cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Victim-Offender Mediation: A Psychoanalytic Semiotic Critique

The United States continues to disregard international trends in the adjudication of offenders in virtually all categories, with its reliance on retributive modes of punishment (Christie 1993; Mathiesen 1990). This situation is especially troubling in youth crime because the administration of punitive sanctions for adolescent delinquency does not indicate appreciable reductions in the crime rate (e.g., Bernard 1992; Lundman 1993).1 Current juvenile policy, then, criminalizes delinquent behavior by holding youths to the same accountability standards as in the adult system.
Collision-Resistant No More: Hash-and-Sign Paradigm Revisited

A signature scheme constructed according to the hash-and-sign paradigm—hash the message and then sign the hash, symbolically σ(H(M))—is no more secure than the hash function H against a collision-finding attack. Recent attacks on standard hash functions call the paradigm into question. It is well known that a simple modification of the hash-and-sign paradigm may replace the collision-resistant hash with a weaker primitive—a target-collision resistant hash function (also known as a universal one-way hash, UOWHF). The signer generates a random key k and outputs the pair (k,σ(k||H k (M))) as a signature on M. The apparent problem with this approach is the increase in the signature size. In this paper we demonstrate that for three concrete signature schemes, DSA, PSS-RSA, and Cramer-Shoup, the message can be hashed simultaneously with computing the signature, using one of the signature’s components as the key for the hash function. We prove that our constructions are as secure as the originals for DSA and PSS-RSA in the random oracle model and for the Cramer-Shoup signature scheme in the standard model.
Primitive and Poisson Spectra of Twists of Polynomial Rings

A family of flat deformations of a commutative polynomial ring S on n generators is considered, where each deformation B is a twist of S by a semisimple, linear automorphism σ of ℙ n−1, such that a Poisson bracket is induced on S. We show that if the symplectic leaves associated with this Poisson structure are algebraic, then they are the orbits of an algebraic group G determined by the Poisson bracket. In this case, we prove that if σ is 'generic enough', then there is a natural one-to-one correspondence between the primitive ideals of B and the symplectic leaves if and only if σ has a representative in GL(ℂ n ) which belongs to G. As an example, the results are applied to the coordinate ring $$\mathcal{O}_q (M_2 )$$ of quantum 2 × 2 matrices which is not a twist of a polynomial ring, although it is a flat deformation of one; if q is not a root of unity, then there is a bijection between the primitive ideals of $$\mathcal{O}_q (M_2 )$$ and the symplectic leaves.
The Z(k) x D(k-prime) brane box model

An example of a non-abelian Brane Box Model, namely one corresponding to a Zk × Dk' orbifold singularity of C3, is constructed. Its self-consistency and hence equivalence to geometrical methods are subsequently shown. It is demonstrated how a group-theoretic twist of the non-abelian group circumvents the problem of inconsistency that arise from naive attempts at the construction.
Pore architecture of nanoporous gold and titania by hydrogen thermoporometry

Nanoporous gold (NPG) and materials derived from it by templating have complex pore architecture that determines their technologically relevant physical properties. Here, we apply high-resolution hydrogen thermoporometry to study the pore structure of NPG and NPG-derived titania nanofoam (TNF). Results reveal complex multimodal pore size distributions for NPG and TNF. The freezing–melting hysteresis is pronounced, with freezing and melting scans having entirely different shapes. Experiments involving partial freeze–melt cycles reveal the lack of direct correlation between individual freezing and melting peaks, pointing to phenomena that are beyond the Gibbs-Thomson formalism. The depression of the average freezing temperature scales linearly with the ratio of the internal surface area (measured by gas sorption) and the total pore volume derived from the density of monoliths. Thermoporometry yields total pore volumes in good agreement with those derived from monolith densities for both NPG and TNF.
Sequential transcription of the genes of the lactose operon and its regulation by protein synthesis.

Abstract The initial kinetics of induction and the steady state rates of synthesis of β-galactosidase and thiogalactoside transacetylase in Escherichia coli were examined under a variety of conditions. Kinetic experiments with 5-fluorouracil and carbon starvation suggest that the z gene is transcribed into messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) before the a gene. In general, when protein synthesis was impaired, formation of transacetylase mRNA (defined as enzyme-forming capacity) was delayed, although β-galactosidase mRNA (similarly defined) occurred at its usual time. When protein synthesis was completely blocked, the z gene could be transcribed but the a gene could not. To explain these findings, a tentative scheme is proposed in which a gene transcription is controlled by the rate at which ribosomes travel along the completed portion of the mRNA. Since ribosomes do not appear to be as critical for the transcription of the z gene, it is suggested that the RNA polymerase maybe able to advance ahead of the leading ribosome by a certain critical distance. Kinetic experiments also suggested that the transcription of the z gene required a shorter exposure to inducer than did a gene transcription. Chloramphenicol, which specifically delayed the induction of the transacetylase, also inhibited its steady state production more than the steady state synthesis of β-galactosidase. At an antibiotic concentration of 2 µg per ml, the synthesis of β-galactosidase continued, while that of thiogalactoside transacetylase was completely inhibited.
Differential Reflectance Spectroscopy in Analysis of Surfaces

