cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Design and modeling of electrode networks for code-division multiplexed resistive pulse sensing in microfluidic devices

A typical microfluidic device sorts, captures or fractionates sample constituents by exposing them to discriminating microenvironments. Direct electronic acquisition of such manipulation by a network of integrated sensors can provide a fast, integrated readout, replacing otherwise required microscopy. We have recently introduced a sensor technology, Microfluidic CODES, which allows us to multiplex resistive pulse sensors on a microfluidic device. Microfluidic CODES employs a network of micromachined coplanar electrodes such that particles passing over these electrodes produce distinguishable code sequences. In this paper, we explain the design process to specifically generate an orthogonal digital code set for an efficient and accurate demultiplexing of the sensor signals. We also introduce an equivalent circuit model for a network of code-multiplexed resistive pulse sensors by utilizing the Foster–Schwan model and conformal mapping, to model dynamic cell–electrode interaction in a non-uniform electric field. Our results closely match with both experimental measurements using cell lines and finite element analysis. The coding and modeling framework presented here will enable the design of code-division multiplexed resistive pulse sensors optimized to produce desired waveform patterns to ensure reliable and efficient decoding.
Density matrix renormalization group study of a three-orbital Hubbard model with spin-orbit coupling in one dimension

Using the density matrix renormalization group technique we study the effect of spin-orbit coupling on a three-orbital Hubbard model in the ${({t}_{2g})}^{4}$ sector and in one dimension. Fixing the Hund coupling to a robust value compatible with some multiorbital materials, we present the phase diagram varying the Hubbard $U$ and spin-orbit coupling $\ensuremath{\lambda}$, at zero temperature. Our results are shown to be qualitatively similar to those recently reported using the dynamical mean-field theory in higher dimensions, providing a robust basis to approximate many-body techniques. Among many results, we observe an interesting transition from an orbital-selective Mott phase to an excitonic insulator with increasing $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ at intermediate $U$. In the strong $U$ coupling limit, we find a nonmagnetic insulator with an effective angular momentum $\ensuremath{\langle}{({\mathbf{J}}^{\mathrm{eff}})}^{2}\ensuremath{\rangle}\ensuremath{\ne}0$ near the excitonic phase, smoothly connected to the $\ensuremath{\langle}{({\mathbf{J}}^{\mathrm{eff}})}^{2}\ensuremath{\rangle}=0$ regime. We also provide a list of quasi-one-dimensional materials where the physics discussed in this paper could be realized.
Circulating plasmablasts are elevated and produce pathogenic anti‐endothelial cell autoantibodies in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension

Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) is a devastating pulmonary vascular disease in which autoimmune and inflammatory phenomena are implicated. B cells and autoantibodies have been associated with IPAH and identified as potential therapeutic targets. However, the specific populations of B cells involved and their roles in disease pathogenesis are not clearly defined. We aimed to assess the levels of activated B cells (plasmablasts) in IPAH, and to characterize recombinant antibodies derived from these plasmablasts. Blood plasmablasts are elevated in IPAH, remain elevated over time, and produce IgA autoantibodies. Single-cell sequencing of plasmablasts in IPAH revealed repertoires of affinity-matured antibodies with small clonal expansions, consistent with an ongoing autoimmune response. Recombinant antibodies representative of these clonal lineages bound known autoantigen targets and displayed an unexpectedly high degree of polyreactivity. Representative IPAH plasmablast recombinant antibodies stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells to produce cytokines and overexpress the adhesion molecule ICAM-1. Together, our results demonstrate an ongoing adaptive autoimmune response involving IgA plasmablasts that produce anti-endothelial cell autoantibodies in IPAH. These antibodies stimulate endothelial cell production of cytokines and adhesion molecules, which may contribute to disease pathogenesis. These findings suggest a role for mucosally-driven autoimmunity and autoimmune injury in the pathogenesis of IPAH.
Effects of an etching solution on the adhesive properties and surface microhardness of zirconia dental ceramics.

Abstract Statement of problem Conventional approaches to adhesive bonding are not applicable to zirconia restorations. Recently, an etching solution, Zeta Etching Solution (ZES), has been introduced for etching the surface of zirconia. The effects of this etching solution on the bond strength and mechanical properties of zirconia are unknown. Purpose The purpose of this in vitro study was to examine the effects of ZES on the bond strength and surface hardness of zirconia. Material and methods Two different types of partially stabilized tetragonal polycrystalline zirconia (TZP), Prettau zirconia (group P) and anterior Prettau (group AP), were evaluated with and without ZES etching. Each group was bonded to a zirconia substrate by using an adhesive resin cement. After 24 hours of storage in distilled water, the bond strength of the zirconia was analyzed. Vickers hardness was determined by using a microhardness tester. Scanning electron microscopy was used to analyze the surface microstructure and determine the mode of failure for each specimen. Results were analyzed and compared using 1-way ANOVA and Student t tests (α=.05). Results Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that etching the surface of zirconia with ZES etching solution for 60 minutes changed the morphological characteristics and microstructure of zirconia, making the surface more irregular. The changes were more pronounced for AP specimens. Etching with ZES significantly increased the shear bond strength of zirconia (P .05). An adhesive failure mode was observed for P zirconia specimens, whereas zirconia specimens exhibited a cohesive mode of failure. No significant decrease (P>.05) was observed in the mean Vickers hardness numbers. Conclusions Within the limitations of this in vitro study, it was concluded that etching in ZES for 30 minutes significantly enhanced the shear bond strength of highly translucent anterior Prettau (AP) zirconia restorations. Moreover, etching with ZES did not adversely affect the surface hardness of the zirconia specimens tested.
Black Battered Women: Practice Issues:

Although domestic violence occurs among all racial/ethnic groups, regardless of socioeconomic background, little attention has been paid to black battered women. The authors discuss six culturally ...
Image-Guided Percutaneous Biopsy and Drainage of the Abdomen

Image-guided percutaneous biopsy and abscess drainages are some of the most commonly performed procedures in interventional radiology. With advances in targeted immunotherapies for oncology patients, physicians increasingly depend on the experience and skill of the interventional radiologist to acquire tissue specimens from within the abdomen and pelvis. Furthermore, percutaneous drainage of abdominal and pelvic fluid collections has largely replaced the need for surgical interventions for infected abdominal collections. This review will discuss techniques of image-guided percutaneous abdominal biopsy and drainage.
Involvement of the cytoskeleton in calcium-dependent stress relaxation of rat aortic smooth muscle

Rat aortic smooth muscle exhibits a remarkable capacity for stress relaxation, the release of tension following tissue stretch. Stress relaxation was markedly enhanced in contracted aortic rings compared with unstimulated tissue. The magnitude of stress relaxation in contracted aortic rings correlated well with the passive tension imposed on the tissue by stretching, but showed little relationship to changes in tissue length or to the level of tension developed in response to agonist stimulation prior to stretch. The enhancement of stress relaxation in precontracted tissue was not affected by intimal rubbing or treatment with L-NAME. By comparison, the removal of extracellular calcium markedly attenuated stress relaxation. In addition, the use of cytochalasin B to block actin polymerization inhibited stress relaxation, whereas colchicine, a drug used to cause microtubule disassembly, had no effect on the phenomenon. The results indicate that the enhanced stress relaxation in contracted tissue is a calcium-dependent process and is not due to passive tissue elastic properties. We suggest that stress relaxation may not involve cross-bridge formation but could be explained by the remodelling of a portion of the tension-bearing actin cytoskeleton.
An assessment of leadership development programs for employees in Iowa's community colleges

The development of potential leaders for the community college system is critical for their continued success. Research has indicated that many community college administrative staff are preparing for their retirements. As current leaders take their leave, it is essential to ensure there are qualified persons stepping forward to continue leading the colleges. Leadership development programs must be in place to assure there are trained leaders to continue the tradition of the community colleges. The purpose of this study was to describe the impact of two existing leadership development programs on the community college system and its employees in Iowa. The Leadership Institute for a New Century (LINC) and the Community College Leadership Initiative Consortium (CLIC) have been in place to provide leadership development opportunities to employees with a goal of expanding the base of leaders within the community colleges. Information was gathered from several sources and a survey was completed to gain initial information from those participating in the two programs. Focus groups were conducted on three community college campuses, and community college leaders and staff from the two leadership programs were interviewed. These sources provided a picture of the impact the programs are having on community colleges. Findings revealed that the participants from the programs are earning promotions, the programs are serving as retention tools for the colleges, participants are continuing their education, the credit earned in the programs is important to the participants, and participants are satisfied with the program topics.
Empowering Flexible and Scalable High Performance Architectures with Embedded Photonics

The recent explosive growth in data analytics applications that rely on machine and deep learning techniques are seismically changing the landscape of high performance architectures. These techniques rely on graphics processing units (GPU) and manycore (CPU) technologies whose need for intense performance is pushing current interconnect networks to their limits. Driven by these applications, the execution performance along with the energy consumption of massive parallel systems is increasingly determined by how data is moved among the numerous compute and memory resources. Embedded photonic interconnect technologies can address critical data-movement challenges by delivering higher communication bandwidth densities at significantly improved energy efficiencies. New disaggregated architectures enabled by embedded photonics and optical bandwidth steering can reduce the system-wide energy consumption.
Ketorolac Use and Anastomotic Leak in Elective Colorectal Surgery: A Detailed Analysis.

