was studied. Our narrative synthesis produced 8 concept subgroups in the core concepts of access to care, comorbidity burden, and new healthcare models. Poor access to care and high comorbidity burden are associated with increased ED use. No ED-based interventions designed to reduce ED utilization were identified, but recent changes in healthcare systems like the formation of ESRD Seamless Care Organizations (ESCOs) and greater involvement of palliative care services are associated with improved outcomes. Limitations Clinical heterogeneity and variability in the included studies precluded a meta-analysis. Conclusions HD patients' high ED use is multifactorial. Further research is required to understand and predict ED utilization in this vulnerable population, which will facilitate the development of interventions to reduce avoidable ED use.
Benefit Transfer Validity and Reliability

Benefit transfer is subject to a variety of potential errors that affect confidence in its use. Convergent validity testing is the typical focus of validity and reliability assessments of transfer applications. This chapter summarizes 38 studies that assess statistical validity and reliability (i.e., the magnitude of transfer error ) in various contexts. Evidence suggests that function transfers (median of 36 % transfer error) out-perform value transfers (median of 45 % transfer error) in minimizing transfer error. However, validity tests generally reject value, model, and parameter equality. Included is a discussion of errors identified in the literature, as well as the relationship between transfer errors and the possibility of unrecognized selection biases in the valuation literature . Implications for benefit transfer practice and future research needs are also identified.
Child neglect: Injuries of omission

Child neglect is the most common form of child maltreatment in the United States. Researchers have indicated that child neglect is strongly correlated with poverty, single-parent caretakers, unemployment, and multifaceted family problems. When neglect is present, it is usually pervasive in the lives of all family members, with both parents and children often perceiving themselves to be powerless and viewing attempts at goal achievement to be futile. Treatment for neglectful families requires multidisciplinary efforts to improve family functioning and promote a safe and supportive environment. Nurses have a variety of roles in the assessment of and primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention interventions for child neglect, with child safety and optimal family functioning as the desired outcomes. Early identification and intervention has the potential for reducing or preventing the developmental consequences associated with the deprivations of neglect. The nurse's role as child/family advocate is often the critical determinant of whether "at-risk" families are identified and receive the therapeutic interventions and tangible services they need. Additionally, nurses often have direct responsibilities for monitoring and remediating parenting patterns that have placed the child in hazardous conditions.
PEAS: a robust energy conserving protocol for long-lived sensor networks

Small, inexpensive sensors with limited memory, computing power and short battery lifetimes are turning into reality. Due to adverse conditions such as high noise levels, extreme humidity or temperatures, or even destructions from unfriendly entities, sensor node failures may become norms rather than exceptions in real environments. To be practical, sensor networks must last for much longer times than that of individual nodes, and have yet to be robust against potentially frequent node failures. This paper presents the design of PEAS, a simple protocol that can build a long-lived sensor network and maintain robust operations using large quantities of economical, short-lived sensor nodes. PEAS extends system functioning time by keeping only a necessary set of sensors working and putting the rest into sleep mode. Sleeping ones wake up now and then, probing the local environment and replacing failed ones. The sleeping periods are self-adjusted dynamically, so as to keep the sensors' wakeup rate roughly constant, thus adapting to high node densities.
Quantitative assessment of head and shoulder posture.

Abstract Posture of the head, neck, and shoulders has long been recognized as a factor contributing to the onset and perpetuation of cervical pain dysfunction syndromes. Treatment regimens frequently include exercises and instruction for postural correction. Clinical assessment of posture, however, tends to be subjective in nature. The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of a new objective technique of posture measurement and to establish normal standards for the technique. This study used a computer-assisted slide digitizing system called Postural Analysis Digitizing System (PADS) to determine characteristic values for head and shoulder girdle posture and characteristic range of motion for head protraction-retraction and shoulder protraction-retraction in a sample of able-bodied young men. PADS is a modification of a two-dimensional slide digitizing system developed for measuring trunk range of motion. Twenty male subjects were photographed in a neutral position, the maximally protracted position, and the maximally retracted position of the head and scapula. Ten subjects were evaluated once, and ten were evaluated twice. The slide photographs were analyzed using a computer-assisted digitizing system. Well-defined anatomic landmarks were used to determine angular relationships in the head, neck, and shoulders. The reliability of the system was tested by calculating an intraclass correlation coefficient, student t -test, and the percent error for each position. The positions were considered reproducible, and reliability of the system was considered adequate for postural analysis. Mean values for the positions were 28.48°, 51.97°, and 62.09° for head protraction, the neutral position, and head retraction, respectively. Shoulder position measurements were 131.08°, 98.53°, and 67.49° for protraction, the neutral position, and retraction, respectively. The average range of motion was 33.62° from the protracted head position to the retracted head position, and 63.58° from the protracted shoulder position to the retracted shoulder position.
Efficiency in auctions: theory and practice Updated copies of this paper can be found at