Differential reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) is a surface analytical technique. It uses ultraviolet (UV), visible, or infrared (IR) light as a probing medium. The interaction of light with “strongly absorbing materials”, such as metals, alloys, semiconductors, etc. occurs in the first 10–20 nm. Thus the differential reflectometer probes 50–100 atomic layers into nontransparent solid surfaces. Because of the specific probing depth of light, DRS fills the gap between other surface techniques such as ion-scattering, Auger spectroscopy, and ESCA (electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis), which probe 1, 5, or even 20 monolayers, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) which probes as deep as 1–50 µm into a bulk material. The information gained by DRS is somewhat different from that obtained by the other surface techniques mentioned. A “differential reflectogram” reveals details about the electron structure around the Fermi surface. Specifically, the instrument allows the exact measurement of the energies which electrons absorb from photons as they are raised into a higher, allowed energy states. Since each material has a specific electron-band structure the measurement of the characteristic energies for electron “interband transitions” serves as a means for identifying these materials. Furthermore, investigation of any shift of these characteristic energies, which may be caused by the addition of solute elements to a solvent, by transformations, lattice defects, ordering, or the like, provides a deeper insight into the nature of the solid state. The application of DRS is, of course, not restricted to strongly absorbing materials such as metals, alloys, or semiconductors. Its strength has likewise been demonstrated in the identification and characterization of transparent or semitransparent surface layers as observed in thin-film corrosion products on metal substrates. DRS is used to scan two samples whose properties differ slightly. Thus, the main advantage of DRS over conventional optical techniques lies in its ability to eliminate any undesirable influences of oxides, windows, electrolytes, instrumental variations, and the like, owing to the differential nature of the technique. No vacuum is needed unless measurements in the vacuum UV are desired. Thus, the formation of a surface layer due to environmental interactions can be studied in situ. The measurements are fast: a complete differential reflectogram, that is, an automatic scan from the UV through the visible into the IR region, is accomplished in about 3 min.
TH-CD-204-02: Longitudinal Assessment of Radiation Treatment Response in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Using Intravoxel Incoherent Motion Model Diffusion-Weighted MRI

Purpose: Perfusion-insensitive apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) is obtained using intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) model by separating perfusion compartment. The purpose of this study is to assess the longitudinal changes in the reference-standard IVIM model ADC (ADCIVIM) values of lung tumor volumes due to treatment response and to compare the relative longitudinal changes of the monoexponential model ADC values with that of ADCIVIM. Methods: Ten subjects had diffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI) scans at 0 week (pre-treatment), and 3 and 6 weeks during radiotherapy in 1.5T MRI scanner. Respiratory triggering was applied to the echo-planar DW-MRI with TR=∼4500 ms, TE=74 ms, eight b-values of 0–1000 µs/µm 2 , pixel size=1.98×1.98 mm 2 , slice thickness/gap=6 mm/1.2 mm and 7 axial slices. The ADCIVIM values and volumes of active tumors were compared longitudinally using paired t-test. Changes in monoexponential model ADC values using the sets-0–1000; 50–1000; 100–1000; 250–1000; 500–1000; 250, 500 and 1000; 250, 650 and 1000; 250, 800 and 1000; 250 and 800; and 250 and 1000 µs/µm 2 at 3 and 6 weeks relative to their corresponding baseline values at 0 week were also compared with that of ADCIVIM using all b-values. Results: The ADCIVIM values increased significantly from 0 to 3 weeks, and from 3 to 6 weeks (p 0.05) except for 0–1000, and 50–1000 µs/µm 2 sets at 3 weeks. The active tumor volume decreased significantly from 0 to 6 weeks. Conclusion: Active tumor ADCIVIM value increased and volume decreased during radiotherapy. No significant differences between the longitudinal changes of monoexponential ADC and ADCIVIM values were generally observed. DW-MRI is efficient in showing active tumor functional and volume changes due to radiation treatment in lung cancer. This work was supported by Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center pilot project A35242 (EW). There are no conflicts of interest.
What Does it Take to Scale up and Sustain Evidence-Based Practices?

This article discusses the strategic scaling up of evidence-based practices. The authors draw from the scholarly work of fellow special education researchers and from the field of learning sciences. The article defines scaling up as the process by which researchers or educators initially implement interventions on a small scale, validate them, and then implement them more widely in real-world conditions. Examples of scale-up research are included. The authors discuss challenges to scaling up and sustaining evidence-based practices, followed by factors that can potentially support scaling up, including professional development and district leadership. A case example describes how these issues can play out by highlighting experiences with a Collaborative Strategic Reading (CSR) scale-up research project in a large urban school district. The article concludes by offering recommendations for research, policy, and practice.
Resource allocation for QoS provisioning in wireless ad hoc networks