Background Recent population-level analyses have linked ketorolac use to adverse outcomes. However, its use is also associated with decreased opioids and faster return of bowel function. Objective This study aims to assess the association between ketorolac and anastomotic leak. We hypothesize that receiving at least 1 dose of ketorolac will not be associated with anastomotic leak in elective colorectal surgery. Design This is a retrospective, observational cohort study of a prospectively collected data base. Anastomotic leak rates and other patient outcomes were adjusted for patient-level factors and then compared via a multivariable logistic regression. A secondary analysis assessed a dose-response association with anastomotic leak. Setting This study was conducted at a tertiary care colorectal surgery service. Patients Consecutive patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery with a nondiverted anastomosis were identified from 2012 to 2016. Intervention Exposure was defined as any administration of ketorolac during the perioperative time period. Main outcome measures The primary outcome measured was anastomotic leak. Results A total of 877 patients met inclusion criteria. Of these, 479 (54.6%) were women, and the median age was 55 years. Overall, 566 (64.5%) patients were exposed to ketorolac. In the cohort, 27 (3.1%) patients experienced an anastomotic leak. In an unadjusted analysis, there was no association between ketorolac exposure and anastomotic leak (ketorolac: 3.1% vs no ketorolac: 3.3%; p = 0.84). This persisted in a multivariable model (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.38-2.57; p = 0.98). Neither AKI (OR, 3.24; 95% CI, 0.51-20.6; p = 0.21), return to the operating room (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.40-2.85; p = 0.88), nor readmission (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.59-1.80; p = 0.93) was associated with ketorolac use. In a secondary analysis of patients receiving ketorolac, there was no association between total ketorolac dosing and anastomotic leak (OR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.99-1.00; p = 0.20). Limitations This study was a retrospective review, and there was a low incidence of anastomotic leak. Conclusion Ketorolac exposure was associated with neither anastomotic leak nor other important postoperative outcomes. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A784.
COMPLICATION OF SINUS OF VALSALVA ANEURYSM RUPTURE

Sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (SVA) is a rare cardiac anomaly. Surgical repair is the preferred method of treatment for SVA rupture but diagnosis may be masked by several other factors. 30-year-old female with history of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and heavy alcohol use presented intubated due to seizures
Macrophage polarization impacts tunneling nanotube formation and intercellular organelle trafficking

Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) are cellular extensions enabling cytosol-to-cytosol intercellular interaction between numerous cell types including macrophages. Previous studies of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) transplantation for the lysosomal storage disorder cystinosis have shown that HSPC-derived macrophages form TNTs to deliver cystinosin-bearing lysosomes to cystinotic cells, leading to tissue preservation. Here, we explored if macrophage polarization to either proinflammatory M1-like M(LPS/IFNγ) or anti-inflammatory M2-like M(IL-4/IL-10) affected TNT-like protrusion formation, intercellular transport and, ultimately, the efficacy of cystinosis prevention. We designed new automated image processing algorithms used to demonstrate that LPS/IFNγ polarization decreased bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) formation of protrusions, some of which displayed characteristics of TNTs, including cytoskeletal structure, 3D morphology and size. In contrast, co-culture of macrophages with cystinotic fibroblasts yielded more frequent and larger protrusions, as well as increased lysosomal and mitochondrial intercellular trafficking to the diseased fibroblasts. Unexpectedly, we observed normal protrusion formation and therapeutic efficacy following disruption of anti-inflammatory IL-4/IL-10 polarization in vivo by transplantation of HSPCs isolated from the Rac2-/- mouse model. Altogether, we developed unbiased image quantification systems that probe mechanistic aspects of TNT formation and function in vitro, while HSPC transplantation into cystinotic mice provides a complex in vivo disease model. While the differences between polarization cell culture and mouse models exemplify the oversimplicity of in vitro cytokine treatment, they simultaneously demonstrate the utility of our co-culture model which recapitulates the in vivo phenomenon of diseased cystinotic cells stimulating thicker TNT formation and intercellular trafficking from macrophages. Ultimately, we can use both approaches to expand the utility of TNT-like protrusions as a delivery system for regenerative medicine.
Light sources for photonanotechnology

Abstract Light constitutes a critical design factor involved in the application and development of nanotechnology. It serves as an active stimulus with tunable energy that enables it to induce chemical, physical, or biological activities in certain classes of nanometer-sized particles (NPs). Such NPs, which are generically referred to as photoactive nanomaterials, have made significant contributions to creating novel applications and developing technology in a broad range of fields including energy, catalysis, sensors, therapeutics, and biomedical imaging. Selection of the right light sources thus plays an important role in understanding the design principles and optimizing the functions associated with such photoactive NPs. This article presents light sources in the context of practical applications in photonanotechnology. It focuses on light properties pertaining to absorption, scattering, and penetration as well as therapeutic applications in light-controlled drug delivery systems, photodynamic therapy, and photothermal therapy
Odds ratios and hurdle models: a long-term analysis of parasite infection patterns in endangered young-of-the-year suckers from Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, USA.