Abstract In many contexts, efficiency is an important consideration in structuring auctions. In this paper, we survey several sources of inefficiency arising in auctions. We first highlight how demand reducing incentives, both in theory and in practice, affect the efficiency of multi-unit auctions. Next, we study inefficiencies arising from interdependence in bidder valuations. Again, we highlight both theoretical insights as well as how these translate in practice. Finally, we present an impossibility theorem for attaining efficiency in sufficiently rich auction contexts. An auction form suggested by Klemperer is discussed as a means of ameliorating inefficiencies arising in practice.
An early pseudorabies virus protein down-regulates porcine MHC class I expression by inhibition of transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP).

The objectives of this study were to identify the mechanism(s) of pseudorabies virus (PrV)-induced down-regulation of porcine class I molecules and the viral protein(s) responsible for the effect. The ability of PrV to interfere with the peptide transport activity of TAP was determined by an in vitro transport assay. In this assay, porcine kidney (PK-15) cells were permeabilized with streptolysin-O and incubated with a library of 125I-labeled peptides having consensus motifs for glycosylation in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The efficiency of transport of peptides from the cytosol into the ER was determined by adsorbing the ER-glycosylated peptides onto Con A-coupled Sepharose beads. Dose-dependent inhibition of TAP activity was observed in PrV-infected PK-15 cells. This inhibition, which occurred as early as 2 h postinfection (h.p.i.), reached the maximum level by 6 h.p.i., indicating that TAP inhibition is one of the mechanisms by which PrV down-regulates porcine class I molecules. Infection of cells with PrV in the presence of metabolic inhibitors revealed that cycloheximide a protein synthesis inhibitor, but not phosphonoacetic acid a herpesvirus DNA synthesis inhibitor, could restore the cell surface expression of class I molecules, indicating that late proteins are not responsible for the down-regulation. Infection in the presence of cycloheximide followed by actinomycin-D, which results in accumulation of the immediate-early protein, failed to down-regulate class I, indicating that one or more early proteins are responsible for the down-regulation of class I molecules.
Distress and Disasters: Positive Outcomes of the Great Midwestern Floods of 1993

The 1993 flooding of the Midwestern United States was of long duration, spatially extensive, and economically damaging. Estimated property losses exceeded $12 billion, and millions more were suffered in indirect losses (IFMRC 1994; Myers and White 1993). Fifty people were killed. At least 26,000 people were evacuated from their homes, and approximately 100,000 buildings were affected. The floods set hydrological records throughout the Midwest, and many rivers exceeded all recorded levels. In addition, some communities were inundated more than once, while others were under water for prolonged periods (Tobin and Montz 1994). The impacts of this disaster were far-reaching, and recovery took a long time for many communities. Nevertheless, there have been some positive outcomes from these floods, including a renewed appreciation of flooding and the need for community preparation. During the 1990s, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), for instance, refocused attention on the National Flood Insurance Program (FEMA 2003), adopted new initiatives such as Project Impact (FEMA 1998), and expanded its response strategies (Yen and Yen 1996). While these programs have met with mixed success, the shared goal of minimizing flood losses and being prepared is admirable. Another area that has taken on greater significance has been a focus on the psychological stress associated with living in hazard-prone environments. Indeed, it is disasters such as the 1993 floods that have promoted new research initiatives and guided novel responses to mental health concerns, so much so that stress and anxiety are now recognized as significant outcomes of flooding. Furthermore, the acceptance of mental health issues has taken on a global perspective that is intricately linked with concerns of vulnerability, marginalization, and resilience. This paper reviews some of the concerns regarding mental health and flooding, and examines changes that have occurred since 1993. It also places such work in a wider context. As we shall see, this new emphasis has led to many positive outcomes, namely: (i) the development of proactive mental health intervention strategies; (ii) the refinement of vulnerability measures with the incorporation of stress variables; (iii) a broader application of stress concerns to include a global perspective; and (iv) the application of such studies to all disasters. However, it should be noted that this is not a definitive review, but merely an indication of prevailing directions of such research.
Photodynamic therapy for cancer

The therapeutic properties of light have been known for thousands of years, but it was only in the last century that photodynamic therapy (PDT) was developed. At present, PDT is being tested in the clinic for use in oncology--to treat cancers of the head and neck, brain, lung, pancreas, intraperitoneal cavity, breast, prostate and skin. How does PDT work, and how can it be used to treat cancer and other diseases?
Financial Ratios and Equity Valuation