For wireless ad hoc networks with multihop, transmissions and Rayleigh fading, this paper maximizes the overall system throughput subject to QoS constraints on power, probability of outage, and data rates. Formulations are also given which minimize delay and optimize network resources in a wireless ad hoc network, where each link is shared by multiple streams of traffic from different QoS classes, and each traffic traverses many links. Although these optimal resource allocation problems are non-linear, they can be posed as geometric programs, which are transformed into convex optimizations, and can be solved globally and efficiently through interior-point methods.
Lignin monomer production integrated into the γ-valerolactone sugar platform

We demonstrate an experimental approach for upgrading lignin that has been isolated from corn stover via biomass fractionation using γ-valerolactone (GVL) as a solvent. This GVL-based approach can be used in parallel with lignin upgrading to produce soluble carbohydrates at high yields (≥70%) from biomass without the use of enzymes, ionic liquids, or concentrated acids. The lignin was isolated after an initial hydrolysis step in which corn stover was treated in a high-solids batch reactor at 393 K for 30 min in a solvent mixture consisting of 80 wt% GVL and 20 wt% water. Lignin was isolated by precipitation in water and characterized by 2D HSQC NMR, showing that the extracted lignin was similar to native lignin, which can be attributed to the low acid level and the low extraction temperatures that are achievable using GVL as a solvent. This lignin was upgraded using a two-stage hydrogenolysis process over a Ru/C catalyst. The isolated lignin was first dissolved to form a mixture of 10% lignin, 80% THF, 8.5% H3PO4 and 1.5% H2O, and treated at 423 K under hydrogen. The THF was removed by evaporation and replaced with heptane, forming a biphasic mixture. This mixture was then treated at 523 K in the presence of Ru/C and H2. The resulting heptane phase contained soluble lignin-derived monomers corresponding to 38% of the carbon in the original lignin. By adding 5% methanol during the second catalytic step, we produced additional monomers containing methyl esters and increased carbon yields to 48%. This increase in yield can be attributed to stabilization of carboxylic acid intermediates by esterification. The yield reported here is comparable to yields obtained with native lignin and is much higher than yields obtained with lignin isolated by other processes. These results suggest that GVL-based biomass fractionation could facilitate the integrated conversion of all three biomass fractions.
Real Time Fatigue Damage Growth Assessment of a Composite Three-Stringer Panel Using Passive Thermography

Fatigue testing of advanced composite structures is critical to validate both structural designs and damage prediction models. In-situ inspection methods are necessary to track damage onset and growth as a function of load cycles. Passive thermography is a large area, noncontact inspection technique that is used to detect composite damage onset and growth in real time as a function of fatigue cycles. The thermal images are acquired in synchronicity to the applied compressive load using a dual infrared camera acquisition system for full (front and back) coverage. Image processing algorithms are investigated to increase defect contrast areas. The thermal results are compared to non-immersion ultrasound inspections and acoustic emission data.
Progress on a model for β Lyrae

It is generally accepted that β Lyrae is a massive mass-transfer system in which the more massive gainer is embedded in a thick accretion disc. No detailed, quantitative accretion disc model of the system, which fits both the available photometric and spectroscopic data, has been published. This paper considers a thick accretion disc model. An empirical two-temperature model for the accretion disc rim produces an accurate fit to the UBV and OAO2 photometry. The two-temperature rim model leads to synthetic spectra with a much larger Balmer jump than is present in spectrophotometric scans. The same model fails to produce IR light curves with the 0.5p eclipse deeper than the 0.0p eclipse, as shown in the observations of Jameson & Longmore. The paper next reports initial results for a model in which an extra source of continuum radiation arises from Thomson scattering of radiation from the gainer, which is hidden from the observer by the thick accretion disc. The adopted rate of mass transfer cannot supply the energy radiated by the accretion disc rim, nor can any credible larger rate. The most likely energy source is the mass gainer.
Health expenditure efficiency: implications for pharmaceutical marketing

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to consider the efficiency of US healthcare in an international context. The paper emphasizes the concept of efficiency and explores implications for pharmaceutical marketing.Design/methodology/approach – Literature review, economic theory, secondary data and bivariate regression were used to describe and evaluate US healthcare spending and pharmaceutical marketing.Findings – US healthcare spending is inordinately high as a share of gross domestic product within developed countries and this is associated with a relatively high share of private finance. But public sector finance is displacing private payment and this trend is especially pronounced for pharmaceuticals. Public finance combined with fiscal pressure can be expected to curb use of pharmaceutical detailing and other forms of marketing. The limits of affordability are not well assessed and socio‐economic institutions to facilitate decisions about present and future costs have yet to evolve.Originality/value ...
Good performance status of long-term disease-free survivors of intracranial gliomas