Abstract We used odds ratios and a hurdle model to analyze parasite co-infections over 25 years on >20,000 young-of-the year of endangered Shortnose and Lost River Suckers. Host ecologies differed as did parasite infections. Shortnose Suckers were more likely to be caught inshore and 3–5 times more likely to have Bolbophorus spp. and Contracaecum sp. infections, and Lost River Suckers were more likely to be caught offshore and approximately three times more likely to have Lernaea cyprinacea infections. An observed peak shift seems likely to be due to a lower host size limit for Bolbophorus spp. (13.6 mm) compared with L. cyprinacea (23.4 mm). The large data set allowed us to generate strong hypotheses: (i) that a major marsh restoration project had unintended consequences that resulted in an increase in infections; (ii) that co-infection with Bolbophorus spp. increased the odds of infection by L. cyprinacea and Contracaecum sp.; (iii) that significant declines in the odds of infection over approximately 25 days were due to parasite-induced host mortality; (iv) that the fish’s small size relative to L. cyprinacea and Contracaecum sp. might be directly lethal; (v) that the absence of L. cyprinacea infections in the early 1990s was associated with good year-class production of the suckers; and (vi) that parasites might increase the odds of vagrancy from the nursery ground.
Airborne measurements of oxygen concentration from the surface to the lower stratosphere and pole to pole

Abstract. We have developed in situ and flask sampling systems for airborne measurements of variations in the O2/N2 ratio at the part per million level. We have deployed these instruments on a series of aircraft campaigns to measure the distribution of atmospheric O2 from 0–14 km and 87° N to 85° S throughout the seasonal cycle. The NCAR airborne oxygen instrument (AO2) uses a vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) absorption detector for O2 and also includes an infrared CO2 sensor. The VUV detector has a precision in 5 seconds of ±1.25 per meg (1σ) δ(O2/N2), but thermal fractionation and motion effects increase this to ±2.5–4.0 per meg when sampling ambient air in flight. The NCAR/Scripps airborne flask sampler (Medusa) collects 32 cryogenically dried air samples per flight under actively controlled flow and pressure conditions. For in situ or flask O2 measurements, fractionation and surface effects can be important at the required high levels of relative precision. We describe our sampling and measurement techniques, and efforts to reduce potential biases. We also present a selection of observational results highlighting the individual and combined instrument performance. These include vertical profiles, O2 : CO2 correlations, and latitudinal cross sections reflecting the distinct influences of terrestrial photosynthesis, air-sea gas exchange, burning of various fuels, and stratospheric dynamics. When present, we have corrected the flask δ(O2/N2) measurements for fractionation during sampling or analysis, with the use of the concurrent δ(Ar/N2) measurements. We have also corrected the in situ δ(O2/N2) measurements for inlet fractionation and humidity effects by comparison to the corrected flask values. A comparison of Ar/N2-corrected Medusa flask δ(O2/N2) measurements to regional Scripps O2 Network station observations shows no systematic biases over 10 recent campaigns (+0.2 ± 8.2 per meg, mean and standard deviation, n = 86). For AO2, after resolving sample drying and inlet fractionation biases previously on the order of 10–100 per meg, independent AO2 δ(O2/N2) measurements over 6 more recent campaigns differ from coincident Medusa flask measurements by −0.3 ± 7.2 per meg (mean and standard deviation, n = 1361), with campaign-specific means ranging from −5 to +5 per meg.
Electronic Changes in Molybdenum Dichalcogenides on Gold Surfaces

X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy are performed on transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) MoS2, MoSe2, and MoTe2 monolayers on Au surfaces, to identify charge transfer processes and...
Alarming Rate of Substance Use in Motor Vehicle Collisions at an Appalachian Trauma Center.

Prescription drug use is a growing public health concern and studies show it is a contributing risk to motor vehicle collisions. The Appalachian region is also known to have an ever-increasing number of patients on controlled substances. This retrospective study of patients from the years 2011-2015 on controlled substances presenting to an Appalachian Level 1 trauma center after a motor vehicle or motorcycle collision was analyzed in order to determine the rate of opioid use among victims of motor vehicle collisions in the system, as well as evaluate for any differences in resource utilization between these patients and patients not using controlled substances. A total of 2,570 patients were included in the study. Seven-hundred sixty-eight (29.9%) individuals were found to be on a controlled substance. There was a similar mortality rate in both groups (2.8% vs 3.6%). There was no significant difference in hospital length of stay (LOS), intensive care unit (ICU) LOS, ventilator days, or injury severity score. Statistically significant findings include the type of crash (motor vehicle crash vs motorcycle crash) (p=0.003) and position in the vehicle (driver vs passenger) (p<0.001). Motor vehicle crashes and driver position were significantly associated with the presence of a controlled substance.
Depressive Symptoms, Leisure Activity Engagement, and Global Cognition in Non-Hispanic Black and White Older Adults.

