cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Brief A fixed-order optimal control model of human operator response

Human operator models developed using optimal control theory are typically complicated and over-parameterized, even for simple controlled elements. The optimal projection (OP) synthesis technique is applied to a modified version of the optimal control model (OCM) of human operator dynamics. The result is a generalized formulation of a fixed-order modified optimal control model (FOMOCM) of the human operator and a computer algorithm that generates a FOMOCM when one exists. The FOMOCM forms a much needed bridge between high-order OCMs and traditional classical models.
Maximizing the predictive value of production rules

Abstract A new method for empirical rule induction under conditions of uncertainty is described. The problem is to find the single best production rule of a fixed length for classification. Predictive value maximization (PVM), a heuristic search procedure through the hypothesis space of conjunctions and disjunctions of variables and their cutoff values, is outlined. Examples are taken from laboratory medicine, where the goal is to find the best combination of tests for making a diagnosis. Resampling techniques for estimating error rates are integrated into the PVM procedure for rule induction. Excellent results for PVM are reported on data sets previously analyzed in the AI literature using alternative classification techniques.
Food plaquette digestion in the ciliated protozoan Hyalophysa chattoni

. The digestion of food plaquettes in the ciliated protozoan Hyalophysa chattoni was analyzed by light and electron microscopy. Through the use of nigrosin as a tracer for light microscopy and polystyrene microparticles for electron microscopy, we have demonstrated that food plaquettes transform to late-stage digestive vesicles. Eventually, in the phoront, some of the late-stage vesicles merge to form larger fusion vesicles, which are retained in the peripheral cytoplasm of the ensuing feeding stage. After the feeding stage settles and encysts, these vesicles are either retained by the daughter cells or are left in the divisional cyst as residual bodies. Food plaquettes, digestive vesicles, and fusion vesicles stain positively with neutral red and acridine orange, indicating an acidic pH. These results portray a unique digestive pathway in which stored, undigested material is reorganized into larger fusion vesicles as the cell prepares for additional feeding.
Alloparental behaviour in Barbary macaques, Macaca sylvanus

Abstract Over 300 h of focal-animal samples of mothers and non-mother females in a semi-free ranging group of Barbary macaques showed that individuals of all age-sex categories display affiliative alloparental behaviour toward infants. Macaques vary in the amount of infant-non-mother interactions, and Barbary macaques are at the extreme interactive end of this continuum. The most reasonable explanation for this pattern in Barbary macaques is that is promotes infant socialization and aids others in establishing and maintaining social contacts with the infant, or with other troop members.
Hypoelastic Soft Tissues: Part II: In-Plane Biaxial Experiments.

In Part I, a novel hypoelastic framework for soft tissues was presented. One of the hallmarks of this new theory is that the well-known exponential behavior of soft tissues arises consistently and spontaneously from the integration of a rate based formulation. In Part II, we examine the application of this framework to the problems of biaxial kinematics, which are common in experimental soft-tissue characterization. We confine our attention to an isotropic formulation in order to highlight the distinction between nonlinearity and anisotropy. In order to provide a sound foundation for the membrane extension of our earlier hypoelastic framework, the kinematics and kinetics of in-plane biaxial extension are revisited, and some enhancements are provided. Specifically, the conventional stress-to-traction mapping for this boundary value problem is shown to violate the conservation of angular momentum. In response, we provide a corrected mapping. In addition, a novel means for applying loads to in-plane biaxial experiments is proposed. An isotropic, isochoric, hypoelastic, constitutive model is applied to an in-plane biaxial experiment done on glutaraldehyde-treated bovine pericardium. The experiment is comprised of eight protocols that radially probe the biaxial plane. Considering its simplicity (two adjustable parameters), the model does a reasonably good job of describing the nonlinear normal responses observed in these experimental data, which are more prevalent than are the anisotropic responses exhibited by this tissue.
Transhepatic venous collaterals in a patients with the Budd-Chiari syndrome

A patient with large transhepatic venous collaterals between the right and middle hepatic veins bypassing a short inferior vena caval occlusion is described. Obstruction of the hepatic veins led to the development of the Budd-Chiari syndrome, ascites, and crural edema. A mesoatrial shunt was performed which resulted in complete recovery.
Comparison of Regular Stiffeners and Arbitrarily Oriented Stiffeners in Buckling Analysis

This paper compares performance of regular stiffeners and arbitrarily oriented stiffeners during buckling analysis. The analysis results verify a hypothesis that when subject to biaxial stress, the strengthening effects of arbitrarily oriented stiffener can be approximated by two orthogonal regular stiffeners. It is also found that in an arbitrarily stiffened plate with multiple stiffeners, the orientation of the stiffeners does not apparently affect the plate’s strength limit. Based on this finding, any arbitrarily stiffened plate can be simplified as regularly stiffened plate, therefore can be analyzed through simplified semianalytical models during buckling strength analysis.
Evaluation of Cauchy Principal-Value Integrals using modified Simpson rules