Abstract Purpose : To determine the long-term impact on function of treatment for primary cerebral gliomas, Karnofsky Performance Status, employment history, and memory function were used to evaluate the status of adults who are alive and disease-free more than 1 year after cranial irradiation. Methods and Materials : Of 30 eligible adult patients, seventeen patients had anaplastic astrocytoma, seven had a glioblastoma, four had low grade astrocytoma, one had a mixed glioma, and one had an anaplastic oligodendroglioma. Sixteen patients received partial brain irradiation only, 12 had whole brain irradiation with a partial brain boost, and two had whole brain irradiation only. The total dose ranged from 54–66 Gy, with a fraction size of 1.7–2.0 Gy. Median follow-up was 3.5 years. Eighty-three percent of patients also received adjuvant chemotherapy. Results : Karnofsky Performance Status generally remained stable after the completion of irradiation. Mean Performance status was 84 at the end of irradiation and was unchanged at the time of last follow-up. The actuarial freedom from performance status decline after irradiation was 93% at 5 years. The performance status increased in two patients, both within several months of completing irradiation. Most patients (68%) returned to work after irradiation. Sixty-two percent remained at work 1 year later, and 58% were working at the time of last follow-up. No patient who did not return to work within 4 months of completing irradiation was able to work at a later date. All working patients were employed in a capacity similar to their pre-morbid position. Only one patient, with an intercurrent lung cancer, eventually developed deficits that limited self care. Conclusions : Contrary to previously published reports, long-term glioma survivors maintained a relatively good performance status in the absence of recurrence and did not experience a progressive decline in neuropsychologic function after completion of cranial irradiation. A patient's functional state at the completion of irradiation is a reliable predictor of long-term functional outcome in the absence of recurrence. Although the number of patients in each subgroup is small and no significant differences could be detected, patients treated with partial brain irradiation had a higher and more stable performance status, better memory function, and superior employment history.
DYNAMIC SOFTWARE RELIABILITY PREDICTION: AN APPROACH BASED ON SUPPORT VECTOR MACHINES

A support vector machine (SVM) modeling approach for software reliability prediction is proposed. Based on the structural risk minimization principle, the learning scheme of SVM is focused on minimizing an upper bound of the generalization error that eventually results in better generalization performance. The SVM learning scheme is applied to the failure time data, forcing the network to learn and recognize the inherent internal temporal property of software failure sequence. Further, the SVM learning process is iteratively and dynamically updated after every occurrence of new failure time data in order to capture the most current feature hidden inside the software failure behavior. The performance of our proposed approach has been tested using four real-time control and flight dynamic application data sets and compared with feed-forward neural network and recurrent neural network modeling approaches. Experimental results show that our proposed approach adapts well across different software projects, and has a better next-step prediction performance.
Microorganisms on Mars

The article which Bond's committee objects to is an examination of the basic assumptions of the current spacecraft sterilization policy in the light of new knowledge of the planet Mars. It shows that the validity of these assumptions is, at the very least, questionable. Our conclusions are based on a large amount of evidence which was not available in 1964 when the basic COSPAR resolution was adopted, including the data from Mariner IV and from recent earth-based observations.
Evaluating the quality of Internet health resources in pediatric urology.

Abstract Purpose Many patients and their parents utilize the Internet for health-related information, but quality is largely uncontrolled and unregulated. The Health on the Net Foundation Code (HONcode) and DISCERN Plus were used to evaluate the pediatric urological search terms ‘circumcision,’ ‘vesicoureteral reflux’ and ‘posterior urethral valves’. Materials and methods A google.com search was performed to identify the top 20 websites for each term. The HONcode toolbar was utilized to determine whether each website was HONcode accredited and report the overall frequency of accreditation for each term. The DISCERN Plus instrument was used to score each website in accordance with the DISCERN Handbook. High and low scoring criteria were then compared. Results A total of 60 websites were identified. For the search terms ‘circumcision’, ‘posterior urethral valves’ and ‘vesicoureteral reflux’, 25–30% of the websites were HONcode certified. Out of the maximum score of 80, the average DISCERN Plus score was 60 (SD = 12, range 38–78), 40 (SD = 12, range 22–69) and 45 (SD = 19, range 16–78), respectively. The lowest scoring DISCERN criteria included: ‘Does it describe how the treatment choices affect overall quality of life?’, ‘Does it describe the risks of each treatment?’ and ‘Does it provide details of additional sources of support and information?’ (1.35, 1.83 and 1.95 out of 5, respectively). Conclusions These findings demonstrate the poor quality of information that patients and their parents may use in decision-making and treatment choices. The two lowest scoring DISCERN Plus criteria involved education on quality of life issues and risks of treatment. Physicians should know how to best use these tools to help guide patients and their parents to websites with valid information.
A mathematical model of inactivation kinetics for a four-strain composite of Salmonella Enteritidis and Oranienburg in commercial liquid egg yolk.