OBJECTIVES Prior research indicates that depressive symptoms disproportionately affect cognition in non-Hispanic Blacks relative to non-Hispanic Whites. Depressive symptoms have been linked to worse global cognition in older adulthood through lower leisure activity engagement, but less is known regarding the distinct types of activities that drive these associations and whether associations involving depressive symptoms, leisure activities, and cognition differ across racial groups. METHOD This cross-sectional study used data from the Michigan Cognitive Aging Project (n=453, 52.80% Black, Mage=63.60 years). Principal components analysis identified six subtypes of leisure activities (cognitive, creative, community, physical, children, and games). Mediation models examined whether distinct leisure activity subtypes mediated the association between depressive symptoms and performance on a comprehensive neuropsychological battery and whether race moderated these associations. RESULTS There were no racial differences in the level of depressive symptoms after adjusting for sociodemographic, socioeconomic, and health covariates. Only lower cognitive activity engagement mediated the negative association between depressive symptoms and global cognition. Multi-group models revealed that this indirect effect was only evident in Blacks, who showed a stronger negative association between depressive symptoms and cognitive activity engagement than Whites. After accounting for indirect effects, a direct effect of higher depressive symptoms on worse cognition remained and did not differ across racial groups. DISCUSSION Depressive symptoms may disproportionately affect cognition among Blacks through a greater negative impact on engagement in cognitively-stimulating activities that have been shown to promote cognitive reserve. Additional research is necessary to identify other mechanisms linking depressive symptoms and cognition.
Erratum to “The Impact of Height on Indoor Positioning With Magnetic Fields”

In the above article [1] , there is an error in the DOI for the IEEE Dataport dataset associated with this work. It should be https://dx.doi.org/10.21227/t881-7581 .
Assessing the hospital volume-outcome relationship in total elbow arthroplasty

Background Total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) is an effective intervention for multiple elbow disorders including complex fracture in elderly patients, post-traumatic arthropathy, inflammatory arthropathy, and distal humeral nonunion. Given its known therapeutic value and low utilization rate, an investigation into the thresholds for TEA institutional volume-outcome relationships is warranted. The purpose of this study was to identify TEA volume thresholds that serve as predictors of institutional outcomes including complications, readmissions, revisions, cost of care, length of stay (LOS), and non-home discharge. We hypothesized that increased institutional volume would be associated with decreased 90-day adverse outcomes and resource utilization. Methods The Nationwide Readmission Database was queried from 2010 to 2017 to identify all cases of TEA. Hospital volume was calculated using a unique hospital identifier and divided into quartiles. Outcomes such as complications, readmissions, revisions, cost of care, LOS, and non-home discharge were then analyzed by quartile. The same outcomes were assessed via stratum-specific likelihood ratio (SSLR) analysis to define volume strata among institutions. Results SSLR analysis defined statistically significant hospital volume categories for each 90-day outcome. The volume category with the lowest complication rate was ≥21 TEAs per year (5.6%). The volume categories with the lowest readmission rates were 1-3 TEAs per year (4.7%) and ≥18 TEAs per year (9.2%). Revision rates were lowest in the volume categories of 1-5 TEAs per year (0.1%) and ≥18 TEAs per year (0.1%). Hospitals with ≥21 TEAs per year had the lowest cost of care and the highest rate of extended LOS (>2 days). SSLR analysis showed that non-home discharges decreased in a stepwise manner as volume increased. The lowest non-home discharge rate was associated with the volume category of ≥22 TEAs per year (20.3%). Conclusion This study defines TEA volume strata for institutional outcomes. The highest TEA volume strata were associated with the lowest rates of 90-day complications, revisions, and non-home discharges and the lowest cost of care. This trend is likely attributable to the benefits of high-volume institutional experience and standardized patient-care processes.
The Role of Cis- and Trans-Acting Functions in Simian Virus 40 Gene Regulation

Simian virus 40 (SV40) is a small DNA tumor virus, the circular genome [5243 base pairs (bp)] of which encodes at least two early proteins and four late gene products (Tooze, 1980). The lytic cycle of this virus is expressed over a temporal course in permissive African green monkey kidney cells. Early viral gene expression is predominant in the first 10-12 hr postinfection. The early viral program appears to be represented by a single transcription unit that gives rise to one primary messenger RNA (mRNA). This transcript is then differentially spliced into one of two mRNAs that encode the two early SV40 proteins, large tumor (large-T) and small tumor (small-t) antigens. All subsequent events in the lytic cycle appear to depend on the presence of a functional large-T antigen, which, through binding to three large-T-antigen-binding sites near the origin for DNA replication: (1) modulates downward the level of early gene transcription through a repressorlike function, (2) stimulates the initiation of viral DNA replication, and (3) both directly and indirectly activates the SV40 late transcriptional program (see Fig. 1). A set of late mRNA molecules Open image in new window Figure 1 Genomic map and control region of SV40. The diagram presents the control region for expression of the SV40 early genes (large-T and small-t antigens) and late genes (VP1, 2, and 3). The origin for viral DNA replication (or) is flanked by the early transcriptional control sequences, including the Goldberg-Hogness box (AT), the three 21-bp repeats (each containing two copies of a GC-rich hexanucleotide), and the tandem 72-bp enhancer element. The early transcripts are initiated predominantly at position E early in infection and shift to position L after DNA replication. The late viral transcripts have heterogeneous 5′ ends, indicated by dots. Reprinted from Hamer and Khoury (1983) with permission. encodes the structural proteins of SV40, namely, VP1, VP2, and VP3. In addition, a 61-amino-acid polypeptide, the agnoprotein, is made late in the lytic cycle. While the function of this protein is not entirely clear, it appears to play a role in encapsidation or assembly of the mature viral particles. Furthermore, the late agnoprotein may play a role in regulation of late gene expression.
The Class Action as a Financial Call Option