Abstract A method to evaluate principal parts (Hilbert transforms) is presented. It is based on a modified 1 3 Simpson rule. The function whose Principal-Value Integral is being calculated is itself, instead of the whole integrand, locally approximated by a second-order polynomial. The analytic handling of the singularity makes the procedure stable and suitable for smooth functions. Expressions corresponding to the 3 8 Simpson rule are also given. Numerical examples illustrating the typical results obtained using this method are presented.
Geometric programs treated with slack variables

Kochenberger and Woolsey have introduced slack variables into the constraints of a geometric program and have added their reciprocals to the objective function. They find this augmented program advantageous for numerical minimization. In this paper the augmented program is used to give a relatively simple proof of the "refined duality theory" of geometric programming. This proof also shows that the optimal solutions for the augmented program converge to the (desired) optimal solutions for the original program as certain parameters approach zero
Isolation of Salicylsalicylic Acid, Acetylsalicylsalicylic Acid, and Acetylsalicylic Anhydride from Aspirin Tablets by Extraction and High‐Pressure Liquid Chromatography

Aspirin and four salicylate impurities of aspirin (salicylic acid, acetylsalicylsalicylic acid, acetylsalicylic anhydride, and salicylsalicylic acid) were resolved by silica gell TLC and by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) on a reversed-phase C18 column. Care was necessary in the choice of a column because of similar column failed to resolve these five compounds. Salicylsalicylic acid was isolated from aspirin tablets by extraction followed by reversed-phase C18 HPLC. The structure of this compound was confirmed by comparison with an authentic sample of salicylsalicylic acid by HPLC, TLC, IR and UV spectrophotometry, and mass spectrometry. Two other compounds, acetylsalicylic anhydride and acetylsalicylsalicylic acid, which had been previously identified by chromatography as impurities in aspirin, were isolated and further characterized.
Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay and Lepton Flavor Violation

I argue that muon lepton flavor violating (LFV) processes (such as μ → eγ and μ → e conversion in nuclei) provide a useful diagnostic tool to determine whether or not the effective neutrino mass can be safely extracted from the rate of neutrinoless double beta decay.
Comparison of measured and modeled temporal coherence of sound near 75 Hz and 3683 km in the Pacific Ocean.

The hypothesis to test is internal gravity waves following a Garrett–Munk spectrum are sufficient to explain temporal coherence of sound at 3683 km in the Pacific Ocean for a signal at 75 Hz and a pulse resolution of 0.03 s. Signals from a 20 min transmission are collected on a towed array. After correcting the data for what likely appears to be acceleration of the receiver, the probability distribution for multipath coherence time is very similar to that obtained from Monte Carlo simulations of the impulse response. The most likely coherence time is 20 min, the longest that can be measured with a 20 min transmission. Predictions of multipath temporal coherence and amplitude fluctuations appear accurate enough to make useful predictions of channel capacity.
Clinical Pharmacokinetics of Digitoxin

The disposition kinetics of digitoxin have not been as thoroughly examined as those of digoxin. Digitoxin appears to be rapidly and completely absorbed after oral or intramuscular administration although there have been no estimates of absolute bioavailabilily. There is only one study that has examined the relative bioavailability of two commercial digitoxin tablets (USA) and no differences were found other than in rates of absorption. The near identical responses produced by equal oral and intravenous doses of digitoxin support the suggestion of completeness of absorption.
stability of wind turbine switching control

In order to maximise the wind energy capture, wind turbines are operated at variable speeds. Depending on the wind speed, a turbine switches between two operating modes: a low wind speed mode and a high wind speed mode. During the low wind speed mode, the control objective is to maximise wind energy capture by controlling both the blade pitch angle and the electrical generator torque. During the high wind speed mode, the control goal is to maintain the rated power generation by only adjusting the blade pitch angle. This paper establishes the stability criteria for the switching operation of wind turbines using gain under the nonlinear control framework. Also, the performance of the wind turbine system is analysed by using the step response, a well-known measure for second-order linear systems.
Listening, Thinking, Being

This article explores a perspective on listening, called listening being, which resides beyond the limitations of language, dualism, and conceptual thought. As a dwelling place for human being, listening being can reveal the ethical possibilities that arise when listening begins not from a speaking, but from the emptiness of awareness itself. This perhaps utopian vision of listening is not an actual state or principle, but a horizon toward which we might travel. Listening being is thus a philosophical challenge that invites us to rethink communication through the lens of listening and engage with/in a form of human communication and consciousness beyond discursive thought, to places of understanding that language cannot, as yet, reach.
Relation of blood pressure lability to prognosis in hypertensive vascular disease.