Abstract The goal of this study was to develop a general model of inactivation of salmonellae in commercial liquid egg yolk for temperatures ranging from 58 °C to 66 °C by studying the inactivation kinetics of Salmonella in liquid egg yolk. Heat-resistant salmonellae (three serovars of Enteritidis [two of phage type 8 and one PT 13] and one Oranienburg) were grown to stationary phase in Tryptic Soy Broth and concentrated 10-fold by centrifugation. Each inoculum was added to liquid egg yolk and mixed thoroughly, resulting in a final population of ca. 7 log CFU/ml egg yolk. Inoculated yolk was injected into sterile glass capillary tubes, flame-sealed and heated in a water bath at 58, 60, 62, 64, and 66 °C. Capillary tubes were ethanol sanitized, rinsed, and contents were extracted. Yolk was diluted, surface plated onto Tryptic Soy Agar + 0.1% sodium pyruvate and 50 μg/ml nalidixic acid and incubated at 37 °C for 24 h before colonies were enumerated. Decimal reduction values were calculated from survivor curves with a minimum inactivation of 6 log CFU/ml at each temperature. Survival curves (except for 66 °C) featured initial lag periods before first order linear inactivation. Estimated asymptotic D -values were 1.83 min at 58 °C, 0.69 min at 60 °C, 0.26 min at 62 °C, 0.096 min at 64 °C and 0.036 min at 66 °C. The estimate of the asymptotic z -value was ca. 4.7 °C with standard error of 0.07 °C. A linear relationship between the log 10 of the lag times and temperature was observed. A general kinetic model of inactivation was developed. The results of the study provide information that can be used by processors to aid in producing safe pasteurized egg yolk products and for satisfying pasteurization performance standards and developing industry guidance.
Hdm2 is a ubiquitin ligase of Ku70-Akt promotes cell survival by inhibiting Hdm2-dependent Ku70 destabilization

Earlier, we have reported that 70 kDa subunit of Ku protein heterodimer (Ku70) binds and inhibits Bax activity in the cytosol and that ubiquitin (Ub)-dependent proteolysis of cytosolic Ku70 facilitates Bax-mediated apoptosis. We found that Hdm2 (human homolog of murine double minute) has an ability to ubiquitinate Ku70 and that Hdm2 overexpression in cultured cells causes a decrease in Ku70 expression levels. An interaction between Ku70 and Hdm2 was shown by means of immunoprecipitation, whereas none could be shown between 80 kDa subunit of Ku protein heterodimer and Hdm2. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known to inhibit endothelial cell (EC) apoptosis through an Akt-mediated survival kinase signal; however, the mechanism underlying this inhibition of apoptosis has not been fully elucidated. We found that VEGF inhibited cytosolic Ku70 degradation induced by apoptotic stress. It is known that Akt-dependent phosphorylation of Hdm2 causes nuclear translocation of Hdm2 followed by Hdm2-mediated inactivation of p53. We found that VEGF stimulated nuclear translocation of Hdm2 in EC and efficiently inhibited Ku70 degradation. We also found that constitutively active Akt, but not kinase-dead Akt, inhibited Ku70 degradation in the cytosol. Furthermore, Ku70 knockdown diminished antiapoptotic activity of Akt. Taken together, we propose that Hdm2 is a Ku70 Ub ligase and that Akt inhibits Bax-mediated apoptosis, at least in part, by maintaining Ku70 levels through the promotion of Hdm2 nuclear translocation.
Quantitative extraction and purification of exopolysaccharides from klebsiella pneumoniae

Abstract Klebseilla pneumoniae (O1:K2) exopolysaccharides were extracted with a zwitterionic detergent in citrate buffer (pH 4.5). The mild procedure released nearly 95% of the capsular polysaccharide and 60–70% of the lipopolysaccharide. Variable amounts of protein were extracted with the polysaccharides, while very little of the nucleic acid was found in the extract. Gel filtration chromatography of the polysaccharide extract, without a buffer exchange step, resulted in high recovery purification of capsular and lipopolysaccharides. The extraction led to minimal cell disruption, was shown by the light and electron microscopy, by studies of viability, and by plasmid DNA isolation. Plasmids isolated before detergent extraction were seen to smear on agarose gels, due to interaction with polysaccharides, while plasmids from extracted cells exhibited tight banding patterns. Both ionic and hydrophobic interactions appear responsible for the structural stability of the K. pneumoniae capsule.
Self-enhancement biases, self-esteem, and ideal mate preferences

Abstract People seek ideal romantic partners who are similar to themselves. In this research, we tested whether this preference reflects a self-enhancement bias. Study 1 ( N = 40) found that people who like themselves a lot (i.e., high self-esteem people) were more likely to describe their ideal romantic partner in terms that matched their self-evaluations than were people whose self-feelings are more ambivalent (i.e., low self-esteem people). Study 2 ( N = 141) extended these findings by showing that low self-esteem participants who had just been given positive feedback about themselves were just as apt as high self-esteem participants to describe their ideal romantic partner in terms that matched their self-descriptions. Taken together, these findings suggest that the more that people like themselves, the more they will desire an ideal romantic partner who is just like them.
Discrete-time p -powers and stability

Iterated-integral operators calledp-powers arise in the theory of representations of nonlinear systems. In a recent paper, necessary and sufficient conditions are given for such operators to be stable in a standard sense, and it is shown that a well-known sufficient condition is not necessary for allp ≥ 2. Here corresponding results are given for discrete-time cases.
Small-molecule hydrophobic tagging–induced degradation of HaloTag fusion proteins