This article presents a systematic scheme of financial statement analysis that comprehensively analyzes all aspects of the financial statements that inform about a valuation. The analysis flows from the residual earnings valuation model but applies as well to other valuation methods such as discounted cash flow valuation and earnings capitalization. The financial statement analysis hierarchy breaks residual earnings down into its financial statement drivers which, in turn, attach to the activities of the firm that generate its value. A key aspect is the separation of operating activities from financing activities, with operating activities then subject to a detailed analysis that maps into value. Keywords: valuation; financial statement analysis; residual earnings; book rate of return; operating activities; financing activities
Hall effect in flight magnetogasdynamics.

The purpose of this paper is to consider the influence of the Hall effect on magnetogasdynamic flow around the nose of a blunt body. In the present analysis local similarity is applied to the stagnation region of the attached shock layer generated in the hypersonic flow about a blunt body containing a magnetic dipole source. Both electrically conducting and insulated bodies are considered. The Hall effect causes the fluid to acquire a component of current at right angles to the electric field relative to the fluid. In the case of axisymmetric flow, currents arise in the meridian planes as well as reduced currents in the azimuthal direction. The former interact with the magnetic field and produce an azimuthal Lorentz body force that induces flow in the azimuthal direction and produces a reactive torque on the magnetic source. In general the magnetogasdynamic effect is to increase the shock standoff distance and the total drag experienced by the body. However, when Hall effects are considered, these changes are less pronounced. Further, the conducting body is found to have a greater shock standoff, drag, and rolling-moment coefficient than the insulated body.
Efficient generation of coherent and widely-tunable thz waves

During this presentation, we will summarize our recent results and future work on efficient generation of coherent and tunable THz waves based on parametric processes in a variety of second-order nonlinear materials.
Biochemical and serological characterization of hydrogen sulfide-positive variants of Escherichia coli.

Over 200 H2S-positive, gram-negative rods have been characterized by standard biochemical and serological techniques. The results indicate that the isolates are H2S-positive variants of Escherichia coli. Comparison of the variants with biochemically typical E. coli suggests that they represent a rather limited subgroup within the species. The H2S-positive strains were more resistant to antibiotics than the typical strains; 54% of the H2S-positive isolates were resistant to three or more antibiotics compared with only 25% of the typical strains. Similar differences were also seen in the distribution of O and H antigens and in the results of certain biochemical tests.
Magnetic and Tectonic Fabric of the North Fiji Basin and Lau Basin

Detailed airborne and shipboard magnetic studies conducted over the eastern marginal basins of the southwest Pacific between New Zealand and the Solomon Islands suggest that seafloor spreading in the North Fiji Basin, which began in the latest Miocene, continues today. The North Fiji Basin is marked by at least two triple junctions, located in the central (16°50’S, 173°45’E) and northeastern (14°S, 179°30’E) parts of the basin. Both were apparently formed during the past five million years in response to continuing adjustments in the strike of the active spreading centers in the North Fiji Basin. Two additional contemporary spreading centers appear to have formed within the last one million years to the north and immediately to the west of Viti Levu. Although magnetic anomalies from 1 to 3 (0–5 Ma) are seen to form a clearly defined lineation pattern over the North Fiji Basin, earthquake foci suggest that only portions of the present North Fiji/Lau Basin spreading center system are currently active.
Holographic grating formation in poly(spiropyran I-glutamate).

An argon-ion laser interferometer (0.3638 or 0.488 μm) wrote photoreversible holographic grating (fringe spacing 0.39–100 μm) on spin-cast thin films (5 μm thick) of poly(spiropyran l-glutamate).
Vascular smooth muscle mitochondria: magnesium content and transport.

Abstract Endogenous magnesium content and magnesium transport of isolated bovine vascular smooth muscle mitochondria were studied. Mitochondria isolated from atherosclerotic bovine arteries contained two to three times as much magnesium (178 nmol/mg of mitochondrial protein) as those isolated from normal arteries (67 nmol/mg of mitochondrial protein). Electron-opaque granules were visible in the unstained unfixed mitochondria and could be shown with electron probe analysis to consist of magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus. At concentrations of external Mg 2+ from 0 to 6 m m , the vascular smooth muscle mitochondria exhibited respiratory substrate-supported release of Mg 2+ as studied with metallochromic indicator, eriochrome blue, using dual-wavelength spectrophotometry. The maximal velocity of energized release (3 nmol of Mg 2+ /s/mg of mitochondrial protein) was observed at 4 m m external Mg 2+ and the half-maximal transport occurred at 0.5 m m .
Cognitive Performance Enhancement: Misuse or Self-Treatment?.