Abstract Utilizing “casual” versus “resting” blood pressure values, observations were made on fifty patients with documented hypertensive vascular disease whose total disease history was known. The duration of hypertension and the average age at death were significantly less in those with nonlabile blood pressure readings. “Casual” values alone were of little or no prognostic significance. Lability of blood pressure was not unusual even after many years of established disease. Arteriosclerotic complications were more frequent in the labile series, whereas arteriolosclerotic changes were encountered more commonly in the nonlabile. Determinations of “resting” blood pressure are important in the evaluation of the hypertensive patient.
Plasma lipids, lipoproteins, and blood pressure in female adolescents using oral contraceptives

Comparative profiles are reported for plasma lipids and lipoproteins, blood pressure, smoking, and selected socioeconomic variables for females less than 20 years of age using oral contraceptives and for pair-matched non-users from the Lipid Research Clinics Prevalence Study. About 5% of adolescent females reported OC use; they had significantly higher levels of plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol than did the non-users. Significantly more non-users of OC belonged to households of the lowest occupational status; no differences in OC usage by educational status of the head of household were discernible. Of the OC users, 58% were classified as current smokers, as compared with 23% of the non-OC users.
The relationship between self-concept and life satisfaction in children.

A total of 183 elementary school students were administered the Self-Description Questionnaire-1 (SDQ-1) and the Students' Life Satisfaction Scale (SLSS) in order to explore the relationships between self-concept domains and global life satisfaction in pre-adolescent children. Results suggested that children differentiate global life satisfaction from self-concept domains. Also, SDQ-1 domains related differentially to SLSS ratings. Consistent with findings with adolescents (Dew and Huebner, 1994), the Parent Relations domain was the strongest predictor of global life satisfaction for these pre-adolescents. The findings provide additional support for the meaningfulness of the life satisfaction construct with children as well as the multidimensionality of children's subjective well-being.
Immunochemical studies of L-amino acid oxidase.

Differences were found between l-amino acid oxidase (l-amino acid:O2 oxidoreductase (deaminating), EC 1.4.3.2) and its warm-inactivated and frozen-inactivated forms by complement fixation and immunoelectrophoresis. The enzyme inactivated by freezing had more alteration than that treated at 38°. These immunologically detected differences disappeared upon reactivation. Isozyme A also differed from the total mixture of isozymes. The antibody to the native does not inhibit enzymic activity but does protect against warm inactivation. Antibody also shifted the equilibrium between active and inactive forms towards the active form and accelerated reactivation of both warm and frozen forms. Normal γ-globulin also shifts the above equilibrium toward the active form.
Upper limit on any intermediate-range force associated with baryon number.

An experiment carried out by Kreuzer in 1968 can be interpreted as setting an upper limit on the strength of any intermediate-range coupling to baryon number. The upper limit is one-half the strength obtained by Fischbach e-italict-italic a-italicl-italic. in their reanalysis of the Eoetvoes experiment. The two results are consistent within 2 standard deviations if what Kreuzer calls an ''upper bound'' is a 1sigma limit.
Simple tests of the factorization assumption.

We suggest simple experimental tests to determine whether or not the factorization assumption is valid for the two-body, nonleptonic decays of heavy hadrons, when both daughter hadrons are also heavy.
Control of gingival seepage prior to endodontic therapy.

Abstract A technique has been presented for the simple management of contaminating seepage into root canals of teeth with subgingival caries.
Mediastinal Pancreatic Pseudocyst With Acute Airway Obstruction

Pancreatic pseudocysts are usually located in the peripancreatic area, but on rare occasion a pseudocyst can reach the mediastinum. The natural history of mediastinal pseudocysts is poorly understood and seldom reported in the literature. We treated a patient who presented with an acute airway obstruction from a mediastinal pancreatic pseudocyst. Initial acute airway management and stabilization proved successful. A staged cyst decompression via a cervical and abdominal transhiatal approach was ultimately required. The natural history, potential complications, and management of pancreatic mediastinal pseudocysts are reviewed.
Selective oxidation in the presence of a heterocycle

The process of weighing the advantages and disadvantages of various oxidation methods are presented in this paper.
A comparison of DSM-III personality disorders in acutely ill panic and depressed patients

A comparison was made between acutely depressed patients (N = 24) and acutely ill panic patients (N = 88) for differences in DSM-III personality disorders. Three standardized measures of DSM-III personality disorders were used—the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire (PDQ), Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI), and the Structured Interview for DMS-III Personality Disorders (SIDF). Significantly more personality disorders were found overall and for DSM-III Cluster B and C personality disorders for the depressed group. Some subtle differences were found between those diagnosed histrionic in the depressed and those diagnosed histrionic in the panic group.
Changes in middle school students' six contemporary learning abilities (6-CLAs) through project-based design of web-games and social media use

This poster presents findings on student development of contemporary learning abilities among 14 middle school students enrolled in a year-long elective game design class. The study measures students' change in attitudes towards the activities in which they participate, through their responses to a self-report survey of frequency, motivation, and self-reported knowledge. T-test statistics were used to analyze pre- and post-program differences, resulting in several statistically significant increases. The program and its outcomes have implications for digital literacy learning interventions that can be implemented in formal and informal learning environments with youth.
A review of some adaptive statistical techniques