The ability to regulate any protein of interest in living systems with small molecules remains a challenge. We hypothesized that appending a hydrophobic moiety to the surface of a protein would mimic the partially denatured state of the protein, thus engaging the cellular quality control machinery to induce its proteasomal degradation. We designed and synthesized bifunctional small molecules to bind a bacterial dehalogenase (the HaloTag protein) and present a hydrophobic group on its surface. Hydrophobic tagging of the HaloTag protein with an adamantyl moiety induced the degradation of cytosolic, isoprenylated and transmembrane HaloTag fusion proteins in cell culture. We demonstrated the in vivo utility of hydrophobic tagging by degrading proteins expressed in zebrafish embryos and by inhibiting Hras1(G12V)-driven tumor progression in mice. Therefore, hydrophobic tagging of HaloTag fusion proteins affords small-molecule control over any protein of interest, making it an ideal system for validating potential drug targets in disease models.
Individualising Scaffolding: Teachers' Literacy Interruptions of Ethnic Minority Students and Students from Low Socioeconomic Backgrounds.

This paper describes a small-scale study that examined the ways four elementary teachers in the United States scaffolded the literacy of students differently through interruptions. One thousand four hundred and ninety-eight interruptions were identified and coded in the study. Findings show that teachers' interruption patterns frequently conflicted with or undermined their planned and voiced approaches to literacy instruction. The interruption patterns in this study indicated that some teachers' interactions with the ethnic minority students and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, while somewhat individualised, had unrecognised patterns which focused these children on phonics and accuracy as opposed to comprehension and meaning. These patterns supported a more passive approach to literacy that replicates and reproduces class and race structures of society.
Sr2MgMoO6−δ/Gd0.1Ce0.9O1.95 composite anode-supported solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC)

Abstract An anode-supported solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) was fabricated using a porous composite of Sr 2 MgMoO 6−δ (SMM) and Gd 0.1 Ce 0.9 O 2−δ (GDC) for the anode support. The electrolyte consisted of a 20 μm thick GDC layer, which was deposited by a combined screen-printing and sol–gel deposition processes. A porous (La 0.6 Sr 0.4 ) 0.98 (Co 0.2 Fe 0.8 )O 3−δ (LSCF) composition was used as the active cathode. Voltage–current–power ( V – I – P ) tests were completed on the cells in wet H 2 , and the fuel cells displayed a maximum power density of 342 mW cm −2 and 572 mW cm −2 at 600 °C and 700 °C, respectively, without the use of any metal impregnate to enhance the electro-catalytic processes.
The variability of the b-wave of the electroretinogram with stimulus luminance.

We measured the variability of the b-wave of the electroretinogram as a function of stimulus luminance in two young normal individuals. We also estimated b-wave variability by examining residuals from Naka—Rushton curves fit to intensity-response data. The change of variability with amplitude was similar with both techniques. The standard deviation of b-wave amplitude rose with b-wave amplitude at low stimulus intensities. At higher intensities, the standard deviation of b-wave amplitude became constant. The point at which the standard deviation became constant was LogK for the eye, as determined by fitting the data with the Naka—Rushton equation. These changes suggest that the mechanisms underlying the growth of the b-wave with luminance change near LogK.
Preferential Priming of Alloreactive T Cells with Indirect Reactivity

The relative contributions of the direct and indirect pathways in alloimmune responses have not been fully elucidated. We report a novel murine TCR transgenic system that can simultaneously track the CD4-direct (CD4-d), CD4-indirect (CD4-i) and CD8-direct (CD8-d) pathways after transplantation. Using this system, we have observed a profoundly greater proliferation of CD4-i T cells relative to CD4-d and CD8-d T cells after transplantation. Furthermore, a much larger proportion of CD4-i T cells attain an effector phenotype. We also analyzed endogenous, wild-type T cells using enzyme-linked immunospot analysis. In naive mice, T cells with indirect reactivity were undetectable, but T cells with direct reactivity were abundant. However, 10 days after skin or heterotopic heart transplantation, CD4-i T cells comprised approximately 10% of the CD4+ response. Consistent with increased priming of the CD4-i pathway, we observed that the CD4-i T cells were further enriched in the effector cells migrating to the allograft and in memory-like T cells persisting after rejection. Thus, priming of the CD4-i pathway is favored after transplantation, allowing a rare population to rapidly become a major component of the CD4+ T-cell response in acute allograft rejection. The generalizability of this observation to other models remains to be determined.
Impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUNDEndothelium-dependent vasodilation is abnormal in experimental models of diabetes mellitus. We postulated that abnormalities of endothelial function are also present in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and may contribute to the pathogenesis of vascular disease in these individuals.METHODS AND RESULTSVascular reactivity was measured in the forearm resistance vessels of 15 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and 16 age-matched normal subjects. No patient had hypertension or dyslipidemia. Each subject was pretreated with aspirin to inhibit endogenous production of prostanoids. Methacholine chloride (0.3 to 10 micrograms/min) was administered via the brachial artery to assess endothelium-dependent vasodilation. Sodium nitroprusside (0.3 to 10 micrograms/min) and verapamil (10 to 300 micrograms/min) were infused intra-arterially to assess endothelium-independent vasodilation; phenylephrine (0.3 to 3 micrograms/min) was administered to examine vasoconstrictor responsiven...
The new extended-cycle Levonorgestrel-ethinyl estradiol Oral contraceptives