Class action law enforcement is a resource-intensive undertaking, requiring investment of both intellectual capital and financial wherewithal. Building on insights developed in the economic theory of investment under uncertainty, the key theoretical proposition is that class action law enforcement comprises a multi-stage sequence of investment opportunities under conditions of multi-dimensional uncertainty. The properties of investment in class actions include (i) investment expenditures; (ii) future rewards on investment; (iii) multi-dimensional investment uncertainty; (iv) the irreversibility of investment expenditures; and (v) the sequential, multi-stage property of investment opportunities and investment decisions. The court appointment of class counsel is modeled as a judicially-granted monopoly over investment in class action law enforcement. At any given stage of the sequence (but for the last one), plaintiffs' attorneys and, later, court-appointed class counsel are faced with a financial call option, namely, an opportunity to invest and buy, with some probability, the opportunity to invest in the stage that follows in the sequence. Plaintiffs' attorneys' and, subsequently, the court-appointed class counsel's incentives to invest and investment decisions throughout the sequence are overwhelmingly the most important determinant of the magnitude of liability exposure. These theoretical propositions provide the most conceptually-inclusive model of the incentive structure of class action law enforcement. This analytic model is conceptually-inclusive because the myriad decisions made by plaintiffs' attorneys and, subsequently, by class counsel in the course of class action law enforcement are perceived as sequential investment decisions under conditions of uncertainty. Thus, virtually any aspect relating to the conduct and performance of plaintiffs' attorneys becomes amenable to analysis as a sequential investment problem. Normative implications concerning the design of investment-oriented, welfare-enhancing regulation of class action law enforcement across different areas of law where class actions are used as an enforcement mechanism are derived.
Hidden Markov multiresolution texture segmentation using complex wavelets

In block-based statistical texture segmentation approaches, modeling the global dependency between blocks as well as local statistics within a block is important for segmentation performance. A hidden Markov model (HMM) can be combined with a hidden Markov tree (HMT) to form an HMM-HMT model, which captures both global and local properties. Unfortunately, the real wavelet transform, on which the model is based, is not shift-invariant, which degrades the accuracy of the model. Further, its usual implementation uses a single block size, which does not take full advantage of the multiresolution property of wavelets. The HMM-HMT model is modified to use the shift-invariant complex wavelet transform. We also propose a maximum likelihood multiresolution segmentation algorithm, which handles several blocks sizes at once. Global dependencies between blocks are captured through the HMM, while the local statistics are modeled by the complex wavelet HMTs. This method is compared with other models for several test images to demonstrate its competitive performance, especially at small block sizes.
Analysis of Self-Financed Buy-Backs and Asset Exchanges

Buy-backs of external debt financed by the debtor through asset sales generally result in unchanged or lower market prices for remaining debt. The contractual value of debt is reduced by some multiple of the market value of assets sold. The use of assets as collateral for new debt that is exchanged for old debt has effects equivalent to buy-backs financed by sales of the same assets.
Toward Understanding Response Sequence in Check-All-That-Apply Web Survey Questions: A Research Note with Results from Client-Side Paradata and Implications for Smartphone Question Design

Toward Understanding Response Sequence in Check-All-That-Apply Web Survey Questions: A Research Note with Results from Client-Side Paradata and Implications for Smartphone Question Design
Re-examination of the Type of Delesseria kurilensis Ruprecht (Delesseriaceae, Rhodophyta)

Evidence is presented to demonstrate that the type of Delesseria kurilensis Ruprecht belongs to Congregatocarpus rather than Tokidadendron (both genera of the red algal family Delesseriaceae), and the new combination of Congregatocarpus kurilensis (Ruprecht) M.J. Wynne is proposed.
Comparative recombination distances among Zea mays L. inbreds, wide crosses and interspecific hybrids.

Recombination distances and linkage heterogeneity were compared among a wide range of maize inbreds, wide crosses and maize x teosinte hybrids. Twelve maize and four teosinte races were backcrossed to stocks fixed for rare marker alleles on chromosome arm 1L. Recombination fraction estimates were higher for exotic germplasm than for either U.S. maize or maize x teosinte crosses. Serrano, Tuxpeno and a US-adapted inbred line of tropical origin, NC300, exhibited enhanced recombination. Three of the four maize x teosinte hybrids had little or no recombination between two loci. The observed recombination "shrinkage" resulted from an apparent inversion in the vicinity of the Amp1 locus. Average recombination distances among common marker loci for composite maps were highly variable, even when map construction was restricted to maize germplasm of similar origins.
Flicker noise in nitrided high-k dielectric NMOS transistors