We present several methods for full, partial, and practical adaptation. Selector statistics that are measures of skewness, peakedness, and tailweight are used, primarily in estimating loca-tion in some single-sample situations. We note several practical adaptive techniques in current use, including illustrations in-volving stepwise regression, analysis of variance, ridge regres-sion, and splines. We suggest some areas in which future develop-ment of adaptive methods is needed:density estimation; M, R, and L estimation in regression; and dependent data. There is also a need to develop better selector statistics.
An enzyme histochemical study of torpedoes and dendritic swellings in the cerebellum

In 8 cases, the following enzymes were studied in the dendritic swellings and torpedoes of Purkinje cells of cerebellum: succinic dehydrogenase, cytochrome oxidase, lactic dehydrogenase, NAD-diaphorase, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, acetyl cholinesterase and nonspecific cholinesterase. Activity of the oxidative enzymes was always extremely high in the dendritic swellings, but varied greatly among cases in the torpedoes; 4 cases showed very weak activity of oxidative enzymes in torpedoes, while 4 other cases showed an intense reaction. Dendritic swellings and torpedoes exhibited no alkaline phosphatase, acetyl cholinesterase, or nonspecific cholinesterase activity.
"Livelihoods in the Region: The Present is Local, the Future is Global? Reconciling Current and Future Livelihood Strategies in the Education of Congolese Refugees in Uganda"

The Mellon Foundation, The Migration and Urbanisation Node of the University of the Witwatersrand, The Fulbright Commission
Bilateral trochlear nerve palsy and downbeat nystagmus in a patient with cephalic tetanus

Cephalic tetanus is a rare form of localized tetanus. Facial paresis, trismus, and dysphagia may be presenting symptoms. Blepharospasm caused by tonic spasms of the eyelids is the most common ocular manifestation.1 We describe a patient with cephalic tetanus who had multiple cranial nerve palsies, including the presence of bilateral trochlear nerve paresis and downbeat nystagmus. Case report. A 79-year-old man developed left facial pain and hypersensitivity to light touch around his left eye in August 1996. Within weeks he noticed painful tightening of his right jaw, difficulty swallowing, and nocturnal tongue biting. Spasms of the jaw were triggered when he attempted to eat, and at times he was unable to remove a toothbrush from his mouth. Neurologic examination initially revealed completely normal ocular function. Right jaw opening was impaired, and his tongue deviated leftward. Brain MRI and CSF examinations were normal. CBC, chemistry profile, sedimentation rate, and Lyme titers were also negative. Several days later he developed marked bilateral ptosis, vertical diplopia, and dysphonia. Neuroophthalmologic examination revealed a right hypertropia in the primary position, which worsened in left gaze and right head tilt. In addition, the patient had a left hypertropia in right gaze and on left head tilt. Prism measurements revealed a 4 …
A Pilot Study of Sleep Quality and Rest–Activity Patterns in Persons Living With HIV

As much as 73% of persons living with HIV (PLWH) experience sleep disturbances. It has been more than 10 years since the last study that objectively measured sleep behaviors in persons with HIV. The purpose of this pilot study was to explore sleep quality and rest–activity patterns in PLWH. Eight participants completed a sleep diary and 24-hour actigraphy for 1 week. Compared to accepted norms for “good sleepers,” sleep diaries described moderate sleep disturbance, and actigraphy revealed severe sleep disturbance. Bedtime was variable from day to day. Analysis of 24-hour rest–activity patterns from actigraphy also indicated disorganization of sleep timing across days. Results of this pilot study suggest that sleep disturbance remains problematic in PLWH despite advancements in the disease management. Pharmacological interventions are effective but generally recommended for short-term use. Behavioral treatments may be useful for longer-term management of sleep patterns in PLWH, but further research is needed.
Design of dual-road transportable portal monitoring system for visible light and gamma-ray imaging