Effective contraceptive counseling requires an understanding of a woman’s preferences and medical history as well as the risks, benefits, side effects, and contraindications of each contraceptive method. Hormonal contraceptives using a variety of delivery methods are highly effective and this review highlights the new extended-cycle levonorgestrel-ethinyl estradiol contraceptives. Extended-cycle OCPs are unique in offering fewer or no withdrawal bleeds over the course of one year but providers need to carefully counsel women regarding the initial increased breakthrough bleeding. Extended-cycle OCPs may be of particular benefit in women with medical comorbidities who would benefit from less withdrawal bleeds, those desiring to avoid monthly menses due to increased hormonal withdrawal symptoms, or simply women who don’t desire a monthly period. The risks associated with all extended-cycle OCPs have been found to be similar to those of traditional OCPs therefore counseling on the risks and side effects is comparable to that of any combined hormonal contraceptives. Newer extended-cycle regimens shorten or eliminate the hormone-free interval, decrease frequency of menses to four times per year or eliminate menses altogether. This can reduce the risk of common menstrual symptoms, endometriosis, or severe dysmenorrhea by offering potentially greater ovarian suppression and preventing endogenous estradiol production while still providing highly effective, rapidly reversible, and safe contraception.
Regulatory conflict in the Chicago VOC control program

The study analyzes the performance of an innovative cap-and-trade program designed to make cost-effective reductions of an ozone precursor in Chicago and finds that decentralized market incentives were undermined by the continuance of centralized traditional emission point or command-and-control regulation. The study makes two contributions for urban areas considering this regulatory measure: it shows that using two regulatory measures to achieve one emissions reduction goal can undercut cost-effective emissions trading, and it provides a redesign of the market system that coordinates both regulatory measures for cost-effective control and avoidance of trading problems, such as hot spots and inter-temporal spikes.
The effect of preoperative recombinant erythropoietin on postoperative hematocrit level after orthognathic surgery.

Purpose Compare the post-surgery red cell mass as indicated by hematocrit value of orthognathic surgery patients given iron supplementation and a single presurgery dose of erythropoietin alpha(EPO) and patients who did not receive either EPO or iron supplementation (NEPO).
Ticagrelor: Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, Clinical Efficacy, and Safety

Dual antiplatelet therapy, composed of aspirin plus a P2Y12-receptor antagonist, is the cornerstone of treatment for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). A number of U.S. Food and Drug Administration–approved P2Y12-receptor antagonists are available for treating patients with ACS, including the thienopyridine compounds clopidogrel and prasugrel. Ticagrelor, the first of a new class of antiplatelet agents, is a noncompetitive, direct-acting P2Y12-receptor antagonist. Unlike the thienopyridine compounds, ticagrelor does not require metabolism for activity. Also, whereas clopidogrel and prasugrel are irreversible inhibitors of the P2Y12 receptor, ticagrelor binds reversibly to inhibit receptor signaling and subsequent platelet activation. In pharmacodynamic studies, ticagrelor demonstrated faster onset and more potent inhibition of platelet aggregation than clopidogrel. These properties of ticagrelor may contribute to reduced rates of thrombotic outcomes compared with clopidogrel, as demonstrated in a phase III clinical trial. However, in addition to bleeding, distinctive adverse effects of this new chemical entity have not been reported with the thienopyridine P2Y12-receptor inhibitors. Although ticagrelor represents an advancement in P2Y12-receptor inhibition therapy, a thorough understanding of this compound as an antiplatelet therapy remains to be elucidated.
Alkaline Band Formation in Chara corallina: Due to OH− Efflux or H+ Influx?

The nature of the transport system responsible for the establishment of alkaline bands on cells of Chara corallina was investigated. The transport process was found to be insensitive to external pH, provided the value was above a certain threshold. At this threshold (pH 5.1 to 4.8) the transport process was inactivated. Transport function could be recovered by raising the pH value of the external solution. The fastest rate of recovery was always obtained in the presence of exogenous HCO(3) (-).Experiments in which plasmalemma integrity was modified using 10 millimolar K(+) treatment were also performed. Alkaline band transport was significantly reduced in the presence of 10 millimolar K(+), but the system did not recover, following return to 0.2 millimolar K(+) solutions, until the transport site was reexposed to exogenous HCO(3) (-).The influence of presence and absence of various cations on both alkaline band transport and total H(14)CO(3) (-) assimilation was examined. No specific cation requirement (mono- or divalent) was found for either process, except the previously established role of Ca(2+) at the HCO(3) (-) transport site. The alkaline band transport process exhibited a general requirement for cations. This transport system could be partially or completely stalled in low cation solutions, or glass-distilled water, respectively. The results indicate that no cationic flux occurs across the plasmalemma in direct association with either the alkaline band or HCO(3) (-) transport systems.It is felt that the present results offer support for the hypothesis that an OH(-) efflux transport system (rather than a H(+) influx system) is responsible for alkaline band development in C. corallina. The results support the hypothesis that OH(-) efflux is an electrogenic process. This OH(-) transport system also appears to contain two allosteric effector sites, involving an acidic group and a HCO(3) (-) ion.
Adhesion enhancement of Cr/polyimide interfaces using RF pre-sputtering of polyimide surfaces

The effects of Ar ion RF pre-sputtering of polyimide surfaces on the adhesion of Cr/polyimide interfaces have been examined by TEM, XPS, and peel test. With Ar pre-sputtering, the peel strength of Cu/Cr to polyimide increases remarkably from 1 g/mm to 130 g/mm and 90 g/mm on PMDA-ODA spun on Si and silica substrates, respectively. The negligible change in the polyimide surface morphology by RF sputtering and the little change in the adhesion strength by a long exposure to the air after the sputtering prior to metal deposition eliminate contributions of mechanical interlocking and surface cleaning effects to this adhesion enhancement. Thus, adhesion enhancement by RF pre-sputtering is mainly attributed to chemical changes of the polyimide surface facilitating bonding with the deposited Cr. Such a surface treatment with RF sputtering was also found to be effective for the retardation of the moisture-induced failure of Cr/polyimide interfaces. It has been observed that cracks develop in both Cr and polyimide...
Photoreactivation of UV-irradiated blue-green algal virus LPP-1

Abstract UV damage to LPP-1, a DNA virus that infects the blue-green alga Plectonema boryanum, can be partially reversed by illuminating the alga subsequent to infection. Photoreactivation is induced by white or blue light but not by red or “black light” (maximum intensity at 356 mg). Since red light supports photosynthesis, there is apparently no interdependence between photosynthesis and photoreactivation. The UV-irradiated alga was photoreactivated by “black light” as well as by white or blue light. The finding that. “black light” restores algal but not viral replication suggests that the mechanisms respectively involved in the photorepair of viral and algal nucleic acids are dissimilar.
Aggressive red blood cell transfusion: no association with improved outcomes for victims of isolated traumatic brain injury.

Background Clinical studies have caused blood transfusion practices in critically ill patients to become more conservative in the last decade. However, few studies have focused on trauma patients, particularly those with severe isolated traumatic brain injury.
Molecular breeding of allergy vaccines and antiallergic cytokines.

Molecular breeding, also called DNA shuffling, is a technology that enables the generation of large libraries of novel genes and vectors, from which improved variants can be selected based on functional properties. In a common format, it involves recursive recombination and mutation, performed by random fragmentation of related DNA sequences, followed by reassembly of the fragments in a self-priming polymerase chain reaction. As in natural evolution, the technique takes advantage of crossovers, deletions, insertions, inversions and point mutations of genes to generate large pools of related sequences. Molecular breeding can be used to generate improved variants of proteins used as therapeutics, such as vaccine antigens, growth factors and immunomodulatory molecules. Moreover, the technology can be applied to evolve entire viruses or vectors, including DNA vaccines. Cytokines downregulating allergic immune responses and allergens are attractive targets for evolution by molecular breeding. This review describes approaches to generate chimeric allergens with T cell epitopes from multiple allergen homologues, while reducing the recognition by preexisting IgE. In addition, the results and applications of molecular breeding in the evolution of improved antiallergic cytokines are discussed.
Using Multiple Views To Resolve Human Body Tracking Ambiguities

This paper outlines the theoretical background and presents a new approach to human body tracking with monocular static camera. A novel “viewbased representation” is introduced at the feature extraction stage. We show that ambiguities in correspondence, such as the ones that occur as the result of occlusion, can be resolved by using this approach. In particular, we store color information for each object in a vector of views, where the number of elements is determined online, using unsupervised clustering followed by the cluster validity assessment. Based on this representation a tracking system was developed. The prelimiary results presented show the discriminative potential of the proposed system.
Preparation of Soybean Oil Polymers with High Molecular Weight

The cationic polymerization of soybean oils was initiated by boron trifluoride diethyl etherate in supercritical carbon dioxide medium. The resulting polymers had molecular weight ranging from 21,842 to 118,300 g/mol. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography analysis confirmed the polymerization had occurred. Parameters affecting the polymerization were studied, which included initiator amount and reaction time. Results show that the longer reaction time, up to 3 h, favored the higher molecular weight of polymers at conditions of 140 °C and initiator BF3·OEt2 (2.5 g, 0.018 mol). When reaction time was increased further, the molecular weight of polymers stayed the same or slightly decreased. Increased concentration of initiator gave the higher molecular weight of polymers. The high molecular weight polymers were possibly formed through two path ways: polymerization and intermolecular Diels-Alder reaction.