In order to replace the conventional SiO2 in MOSFETs and minimize gate tunneling currents, high permittivity dielectric materials have been proposed as alternatives. These materials have successfully resolved the gate leakage problem with thicker oxide dielectric. However, other issues such as lower effective mobility and increased low frequency noise due to higher oxide trap density, limit its further development. Among these candidates, HfSiON offers many advantages compared to other high-k devices such as suppression of Boron penetration, remaining amorphous during high temperature annealing, and offering better thermal stability and interface quality. In addition, the extracted oxide trap density from measured 1/f noise shows lower values compared to other high-k MOSFETs. This paper presents low frequency noise characteristics of MOSFETs with HfSiON and SiON gate dielectrics of varying gate length dimensions and effective oxide thickness. The measured noise spectra as well as DC parameters will be compared between HfSiON and SiON MOSFETs. The noise parameters are extracted from the measured noise data using the interface-generated, correlated number and mobility fluctuation model.© (2005) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Hemodynamic Aspects of Prolonged Infusion of Angiotensin into Unanesthetized Dogs

Arterial pressure, cardiac output, stroke volume, heart rate, and peripheral resistance have been recorded daily in eight trained, healthy dogs with implanted aortic flow probes and aortic catheters. After suitable control periods angiotensin II was infused for periods of from 2 to 29 days. The effects observed were considered under four categories: 1) The immediate effects consisted of rise of arterial pressure, decrease of cardiac output and heart rate, rise of peripheral resistance and increased pulse pressure. Within five days all values tended to return to control levels unless the infusion rate of angiotensin was increased. 2) A chronic phase followed and, during this period, cardiac output was normal while arterial pressure and peripheral resistance were elevated. 3) After infusions were stopped pressure and peripheral resistance rapidly declined to be low normal, while cardiac output and heart rate rose to above normal. 4) A transient "malignant" phase was elicited by very large increases in the r...
Social Science Evidence and the School Segregation Cases

T HE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT, attacked in the Nineteen Thirties as "nine old men," is now scathingly labeled by extreme opponents of the school segregation decisions' as "the nine sociologists." Once charged with being harnessed to the concepts of a "horse-and-buggy" age, the Justices are no longer accused of transcnrbing Herbert Spencer's "social-statics," but of writing Gunnar Myrdal's "social dynamics" into the Constitution. Thus, the editor of the Montgomery Advertiser refers to "the nine most famous and puissant sociologists in the republic-proteges grateful of the Swede Myrdal[who] have ruled that the Negro cannot develop without exposure to the superior white ... "2 This style of attack was initially stimulated by the admission, into the lower court trial records, of oral testimony by psychologists, sociologists and anthropologists who appeared as expert witnesses for the Negro plaintiffs. When the Supreme Court cited such evidence in striking down racial segregation in the public schools, the prestige of the behavioral sciences was generally boosted; but the ire of its critics was all the more aroused. ITe Court continues to be accused of, at best judicial legislation and, what is worse, of basing its decision on sociology rather than on law, of rejecting the intent of the framers of the Fourteenth Amendment and the established precedents in favor of science fiction. Most extreme of all is the slander that the social scientists actually are "Commies" and "foreigners."'3
Directional response of corn roots to physical barriers

The primary root of corn (Zea mays L.) was studied to better understand root growth in soil containing strong structural units or coarse soil fragments. Corn seedlings were grown in rhizotrons in a growth chamber. Each rhizotron contained 5-mm wide, flat physical barriers rigidly attached to a transparent wall that served as a growth surface for the primary roots. The angle of root incidence, the length of the barrier in contact with a root, and the angle of root deflection were measured. The minimum length of the barrier which deflected a root was 0.1±0.08 mm. The angle of root deflection was primarily dependent on the angle of root incidence. Angle of deflection was also dependent on barrier length for barrier lengths less than 3.0 mm when the bulk density was 1.1 Mg/m3. At this low bulk density and for barrier length less than 3.0 mm, it was hypothesized that roots skidded along the barrier before bending. With barrier contacts greater than 3 mm, the root became essentially parallel to the barrier before deflecting downward again at its end. Increasing bulk density of the soil from 1.1 to 1.3 Mg/m3 decreased the angle of deflection. A regression equation (R2=0.848) related the angle of deflection to the angle of incidence and soil bulk density.
Human, but not bovine, oxidized cerebral spinal fluid lipoproteins disrupt neuronal microtubules

Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) lipoproteins have become a focus of research since the observation that inheritance of particular alleles of the apolipoprotein E gene affects the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). There is evidence of increased lipid peroxidation in CSF lipoproteins from patients with AD, but the biological significance of this observation is not known. A characteristic of the AD brain is a disturbance of the neuronal microtubule organization. We have shown previously that 4-hydroxy-2(E)-nonenal, a major product of lipid peroxidation, causes disruption of neuronal microtubules and therefore tested whether oxidized CSF lipoproteins had the same effect. We exposed Neuro 2A cells to human CSF lipoproteins and analyzed the microtubule organization by immunofluorescence. In vitro oxidized human CSF lipoproteins caused disruption of the microtubule network, while their native (nonoxidized) counterparts did not. Microtubule disruption was observed after short exposures (1 h) and lipoprotein concentrations were present in CSF (20 microg/mL), conditions that did not result in loss of cell viability. Importantly, adult bovine CSF lipoproteins, oxidized under identical conditions, had no effect on the microtubule organization of Neuro 2A cells. Comparison of human and bovine CSF lipoproteins revealed similar oxidation-induced modifications of apolipoproteins E and A-I as analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting. Fatty acid analysis revealed substantially lower amounts of unsaturated fatty acids in bovine CSF lipoproteins, when compared to their human counterparts. Our data therefore indicate that oxidized human CSF lipoproteins are detrimental to neuronal microtubules. This effect is species-specific, since equally oxidized bovine CSF lipoproteins left the neuronal microtubule organization unchanged.
Crime, Criminal Justice, and Criminology for a Smaller Planet: Some Notes on the 21st Century

This analysis attempts to project changes in types of crime and criminal justice response to crime in the early decades of the 21st century by assuming continuity in the technological, economic, and political trends of the last years of the 20th century. I predict that shifts in general rates of crime will be less important than changes in particular types of offense in stable nations, and that rates of. property crime will show more transnational similarity than rates and trends in serious violence. With respect to criminal justice practices, both technology and normative standards will exert pressure toward greater similarity in criminal justice practice among developed nations, with normative pressure being the more important for legal proceedings and punishment than technical change. The executioner is threatened by this trend, even in the United States. The prison warden has comfortable job security.
Enzymes do what is expected (chalcone isomerase versus chorismate mutase)

Madicago sativa chalcone isomerase (CI) catalyzes the isomerization of chalcone to flavanone, whereas E. coli chorismate mutase (CM) catalyzes the pericyclic rearrangement of chorismate to prephenate. Covalent intermediates are not formed in either of the enzyme-catalyzed reactions, KM and kcat are virtually the same for both enzymes, and the rate constants (ko) for the noncatalyzed reactions in water are also the same. This kinetic identity of both the enzymatic and the nonenzymatic reactions is not shared by a similarity in driving forces. The efficiency (ΔGo⧧ − ΔGcat⧧) for the CI mechanism involves transition-state stabilization through general-acid catalysis and freeing of three water molecules trapped in the E·S species. The contribution to lowering ΔGcat⧧ by an increase in near attack conformer (NAC) formation in E·S as compared to S in water is not so important. In the CM reaction, the standard free energy for NAC formation in water is 8.4 kcal/mol as compared to 0.6 kcal/mol in E·S. Because the va...
Arginase activity is increased by thrombin: a mechanism for endothelial dysfunction in arterial thrombosis.

Background Earlier observations implicate arterial thrombosis causing endothelial dysfunction by decreasing nitric oxide (NO) levels. NO levels are restored by regional L-arginine supplementation in animal models. The purpose of this study was to investigate the roles of thrombus components in NO generation. Study design Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were harvested and cultured. The thrombus components thrombin, thrombin receptor agonist peptide (TRAP), and fibrin were added to a media of confluent human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity was assayed by measuring conversion of L-arginine to L-citrulline. Endothelial NOS mRNA levels were quantitated using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Cellular membrane transport of L-arginine through the y+ channel was assayed with 14 C-labeled L-arginine. Arginase activity was determined as the conversion of 14 C L-arginine to 14 C urea and trapped as Na 2 14 CO 3 for scintillation counting. Arginase protein amounts were assessed using Western blotting. Results Endothelial cells exposed to thrombin for 4 hours led to increased arginase activity. Thrombin (10 U/mL) caused a 1.6-fold increase compared with that in controls (320±29 μM urea/min versus 194±10 μM urea/min, p=0.03), and thrombin (30 U/mL) increased arginase activity 2.1-fold (398±27 μM urea/min, p Conclusions Endothelial cells exposed to thrombin have increased arginase enzymatic activity, and the remainder of NO generation capability is unaffected. L-arginine supplementation or arginase blockade may counteract endothelial dysfunction in the setting of acute arterial thrombosis.
Task Stressfulness Moderates the Effects of Verbal Person Centeredness on Cardiovascular Reactivity: A Dual-Process Account of the Reactivity Hypothesis

This study sought to investigate the impact of person-centered comfort on cardiovascular reactivity and to test a recently developed dual-process theory of supportive message outcomes proposing that the impact of supportive communication is moderated by the motivation and ability to attend to message content. Participants (n = 179) completed a public speaking task that served to experimentally manipulate stress. During the preparation period, instant messages containing either low or high person-centered messages or containing no imbedded supportive message were sent. Results indicated that, in line with theoretical predictions, message content did influence mean arterial pressure and heart rate for participants exposed to moderate but not to low or high stress. Results are discussed in terms of the dual-process theory of supportive message outcomes, and the discussion offers both theoretical and practical implications of the research.