The use of radiation sensors as portal monitors is increasing due to heightened concerns over the smuggling of fissile material. Transportable systems that can detect significant quantities of fissile material that might be present in vehicular traffic are of particular interest, especially if they can be rapidly deployed to different locations. To serve this application, we have constructed a rapid-deployment portal monitor that uses visible-light and gamma-ray imaging to allow simultaneous monitoring of multiple lanes of traffic from the side of a roadway. The system operation uses machine vision methods on the visible-light images to detect vehicles as they enter and exit the field of view and to measure their position in each frame. The visible-light and gamma-ray cameras are synchronized which allows the gamma-ray imager to harvest gamma-ray data specific to each vehicle, integrating its radiation signature for the entire time that it is in the field of view. Thus our system creates vehicle-specific radiation signatures and avoids source confusion problems that plague non-imaging approaches to the same problem. Our current prototype instrument was designed for measurement of upto five lanes of freeway traffic with a pair of instruments, one on either side of the roadway. Stereoscopic cameras are used with a third "alignment" camera for motion compensation and are mounted on a 50' deployable mast. In this paper we discuss the design considerations for the machine-vision system, the algorithms used for vehicle detection and position estimates, and the overall architecture of the system. We also discuss system calibration for rapid deployment. We conclude with notes on preliminary performance and deployment.
Involvement of macrophage mannose receptor in the binding and transmission of HIV by macrophages.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is an enveloped virus whose surface glycoprotein gp120 binds CD4 on target cell membranes to initiate infection. About half of the carbohydrates on gp120are terminally mannosylated, a pattern common to many pathogens. We have examined the ability of macrophage mannose receptor (MMR) on primary monocyte-derived macrophages to bind HIV and facilitateits transmission to T cells. We adapted the tyramide signal amplification system for fluorescence detection of HIV bound to macrophages. Our data show that approximately 60% of the initial association of HIV with macrophages that lack expression of DC-SIGN (a dendritic cell-specific ICAM-3 receptor/HIV-1-binding protein) is MMR mediated, as evidenced by inhibition with mannan, D-mannose, EDTA, and soluble mannose-binding lectin, but not by D-galactose. This inhibition is not seen in cells that lack MMR. Macrophages are able to mediate transmission of bound HIV to co-cultured T cells, and this transmission is blocked up to 80% by inhibitors of MMR binding. Unlike virus bound to DC-SIGN, macrophage-bound HIV has a slightly lower half-life compared to free virus, with no transmission in co-culture observed beyond 24 h after virus binding to macrophages. Results obtained with endocytosis inhibitors indicate that this decrease in viral longevity is due to rapid internalization of macrophage-bound HIV. Together, these results suggest a substantial role for MMR in the binding and transmission of HIV-1 by macrophages.
The Contribution of the Solanaceae Coordinated Agricultural Project to Potato Breeding

Potato variety development in the USA involves extensive interaction between public sector scientists and state and national grower organizations to test and commercialize new varieties. Historically, breeding and germplasm development efforts have relied upon phenotypic evaluations to select and advance germplasm. The goal of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)-funded Solanaceae Coordinated Agricultural Project (SolCAP) was to translate genomic resources into tools that can be used by breeders and geneticists. A major outcome of this project was the development of a genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array that can be used to evaluate elite potato breeding germplasm. This array was utilized to genotype numerous biparental tetraploid and diploid populations, a diversity panel, and a core collection of Solanum species. The SNP array provides a marker density sufficient to generate genetic maps to identify numerous quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for agronomic, quality, and disease resistance traits. Many new diploid and tetraploid genetic maps have been constructed and used to identify numerous QTLs for important traits. We used SNP markers to assess relationships among germplasm, fingerprint varieties, and identify candidate genes. The Infinium 8303 Potato Array provides a common set of SNP markers that can reliably be used for mapping, germplasm assessment, and fingerprinting. This array has also been a useful tool to advance our understanding of the potato genome. Furthermore, breeders are mapping QTLs across numerous populations that will expand our understanding of economically important traits and lead to marker-assisted selection and breeding, and ultimately improved varieties.
Histochemical and electromyographic analysis of craniomandibular muscles in the rhesus monkey, Macaca mulatta.

Abstract The range of fiber composition was analyzed in four regions of the temporalis muscle of four normal rhesus monkeys. The middle region of the temporalis muscle contained significantly fewer type I fibers than the anterior region. Comparison of the same region between left and right temporalis muscles showed that a bilateral symmetry existed in the composition at the different comparable levels of the muscle except for the deep anterior temporalis. Biopsies were also taken from three muscles, the superficial anterior temporalis, superficial masseter, and the digastric muscles, of ten normal adult monkeys to determine the fiber composition. Both adult male and female monkeys demonstrated a low percentage of type I fibers in the anterior temporalis (
A Systematic Review of Depression Treatments in Primary Care for Latino Adults

Objective: A systematic literature review of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) assessing depression treatments in primary care for Latinos is conducted. The authors rate the methodological quality of studies, examine cultural and linguistic adaptations, summarize clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness findings, and draw conclusions for improving depression care among this diverse population. Method: Electronic bibliographic databases, Web sites, and manual searches are used to identify nine peer-reviewed articles covering four RCTs. Results: Across trials, collaborative care models were more effective than usual care in reducing depression and improving functioning and accessibility to guideline-congruent care. Conclusion: The use of evidence-based treatments in primary care seems to be an effective and cost-effective strategy to reduce mental health care disparities among Latinos served in primary care.
Successive action of DnaK, DnaJ and GroEL along the pathway of chaperone-mediated protein folding

The main stress proteins of Escherichia coli function in an ordered protein-folding reaction. DnaK (heat-shock protein 70) recognizes the folding polypeptide as an extended chain and cooperates with DnaJ in stabilizing an intermediate conformational state lacking ordered tertiary structure. Dependent on GrpE and ATP hydrolysis, the protein is then transferred to GroEL (heat-shock protein 60) which acts catalytically in the production of the native state. This sequential mechanism of chaperone action may represent an important pathway for the folding of newly synthesized polypeptides.
Fine structure transitions in Fe XIV