Objective: This cross-sectional survey study examines the link between ADHD medication misuse and a positive screen for adult ADHD symptoms. Method: Surveys from 184 college student volunteers in Northern Virginia are collected and analyzed. Results: A total of 71% of ADHD stimulant misusers screen positive for ADHD symptoms. Misusers are 7 times more likely to be symptomatic for ADHD than those who do not misuse. Also, 87% of misusers indicate that they do so for academic reasons, and 76% believe that the misuse of the ADHD stimulants improve their grades. Conclusion: ADHD stimulant misuse in college students is found to be strongly linked to having symptoms of adult ADHD. The desire for cognitive performance enhancement in college students may be a form of self-treatment for undiagnosed ADHD. College students need more accessibility to medical diagnosis and treatment of adult ADHD to reduce the incidence of misuse in the future.
Rietveld refinement of the structure of Sr0.3Ba0.7FCl

Abstract The structure of Sr0.3Ba0.7FCl, formula weight 176.87, was determined by the Rietveld refinement procedure from X-ray powder diffraction data. This structure was solved in space group P2 n , Z = 2 with a = 4.335(1), b = 4.304(1), c = 7.146(3), A, and γ = 90.379(2)°; Rf = 0.055, Rwp = 0.141. The compound exhibits a distorted tetragonal PbFCl-type structure. Interatomic distances are presented and compared with those of SrFCl and BaFCl.
Modifications in Sign Under Conditions of Impeded Visibility

This study investigated the effects of reduced visibility on the distance of signing hands from the bodies of adult signers who are deaf and on their rates of sign production. Subjects were videotaped as they signed with partners in each of three experimental conditions: unimpeded, moderately impeded, and severely impeded visibility. Visual impedance was created by placing screens between signing partners. The distance of a hand from the body, in terms of lateral, vertical, and forward-depth dimensions, was determined from digitized measurements of single video frames randomly selected from those in which the subject was actively signing. Sign rate was calculated as the number of signs produced in a given segment of time. Signs produced in the severely impeded visibility condition were found to be made at a slower rate and with a mean hand position further forward and vertically higher than signs produced in the unimpeded visibility condition.
Computed tomography of epidural metastatic neuroblastoma

Abstract Two cases of epidural metastasis from neuroblastoma on computed tomography are reported. The distinguishing features from chronic and acute epidural hematoma are discussed.
Micro Aspects of Manhattan Tornado in Kansas on 8 June 1966

(1969). Micro Aspects of Manhattan Tornado in Kansas on 8 June 1966. Weatherwise: Vol. 22, No. 3, pp. 113-117.
Self-Presentation of Romantic Relationships: Audience, Attachment, and the Self-Presentation of Relationship Intimacy

Individuals' self-concepts are inextricably entwined with their relationships [Reis, H. T., Collins, W. A., & Berscheid, E. (2000). Psychological Bulletin, 126, 844–872], and thus it stands to reason that information about close relationships will figure prominently in individuals' self-presentational efforts. Yet, little is known about how individuals present their relationship. We examined whether individuals present information about their relationship differently as a function of both the target audience and the individuals' attachment style. Findings revealed that when individuals expected to interact with a romantic couple (vs. two control conditions) those high in attachment anxiety engaged in greater self-presentational efforts. Implications for understanding how relationship information is self-presented, as well as the goals of individuals with different attachment styles are discussed.
Why are some oxides metallic, while most are insulating?

Abstract A large variety of undoped binary and ternary transition metal oxides, including formally divalent, trivalent and tetravalent metal cations, have been examined. These 76 compounds are classified as either “metals”, “insulators”, or having a “metal-to-insulator” transition. In an attempt to understand these variations, the Zaanen-Sawatzky-Allen framework was used in which each compound can be characterized by three parameters: the Coulomb correlation or disproportionation energy (U′), the charge-transfer energy (Δ) and the bandwidth (W). Assuming W is constant, we have calculated U′ and Δ using a simple ionic model, which includes only the gas phase ionization potentials and the bare electrostatic Coulomb interactions between the ions. With this model, the occurence of metallic conductivity is remarkably well accounted for in these oxides.
State Space Simulation Of Spacecraft Power Systems

This paper presents a modular state variable approach for the simulation of large and complex spacecraft power systems. Each component in the spacecraft power system is treated as a multi-port network, and a state model is written with the port voltages as the inputs. The state model of a component is solved independently of the other component state models using the state transition matrix method. The port voltages of each component are assumed to be clamped during the solution of the state models. Network analysis principles are then employed to calculate the new value of all port voltages.