Abstract Results are reported for Fe XIV energy levels and transitions obtained from the ab initio relativistic Breit–Pauli R-matrix (BPRM) method. BPRM method developed under the Iron Project is capable of calculating very large number of fine structure energy levels and corresponding transitions. However, unlike in the atomic structure calculations, where levels are identified spectroscopically based on the leading percentage contributions of configurations, BPRM is incapable of such identification of the levels and hence the transitions. The main reason for it is that the percentage contributions can not be determined exactly from the large number of channels in the R-matrix space. The present report describes an identification method that uses considerations of quantum defects of channels, contributions of channel from outer regions, Hund’s rule, and angular momenta algebra for addition and completeness of fine structure components. The present calculations are carried out using a close coupling wave function expansion that included 26 core excitations from configurations 2 s 2 2 p 6 3 s 2 , 2 s 2 2 p 6 3 s 3 p , 2 s 2 2 p 6 3 p 2 , 2 s 2 2 p 6 3 s 3 d , and 2 s 2 2 p 6 3 p 3 d . A total of 1002 fine structure levels with n ⩽ 10, l ⩽ 9, and 0.5 ⩽ J ⩽ 9.5 with even and odd parities and the corresponding 130,520 electric dipole allowed (E1) fine structure transitions, a most complete set for astrophysical modelings of spectral analysis and opacities, is presented. Large number of new energy levels are found and identified. The energies agree very well, mostly in less than 1% with the highest being 1.9%, with the 68 observed fine structure levels. While the high lying levels may have some uncertainty, an overall accuracy of energy levels should be within 10%. BPRM transitions have been benchmarked with the existing most accurate calculated transition probabilities with very good agreement for most cases. Based on the accuracy of the method and comparisons, most of the transitions can be rated with A ( ⩽ 10 % ) to C ( ⩽ 30 % ).
Peeking into a cool future: Genome editing to delete PCSK9 and control hypercholesterolemia in a single shot

Cholesterol management is the centerpiece of cardiovascular risk reduction. The most commonly used tool for cholesterol control is a daily statin, and the recent American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines have sanctified this approach by endorsing widespread use of statins in large groups of patients, including those with cardiovascular disease, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, and elevated cardiovascular disease risk.1 Challenges to the notion of a daily medication for cholesterol control have been introduced with the discovery of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9),2 a secreted serine protease that binds the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor (LDLR) and targets it for lysosomal destruction. Thus, a hyperactive (gain-of-function mutant) PCSK9 causes hypercholesterolemia, whereas a dysfunctional (loss-of-function mutant) PCSK9 causes lifelong low LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and protection against cardiovascular disease.3 The basic mechanism of PCSK9 action4 and its crystal structure5 made it clear early on that it would be difficult to develop a small molecule inhibitor for this protein. However, because PCSK9 is a secreted protein, it can be targeted with inhibitory antibodies, a modality that would change the paradigm of cholesterol treatment from oral to injectable and from daily to once or twice monthly dosing. A large number of clinical studies with the 2 leading antibodies have shown great efficacy and no safety signals, with LDL-C reductions in the range of 55% to 70% (even without concomitant use of statin) and no reports of myalgia (even in subjects with history of statin intolerance caused by myalgia), transaminase elevations, or alterations in glucose metabolism.6 In addition to neutralizing circulating PCSK9 via antibodies6 or adnectins,7 current drug development strategies also include genetic modalities, such as antisense RNA8 or RNA interference,9 to block PCSK9 synthesis. Given the likelihood that PCSK9 inhibitors will gain regulatory approval in the …
Assertion therapy: Skill training or cognitive restructuring

Seventy-nine women participated in a program designed to compare assertion therapy based on a skill-deficit model with a procedure based on a response inhibition model. Participants were assigned randomly to one of five treatment groups: behavior rehearsal, systematic rational restructuring, behavior rehearsal/rational restructuring, relationship, and waiting list controls and were also assigned to a male or female therapist. Treatment was carried out at two separate locations resulting in a 2×2×5 factorial design. Results indicate that the combined behavior rehearsal/rational restructuring therapy was superior; there were few differences among the four contact groups on self-report measures; on both a role-play test and a contrived situational test all three behavioral treatments were equally successful at facilitating women to make a response whereas treatments employing behavior rehearsal were more effective in improving the assertion quality of the response. At follow-up all treatment groups typically maintained or improved on their gains, but failed to differ from each other on a self-report battery. No effect for sex of therapist was obtained. Results were the same at both locations indicating generalizability of results across more than one research setting.
The Banana in America

AS a student of culture-history I must protest against the inferences drawn by Dr. E. W. Berry from the finding of fossil banana seeds in Tertiary beds in Colombia which were referred to in NATURE, February 6, 1926, p. 209.
Prediction of the binding free energies of new TIBO-like HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors using a combination of PROFEC, PB/SA, CMC/MD, and free energy calculations.

We have ranked 13 different TIBO derivatives with respect to their relative free energies of binding using two approximate computational methods: adaptive chemical Monte Carlo/molecular dynamics (CMC/MD) and Poisson−Boltzmann/solvent accessibility (PB/SA) calculations. Eight of these derivatives have experimentally determined binding affinities. The remaining new derivatives were constructed based on contour maps around R86183 (8Cl-TIBO), generated with the program PROFEC (pictorial representation of free energy changes). The rank order among the derivatives with known binding affinity was in good agreement with experimental results for both methods, with average errors in the binding free energies of 1.0 kcal/mol for CMC/MD and 1.3 kcal/mol for the PB/SA method. With both methods, we found that one of the new derivatives was predicted to bind 1−2 kcal/mol better than R86183, which is the hitherto most tightly binding derivative. This result was subsequently supported by the most rigorous free energy com...
Neurotransmitter release through the exocytotic fusion pore

Abstract The exocytotic fusion pore transiently connects the secretory granule and plasma membrane during secretory vesicle fusion. Recent evidence on the properties of the fusion pore measured electrophysiologically suggest that the fusion pore is a lipid structure formed by a tension-driven fusion mechanism. We propose that a macromolecular scaffold of proteins directs and regulates the fusion process by drawing a characteristic plasma membrane dimple into close proximity with the secretory granule. Although the identity of the proteins making up the scaffold are largely unknown, studies on the regulation of exocytosis implicate the GTP binding protein Rab3 and unknown Ca 2+ binding proteins as part of the scaffold, which appears to behave as a coincidence detector. Simultaneous measurement of fusion and the release of secretory products, along with some unusual properties of secretory granule matrices, have led to the unexpected conclusion that the release of secretory products from the matrix may also be regulated.
Cardiac troponin I Pro82Ser variant induces diastolic dysfunction, blunts β-adrenergic response, and impairs myofilament cooperativity

Troponin I (TnI) variant Pro82Ser (cTnIP82S) was initially considered a disease-causing mutation; however, later studies suggested the contrary. We tested the hypothesis of whether a causal link exists between cTnIP82S and cardiac structural and functional remodeling, such as during aging or chronic pressure overload. A cardiac-specific transgenic (Tg) mouse model of cTnIP82S was created to test this hypothesis. During aging, Tg cTnIP82S displayed diastolic dysfunction, characterized by longer isovolumetric relaxation time, and impaired ejection and relaxation time. In young, Tg mice in vivo pressure-volume loops and intact trabecular preparations revealed normal cardiac contractility at baseline. However, upon β-adrenergic stimulation, a blunted contractile reserve and no hastening in left ventricle relaxation were evident in vivo, whereas, in isolated muscles, Ca2+ transient amplitude isoproterenol dose-response was blunted. In addition, when exposed to chronic pressure overload, Tg mice show exacerbated hypertrophy and decreased contractility compared with age-matched non-Tg littermates. At the molecular level, this mutation significantly impairs myofilament cooperative activation. Importantly, this occurs in the absence of alterations in TnI or myosin-binding protein C phosphorylation. The cTnIP82S variant occurs near a region of interactions with troponin T; therefore, structural changes in this region could explain its meaningful effects on myofilament cooperativity. Our data indicate that cTnIP82S mutation modifies age-dependent diastolic dysfunction and impairs overall contractility after β-adrenergic stimulation or chronic pressure overload. Thus cTnIP82S variant should be regarded as a disease-modifying factor for dysfunction and adverse remodeling with aging and chronic pressure overload.
Antibiotics in 30 Minutes or Less for Febrile Neutropenic Patients: A Quality Control Measure in a New Hospital

Infections are the most common complication in patients receiving treatment for cancer with neutropenia being the primary risk factor for the development of an infection. In the neutropenic patient, bacteremia remains a significant cause of mortality. Although the literature reports that prompt empiric antibiotic therapy to prevent death caused by virulent organisms is the standard of care, the literature fails to identify what prompt antibiotic administration means. Door/fever-to-patient antibiotic delivery was evaluated as a quality control measure in a new children's hospital. Initially, door/fever-to-patient time was significantly delayed. Collaboration between pharmacy, hospital bed control, medical, and nursing staff resulted in many changes in practice by all groups. As a result, the goal for prompt antibiotic delivery of thirty minutes or less is now achievable.
Sound production in the eastern hognose snake, Heterodon platyrhinos (Serpentes: Colubridae): Does it snore?

Heterodon platyrhinos normally produces sounds as one part of its elaborate defensive behavior. This species has a distinctive quadriphasic sound, reflecting the underlying triphasic ventilatory pattern of snakes. Heterodon produces sound during both inhalation and exhalation; in both cases the sounds span a broad frequency range (from approximately 1,000 to 11,000 Hz, with frequencies below 3,500 Hz having higher amplitudes. Temporal congruence between sound production and deflection of a strain gauge mounted over the external nares of unrestrained H. platyrhinos provide the first experimental evidence for sound production through the nasal passageway in snakes.
A mathematical model for generating land-use allocation alternatives for agroforestry systems

Agroforestry has been considered a viable land-use system particularly in the tropical regions. In developing or designing agroforestry systems, various concerns have to be addressed namely: (1) economic; (2) biological and physical; and (3) silvicultural and ecological considerations. This paper addresses these concerns from an interdisciplinary perspective. A land-use allocation model which ensures the simultaneous consideration of these concerns is proposed.
Analytical Solution of Steady-State Equations for Chemical Reaction Networks with Bilinear Rate Laws

True steady states are a rare occurrence in living organisms, yet their knowledge is essential for quasi-steady-state approximations, multistability analysis, and other important tools in the investigation of chemical reaction networks (CRN) used to describe molecular processes on the cellular level. Here, we present an approach that can provide closed form steady-state solutions to complex systems, resulting from CRN with binary reactions and mass-action rate laws. We map the nonlinear algebraic problem of finding steady states onto a linear problem in a higher-dimensional space. We show that the linearized version of the steady-state equations obeys the linear conservation laws of the original CRN. We identify two classes of problems for which complete, minimally parameterized solutions may be obtained using only the machinery of linear systems and a judicious choice of the variables used as free parameters. We exemplify our method, providing explicit formulae, on CRN describing signal initiation of two important types of RTK receptor-ligand systems, VEGF and EGF-ErbB1.
A C-terminal Region Dictates the Apical Plasma Membrane Targeting of the Human Sodium-dependent Vitamin C Transporter-1 in Polarized Epithelia

The human sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter (hSVCT1) mediates sodium-dependent cellular uptake of the essential micronutrient l-ascorbic acid (vitamin C). However, the molecular determinants that control the cell surface expression, subcellular distribution, and dynamics of hSVCT1 remain undefined. To identify molecular determinants involved in hSVCT1 targeting in polarized epithelia, we used live cell imaging approaches to resolve the targeting and trafficking dynamics of hSVCT1 truncation mutants in renal and intestinal cells. Confocal imaging demonstrated that hSVCT1 was expressed at the apical cell surface and video rate measurements revealed hSVCT1 also resided in a heterogeneous population of intracellular organelles with discrete dynamic properties. By progressive truncation of the cytoplasmic C-terminal tail of hSVCT1, we delimited an essential role for an embedded ten amino acid sequence PICPVFKGFS (amino acids 563-572) in defining the physiological targeting of hSVCT1. Intriguingly, this sequence bears significant homology to recently identified apical targeting motifs in two other sodium-dependent transporters, and we suggest this conservation is reflected topologically through the adoption of a beta-turn confirmation in the cytoplasmic C-tail of each transporter. Our results provide the first direct resolution of functional hSVCT1 expression at the apical cell surface of polarized epithelia and define an apical targeting signal of relevance to transporters of diverse substrate specificity.
Isolated Areolar Apocrine Chromhidrosis

A case of isolated areolar apocrine chromhidrosis in an 11-year-old female is presented. This is the youngest case cited in Medline. The goal of this review is to increase awareness of apocrine chromhidrosis among primary care providers and to discuss treatment. Capsaicin cream 0.025% is a proven treatment that may reduce the potential psychological impact and embarrassment that patients experience.
Reforming Plea Bargaining To Facilitate Ethical Discourse

Plea bargaining processes have been subjected in recent decades to a heightened level of scrutiny and attacked as constituting an unethical practice. Yet plea bargaining continues to be the primary means of resolving criminal cases. Can plea bargaining be institutionally reformed to facilitate ethically acceptable practices?
Social Psychological Perspectives on Crime and Punishment

This article addresses itself to the psychological basis of the legal system. The author examines attitudes toward crime and punishment and analyzes the psychological and cultural processes underlying them, with particular attention to the nonlegal or lay person (the observer). Questions of blame and causal responsibility, victim involvement, perceived seriousness of a violation, victim/offender relations, and motivations for punishment are considered. It is proposed that proto-legal moral and ethical values function in normative fashion to determine the person's judgments of violations and reactions to offenders, and that the existence of these value sets has important implications for the legal system.
Oropharyngeal Dysphagia and Aspiration After Lung Transplantation in the Current Era

Oropharyngeal Dysphagia and Aspiration After Lung Transplantation in the Current Era R. Murthy ,1 D. Williams,1 S. Kinnebrew,2 J. Waters,3 F. Torres,4 V. Kaza,4 W.S. Ring,1 M. Wait,1 M. Peltz.1 1Cardiothoracic Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX; 2Speech Therapy, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX; 3General Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX; 4Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX.